Chapter 60.1

Mu Ling watched the Scarlet Flame Monkey a while longer, until Feifan’s caretaker grew somewhat impatient and prompted, “Director Mu?”

Mu Ling smiled apologetically. “Sorry, let’s go.”

The car turned around to head back. During the ride, Mu Ling couldn’t help but look back until the forest faded into the distance. Only then did she face forward, glancing down at the creature in her arms and holding it a little closer.

The two keepers were polite, first escorting her back to the shuttle before driving away.

On the shuttle, Director Chen noticed her return and asked, “So, Director Mu, did you get to see the Scarlet Flame Monkey?”

Mu Ling had mentioned her intentions when she left earlier, so she simply smiled and nodded.

“How is it doing?” he asked again.

Mu Ling hesitated and gave a bitter smile.

Seeing her expression, Director Chen didn’t press further.

The shuttle drove a while longer before stopping at a rest station. These large wildlife parks all had such stations, with food vendors, restrooms, and areas for tourists to take breaks. Since Bi Ke Zoo was planning to build their first service area, Mu Ling took the opportunity to observe the layout for future reference.

After lunch at the rest station, Director Tian arrived to discuss the afternoon schedule. He mentioned they were opening an ocean zone next year, with the exhibition halls already under construction, and asked if they’d like to visit.

Everyone enthusiastically agreed.

Director Tian left three staff members to guide them and answer questions, as he couldn’t accompany them for the whole day due to other duties.

As Director Tian prepared to leave, Mu Ling stopped him. “Director Tian, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

Surprised, he nodded. “Go ahead.”

Mu Ling, somewhat hesitant, explained, “I saw Lieyan earlier, and its condition isn’t good. If things worsen, would you consider transferring it back to us?”

Director Tian was taken aback, frowning. “You’re saying you want to take in a war beast whose condition is deteriorating? Why?”

Mu Ling pressed her lips together. “Changshan Zoo is taking excellent care of Lieyan, and its caretaker is incredibly attentive. His device is filled with Lieyan’s photos and dietary records. If Lieyan is thriving here, I hope it stays. But…”

She sighed. “But if it isn’t doing well, it’s likely because it misses the nurturing it received from Feifan. Feifan was like a mother to it, and without that emotional support, this place might no longer be suitable.”

“While Bi Ke Zoo can’t match Changshan’s facilities, we have several exceptionally gentle creatures—a caring Red Terror Elephant, a calm Dark Snow Wolf, a tolerant Ripper Tiger, and a sociable Swift Fire. Together, they might provide Lieyan with the emotional support it needs. If things reach that point, I’d like to bring Lieyan back—even as a last resort, anything is better than watching it fade away. Of course, we’ll cover all transfer fees and subsidies.”

After Mu Ling’s earnest speech, Director Tian remained silent for a long while, studying her intently before nodding. “I’ve only heard of people requesting healthy animals. This is the first time someone’s asked for one that isn’t well. Director Mu, I understand your position, and we’ll give it serious consideration.”

Mu Ling expressed her gratitude. “Thank you.”

Glancing at his wristband, Director Tian apologized, “I have another meeting.”

“Please, go ahead,” Mu Ling replied quickly.

As Director Tian’s vehicle pulled away and the rest station grew smaller behind them, his assistant asked curiously, “Director, if Lieyan really improves at Bi Ke Zoo, wouldn’t that prove their environment is better suited for war beasts? People online say Bi Ke Zoo has lower injury rates because Bi Ke Mountain is ideal for raising them. Is that true?”

Director Tian smiled. “There’s no such thing. Every animal has its habitat. Desert animals don’t thrive in rainforests, and plains animals don’t belong in mountain forests. No single place is universally suitable for all creatures.”

The assistant muttered, “But Bi Ke Zoo’s war beasts are thriving…”

“Yes, they are.”

In fact, they were doing so remarkably well that not just the War Beast Association and Veterinary Association, but likely many other powerful forces had their eyes on them. Though perhaps they didn’t mind—those in the spotlight often found safety in transparency.

After lunch, around one in the afternoon, three shuttles set out again. With three guides aboard, Mu Ling learned more about Changshan Zoo’s animals.

Around two o’clock, Mu Ling’s light brain suddenly rang. The number was unfamiliar.

“Hello, who’s this?”

An anxious middle-aged man spoke, “Director Mu, this is Director Ge from Monty Zoo. It’s about Ji Xiang – wasn’t it doing better yesterday? We gave it an IV last night, and its color improved today, but once it regained its strength, it started showing aggressive behavior again. It hasn’t eaten anything since this morning. Do you have any suggestions for this situation?”

Director Ge had clearly come to view Mu Ling as a war beast expert, making her his first point of contact for Ji Xiang’s issues.

Mu Ling considered for a moment. “Yesterday, Ji Xiang was disoriented, which is why we could calm it. Today it’s likely more aware and harder to manage. I suggest moving it back to its enclosure. The vet station is too crowded—constant stress will suppress its appetite.”

Director Ge hesitated. “But is it safe to release it so soon? It barely survived…”

Mu Ling reassured him. “You have staff monitoring it, right? If its condition worsens, you can treat it immediately.”

Director Ge coughed awkwardly. “Um, Director Mu, I hope I’m not being too forward, but would you be able to come to Monty Zoo now? We’ll send a car—you won’t have to take a single step.”

Mu Ling paused, understanding his urgency. Finally, she agreed, “Alright. I’m currently at Changshan Zoo.”

“I know. Our driver is already at the entrance. I’ll have him come in—could you send your location?”

Mu Ling raised an eyebrow. So he’d planned this from the start.

After sending her location, Monty Zoo’s vehicle caught up with their shuttle within half an hour, having flown at full speed while they’d been driving slowly to observe animals. After saying goodbye to Director Chen and the others, Mu Ling boarded the car, and they left Changshan Zoo’s grounds thirty minutes later.

Once in the city, they had to take ground routes, significantly slowing their pace. After a while, they hit traffic.

Mu Ling stretched to see ahead. “Is this road always this congested? It’s not even rush hour.”

The driver looked puzzled. “It’s usually clear. Let’s try another route.”

But the alternate route was also blocked.

“Why is this one jammed too?”

Confused, the driver turned on the radio for traffic updates.

They learned that a large truck had overturned ahead, causing a three-car pileup.

The driver frowned. “Why haven’t they opened the hover lanes for clearance?”

While hover lanes were restricted in cities, they were typically opened during major incidents to restore traffic flow.

As he spoke, the broadcast continued: “A baboon, approximately 120 centimeters long with brown-yellow fur, escaped from the overturned truck and has injured four people. Police have sealed off Sangnan First Road…”

Hearing “baboon attack,” Mu Ling stopped listening and quickly searched StarNet.

As expected, numerous videos were already circulating, with the incident rapidly climbing the trending topics. She opened the most-viewed video, captured by a dashboard camera.

The footage showed a truck weaving erratically, horns blaring as other vehicles scattered to avoid it. Suddenly, it accelerated into oncoming traffic, hitting a bus and overturning. Several other vehicles collided in the chaos.

As bystanders hesitated to help, a bloodied man crawled from the truck, crying for help. Then a baboon emerged, teeth bared, shrieking as it attacked the man, tearing at his scalp and clawing his face and neck. When several men tried to intervene with tools from their cars, the baboon turned its aggression on them, injuring several within moments. Throughout the attack, it repeatedly returned to stomp on its first victim, who ultimately lay motionless.

The video ended, and Mu Ling’s expression grew grave.

Just hours ago, she had been looking at photos of Lieyan, many showing it alongside Feifan.