"Meow~"

[Got it, Master. Come back soon.]

Xiaojiu licked its paws.

"Woof woof!"

[Don’t worry, Master.]

Bai Wan and Leopard puffed out their chests and raised their heads.

"Woof!"

[Understood.]

Hu Zi nodded steadily.

Yang Qi, satisfied, gave each of them another pat before heading out and getting in his car.

He first made a detour to the Leopard Hall to explain the situation to Big Flower.

Big Flower expressed her understanding.

After reassuring the pregnant leopard, Yang Qi left the Zoo and drove straight to the high-speed railway station.

He parked his car in the lot, shouldered a simple backpack, and walked into the waiting hall.

He didn’t have to wait more than a few minutes before an announcement for boarding began.

...

Yongcheng is a coastal city in the eastern part of Jiangnan Province, known for its developed economy and beautiful environment.

The bullet train ride takes over two hours.

The journey was uneventful.

A little after ten o’clock, the train arrived at Yongcheng High-speed Railway Station.

Yang Qi followed the crowd off the train. After exiting the station, he contacted the person sent by Yongcheng Zoo to pick him up.

After meeting up, they checked Yang Qi’s work credentials. Once everything was confirmed, he got into a business van emblazoned with the Yongcheng Zoo logo.

About forty minutes later, the vehicle drove into Yongcheng Zoo.

The Zoo covered a large area, was well-landscaped, and the enclosures had a rather modern design.

The van drove directly to an office building near the carnivore section.

Just as Yang Qi got out of the car, Lu Gangsheng, who had been waiting for him, quickly strode forward with a warm smile, his hands outstretched.

"Expert Yang, you’ve had a long trip. Welcome, welcome!"

"Director Lu, you’re too kind," Yang Qi said with a smile as he shook Lu Gangsheng’s hand.

"I’m truly happy that you could come, Expert Yang."

Lu Gangsheng held Yang Qi’s hand tightly, his tone sincere. "Shall we go to the office for a cup of tea and a short rest first?"

"Director Lu, the tea can wait."

Yang Qi glanced toward the tiger enclosure in the distance and said directly, "Let’s go see Da Wei first. The sooner we figure out the cause, the sooner we can find a solution."

"Alright."

Hearing this, the look of admiration in Lu Gangsheng’s eyes deepened. "Expert Yang truly cares for animals. In that case, let’s head over right now."

Immediately, Lu Gangsheng, Yang Qi, along with the head Veterinarian and two other senior Veterinarians from the Zoo who had rushed over, all walked briskly toward the enclosure where the Northeast Tiger, Da Wei, was housed.

The enclosure, which was quite spacious, simulated a mountain forest environment with rock formations, a pool, trees, and perches of varying heights.

At that moment, through the thick bulletproof glass of the viewing window, they could clearly see the magnificent Northeast Tiger, Da Wei. He was lying on his usual rock platform in the exact same posture as the photo, his head drooping as he stared blankly toward the staff entrance.

A large, fresh, bloody slab of beef lay a short distance in front of him, but he completely ignored it.

"So far, he’s had a little water, but he hasn’t touched the meat at all."

Lu Gangsheng watched the tiger in the enclosure, his brow furrowed. "If this continues, the physical toll will be too great. He’ll run into serious problems soon."

The Veterinarians beside him nodded in agreement, their faces filled with worry and confusion.

"It seems the problem is indeed quite serious."

Yang Qi replied, then turned to Lu Gangsheng and said, "Director Lu, I’m going to go in first and communicate with Da Wei."

"This... Expert Yang, you’re going to go right in?"

Although Lu Gangsheng had mentally prepared for this, he was still nervous now that the moment had come.

After all, that was a fully grown, ferocious tiger weighing over 200 kilograms, and it was in an emotionally unstable state, refusing to eat.

"Yes. Only through close contact can I more accurately perceive his emotions and needs," Yang Qi said calmly.

"Alright, I trust you, Expert Yang!"

Lu Gangsheng gritted his teeth and made his decision.

He immediately turned and ordered a nearby staff member, "Open the staff entrance. Also, get a few security guards over here with tranquilizer guns and riot shields. Have them stand by at the entrance, ready to respond to any emergency."

The staff member immediately ran off to make the arrangements.

The head Veterinarian who had followed them couldn’t help but whisper upon hearing this.

"Director, Expert Yang is just going in like that? Without a protective suit? That’s too dangerous!"

"Yes, Director."

Another Veterinarian added urgently, "Da Wei is unstable right now. What if he gets agitated...?"

Lu Gangsheng was just as nervous, but he had personally witnessed Yang Qi’s performance at Red Star Zoo.

Because of this, he forced himself to remain calm, his face showing no emotion as he spoke to the Veterinarians.

"Expert Yang is different. He has a special way with animals. You’ll see."

The Veterinarians were skeptical.

But Director Lu had spoken, so they could only suppress their worries and fix their gazes on Yang Qi.

Just then, the door to the staff passageway opened.

Several fully-equipped, tense-looking security guards also quickly took their positions, tools in hand, staring intently into the passageway.

Yang Qi nodded to Lu Gangsheng, then glanced at the nervous guards and Veterinarians with a slight smile.

Then, he strode into the passage leading to the Northeast Tiger’s inner den.

The inner den was smaller than the outer enclosure, but still spacious. The floor was covered with non-slip mats, and there was a water dispenser in the corner.

At this moment, Da Wei was lying near the gate connecting the inner den to the outer enclosure, still looking toward the staff passageway.

When he heard footsteps and smelled an unfamiliar scent, his ears twitched slightly, but his massive body didn’t move. Only his listless tiger eyes turned toward the approaching Yang Qi.

Yang Qi stopped at a safe distance, about five meters away from Da Wei.

He didn’t approach rashly, nor did he make any moves that could be misinterpreted as a provocation.

He naturally took out some "calming powder" and sprinkled it in Da Wei’s direction.

[Host detected arriving at a Friend Sect]

[Task triggered: A despondent "Iron Armor Fierce Tiger" has been discovered. Host, please help it recover, make a name for yourself, and enhance the Sect’s reputation.]

’A mission!’

...

Da Wei’s tiger eyes glanced at Yang Qi, but he couldn’t even be bothered to let out a low growl. His massive head rested on his front paws, still looking completely lifeless and listless.

Outside, the hearts of Lu Gangsheng and the others were in their throats.

The head Veterinarian couldn’t help but whisper to the person next to him.

"Not even a reaction... This Expert Yang..."

Lu Gangsheng waved his hand, signaling for silence, his eyes locked on the man and tiger in the inner den.

Yang Qi wasn’t discouraged.

He regulated his breathing, calming his state of mind, then activated his "Basic Spirit Communication Technique" and began to speak.

"Da Wei, hello. My name is Yang Qi. I’m here to help you. You seem very unhappy. Can you tell me what’s wrong?"

The moment these words left his mouth, Da Wei, who had been lying dejectedly, shuddered violently.

He abruptly lifted his head, his tiger eyes wide and round, staring fixedly at Yang Qi.

"Roooar~"

[What kind of Two-legged Beast are you?]

[How can you speak our language?]

Outside, Lu Gangsheng and the others, watching this through the observation window, also stared wide-eyed.

Da Wei’s sudden, emotional head lift and low roar were a stark contrast to his previous listless state.

Yang Qi had actually gotten a reaction out of him!

Facing Da Wei’s shock, Yang Qi’s expression remained unchanged as he casually made up an excuse.

"Oh, this? I was just born with a bit of a knack for it."

Then he steered the conversation back. "Da Wei, can you tell me what’s really wrong? Are you in pain somewhere? Or is there something you want? Tell me, and maybe I can find a way to help you."

[Really?]

Da Wei let out a low growl, his massive body leaning slightly forward, revealing his inner excitement.

[Can you really help me?]

"As long as it’s something I can do, I’ll do my best," Yang Qi said solemnly.

[I want to see my cub.]

Da Wei blurted it out.

[Can you help me see my cub?]

’He wants to see his child?’

Yang Qi was taken aback by this answer.

Male felines, especially large ones, typically play the role of "breeder" and "territory defender" in the wild.

After the mating season, most of them leave the females and pay almost no attention to their offspring’s development. Sometimes, to ensure their dominance or avoid competition, they might even attack, drive away, or kill cubs that are not their own.

This is a survival strategy etched into their genes. The concept of "fatherly love" is extremely rare among wild big cats.

’How could this male Northeast Tiger named Da Wei be so worried about "seeing his child" that he’s lost his appetite and is on the verge of depression?’

’Is this a case of behavioral deviation in some individuals under artificial breeding conditions?’

’Or is Da Wei’s personality just special? Is he the rare "family man" among felines?’