Chapter 547: Chapter 251: Finding the Tiger!

One look and you could tell it was custom-made, not some ordinary item available on the market.

The man picked up the satellite phone, deftly unpacked it, and quickly and clearly explained the basic operation, emergency distress frequency, and procedures for routine communication to Yang Qi.

His delivery was clear and concise, highlighting the important details. He had obviously been professionally trained.

"Thank you very much."

Yang Qi listened intently, took the equipment, and thanked him sincerely.

The man nodded. Without lingering, he gave Teacher Song and the others a slight nod of acknowledgment before turning to leave. His movements were crisp and efficient.

"Senior Brother is so thoughtful," Fang Rong sighed, looking at the closed case.

"Okay, with this, Teacher can worry a little less," Xia Xiaomin said with a smile.

Yang Qi packed away the satellite phone and its accessories.

He didn’t need it now, but he might in the future.

They had a warm dinner at Teacher Song’s house, and the conversation at the table was much more relaxed.

After dinner, Yang Qi saw it was getting late and rose to take his leave.

Teacher Song walked him to the door. Holding Yang Qi’s hand, she offered a few more parting words of advice, only letting go once she saw him get into the car Fang Rong had arranged to take him to the high-speed rail station.

Aboard the bullet train back to Donghua, Yang Qi watched the glittering city lights recede at high speed. His mind, however, had already flown ahead to the strange mountain forests he would be stepping into the next day.

Late at night, Yang Qi returned to his old home in Ningshan.

His grandmother was still awake, waiting for him.

She was only able to relax after seeing her grandson return safely.

"Grandma, I have to go on a business trip early tomorrow morning. I might be gone for a few days. It’s for work, so don’t worry."

Yang Qi didn’t dare mention the search for the tiger, saying only that it was a work requirement.

"Another business trip? The New Year celebrations aren’t even over..."

His grandmother’s heart ached for him, but she knew his job was different now, so she didn’t ask too many questions. She just repeatedly reminded him to be safe, eat well, and dress warmly.

"Don’t worry, Grandma. This time I’m going to an old friend’s place. Someone will be there to meet me. It’s very safe."

Yang Qi reassured her with a smile.

After making sure his grandmother was settled for the night, Yang Qi returned to his room, fully charged the military-grade satellite phone, and stored it away carefully. Lastly, he checked the Spirit-Exploring Ball.

Yang Qi was up at the crack of dawn the next morning.

He gave Bai Wan, Hu Zi, and Leopard clear instructions: for the next few days, they were not to leave his grandmother’s side for even a moment and must guard the house well.

The dogs all nodded and nuzzled their heads against Yang Qi’s hand to show they understood.

Taking Xiaojiu with him, Yang Qi drove out of the village.

Once on the main road, a thought was all it took for him to use his contractual bond to issue a clear directive to Qi Zai, who was circling high above the mountains behind his home.

_Qi Zai, let’s go._

Qi Zai let out a clear, piercing cry. With a single flap of its wings, it began to tail the small black dot moving on the road below, maintaining a leisurely pace from high above.

They headed west.

Around noon, the car entered Yuanzhou City.

Yang Qi found a clean-looking restaurant by the roadside and had lunch with Xiaojiu.

Afterward, he made a special trip to a large supermarket to buy dozens of pounds of high-quality fresh beef, which he carried back to the car in several large bags.

Making sure no one was around, he opened his Hundred Pouches Belt and stored all the beef inside.

With his strategic supplies replenished, Yang Qi didn’t linger, continuing his drive west.

Soon, the car left Yuanzhou City. Following the provincial highway, he crossed into the borders of Hanxi Province.

Hanxi Province is mountainous, especially at its border with Handong Province, which is an area of rolling mountains, dense vegetation, and sparse population.

Based on his map and the information he’d gotten from the Yuanzhou Police about the case area, Yang Qi chose a relatively bustling town near the target mountain range. He parked his car in a public lot that had security cameras.

He locked the car and slung an ordinary backpack over his shoulder as a disguise. It held only a few miscellaneous items and the satellite phone; his real gear was all stored in the Hundred Pouches Belt.

"Xiaojiu, let’s go."

With a low command, Yang Qi’s figure flashed, and he and Xiaojiu swiftly vanished into the forests at the edge of the town.

Meanwhile, high above, Qi Zai descended, circling just beneath the clouds. Its sharp gaze swept over the vast green ocean below.

And so, the man, the cat, and the goshawk vanished into the immense mountain range.

After entering the forest, Yang Qi didn’t immediately plunge blindly deeper.

He first found a relatively concealed high point and took the Spirit-Exploring Ball from his Hundred Pouches Belt.

He infused it with Magical Power. The Spirit-Exploring Ball’s surface erupted in a brilliant cyan light as runes flowed within.

Yang Qi mentally switched it to passive mode.

In an instant, the phantom of a vast, three-dimensional map covering a radius of dozens of kilometers materialized within his sea of consciousness.

Instantly, dozens of points of light, each with a different color and brightness, appeared on the map.

These points of light represented what the system designated as Spirit Beasts.

Most of the points of light were faint and scattered throughout the vast forest.

Yang Qi focused his attention on the brighter, isolated points of light.

*Qi Zai.*

Yang Qi transmitted his thoughts to the heights via their bond. *Do you see the directions I’ve marked for you? Fly over and check for any signs of large feline activity, or see a tiger itself. Stay safe, maintain your altitude, and don’t startle anything.*

He relayed the general locations of several suspicious points of light to Qi Zai through the mental map.

_Understood._

Qi Zai responded. Adjusting the angle of its broad wings, it glided toward the first location Yang Qi had indicated, moving like the most precise reconnaissance drone.

With its extraordinary vision and high-altitude advantage, no large animal could escape its sight, unless the grass below was three to six feet tall and offered complete cover.

Down below, Yang Qi and Xiaojiu chose a direction and began to move forward, slowly and cautiously.

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