Chapter 12: The Blundering Brother Bear

“Hey, by the way, it’s been so long—where’s Su He?” Xiong Da looked around but couldn’t spot her anywhere.

Bengbeng scratched his head. “Yeah, it’s true. She went out ages ago and still hasn’t come back. Could she have gone home?”

“I’m right here,” came a voice.

Speaking of the devil, Su He appeared, walking out from the nearby woods.

“Are you Su He?” Everyone stared in disbelief at the unfamiliar figure before them.

“How could you not recognize me after only being gone a little while?” Su He asked.

“Well, your face shape does resemble Su He’s,” Xiong Da said, scrutinizing her carefully. “But your hair has changed—from short to long, and it’s turned white.”

“Ah, that’s a secret for now,” Su He replied.

Jiji, standing nearby, grew impatient. “Oh, come on! What’s the point of keeping it a secret? Su He, stop teasing us and just tell!”

“Trust me, you’ll find out in a few days. If I told you now, you probably wouldn’t believe it,” Su He said.

“Whatever. It’s still Su He, and now she even smells so nice,” Jiji said as he hugged her tightly and rubbed her gently.

“Xiong Er, let go of me! You’re choking me!” Su He pushed him away, gasping for breath and shooting a reproachful look at Xiong Er, who scratched his head awkwardly.

“Hehe, sorry! Su He, you just smell so good. One whiff and I feel like my heart is melting,” Xiong Er grinned.

“Really? I don’t smell anything,” Su He said, raising her hand to sniff, but detected nothing.

“Forget it. Xiong Er, weren’t you just telling us about the big white bear you encountered before? And how you took a stone from its head?” Su He asked.

“Oh, right! The stone!” Xiong Er hurriedly ran to his small backpack, rummaged through it, and triumphantly held up a stone.

“Look, this is the stone I took from the big white bear’s head. Jiji, you’ve got to believe me now!”

“It’s just a worthless stone. You can find one like that by the roadside. What proof does it provide?” Jiji scoffed.

“That’s not just any stone!” Seeing Jiji’s disbelief, Xiong Er grew agitated.

“Come on, Xiong Er, stop it,” Xiong Da intervened, trying to calm him down.

“I’m not making it up. This really is the stone from the big white bear’s head.”

“Can I take a look at it, Xiong Er?” Su He asked.

“Sure,” he said, handing the stone over.

Su He took it and probed it with her spiritual energy, but it showed no reaction.

That was strange. It was supposed to be Tear of the Lump, a stone with powerful spiritual energy. How could it behave like an ordinary rock? Thinking this, she released more spiritual energy to test it again—still no response.

Disappointed, Su He returned the stone to Xiong Er.

“Xiong Er, I believe your story about the big white bear. You’re honest; you wouldn’t lie,” she said kindly.

Hearing this, Xiong Er felt like he had found a kindred spirit. Overcome with emotion, he lunged at Su He, pinning her to the ground.

“Thank you, Xiao He. Over all these years, besides my mother, you’re the only one who’s believed me.”

“Xiong Er, get off me! You’re too heavy—you’re going to crush me!” Su He protested.

“Oh, sorry! Thanks for trusting me, Xiao He,” Xiong Er said sheepishly.

“All right, everyone, let’s get down to business. Winter’s here now. Gather all the food you’ve stored tomorrow so we can get through the cold season,” Xiong Da said.

“Got it,” everyone agreed.

After playing around some more that afternoon, Su He returned to her wooden cabin and found it suddenly filled with food, drinks, and supplies. Just then, the bedroom door opened.

“Hey, Su He, you’re back! Come see what I brought you,” said Qiang Ge.

“Qiang Ge, you’re back already? How long were you gone?”

“Ah, it’s because I’m broke. I wanted to spend more time with my parents, but seeing all the younger guys in the village driving fancy Mercedes while I look shabby in worn clothes made me want to come back early and earn some money,” Qiang Ge sighed.

“Oh, Qiang Ge, money’s never enough, but life only happens once. Why not be happy and stop worrying about others?”

“Yeah, you’re right. Enough said. The more I talk, the worse I feel,” Bald Strong waved his hand.

“Xiao He, I’m going to bed early. Don’t wake me up tomorrow—I need a good rest,” he said, returning to his cabin.

Su He washed up and lay down, thinking: The saga of the Snow Ridge Bear Wind has begun. What comes next? Treasure-Hunting Bear Soldiers? Or a magical realm?

Whatever, she’d think about it later.

The next morning, Su He rose early and went to the forest to help Xiong Da and Xiong Er prepare food for winter.

Before long, they had loaded all the food onto a sled. But along the way, the path was blocked by broken tree trunks. Su He, Xiong Da, and Jiji moved forward to clear the way, while Xiong Er stood aside, fiddling with the stone.

“Xiong Er, what are you daydreaming about? Hurry up and park the sled, then come help!” Jiji called from a distance.

“Okay, coming!” Xiong Er replied.

“When will Xiong Er ever stop spacing out?” Tu Tu muttered, chewing on a twig.

“Ever since he met that white bear, he’s been out of sorts.”

Xiong Er hurried to park the sled and prepared to help, when a cold wind blew, and a white figure darted through the trees, catching his attention.

Following the snowflakes swirling among the branches, Xiong Er ran toward the spot and saw a massive figure standing ahead before it dashed away. As Xiong Er was about to give chase, the stone that had been wedged behind the sled shifted, loosening it. The sled began to slide forward.

Realizing this, Xiong Er quickly ran after it.

“Maomao, put some muscle into it! Ah, brrr, this weather is freezing! Hey, where’s Xiong Er? Why hasn’t he come to help?”

“Oh no, stop him! This is bad!” At that moment, Xiong Er’s voice rang out. Jiji turned to look and was immediately knocked flying by the runaway sled.

“Ah, this is terrible!” everyone shouted, rushing after them.

Jiji managed to lift his head and rub his face, panic-stricken at the scene before him.

“Xiong Er, what have you done?”

“Jiji! Jiji!” Xiong Da and Su He called as they ran after them.

“Those are all the fruits we worked so hard to gather. Our entire winter depends on them.”

“We can’t lose any of it. Xiong Er, stop the sled!”

“All right!” Xiong Er said, leaping forward to grab the sled’s rope, but the sled’s speed dragged him along, throwing him off.

Xiong Da and Su He watched Jiji growing smaller in the distance, deciding to take a shortcut to catch up.