His contribution points suddenly shot up by 366. Combined with the points from his daily routine of feeding, cleaning, and training the animals, his total now broke the four-hundred mark.
’I can do the lottery again, and four tis at that!’
...
After driving back to his dorm at the foot of the mountain, Yang Qi first settled in the injured stray dog, Bai Wan.
Yang Qi had suggested a bunch of nas on the way here, and this was the one the stray dog seed to like most.
He prepared so clean water and a soft cushion for Bai Wan, then found a cardboard box to serve as a makeshift dog bed, which he placed in a well-ventilated corner.
Yang Qi saw that although Bai Wan was still listless, a spark had returned to its eyes. It even gave him a small wag of its tail.
Yang Qi felt relieved. He rubbed his hands together and began the lottery draw.
[Congratulations, Host. You have received a prize: Strengthening Pill]
’Standard supplies. Not a bad draw.’
’Again!’
[Congratulations, Host. You have received a prize: Qi Condensing Pill (Low-Grade)]
’More Qi Condensing Pills.’
’I haven’t even finished the ones I got last ti.’
’The *Moon Invitation Qi Refining Art* is just for laying a foundation and guiding Qi. It can’t raise my Cultivation or help break through to the next realm yet. Taking a Qi Condensing Pill now would just be a waste of its potency.’
’For now, just eating Spirit Rice is enough to condense my Magical Power.’
’Let’s keep going!’
[Congratulations, Host. You have received a prize: Low-Grade Spirit Rice (Five Pounds)]
’Well, my stock of Spirit Rice is growing.’
’I can’t possibly eat it all. There’s just too much.’
After three draws in a row, even though the prizes were all useful, Yang Qi couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed that he hadn’t received anything new or high-grade.
He took a deep breath and tried one last ti.
[Congratulations, Host. You have received a prize: Creation Pill (Breeding) x3]
Huh?
’A new pill!’
Yang Qi imdiately checked the item’s description.
[Creation Pill (Breeding)]: A special support pill. Split this pill in two and give each half to a male and female of the sa adult animal species. They are guaranteed to successfully conceive offspring in the near future. (The number and quality of the offspring are influenced by factors such as the parents and their environnt.)
"It can guarantee an animal gets pregnant?"
Yang Qi blinked. ’That’s a pretty powerful effect.’
’If the Zoo had this pill, wouldn’t it solve all the breeding difficulties with the rare and endangered animals?’
’Of course, a pill this valuable can’t be revealed carelessly.’
A thought even flashed through Yang Qi’s mind.
’Humans are technically animals, too.’
’If a person took this pill, could it cure infertility?’
The thought was fleeting, and he quickly pushed it to the back of his mind.
The lottery draws were over. His haul was decent, especially with the new Creation Pills. They might prove to be incredibly useful soday.
Yang Qi let out a breath and looked at Xiaojiu, who was resting quietly on the couch.
"Xiaojiu, keep an eye on things at ho. Don’t let Bai Wan move around too much and aggravate its wound, and don’t let it run off."
Xiaojiu let out a soft "ow," as if to say it understood.
Yang Qi praised the cat, then walked over to the corner and fed the newly acquired Strengthening Pill to Bai Wan, who was lying down.
Bai Wan swallowed it obediently and licked Yang Qi’s palm, its eyes gentle and submissive.
After getting everything settled at ho, Yang Qi headed for the mountain behind the Zoo to find the mother and son clouded leopards.
Luck was on his side. He found Caiyun and Ta Xue in a relatively open clearing deep within the mountain forest.
He had arrived at the perfect ti. Caiyun was giving Ta Xue a "practical hunting lesson."
A hapless wild rabbit had its hind legs broken by Caiyun’s bite. Its mobility was severely reduced, turning it into a ready-made "teaching aid."
Caiyun crouched low behind a patch of grass, signaling for Ta Xue to go in for the kill.
However, the little cub clearly didn’t understand the cruelty or necessity of the hunt. He first circled the crippled rabbit curiously, then prodded it gently with his paws. When the rabbit struggled, Ta Xue seed to find it amusing, pouncing and then leaping away. He was treating it like a new, oversized toy.
Caiyun watched from the side, her eyes wide with frustration. She let out a low, scolding growl from deep in her throat.
Scolded by his mother, Ta Xue reluctantly gave a half-hearted pounce before his attention wandered again.
Just then, he saw Yang Qi erging from the edge of the woods.
"OW OW~"
It was as if Ta Xue had found his savior—or at least an excuse to escape his lesson. He instantly abandoned the half-dead rabbit and bounded happily toward Yang Qi, pouncing at his feet. He rubbed his head and body desperately against Yang Qi’s pant leg, letting out a stream of pitiful ows.
’Where have you been?’
’Don’t you want anymore?’
’I want to go ho!’
"I had so things to take care of. See? I ca to see you as soon as I was finished."
Yang Qi smiled and bent down, scooping up Ta Xue. The cub had grown quite a bit and was getting heavy. He ruffled the fur on his head.
"Besides, this is your real ho, you silly cub."
Ta Xue wasn’t too big yet. With his fluffy coat, he could still pass for a large house cat if soone saw him.
But in another two or three months, his clouded leopard characteristics would beco much more pronounced. His size, spotted coat, and very nature would be impossible to hide.
If he were still living in the Zoo dorms then, it would be impossible to explain away if he were discovered. More than likely, he’d be captured and locked in an enclosure.
That was why it was best for Ta Xue to adapt to life in the mountains early, learn the necessary survival skills, and return to his mother’s side.
"OW OW?"
Ta Xue squird in Yang Qi’s arms, his amber eyes filled with confusion as he shook his head emphatically.
’This isn’t ho!’
"ROAR~!"
Seeing her cub’s pathetic display, Caiyun couldn’t resist stepping forward with a low growl.
’The mountains are our ho.’
"OW OW~"
Ta Xue insisted, burying his head in Yang Qi’s arms.
’No, it’s not!’
"ROAR!" Caiyun was getting annoyed now. A threatening rumble started in her throat as she took two steps forward, her amber eyes fixed on Ta Xue with all the authority of a mother.
"Easy, easy."
Yang Qi quickly stepped between them, patting Caiyun’s forehead soothingly. "Give the little guy so ti," he persuaded. "Take it slow. Don’t force him."
Caiyun snorted and shot a harsh glare at Ta Xue, who was still acting spoiled in Yang Qi’s arms. But in the end, she gave Yang Qi so face and backed off a little.
"Don’t rush it."
Yang Qi comforted Caiyun again in a low voice and gave her a reassuring look. Then, holding the clingy cub, he waved goodbye.
"I’m going to take him back for now. I’ll co see you again next ti."
Caiyun watched as Yang Qi turned and left with Ta Xue in his arms, their figures disappearing among the trees. She let out an indignant growl, then spun around with a ferocious pounce, sinking her teeth precisely into the rabbit that had already given up the struggle. She finished it off in a few bites and began to eat resentfully...
...
Back at his dorm, Yang Qi had just set Ta Xue down on the floor.
WHOOSH! The little cub imdiately shot onto the sofa in front of the TV. He sat up straight, tilted his head back, and let out a barrage of urgent ows at Yang Qi.
’Turn it on, turn it on!’
’I wanna watch my show!’
’I haven’t watched it today!’
...
Looking at Ta Xue’s entitled and impatient expression, Yang Qi took a deep breath. He decided it was ti for so necessary "education."
Instead of picking up the remote, he walked over, crouched down, and looked directly into Ta Xue’s clear eyes. He spoke seriously.
"Ta Xue, starting today, no more TV."
"OW OW?"
Ta Xue froze instantly. He tilted his head, his wide eyes filled with confusion and disbelief.
It was as if he had just heard the most devastating news in the world.
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