Free Web NovelChapter 296: Chapter 183: You Will Always Be the Strongest King
’What does that mean? Getting old isn’t the same as dying...’
Yang Qi subconsciously responded in his mind, but then he stopped short.
’Wait!’
His gaze carefully examined the "Great Sage" on the rockery.
This Monkey King was still powerfully built, and his fur was relatively glossy. But upon closer inspection, Yang Qi noticed the lines at the corners of his eyes, the occasional, almost imperceptible hesitation in his movements, and a deep-seated anxiety about "growing weaker" and "being replaced."
Yang Qi quickly recalled the information in Great Sage’s file.
Great Sage could be considered one of the park’s "veterans," having been at the Zoo for a very long time.
Based on the average lifespan of a macaque and his recorded age, Great Sage was indeed in the critical transition period from his prime to old age.
For a wild macaque troop, or even a zoo troop that simulates a wild environment,
once the Monkey King grew old and his strength and energy declined, a younger, stronger male would naturally challenge his position and eventually take his place.
This was a cruel but natural law.
Although Great Sage lived in the Zoo, which reduced the harsh pressures of survival in the wild, the instinct etched into his genes and his obsession with the "throne" had not disappeared.
He had sensed the subtle changes in his body, foreseen the inevitable future of his "abdication," and had thus fallen into a state of anxiety.
Attacking the other male macaques was both a way to vent his inner panic and a violent attempt to prove something to the entire troop—and to himself.
’I’m not old yet!’
’I’m still the strongest in the troop!’
However, the physiological changes that came with age were a law of nature that no living creature could reverse.
No matter how agitated Great Sage became or how many times he attacked his troopmates, he couldn’t stop that day from eventually coming.
If this continued, his anxiety would likely develop into genuine depression, or even lead to more serious behavioral problems.
’Only when things get to that point would the system probably trigger a mission like "Resolve the Animal’s Psychological Issues."’
’This is, to be honest, a bit tricky.’
Yang Qi frowned.
’Unless... Great Sage becomes my Guardian Beast, just like Xiaojiu and Qi Zai, and follows me on the path of cultivation!’
’Nourished by Spiritual Qi and tempered by a Cultivation Technique, he might not live forever, but he could at least significantly delay aging, maintaining or even surpassing the physique and vitality of his prime. Then his position as Monkey King would naturally be rock-solid.’
The problem was, Great Sage wasn’t one of the animals Yang Qi was responsible for feeding.
Yang Qi couldn’t have close contact with Great Sage every day to teach him a Cultivation Technique and provide resources.
Although Great Sage could "break out" and sneak into the back hills, he didn’t do it every day.
If he did it too often, it was inevitable he’d be discovered by other keepers, security guards, or surveillance cameras. That would lead to big trouble.
’Unless... Great Sage was no longer at the Donghua Wildlife Park!’
An idea flashed through Yang Qi’s mind.
’Once the Xianlai Zoo is built, maybe I can find a way to have Great Sage transferred or "brought in"!’
’Once he’s at Xianlai, on my own turf, I could make Great Sage a special animal in a "semi-captive, semi-free-roaming" state, just like Qi Zai will be in the future, giving him a much larger space to roam freely.’
’Then, I could justifiably make Great Sage a Guardian Beast and guide his cultivation.’
The difficulty of transferring or bringing in a macaque who was already entering old age and had relatively lower value in the current zoo would be much less than that of acquiring a rare animal.
Yang Qi was seventy percent confident he could get Great Sage over there.
With this in mind, Yang Qi maintained the Basic Spirit Communication Technique and spoke softly to Great Sage on the rockery again.
"Great Sage, do you trust me?"
Great Sage tilted his head in confusion, looking at Yang Qi.
"If you trust me, then wait another six months."
Yang Qi said seriously, "In six months, I’ll take you to a new park, a brand new, bigger home. Once we’re there, I can make you stronger, so you won’t have to worry about getting old. I can make you the strongest Monkey King forever."
Great Sage’s body suddenly stiffened. His intelligent eyes widened, and he stared intently at Yang Qi.
’Become stronger?’
’Not have to worry about getting old?’
’Be the strongest Monkey King forever?’
For a creature in the throes of anxiety about aging, this was an simply irresistible temptation.
Great Sage chittered urgently.
Two-legged Beast, are you telling the truth?
"When have I ever lied to you?"
Yang Qi retorted. "If I wanted to harm you, I would have told everyone about you sneaking out at night a long time ago."
Great Sage couldn’t argue with that and had always been grateful to Yang Qi.
Having been enlightened by Yang Qi, his intelligence was far beyond that of an ordinary macaque. He knew very well that if Yang Qi exposed his "jailbreaks," he would face strict monitoring or even solitary confinement. The chance to enjoy even a moment of freedom in the hills would be gone forever.
Recalling Yang Qi’s consistent friendliness and "secrecy," and thinking of the strange aura on this Two-legged Beast that made him feel both an instinctive closeness and awe, the anxiety in Great Sage’s heart finally vanished completely.
He leaped nimbly down from the rockery, landing on the ground not far from Yang Qi. He looked up at him and chittered gratefully.
Thank you, thank you, Two-legged Beast! I believe you!
"If you want to thank me, then promise me one thing."
Yang Qi struck while the iron was hot. "From now on, don’t bully your troopmates anymore. If you attack them again, you’ll likely be put in solitary confinement. If it comes to that, it will be very difficult for me to find a chance to help you, even if I want to."
Upon hearing this, Great Sage immediately straightened up and beat his chest, as if making a guarantee.
Understood! Don’t worry, Two-legged Beast!
