Hanging up the phone, Yang Qi held the still-trembling Ta Xue. With Magical Power surging through him, he pushed the Spirit Crane Body Technique to its absolute limit. He became like a gray crane skimming the ground, speeding out of the mountains.
’Faster!’
’Even faster!’
He burst out of the mountain forest and ran to his Jeep Wrangler parked on a back road. Yang Qi pulled open the door, carefully placed Ta Xue in the passenger seat, and buckled her in.
"Get in!"
Hu Zi, Leopard, Xiaojiu, and Bai Wan quickly leaped into the back seat.
Yang Qi jumped into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and slammed the accelerator to the floor. The SUV roared as it shot onto the road.
He placed the Beast-Finding Compass on the dashboard. Its bronze needle pointed unwaveringly in Caiyun’s direction, vibrating slightly.
As he drove, Yang Qi divided his attention, trying to get a feel for her location.
’Her speed is increasing... Caiyun is in a car too! The poachers have gotten in a vehicle!’
His eyes turned to ice. He steered with one hand while using the other to quickly pull up a map of White Tower District and the surrounding areas on his phone.
Cross-referencing the bearing from the Beast-Finding Compass with the map, he quickly made a calculation.
’Current position... on the outskirts of the city, near the ring road.’
’They’re heading for—Lantian District!’
Lantian District had several provincial roads and a highway, offering convenient escape routes. It was also close to a tributary of the Yangtze River, which meant they could use the waterways.
The poachers’ reason for heading to Lantian District was obvious.
They were either going to take the highway to flee Donghua, or switch to the waterways to smuggle Caiyun out quickly!
’Trying to run?’
Yang Qi scoffed and immediately redialed Deng Lei.
The call connected almost instantly.
"Advisor Yang..."
"Captain Deng, the target is heading toward Lantian District! They should be near the intersection of the ring road and Lantian Avenue. They’re moving fast—they’re probably trying to get on the highway or switch to the waterways!"
Yang Qi spoke in a rush, once again attributing the information to "Beaked Eagle surveillance."
"Qi Zai is tracking them from the air. He has a clear view."
Although Deng Lei found it incredible that a Beaked Eagle could track a target and relay information with such precision, the situation was too urgent to overthink it.
"Got it! I’ll immediately notify the Lantian District precinct and the traffic police to set up roadblocks at major intersections! I’ll also ask the marine unit to lock down the riverside piers."
"Advisor Yang, keep your distance and be careful. We’re already mobilized and heading over!"
"Understood."
After hanging up, Yang Qi pressed the accelerator even harder.
The Wrangler’s engine roared as it deftly weaved through traffic, speeding toward Lantian District.
He had only been driving for a few minutes when his phone rang again.
The caller ID read: Xiaoli, Technician.
Yang Qi answered and put it on speaker.
Before Xiaoli could speak, Yang Qi quickly cut in, "I’m the one who sent Qi Zai out of Cangshan and into the city. He’s tracking a group of poachers! I’ll explain the details when I get back to the park. I’m in pursuit right now!"
Xiaoli was clearly stunned for several seconds before stammering a reply.
"Huh? Oh... o-okay, Advisor Yang. I’ll let you go."
After hanging up, Yang Qi thought for a moment, then dialed Jiang Kai’s number.
"Director, it’s an emergency! The clouded leopard, Caiyun, was taken by a gang of poachers using a tranquilizer gun. I’m tracking them now and have already notified the police. Caiyun is likely injured. She’ll need immediate medical attention at the park as soon as we get her back!"
Jiang Kai sucked in a sharp breath on the other end of the line but cut straight to the point.
"What do you need from me?"
"The poachers’ vehicle is fleeing toward Lantian District; the police are already setting up a dragnet. I need the park’s veterinary team on standby. Have them prepare anesthetic reversal agents and emergency equipment. The moment we get Caiyun back, she needs immediate treatment!" Yang Qi said rapidly.
"No problem. I’ll notify the vet team and get a transport vehicle on standby at once!"
Jiang Kai added decisively, "Xiao Yang, you be extremely careful. Those poachers are probably armed. Don’t get too close on your own."
"Understood."
Ending the call, Yang Qi focused all his attention on his driving and the readings from the Beast-Finding Compass.
The needle held steady, but the distance between them seemed to be growing.
’They’re driving fast!’
’Qi Zai!’
Through their bond, Yang Qi mentally transmitted the latest bearing and estimated distance locked on by the Beast-Finding Compass to the Beaked Eagle high in the sky.
’Head northeast, to the airspace above the intersection of Lantian Avenue and Linjiang Road. Search for a suspicious vehicle.’
’Focus on any gray or dark-colored vans trying to avoid checkpoints or driving erratically!’
"SCREEE—"
A clear, sharp cry that pierced the clouds echoed from high above.
With a single beat of its wings, Qi Zai transformed into a black arrow, shooting toward the airspace Yang Qi had designated.
Yang Qi immediately contacted Deng Lei again.
"Captain Deng, the Beaked Eagle is now in the airspace above Lantian Avenue. It will lock onto the suspicious vehicle and trail it from high altitude. Have your officers use the eagle’s circling position to close in!"
This time, Deng Lei asked no further questions, his reply crisp and decisive.
"Got it!"
"I’ll tell all the units in the dragnet to keep an eye on the Beaked Eagle’s movements."
The sound of Deng Lei rapidly issuing commands came through the phone.
With an "eye in the sky" at its core, an inescapable net was rapidly cast over Lantian District, both in the air and on the ground.
...
「Lantian District, Linjiang Road.」
A filthy gray van was weaving quickly through traffic.
The driver was a bald, brawny man, sweat beading on his temples. He kept glancing at the rearview mirror.
In the passenger seat sat a middle-aged man with a knife scar on his face. His eyes were sinister, and he toyed with a dagger in his hands.
"Boss, looks like no one’s following us," the bald man said, breathing a small sigh of relief.
Scarface grunted, but his gaze drifted to the sky outside the window.
A massive bird of prey was circling high above, its wings spread wide, its form elegant yet powerful.
"Tch, that’s one big hawk."
The bald man saw it too and smacked his lips. "If we could get our hands on that, it’d probably fetch a pretty penny too."