Being a Dad in the Animal World
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After offending the front, he offended the back, Bai Yi felt that no matter what he couldn't defend against him.
Bai Yi didn't know if Jason was really taking things too far or simply wanted to clean for him.
Bai Yi tucked his tail and moved away from Jason. Although he really wanted to slap him with a paw, he hesitated for a moment and decided against it.
After all, animals were animals. He couldn't impose human thinking on them.
Jason had done the same when grooming the three little ones, so naturally, he assumed Bai Yi needed the same "care."
That was the only way Bai Yi could rationalize it. Otherwise, after all the times he had hit Jason so hard, Jason still showed no sign of backing down.
If his mind were not a bit off, he would surely have been naturally inclined to help his allies groom their fur.
After considering it, Bai Yi felt that this was probably the case.
He had underestimated the odd behavior of some animals.
From the very beginning, Jason had had feelings for Bai Yi, and Bai Yi's inexplicable sensations were not unfounded.
At first, however, Jason saw him as a close brother, someone to rely on. Plus, as a young lion, he was still naive and had never seen a lion mate before.
But as Bai Yi continued to broaden his horizons, encouraging him to observe and learn more, he naturally became the first target Jason wanted to experiment with.
Dilai's appearance made Jason's sense of crisis skyrocket.
After watching live footage of Dilai with a lioness, the cub's sexual awareness was awakened and Bai Yi became the first object he wanted to try.
He did not even consider a lioness; instead he fixed his sights directly on Bai Yi.
However, his first attempt failed and he was severely beaten by his older brother, so he no longer dared to try.
His animal instincts made him fixate on Bai Yi's belly and rear, and whenever an opportunity arose, he would invariably seize any opening.
He believed his older brother would appreciate it; in his mind, that action would be very pleasurable.
However, he was mistaken; his older brother did not seem to enjoy it.
Yet he became infatuated with Bai Yi's scent.
Bai Yi had to start being wary of Jason again. This migration journey was utterly exasperating.
The long daily treks not only severely depleted his energy but also required him to safeguard his privacy.
Bai Yi even felt unsafe when sleeping at night.
He managed to endure for half a month in a state of nervous daze.
For half a month, the scarcity of food and water left the cubs emaciated and skin and bones.
Fortunately, they reached their destination, Serengeti National Park, at the end of October.
This 3000-kilometer migration nearly cost their lives halfway through.
The withered yellow vegetation, arid riverbeds, and scarce food resources all declared how desperate Maasai Mara was during this season.
Throughout the journey, many lives faded away, and the path was strewn with the foul-smelling bones of dead animals.
When they once again saw the lush green grass, herds of herbivores, and clear river water, hope for life reemerged.
They all rushed to the water's edge to drink, and on the other side of the river was a group of chubby hippos.
They were extremely thirsty and had to drink at a spot far from the hippos.
Otherwise these adorable chubby ones would consider Bai Yi an intruder in their territory and launch an attack in the water.
Since they were at a safe distance, Bai Yi was not afraid and quickly led the cubs to drink.
One cannot help but complain that lions, as large felines and apex predators, excel in everything except that drinking water is a hassle.
Lapping water with his tongue in moments of urgency was nearly deadly; he even wished he could plunge his head into the river and gulp it down.
Clearly, that was unrealistic.
Just as they were drinking, crocodiles in the river caught the scent of the cubs.
Bai Yi sipped water while scanning his surroundings, and when he noticed movement below the surface, he immediately ceased drinking and let out a low warning growl.
Soon, a crocodile surfaced and swam toward the three cubs. When it saw the adult male lion’s alert, low growl, it halted.
Perhaps it realized that its chances of preying on the cubs were slim since the opponent was an adult male lion with a very dark mane.
Given that lion’s formidable strength, engaging him would not be worthwhile.
The crocodile then turned around and swam away, its disdainful gaze seemingly saying "Encountering something like that is truly unlucky."
Bai Yi: "……"
After ensuring that the three cubs finished drinking, Bai Yi discovered that Jason was nowhere to be seen. He looked around but saw no sign of him.
Bai Yi looked around blankly for a while, then went into the water
For more than a month, Jason had been cleaning his fur with saliva; now that water was finally available, Bai Yi was determined to take a bath.
The plump hippos spotted something in the water and all turned their heads to watch him.
Crocodiles lay in wait underwater and began to swim in his direction.
Being in the water, he was automatically their prey.
Bai Yi groomed himself while the hippo herd and the crocodiles lurking below swam toward him.
He swam farther away until he noticed that the hippos had come to a stop.
These massive figures had encircled a group of crocodiles.
They began playing with the crocodiles in the water.
Crocodiles: "……"
They were simply left speechless.
"We just want to eat that lion. We really mean no offense to big brother. Big brother, please go easy!"
From a distance, Bai Yi watched as the crocodiles were pressed away by the hippos and couldn’t help but laugh.
Hippos possess a strong territorial instinct, and when in the water, they do not tolerate the presence of crocodiles.
By virtue of their heft and build, hippos are undoubtedly the dominators of the marshes and waterways.
Crocodiles, seeing them, had no choice but to steer clear.
After Bai Yi finished bathing, the hippos had not yet released the crocodile that had failed to escape, and he felt deep sympathy for it.
The three cubs awaited him on the bank as he shook his fur vigorously, scattering water droplets in every direction.
He felt completely refreshed and full of energy!
He once again sighed, "Rainy season is so good, rainy season is so marvelous, rainy season croaks!"
This place has become a habitat for large mammals, creating an enormous ecosystem.
The succulent, verdant grass, the plentiful and crystal-clear river, and the forests and groves along the riverbanks all signaled the vigorous vitality of life.
After his bath, Bai Yi felt his mane was smoother than after using Rejoice.
Hmm, I can once again be a charming male lion.
The only question remained: where had Jason gone?
However, the first thing Jason did upon arriving here was not to drink water or take a bath; he went straight to hunting.
He knew that his older brother would take the three cubs to drink, so he turned and dashed toward the prey not far away.
A herd of topi became a delicacy in the eyes of the cub at that moment.
After subsisting on mice for a month, he wanted to improve the menu for himself and his older brother.
He miscalculated, for he had inadvertently entered the hyenas’ territory, and the hyenas quickly caught the scent of the intruder.
This group was rather large because, to control the riverside woodland, a small number would not be enough to defend the territory when large predators invaded.
The enormous numbers of the hyena pack had even deterred lions; a pride had once visited this area but was driven away by the hyenas, clearly demonstrating their strength.
In a state of extreme hunger, Jason managed to catch a topi. Carrying the prey in his mouth, he headed toward his older brother’s direction, but his path was soon blocked by a pack of hyenas.
The chattering calls of the hyenas echoed around him. Jason pinned the prey under his paw and then crouched down to prevent any surprise attack on his vulnerable area.
He emitted a low growl as a warning. His ears pricked up, as if ready to launch an attack at any moment.
Under the hyenas’ encirclement, not to mention an adolescent male lion, even an adult male lion might not be able to escape.
The prey and this young male lion were certain acquisitions for the hyenas, undoubtedly making for an excellent lunch for their clan.
At noon, the sunlight was dazzling.
Bai Yi searched around but did not find Jason. He roared toward the distance, hoping that Jason would hear him and come back to join him and the three cubs.
He soon received a response; however, Jason’s voice sounded strange, causing Bai Yi’s heart to tighten as he hurriedly took the cubs to find him.
Crossing the woodland along the riverbank, he saw Jason being besieged on the other side of the forest!
The hyenas were in an exceptionally large number. Bai Yi estimated that there were probably over a hundred of them.
Damn, how can there be so many?
He felt a bit intimidated, but the hyenas had already launched their attack on Jason and his group.
He heard Jason's agonized screams and low growls.
Bai Yi had no time to think further and roared as he charged into the hyena pack.
The hyena pack was scattered, and Bai Yi ran to Jason's side, discovering that he was holding down a recently dead topi with his paw.
Bai Yi then realized that Jason had actually gone hunting.
When he succeeded in his hunt, his way was blocked by the hyenas.
Furthermore, the hyenas' target was not only the prey, but also Jason.
The cub's hindquarters had already been bitten in several places, fortunately because he was crouching.
Bai Yi's charge in had little effect, as this clan was unlike any before; they did not fear even a lion pride – invading lions had been driven away, not to mention just two male lions.
Cowards who prey on the weak and fear the strong naturally believe that victory is assured.
Jason's mane was very light, and its paleness was the best evidence of his weakness.
The hyenas began to attack Bai Yi and Jason.
Fortunately, he had left the three cubs on the other side of the woodland, or else he wouldn't have been able to handle it all.
The hyenas launched their assault on them, and Bai Yi attempted to break through.
At that moment, a drone flew overhead, which Bai Yi did not notice.
The tracking team had already followed Bai Yi's footsteps to reach the Serengeti. Their successful migration also put the worried viewers at ease.
They had just reached their destination when they encountered a massive hyena pack, causing the viewers' hearts to jump.
On the screen, Bai Yi and Jason were trying to break free from the attack of over a hundred hyenas.
Such a large-scale hyena pack was very rare. Most of the time, hyenas appear in groups of several dozen, and it is uncommon for one to be this massive.
Clearly, these were indigenous hyenas.
The host was explaining:
"Bai Yi's family accidentally wandered into hyena territory. There is a very strange phenomenon here: the dominant force is not the lion pride, but the hyenas, because their clan is strong enough that even lion prides cannot hold their ground here."
That was quite something; the viewers' hearts, which had just been at ease, were now in their throats.
"I just can't come to like hyenas at any time; when watching documentaries, I feel sympathy for whoever is the main character, but if the main character is a hyena, I'm sorry, I really cannot empathize."
"The key is that hyenas are ugly, their tactics are despicable, and they always steal others' food."
"If what you said above is true, then Bai Yi and Jason are also stealing food; how can you still like them?"
"Ah, this... renowned double standards, take a look?"
"Hahahaha, to be blunt, you guys are still appearance chasers; if hyenas looked as cute as cats, I'm sure you would support them."
"That is not the point; the point is that the food that Jason hunted was seized by the hyenas, and they not only took advantage of the situation but also intended to take Jason's life; for that, I support Bai Yi killing them."
"Come on, Bai Yi can't even hunt. Haven't you seen those posts online insulting him? Many viewers left because Bai Yi is useless, so don't expect anything from him."
"Bai Yi not hunting does not prove that he lacks strength; a lion who takes on eight lions alone and becomes famous is not just something that others boast about."
"I laughed, saying that it was merely his good luck; stop boasting, or else your continued boasting makes me feel so disgusted I want to quit."
"Qiu Qiu, back off quickly; don't disgust me."
Before long, the live chat was filled with insults again, and the host could do nothing. Ever since the program went viral, insulting battles have occurred daily.
No one knew how Bai Yi would ultimately respond; the situation was indeed very critical.
It was a life-or-death situation.
The hyenas were experts at the wheel tactic, trying to wear down the stamina of Bai Yi and Jason. Jason was clearly beginning to pant heavily while Bai Yi searched for the queen of their clan.
Hyenas are usually led by females; in such cases, they have no choice but to rally around their leader. There were too many of them, and if the battle dragged on, they would all perish here.
With eyes alert in every direction and ears tuned to all sounds, Bai Yi quickly locked onto one hyena.
He discovered that as soon as she let out a call and charged ahead, the other hyenas would follow. Moreover, among those attacking, she was the most vicious.
It was clear that when she attacked again, with her target being Jason, Bai Yi seized the opportunity.
He quickly turned his head and clamped his mouth onto her spine. She began roaring loudly and struggling; after all, a male lion's bite force is formidable, and she could not break free.
The surrounding hyenas were frightened and began snarling at Bai Yi. He was confident that he had chosen the correct target.
Biting down on the queen came at a heavy price, as Bai Yi's hindquarters also suffered several bite marks.
With a powerful bite, he snapped the hyena's spine, and the hyenas, terrified, started to retreat.
It was no surprise; this was indeed their queen.
Once the queen was gone, the clan, lacking a central leader, would disperse. Bai Yi never shows mercy to his enemies, especially stray wolves and hyenas.
The queen expired in his mouth, and her clan panicked, retreating in droves.
"Roar~!"
Get lost; I'm not a pushover. See that? Provoking your brother Bai leads to this end; you had better be wise and stop provoking me.
Bai Yi bared his sharp fangs, his lion face fierce. It was a close call, he only suffered a few superficial wounds, and the prey in Jason's paws was still intact.
Bai Yi's performance left the viewers dumbfounded, and the live chat erupted with cheers.
"I knew he could do it! Whoever said Bai Yi was useless, come out and get beaten!"
"I might be crazy—on one hand, I think Bai Yi is unreliable, yet on the other, with him around, nothing is unexpected. What kind of mentality is this?"
"I've said it before, don't measure a wild beast by human standards. Remember, he's a wild lion, not a house cat."
"Ah, I might be getting carried away; I'd love to keep a big cat like Bai Yi. He's so cute!"
"Calm down, look how cute he is, and he finds you cute too."
"I have to say, Bai Yi, this male lion is incredible and unpredictable; I always feel that he is different from other lions, both in thought and in behavior."
"Even humans cannot switch seamlessly from being a useless salted fish to a dependable war god, but he can……"
"When you think he is useless, he will show you his skills and make you see him in a new light; just when you believe he is capable and reliable, he turns useless again."
"This is so frustrating, I can't even figure out what kind of character the main lead is while watching the livestream."
Not only are the viewers confused, but the tracking team is too; this is the most unpredictable subject they have ever followed since starting the livestream.
It is simply absurd; even the commentary is filled with awkward bewilderment.
Fortunately, Bai Yi performed exceptionally well; his turnaround not only resolved the crisis between him and Jason but also provided an extra meal for their weak lion pride.
Bai Yi felt both sighing regret and admiration—his accidental rescue turned into yet another moment of deification for him.
Although he sustained some injuries, it doesn't matter; they will heal quickly.
A hearty meal after the crisis felt incredibly satisfying.
Bai Yi thought that this riverside woodland was quite good, and he decided to claim this territory.
There was no scent of any other lion pride, which indicated that there were no enemies here.
As for hyenas, leopards, and the like, they were nothing to fear.
If the hyenas knew that after their queen died their territory was usurped by bandits who claimed it as their own, they would surely be utterly baffled.
Hyena: "Do you think you're being polite? You killed our queen and, as if that weren't enough, you also seized our territory. Was our threat to you not strong enough? In the past, no lion pride dared to settle here! Aren't you going too far!"
Bai Yi: "With all due respect, there's not a single one who can fight; I'm claiming this territory, and if you disagree, bite me."
Hyena: "Wah wah wah, you're really bullying us dogs!"
Bai Yi and his family settled in this riverside woodland, where water was abundant and food resources plentiful, a very good place to live.
It was a bitter pill for the hyenas, as their territory had been occupied, and the lion pride here turned out to be the weakest they had ever seen.
Isn't that bullying the dogs?!
That's just too much!
With a fixed habitat, life became wonderful once more.
As the saying goes, when you are well-fed and warm, you become lascivious.
Lions are no exception.
Bai Yi had truly witnessed Jason's character.
The kid has really grown up; he definitely needs to find a mate, otherwise he will always be treated as an object of fantasy, and that will lead to big problems.
So Bai Yi decided to find a lioness for Jason to join the pride, so that he could experience the beauty of romance.
But who could have imagined that upon seeing him return with the lioness, Jason went berserk and charged at her.
Without any warning, he started attacking.
"Roar!~"
"Get lost! Don't touch my sweetheart!"
He ended up injuring the lioness with his bite before Bai Yi could even stop him.
The lioness was frightened away, and Bai Yi stared at Jason in utter disbelief.
He witnessed what it meant to be a chameleon.
After the lioness ran off, Jason once again became subservient, coming close to Bai Yi and nuzzling up to him.
Bai Yi: "……"
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^[chameleon] Someone or something can change constantly.