Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Little Honey Badger

Chapter 27: The Little Honey Badger

Suddenly, a small creature dashed right in front of Chu Ye—or rather, in front of the cobra he had been stalking. Chu Ye’s heart sank; the excitement he had felt only moments ago was instantly shattered by the sight of this little animal.

"Damn it, it’s a honey badger!" Chu Ye couldn't help but curse in frustration.

He was incredibly annoyed. He had been psyching himself up to hunt a springhare, but when this little honey badger appeared, he felt as though his hopes had been dashed. Chu Ye knew all too well what a honey badger was. It was a world-famous internet sensation—a creature known by everyone. Also known as the "Flat-headed Brother," the honey badger was renowned across the savanna for its fearless nature. It was even listed in the Guinness World Records as one of the boldest animals on Earth.

On this savanna, the honey badger had virtually no natural predators; even lions found them impossible to deal with. Not even the formidable killer bees, capable of defeating almost any other animal on the plains, could stop a honey badger. In fact, the honey badger was the natural predator of the African killer bee, frequently raiding their hives to feast on the contents.

Seeing such a fearless beast, Chu Ye’s enthusiasm vanished into thin air. In truth, this was only a young honey badger—a sub-adult male weighing perhaps three or four kilograms. Chu Ye, by contrast, already weighed over ten kilograms. Although he was twice the size of the little badger, he knew that if he were to fight it, he would likely lose.

"Sigh, what a waste of excitement," Chu Ye thought helplessly. He hid in the bushes, not daring to move.

The young honey badger, now a sub-adult, was already foraging on its own. It had been passing by when it caught the scent of prey and rushed over. While the cobra was lethally venomous, it was merely another item on the honey badger's menu. Honey badgers loved eating venomous snakes; even if the venom knocked them out for a while, it was a small price to pay for a full stomach.

Chu Ye now understood why the little badger had come—it was hungry. But these creatures were so incredibly tough that they could eat venomous snakes for breakfast. When Chu Ye encountered a cobra, he had to take a detour, but the honey badger actively hunted them. It really was true that comparisons between individuals could be infuriating, and the same held true in the animal kingdom.

Watching the "Flat-headed Brother" prepare to hunt, Chu Ye could only look on with envy. It was a classic case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. The cobra had been busy hunting a small elephant shrew, and just as it caught its meal, its own predator had arrived.

The little honey badger was thrilled. Not only had it found a cobra, but it had caught one that was already mid-meal. For the badger, it was like a "buy one, get one free" deal. Upon seeing the badger, the cobra looked as if it were facing its ultimate nemesis. If it had previously been able to act arrogant toward Chu Ye, it now only wanted to flee. But the honey badger wouldn't let it escape; it immediately lunged and began to tear into the snake.

Watching the brave little badger, Chu Ye felt a bit ashamed. He was larger than the badger, yet he only knew how to run from the cobra, never daring to face it head-on. Meanwhile, the little badger had charged in without a second thought. Chu Ye couldn't help but admire the creature.

The cobra tried to flee, but the badger gave it no chance. The two clashed, but the cobra was no match for the badger, which quickly subdued its prey. The badger bit down on the cobra's head and began its meal. Poor cobra—to the honey badger, it was nothing more than a spicy snack, which the badger devoured with gusto.

Watching the little badger enjoy its "spicy stick" from the sidelines, Chu Ye could only feel envious. As he watched the badger eat with such relish, he couldn't help but drool.

"Damn, if only I were a honey badger! Then I could eat whatever I wanted, even poisonous snakes! I wouldn't have to go hungry anymore!"

Chu Ye dreamed of being a honey badger, regretting that he hadn't been reincarnated as one. He was filled with jealousy and longing for the badger's lifestyle. "Damn it, why wasn't I reincarnated as a honey badger? That would have been so much better."

The little badger continued to feast, and soon, the entire cobra was gone. Chu Ye, still hiding in the bushes, watched with wide eyes, drool spilling from his mouth. After finishing its breakfast, the little badger looked very pleased with itself. It licked its bloody lips and glanced around, looking surprisingly cute and innocent.

"What a cute little guy!" Chu Ye thought, observing the chubby badger. From a human perspective, it certainly was adorable.

The badger took one last look around and prepared to leave. Chu Ye watched it go, unable to do anything; he didn't dare challenge it. A fleeting thought crossed his mind: *Should I try to fight it? If I win, I could have a feast.*

But he quickly reconsidered. It was better not to be reckless. If he rushed out and lost, he would be in trouble. He might even end up as the honey badger's next meal. Chu Ye knew his own limits; despite his size advantage, the badger's thick skin and sharp claws made it a formidable opponent. Even a young lion would struggle to defeat a honey badger.