Northeast Leopard.
Known as the Far Eastern Leopard, itâs a feline in the Far East Region second only to the Northeast Tiger, with a body length of eighty to one hundred and forty centimeters and a tail one meter long, featuring a round head, short ears, and yellow fur with black spots.
Lives at the borders of Hei Province, Ji Province, and Russia, reportedly with few wild ones left.
And right in front of us, thereâs one!
Lu Zheng and Lin Wanâs keen senses had already detected the stealthy approach of the Northeast Leopard.
However, the sika deer under Lin Wanâs control was somewhat panicked and also keenly noticed the approaching Northeast Leopard, thus decided to flee decisively.
With the discovery of the Northeast Leopard, Lin Wan naturally couldnât care about the sika deer anymore.
Lin Wan stared into the distance, spotting a Northeast Leopard about 1.3 meters long, crouched behind some bushes, staring intently in their direction.
"Do you think itâll come over?"
"I donât know, but theoretically, if it recognizes humans, it shouldnât come over."
Even larger tigers generally donât hunt humans. These predators arenât low in wisdom; they know what living beings they can mess with and which they canât.
As expected, the Northeast Leopard in the distance licked its lips and started to back away slowly.
"Want to leave? Thatâs not allowed!"
Lin Wanâs eyes gleamed as she kicked off the ground, almost turning into a blur.
The distant Northeast Leopardâs pupils shrunk abruptly, arching its body like a cat to leap away, then turned to run.
But then...
The next moment, a small hand was already pressing down on its back.
The Northeast Leopard straightened its waist and turned its head, biting towards Lin Wanâs arm.
Lin Wan twisted her body, getting a grip on the Northeast Leopardâs neck, then rotating herself to the other side of the leopard.
Her body sank, with one hand pressing the neck and the other the head, leaning against its back, forcing the Northeast Leopard to the ground.
"Roarâ"
The Northeast Leopard let out a deep growl, its four paws clawing at the ground chaotically, yet unable to break free from the grip on its back.
"Not bad, quite some strength."
Lin Wan laughed heartily, suddenly standing up, grabbing the back of the Northeast Leopardâs neck with one hand and supporting its back with the other, swinging it around like a meteor hammer.
"Awooâ"
The Northeast Leopardâs roar from its chest turned into an elegy from its throat.
After swinging it for a full minute, Lin Wan placed the Northeast Leopard back down.
Then, the Northeast Leopard, without being pinned down again, flipped over, exposing its soft, white belly.
"Heheheâ"
Lin Wan smiled, rubbing the Northeast Leopardâs belly, then flipped it over to groom its fur.
Northeast Leopard, "..."
"Feels like its belly is empty. It mustâve been hungry for quite a while, right?" Lin Wan checked the Northeast Leopardâs belly.
"For tigers and leopards, one meal can last them ten days. If itâs hunting, it means its last meal is mostly digested."
"Oh no, did we let the sika deer escape, leaving this little cat hungry?"
Lu Zheng blinked, striking a nerve, "Didnât you think that the sika deer being eaten is quite pitiful too?"
Lin Wan pouted, "Itâs pitiful, but isnât it normal for leopards to eat deer? Iâm no saint; I eat meat too. Besides, isnât it cruel to chop and fry vegetables even though theyâre plants, theyâre also living things."
Lu Zheng was speechless, "If you take it further, wouldnât we have to survive on northwest wind?"
Lin Wan joked, "Have you considered the feelings of the microorganisms in the northwest wind?"
"..."
Lu Zheng brought the topic back, "Donât worry, itâs normal for a leopard to fail in hunting. One successful hunt will keep it fed for ten days. Also, sika deer are so cute. If you didnât encounter it, fine, but since we did, letâs find an ugly one to feed it."
"Ugly? What is it?"
Lin Wan was curious, finding animals actually quite adorable.
Lu Zheng smiled and pointed north, "Three miles away, youâll find out when you get there."
"So secretive." Lin Wanâs beautiful eyes twinkled as she stood up and patted the still dumbfounded, blissed-out Northeast Leopard.
Northeast Leopard: ???
Lin Wan pointed north, then tugged on the back of its neck, took two steps, and looked back at it.
The Northeast Leopard immediately understood and followed closely.
"Itâs so smart!" Lin Wan admired.
"Felines and canines are quite intelligent," Lu Zheng commented.
The two humans and the leopard proceeded slowly in the primeval forest, Lu Zheng and Lin Wan stepping on the snow without leaving traces, and the Northeast Leopard, with wide paws, moved gracefully, leaving only shallow footprints, not making much sound.
"Hmm?"
"Did you notice?"
"Wow, you sensed it from that far away?"
"What do you think all my cultivation is for?"
As they talked, the Northeast Leopard seemed to also notice something in the distance, its nose sniffing, body lowered, and pace slowed.
A few steps through some old trees, a large black figure came into the view of the two humans and the leopard.
Wild Boar!
A large wild boar at the edge of the bushes, rooting around, seemingly searching for something edible.
Lu Zheng rubbed his chin, thinking in the modern times he eats pig meat, in ancient times he slaughters Pig Demons for pig meat, and now, in the Northeast old forest, capturing big cats involves hunting wild boars for the catsâ bonus meal?
The second senior brother is also miserable, when will the Pig Race ever rise?
"Wow! Itâs huge!" Lin Wan looked at the big wild boar, its body longer than the little kitty beside her, and far heavier, with visible tusks and a menacing appearance, clearly not to be trifled with.
Even a Northeast Tiger generally wouldnât casually hunt adult male wild boars unless starved, let alone the two-tier smaller Northeast Leopard.
So upon seeing the large wild boar, the little kitty whimpered twice and wanted to retreat.
If there was a group of wild boars, it might try the smaller ones, but with only one, it would be walking into a trap.
"Coward, arenât you a leopard? Go get it!"
Lu Zheng gave the Northeast Leopard a smack on the rear, getting a glare from the leopard, and then, to its shock, "whoosh" he dashed out.
"Snort!"
Lu Zhengâs action startled the big wild boar, but before it could turn around, it was flipped over.
"Boom!"
The big wild boar scrambled to its feet, its rage bar instantly maxed out, and charged straight at Lu Zheng.
"Well done!"
"Iâll do it!"
Before Lu Zheng could act, Lin Wan leapt between them, intercepting the big wild boar, and punched it squarely on the side of its face.
"Boom!"
The big wild boar was slammed like being hit by a battering ram, flying sideways and crashing into a tree.
Before the boar could stand up, a black and yellow figure darted forward, biting its neck.
Northeast Leopard, opportunity seized perfectly!