Free Web NovelChapter 281: Chapter 178: Specially Appointing Comrade Yang Qi as...
The next day, just as the sky began to lighten.
In the Cultivation Chamber of Mountain-Back Courtyard, the halo of Five Elements Spiritual Qi gradually subsided.
Yang Qi slowly withdrew his power. A glint of light flashed in his eyes before fading back into tranquility.
After a night of cultivation, his Magical Power from the Great Derivation Spirit-Controlling Technique had grown a fraction more solid and pure.
He got up, went downstairs, and first headed to the backyard to collect from the Demon Extermination Array.
Tallying up the haul, he had a little over four hundred contribution points.
Time for four consecutive draws!
The first three were just regular supplies.
The fourth time—
[Congratulations, Host, you have drawn a prize: Low-grade Spirit Stone (Wind Attribute)]
"Not bad."
Yang Qi’s eyes lit up.
Including the one he had drawn before, he now had two Wind Spirit Stones.
Back inside the house, he mixed some Vitality Nutrient Cream into Xiaojiu’s cat food, added some to Bai Wan, Hu Zi, and Leopard’s dog food as well, and then set out fresh water for each of them.
Watching them eat happily, Yang Qi changed into his work uniform and headed out to the feed warehouse.
The morning Zoo was still shrouded in a thin mist, the air fresh and crisp.
After picking up the day’s meat and supplements, Yang Qi headed to the Wolf District first.
From a distance, Happy saw Yang Qi approaching with a bucket and immediately darted out from behind the artificial mountain to the side of the enclosure. Its tail wagged like a propeller as it grinned and let out an eager, fawning whine.
’Two-legged Beast, you’re back!’
’Next time you go out, take me with you, okay?’
’My nose is sharp, my ears are keen, and I can even guard the door!’
’How about it?’
It actually knew how to pitch its "strengths" and try to negotiate.
’An enlightened animal really is different.’
Yang Qi was amused. While using a large pair of tongs to place chunks of meat into the feeding trough, he responded using the Basic Spirit Communication Technique, "Take you out? You just want to run wild, don’t you?"
’Aww... I just want to go for a walk...’
Happy squeezed its head through the gap in the bars, staring pleadingly, its ears drooping slightly in a pitiful act.
Yang Qi thought for a moment. His schedule wasn’t too packed today.
"Alright, when the park closes this evening, I’ll come get you for a little walk. The usual deal."
’Awesome!’
Happy’s tail instantly wagged into a blur. It spun around in excitement before hastily adding.
’Roast chicken, don’t forget the roast chicken!’
"I won’t forget your roast chicken."
Yang Qi shook his head and chuckled.
After feeding the wolves, he went to the Raccoon Hall.
The moment he opened the enclosure door and stepped inside, a small, brownish-gray figure shot over with a WHOOSH and expertly hugged his leg.
It was none other than Huan the Second.
’Two-legged Beast, Two-legged Beast, where did you disappear to again?’
’Did you go off to secretly eat good food?’
Huan the Second tilted its small head up, its little eyes, framed by dark rings, gleaming with cunning.
’Take me with you!’
’I eat very little, not like my big brother. All he knows how to do is stuff his face.’
As it spoke, it even used a paw to point at Huan University, who was sitting obediently by a food bowl, waiting to be fed.
Huan University had a dopey, adorable look on its face, as if it hadn’t heard its younger brother’s "slander." Its gaze was locked onto the food bucket in Yang Qi’s hand.
Yang Qi was exasperated. He responded with the Spirit Communication Technique.
"I wasn’t sneaking food, I was just out taking care of some business. Come on, time to eat."
With that, he began to distribute the fruit and special feed.
Huan the Second followed his every step, chattering nonstop.
’What business is more important than eating?’
’Two-legged Beast, take me with you to do business next time!’
Pestered beyond endurance, Yang Qi thought for a moment and said, "I’ll see if I have time in the next day or two. If the weather’s nice, I’ll take you out for a bit."
’Two-legged Beast, you’re the best!’
Huan the Second immediately released its grip in delight, hopped in place twice, then sidled up to Yang Qi and continued.
’It’s a deal, then. Just take me, not big brother.’
Yang Qi glanced at Huan University, who already had its head buried in its food, and nodded with a smile.
Only then did Huan the Second feel satisfied, scampering off to enjoy its own breakfast.
After finishing the feeding and putting away his tools, Yang Qi headed to the staff cafeteria for his own breakfast.
After the meal, he went to the Leopard Hall as usual to check on Big Flower.
After seeing the leopard, he returned to his dorm and settled down to complete the homework assigned by Teacher Song Chunfang.
It consisted of several case study reports on modern zoo enrichment design and guiding animals’ natural behaviors.
This "homework" seemed unrelated to cultivation, but it was a necessary process to solidify his foundation as an Animal Expert and to understand the animals’ bodies and minds. Yang Qi took his studies very seriously.
...
In the evening, the announcement for the Zoo’s closing time echoed through the grounds.
As promised, Yang Qi first went to the Wolf District.
He put a leash on an excited Happy and walked it around the area near the Wolf District for nearly half an hour.
Happy thoroughly enjoyed itself, sniffing, marking territory, and romping around. Finally, it contentedly ate the roast chicken Yang Qi had promised, then happily trotted back to its enclosure, even reminding Yang Qi not to forget next time.
Next, Yang Qi went to the Giant Panda Hall.
He took Tuantuan for a stroll outside and, at the end, gave it two "special" apples.
Tuantuan cradled the apples and ate them with incredible relish. After finishing, it licked its paws as if wanting more. Then, without any prompting, it ambled back to its enclosure with a leisurely, pigeon-toed gait, its departing figure radiating contentment.
...
「For the next few days, life returned to its familiar rhythm.」
He worked during the day, feeding the animals, cleaning their enclosures, paying special attention to Big Flower’s condition, and periodically taking Tuantuan, Happy, or Huan the Second out for walks.
In his spare time, he completed Teacher Song’s homework. At night, he cultivated and performed his prize draws like clockwork.
The prize draws mostly yielded regular supplies, but his luck was good, and he managed to draw another Thunder Spirit Stone.
With that, he now had two Wind Spirit Stones and two Thunder Spirit Stones.
He was one small step closer to his goal of setting up the Cloud Plate Enchanting Array.
During this time, Deng Lei contacted him once more to ask about the progress of the Beaked Eagle, Qi Zai, in its mountain search for the "unknown beast."
Yang Qi gave him a truthful update.
