’Oh no, the Two-legged Beast spotted us!’

’Big Bro, run!’

’Wait for me, Second Bro!’

...

Accompanied by a series of hurried, slightly panicked squeaks, two half-grown raccoons shot out through a crack in the door like a pair of rolling furballs. WHOOSH! They dashed down the narrow staff corridor, rushing headlong toward the outside world without a single look back.

Outside the enclosure, two female tourists weren’t scared in the least. Instead, they were amused by the sudden "jailbreak," covering their mouths and chuckling.

The girl with her hair in a bun even pumped her fist and shouted excitedly, "Go for it, bears!"

Go for it?

But no matter how much they "went for it," the little raccoons weren’t getting very far.

The very next second after the little guys rushed out the metal door, a quick-reacting Yang Qi had already spun around. With a CLANG, he slammed the inner enclosure door shut and then sped off in pursuit.

With his five senses enhanced by the first level of Qi Refining, Yang Qi had naturally heard the rustling sounds of the two little guys as they ran.

In all the time he’d been feeding the raccoons, this wasn’t the first time the metal door hadn’t been fully shut.

It was just that this time, the little raccoons had seized the opportunity, discovering the crack in the door and actually managing to slip out.

Of course, it was only because they were just little raccoons that Yang Qi hadn’t been overly concerned about shutting the door tightly.

When cleaning the wolf enclosure, he always slammed it shut, giving Happy no opportunity to escape.

...

With so many people and prying eyes around during the day, Yang Qi naturally wouldn’t use a skill like the Spirit Crane Body Technique while giving chase—it was far too beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

Even so, his current physique far surpassed that of an ordinary young man, and his normal running speed was still incredibly swift.

He hadn’t run far before he easily caught up to the half-grown raccoon that had fallen behind. Bending down, he reached out and expertly scooped it up into his hand.

The little guy was startled and let out a short SQUEAK.

’It’s over.’

"So you know it’s over, huh?"

Yang Qi found this amusing, but he didn’t break stride as he spoke.

Putting on another burst of speed, he stretched out his large hand and nabbed the other raccoon just as it was about to dive into a nearby bush.

’Let me go! Let me go!’

Huan the Second, now caught, was nowhere near as docile as Huan University. He immediately began to struggle, his four short legs kicking wildly as he twisted his head to squeak at his brother, held in Yang Qi’s other hand.

’Big Bro, how could you be so dumb!’

’Don’t you know we should have split up?’ 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

’If we’d split up, the Two-legged Beast might not have caught us!’

Huan University was dumbfounded.

’Huh?’

’Okay, I’ll split up next time.’

’Next time?’

’These two little guys are already using tactics just to escape?’

Amused, Yang Qi focused his mind, consumed a bit of Magical Power, and silently cast the Basic Spirit Communication Technique, sending his thoughts directly to the two little raccoons.

"Splitting up would be useless. I can still catch both of you."

’Impossible!’

Huan the Second squeaked back instinctively, but the moment the "word" was out, he froze. His struggles ceased instantly. He twisted his furry little head, his black-bean-like eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at Yang Qi’s nearby face and let out another squeak.

’You... you can speak our language?!’

’Big Bro! Big Bro! This Two-legged Beast is amazing!’

’He can actually speak our language!’

Huan the Second squeaked excitedly at Huan University.

Huan University was equally stunned, shocked by something so far beyond his comprehension. He gave a numb nod and responded with a weak squeak.

’I... I heard him...’

’He’s so amazing...’

Huan the Second’s eyes darted, and he immediately switched to a fawning tone as he squeaked at Yang Qi.

’Two-legged Beast, oh Two-legged Beast, I won’t run off anymore!’

’I was just curious and wanted to come out and play!’

’Just let me go, okay?’

"No."

Yang Qi maintained the Spirit Communication Technique and replied with a smile, "Rules are rules. If you really want to play..."

He paused, and seeing the little guy’s ears droop, he added, "When it starts to get dark, after the park closes and all the tourists have left, I can take you out for a walk around here."

’Really?’

Huan the Second’s ears shot up with a SWISH, his little eyes sparkling.

’That’s great!’

’You’re so nice, Two-legged Beast!’

Although he didn’t understand what "tourists" were, he definitely understood the part about going out for a walk.

Huan University, a beat slower to react, finally caught on and began to squeak eagerly.

’Two-legged Beast, I want to come out and play too!’

’I want to play too!’

"Alright, alright."

Yang Qi used his thoughts to soothe the two little guys, who had already forgotten all about their "jailbreak."

Taking one out was no different from taking two.

It would just mean one extra leash.

While "speaking," Yang Qi carried the two little raccoons back toward their enclosure.

The two female tourists were still waiting there. Seeing Yang Qi return with a "fugitive" in each hand, the girl with the bun laughed. "Hey handsome, you’re not going to punish them for running out, are you?"

"Of course not."

Yang Qi smiled and gave the now-docile little guys in his hands a gentle shake. "They’re just playful kids. I’ll give them a little talking-to and make sure the door is shut properly this time."

"Um..."

The other girl, who had been quiet until now, hesitated before asking curiously, first looking at Yang Qi and then at the little raccoons in his hands, who seemed to be "listening quietly." "Were you just talking to the raccoons? Can you understand what their squeaks mean?"

"I can’t."

Yang Qi’s expression didn’t change as he replied casually, "I just make educated guesses based on their movements and moods. It’s just a way to interact, you know?"

Before the two could think about it too much or ask any more questions, he quickly added, "Well, have fun, you two. I’ve got to get back to work."

With that, he gave them a nod and walked back toward the enclosure, little raccoons in tow.

This time after going in, he made a point to slide the bolt across the small iron staff corridor door from the outside, making absolutely sure it was secure.

Inside the enclosure.

As soon as Huan University and Huan the Second were back on the ground, Huan University trotted over to a nearby ball and happily began to play with it again.

Huan the Second, however, was too excited to contain himself. He zipped over to where Huan’s father and mother were resting and immediately began squeaking rapidly at them.

’Dad, Mom, listen to this! That Two-legged Beast is amazing!’

’He can speak our language! He can understand what we’re saying!’

"..."

Huan’s father slowly lifted his head, blinked his small eyes blankly, then turned to Huan’s mother beside him and let out a couple of squeaks.

’Did this kid get scared stupid after sneaking out and being brought back?’

Huan’s mother lovingly leaned over, nuzzled Huan the Second with her nose, and offered him a piece of food while squeaking gently.

’My sweet baby, were you frightened?’

’Here, have a snack. You’ll feel better after you eat.’

Huan the Second grew frantic.

He swatted the food away with one paw and squeaked even louder.

’I’m serious!’

’I’m not crazy!’

’He can really talk to us!’

Seeing that his parents still wore "you’re talking nonsense, dear" expressions, he spun around in frustration. Then, he abruptly whipped his head around and started squeaking loudly at Yang Qi, who was nearby, pretending to organize his tools while actually listening with great interest to the family drama.

’Two-legged Beast! Two-legged Beast! Say something, quick!’

’My mom and dad don’t believe me! You have to tell them!’