As an anomaly in the elephant herd, Yang Lin wasn't too surprised by the bull elephants' separation.
Moreover, he quickly located the two stray bull elephants using satellite imagery from the command center; they weren't too far from his current position.
Of course, that wasn't the main point. The crucial detail was that their path led towards a human village.
If those two were to enter the village, it would be a major problem.
Although the state would compensate for all losses caused by the elephant herd, Yang Lin's lost rewards would go uncompensated.
With this in mind, he immediately called the command center on his phone.
"I'm going to find those two bull elephants that left the herd. I'll have the herd stay on the highway, and I'll be back in about half an hour."
As soon as he finished speaking, a voice came from the command center.
"If you leave, what about the panda? It can't stay on the highway with the elephants, can it?"
Hearing this, Yang Lin's subsequent reply left everyone at the command center utterly baffled.
"Of course, I'll bring it along. Otherwise, if I find the elephants but the panda runs off, wouldn't I be at a huge disadvantage?"
Not only were the people at the command center stunned, but the viewers were equally surprised by Yang Lin's answer.
"No way, Director Yang plans to take Tuan Tuan to find the elephants."
"Others ride a donkey to look for a horse, is Director Yang planning to ride a panda to find elephants?"
"Can you even ride a panda?"
"As a dignified Iron-Eater, of course, it can be ridden. Although legend has it that it carried Chi You into the Yellow Emperor's battle formation."
"Will it run off if you take it out? I suggest a leash."
"A leash? Are you kidding me? Out there, it's not clear who will be leashing whom."
"I think it's better to leave it in the car. That way, at least we can help keep an eye on it."
...
Just as the viewers were thinking Yang Lin's decision wasn't very wise, Yang Lin had already spoken to the matriarch elephant.
"You and your herd will wait here for now. I'll go find those two stragglers. Remember, no more elephants should get lost."
Upon hearing Yang Lin's words, the matriarch elephant let out a long trumpet.
The next second, the herd gathered together, forming a defensive formation with the young elephant shielded in the center.
Seeing this, Yang Lin nodded with satisfaction.
With that, he walked towards his large truck.
As the cage door in the back of the truck opened, Tuan Tuan appeared on the highway.
"Tuan Tuan, are you ready? We're going to find those two elephants together. Don't fall behind later."
"Don't worry, Director. I won't fall behind. But if I help you find those two elephants, you have to reward me."
"Absolutely! I'll have them arrange a few more tons of food for you then."
"Prepare to depart!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Tuan Tuan was the first to dart into the dense forest beside the highway, its speed completely different from when it was at the zoo.
It was only at this moment that the viewers truly realized the terrifying strength hidden beneath the panda's deceptively docile exterior.
With this speed and its massive size, its charge would be no less lethal than that of a wild boar.
This made everyone worry if Yang Lin could keep up with Tuan Tuan, as the dense forest was far more complex than the highway, with intricate terrain and overgrown vegetation.
While everyone was filled with anxiety, Yang Lin finally made his move.
Like a hurdler, he lightly leaped over the highway guardrail.
Then, he climbed a tree about ten meters high like an ape. After determining his next direction from the treetop, he leaped to another nearby tree.
Thus, sometimes running, sometimes climbing, and sometimes swinging on vines in the forest, his speed was not much slower than Tuan Tuan's.
However, when this scene was transmitted to the command center and the viewers through the aerial footage from the helicopter above him, everyone collectively stared in disbelief.
If Yang Lin weren't wearing modern clothing, they might have thought they were watching a primitive man traversing the wilderness.
"No way, Director Yang's physical fitness is this good?"
"As expected, he grew up with animals since he was a child."
"He didn't just grow up with animals; he was practically raised by them."
"A scene of a human child being abandoned in the mountains and growing up with all sorts of wild beasts suddenly appeared in my mind."
"So, Director Yang isn't actually his parents' biological child, but was picked up by his father in the forest. Since he grew up with animals, he has an incredibly strong affinity with them. Thinking about it this way, all the doubts are resolved."
"No wonder Director Yang's father always took him into the woods when he was young. He was just visiting relatives."
"Damn, you guys are amazing, but this explanation actually seems quite reasonable."
"Got it, got it. I have inspiration. I plan to use Director Yang as the protagonist and your recent deductions to make a movie. Anyone want to invest?"
"You should go ask Director Yang to invest and be the lead. He can use the zoo animals to cooperate."
...
While everyone was shocked by Yang Lin's performance in the jungle, he and the panda had unknowingly traveled several kilometers.
At this moment, a human village appeared before them.
Along with it were two behemoths, which were indeed the two stray bull elephants.
They were currently leisurely eating, causing no harm to the village or its inhabitants.
Seeing this, Yang Lin breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thankfully, thankfully, nothing serious happened."
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he patted Tuan Tuan beside him.
"Come on, let's take them back."
However, as soon as he finished speaking, Tuan Tuan's nose twitched.
"What's that smell? It's so fragrant!"
"Fragrant?"
Hearing Tuan Tuan's words, Yang Lin quickly sniffed.
Indeed, he smelled a strong aroma, like that of grains, with a rich scent of alcohol.
Upon closer inspection, these scents seemed to be coming from the direction of the two bull elephants.
To figure out what was emitting the scent, Yang Lin decided to go take a look.
Just then, the two adult bull elephants, who were eating, suddenly collapsed with a thud to one side.
Seeing this, Yang Lin and the viewers turned pale with fright.
Almost simultaneously, a thought crossed their minds.
"Could it be that the villagers set up poisoned bait at the entrance to the village to prevent the elephants from entering?"
If that were the case, it would be disastrous.
With his heart sinking, Yang Lin couldn't help but quicken his pace.