Yang Qi scooped up Hu Zi with his left hand and Leopard with his right, then instructed Xiaojiu on his shoulder.
"Xiaojiu, hold on tight to my clothes!"
The next moment—
"WHOOSH!!"
The Divine Movement Talisman activated.
Yang Qi felt an immense force propel his body forward, as if from wheels of wind and fire beneath his feet. He became a blurry afterimage, tearing off in the direction he sensed Ta Xue, moving at a speed that shattered the limits of the Spirit Crane Body Technique!
The forest on either side blurred into streaks of color as it rushed past.
Gullies several meters wide were crossed with a single leap, like a great roc taking flight.
He sidestepped tree trunks as thick as bowls, the corner of his clothing ripping against the bark with a sharp ZZZT.
Xiaojiu clung desperately to the fabric on his shoulder.
The wind on his back was so strong Bai Wan couldn’t open his eyes.
Hu Zi and Leopard curled tightly in his arms, the wind roaring like thunder in their ears as light and shadow danced wildly before their eyes.
A mountain path that would have taken several hours even with the Spirit Crane Body Technique was conquered in a mere dozen minutes, thanks to the terrifying power of the Divine Movement Talisman!
"We’re here."
Yang Qi decelerated abruptly, coming to a stop in a ravaged clearing.
In a corner of the clearing, Ta Xue lay trembling beneath a large tree. Its fur was a mess, matted with dirt and grass. A noticeable scrape on its left hind leg was seeping blood.
Its eyes were filled with terror and brimming with tears. The moment it saw Yang Qi, it let out a mournful cry and stumbled toward him.
"MEEOOOW—"
Master, they took Mama!
It clung desperately to Yang Qi’s leg, its voice shrill with grief.
Those Two-legged Beasts had tranquilizer guns.
Mama told me to run...
She tried to stop them and got shot.
Mama fell on the ground and didn’t move...
As Ta Xue spoke, fat tears rolled down its face, soaking the cuff of Yang Qi’s pants.
Mama... they put Mama in a cage and carried her away...
"WOOF!"
"ARF! ARF! ARF~!"
How could they!
Let’s get them!
Upon hearing this, Leopard, Bai Wan, and Hu Zi, whom Yang Qi had set down, bristled with rage. Their fur stood on end as they bared their fangs and roared, a savage light glinting in their eyes.
"MROWW—"
Xiaojiu leaped from Yang Qi’s shoulder. Its amber pupils narrowed into dangerous slits, radiating a cold, killing intent.
These bad guys should all die.
Yang Qi forced down the anger and anxiety churning within him, struggling to remain calm.
He knelt and gathered the trembling Ta Xue into his arms, soothing its terror.
"Don’t be afraid, Ta Xue. I’m here now."
"I’m going to save your mama right now."
As he soothed the cub, he took out a special Magical Artifact he had never used before.
The Beast-Tracking Compass!
This Bronze Compass was covered in arcane runes, with a groove in its center.
Its function was unique: with a single drop of blood, a strand of hair, or even a shed scale from the target, one could activate it with Magical Power to lock onto the target’s location from thousands of miles away!
Yang Qi then retrieved a small, sealed bag from his Hundred Pouches Belt.
Inside was a small tuft of grayish-brown, spotted fur.
It was fur from the clouded leopard, Caiyun, shed during her regular grooming, which Yang Qi had purposefully collected and saved.
He took out a few strands of fur and crushed them with his Magical Power, turning them into a wisp of gray smoke that he fed into the groove at the compass’s center.
"HUMMM—"
The Bronze Compass vibrated abruptly. One by one, the runes on its surface lit up, emitting a faint, golden radiance.
The needle began to spin wildly. After a few rotations, it locked into place—
Pointing due east!
"East!"
A cold glint flashed in Yang Qi’s eyes as he looked up at the sky.
Just then, Qi Zai dove down from high above, landing on a nearby branch.
It had been following the group the whole time, flying high above, and had only just now descended.
"Qi Zai!"
Through their bond, Yang Qi mentally transmitted an image of Caiyun, her scent, and the direction from the compass to the Beaked Eagle.
"Fly east! Find the clouded leopard taken by the humans! Once you find her, don’t make a move. Just keep watch from the sky and wait for my command!"
"SCREEE—"
Qi Zai let out a piercing shriek that could shatter stone. A vicious light flared in its golden eyes as it beat its wings once, soaring into the sky. It became a black speck, streaking away to the east.
"Let’s go!"
Yang Qi put away the compass, cradled Ta Xue in his arms as well, and sped off toward the edge of the mountain with his Guardian Beasts.
Leopard, Bai Wan, and Hu Zi sprinted along the ground in his wake, while Xiaojiu leaped back onto his shoulder.
This time, their pace was even faster, their mood even more desperate.
In just seven or eight minutes, Yang Qi and his Guardian Beasts arrived back at the area behind the Zoo.
The moment he got cell service again—
Holding Ta Xue with one arm, Yang Qi whipped out his phone with the other, found Deng Lei’s number as fast as he could, and hit dial.
"RING... RING... CLICK."
The call connected almost instantly.
"Hello, Advisor Yang, is there—"
Before Deng Lei could finish, Yang Qi cut him off, his voice ice-cold.
"Captain Deng, Caiyun’s been taken!"
’What!?’
Deng Lei was stunned on the other end of the line.
A moment later, he recovered and asked quickly, "Advisor Yang, are you sure?"
"I’m sure! Just now, deep in the mountains behind the Zoo, a group of people with tranquilizer guns attacked Caiyun and Ta Xue. Caiyun was shot and captured, and Ta Xue escaped to tell me!"
Yang Qi spoke rapidly. "They obviously came prepared. Their methods are professional—it’s likely a poaching ring!"
"I have a way to track Caiyun’s location, but I need the police to get involved!"
"Alright."
Deng Lei’s voice immediately turned serious. "Where are you now? Which direction was Caiyun taken?"
"I’m just leaving the mountain behind the Zoo. Caiyun was taken due east! My Beaked Eagle, Qi Zai, is already tracking them from the air!"
Yang Qi said quickly, "They can’t have gotten far. They’re probably still in the mountains, or just leaving them!"
"Understood. I’ll report this immediately and activate our emergency protocol!"
Deng Lei was all business. "Advisor Yang, keep your line open for contact at all times. We’re moving out now. And be careful—don’t confront the poachers by yourself. They’re likely armed!"
"Got it!"