Live Cat Appraisal: Starting with a Beast That's Got a Long Prison Record

Chapter 104 The blackened golden cat!

How difficult is it to find a feline in the forest?

Very difficult!
What if this cat could also use 'illusion magic'?

It's as difficult as ascending to heaven!
Chen Nian now truly understands why there is such a scarcity of video footage of wild Asian golden cats, and complete behavioral records are even rarer!

These 'hermits' of nature have 'appearing and disappearing mysteriously' ingrained in their genes!
He and Xia Qiyue were operating the drone.

I hovered over the sea of ​​flowers for an entire afternoon and day, my eyes practically turning into mosquito coils from staring so intently.

But what flashes across the screen are only swaying flower branches, startled birds taking flight, and the occasional dart of a wild rabbit.
But the lithe, athletic figure I had been longing for was nowhere to be seen.

The only gain was probably providing more stunning aerial shots of flower fields for the documentary.

It wasn't until Lin Qidong and his team of rescue station members arrived, weary from their journey.

He was followed by five team members, each carrying a professional-grade long-endurance drone in their backpack.

Lin Qidong went straight to Chen Nian as soon as he got out of the car.

"Old Chen! How's it going? Any luck?"

"Not for now." Chen Nian shook her head, her eyes tired but focused.

He unfolded the detailed contour map that Gesang had lent him and circled several areas on it with a pen: "However, these directions can basically be ruled out. The drone has scanned them repeatedly and found no obvious traces."

"It also doesn't fit the environment where felines are found."

"Okay, thank you for your hard work! Leave the rest to us!"

Lin Qidong patted Chen Nian's shoulder forcefully.

Then, after quickly greeting Gesang and the infinitesimal quantity, he gave an order.

"take off!"

Five drones, like well-trained falcons, took off simultaneously with a buzzing sound, climbing to a higher cruising altitude and beginning to scan this colorful and mysterious 'Hell Flower Sea' from above in a more systematic and denser grid pattern.

Then, Lin Qidong walked familiarly toward Gesang.

The two were clearly old acquaintances. After exchanging a few greetings in local accents, Gesang glanced at Chen Nian not far away, lowered his voice, and spoke with a hint of professional caution.

"Is Xiao Chen alright?"

He was still somewhat uneasy about Chen Nian's speculation.

Lin Qidong grinned, his tone resolute: "Old Chen is the person I've ever met who knows cats the most."

One sentence completely put Gesang's worries at ease.

He had collaborated with Lin Qidong many times, and for the other party to speak so highly of Chen Nian, she was probably even more professional than he had imagined.

Thus, under the guidance of Gesang, the "living map," Lin Qidong, Chen Nian, and two others formed a team and ventured deep into the forest area on the edge of the flower sea to set up the key weapon for capturing the "ghosts"—infrared trigger cameras.

"To catch these cat spirits in the forest, relying solely on eyes that fly in the sky is not enough."

While skillfully adjusting the camera settings, Lin Qidong shared his experience with Chen Nian:

"Hidden sentries on the ground are the key!"

"This thing is patient, discreet, and doesn't disturb them; it's the best tool for recording their movements!"

As he spoke, he picked up a bottle of special camouflage spray and carefully sprayed it onto the brand-new camera casing and stand, filling the air with a faint, fresh scent of herbs.

"Remember to completely conceal our human nature!" Lin Qidong emphasized.

"These guys have incredibly sensitive noses. If they smell anything amiss, they immediately turn and run away, not even letting you take a picture of their shadow!"

Chen Nian nodded seriously.

Silently keep these valuable practical experiences in mind.

When selecting camera locations, he combined the footprints and animal activity traces he had previously tracked to pinpoint several 'animal trail intersections' and 'small hunting grounds' that he believed the golden cat was most likely to have passed through.

Based on his decades of experience traversing mountains and valleys, Gesang also added several excellent locations with concealed views that could cover water sources and commanding heights.

"These are a few points we can try."

"it is good."

Ultimately, twelve carefully disguised infrared cameras, like silent sentinels, were secretly placed at key points within a one-kilometer radius, weaving an invisible net.

Once a 'prey' is caught, it will be hard to escape the 'watchful eye'!
After everything was arranged, dusk had already fallen.

The group dragged their exhausted bodies back to camp.

While replenishing their energy and drinking hot water, Chen Nian, Lin Qidong, and Gesang sat around the dim camplight and discussed the mystery of the big cat's arrival once again.

“Strange.” Gesang shook his head.

"I've walked around this area for half my life and never seen a golden cat. Their dens should be deeper in the mountains, in higher and steeper places."

He named several locations where he had glimpsed the golden cat from afar.

They are all quite far from here.

Lin Qidong pondered for a moment and said, "Felines are attached to their homes and don't easily move. Unless... there's no food left at their home?"

This is also the most common reason for migration.

“It shouldn’t be food.” Chen Nian shook his head: “The fact that this golden cat can grow to a size close to 40 pounds means that its original territory was definitely a treasure trove with abundant food.” He glanced around: “Although this sea of ​​flowers is full of life, it is mostly inhabited by small birds and animals. The density of the golden cat’s staple food is not high enough to attract it to travel a long distance to hunt here.”

"Could it be a pregnant cat?"

Lin Qidong suggested another possibility.

“There is a chance,” Chen Nian said, rubbing her chin. “But the probability is small.”

"Based on my observation and tracking, this golden cat's footprints covered almost the entire flower field, as if it was repeatedly patrolling. Pregnant cats, for safety reasons, will greatly reduce their activity range and find a safe nest to rest and give birth. They rarely engage in such long-distance, high-intensity activities."

"Therefore, I am more inclined to believe that this is a male in his prime."

“That makes sense.” Lin Qidong nodded thoughtfully, the firelight dancing in his eyes.

"Sigh, the clues are still too fragmented! It's too difficult to figure out what a big cat is thinking just by looking at footprints and activity patterns!"

"I'm afraid only by seeing it with our own eyes can we solve this mystery."

This will undoubtedly be a protracted battle that tests patience and luck.

Gesang exhaled a smoke ring, his voice carrying a sense of comfort: "You can't force these things; it's all about fate."

Infinitesimals also have a time limit.

Three days.

"We can stay here for a maximum of three more days. After that, no matter what the outcome, we must proceed to the next filming location as planned. As for this Asian golden cat, it's all up to fate."

Chen Nian and Lin Qidong exchanged a glance.

They both saw the understanding and a hint of helplessness in each other's eyes.

Both of them were prepared to return empty-handed.

However, fate always seems to like to throw a surprise stone when people have no expectations.

The very next morning, while the camp was still shrouded in mist and weariness, the young man from the rescue station, responsible for checking the memory cards of the outer infrared cameras, spoke with an excited voice that boomed through the walkie-talkie:
"Team Leader Lin! Team Leader Lin! We got it! Location number three! We got it!"

"what!"

Lin Qidong sprang up from his sleeping bag instantly, his voice rising eight octaves.

"Are you sure?!"

"Confirmed! Although we only got a shot of its back, it's definitely the right one! It's the big cat we're looking for!" The young man's voice trembled with excitement.

"Okay, okay! You'll be right back!"

Lin Qidong excitedly shared the news with the others.

It instantly dispelled everyone's drowsiness.

"My God! So fast?!"

"Haha! It seems that even God is on our side!"

"The first one in the country! I really want to see what it looks like!"

A sense of joy spread throughout the camp.

For these nature-loving explorers, witnessing the true appearance of this mysterious feline is an unforgettable experience.

Especially Chen Nian.

The warning from that time-limited mission still seems to echo in my ears.

Upon learning that the golden cat had appeared, his anxiety finally subsided a little; at least it was still active!
As everyone waited anxiously, the young man responsible for retrieving the card ran back to the camp, panting.

Lin Qidong practically snatched the memory card and swiftly inserted it into his tablet computer.

The next second, everyone's heads crowded around.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes glued to the screen.

The screen starts playing.

The filming location was one of the spots suggested by Chen Nian. It was situated on the edge of a dense evergreen thicket, with a faint path worn into the ground by wild animals leading into the depths.

The video is sped up, and small forest birds and alert squirrels dart across the screen.
suddenly!

A much larger, crouching black shadow silently entered the lower left corner of the screen!
It was walking along the animal trail, facing away from the camera.

Although it was just a fleeting glimpse of its back, the smooth and powerful muscle lines and agile steps all demonstrated the power of a top predator!
However, the moment everyone saw that figure clearly, all the sounds in the camp vanished.

Even their breathing stopped abruptly for a moment.

Lin Sen gasped, then cried out in shock:

"Black?!"

"My God! Is that really not Black Panther?!"

(Darkened Asian Golden Cat! To load or not to load? If you do, pull out your money and come out!)
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(End of this chapter)