Chapter 545 - 251: Found the Tiger!
Chapter 545: Chapter 251: Found the Tiger!
Yang Qi met his Eldest Senior Brother’s scrutinizing gaze and answered calmly.
"Xiaojiu’s sense of smell and intelligence far exceed those of an ordinary animal. It has helped the police solve multiple cases, and its abilities have been verified many times. I’m willing to stand by my words."
The Eldest Senior Brother watched Yang Qi for a few seconds, then slowly nodded, his gaze shifting to Song Chunfang.
"Teacher, what do you think?"
"..."
Song Chunfang took a deep breath, calming her turbulent emotions.
She looked at Yang Qi, her eyes filled with affection, yet also a gravity she had never shown before.
"Xiaoqi, this news is too sudden, and too important. Teacher thanks you. However, a scent trail alone isn’t enough. We need more concrete evidence, even if it’s just droppings, fur, tracks, or a blurry image from an infrared camera."
"I understand, Teacher."
Yang Qi nodded. "That’s why I’m planning to take Xiaojiu and go to that stretch of primitive mountain forest alone to confirm the situation. For now, no one else."
"What?"
"No way!"
"It’s too dangerous!"
The words had barely left his mouth when Fang Rong, Yang Fan, and Xia Xiaomin cried out in unison, their faces filled with disapproval and worry.
Fang Rong was the first to react, saying urgently, "Little Junior Brother, this is no joke! I know you were amazing at the Donghua Zoo, pulling a tiger’s tooth with your bare hands and subduing a brown bear empty-handed, but that was all inside a Zoo."
"The environment there is controlled. No matter how fierce the animals are, they’ve been in captivity for a long time, and much of their wildness has been worn away. A real Wild South China Tiger is the king of the mountain forests, an apex predator at the top of the food chain!"
"Its alertness, aggression, and survival instincts are on a completely different level from a captive animal’s. If you go alone, you’re not looking for it, you’re offering yourself up to be killed!"
"Senior Sister is right."
Yang Fan also nodded repeatedly, his tone grave. "Wild South China Tigers are extremely territorial, and their aggression is astonishing. Even if you’re highly skilled, on its home turf, in a complex and unfamiliar primitive forest, a single moment of carelessness could be fatal. It’s absolutely out of the question!"
Xia Xiaomin waved her hands frantically. "Little Junior Brother, we know you’re capable and have a good heart, and you want to help Teacher. But this is really too risky! We can organize a professional scientific expedition team with full equipment and security, and advance slowly. There’s no need for you to go take such a risk by yourself."
Teacher Song Chunfang also sat up straight, her stern tone laced with deep concern.
"Xiaoqi, Teacher understands your intention, and I also very much want to find it and verify my theory. But I haven’t become so old and senile that I’d need to use my Disciple’s life in exchange for some kind of honor."
"We must plan this out for the long term. Safety comes first! I absolutely will not agree to you going off on your own to take this risk!"
Song Chunfang’s words landed with resounding finality.
In the living room, only the Eldest Senior Brother remained seated calmly, not stating his position immediately. He watched Yang Qi with a profound gaze, as if evaluating, thinking.
Faced with everyone’s unanimous opposition and his teacher’s stern warning, Yang Qi first stood up, bowed slightly to Song Chunfang and his senior brothers and sisters, and said sincerely.
"Thank you, Teacher. Thank you, Senior Brothers and Sisters, for your concern. I know you all mean well and are worried about my safety."
Then, he straightened up, a slightly helpless yet confident smile on his face.
"However, regarding ’wild beasts,’ I might not have been clear with everyone. Actually, this wouldn’t be my first time dealing with them."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the group, and said slowly, "Before the new year, you all probably heard about that wild leopard that came to Red Star Zoo from the wild, right? It successfully hit it off with the captive female leopard at the Zoo."
Fang Rong and the others froze for a moment, then nodded subconsciously.
The story had become something of a legend in their circle, so of course they knew about it.
Yang Qi continued, "That wild male leopard... I was the one who communicated with it when it came down from the mountain to steal sheep, and persuaded it to leave the forest and go to Red Star."
"..."
The urgency and worry on Fang Rong’s face froze instantly. She opened her mouth, but for a moment, no sound came out.
’Right, how could I have forgotten about that!’
She had even made a special trip to see that wild male leopard later. Its powerful and agile form, sharp eyes, and the wildness and alertness that were completely different from a captive Leopard’s had left a very deep impression on her.
At the time, she had marveled that Red Star Zoo had gotten incredibly lucky, managing to get a wild male leopard in its prime to willingly "come down the mountain for a blind date."
Only now did she realize that the mastermind behind it all was her own Little Junior Brother standing right in front of her!
Yang Fan and Xia Xiaomin also recalled this strange tale, and looks of shock and realization appeared on their faces as well.
They only knew that Yang Qi had a unique talent for communicating with animals; they never imagined it was to this extent.
Persuading a wild beast to leave its territory and enter a human facility!
Teacher Song Chunfang was also stunned.
She had, of course, heard the celebrated tale of Red Star Zoo’s "leopard marriage." The industry was full of amazement and disbelief over it.
She had also been curious at the time what methods Red Star Zoo had used. Now the answer was revealed—it was her own youngest Disciple again!
The living room fell silent for a moment, with only the faint sound of the wind outside the window.
The way they looked at Yang Qi slowly changed from the previous worry and disapproval to shock, doubt, and a trace of incredulous expectation.
Yang Qi struck while the iron was hot, revealing his deeper thoughts.
"Moreover, based on Xiaojiu’s description and my preliminary understanding of that area, if that South China Tiger really exists, it’s likely already entered its old age."
"For an old Tiger King that may be struggling to survive, a safe, comfortable Zoo with plenty of food might be the best final home."