abcnovels
Chapter 246
Chapter 246
Chapter 246 - Prepare to Take in a Little Brother
?Seeing the bear's demeanor, Jiang Hao couldn't help but feel a sense of oddity wash over him. This was the same creature that could stand toe-to-toe with formidable predators like tigers and lions, even besting them in combat. The saying goes, “A bear has the heart of a leopard and the courage of a lion.” Yet, here it was, seemingly gripped by fear.
Jiang Hao mused to himself, “Has it been tamed by my own hand?” If the brown bear could have heard the musings in Jiang Hao's mind, it would have been utterly heartbroken. “Fear is an emotion shared by all living beings. Who decreed that we bears are exempt from it?”
The bear shivered, bracing for the impact of Jiang Hao's ‘iron fist.' Internally, it felt a profound sense of injustice. It hadn't done anything to deserve such a brutal treatment today. “Mom, I want to get away from this weirdo as quickly as possible!”
To test whether the bear had truly been subdued, Jiang Hao approached and reached out his hand once more. At the gesture, the bear shuddered in terror, clenching its eyes shut, readying itself for the expected blow.
?But this time, Jiang Hao's touch was gentle. He caressed the bear's disheveled fur and kept his gaze fixed on its head, ready to react if the bear showed any sign of aggression.
?The bear, bewildered by the absence of the anticipated punch, cautiously opened its eyes and peeked at Jiang Hao. To its horror, it found itself staring directly into Jiang Hao's watchful eyes and, in a panic, feigned death.
Jiang Hao couldn't help but laugh at the bear's antics. “Okay, no more playing dead. I'm not going to hit you,” he assured. He had this feeling that the bear was unusually perceptive, almost as if it understood his words.
As soon as Jiang Hao spoke, the bear lifted its head and sneakily glanced at him. Realizing that Jiang Hao had no intention of harming it, the bear's spirits soared. It clumsily got to its feet and nuzzled against Jiang Hao affectionately, as if pleading for mercy.
Like a puppy.
Jiang Hao was almost certain—90% sure, in fact—that he had successfully subdued the creature. Yet, the bear's behavior of rubbing against him felt utterly bizarre.
?Can you picture a massive brown bear nuzzling against Jiang Hao as if it were a little dog seeking affection from its owner? It was quite the sight. But perhaps the bear's odd behavior was due to the harsh lesson Jiang Hao had delivered.
?After struggling to its feet for only a short time, the bear couldn't keep up and collapsed back to the ground. Seeing this, Jiang Hao couldn't help but pity the poor creature. As he planned to keep exploring the untamed wilderness, the idea of taming the bear crossed his mind.
“There's a certain satisfaction in making a brown bear your sidekick,” he mused. And with that, he resolved to tame the beast.
?Winning over a sidekick required a mix of toughness and tenderness—a firm hand followed by a sweet reward. Now that the firm hand had done its job, it was time for the sweet reward.
?Observing the blood on the bear's mouth and the wounds he had inflicted, Jiang Hao was struck with inspiration. He retrieved a bowl from his belongings, filled it with water, and then poured in some Vital Essence. He extended the bowl towards the subdued bear.
?The bear sniffed cautiously and detected a scent in the water that was irresistibly alluring. This water seemed to promise immense benefits, even more tempting than the aroma of the wild ginseng it had been guarding so vigilantly.
Driven by instinct, the bear eagerly extended its tongue and began to lap up the liquid.