Cat 85: The Troublesome Dr. Peng

Chapter 85: The Troublesome Dr. Peng

The massive body blocked all the light before Yan Jiyun’s eyes. He shut them, waiting for judgment to fall, already preparing his farewell to his “shovel officer” in his heart.

If he couldn’t outrun the lion, then let it end him.

Yet, just as despair overcame him, he heard a heavy thud. The pain he anticipated never came—only a rush of wind sweeping past.

Yan Jiyun’s eyes flew open. The hulking figure, Caesar, hadn’t landed on him but had been knocked aside into the bushes.

The lion Caesar was rammed into the thicket by a black panther, flattening the greenery around them.

Yan Jiyun thought he was seeing things—a black panther!

The black panther had rescued him!

Wonderful!

But his elation turned to concern: a single panther could hardly defeat a grown, powerful lion. If there were a group, they might drive the lion off—but alone, a panther almost never stood a chance.

Moved by the black panther’s intervention, Yan Jiyun could only watch anxiously. The lion, though briefly bested, was quick to counterattack. What if the panther lost?

Helpless to intervene, he could do nothing but keep seeking help from other big cats.

“Meow~”

“Meow~”

“Meow~”

His cry rang clearly through the quiet zoo, carrying far and wide—easily picked up by any feline, given their sharp hearing.

The black panther and lion tangled. The panther had had the upper hand, but now was being outmatched. Still, it cleverly focused on distracting Caesar, drawing the lion’s attention away from Yan Jiyun, intent on grabbing its “cub.” But Caesar, in a rage, growled low and made it clear—if the panther took his chosen prey, he’d attack to kill.

Yan Jiyun was already shuffling away, legs trembling under the gaze of two ferocious beasts—neither of which was safe. Of the two, he’d have to choose the black panther; at least it treated him like kin, better than the lion by far—if such a comparison could even be made.

Sigh. One wanted to eat him; the other wanted to squirrel him away—both bizarre and oddly sensible.

Yan Jiyun didn’t want to see the black panther hurt by Caesar, so he edged away, doing his best to keep a safe distance from both.

Caesar, enraged by Yan Jiyun’s renewed call for help, lunged at the panther, who, despite being outmuscled, fought capably using agility and cunning.

Even as Yan Jiyun worried for the panther, he heard movement in the woods. An all-too-familiar tiger stepped into view.

The South China tiger—Chengzi!

Thrilled at the sight, Yan Jiyun wanted to greet it, but remembered he was in cat form, not as a human keeper, and held back.

Chengzi watched from afar, radiating pressure that made both lion and panther wary of a rear attack.

Caesar’s bulk soon pinned the panther. The panther was in danger.

Yan Jiyun sent Chengzi a desperate glance: “Meow~” Help, don’t just stand there!

Chengzi seemed to understand, moving closer without joining the fray, biding his time—another sign of high feline intelligence.

Now the lion was feeling the squeeze—trapped between a panther and a tiger, both equipped with feline tools, only differing in size.

No matter how ferocious Caesar was, evolution had wired him to recognize this was perilous—a shrill warning sounded in his brain: the tiger and panther might team up against him.

Every step Chengzi took forward made Caesar retreat one step.

The weight of numbers and the right allies was powerful. The lion was clearly backpedaling.

Then it became clear—Chengzi wasn’t alone. Three more tigers followed: Jin Zhu, Yin Zhu, and Yu Zhu—the trio who’d once worked with Yan Jiyun.

They too had heard his call for help; the three sisters recognized that cry instantly, and now, the whole force had arrived.

It was a strange sensation—perhaps this was the keeper’s reward: at the crucial moment, the big cats covered him, proof that his endless teasing with toys had not been in vain.

Caesar was smart—facing four tigers and a black panther, he knew he was likely outmatched, and slowly backed away.

Chengzi led the way, the three sisters close behind, all showing clear signs of aggression. None of them were playing around.

The lion slunk off into the woods without pursuit.

Crouching atop a sapling, Yan Jiyun didn’t dare relax; he realized that panthers and tigers didn’t get along much better than lions and tigers.

Though they’d worked together to help him, panthers and tigers were often rivals over territory, keen to argue—even now—about who the little black cat “belonged” to.

The lion’s exit didn’t make the panther lower its guard; Chengzi held the lead, and the three sisters lined up menacingly beside him, all glaring at the panther.

Yan Jiyun: “…”

His cry had solved the immediate crisis, but he hadn’t counted on seeing a second round between panther and tigers.

Both sides had just saved him—it would be a loss to favor either. To do so might provoke resentment; something he wanted to avoid.

The tigers had the numbers and size to win any fight, though; a brawl would likely doom the panther.

Yan Jiyun felt oddly like an instigator—awkward.

He glanced at his experience card; he’d narrowly dodged death, but there were still thirty seconds before he’d revert to human shape.

What now?

Should he use the cat toy to distract them again?

But what surprised him was that neither the panther nor the tigers seemed especially agitated. When hearing his cry, they’d come to his aid—their behavior undisturbed by whatever affected the other animals.

He recalled Dr. Peng saying that larger animals were more vulnerable to agitation, while the small ones were barely affected.

Yan Jiyun noted the panther and tigers seemed unchanged from when he’d seen them earlier that morning.

[Experience Card time remaining: 03 seconds]

02 seconds—

01 second—

With four big cats standing guard, not even a mosquito dared show itself. Yan Jiyun knew they weren’t players, so he confidently returned from cat to human form, leaping from the little tree.

[“Wanna Be Human” Livestream Chat:]

“Ahhh, scared me half to death! The whole scene was nerve-wracking—I didn’t even dare to keep the chat open, afraid the kitten would be devoured in a single bite!”

“I was in first-person—ended up sobbing, tears flowing on their own! I’m too weak; I’ve never felt like this watching other players. Seeing from the kitten’s eyes is pure terror.”

“Bro, you’re not alone! When the lion charged, my mind froze and I cried, too, though I burst into tears when the black panther suddenly appeared—overwhelmed.”

“You didn’t cry as long as I did. When the kitten fell from the tree, I started sobbing, just worried his little legs would get hurt. Seeing him shift to human again—looks fine, I can finally relax.”

“This is honestly the scariest moment in any instance so far—my heart is still racing, the plot’s all a blur…”

“Same, but thank goodness the kitten pulled through. If he hadn’t, Dr. Peng would probably have died tonight, torn apart by Caesar in the animal frenzy.”

“If, in previous runs, the player failed to rescue Dr. Peng, did the story resolve differently? Maybe, if a player finds the Dr. Peng path, they really can save his life. Dr. Peng is actually easy to approach—just show him a bit of kindness and he’ll return it, no need for special maneuvers.”

“But who’d have thought to try the vet route? In ninety percent of instances, doctors are psycho killers!”

“Whatever Dr. Peng’s deal is, I just want to know how our heartbreaker kitten is going to resolve the panther-tiger crisis—after all, both are precious!”

Both panther and Chengzi had already seen Yan Jiyun switch back and forth between cat and human forms; only the Zhu sisters appeared deeply perplexed.

Yan Jiyun pondered his next move.

One thing was certain: neither the panther nor Chengzi would hurt him. But that didn’t mean they’d obey him—he’d never trained them to do so.

The panther had been wounded in its tussle with the lion—he should take it to Dr. Peng for treatment. But Chengzi had been vital in chasing the lion away. He’d never imagined that, as a newly-minted animal, he’d have to make these tough choices among big cats. Both were clever, formidable—he couldn’t prefer one.

He reached for Chengzi, scratching his chin and squatting before him. “Thank you, Chengzi. If you hadn’t come, the panther and I would be stuck here. But now, I have to take the panther to see the vet. If you want to come with, you’re welcome.”

At the mention of “vet,” Chengzi’s ears pricked, alertness rising. He cast a glance at the panther lurking in the shadows, then turned and stalked off, the Zhu sisters following close behind; each brushed against Yan Jiyun before leaving.

Yan Jiyun looked down to find himself covered in a layer of fur. No feline could escape the curse of shedding.

When the tigers had disappeared, he turned to find the black panther staring at him wide-eyed.

“Let’s go see Dr. Peng,” Yan Jiyun said. When the panther didn’t move, he added, “You’re not afraid of vets, are you?”

Dr. Peng had told him he’d be hiding in the keepers’ lounge, but Yan Jiyun worried he’d be sidetracked if another animal crossed his path.

Still, if the distance wasn’t too great, he’d just have to search.

The panther sniffed Yan Jiyun, reassured by the scent of young cubs, and followed, keeping a cautious distance as if still bewildered by his transformation.

Yan Jiyun, fresh from Caesar’s extreme pursuit, could still feel the shock in his body—the closest he’d come to death since the second instance. Worse may yet lie ahead; he needed to get used to it.

The zoo was vast. If all its animals were loose, chaos hardly described the current situation.

He picked up the pace, the panther padding quietly behind.

Soon they located the keepers’ rest room Dr. Peng had mentioned.

It was a wooden hut surrounded by flowers, well-decorated and pleasant.

Yet Yan Jiyun didn’t walk in right away.

There were windows but no light inside, and no sign of human breath. Dr. Peng was not here.

Typical protagonist—always running into trouble. No wonder the system insisted he be protected.

Still, Yan Jiyun decided to explore the facility.

It was silent. He pushed the door open a little at a time.

At about fifteen centimeters, a swarm of black shapes burst out. Yan Jiyun dodged aside.

The panther leaped and snatched one of them; when they’d all flown into the forest, Yan Jiyun saw they were bats.

Aren’t bats supposed to prefer damp and dark places? The hut’s environment was unsuitable. The zoo wouldn’t keep bats—was this intentional?

After ensuring nothing else would jump out, Yan Jiyun crept inside.

He reached for the light switch, but it didn’t work—no light at all.

He’d left his gear behind in his earlier rush, forgetting his flashlight.

But wait—he had a lighter, and his uniform and two-way radio had returned upon reverting to human thanks to the system’s courtesy.

He flicked the lighter on and made a quick circuit. The hut had a dining table, water, and several folding chairs along the wall, a genuine rest area, even a restroom. Nothing seemed amiss.

Yet the humidity was high, with mildew flecking the walls—a prickly sight.

He said, “You wait outside—the air in here’s too damp,” to the panther.

Docilely, the panther found a sturdy branch outside and settled, eyes searching the shadows.

Yan Jiyun rummaged through the hut, finding nothing unusual—just a first-aid kit. For a small cabin, it was well-supplied.

Feeling the lighter heating up, Yan Jiyun flicked it off and carried the kit outside, calling the panther down from the tree.

“Come down, let me see to your lion bite.”

He hadn’t learned the panther’s name—his eyes lit up at the chance to pick one.

The panther obediently approached and lay down.

There, at the scruff, a small bloody puncture from Caesar’s teeth.

“That Caesar is brutal. Next time, let’s be sneaky instead of head-on, alright?”

“Tsk tsk, you’re really torn up. How long will it take for that to heal?”

He tended the wound while chatting.

“You don’t have a name, do you? I don’t know what they called you here, but you’re even blacker than me. Let’s go with ‘Soy Sauce.’”

“Suits you—way better than the cheesy names my shovel officer comes up with.”

The panther snorted, unimpressed.

Yan Jiyun didn’t care; nobody asked him when the NPCs named him, so now he could do as he pleased.

The first-aid kit had basic items for wounds and bleeding—not much, but enough for now. Still, he’d need to find Dr. Peng.

Once he’d patched Soy Sauce up, Yan Jiyun put the kit back but pocketed a few useful odds and ends—bandages, bug spray, some mysterious oil from another keeper, even a syringe of tranquilizer—the most valuable item. When he’d replaced the box, only half its contents were left; he plundered everything remotely useful.

Carrying it all in a backpack from the hut—much more convenient than stuffing his pockets.

The zoo was hardly safe now—at any moment, a rampaging animal might appear. Neither he nor Soy Sauce could fight forever; against elephants, bears, or orangutans, force wouldn’t suffice. Worse, having taken sides against the lion, next time it would be life or death.

Yan Jiyun patted his laden backpack and set off with Soy Sauce.

For a panther accustomed to the wild, the zoo felt tiny—half an hour’s run could circle the park.

He tested the panther’s eyes, trying to read his emotions—there was a touch of irritability, though still under control.

They were now in the aviary—at the west gate.

The zoo covered the area of fifty football fields, home to hundreds of species and thousands of individuals. Without a vehicle, it would take a whole day to get around.

Finding Dr. Peng was the new mission.

If only he had something with Dr. Peng’s scent—Soy Sauce could track him in no time.

If only he’d thought to snag a personal belonging earlier…ah, that sounded so perverse.

Well, it was for the sake of the mission. Next time, he’d ask for an article of clothing.

“Soy Sauce, let’s go find Dr. Peng.”

The aviary held only small animals—for the moment, finding a solution to the animal agitation was the priority. If Dr. Peng was the key, he needed to get to him.

Yan Jiyun and Soy Sauce left the aviary. He wanted to check on Xixi, but with a panther in tow, figured it best not to risk it. Xixi feared cats and, while he was just a kitten, a panther was ten times bigger and could cause a panic, possibly even a health crisis. Besides, without Dr. Peng to treat it, he had to wait.

Keepers’ night shifts seemed to entail patrolling every animal habitat.

Dr. Peng’s radio had remained quiet since earlier.

Then Yan Jiyun realized that, since all other keepers retired to their dorms at night, it meant the entire staff was off shift.

Which left only agitated animals, players, and night personnel inside.

Meaning he was free to check out the admin building himself?

This instance showed from the start that it was about individual clue-hunting—the system never forced teamwork. Of course, players could cooperate—but that depended on their abilities.

Given his unique situation, Yan Jiyun knew he couldn’t partner with others.

Besides, getting to know people in a short time was hard, and as a rookie in only his fourth instance, most players were seasoned veterans. He’d have to concoct believable backstories—better to spend the time chasing clues.

Soy Sauce moved stealthily through the woods, while Yan Jiyun stuck to the main road—using his keeper’s status openly. The panther’s instincts kept it in the shadows, both to shield its bipedal “cub” and to keep watch on the surroundings.

Man and panther: harmonious and unintrusive.

But this peace was short-lived.

Just as they reached Wonderland, an ostrich sprinted past, hotly pursued by a brown bear.

Wonderland was full of amusements—despite no staff, rides switched on and off automatically, just like when tourists lined up during the day.

The carousel closest to Yan Jiyun teemed with monkeys, dozens of them, making it look like a whole new Monkey Hill.

Besides monkeys, birds flocked in noisy swarms—a lively animal get-together.

All these animals were clearly highly agitated or excited.

Yan Jiyun hid with the panther among the shrubs, peering through the foliage. No especially large animals here, only mid-sized and small ones.

While deep in thought, he glimpsed a familiar figure sprinting toward him.

Dr. Peng ran with remarkable skill—judging by his ragged breathing, he’d barely escaped the lion before stumbling into a second chase. This time, he was being hunted by a herd of elephants in a state of frenzy.

Their heavy feet kicked up clouds of dust.

Yan Jiyun pinched his nose—he could see Dr. Peng clutching a vial of blood, running for his life.

“Stop chasing me! Help!”

Yan Jiyun remembered his quest and reached out from the brush, dragging the exhausted Dr. Peng to safety.

“Dr. Peng, this way!”

Dr. Peng followed him through the woods, finally stopping, gasping for breath when they were safe from the elephants.

“You’re alright! Thank goodness,” Dr. Peng exclaimed.

Listening to the elephants’ steps thundering nearby, Yan Jiyun said, “They could come back any moment.”

Quickly, Dr. Peng said, “Right. I just obtained a blood sample from an elephant—we can use it to find the cause of their agitation, but it needs cold storage now. Xiao Jiang, could you take this sample to the lab for me?”

[Congratulations, player, for triggering a side mission: Dr. Peng’s Request.]

[Mission details: Deliver the elephant blood sample to the laboratory within twenty minutes.]

[Mission countdown: 20:00]

Yan Jiyun: …

He’d just caught his breath!