Chapter 943: Advanced Brain-Domain Evolvers—Daigua and Song Mingqing

"Third Brother!" Zhang Song handed a few pages covered in lines and dense numbers to Zhang San, his face alight with excitement. "The brain neurons of that little monkey—especially the dorsolateral and ventromedial prefrontal cortex—are even more active than Hui-6 Number 8!"

What does that mean? Hui-6 Number 8 is what, a monkey? What kind of monkey?

Xia Qing said nothing, standing quietly beside them, waiting for Zhang San to speak.

After carefully reading Daigua Monkey's medical report, Zhang San looked at Xia Qing. "You picked up an extraordinary ugly monkey. Although I don't have a full IQ test report for monk-faced monkeys here, based on the test results of other monkey species, this one should be classified as a high-level brain-domain evolver among monk-faced monkeys."

Zhang Song picked up the thread. "Based on this little monkey's IQ level, it can already understand written numbers, count, and even grasp the concept of multiplication. Xia Qing, you didn't kill this cute little monkey on the spot but brought it back for treatment—that was incredibly wise of you!"

Zhang Song's excitement made Daigua Monkey bristle, and it also made Xia Qing uneasy. She corrected him expressionlessly, "It wasn't that I wanted to bring it back. After the wolf pack and the bear pack negotiated, the bear pack demanded that this monkey be treated."

Zhang Song was a high-level brain-domain evolver; the moment he saw Xia Qing's reaction, he knew his excitement had put her on guard. He immediately calmed down and asked gently, "You're right. Have the wolf pack or the bear pack shown any interest in this monkey's condition since then?"

Xia Qing nodded. "The wolf pack has been keeping an eye on it."

Zhang San asked, "Once this monkey is healed, do you plan to keep it in the territory or send it away?"

Zhang Song tried his best to look at Xia Qing calmly, burying his nervousness and excitement deep inside.

Xia Qing answered honestly, "This monkey was entrusted to me by the wolf pack. Once it's healed, I'll return it to the wolf pack. What they do with it after that, I have no idea."

Xia Qing's choice didn't surprise Zhang Song at all. He turned and looked eagerly at his director. Xia Qing didn't understand this monkey's value, but the director did—and he could also understand what this monkey meant to him.

Daigua Monkey felt fear. It struggled to reach two tiny fingers out of the cage and pinch Xia Qing's protective suit. "Ee."

After Daigua Monkey made that sound, Zhang Song couldn't help getting excited again, but Xia Qing remained calm as ever.

Zhang San gestured for both Zhang Song and Xia Qing to sit down before he spoke.

"In the sixth year of the Catastrophe, our country's scientists launched a study on primates, aiming to clarify the changes in physiological traits, living habits, and reproductive patterns of monkeys and gibbons—both belonging to the narrow-nosed small group, the same as humans—after the Great Evolution of Blue Star."

Xia Qing nodded. "I've read the survey report. Monk-faced monkeys weren't included."

That survey report was also among the materials Zhang San had packed for Xia Qing.

Zhang San looked at Zhang Song, who had calmed down beside Xia Qing, and gestured for him to explain himself.

Only then did Zhang Song give Xia Qing a brief, clear introduction: "That census covered monkeys and gibbons. Monkeys are divided into the Cercopithecinae and Colobinae subfamilies, with 22 genera and 125 species in total. The white-faced monk-faced monkey belongs to the Monk-faced Monkey family under the broad-nosed small group, not the monkey family."

Xia Qing nodded calmly. She remembered now—that was indeed how it worked. The Broken-Waist Wolf had learned this knowledge.

"Through that three-year census, we confirmed that the animals of the narrow-nosed small group underwent evolutionary changes during the Great Evolution of Blue Star eleven years ago that were not much different from humans: minimal changes in brain domain, other bodily functions generally evolving twofold, a small number undergoing multi-fold evolution to become ordinary evolvers, and a very small number undergoing high-fold evolution to become advanced evolvers."

"The census yielded eight highly valuable findings, providing a solid data foundation for subsequent primate research and proposing new models for reference on peaceful coexistence between humans and other primates. These are discussed in detail in the report, so I won't repeat them."

"After that census, I proposed continuing the investigation into the five families under the broad-nosed small group, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary status of animals in the ape-like subgroup. But because animals under the broad-nosed small group are species native to the Ruins Continent—which suffered a devastating blow during the cosmic ray storm and lost many species—and because the number of broad-nosed small group animals surviving in our country is extremely small compared to the monkey family, this research proposal was not approved…"

Zhang Song suddenly remembered that Xia Qing still didn't know his identity, and quickly added, "My full name is Song Mingqing. I was the lead author of that report."

Such a distinctive name—Xia Qing actually remembered it. "You're a senior researcher at Red Eleven Research Institute, one of the main participants in that survey."

The senior researchers from Zhang San's team that Xia Qing had come into contact with were Zhang He, Zhang Song, and Zhang Tao—three in total. If Zhang Song was this impressive, then Zhang He and Zhang Tao must have impressive backgrounds too.

Zhang Song's eyes lit up. "Sister Qing, you've got a great memory. Have you ever had your brain domain tested?"

Xia Qing……

"Zhang Song joined my team to get close-up observation and study of the various animals in the Divine Grass Rack Evolution Forest." After saying this, Zhang San asked Zhang Song, "How much longer will this little monkey need to fully recover?"

Zhang Song answered immediately, "At most half a month."

Zhang San discussed it with Xia Qing. "After the white-faced monk-faced monkey was discovered on Mountain 62, Zhang Song has been observing the monkey troop from a distance through cameras. There are over two hundred monk-faced monkeys there. This monkey was picked up by you, so its fate—staying or going, life or death—is your decision; I won't interfere. But before you release it, could you let Zhang Song go to your territory to observe it up close for a while? This monkey might be a rare brain-domain evolver among that troop—an extremely valuable observation subject."

Her idol was being so polite, so of course Xia Qing couldn't refuse outright. "How close? This monkey lives downstairs in my place, just like the evolution sheep and the wolf-dog. The evolution sheep and evolution wolf-dog in my territory both have very strong territorial instincts—I'm afraid Song Ge might get hurt by them."

Zhang San was shocked. "You live with animals?"

Xia Qing answered honestly, "The houses in my territory are badly damaged. I've only managed to fix up one place that's livable. At first they lived in the newly built sheep shed in my yard, but later they thought the shed was too small, so they moved into the house on their own."

Zhang San was speechless. No wonder Xia Qing was always trading for deodorizers and disinfectants—she was living in a sheep pen and wolf den.

Seeing that Third Brother showed no sign of speaking, Zhang Song took the initiative to seize the chance himself. "Wolf-dogs have extremely high alertness. Having one living downstairs lets it detect danger in advance and warn you—that's a very wise choice."

"White-faced monk-faced monkeys are diurnal animals, mainly active during the day. Over the next half month, whenever Sister Qing feels it's appropriate, I'll go observe this monkey. I'll definitely leave before dark. Is that acceptable?"

There was nothing wrong with that. Xia Qing nodded. "Song Ge had better bring a bodyguard. When I'm busy, I might not be able to protect you."

"No need, no need, don't worry. I can protect myself and won't get hurt by any animals. Thank you, Sister Qing, for giving me this chance." Zhang Song stood up. "Third Brother, I'll go pack my gear. Shall I head back with Sister Qing later?"