Chapter 2612: Fantastic Beasts in the Garden 19

The musk deer was also a clever animal, able to sense that the pleasant feeling just now came from that lion, and even tried to support itself with its uninjured foreleg, shuffling a bit toward Bai Rendong and Jin Chen.

Bai Rendong tried to touch it, saying, "Musk deer baby, your injury is serious; you need proper treatment and rest. We'll take you to a safe place where someone will look after you until you fully recover, okay?"

The musk deer weakly blinked its eyes, struggled to lift its head, and carefully sniffed Bai Rendong's fingers.

It hesitated a moment, nudged Bai Rendong's palm with its nose, then struggled to lift its uninjured foreleg and placed it on Bai Rendong's hand, making a "hng-pu" sound.

Jin Chen timely translated for Bai Rendong, saying, "It agreed."

Then he extended his paw and pushed away the musk deer's leg that had been placed on him, letting out two low growls.

"From now on, call me boss."

The musk deer weakly: "?"

Its little head felt dizzy from blood loss and pain, and it didn't quite understand what "boss" specifically meant.

But it liked this little lion that made it feel comfortable, and happily lunged toward Jin Chen.

Jin Chen: "!!!"

Jin Chen narrowly avoided being pounced, quickly jumped back, and leapt onto the big head of Hu Gu beside him, lowering his head to sniff the snow-white fluffy fur.

Fortunately, it didn't get any smell on it.

Hu Cai Cai leaned close to Hu Gu, lowered her voice, and asked Jin Chen, "Have you found the cause?"

Jin Chen frowned, saying, "It's this mountain."

Xiao Bai Lion raised its paw and said, "This mountain is suppressing our monster power; the feeling becomes clearer the deeper we go."

Hu Cai Cai's fox eyes widened, and she thought, "…… What can we do about this!?"

If the source is the entire mountain range, then it's really troublesome.

Even if Jin Chen were incredibly powerful, he couldn't, in his current juvenile form, overturn the whole mountain or change anything.

All we can do is go back for now and discuss a plan later.

Xiao Bai Lion again extended its paw toward Bai Rendong, wanting a hug.

——

On the way down the mountain, they stopped by a small stream to rest.

Jin Chen jumped out of Bai Rendong's arms, landed on the smooth large stone by the stream that had been washed by the water flow, curiously extended his paw to play with the cool stream water, and watched the splash scatter.

Suddenly, behind the stone nearby covered in thick moss, the water rippled, and a figure slowly crawled out.

A not-small…… giant salamander.

Its whole body was dark brown, its skin smooth and moist, and its appearance was somewhat……

honest and ancient in a way that defies description.

It wasn't afraid at all, heading straight toward Jin Chen, then used its flat, wide head to bump Jin Chen's white paw that still had water droplets on it.

Jin Chen froze for a moment, withdrew his paw that had been playing in the water, and lowered his head to curiously scrutinize the strange-behaving big guy.

He extended his other paw and poked the giant salamander's slippery back.

The giant salamander didn't dodge, and even made a wailing sound like a child crying: "wah-wah".

Jin Chen: "……"

Xiao Bai Lion swiftly retracted its paw.

This fish is trying to scam us!

Ling Gun Gun popped out, excitedly bouncing twice on the little lion's head.

【Host, it really looks…… unique, let's collect it together—there'll definitely be a reward!】

【……Should we collect this too?】 The little lion blankly stepped on the stone beneath its feet.

Does anyone even watch this guy!

He turned his head and roared at Bai Rendong.

Bai Rendong heard the noise, walked over, and crouched down to check.

"It's a wild giant salamander; the left front fin seems to have a slight abrasion, not serious."

Surprisingly, this giant salamander is unusually docile and cooperative.

Bai Rendong examined it, and it didn't move at all.

Even when the big ox brought a temporary transport bag and placed it by the stream, the salamander slowly twisted its body and actively crawled inside.

Then it lay obediently at the bottom of the bag and flicked its wet tail.

Bai Rendong: "?"

Commentary: "???"

: Nowadays, even baby fish will actively try to scam us.

: This giant salamander doesn't look very bright……

: Whoever said Zhenyang Zoo has no luck—half a day up the mountain and we've already found both grade-one and grade-two national protected species!

: Baby fish: What are you waiting for? Hurry up!

The giant salamander that was actively trying to scam us stayed in the temporary transport bag; seeing that the team had finished resting but still hadn't moved, it grew a bit impatient, slapping its tail against the plastic box wall, as if urging them on.

Walk, walk, why haven't we set off yet?

Bai Rendong laughed helplessly, saying, "We're setting off now."

He shouldered his pack and, out of habit, extended his hand toward Xiao Bai Lion.

Jin Chen, however, didn't jump into the embrace, saying, "I'll walk on my own first to scout the monster energy."

Bai Rendong blinked slightly, then carefully instructed, "All right, just tell me if Bao Bao gets tired."

"Roar~" Xiao Bai Lion gave a low response, counting as agreement.

He shook his fluffy fur, held his head high and chest out, walking at the front of the group, his fluffy little tail perked up proudly, the tip twitching.

Not far along, the dense woods on both sides suddenly became lively.

First, a few vividly colored, delicate little tits and white-eyes fluttered down from the high branches.

They weren't afraid of people at all, flying back and forth around the head of Xiao Bai Lion, who was walking alone at the front.

Finally, a particularly bold white-eye folded its wings and landed on Xiao Bai Lion's back.

It grabbed the fur with its tiny claws, steadied itself, and its little black-bean-like head looked around alertly.

Jin Chen felt a weight on his back, turned his head in confusion, and happened to meet the bird's round, shiny eyes.

He let out a soft gurgling from his throat; the bird responded with two chirps and gently pecked at his soft fur with its beak, as if helping to tidy it.

Immediately after, a rustling came from the nearby bushes.

Several round, spiny-backed hedgehogs rolled out one after another from the grass.

They puffed and snorted, struggling to turn their short legs, closely following behind Xiao Bai Lion's rear.

Jin Chen walked on, focused, and finally noticed the effortful movement behind him.

He paused, puzzled, looked down at the hedgehogs straining to run, then glanced up at Bai Rendong.

Bai Rendong couldn't help but laugh, squatted down, rubbed his head, and said lightly, "Bao Bao is quite popular."

Jin Chen: "……"

【Heh heh heh heh.】 Ling Gun Gun hurried to join.

Hu Cai Cai watched from the side, clicking her tongue in amazement.

He couldn't help but move closer, but as soon as he did, the birds and hedgehogs instantly seemed startled and darted into the nearby bushes.

Hu Cai Cai: "……"

He embarrassedly retracted his claws.

And when he retreated to a safe distance, those little fellows ran back, regrouped, and resolutely continued to follow behind the little lion's rear.

Hu Cai Cai stared at Jin Chen, tilted her head, and asked, "Which one of us is really the fox spirit?"

: Xiao Bai Lion: "I'm not the kindergarten director! Don't come over!"

: What a scene! Why take a screenshot! Don't just stand there!

: The fox spirit suspects the fox has gone crazy hahaha.

: What fairy tale has come to life! Does Zhenyang Zoo have some magic!

: Director, hurry up and open! I'll buy the first ticket! I want to go see the Xiao Bai Lion director!