Chapter 7.1

Translator’s note: Light brain— Current smart watches but thinner and more durable… it’s a fancy little holo-computer (Holo=holographic)

At six in the morning, Wei Li was jolted awake by the sound of his communicator ringing.

Groggily, he glanced at the holographic display on his wrist light brain and saw “Colonel Val” flashing. Propping himself up, he answered, “Hello?”

On the other end, a middle-aged man’s voice was urgent and panicked, “Xiao Wei, how’s Qilin doing?”

Wei Li had tried contacting Colonel Val the night before, but there had been no answer. Assuming the Colonel was on duty, he had left a message briefly explaining Qilin’s situation. Val had likely just seen it.

“Don’t worry, the situation’s under control,” Wei Li reassured him.

But how could Colonel Val not worry? He had just returned to his quarters after night training, still covered in mud, and had immediately called back upon seeing the message. He hurriedly asked, “Can I see it?”

Understanding the Colonel’s concern, Wei Li agreed, “Sure.”

As he got out of bed and began dressing, Wei Li glanced at the neighboring bed, worried about waking Brother Xiang, only to find it empty.

Huh? Where’s Brother Xiang?

Without time to ponder, Wei Li quickly slipped on his shoes and headed downstairs. To his surprise, he saw Brother Xiang sitting on a bench outside the veterinary station, dozing off.

“Brother Xiang?” Wei Li was startled. So Brother Xiang had come down to relieve the director’s shift.

A wave of guilt washed over Wei Li; he had slept like a log while others took turns staying awake.

Hearing the noise, Xiang Bie looked up and noticed Wei Li’s wrist light brain glowing red. He raised an eyebrow, “Colonel Val?”

Wei Li nodded, “Yes, he wants to check on Qilin.”

Without much reaction, Xiang Bie said in a calm tone, “Go ahead.”

Wei Li quietly opened the door to the veterinary station and, as expected, the director was nowhere in sight.

With no women around, Wei Li switched the call to video mode, allowing Colonel Val to see for himself.

The white interior looked a bit disorganized, with dried blood still staining the surgery table. The sight made Colonel Val’s heart tighten. He anxiously asked, “Where’s Qilin?”

Wei Li replied, “In the recovery room inside.”

He navigated around a small corner to the area designated as the recovery zone. Though called a “recovery room,” it was really just two rows of four iron cages, reminiscent of ancient prison cells. But there was no other option; only iron cages could contain such ferocious beasts.

Wei Li approached the first cage and was surprised, “Oh, Qilin’s already awake.”

There had been no noise earlier, so he’d assumed the tiger was still unconscious.

Colonel Val also caught sight of the massive, golden-striped tiger wrapped in bandages. His heart ached at the sight, “Qilin…”

The tiger in the cage didn’t seem to recognize its former master’s voice. Lying sideways in the corner with its back to the door, the beast’s cold eyes radiated only wariness and lethal intent. Its muscles tensed slightly as if it wanted to stand but hesitated, seemingly considering something. In the end, it didn’t rise.

“Why isn’t Qilin getting up? Weren’t its leg injuries not severe?” Colonel Val asked, concerned.

Wei Li replied, “They weren’t bad. Maybe the medication hasn’t worn off yet, and it hasn’t regained its strength.”

Colonel Val’s worry deepened, “But even so, shouldn’t it at least react to people approaching? Qilin was never this relaxed around strangers, not even when severely injured before.”

Wei Li scratched his head, agreeing that the tiger’s behavior was unusual. The last time they’d caught Qilin, it had caused havoc in the recovery room immediately upon waking, even biting through three or four bars until its teeth nearly bled, refusing to give up.

Compared to that frenzy, Qilin’s calmness this time was indeed strange.

“Wait, what’s that?” Colonel Val suddenly exclaimed, his voice filled with shock.

Because the camera was positioned higher, Colonel Val had a better vantage point than Wei Li and had spotted something in Qilin’s arms.

“What?” Wei Li hadn’t noticed anything, confused.

“Right there, in front of its paws. What is that?”

Wei Li stood on his tiptoes, trying to see what the Colonel was talking about, but couldn’t make anything out. Just as he was about to move to another angle for a better look, a muffled female voice came from inside the cage, “What’s going on?”

Then, from Qilin’s embrace, a slightly disheveled female head slowly emerged.

Wei Li: …

Colonel Val: …

Wei Li: …

Colonel Val: …

Mu Ling yawned and groggily looked outside. She immediately saw Wei Li standing there, staring at her with a blank, dazed expression.

She waved, “Hey, Brother Wei, you’re here.”

After greeting him, Mu Ling crawled out from where she had been nestled against the giant tiger’s belly. As soon as she moved, Qilin seemed to be unsealed, instantly standing up and shaking its fur vigorously.

“Ouch!” Mu Ling, now covered in dust, quickly held it down, “Alright, don’t shake off the bandages. Let sister take a look.”

She patted the tiger’s rear, forcing it to sit down, then carefully examined its bandages. After ensuring they were secure, Mu Ling lifted one of the tiger’s massive paws to check the gauze wrapped around its claws.

As she did, the striped tiger became displeased and suddenly roared at her, “ROAR!”

The deafening roar startled Wei Li outside the cage. His instinctive cry of “Be careful!” barely left his throat when what happened next made him choke back his words.

“Mwah.”

Mu Ling, without hesitation, kissed the back of the tiger’s paw.

Wei Li: “…”

Colonel Val: “…”

The striped tiger didn’t seem to enjoy the affection. It used its nose to nudge Mu Ling’s hand, trying to make her let go.

But Mu Ling wouldn’t stop. She kept kissing it.

Frustrated, Qilin finally gave up, lying down and turning its head away, presenting Mu Ling with its back.

Mu Ling laughed, vigorously rubbing the tiger’s big head and then patting its hindquarters.

The striped tiger clamped its tail tightly, not wanting her to touch it, but Mu Ling persisted. She needed to check the wound. Using one hand to pry open the tiger’s tail, she used the other to secure the medical tape near the injury.