Generally speaking, adults are more intelligent than juveniles, and the less advanced the species, the more obvious this distinction becomes.

Take now, for example.

Han Cheng coaxed the panda cub with a few bamboo shoots and happily decided to stay in the Green Sparrow Tribe, refusing to leave, but using the same tactic on its mother? Not a chance.

No one knew how long it had been since the giant panda had last tasted bamboo. After a quiet, satisfying meal — just when Han Cheng thought she might be tamed — the panda wiped her mouth, as if nothing had happened, and refused to play along.

She began pacing restlessly inside the enclosed area, clearly wanting to return to where the walls of the Green Sparrow Tribe stood.

This shameless attitude was eerily reminiscent of certain people in the future who take gifts but never deliver on their promises.

The people of the Green Sparrow Tribe were well aware of the divine child’s fondness for these black-and-white creatures. So, after another round of stand-off with the panda, the eldest senior brother came up with an idea.

His solution was to bring out several large nets woven from thick hemp rope, throw them over the panda to restrain her, and then carry her back to the tribe to be enclosed and raised, just like they did with other animals in the village.

They had once successfully captured a strong grizzly bear using this exact method.

Although this black-and-white bear looked a little strange, it didn’t seem like it would be any harder to deal with.

It was a practical solution, but even after considering it for a while, Han Cheng still declined the plan.

He didn’t know why but didn’t want to hurt this fierce-yet-cute creature. Nor did he want to force her too much.

Another consideration was that the panda was already an adult. Even if they brought her back to the tribe, there was no guarantee she would become tame.

So the best solution was to drive her away — let her return to where she came from.

The shaman, the senior brother, and the others were all quite surprised by Han Cheng’s decision. They could see how much the divine child liked this kind of bear.

If he liked her that much, wouldn’t it make more sense to wrestle her down and bring her back to the tribe?

Why drive her away?

Seeing their confused expressions, Han Cheng didn’t say the real reason: “There is a kind of love… that means letting go.”

After humans descended from the trees, began living in groups, and gradually learned to use weapons, animals could no longer bully them at will.

And as time passed and weapons advanced, humans only gained more and more of an upper hand.

Eventually, many animals — fierce or not — could only survive under human protection.

This creature, said to be the mount of Chiyou in legend, had done everything to show her ferocity in the face of so many well-armed Green Sparrow Tribesmen. Yet, she couldn’t change her fate — she had to leave.

Especially since the Green Sparrow people also had a whole pack of dogs with them.

The giant panda left, and the people of Green Sparrow resumed their wall-building.

But the work didn’t last long — the panda returned.

So they drove her off again…

This happened three times. By then, the panda lingered near the tribe, unwilling to leave, yet no longer daring to approach too closely.

She could smell the scent of her cub, but she didn’t dare face the brutal “monkeys” inside the wall.

The sun slanted westward, stretching its warm, dazzling rays down from the western sky. The panda sat far off, gazing longingly at the tribe’s courtyard and letting out the occasional desolate cry.

A tall wall, a group of humans, and a pack of dogs all stood as an unbreachable divide between her and her cub.

Han Cheng stood atop the wall, looking out into the distance.

It was his eighth time climbing the wall to check.

Inside the tribe, the panda cub Tuan Tuan, cradled in Bai Xue’s arms, wasn’t as carefree as before.

It lifted its round little head and gazed outside the yard, letting out the occasional cry.

The small cub’s cries were much louder and clearer than its mother's.

Every time the cub cried out, the mother panda outside would grow more agitated, attempting to approach the tribe—only to freeze again at the sight of the gathered people at the gate, anxiously pacing in place.

The cub struggled to escape inside, while Bai Xue held it tightly, gently soothing it.

She adored the soft, fluffy little guy and had tirelessly cared for it these past few days. So when she realized the cub wanted to go with the mother panda, she became instantly anxious.

But her anxiety gradually faded as the mother panda’s cries continued and the cub’s struggles grew more insistent.

She didn’t want to let the little one go, but hearing the mother’s mournful calls and watching her linger at the gates made her heart ache.

Han Cheng climbed down from the wall, and Bai Xue immediately hurried over to him with the crying cub in her arms, unsure what to do.

“Brother Cheng…”

She looked anxious and helpless, hoping Han Cheng would decide and solve the problem for her.

But this was an impossible choice — there was no way to satisfy both sides.

“You decide whether it stays or goes. Whatever you choose, I’ll support you,” Han Cheng said, gently stroking Tuan Tuan’s head and then Bai Xue’s.

Part of it was a test for Bai Xue. But truthfully, Han Cheng didn’t know what to do either.

Han Cheng wouldn't hesitate to keep the baby if it were any other animal showing up to reclaim a cub.

But a panda? That was different.

Bai Xue hadn’t expected the decision to be handed back to her. She looked down at the cub in her arms, then listened to the panda’s cries outside — tears nearly spilling from her eyes.

She had never faced such a heart-wrenching dilemma.

“Yiyiya…”

In the nearby cradle, the newly-awakened Little Pea let out a soft sound, reaching for Bai Xue to pick him up.

Seeing him made her decision clear.

“Brother Cheng, let it go. Let it find its mother.”

Her eyes sparkled, her voice firm despite the sorrow.

“Alright, as you wish.”

Han Cheng sighed in relief. It was a tough decision even for an outsider like him, but once made, it brought clarity.

Even if he still felt reluctant to part with the little guy.

Han Cheng picked up the newly-awakened Little Pea while Bai Xue held the cub. Together, they walked to the gate.

The armed guards stepped aside, making way.

Han Cheng and Bai Xue moved through the crowd and walked forward some distance before stopping.

Bai Xue gently stroked the cub’s head repeatedly, reluctant to let go.

The cub, who had struggled so fiercely before, hesitated now. It stood frozen momentarily and turned back to look at Bai Xue. Its little eyes, ringed with black, blinked slowly.

“Go on, find your mother,” she said with a smile, gently nudging it forward.

The cub took a few steps and let out a loud cry.

The panda, waiting anxiously, suddenly dashed forward — surprisingly fast for such a sluggish creature.

If only she hadn’t tripped halfway and crashed to the ground, rolling into a big fluffy ball and knocking her cub into a rolling ball too — it would’ve been a perfect reunion.

Truly, panda moms have a knack for “accidentally” bullying their kids.

The big ball and the little ball tumbled briefly, then finally collided. After a short, playful scuffle, the mother gently picked up her cub in her mouth and ambled away.

After a few steps, she turned back, gazing at the tribe for a long moment, then slowly continued.

Under the slanting rays of the sunset, the two pandas became silhouettes in the fading light.

Bai Xue, now holding Little Pea in her arms, watched the scene with a bright, joyful smile.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay