Chapter 399 - 216: A Stone Spouting Water, So Strange
Chapter 399: Chapter 216: A Stone Spouting Water, So Strange
Perhaps the broadcast about yesterday’s red panda poisoning incident had a deterrent effect, or perhaps the temporary safety netting and additional security patrols the park had urgently put in place were working.
This morning, Yang Qi noticed a significant decrease in unauthorized feeding.
The animals were also calmer than they had been the past couple of days.
The number of visitors was still staggering. By 10:00 AM, attendance had already surpassed twenty thousand.
But most of the animals seemed to be learning to find their own rhythm amid the now-constant clamor.
The tigers and lions in the carnivore section spent most of their day napping in the shade. They would occasionally rise to pace, completely ignoring the gasps and shutter clicks from beyond the railings.
The monkeys in the primate section, however, treated the surging crowds as a new form of "enrichment." The more performative ones leaped about on the rockeries to elicit cheers and snacks—and though the keepers watched closely, some treats always slipped through the cracks.
The more timid ones clutched their young and hid deep within the rock caves, only their wary eyes visible.
Even the most boisterous parrots were much quieter today, perhaps soothed by the lowered volume of the background music.
Yang Qi’s patrol had shifted from "putting out fires" everywhere to a more meticulous and forward-thinking "proactive hazard assessment."
He sensed the animals’ subtle emotional shifts, analyzed potential environmental stressors, and then relayed precise recommendations for adjustments to the control center via his earpiece.
"In the Northeast Tiger ’Great King’s’ exhibit, a visitor is shining a laser pointer from behind the southeast rockery. Security has been notified to intervene. Recommend stationing an additional guard in this area temporarily."
"Hippo pool. A child was throwing plastic bottles into the water. They’ve been stopped. I recommend hanging a prominent ’Do Not Throw Foreign Objects’ sign on the enclosure’s railing."
"Kangaroo Garden. A male kangaroo is sensitive to red clothing—it’s low-growling and pawing at the ground. I’ve advised the keepers to temporarily guide visitors wearing bright red away from this area."
Yang Qi’s calm voice echoed over the radio channel. Technicians in the control center and the heads of various departments responded quickly and effectively as the situations required.
The Zoo continued to operate under high pressure all morning, but everything remained orderly. There were no major incidents of animal stress or visitor safety.
Yang Qi even found a moment to go to the Veterinary Station and check on An An, the red panda still in observation.
The little one was lying in an incubator, hooked up to monitors and an IV drip. Its breathing was steady, though, and some of the light had returned to its eyes.
Dr. Li told him its condition was stable, but it would need a few more days of observation.
Yang Qi nodded.
...
A little after 2:00 PM is the hottest part of the day, when people are most likely to feel fatigued.
After running around excitedly for most of the day, the visitors’ energy levels were starting to drop. Many families opted to rest on benches in the shade or in pavilions, rehydrating and eating.
Yang Qi had just scarfed down a boxed lunch in the staff breakroom and was about to resume his afternoon patrol.
Suddenly, an urgent call crackled over his radio.
"Control Center! Control Center, this is Visitor Services. We’ve received a call for help. A four-year-old boy went missing from his family near the children’s playground about half an hour ago."
"He’s wearing a blue-striped short-sleeved shirt, khaki shorts, and white sneakers. He’s about a meter tall with short hair. The parents are frantic. They’ve already called the police!"
"Requesting a park-wide search! I repeat, a park-wide search for the missing boy!"
The message hit the radio channel like a stone dropped into a calm lake, instantly sending out ripples.
"Security team, copy. We’re pulling up the surveillance footage from around the children’s playground now!"
"Primate House area, copy. We’re on the lookout!"
"Bear Mountain area, copy."
"..."
A four-year-old boy going missing in the sea of people during the National Day holiday—the situation was critical.
Yang Qi joined the search.
Reports from various sections kept coming in over the radio.
"We’ve reviewed the surveillance for the children’s playground and the surrounding area. No sign of a lone boy matching the description."
"Patrol around Swan Lake complete. Nothing."
"Nothing in the herbivore section."
"..."
No sign of him anywhere.
Time ticked by, second by second. With every moment that passed, the danger grew.
’This is too slow.’
Yang Qi frowned. He walked to a quiet corner and stood still, his gaze sweeping the area.
On the treetops, several Gray Magpies were hopping and chirping.
On a nearby roof, a few sparrows chirped away.
Farther off, swallows zipped through the sky above a bamboo grove.
’If stray cats are the mobile ’sentinels’ on the ground...’
’...then birds are the ’aerial sentinels.’ They have a wide range of movement, a broad field of view, and there are tons of them.’
Yang Qi didn’t hesitate. He strode toward a nearby bamboo grove where there were few tourists and stopped behind a dense clump of stalks.
He used the Basic Spirit Communication Technique to ask the small, chirping birds for help.
"Hey, can you guys help me out?"
"Have you seen a small Two-legged Beast? He’s all alone, probably scared and crying?"
"..."
The birds continued to fly, forage, and chirp, minding their own business.
Seeing this, Yang Qi took out a block of Vitality Nutrient Cream and held it in his palm.
A powerfully alluring scent immediately wafted out.
CHIRP~
In the bamboo grove, a Gray Magpie that was preening its feathers froze. It tilted its head, its beady black eyes fixing on Yang Qi.
The next moment, it took flight and soared above Yang Qi’s head, circling and calling out.
[What’s that delicious thing?]
[Not a worm.]
[Want to eat.]
"..."
"If you want a bite, tell me: have you seen a small, lone Two-legged Beast?" Yang Qi flipped his hand over, concealing the Vitality Nutrient Cream.
[It’s gone!]
The Gray Magpie squawked in confusion.
[Small Two-legged Beast, yes.]
[By water. Crying.]
’By the water?’
’It actually saw him?’
Yang Qi’s spirits lifted. He pressed on immediately, "Which body of water? The big lake? A small pool? Is it a crowded place?"
The Gray Magpie fluttered its wings.
[Small pool.]
[Loud water on rocks.]
[No Two-legged Beasts.]
[Has trees...]
’A small pool? Loud water on rocks? A fountain or an artificial creek?’
’Few people, with trees...’
Yang Qi’s mind raced, filtering through all the locations in the Zoo that matched the description.
"Is it over by You Huang Creek? The little pool near the bamboo forest by the back hill? The one with the artificial waterfall?" Yang Qi tried to describe a relatively remote spot.
The Gray Magpie hopped.
[What’s ’You Huang Creek’?]
[Not much water there.]
[Stone spits water. So weird!]