Lighting's face scrunched into a scowl and asked, "Is there really a need for so much stuff? I mean I was born in the wild. We can just survive by hunting."
Red Packet slid him a glare and sneered, "Are you sure you're capable of that? I mean I'm not exactly a fan of raw meat. To be honest, I hate them."
"Oh yes, can you tell me about the route to your home?"
"No worries. I have Googled every single information that we possibly need. Firstly, we get to XX town, then we'll travel to XX Village. From there …"
With one haversack slung across their tiny shoulders, the two cats stopped right in front of a van. One fat cat was standing by the door and started scrutinizing them from head to toe, "Where are you headed for?"
Red Packet explained, "We would like to get to XX town! How much will that cost?"
The fat cat blabbered, "RMB 500 each."
Red Packet's brows furrowed slightly as he retorted, "Isn't that slightly too pricey? It's a rip-off!"
The fat cat was not about to give in as he scoffed, "Do you know just how far XX town is from the city center? Take it or leave it." At the same time, he had stuffed a pawful worth of food into its mouth.
Images of the magnificent gold mine started flooding Red Packet's head. Hence, he could only bottle up his anger and transferred the money over to him. He then led Lightning up the run-down bus.
In a matter of minutes, the entire van was already flooded with cats, pressed against one another. Red Packet's temple began to throb with rage as he muttered, "These bunch of country bumpkins! Why am I even forced to squeeze with all of them?"
He could not help but reminisce his lavish lifestyle before he was thrown behind bars. Even life under Zhao Yao was significantly better than this. At least he didn't have to share a confined space with all these uncultured swine. As a cat of his pedigree, when did he ever had to resort to such a destitute lifestyle. Just the thought of it caused him to tremble with fury.
The door finally slammed shut after a few more cats managed to squeeze their way up the packed bus. The fat cap tapped the driver on his shoulders before showing him the destination for the day. Naturally, the driver was a human. He nodded his head and announced, "Alright, everyone sit tight! We'll set off now!"
These revolting surroundings turned Red Packet's face into a giant grimace. On the other hand, Lightning loved this environment. Since shaving all his fur away, he was constantly plagued by a bone-chilling cold. Now, all these cats surrounding him provided much-needed warmth which was simply comfortable.
A few hours later, the van finally stopped at their destination. The two cats alighted from the van with an intense backache. The fat cat watched as the two cats disappeared into the horizons. Secretly, he whipped out his phone and typed, "Two supercats have just arrived at XX town …"
After traversing through the treacherous mountain ranges, they finally found themselves at the entrance to a magnificent desert.
Red Packet was barely able to breathe at this point as he panted, "Are we there yet? I think I'm starting to lose sensation in my legs."
After all, cats' physical strength was average at best. To travel such a long distance with a heavy haversack weighing him down, Red Packet had truly reached his physical limitation.
Lightning, too, was exhausted. However, he began to pull Red Packet's haversack by his teeth and encouraged him, "Yes, we're almost there. It's right in front of us."
Half an hour later …
"Where are all the grass? I thought you said that there was grass?"
"It's winter! All the grass are dead!"
Half an hour later …
Red Packet noticed a familiar object and asked, "Isn't that the bottle that we threw just now? And that puddle of …" Red Packet crouched towards the puddle of unknown liquid before taking in a deep breath, "Isn't this your pee?"
Lightning tried his best to avoid Red Packet's accusatory gaze and explained, "How is that even possible? All these bottles look the same. I bet someone else left it here." At this moment, Lightning noticed a snake at the corner of his eyes and he immediately jumped behind Red Packet before screaming, "A snake! There is a snake!"
Red Packet was left speechless by this chicken-hearted cat, "That snake is barely the size of your butt!" Suddenly, Red Packet began to pin Lightning down with a solemn stare, "Tell me honestly. Have you ever been to this place before?"
"Of course I have!" Lightning announced as he pounded against his chest, "I grew up in this place. I am the son of the grasslands!"
Red Packet continued pinning him down with a suspicious glare, "In that case, how far away are we from your home?"
"An hour's walk?" Somehow, there seemed to be a tinge of hesitation in Lightning's voice, "Or maybe two hours'? Or maybe even three? I mean you do understand that the grasslands are continually evolving. It's changed so much since I was last here!"
Red Packet finally had enough. With anger bursting through him, he shouted, "You're never even set foot in this place before!"
Similarly, Lightning could no longer keep up with the act and lowered his head in shame, "But I checked it on Google maps at least 10 times! I also watched at least 20 episodes of Man vs Wild! Do you know Bear Grylls?"
"I!" Red Packet's brain exploded with fury as those lies echoed in his head. By clinging on to his last strand of hope, he asked, "What about the goldmine?"
Somehow, Lightning's head managed to lower even further. Even his ears began to droop, "From what I read on Google, there is a gold mine here. Some time ago, a pirate came to the grasslands after his retirement and found a gold mine right here!"
"You stupid son of a b*tch." Red Packet wanted to just pounce on this r*tard before tearing him to pieces. At least, he wouldn't have to be bothered by his nonsense anymore. Finally, he decided to leave Lightning behind and just left.
"D*mn it!" Flames of anger continued to sear through Red Packet, "What happened to the goldmine? What happened to my power? Or is Lightning simply too unlucky? Even my power cannot overpower his?"
Lightning rushed forward and asked, "Where are you going?"
"Where else? Obviously Hong Kong!" Red Packet screamed, "I'm warning you, stop following me! If not, even I might turn into a r*tard just like you!"
Lightning watched as Red Packet's tiny frame disappeared beyond the horizon. He muttered, "I just wanted to see the beautiful grasslands."
Red Packet let out a mirthless laugh before continuing down his path.
Lightning's throat thickened with sobs as he explained, "I'm sorry for lying to you! Actually, I was raised in a zoo! Everything I know about the grasslands came out of my grandpa's mouth! Actually, he was also born and raised in the zoo! He had never been to the grasslands before! I just wanted to come here and take a good look at it!"
Suddenly, Red Packet's footsteps came to a halt as he turned his head around, "Shut up! Stop irritating me!" Seeing that Lightning was no longer following behind him, a contented glee spread across Red Packet's face. He then began to walk down the path which he came from.
"I hope I'll be able to reach the airport before the sky turns dark. I'm such a fool for believing in that r*tard! Never mind, I'll pamper myself by staying at a five-star hotel the moment I touch down in Hong Kong!"
However, his paws began to hurt from just walking another 20 minutes. He had no choice but to stop for a break.
"That r*tard has no fur at all. If he continues searching for the grassland, he will simply freeze to death!"
"Just look at him! Even a tiny snake can scare the living daylights out of him!"
Flames of anger continued to shoot through him as he walked, "What can that r*tard do? He can neither hunt nor navigate! He's useless!"
"D*mn it!" Suddenly, Red Packet turned 180° and walked towards where he came from, "But I can't just leave him there."
After walking another 500 to 600 meters, Red Packet saw a Pallas's cat sprinting down towards him at top speed.
Red Packet screamed, "Didn't I tell you not to follow me? Meowhaha, how is it? Have you finally given up your dreams of your god d*mn grasslands? I wouldn't mind bringing you to Hong Kong if you acknowledge me as your master."
Lightning could barely catch his breath as he bolted down the desert, "Quickly … quickly run!"
Red Packet was flabbergasted by his response and asked, "Why?'
"Just run!"
Bam! Out of nowhere, an SUV burst out and began to chase them down at top speed. It was moving so fast that it was creating a mini sandstorm!
With no time to think, Red Packet turned his body around and started sprinting down the same path which he came from. He exclaimed, "What the hell is that?"
"I don't know!"
"Then why are we running?"
"Someone on board the vehicle was shooting at me!"
Bam!
Lightning felt a piercing pain searing through his body as he collapsed against the sandy ground.
Red Packet immediately stopped next to him and saw the tranquilizer dart sticking out of his legs. However, the SUV was not stopping. In fact, it was speeding up. Red Packet began to scream at the top of his voice, "What are you doing? Get up! Get up and run!"
Lightning tried to move his paws but it was to no avail. The tranquilizer dart had already taken effect.
Suddenly, he felt the muscle in his legs were leaden down by this mysterious weight. There was no way he could continue running.