Working in a Zoo with Beast Taming System

Chapter 289: Chapter 180: New Pill, Can I Take It Back?

Yang Qi sighed in contentment, carefully putting away his rewards one by one. Finally, he took out the pigeon-egg-sized Spirit Awakening Pill, which glowed with a faint, clear light, and held it in his hand.

He found Xiaojiu perched on the windowsill, grooming her fur.

"Xiaojiu, come here."

Xiaojiu nimbly hopped down, walked to Yang Qi’s feet, and looked up at him.

"Eat this."

Yang Qi squatted down, opening his palm to reveal the pill.

Without the slightest hesitation, Xiaojiu moved closer and sniffed it. The pill emitted a fresh scent that sparked a primal craving in her.

She stuck out her tongue, lapped up the pill, and swallowed it in one gulp.

As the pill entered her stomach, Xiaojiu’s body trembled slightly. Her eyes flew wide open, and starlight seemed to flow within them.

She blinked, communicating her joy.

’Master, I feel like I’ve gotten smarter!’

’Things I couldn’t understand before, I think I get them now.’

As she conveyed this, she shook her head slightly.

’...A little dizzy...’

’...I can’t... I need to sleep...’

The moment the thought faded, she collapsed on the spot, closed her eyes, and fell asleep instantly. Her breathing became long and steady.

"Woof?!"

Leopard, who was nearby, jumped in surprise. He immediately rushed over, nervously sniffing Xiaojiu before looking up at Yang Qi and barking.

’Master, what’s wrong with Sister Jiu?’

’Why did she suddenly fall asleep?’

Bai Wan and Hu Zi also gathered around, looking at Xiaojiu with concern.

"She’s fine."

Yang Qi stroked Xiaojiu’s warm body, feeling a gentle yet powerful medicinal energy dissolving within her and merging with her limbs, bones, and sea of consciousness. He chuckled. "She’s just asleep. When she wakes up, she’ll be able to start cultivating the Ten Thousand Beasts Devouring Moon Technique."

"Woof?"

Leopard’s eyes instantly lit up.

’Was it that little thing Master gave Sister Jiu just now?’

"Yes."

Yang Qi looked at the three police dogs, their eyes full of expectation. "Next time I get my hands on one of these pills, you’ll get to have it."

"Woof~!"

’Thank you, Master!’

Leopard was so excited his tail wagged like a propeller.

"Woof woof!"

’Thank you, Master!’

’Master is the best!’

Bai Wan and Hu Zi also began barking excitedly, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Yang Qi smiled and patted each of their heads. He then picked up the sleeping Xiaojiu, placed her in her own soft cat bed, and instructed Bai Wan and Leopard.

"You two watch over Xiaojiu. Don’t disturb her sleep."

Leopard immediately ran to the side of the cat bed and sat down primly, assuming the posture of a diligent guard.

’Don’t worry, Master. I’ll watch Sister Jiu.’

Bai Wan and Hu Zi also lay down nearby, guarding her quietly.

Yang Qi praised them, then prepared breakfast for the three police dogs—kibble and fresh water.

Afterward, he changed into his work clothes and went out to start his daily routine.

He fed the Gray Wolf and the raccoons, then went to the Leopard Hall to check on the pregnant Big Flower. Everything was business as usual.

When he was done, he headed to the staff cafeteria for breakfast.

There were already quite a few colleagues in the cafeteria. They all greeted him warmly, and Yang Qi responded with a smile.

Chen Ze, Hu Haodong, and the others were also there, gathered together eating and chatting.

Yang Qi got his food and sat down with them.

After breakfast, he chatted idly with Chen Ze and his friends as they walked out of the cafeteria.

Suddenly, the phone in his pocket rang.

He took it out and saw the caller ID: "Deng Lei."

Seeing this, Chen Ze and the others took the hint, waved goodbye, and headed out.

Yang Qi walked to a relatively quiet, open area outside the cafeteria and answered the call.

"Captain Deng."

"Advisor Yang, sorry to bother you this early."

Deng Lei’s voice came through the receiver, tinged with a hint of helplessness. "There’s an emergency. We might need you—well, mainly, we need Qi Zai’s help."

"Go ahead, Captain Deng," Yang Qi replied.

"Four people went into Cangshan, and today is the fifth day."

Deng Lei spoke quickly. "They’re registered amateur hikers; all their paperwork was in order. For the first three days, they were still able to maintain contact with the outside world by phone and report their position."

"But since noon yesterday, we’ve completely lost contact. Their phones won’t go through, and their GPS signals have disappeared. We’ve already organized a search and rescue team to go into the mountains, but the deep parts of Cangshan are complex, the area is too large, and a blind search would be too inefficient. Besides..."

He paused, his tone growing more serious. "Among the four, one has a rather special status. He’s the only son of Director Wang from the Municipal Bureau of Industry and Commerce. The department is under a lot of pressure over this and is demanding we find them as soon as possible."

"So I was thinking, could we ask Qi Zai to help with a large-scale aerial search? A Beaked Eagle’s eyes are much sharper than human eyes or any ordinary drone."

"No problem."

Yang Qi agreed readily. "I can bring Qi Zai into the mountains to help with the search. Just provide me with their last known approximate location."

"Great. We have their hiking plan and registered route on record. I’ll send it to you right away."

Deng Lei’s tone relaxed, but then his voice suddenly dropped, as if he had moved to a more secluded spot. With a hint of hesitation, he said, "Advisor Yang, there’s something else I need to give you a heads-up about. These four might not have gone into the mountains just for hiking and exploration."

"Oh? What else were they planning to do?" Yang Qi asked casually.

"..."

Deng Lei paused, then answered through clenched teeth, "They were going after clouded leopards. The leader was that son of Director Wang, known in his circle as ’Young Master Wang.’"

"We’ve learned through back channels that this ’Young Master Wang’ is particularly interested in felines. He has a habit of collecting and showing them off. A few days ago, he was at some event and heard that clouded leopards exist in Cangshan..."

What!?

Yang Qi’s hand holding the phone tightened unconsciously.

Clouded leopards in Cangshan?

’Aren’t those Ta Xue and her mother, Caiyun?!’

"Can I take back my ’yes’?"

Yang Qi said bluntly.

Hearing this, Deng Lei gave a wry laugh on the other end. "Of course you can, Advisor Yang. Just pretend I never called. But your reputation as an Animal Expert is pretty much common knowledge throughout the city’s various departments now. Not to mention your outstanding performance during the rescue of Professor Yu and the others... Director Wang will definitely come looking for you..."

"..."

Yang Qi fell silent.

After a moment, he spoke calmly.

"Fine, I’ll go into the mountains. I just hope that ’Young Master Wang’ isn’t cold yet."

"..."