Working in a Zoo with Beast Taming System

Chapter 292: Chapter 181: Now It’s Fair

By his side were two large dogs, one black and one yellow. They were well-built, with sleek, muscular lines.

They faced the approaching search and rescue team, letting out low, warning barks.

"Uncle Cai!"

Qiao Fei’s eyes lit up as she was the first to call out a greeting.

"Uncle Cai, long time no see."

Yang Qi also took a step forward, a smile on his face.

This Uncle Cai was one of the most senior Forest Patrol Officers in the Cangshan area. In his youth, he had been a renowned hunter and knew every blade of grass, every nook and cranny of Cangshan like the back of his hand.

The first time Yang Qi had gone into the mountains to search for clouded leopards, Uncle Cai had been his guide.

The two hounds by his side, Big Black and Dahuang, were officially designated "Forest Patrol Dogs" and on the public payroll.

"Big Black, Dahuang, hello you two." Yang Qi crouched down, holding out his hands.

The two hounds seemed to recognize this man with the unique aura, the one who had once walked alongside them in the mountains. Their warning barks ceased.

Their tails gave a slight wag as they approached Yang Qi, allowing him to pet them.

Big Black even nuzzled its head against Yang Qi’s palm.

However, the two hounds’ gazes kept shifting toward the composed figures of Hu Zi and Leopard.

"Advisor Yang."

Seeing Yang Qi, Uncle Cai smiled. "Back in the mountains again? Quite the entourage this time."

After the greeting, his gaze fell upon Hu Zi and Leopard, and a shrewd glint flashed in his eyes.

"Are these two police dogs?"

"Yes, retired police dogs. This is Hu Zi, and this is Leopard," Yang Qi introduced. "Uncle Cai, you look as robust as ever."

"I’m used to running around in the mountains. I’d feel off if I sat still."

Uncle Cai waved his hand, his eyes still roaming over Hu Zi and Leopard. He paid special attention to their posture, their gaze, and their muscle definition before muttering in his gravelly voice.

"Police dogs of this caliber, with this kind of spirit, and they were retired? The folks at the base in charge of breeding and selection must be getting blinder by the day."

"Ahem."

Qiao Fei, who was standing nearby, quickly coughed twice to interrupt Uncle Cai’s commentary. She swiftly explained that they were searching for a missing young man and asked if Uncle Cai had seen any strangers in the vicinity.

"Nope."

Uncle Cai shook his head. "I came over from patrolling the Old Lin in the east today. Didn’t see any unfamiliar footprints along the way, nor did I hear any unusual commotion."

Hearing this, Qiao Fei’s heart sank a little further.

She then invited Uncle Cai to join the search.

Uncle Cai agreed.

The team set out once more.

With the addition of the experienced Uncle Cai and his two outstanding Forest Patrol Dogs, the search’s efficiency and coverage area implicitly expanded.

Hu Zi, Leopard, Big Black, and Dahuang also seemed to quickly reach a sort of "working understanding," each taking responsibility for a different section.

They took turns leading and signaling to one another.

Time passed, second by second. The sky gradually darkened as the sun sank in the west.

Just as everyone’s anxiety was mounting, shortly after five in the evening, Qi Zai—who had been coordinating with the ground team from the air in a fan-shaped search pattern—finally sent another clear signal indicating it had found the target.

It circled repeatedly above a relatively sparse patch of woods to the southeast, its cries sharp and urgent.

"Over there, quickly!"

Yang Qi called out to the others.

Everyone’s spirits lifted. Uncle Cai also glanced up at the Beaked Eagle in the sky, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but his pace didn’t slow in the slightest as he followed the team, hurrying toward the target area.

Before they were even close, they could hear the low howls of a wolf pack from a distance, along with a scraping sound, like claws on tree bark.

A chill ran through everyone, and they picked up their pace.

Rushing out from the edge of the woods, a scene came into view.

Six Gray Wolves were surrounding a thick, broad-leaved tree, growling lowly and periodically leaping up to try and claw at the trunk.

In the tree, on a thick branch about four or five meters off the ground, a figure was slumped.

His back was against the trunk, his face pale and his hair disheveled. His clothes were torn in several places. He looked utterly wretched, weakly cursing at something below, his voice hoarse.

"It’s Wang Chenglong! We found him!"

A sharp-eyed team member cried out in delight, then shouted loudly.

"Wang Chenglong, hang in there! We’re here!"

Perhaps startled by the shouting, or perhaps sensing the approach of a large group of humans and fierce dogs, the six wolves that had been besieging the tree turned their heads in unison.

The alpha wolf let out a short howl and darted into the dense woods nearby.

The other wolves followed close behind, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

Hearing human voices and seeing the wolves flee, Wang Chenglong, still in the tree, first froze for a moment, then was overcome with joy. He used the last of his strength to yell.

"I’m up here! Get me down, quick!"

He even tried to stand up, shaking the branch he was holding. It seemed that aside from being frightened and exhausted, he hadn’t suffered any obvious injuries?

Yang Qi’s gaze turned cold.

’The other three people—one with a broken leg, one on the verge of death from a snakebite, one collapsed with a high fever—it was all because this idiot had provoked a wild boar.’

’And the culprit himself was perfectly fine, hiding in a tree, having only suffered a bit of a scare?’

The team rushed to the base of the tree.

Hu Zi, Leopard, Dahuang, and Big Black fanned out, vigilantly watching the direction in which the wolves had disappeared.

The other team members prepared to set up ropes and a rope ladder to help Wang Chenglong down.

Seeing the rescuers, Wang Chenglong grew even more agitated, waving his arms and legs about so much that he nearly slipped off the branch, drawing a series of sharp gasps from the team members below.

Just as everyone’s attention was focused on Wang Chenglong in the tree—

Yang Qi, standing slightly back, his expression calm and impassive, subtly circulated the Magical Power within him and locked onto the figure in the tree.

’Small Transport Technique!’

Up in the tree, Wang Chenglong—who was so ecstatic about his imminent rescue that he’d forgotten himself and was leaning halfway off the branch—suddenly swayed. It was as if he’d slipped on an invisible banana peel, and his whole body pitched forward.

"FU—"

Amidst a strange cry, Wang Chenglong fell straight down from four or five meters up in the tree.

"Look out—"

THUD.

CRACK!

Wang Chenglong landed hard at the base of the tree, and the distinct sound of a bone breaking rang out.

"AHH... my foot! My foot’s broken!!"

Wang Chenglong let out a bloodcurdling scream, clutching his right ankle, his face contorting in pain.

His right ankle was bent to the side at a completely unnatural angle.

"Medic, quickly!"

Although Qiao Fei was extremely displeased with Wang Chenglong’s prior actions, she was still on duty. She quickly directed the nearby medical personnel to attend to him.

The others also gathered around, their faces tense.

Yang Qi walked to the side and gently stroked Hu Zi’s head, his gaze drifting toward the depths of the mountain forest.

’Well, now all four of them are "injured."’

’Perfectly fair.’