Chapter 18: Identity Exposed

At night, Logger Vick drove his truck into the forest, accompanied by the southern profiteer, Baboon, and Er-gou.

"Heh heh, Baboon, I was wondering why you're wearing so many layers today?" Er-gou teased, watching Baboon, who was sitting on a chair and rubbing his hands incessantly.

"It’s all your fault for dragging me down, causing me to lose my hand warmers!"

"Hey, why are you pinning this all on me?"

Meanwhile, the southern profiteer was scrolling through Baboon’s social media feed. "Baboon’s feed is full of selfies. Wow, so ugly. Oh, look, someone even commented. It seems to be saying..."

"Heated hand warmers... I think I have those in my own space photos too." The profiteer opened his own profile and saw photos of Tuanzi chasing Baboon. Suddenly, one photo caught his eye: Tuanzi had a hand warmer stuck to her back. This image instantly grabbed the profiteer’s full attention.

"Baboon, take off your coat."

"Boss, what are you doing?" Seeing the lecherous look on the profiteer's face, Baboon felt a sense of dread.

"Stop babbling. Er-gou, help him."

"You got it!"

Knowing he could not escape his fate, Baboon chose to endure it in silence.

"Ah!" A miserable scream echoed through the woods, startling Logger Vick, who was behind the wheel.

Vick glanced at the rearview mirror. "What on earth are they doing back there?"

The profiteer held the hand warmer in his hand and laughed loudly, "So that’s it! Hahahaha, I understand now."

Back at Su He’s side, Briar was dreaming of being trapped in magma surrounded by strange rocks and the terrifying Tuanzi. After witnessing a series of horrific visions, he finally woke up with a start.

"Tuanzi? Where is Tuanzi? Tuanzi!"

"Briar, what are you yelling about? Can’t you let a person sleep?"

Briar turned to see Su He rubbing his eyes and complaining from a rock behind him, and seeing Tuanzi nearby, he instantly felt relieved.

"Su He, Tuanzi, so you’re here. By the way, Su He, should we go get some breakfast?"

Su He, anticipating that the profiteer would soon arrive to capture Tuanzi, refused. "Briar, you go ahead first. I have something to take care of."

"Oh, alright then. I’ll be going."

High up in a tree, Tiki shouted at Babu, "Babu, you actually lost track of Bramble! How do you do your job?" He muttered as he gnawed on a banana.

"I’m sorry, King Tiki, I was just so hungry, my vision blurred and... wait, King Tiki, how do you still have food?"

"Uh, about that... look, it’s Briar!" Just as he was trying to explain, he spotted Briar skipping out of the nearby woods.

"What’s wrong with him?"

"He’s laughing so happily; it seems the secret lies there." With that, Tiki led Babu in the opposite direction of Briar.

After pushing aside the bushes, they saw nothing but two large rocks. Confused, Tiki looked around. "Why is there nothing here?"

"Where could Briar have hidden the food? I don't see anything."

"King Tiki, don't you think it’s a bit strange? It’s so gloomy and chilly."

"Babu, stop talking nonsense."

Su He, sitting on Tuanzi’s back, watched Tiki and Babu below and couldn't help but want to play a prank.

Suddenly, Tiki and Babu turned around.

"Why is there nothing here?"

"But King Tiki, it felt like someone was behind us just now."

"Enough! A real man among monkeys fears nothing!"

Suddenly, Tiki felt the banana on his scepter being pulled by someone. Both monkeys slowly turned their heads to see Tuanzi biting the banana. Caught in the act, Tuanzi awkwardly bared her teeth and smiled.

"Ah!"

Over in the forest, Logger Vick arrived again with the profiteer, Baboon, and Er-gou. The profiteer smirked at the three sets of equipment in his hands. "With this gear, you won't be able to run away this time, will you?"

"Don't come over here! Don't!" The fierce Tuanzi bit Tiki and tossed him into the air.

"Ah!" Tiki landed on Tuanzi’s back, sliding from head to tail.

"Haha, how is it, Tiki? Fun? Is it exciting?" Su He covered his mouth, laughing from the sidelines.

Recovering from the shock, Tiki grew excited. "That was so much fun! Su He, you and Briar are going too far. You wanted to keep such a fun big guy all to yourselves, and now I've discovered it! Babu, let’s go again!"

"Ahem, everyone seems to be having quite a lot of fun," the profiteer said, stepping out from the side. Upon seeing him, Tuanzi bared her teeth in a snarl.

Su He looked at the profiteer with disgust. "Hey, are you ever going to give up? You failed to catch Tuanzi last time, and now you’re back? By the way, where are those two useless idiots you usually bring?"

"Hahaha, this giant white bear is my lifelong dream. How could I ever be satisfied without catching her?"

"And I never expected you to be in cahoots with her. You two seem quite close. However, I’ve prepared a big gift for you this time." He turned around, signaling Baboon and Er-gou to aim the heat-seeking missiles at Tuanzi.

Su He knew he would have to use force. He had avoided using his abilities before, fearing exposure to human society; his physical changes and powers would drive scientists into a frenzy.

Seeing Baboon and Er-gou preparing to fire, Su He quickly pulled Tuanzi aside. "Tuanzi, run!"

"Hmph, you think it’s that easy to run? Baboon, fire!"

"Yes, Boss!" Baboon pressed the switch.

"Boom!" Led by Su He, Tuanzi dodged just in time, and the missile struck a nearby tree, which instantly collapsed.

"Damn, that’s powerful! Tuanzi, we have to go!"

"Su He, who are these people?"

"They are here to capture you. It would be a disaster if they caught you."

Seeing them miss, the profiteer scolded Baboon and Er-gou, "How can you miss at such a close range? What are you doing?"

"What are you standing there for? Chase them!"

The three of them stepped onto their skis and gave chase. Baboon and Er-gou fired two more missiles, but still missed.

"Do you two have your eyes in your rear ends? It seems I have to do it myself."

The profiteer aimed his launcher at Tuanzi. Just as it was about to hit, Su He manifested white scales to shield Tuanzi’s back.

"What is this?" The profiteer froze, staring at the white scales covering Su He’s face and hands, and the armored plating manifested before him.

In that split second, Su He fired ice arrows at the profiteer, Baboon, and Er-gou.

The profiteer reacted quickly, dodging the attack. He seized the moment to snap a photo of Su He, then turned to his henchmen.

"Baboon, Er-gou! I don't just want the white bear anymore. Catch him too! I don't care what the cost is—I’ll pay whatever you want."

"Yes, Boss!"