Qi Xiao looked at his card, puzzled, and read the words out loud: "Putting collars on Snow Wolf and Snow Leopard?"

The show crew revealed a punishment card with a mischievous grin: "Please put this satellite tracking collar on the Snow Wolf and Snow Leopard within 25 minutes!"

The crew held up two collars embedded with monitoring devices. The satellite tracking collars allow animal observers to know the current location of the animals, which helps understand their situation, and they can be found in time if they are in danger.

"So it’s just putting on a collar."

Qi Xiao followed the staff to the habitat of the Snow Wolf and Snow Leopard participating in the show.

Qi Xiao stepped into the territory of the Snow Wolf accompanied by the staff, immediately meeting a pair of amber vertical pupils.

The robust Snow Wolf was baring its forest-white fangs, a low growl rumbling in its throat, while its forepaws dug deep furrows into the frozen soil.

On the rocky shelf above, the Snow Leopard’s long tail lashed impatiently against the ice, its golden-green pupils narrowed into slits, and its sharp claws scraped a piercing sound on the rocks.

The muscles of the two beasts were taut as a drawn bowstring, seemingly ready to pounce at any moment.

The staff member shakily handed over a protective shield, but Qi Xiao casually placed it aside.

Suddenly, a broadcast played the sound of a Snow Wolf howling, and the staff handed Qi Xiao a pair of protective gloves smeared with fake blood.

Xu Ying, seeing the sound effects and props prepared by the crew, couldn’t help but feel worried: "Is it really this harsh?"

Even though Xu Ying knew Qi Xiao was brave and wouldn’t be scared by these challenges, he still felt nervous unconsciously.

Qi Xiao raised an eyebrow as he took the collar, rolling up the sleeves of his black tactical suit to reveal a few shallow old scars on his forearm.

As soon as the iron gate opened, the Snow Wolf, which had been playing with a toy, suddenly pricked up its ears.

To everyone’s shock, this giant weighing at least 100 pounds trotted over, sniffed Qi Xiao’s hand, and then...

"Flop" — it lay down, exposing its belly!

Qi Xiao knelt on one knee, his slender fingers rubbing behind the Snow Wolf’s ears, as he easily fastened the first collar. As the collar bell rang with a crisp sound, the Snow Wolf even nudged Qi Xiao’s knee with its head, as if expressing gratitude.

Even more astonishing, the Snow Leopard, which had been lying on the rock shelf, gracefully leaped down and voluntarily brought its neck close to Qi Xiao’s hand.

Qi Xiao chuckled softly and called it gently. The tip of the Snow Leopard’s tail instantly curled up like a playful question mark. It tilted its head, the fierceness in its golden-green eyes fading, revealing a bit of cub-like innocence.

Xu Ying’s heart finally relaxed, incredibly surprised: "When...did you get so familiar with them?"

"More familiar than me, the animal guest agent!"

Qi Xiao reached out to scratch the Snow Wolf’s chin, and the beast immediately let out a purr, its thick tail sweeping a fan-shaped mark in the snow.

"My grandfather was the last generation of mountain patrolman in the West Mountain," he said, his fingertips brushing over the crescent-shaped scar behind the Snow Leopard’s ear, "These little ones were injured by poachers’ traps back then and healed in our cabin for three months."

Xu Ying suddenly realized, no wonder Qi Xiao was familiar with ranger Qin Yan, likely because Qin Yan was a disciple of Qi Xiao’s grandfather.

Now that the country has developed, the basic conditions have improved, management is more scientific and advanced, so mountain patrolmen have evolved into rangers.

Qi Xiao’s voice suddenly deepened, filled with memories: "At that time, there were no infrared cameras, tracking collars, or even animal rescue stations like now."

His distinct fingers unconsciously rubbed the scar behind the Snow Leopard’s ear, his Adam’s apple gently moving: "After they were injured, they had a high fever, curling up in a ball. All I could do was hold them and use the most rudimentary methods to reduce the fever..."

He paused, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, "At thirteen, I was helpless except for crying."

Suddenly, he lifted his eyes, his deep gaze looking directly into Xu Ying’s eyes: "Fortunately, now, you are here."

The Snow Leopard seemed to sense the moment, gently brushing its moist nose against Qi Xiao’s wrist, and let out a low purr.

Xu Ying unconsciously stepped forward, her fingertips brushing the Snow Leopard’s furry ears. The warm sensation spread from her finger pads, and she suddenly felt that the days spent traveling through desolate snowy mountains for wild animals had taken on a new meaning at this moment.

[This moment, Brother Qi and Little Xu Station Chief’s meeting feels so fated]

[Woo woo woo, it’s the people like Little Xu Station Chief, Brother Qi, Captain Chen who silently guard these remote places, allowing these snow mountain spirits the freedom to run]

[They truly dedicated their youth to this land]

[This is the true top tier! Salute to all the guardians who remain unknown] 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

[The trusting gaze of the Snow Leopard is the best medal~]

After completing the task, the Snow Wolf continued to follow Qi Xiao closely, until a keeper coaxed it away with meat jerky.

Next, it was the other three members of the Hunter Team’s turn for the adventure challenge.

"Brushing...the Himalayan Marmot’s teeth?!"

Su Zhining’s fingers trembled slightly as she held the task card, her diamond-studded nails leaving white scratches on the card. She turned to the show crew, her exquisitely arched eyebrows nearly reaching her hairline, "What kind of adventure is this?! This is pure torture!"

As the sickly Himalayan Marmot was placed on the treatment table by the staff, Xu Ying was mixing special medicinal toothpaste: "It’s been too picky lately, only eating nuts and not vegetables, its mouth is a bit inflamed..."

Before she finished speaking, Su Zhining was already fully equipped — triple protective masks, lab goggles, disposable protective suit, even donning oven mitts for protection.

She cautiously approached like defusing a bomb, but as soon as she leaned close to the Marmot—

"Yuck——!!!"

The intense stench of fermented old nuts broke through her defenses, causing Su Zhining to stagger back three steps, crashing into the wall with a "bang"—

And elegantly fainting on the ground.

The Marmot was visibly startled, its beady black eyes wide open.

Slowly, it lifted a paw to cover its mouth, its ears drooping: [Was my mouth really that smelly, human lady?]

The voice trembled with disbelief.

Xu Ying’s shoulders shook slightly, suppressing a laugh as she squeezed out minty toothpaste: "Picky little friends need to eat more vegetables~"

She blinked, her tone as gentle as coaxing kindergarten children.

The surgical gloves snapped as they were put on, and Xu Ying was just about to demonstrate the standard toothbrushing posture. But when the Marmot opened its mouth—

"Ugh!" She jerked back, strategically holding her breath for three seconds before approaching again, "The level of fermentation on this..."

Her slender fingers fanning in front of her nose, "It’s like stuffing three-month-unwashed smelly socks into a nut jar and fermenting it for half a year."

Instantly, the Marmot froze, its beady black eyes widening.

In the next second, it swiftly wrapped its large tail around its face, curling up into a self-isolated furry ball, leaving only two embarrassedly reddened ear tips exposed.

Xu Ying held her breath, expertly starting to brush its teeth. Holding the Marmot’s jaw steady with her left hand, she lightly brushed up and down at a 45-degree angle with her right hand, not overlooking even the hardest-to-clean back molars.