CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
The tourists who had watched Yang Qi remove the bamboo splinter from the giant panda, Tuantuan, spontaneously broke into applause.
This magical and heartwarming scene was far more moving than any performance.
The zookeeper, Hu Jing, also snapped out of her astonishment, clapping enthusiastically while unconsciously murmuring.
"Yaoyao, he's really amazing!"
"See? I told you I wasn't lying," Cheng Yao said, smiling at her friend with an expression of pride by association.
"You weren't, you weren't."
Hu Jing nodded, but then immediately added, her eyes shining, "But he's also gotten more handsome!"
"Uh..."
Cheng Yao was taken aback. She looked closely at Yang Qi as he walked out of the enclosure, a strange expression on her face. "I noticed it earlier, too," she said, puzzled. "His skin and complexion are so much better than a couple of days ago. Did he get plastic surgery?"
"Who recovers from plastic surgery that fast?"
Hearing this, Nurse Xiaohan couldn't help but chime in softly, a look of adoration on her face. "And I think Yang Qi's aura stands out more now," she said. "That calm, reassuring feeling... it's really... it's so much like a Druid!"
"Yes, yes! It's his aura! It's so good!" Hu Jing nodded vigorously in agreement.
"That's true," Cheng Yao nodded, then said excitedly, "But I'm more interested in how he made his skin so much better."
"You girls..." Dr. Zhang, listening from the side, shook his head and chuckled helplessly. His gaze, however, also fell on Yang Qi, filled with appreciation and curiosity.
'To be able to tell what was wrong with Tuantuan at a glance, even through the enclosure's barrier... That wasn't something that could be explained by simply having good eyesight. As far as I knew, Yang Qi didn't even major in zoology or biology in college. Could it be? Is he really a natural-born Druid?'
...
Just as Yang Qi came out of the staff passageway, several young tourists surrounded him, clapping and giving him thumbs-ups.
"Dude, that was amazing! Treating a panda with your bare hands!"
"So badass! We were doubting you just now, our bad, our bad. You've really got the flair of a Druid!"
"..."
"Thank you, thank you, everyone." Yang Qi smiled and returned the gesture with a fist-and-palm salute. 'This feeling of being acknowledged isn't bad at all,' he thought.
Just then, a beautiful girl with long hair and exquisite makeup boldly approached him and greeted him with a smile.
"Hey handsome, you were so cool just now! Can I get your WeChat?"
"Huh?" Yang Qi froze.
This was the first time in his life a strange girl had asked for his contact information to his face. To be honest, he felt a secret thrill.
But on the surface, Yang Qi quickly calmed down and offered a polite yet distant smile. "Thank you, but it wouldn't be convenient. I have a girlfriend."
'I'm not a scumbag, nor am I interested in being a player. Besides, the most interesting and important goal for me right now is cultivation!'
"Oh, I see... Sorry to bother you then."
The girl turned and left, a little disappointed. When she returned to her friends, she was met with a round of good-natured laughter.
"Not bad, Yang Druid Qi. Your charm is on the rise!" Cheng Yao walked up and teased him with a smile.
"Hey, she was just kidding. Don't take it seriously," Yang Qi said, quickly waving his hands dismissively.
But Hu Jing, standing nearby, couldn't help but ask curiously in a low voice, "Yang Qi, so... do you really have a girlfriend?"
"Well..." Yang Qi laughed vaguely and said evasively, "I can have one soon!"
He then greeted Dr. Zhang and Nurse Han.
The group chatted for a bit, then went their separate ways to get back to work.
Yang Qi went straight to the cafeteria for lunch. After a short rest, he returned to the wolf enclosure.
He was going to conduct behavioral training this afternoon.
"'Happy', come here!" Yang Qi decided to start with the most active one.
As soon as Happy heard the call, it immediately trotted happily to the edge of the enclosure, its tongue hanging out. It called out toward Yang Qi, who was standing in the staff passageway on the other side of the fence, its thoughts urgent.
WHINE~
Can I come out?
"Once you've finished your training and done well, I'll let you out to play for a bit," Yang Qi said, then began to give clear commands.
First was the basic "weigh-in," guiding it to stand on a specific scale.
Next were "raise paw" and "raise leg" to check its limbs.
"Open mouth," to check its oral cavity.
"Turn around," to observe its physique.
"Lift tail," to check its rear.
Then there was "leg through the hole," which simulated a medical procedure, to practice drawing blood.
And also touching a specific target stick with its forehead to test its reaction.
Finally, "switch cages," training it to move between different enclosures on command.
Happy, whose intelligence had been enhanced, cooperated exceptionally well with all these tasks. Its movements even had a spark of eagerness, as if it were anxious to perform.
After it completed each task, Yang Qi would generously praise it, pat its head, or give it a thumbs-up.
When all the tasks were successfully completed, Yang Qi fulfilled his promise. He took out a fragrant roasted chicken leg and tossed it to Happy through a special feeding port.
AWOO~
Happy let out a joyful low growl, snatched the chicken leg, and lay down to one side to feast on it.
A single chicken leg was barely a mouthful for it and was devoured in no time.
When the other Gray Wolves saw that Happy not only got to "play" but also got a delicious extra meal, none of them could sit still. They all came over from their resting spots, gathering by the fence near Yang Qi. They stared at him eagerly, soft whimpers coming from their throats, their eyes filled with clear longing.
"Alright, one by one, form a line!"
Yang Qi clapped to get their attention, deciding to strike while the iron was hot and train the rest of the wolves.
Just then, a few tourists passed by on the viewing path in front of the wolf enclosure. Hearing the commotion inside, they stopped to watch out of curiosity.
Yang Qi paid them no mind and focused on the training.
Relying on his "Ten Thousand Beasts Affinity" talent, plus the lure of food, seven of the remaining eight wolves were quite cooperative.
Although their speed of understanding and execution couldn't compare to the 'hacked' Happy, and they required more guidance and pauses, they all ultimately completed the training regimen successfully.
After each wolf finished, Yang Qi rewarded it with a chicken leg.
Watching the normally wild and untamable Gray Wolves complete various actions under the zookeeper's command like well-trained service dogs, and even line up to receive chicken legs, the tourists outside were dumbfounded, exclaiming that it was incredible.
"Amazing! Are those even wolves? They're so obedient!"
"He must be a veteran keeper, right? These wolves are probably used to being trained."
"Wait... Look, that last one doesn't seem to be cooperating."
Indeed, the last one remaining was none other than the Wolf King, "Ao Tian."
It remained lying in a corner far from the pack, coldly watching Yang Qi and its kin who had "sold their dignity" for a chicken leg. It snorted a puff of air from its nostrils in disdain.
Its eyes were defiant and untamable, radiating a king's contempt!