BOOM!

With a dull thud, the warehouse door was smashed open by a battering ram, its hinges groaning under the strain.

The search team members, already in their bulletproof vests, stormed the warehouse like tigers bursting from a cage—swift and orderly.

"Captain Li, we’ve found the tunnel entrance!"

"Captain Li, these sacks aren’t filled with stolen goods! They’re full of heating elements and signal jammers!"

"Captain Li..."

...

Li Hongqi closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, his composure had returned.

He picked up his walkie-talkie and began issuing a series of commands in a steady, forceful voice.

All the officers at the scene immediately sprang into action.

Yang Qi picked up Xiaojiu, who was walking out from the warehouse, and found Qian Yu.

"Thanks a lot for this, Brother Qi. You were a huge help."

Qian Yu carefully removed the miniature camera from Xiaojiu’s forehead and the tiny earpiece from behind its ear, speaking in a low voice.

"Nothing to thank me for. Xiaojiu did all the hard work."

Yang Qi smiled and gently scratched Xiaojiu’s chin. The little guy squinted its eyes in comfort.

"Criminals these days are getting more and more cunning. With brains like that, why not do something legitimate?"

Watching the bustling police officers, Yang Qi couldn’t help but sigh.

"Legitimate business is too slow to make money. Besides, some people are just born to take shortcuts. They even enjoy the thrill of ’challenging’ the rules."

Li Hongqi walked over with a grim expression, extending a hand to Yang Qi. "Xiao Yang," he said gravely, "thanks. It’s because of you and your cat that we saw through the kidnappers’ stalling tactics."

Yang Qi shook his hand and replied seriously, "You’re too kind, Captain Li. I’m just glad I could help. I hope the kidnappers haven’t gotten far."

"Don’t worry, they won’t get away!"

Li Hongqi’s tone was decisive. "Once the case is closed, I’ll properly thank you and Xiaojiu for your assistance."

"Really, there’s no need to be so formal," Yang Qi said, quickly waving his hand.

Li Hongqi said no more. He just took a step back, straightened his posture, and gave Yang Qi a standard police salute.

Without further delay, he turned and strode off to get back to work.

Qian Yu also nodded at Yang Qi and hurried to rejoin the team.

Yang Qi watched the officers rushing about, a wave of emotion washing over him.

Not wanting to disturb them, he took Xiaojiu and drove back to the Zoo.

When he returned to his dorm, sure enough, Ta Xue was still curled up on the sofa, eyes glued to the TV screen without blinking.

Yang Qi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He walked over, picked the cat up, and ruffled its fur, lecturing,

"You little TV addict, it’s time for bed!"

Then, he turned off the TV.

...

The next day, before dawn, Yang Qi finished his daily meditation.

He went out to the warehouse for fresh meat and fruit. First, he visited the Wolf District to feed the pack of Gray Wolves that had grown increasingly close to him. Then, he went to the Raccoon Hall to distribute breakfast to the adorable little bandits.

After feeding the animals, he returned to his dorm, brought Xiaojiu and Ta Xue with him, started his car, and left the Zoo.

Yang Qi had already told his superior, Jiang Kai, yesterday that he would be taking a trip to his hometown today. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Having his own car was so convenient; no need to squeeze onto the infrequent long-distance bus.

At seven in the morning, the car drove out of the city toward the rising sun and got on the westbound highway.

Ningshan County was the most remote and economically undeveloped county under the jurisdiction of Donghua City.

After nearly two hours on the road, Yang Qi exited the highway, drove for another half-hour or so along familiar provincial and county roads, and finally turned onto a newly paved concrete village road.

Around ten o’clock, the car came to a steady stop in front of an old, traditional house of gray brick and tile, complete with a small courtyard.

"Grandma, I’m back!"

As soon as he got out of the car, Yang Qi shouted toward the house.

A kind-looking old woman with half-gray hair and a slightly stooped back walked out quickly from inside.

She squinted toward the doorway. When she saw it was Yang Qi, the deep-set wrinkles on her face instantly smoothed out, her eyes filled with pleasant surprise.

"My boy is back."

"You silly child, why didn’t you call ahead to say you were coming?"

"I wanted to give you a surprise!" Yang Qi said with a laugh, pulling out two large bags of high-end nutritional supplements that Chen Hao and his wife had insisted he take. He moved forward to support the old woman’s arm. "Let’s go, Grandma. We can talk inside."

Xiaojiu and Ta Xue followed closely behind them, curiously observing the unfamiliar little farmhouse courtyard.

The furnishings inside were simple but tidy, filled with the unique, comforting air of an old house.

Yang Qi helped his grandmother sit down in a rattan chair in the main room, then pulled over a small bamboo stool and sat beside her.

"Grandma, I have some good news. I’ve changed jobs. I’m working at the Donghua City Zoo now. It’s a state-run institution, very stable."

Holding his grandmother’s somewhat rough hands, Yang Qi began to tell her about his recent life, mixing truths with half-truths.

He said he was doing well at the zoo, that his boss held him in high regard, and that by a lucky coincidence, he’d helped someone out. To thank him, they had given him two bottles of "medicinal wine" that was especially good for strengthening the body.

He omitted the dangers and specific details of his heroic act, chalking it all up to good luck.

Finally, he mysteriously pulled a bottle of low-alcohol liquor, into which he had dissolved a Strengthening Pill, from his bag. He twisted open the cap, poured a small cup of the clear liquid, and held it to his grandmother’s lips.

"Grandma, trust me, this is really good stuff. Just take a little sip and try it. You’ll feel the effects right away."

The old woman looked at her grandson’s earnest and confident gaze. Dubiously, she took the small cup and carefully took a tiny sip.

The liquor was warm and went down smoothly.

A distinct warmth rose from her stomach, spreading rapidly through her limbs.

The old woman’s body trembled slightly. Beads of sweat quickly appeared on her forehead, neck, and the back of her hands. It wasn’t the sweat of scorching heat, but a natural perspiration that came after her whole body felt comfortable and slightly warm.

"This... this wine..."

The old woman’s eyes widened, her face a mask of disbelief. She looked at the cup in her hand, then back at her smiling grandson, momentarily at a loss for words.

"See? I wasn’t lying, was I?"

Yang Qi smiled, took the cup, carefully screwed the cap back on the bottle, and placed it solemnly on the low cabinet beside his grandmother.

"This medicinal wine is a gentle tonic. It’s potent, but you can only drink one small cup like this per day at most. Definitely don’t drink any more than that."

"No, no!" The old woman snapped out of her shock, shaking her head repeatedly. She reached out to push the bottle back toward Yang Qi. "This wine must be incredibly expensive! You keep it and drink it yourself. You work so hard, you’re the one who needs to build up your strength. Grandma is just a bag of old bones; I don’t need to drink something this good."

"Hey, Grandma, look at me."

Yang Qi deliberately puffed out his chest, rolled up his T-shirt sleeve, and flexed his arm hard, showing off his firm, defined muscles. "Do I look like I need it? I’m young and strong, in great health!"

With that, he rolled down his sleeve, bent over, and scooped up Xiaojiu and Ta Xue, who were looking around curiously at his feet. He held them up in front of his grandmother as if presenting a treasure.

"Here, Grandma. These are the two cats I told you about, the ones I’m raising at the zoo. They’re incredibly smart."

"The black one is Xiaojiu, and the one with the little patterned face is Ta Xue."

"Come on, Xiaojiu, Ta Xue, say hello to Grandma."

"MEOW~" Xiaojiu let out an elegant cry, gently flicking its tail.

"MEOW MEOW~"

Ta Xue was a bit more lively. It meowed softly twice at the old woman, its round eyes sparkling.

The old woman smiled as she looked at the two beautiful, clean "cats." Just as she was about to reach out and pet them, Yang Qi made another move.

"Xiaojiu, go get that bag of cookies for Grandma to try."

Yang Qi set Xiaojiu down and pointed to a bag of individually wrapped cookies on the square table.

Xiaojiu understood immediately. With a nimble leap, it was on the table. It picked up a cookie, turned, and hopped down. It walked over to the old woman’s rattan chair, stood up on its hind legs, and, tilting its head back, placed the cookie from its mouth into her outstretched palm.

The whole process was fluid and perfectly practiced.

...

The old woman clutched the cookie, looked down at Xiaojiu sitting at her feet with a "praise me" expression, and then at her grandson’s triumphant smile. She was completely dumbfounded.

’Is this cat some kind of spirit?’