Working in a Zoo with Beast Taming System

"There, there. Go to sleep."

"…"

The little lion whimpered for a while longer, then slowly closed his eyes. His breathing became even and deep as he fell asleep.

But his paw still rested gently on Yang Qi's hand.

Yang Qi waited until he was sound asleep before carefully pulling his hand away and standing up.

He walked out of the enclosure and quietly closed the door.

Through the observation window, he could see the little lion sleeping soundly on a bed of hay, his tiny body rising and falling gently with each breath.

"We've prepared some warm goat milk formula with added vitamins and electrolytes. We'll feed him when he wakes up. Starting tomorrow, we'll try adding some meat paste."

Dr. Zhang, who had been waiting outside, handed him a sheet of care instructions at just the right moment. "Brother Qi, this is the preliminary care plan. Please take a look. Also, we'll be specially preparing his food to ensure it's safe."

"Okay, thank you, Brother Zhang."

Yang Qi took the sheet, glanced over it quickly, and nodded. "In the beginning, I'll come by two or three times a day, mainly to keep him company and help him adjust. I'll have to trouble you with the actual feeding and cleaning."

"No problem, it's what we're here for."

"…"

With the arrangements settled, Yang Qi left the Veterinary Station with Jiang Kai.

Xiaochen from the Qingyuan Forestry Bureau had also finished the temporary handover procedures and rushed back.

Walking along a tree-lined path, Jiang Kai couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"Xiao Yang, your luck is something else… You find a lion on a trip back home, and one that's so attached to you, at that!"

"If word of this gets out, it'll be another headline."

"You could say it was just a coincidence."

Yang Qi smiled. "However, Director, I suspect this little guy's origins aren't so simple. On the way here, Xiaojiu smelled something off on the cub—it was similar to the scent from the poachers we caught in the park before. Mainly a chemical smell."

Hearing this, Jiang Kai stopped in his tracks, his expression turning serious.

"Similar to the scent on members of the poaching ring? Xiao Yang, are you saying they were smuggling this lion cub? And it was lost along the way?"

"It's very likely."

Yang Qi nodded. "There are almost no wild populations of Asiatic lions in the country. Private ownership is illegal, and any legitimate zoo or conservation organization would have immediately reported a missing cub."

"Only a poaching and smuggling ring would transport one secretly, and their crude methods could easily lead to a cub escaping or being left behind."

"The chemical smell Xiaojiu picked up could be a sedative or some kind of agent used to prevent tracking."

Jiang Kai's brow furrowed. "If that's the case, then this is a huge deal! It's not just about one protected cub; this could be tied to an entire criminal network. I'll report this to the director immediately. We also need to notify the police, especially Captain Deng and his team."

"We definitely need to call the police," Yang Qi agreed.

With that, Jiang Kai hurried away.

Yang Qi also drove back to his mountainside dorm.

Bai Wan, Leopard, and Hu Zi, back in their familiar environment, scattered freely.

Xiaojiu leaped gracefully onto the cat tree and began grooming itself.

Liu Fu also dropped its camouflage and climbed onto its designated perch to rest.

Yang Qi started cooking some Spirit Rice Porridge.

While waiting, he sent a message to Deng Lei, briefly explaining how he found the lion cub and his suspicions.

Deng Lei replied quickly, saying he would come to the Zoo that afternoon to discuss it in detail.

Next, Yang Qi called his grandmother to explain that he had been held up by urgent work matters today and would come visit her in a few days.

His grandmother didn't think much of it, only reminding Yang Qi to take care of his health and not to work too hard.

After hanging up, Yang Qi started the lottery draw!

The first three were regular rewards.

The fourth time—

[Congratulations, Host. You have drawn a prize: Low-Grade Gathering Spirit Pill]

'A Gathering Spirit Pill?'

'Not bad at all.'

He continued the draw.

[Congratulations, Host. You have drawn a prize: Tier One High-Grade Water Escape Talisman]

'This one's great!'

'A Water Escape Talisman. It lets you travel through water, unseen and untraceable.'

Satisfied, Yang Qi put it away safely.

Another draw.

[Congratulations, Host. You have drawn a prize: Low-grade Spirit Stone (Wind Attribute)]

'Another Wind Spirit Stone.'

He continued the draw.

[Congratulations, Host. You have drawn a prize: Vitality Nutrient Cream]

'It's alright.'

'The final draw!'

[Congratulations, Host. You have drawn a prize: Creation (Regeneration) Pill]

'Huh???'

Yang Qi's eyes suddenly widened.

'The Creation (Regeneration) Pill?'

'Holy crap!'

'I've hit the jackpot. It's like opening a treasure chest.'

The Creation (Regeneration) Pill, as its name implied, could regrow bodily organs—including the brain and heart—after they had been destroyed!

This was a true second life!

Of course.

If an ordinary person's heart or brain was destroyed, they would die on the spot, with no time to take the pill.

Only accomplished Cultivators and Spirit Beasts, who possessed a certain level of Cultivation, Magical Power, and Spiritual Power, and had a strong Spiritual Sense, could race against time and use the pill within a single breath to activate its "regenerative force."

'Saving that little lion was so worth it!'

Yang Qi joyfully put away the pill and distributed the Spirit Rice Porridge to his furry kids.

"Woof~"

[Master is very happy]

Leopard barked, wagging its tail as it ate its Spirit Rice Porridge.

"Meow!"

[You don't need to point it out]

Xiaojiu shot it a glance.

"Whimper~"

Leopard fell silent.

"Haha, I really did run into something good."

Yang Qi said with a laugh, patting Leopard's head.

"Woof!"

[See? I told you so]

Leopard raised its head and puffed out its chest.

...

「A little after three in the afternoon.」

Keeping his promise, Yang Qi went to the quarantine area of the Veterinary Station to see the little lion.

The little guy was already awake, lying on the hay bed and looking around restlessly.

When he saw Yang Qi enter, he immediately stood up. The tip of his tail wagged gently, and his large, amber eyes showed clear delight. He came forward with a low whimper and affectionately rubbed his head against Yang Qi's leg.

"Did you sleep well?"

Yang Qi crouched down, rubbing the cub's fluffy head and checking the injury on his hind leg.

The wound had already scabbed over, and the sprain seemed to have improved as well; he no longer staggered noticeably when he walked.