"..."
The long-faced woman was stunned. She hadn’t expected Yang Qi to retort so directly and bluntly.
Her rather attractive face instantly flushed red. "You... What’s with your tone! We’re from the Bird Association, and we’re here on official business!"
"The Bird Association?"
Yang Qi scoffed. "Do you have an official letter? Have you gone through the proper channels with our Zoo’s management? Did you make an appointment in advance and get permission to enter a restricted work area?"
His three consecutive questions left the woman speechless. She could only look to the man with glasses for help.
The man with glasses’s expression darkened. He stepped forward, attempting to adopt the air of a "professional." "We are here for the purpose of scientific research and conservation. The Beaked Eagle is a rare bird of prey and an ’Honorary Police Bird.’ Systematically observing and recording it will benefit its conservation and public education. We hope you’ll cooperate with our work."
"Cooperate?"
Yang Qi looked at him with a half-smile. "And how should I cooperate? By ordering one of our Zoo’s animals to stick to your schedule, stay in its enclosure, and pose for your pictures?"
In the next moment, his tone turned cold. "First, Qi Zai is a wild animal with his own routines and habits. Our primary duty as zookeepers is to respect and ensure his well-being, not to disturb him just to satisfy someone’s desire for a photo op!"
"Second, this is the Donghua Wildlife Park, not the Bird Association’s private backyard. If you want to conduct official scientific observation, please submit an application to the Zoo’s management through the proper channels, obtain approval, and conduct your work under the supervision of Zoo staff."
"You don’t just barge into a restricted work area and start ordering zookeepers around like you’re doing now!"
"Third..."
Yang Qi’s gaze swept over the cameras hanging on their chests. "Your current actions constitute trespassing in a restricted work area and interfering with official duties. If you do not leave now, I will notify security and reserve the right to report this to the relevant authorities."
His words were clear and logical, and while his voice wasn’t loud, it carried an oppressive weight.
The man with glasses and the long-faced woman’s faces paled and flushed in turn. The other three people behind them also looked awkward and flustered.
They were used to flashing their ’Bird Association’ credentials at less formal bird-watching spots or small parks, where they would often receive special treatment or privileges. They never expected to hit a brick wall at a proper zoo.
"You... What kind of attitude is that? I’m going to file a complaint against you!" the long-faced woman shrieked, exasperated.
"Be my guest."
Yang Qi pointed to the supervision hotline and the director’s mailbox listed on the wall. "The complaint channels are right there. Now, please leave the work area immediately. Otherwise, I’m calling security."
As he spoke, he made a move to grab his phone.
"Let’s go, let’s go. What a crappy place. Just a bird keeper acting so high and mighty!"
The man with glasses still had some sense of shame. Knowing that making a bigger scene would only be more embarrassing, he shot Yang Qi a venomous glare, pulled the still-yelling long-faced woman along, and led the other three away, scurrying out of the enclosure area.
The sound of their footsteps and muttered complaints gradually faded away.
Yang Qi watched their retreating figures and shook his head.
"It’s a big forest out there, full of all kinds of birds."
He picked up his tools again and went back to his unfinished cleaning.
He never bothered to be pleasant to self-righteous, ill-mannered people who threw their weight around without knowing the rules.
Qi Zai was his partner, his Guardian Beast, and, more importantly, an "Honorary Police Bird" who had served the police force.
He wasn’t some creature these clueless fools could just order around at will.
...
The long-faced woman, still indignant, did end up filing a complaint, though Yang Qi never heard about what happened next.
The complaint letter was delivered directly to the desk of Director Huang Zhongmu.
After reading the complaint, which was filled with accusations like "terrible attitude," "obstructing scientific research," and "uncooperative with conservation efforts," Huang Zhongmu spoke briefly with a staff member who was nearby at the time and got a clear picture of the situation.
He neither criticized Yang Qi nor formally responded to the complaint. He simply sent out a quiet, internal notice.
"From now on, any so-called ’associations’ or ’organizations’ that have not gone through official channels, made an appointment, or arranged for a Zoo escort are to be treated as regular visitors. They are not permitted to enter work areas. If anyone forces their way in or causes trouble, security can deal with them directly."
And just like that, Huang Zhongmu quietly resolved the matter. No one reported back to Yang Qi, and he was happy to be left in peace.
There was still no definite news from the interdisciplinary expert team; they were said to be in the coordination and preparation phase.
Yang Qi was happy for the free time. He took advantage of this relatively peaceful period to solidify his foundations.
Daily work, schoolwork, collecting supplies from prize draws, and nightly cultivation—everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.
He managed to save up two more Wind Spirit Stones and two Thunder Spirit Stones, which was a decent gain.
In his spare time from cultivation, Yang Qi made another trip to the Police Dog Base.
Now that an "anomalous zone" had appeared on Cangshan, a place difficult for people and ordinary equipment to penetrate, the importance of police dogs—especially Mountain Search Dogs—had skyrocketed.
And thanks to his role as a specially-appointed training consultant, as well as the far-superior performance of Bai Wan, Hu Zi, and Leopard under his command, Yang Qi’s status at the Police Dog Base had risen steadily.
Director Wang and Vice Director Zhao of the base valued him more and more. They invited Yang Qi over several times to "offer some suggestions" and "guide their work," hinting that they hoped he could spend more time at the base to help raise the overall level of the trainee dogs.
Yang Qi naturally agreed without hesitation.
Turning all the trainee police dogs into his Guardian Beasts was part of his long-term plan anyway.