Chapter 106 - 105: Invitation from the Provincial Capital

Tuantuan devoured the two "specially made" apples in just a few bites, leaving only the cores. Still wanting more, she licked her paws.

Then, she sidled up to Yang Qi, her round nose sniffing forcefully at his fingers and clothes before she let out a soft whine.

’Two-legged Beast, any more of those tasty apples?’

"None left."

Yang Qi spread his hands.

Although Tuantuan couldn’t understand his words, she understood the gesture and immediately let out a disappointed cry.

Then she turned around and, with her signature pigeon-toed gait, unhurriedly ambled back toward the Panda Hall.

Her movements were so leisurely, it was as if she wasn’t the same panda that had been eagerly chasing him moments ago.

"Tuantuan, slow down."

Yang Qi called after her with a smile.

The great panda turned a deaf ear, continuing on her way.

Hu Jing quickly jogged after her. As she passed by Yang Qi, her face was filled with excitement and admiration, and she silently gave him a thumbs-up.

Yang Qi watched the backs of the human and the panda recede into the distance, then cheerfully initiated his lottery draw.

[Congratulations, Host. You have drawn a prize: Mid-grade Spirit Stone (Water Attribute)]

"A Mid-grade Spirit Stone?"

Yang Qi raised an eyebrow, pleasantly surprised.

In his recent lottery draws, aside from the usual refills, the Five Elements Spirit Stones he’d received were all low-grade. He hadn’t expected his luck to get a little boost after "walking" the national treasure today.

According to the system’s description, the total amount and purity of Spiritual Qi contained in one Mid-grade Spirit Stone was equivalent to one hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Although they couldn’t be exchanged at a perfect equivalent, its value was undoubtedly much higher.

This water-attribute Mid-grade Spirit Stone was perfect for replacing the water-attribute Low-grade Spirit Stone serving as the core of his Five Elements Spirit Gathering Array, which would improve the array’s efficiency and his cultivation speed.

’Not bad.’

Yang Qi’s mood improved even further.

...

But the good luck seemed to be a one-time thing.

For the next two days, the contribution points from the Demon Extermination Array and the lottery draws reverted to the usual rewards: Strengthening Pills, Spirit Rice, Qi Condensing Pills, and low-grade Five Elements Spirit Stones. No more Mid-grade Spirit Stones appeared.

After the park closed in the evenings, Yang Qi would head to the Panda Hall to "lure" Tuantuan out for some activity.

However, on the fourth day, things changed.

Yang Qi had just reached the entrance of the Panda Hall’s outdoor enclosure. Before he could follow his usual routine and secretly dab some diluted Vitality Nutrient Cream on his fingers, he saw Tuantuan, who should have been sleeping under a tree or chewing on bamboo, suddenly twitch her ears and slowly get to her feet.

She turned her head toward Yang Qi at the entrance, the small eyes within her black patches brightening as she let out a familiar-sounding grunt from her throat.

’Two-legged Beast, you’re here.’

’Let’s go.’

Heh.

Yang Qi smiled.

It seemed his "gourmet walk therapy" over the past few days had not only gotten Tuantuan accustomed to evening activity but had also led her to associate "Yang Qi’s arrival" with "a subsequent tasty walk," to the point where she was now actively looking forward to it.

When the great panda ambled over, Yang Qi patted Tuantuan’s thick shoulder and said with a laugh, "So proactive today, huh? Alright, let’s go. The usual route."

The human and the panda once again set off on their evening "health walk" through the park.

This time, Tuantuan didn’t even need Yang Qi’s deliberate guidance. She spontaneously followed the route they had taken before, moving at a leisurely pace and occasionally looking back at Yang Qi to make sure he was keeping up.

This scene was witnessed by the people watching in secret, all of whom clicked their tongues in amazement.

"Did Tuantuan come out on her own today?"

"She probably only came out because she saw Yang Qi, right? Earlier, when Hu Jing opened the gate and called for her, she didn’t even acknowledge her."

"How on earth did Yang Qi manage it? It’s incredible."

"This is probably something only a ’Druid’ could do, right?"

"I don’t know... Maybe it’s not that mystical?"

Someone quietly offered a different opinion, "Look, it seems Tuantuan has formed a conditioned reflex. As long as Yang Qi comes, she follows, and then she gets an apple. Couldn’t someone else do that? After all, giving her the apple is the whole point."

"Yeah, giving her the apple at the end is the key, isn’t it? Yang Qi is just the ’guide’."

"So... why don’t we try swapping someone else in tomorrow?"

As soon as the suggestion was made, it was met with agreement from quite a few people.

After all, if Tuantuan could be conditioned into a fixed routine of "someone comes to take her for a walk in the evening and then gives her an apple," then theoretically, any keeper could do it. That would save Yang Qi from having to spend extra time on it every day.

...

Yang Qi handed Tuantuan the apple, which was dabbed with a trace amount of Vitality Nutrient Cream. After watching her eat it with satisfaction and amble leisurely back to the Panda Hall, he started walking back to his dorm.

On the way, he ran into Chen Ze, Hu Haodong, and a few other familiar security guards who were gathered together chatting.

"Brother Qi!"

When Chen Ze saw Yang Qi, he immediately came over, his face a mixture of indignation and disgust. "Let me tell you, some people are just... Hmph. They’re planning to have someone else take Tuantuan for her walk tomorrow."

"Someone else?" Yang Qi was stunned, then a strange look appeared on his face.

"Yeah!"

Hu Haodong explained, "A few people think that now that Tuantuan is used to coming out for a walk in the evening and getting an apple before going back, the process has become routine."

"And if it’s routine, it doesn’t necessarily have to be you guiding her, Brother Qi. It’s just about giving her an apple at the end. You’re not Tuantuan’s keeper, and you have to make an extra trip every day after the park closes..."

Another guard added, "It seems Minister Jiang and the others heard about it, and they think it’s worth a try. If it really works, it’ll save you the trouble, right, Brother Qi?"

Chen Ze pursed his lips. "I can understand what the leadership is thinking. It’s true you have extra work, Brother Qi, and it would be good for you if someone else could take over. But I just don’t think it’ll work! With Tuantuan’s personality, if they send someone else, she won’t even give them the time of day!"