Chapter Fifty-Five: The Battle Among the Treetops

Chapter 55: Battle at the Treetop

Once Chu Ye figured this out, he no longer felt like thanking the female baboon; instead, not only did he want to withhold his gratitude, but he also wanted to teach her a lesson.

"This female baboon is simply atrocious! After her own infant was hunted and killed by wild dogs, she now tries to snatch someone else's baby. When the rightful owner refused to hand it over, she escalated her maternal instincts to a bizarre, twisted degree, going so far as to steal a lion cub to raise as her own."

"This female baboon's maternal love has driven her completely insane! She hasn't even stopped to think: once this lion cub grows up, won't it just end up eating you, its supposed mother?!"

Chu Ye genuinely could not comprehend what was wrong with this female baboon that she would resort to stealing a lion cub as an offspring. Even if your maternal instincts are overflowing, shouldn't you at least choose a small animal to substitute, rather than the child of a lion?!

"Damn it all! I actually thanked you just a moment ago! You are no good person; you are nothing more than a common robber."

Chu Ye no longer wanted to thank the female baboon; on the contrary, he wanted to curse her out. After all, it was this female baboon that had stolen Mao Mao. She had caused Chu Ye to wrongfully accuse the wild dogs and even risk his life by breaking into their camp.

Although he hadn't encountered any real danger and had successfully hunted a small wild dog, none of that was something Chu Ye had actually wanted to do—it was all driven by his desire to avenge Mao Mao.

"Oh, you wicked female baboon, you have caused me so much misery! I really want to kill you right now."

Once Chu Ye learned the truth of the matter, his attitude toward the female baboon did a complete one-eighty.

However, after executing a complete reversal of his attitude, Chu Ye's thoughts shifted back once again.

"Sigh, regardless of everything else, this female baboon didn't harm Mao Mao, which can be considered the best possible outcome. Although this female baboon is a bit eccentric and twisted, she lost her own child, so her plight is somewhat sympathetic."

After cursing the female baboon a few more times in his mind, Chu Ye decided to forgive her. After all, as a human reincarnated as a lion, Chu Ye could easily understand this bizarre maternal behavior. Wanting to be a mother wasn't just a human sentiment; animals felt the same way, and they too possessed the natural right to motherhood.

"Alright, I forgive you, but you must return our baby to us. You cannot treat our lion cub as your own child."

Although Chu Ye had forgiven the female baboon in his heart, he felt that Mao Mao belonged to their pride, and he had to rescue him. If Mao Mao were to remain among the baboon troop indefinitely, something bad was bound to happen sooner or later.

Because once the female baboon's maternal frenzy subsided, she might no longer view Mao Mao as her child. Instead, she could suddenly start treating Mao Mao as her prey.

"No, I must rescue Mao Mao. I cannot let him stay with this baboon."

With this thought, Chu Ye bravely climbed up the towering tree and began making his way toward the female baboon.

Although the female baboon was perched high up in the tree's canopy, Chu Ye was only a small lion cub, and his weight was even lighter than hers!

Thus, Chu Ye pressed onward, climbing directly toward the female baboon. Even though Chu Ye was a cub of roughly the same size as Mao Mao, his abilities far surpassed Mao Mao's. Truth be told, this female baboon was no match for Chu Ye.

When the female baboon saw Chu Ye climbing toward her, she was utterly astonished. After all, she found it impossible to believe that a mere lion cub would dare to challenge her.

"Ah, another lion cub! I might as well snatch this one too. That way, I will have two children."

For this female baboon, her maternal instincts were currently overflowing to a catastrophic degree. She already possessed one lion cub, yet she remained unsatisfied.

When she saw Chu Ye climbing up toward her, she didn't flee with Mao Mao. Instead, she held Mao Mao with one arm while reaching out with her other paw in an attempt to grab Chu Ye.

"Humph, you greedy baboon, I am going to make you taste my power."

Understanding the baboon's intentions, Chu Ye suddenly raised his paw and viciously slashed at the female baboon's hand.

Chu Ye's claws were exceptionally sharp; with this single strike, he tore open the skin on the back of the female baboon's hand. The female baboon let out a piercing screech and scrambled higher up into the branches.

Seeing the female baboon flee, Chu Ye felt a surge of triumph. He let out a few barks at the female baboon, signaling that she must release Mao Mao.

Yet how could the female baboon be willing to let go of Mao Mao? She glared at Chu Ye and let out another sharp screech.

Although the female baboon had been scratched by Chu Ye, she wasn't particularly terrified. After all, Chu Ye was just a lion cub, and in her eyes, he posed no real threat.

However, the female baboon also sensed that Chu Ye was nothing like the cub cradled in her arms; this little lion was exceptionally fierce and not so easily dealt with.

"Humph, you little punk, quite feisty aren't you! I refuse to believe I can't handle you. Today, I'll capture you and make you my child as well."

Despite having been scratched by Chu Ye, the baboon was unafraid. Furthermore, she resolved to thoroughly defeat Chu Ye in a fight.

However, the female baboon realized that holding Mao Mao made it impossible to defeat Chu Ye. With Mao Mao in her arms, she could only use a single paw to fight Chu Ye, making victory nearly impossible.

Consequently, the female baboon placed Mao Mao down securely in a tree fork. Then, she prepared to go all out against Chu Ye, believing she could defeat him and claim him as her own as well.

How could Chu Ye possibly fear this female baboon? Even with Mao Mao set aside, he had no intention of running away.

Right now, Chu Ye wanted to teach this baboon a lesson, making her understand that stealing someone else's child was a grave mistake.

And so, Chu Ye and the female baboon began to battle fiercely high up in the branches of the massive tree. Although Chu Ye was smaller in stature than the female baboon, his combat prowess was supercharged, entirely sufficient to suppress her.

The female baboon never expected that Chu Ye would prove to be such a valiant little lion. As an adult female baboon, she was actually losing to him.

Chu Ye quickly gained the upper hand, leaving the female baboon injured. She had no choice but to retreat frantically all the way back to the treetop.

Seeing the female baboon retreat, Chu Ye climbed after her to the very top. After all, given his small size and light weight, he was entirely capable of scaling the uppermost canopy.

"Humph, I must save Mao Mao. You chronically maternal baboon, I will make you pay the price for your actions."

Chu Ye was resolute in his mission to rescue Mao Mao. Because Mao Mao was his older brother—even though Chu Ye possessed a human soul, they had spent months living and growing side by side, and he harbored deep affection for him.

Yet how could the female baboon ever willingly give up Mao Mao? Even though she couldn't catch Chu Ye, she refused to abandon the cub.

Realizing she couldn't defeat Chu Ye in combat, the female baboon had sprinted back to the canopy and immediately scooped Mao Mao back into her arms.

Cradling Mao Mao, the female baboon stared down at Chu Ye, still believing that it was impossible for him to reach the absolute summit of the tree, ensuring she would keep Mao Mao no matter what.

Yet Chu Ye's determination to save Mao Mao was unwavering; he continued his relentless climb toward the crown of the tree.

The female baboon had not anticipated that Chu Ye would be so daring. After all, they were dozens of meters above the ground at the treetop. If Chu Ye accidentally slipped and fell, the consequences would be catastrophic.

"Humph, you have some nerve, kid! Do you think you're a monkey?! Daring to climb all the way to the treetop—I'll make sure you can't get back down once you come up here."

Seeing that Chu Ye dared to pursue her all the way to the very top, the female baboon felt certain she would finally capture him. She assumed that up here in the canopy, Chu Ye would never dare to engage in a reckless fight.

And so, the female baboon initiated a secondary combat phase right at the treetop. Even though she held Mao Mao with one arm, she aggressively struck at Chu Ye with the other.

"Fine, still acting stubborn, are you? Then today I will beat that stubbornness out of you once and for all."

Seeing that the female baboon still refused to yield and wanted to continue fighting, Chu Ye pressed the attack without hesitation.

Though perched precariously in the canopy, Chu Ye relied on his lighter physique and the tree-climbing techniques he had previously practiced to maneuver and dodge with absolute ease, handling the environment flawlessly.

The female baboon had originally hoped to leverage her height advantage at the treetop, using a single paw to defeat Chu Ye effortlessly.

Yet when she clashed with him once more, she realized just how terrifyingly powerful this lion cub truly was.

Despite being a cub, Chu Ye's combat effectiveness in the treetops did not lose out to an adult baboon in the slightest.

Hamstered by holding Mao Mao in one arm, the female baboon was completely unable to fight Chu Ye at her full potential. Witnessing his fierce valor, she slowly began to lose ground again.

Growing bolder with every clash, Chu Ye quickly drove the female baboon into a corner where she could only parry desperately without any room to counterattack.

"Humph, better release Mao Mao right now! If you don't, I'll take your life." Chu Ye fought with mounting fervor, completely disorienting the female baboon.

In her fluster, the female baboon accidentally lost her footing and tumbled backward off the upper branch.

That momentary plunge terrified Chu Ye to the core. He wasn't the least bit worried about whether the female baboon would get hurt; his sole concern was whether Mao Mao would fall and be injured.

Fortunately, the female baboon was an adult, long accustomed to a life spent leaping through treetops. Even though she had slipped and fallen from the high branch, she managed to instinctively lash out and grab a lower bough in the nick of time.