Chapter 660: Chapter 537: She, Is There Something Wrong With Your Brain?
Chen Ying had a vague feeling that something was amiss, but couldn’t pinpoint exactly what.
When Mike heard that the lynx wanted to join them, his face split into a grin like a rotten orange.
This big guy was quite clever, full of doubts but didn’t ask a single question. Chen Ying said it, so he believed it.
They didn’t head upward, but had to explore the sides, after all, their main target was the Iberian lynx, and with the help of a Eurasian lynx, tracking another beast became much easier.
The two humans and one lynx walked along the mountain path, the scenery was beautiful, but no one was in the mood to appreciate it.
This lynx led them on a path not meant for humans, but along the way, they did manage to collect several biological samples of the Iberian lynx.
“Hmm, there’s a rabbit up ahead, do you want to eat?”
“No thanks, go ahead.” Chen Ying leaned against a tree trunk, panting. The terrain here was decent, so he and Mike could stop for a lunch break.
It was supposed to be lunch but was almost two in the afternoon. This was usually nap time for big cats, yet this Eurasian lynx still had the energy to lead them up the mountain. Definitely peculiar, absolutely peculiar.
Back at Jiamu Gully, at this time, even the spirited Jinya would find a place for a nap, let alone other cats, who’d just be found purring away.
An hour later, the well-fed Eurasian lynx returned, urging Chen Ying and Mike to hurry up.
“Hurry up, it’s just a small distance, why is it taking so long? Don’t hold me up from seeing my crush tonight.”
This lynx really had issues. Does anyone recognize you as their partner just like that? Didn’t you ask me to introduce you to someone before?
The Eurasian lynx snorted and glared at Chen Ying, “What if it’s always against it? Wouldn’t I still need your help to find me someone?”
Chen Ying couldn’t be bothered to say more, saving the energy for climbing the mountain seemed better.
After looping around and roughly determining the lynx’s activity preferences, Chen Ying and Mike discussed heading back for the day. This data needed to be compiled and submitted, with follow-up release activities to handle. After the release, a dedicated team will monitor the Iberian lynx’s activities here.
When they returned to camp, Daniel and Judy had already returned, neither looked in a good mood.
“We found this on the mountain.” An iron snare was discarded next to the camp, “Besides this, we found two ibex carcasses in a mountain gully. One had a trap on its hind leg, the other was clearly a young one, likely couldn’t leave the mother after it died or couldn’t survive alone, so it died there too.”
Mike and Chen Ying squatted to take a look at the trap, both showing grim expressions.
“Those damned dogs, they must’ve heard there were lynxes here and set traps.”
“Not necessarily.” Chen Ying disagreed, “Looking at the trap design, it seems intended for wild cattle or large ibexes.”
Actually, in recent years, things have been better. European countries imposed heavy penalties on poachers, they won’t escape once caught. But the biggest issue is Europe’s Sky Net isn’t as comprehensive as back home, with many private lands. Without catching them red-handed, they can’t be convicted.
“Forget it, how was your side?”
Judy suppressed the anger in her heart, changing the subject.
“Hey, you won’t believe what we encountered.” Mike caught onto Judy’s hint, deliberately making an exaggerated expression.
“What did you encounter? Wild boar or wild cattle?”
“Neither, you absolutely won’t guess!” Mike took out his phone to show his companions, “Look, isn’t this guy gorgeous?”
“My God, it’s really a Eurasian lynx!” Judy gaped, looked at Mike, and then turned her gaze to Chen Ying.
Chen Ying shrugged with his hands in his pockets, smiling.
“Let me see, let me see. Perfect, this lynx really is the most beautiful lynx I’ve ever seen!”
Daniel also moved closer, especially seeing the photos of Mike and Chen Ying with the lynx, his eyes turned green with envy.
“Don’t worry, you’ll have the chance to see it too. Trust me, soon you’ll see it.”
Daniel and Judy exchanged a look, then glanced at Chen Ying, “Don’t tell us, the lynx is nearby?”
“Hahaha, you really can’t hide anything from you guys.” Mike patted Chen Ying’s shoulder, “Chen, why don’t you invite our lynx friend to show them?”
Chen Ying spread his hands, “Maybe not now, wait a bit, around nightfall it might come over. After all, I promised to take it to see its beloved cat.”
Daniel frowned, about to say something, but Mike interrupted.
“Alright then, let’s make some food first, and later we’ll go together.”
Time flew by, and nightfall came, with the bright moon hanging high.
The light on the mountain slope wasn’t great, but in the moonlight, the surroundings were visible.
The four of them were lying in ambush on a high spot by the water source ahead of time.
All four were seasoned in field research, experienced, besides they naturally didn’t have a predatory aura towards animals, so staying quiet made them hard to notice.
The spot where Chen Ying lay didn’t directly face the water source, he put on a mask and used leaves and vines to weave a straw hat covering his head, only through a night vision scope could one tell someone was hidden there.
About half an hour later, a figure emerged from the bushes.
The four held their breath; their target had appeared.
It was an Iberian lynx with typical features, but its fur color was much lighter than Madir’s, almost gray-brown, still a relatively light brown, and its patterns weren’t very pronounced.
It didn’t immediately drink at the water’s edge but cautiously looked around for several minutes before quickly licking the water.
Chen Ying had a gut feeling and looked up, sure enough, there was an extra Dark Night Hunter on the nearby rock wall.
The lynx drinking seemed to have noticed the arrival of the Eurasian lynx as well, turning to hiss at it.
However, what this lynx expressed left Chen Ying utterly bewildered.
He nearly couldn’t hold back a spray of laughter, looking at the Eurasian lynx above with a complex gaze.
“Ow, ow ow,” the Iberian lynx called out briefly before quickly disappearing into the bushes.
After it left, the Eurasian lynx jumped down from the rock wall and drank several big gulps where the other lynx drank before.
Chen Ying stood up, gesturing Mike and the others to retreat. Mike quickly rose and headed back.
But Daniel and Judy wanted to stay to observe what the Eurasian lynx would do next.
As they didn’t leave, Chen Ying didn’t bother saying more, greeted the Eurasian lynx, and prepared to leave.
That lynx, after drinking, enthusiastically ran over to rub against Chen Ying, asking if its beloved lynx appeared pretty.
Chen Ying held back and held back, but finally couldn’t, giving it a hard smack on the head.
“What’s wrong with you? That’s an Iberian lynx, not even the same subspecies as you. The size difference between you two is too much. Besides, that lynx is male, just like you. You looking to make it your partner, how will you have babies?”
Mike originally wanted to get close to Chen Ying to inquire about something but had just approached when he heard Chen Ying saying something quickly and low. He wasn’t very fluent in Chinese, but he caught the term “male.”
Precisely because he understood that term, and knowing they came to see this lynx’s crush tonight, so… oh my God, this lynx was into the same sex?
Actually, such behavior isn’t uncommon in the animal kingdom, especially evident in some marine animals. But for land animals, it’s rare, as male animals instinctively want to pass on their genes, so… did this lynx get kicked out of the group because it’s got a screw loose?
The Eurasian lynx, labeled as “not quite right in the head,” seemed blissfully unaware of this self-awareness, naturally opening its mouth to Chen Ying, “Impossible, it absolutely isn’t male, where’s such a weak male, a single paw swipe would kill two! If it were male, I’d be female!”
Heck, could he maybe apply for an animal psychology expert to treat this silly lynx’s head?
Before Chen Ying could speak, that lynx chased after him, asking, “So do you have a way to make it accept me? With my strength and its beauty, our babies would be the best!”
The Eurasian lynx anxiously scratched at Chen Ying’s shoes, almost as if hoping Chen Ying could pack up that beautiful lynx and present it.