Chapter 555: Chapter 253: Walking the Tiger

Yang Qi drove back to Xianlai, entering quietly through a side gate. He parked the car in the garage of his small villa-like dormitory, then softly opened the door and went inside.

Xiaojiu followed him in silently.

He went into the bathroom to quickly wash up.

In the kitchen, he took out the Spirit Rice and started making porridge.

He sat down in the living room to wait...

[Detected that the Host has brought back an untamed Spirit Beast, "Purple-Winged Celestial Tiger," strengthening the sect’s foundation. Construction Points +968]

points.

Just a little shy of a thousand, but enough for ten lottery draws.

Not bad at all!

The corners of Yang Qi’s mouth turned up.

While he waited, the Spirit Rice Porridge finished cooking.

Yang Qi ladled out a bowl for himself and one for Xiaojiu. Man and cat began to eat with relish.

He finished the porridge, washed the bowls, and changed his clothes. Just as he was about to check the time, his phone, sitting on the table, began to vibrate urgently.

"It’s about time."

Yang Qi chuckled, picking up his phone. The caller ID read: Feng Jianye.

He pressed the answer button, and before he could even bring the phone to his ear, he heard Feng Jianye’s voice, high-pitched and even stuttering with excitement.

"Di... Director, something huge has happened! In the park... there’s a tiger in the park! It’s... it’s a tiger!"

"It’s true, a guard saw it with his own eyes, and the surveillance cameras caught it too! It’s over by the Wetland Birdwatching Area. It’s a wi... a Wild South China Tiger!!"

Feng Jianye practically roared the last four words, his voice filled with indescribable shock and a hint of panic.

Yang Qi quickly "switched" his expression to one of surprise and gravity. His voice rose an octave, filled with a perfectly calibrated "shock" and urgency.

"A Wild South China Tiger? Teacher Feng, are you sure? Have you called the police? Call them immediately! Notify all security guards to get over there with riot gear, but do not—I repeat, do not—get close! Just keep an eye on it from a distance. Whatever you do, don’t provoke it!"

"I just got to the park, I’m on my way! You all be careful."

"We... we called the police! We already called 110 and the Forestry Bureau! All the guards are up; they have steel-pronged poles and shields and are watching from a distance."

Swept up by Yang Qi’s urgent tone, Feng Jianye managed to calm himself and quickly reported the situation.

"Good. I’m almost there. Keep me updated."

Yang Qi decisively hung up the phone. The "shock" and "urgency" on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a calm composure.

He turned to Xiaojiu and instructed, "Xiaojiu, you stay home. Don’t go out."

"Meow~"

[Understood]

Xiaojiu meowed in understanding, then hopped onto the sofa and lay down.

Yang Qi walked out of the villa, hopped on an electric scooter parked by the door, twisted the throttle, and sped off toward the Wetland Birdwatching Area.

The cold morning wind rushed against his face, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees unique to the park, but his mind was perfectly clear.

Soon, he could see a large crowd gathered on the road bordering the Wetland Birdwatching Area.

Dozens of guards in uniform held steel-pronged poles, riot shields, long-handled nets, and other equipment. Their expressions a mixture of tension and excitement, they formed a loose defensive line facing into the wetlands.

The security manager, Zhang Dahua, a powerfully built man, stood at the very front. He was speaking quietly into a walkie-talkie, telling the people behind him to stay quiet and not make a ruckus.

Feng Jianye and An Yumin were there too, standing a short distance behind the guards’ line. Feng Jianye’s face was still a bit pale, but he was forcing himself to remain calm.

An Yumin held a pair of high-powered binoculars, anxiously peering into the depths of the wetlands.

Seeing Yang Qi arrive on his scooter, a stir went through the crowd.

"The Director’s here."

"Director, the tiger really came down from the mountains!"

"..."

Everyone greeted him one after another, clearing a path for him.

Zhang Dahua immediately came forward to give a quick report. "Director, the tiger is near the shallows behind that patch of reeds. It hasn’t shown any signs of moving for now."

"We’ve set up a perimeter with patrol vehicles and barriers to keep anyone from getting close. We’ve called both the Forestry Bureau and the local police station; they’re on their way."

"Mm, good work."

Yang Qi nodded and looked toward An Yumin. "Teacher An, did you get a look at the tiger? What’s the situation?"

An Yumin lowered her binoculars, her face a mixture of excitement and lingering fear, her voice trembling slightly. "I... I saw it, Director. It’s real! A South China Tiger! Judging by its size and fur, it must be quite old. It’s a senior."

"It seems... it seems to have a lot of old injuries, and its left hind leg looks like it’s festering."

"It ate several wild ducks just now—probably three to five of them. It seems full now and is resting in a patch of dry grass over there. It hasn’t shown any aggressive behavior."

Feng Jianye added in a tone of disbelief, "Director, this... this tiger, it’s not leaving even after eating its fill. It’s just lying there resting. The way it’s acting... it doesn’t seem like it’s just passing through. It’s more like... it plans on freeloading here?"

Hearing this, Zhang Dahua couldn’t help but break into a grin. He lowered his voice and said, "Director, this is a Wild South China Tiger! I may not pay much attention to animals, but even I’ve heard that these things are nearly extinct—rarer than giant pandas."

"If it really decides to stay at our Xianlai, then Xianlai will be a huge hit! We’d be famous nationwide, absolutely!"

The surrounding guards and other on-duty employees who had rushed over upon hearing the news also began to murmur among themselves, their faces filled with excitement, elation, and a sense of vicarious honor.

Who would have thought that right after the New Year, such a huge "pie" would fall from the sky!

Yang Qi played along, his face showing a mixture of surprise and solemnity.

He gazed into the depths of the wetland. Although with his eyesight he could clearly see Lian Po obediently lying there "resting" exactly as instructed, he spoke with a calm and measured tone.

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