"I'm sorry, Mr. Yang. The position we're hiring for is an animal keeper. It requires a relevant professional background and at least two years of practical experience. Passion alone isn't enough. I hope you understand."

"I understand. I'm sorry to have bothered you."

Yang Qi stood up from his chair.

He sighed inwardly.

Just as I expected. It didn't work.

'I can't get into a public zoo. Maybe I should try a private one?'

Lost in thought, Yang Qi turned to leave.

"Wait."

From behind his desk, the refined Huang Zhongmu flipped open a personnel file and said quietly, "The park has a temporary opening for an Environmental Maintenance Technician, a cleaning position. I don't suppose Mr. Yang would be willing to consider it?"

'An Environmental Maintenance Technician? Responsible for cleaning?'

Yang Qi froze.

'Isn't that just a janitor?'

'And a temporary one at that!'

Under normal circumstances, Yang Qi would have turned and walked out without a second thought.

Except, something very *not* normal had happened to him.

Three days ago, while walking down the street after working overtime until the early hours, a sudden "DING" echoed in Yang Qi's mind. An unusual voice informed him he had received the "Beast Taming Cultivation System."

'Cultivation?'

After confirming it wasn't a hallucination, Yang Qi was ecstatic.

However, the first mission issued by the system left him dumbfounded.

[Initial Mission: Join the Beast Taming Sect]

Join the Beast Taming Sect...

Where in the real world was he supposed to find a "Beast Taming Sect"?

After racking his brains for a good while, inspiration struck Yang Qi.

In modern society, if you had to find a place closest to the concept of "beast taming," it would have to be a circus. The next best thing would be a zoo!

However, traditional circuses had long since declined and were nowhere to be seen in big cities. At least, not in Donghua or any of the neighboring cities.

The circus was a lost cause, which only left the zoo.

So, Yang Qi, a computer science graduate, decisively quit his soul-crushing programmer job and came to Donghua Wildlife Park to apply for a position.

He thought he'd been rejected.

He never expected such a twist of fate!

"Thank you for the opportunity, Director. I'm willing to give it a try." Excitement spread across Yang Qi's face.

'A temp job is a temp job. The important thing is to get into the Zoo first. I'll figure out the rest later.'

'If it doesn't work out, I can just quit in a few days. No big deal!'

'He actually agreed?'

Huang Zhongmu, who had only made the offer on a whim, raised his eyebrows in slight surprise. Then, a sincere, pleased smile spread across his face.

"Good."

He stood up and extended his right hand. "Welcome to the Donghua Zoo."

"Thank you."

Yang Qi stepped forward and shook it.

The moment their hands clasped—

[Mission Complete]

[Congratulations, Host, on joining the Beast Taming Sect and becoming a servant disciple]

[Reward: Beast Language Proficiency]

'It really worked!'

Yang Qi was overjoyed.

Amid his excitement, a cool current of energy poured in from the crown of his head, flowing down his spine and through his entire body. Indescribable knowledge flooded his mind, and his body seemed to undergo a subtle change.

For some reason, Huang Zhongmu, standing right there, found Yang Qi to be incredibly approachable.

Just as he was about to offer a few words of encouragement, the office door was thrown open with a BANG.

A middle-aged woman in a zoo uniform burst in. Her face was ashen, her chest was heaving, and her voice trembled with anxiety.

"Director, it's terrible! The monkeys on Monkey Mountain... they've taken a child!"

What?

The gentle smile on Huang Zhongmu's face vanished, replaced by a grave expression. "What happened?" he asked, his voice low and serious. "Monkey Mountain is surrounded by a safety barrier. How could a child have been pulled in?"

"It was Great Sage!"

With a look of despair, the middle-aged woman explained, "Great Sage is always snatching backpacks from visitors. This time, while he was grabbing a kid's schoolbag, the parents weren't looking, and he pulled the child in along with it..."

"I knew it would be him!"

Huang Zhongmu gritted his teeth. Ignoring Yang Qi, he strode toward the door. "Has a rescue team been dispatched?" he asked as he walked.

"Yes."

The middle-aged woman hurried to keep up. "Xiaowang and Xiaoli went in, but 'Great Sage' is the Monkey King. He's commanding the other monkeys to stop them from getting close. Xiaoli tried to force his way through, but they beat him back, and he went tumbling down the mountain. Luckily, he was wearing a protective suit."

"And the child?" Huang Zhongmu was more concerned about her.

"The child is safe for now. 'Great Sage' is holding her and even feeding her a peach." The middle-aged woman gave a wry smile. "But the parents are going frantic. If we weren't holding them back, they would've already charged in to fight the monkeys."

'A war between humans and monkeys?'

Yang Qi, who had been listening to the conversation the whole time, felt his mouth twitch.

But an idea sparked in his mind, and he followed Huang Zhongmu and the woman out of the office and hurried downstairs.

A tour cart was already waiting at the entrance.

Huang Zhongmu stepped into the cart and motioned for the woman to drive. When he saw Yang Qi get on as well, he said casually, "Xiao Yang, you don't need to come. Just wait here at the administration building. We'll process your onboarding with the others later."

"It's alright."

Yang Qi smiled. "I grew up living next to a zoo. I know a bit about monkey behavior. Maybe I can help."

"Is that so?"

Huang Zhongmu didn't think much of it and nodded. "Alright, then. But once we're there, don't do anything reckless."

"Understood!"

...

BEEP BEEP BEEP—

The tour cart's engine whined as it sped down the Zoo's paths, its wheels crushing fallen leaves. It finally screeched to a halt at the perimeter of Monkey Mountain.

The open area in front of Monkey Mountain was now packed with people.

The crowd stood behind the barrier, craning their necks to look in. A cacophony of overlapping chatter rose and fell.

More than half of them were holding up their phones, the screens glinting in the sun.

The middle-aged woman who had driven them parked the cart and shouted as she wiped sweat from her brow with her sleeve.

"Make way, please, make way! The director is here!"

She acted as a vanguard, parting the crowd. Huang Zhongmu and Yang Qi followed close behind.

At the very front of the crowd stood a fashionably dressed young woman. Her makeup was ruined by tears, and her carefully styled curls were plastered messily to her tear-streaked face.

With red, swollen eyes, she stared at the top of Monkey Mountain, repeating hoarsely, "Qiqi... Someone save my Qiqi..."

Beside the woman, a man in his early thirties held her tightly.

When he saw Huang Zhongmu, his brows knitted together, and his face darkened as he yelled, "What the hell is wrong with your Zoo? It's been twenty minutes, and you can't even handle one monkey?"

The man gritted his teeth, suppressing his rage. "If you people can't do it, then get me a protective suit! I'll go in and save my daughter myself!"

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Huang Zhongmu bowed his head again and again. "I am truly sorry. Please, rest assured, we will get your child out safely."

"Please have faith in our staff."

Though he said this, his eyes betrayed his anxiety as he looked at the situation on Monkey Mountain.

On Monkey Mountain, four staff members in protective suits were clumsily trying to climb up.

The thick suits made their movements look incredibly bulky, and a layer of white fog had condensed on their helmet visors.

The four of them, each holding a stun baton in one hand and a tranquilizer gun in the other, were driven back by a "defensive line" of macaques with every step they took forward.

A troop of over thirty monkeys shrieked and bared their fangs. Some picked up loose rocks and hurled them, which thudded dully against the suits. Others broke off branches and jabbed them at the staff like spears.

And in front of a stone cave at the very top of Monkey Mountain, the Monkey King known as "Great Sage" was lounging casually on a rock.

His thick arm was wrapped around a little girl in pink overalls. The girl's pigtails had come undone, and her chubby little hand tightly clutched a half-eaten peach. She didn't dare cry out loud; only her small shoulders trembled nonstop.

"Is that Monkey King waiting for something?"

"Yeah, look at the way he's posturing. It's like he's trying to negotiate..."

"That monkey's practically a demon!"

...

The crowd's murmurs mingled with the shrill cries of the monkeys.

Yang Qi focused his hearing, and the once-chaotic monkey screeches suddenly became clear in his ears.

"Not that!"

"Wrong, wrong!"

"Go away! All of you, go away!"

...

As he was trying to decipher the meaning of these words, the Monkey King, "Great Sage," suddenly turned his head toward the barrier and let out a piercing shriek.

To everyone else, this shriek sounded like a show of dominance, but in Yang Qi's ears, it was—

"Bring me something good to drink in exchange!"

'Something to drink?'

'In exchange?'

'Holy crap, has this Monkey King actually become a demon?'

'He actually kidnapped a child just to demand a good drink in return!'

...

Yang Qi watched the scene unfold, a mixture of amazement and amusement in his heart.

'This Monkey King is on another level,' he thought. 'It actually knows how to take a hostage and negotiate. It's just using its smarts in all the wrong ways.'

Beside him, Huang Zhongmu was sweating bullets. He watched as four staff members in protective gear were cornered by the monkey troop, unable to move an inch. Gritting his teeth, he pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling as he dialed a number.

'Is he calling the police? To put down the Great Sage?'

"Wait!"

Seeing Huang Zhongmu's actions, Yang Qi called out urgently, "Director, look closely! The Great Sage has been very careful with the child. Its claws are retracted. I think it's just trying to bargain. Why don't we try giving it what it wants? Offer it something to eat or drink?"

"I'm afraid that won't work."

The zookeeper standing nearby, Liu Fei, shook his head. "We just fed them this morning. Director, look next to the Great Sage. There are still plenty of bananas, apples, and peanuts left."

It was true. A number of fruits were scattered beside the Great Sage, including a whole coconut.

Seeing this, Huang Zhongmu's brow furrowed even deeper, and he raised his phone again.

An idea struck Yang Qi. "Could it want something special to drink? Not plain water, maybe a soda?"

"That's impossible!"

Liu Fei said adamantly, "Our feeding regulations strictly prohibit giving them any soft drinks."

'Not a soda? Then what is it?'

'The Great Sage wants something to drink, but it can't say what.'

Just as Yang Qi was scratching his head in frustration, a middle-aged tourist nearby opened a can of beer with a PSSSH. Golden foam frothed over the top.

Instantly, the Great Sage on the mountaintop pricked up its ears. Its nostrils flared, and in the next moment, it shot upright.

One arm still wrapped around the little girl, it pointed its other arm straight at the beer-drinking tourist and let out an excited shriek.

"SKREE—!"

The cry was like a command. The entire monkey troop erupted, and over thirty macaques shrieked in unison, the sound so piercing it made one's eardrums ache.

The crowd of onlookers retreated in fear. An older woman cried out, "Oh my god, these monkeys are starting a rebellion!"

The little girl's mother burst into tears again with a WAAAH.

The man holding her, his eyes bloodshot, roared, "Protective gear! Get me some protective gear!"

Huang Zhongmu rubbed his temples, a headache blooming. Just as he was about to give an order, Yang Qi darted forward.

"Director, I know what the Great Sage wants to drink!"

His words stunned everyone nearby.

Huang Zhongmu's hand, holding his phone, froze in mid-air. Liu Fei's eyes went wide, the middle-aged woman who had guided them stood with her mouth agape, and even the few tourists filming with their phones fell silent.

With no time to explain, Yang Qi turned and trotted over to the beer-drinking tourist. "Sir, do you have any more beer in your bag? I'll pay double for it!"

The tourist was taken aback for a moment. He looked at Yang Qi, then at the agitated Monkey King on the mountaintop, his expression strange. "Young man, you're not trying to say that monkey wants to drink beer, are you?"

"I am." Yang Qi nodded with a dry laugh. "I've studied monkey behavior. I have some understanding of what they do."

"Is that so..." The man was skeptical, but he still handed the half-finished can to Yang Qi. "Here, give it a try. Don't worry about the money. I'm also curious to see if this monkey really drinks beer."

Yang Qi said his thanks, took the can, and turned to walk briskly toward the entrance of Monkey Mountain.

Liu Fei saw this and exclaimed anxiously, "Director, who is this guy? This is too reckless! What if he provokes the troop?"

"Right, right." The middle-aged woman also panicked and was about to chase after Yang Qi, but Huang Zhongmu raised a hand to stop her. "Let him try."

A strange light flickered in his eyes as he watched Yang Qi's determined back.

"But..." Liu Fei was at a loss and could only lower his head.

Under the watch of hundreds of pairs of eyes, Yang Qi, holding the beer, stepped inside the enclosure.

The four fully-equipped staff members quickly surrounded him, forming a human wall. "It's dangerous here, get out!"

"It's fine," Yang Qi said, raising the beer can high and shouting toward the mountaintop.

"The good stuff is here!"

He started walking forward as he spoke, and the staff moved to block him again.

Just then, the Great Sage let out a sharp, urgent shriek.

"SKREE~!"

The next moment, a shocking scene unfolded.

The bared-teeth, snarling monkeys suddenly fell silent. Not only did they stop their aggression, but they also retreated in unison to either side, clearing a path straight to the summit.

All the monkeys stared eagerly at the beer can in Yang Qi's hand.

"Th-that's impossible..." Liu Fei's mouth was wide enough to fit an egg.

Huang Zhongmu leaned forward unconsciously. The middle-aged woman covered her mouth, the little girl's parents momentarily forgot to cry, and the four staff members in protective gear looked at each other in disbelief.

The entire area fell silent, the only sound being the CLICK of camera shutters.

Watched by everyone, Yang Qi calmly walked up the path the monkeys had cleared and reached the top.

The moment the Great Sage saw him, it impatiently reached out to snatch the beer, its furry face filled with longing.

Yang Qi deftly raised the beer higher and pointed at the little girl with his other hand.

"The exchange first!"

The Great Sage tilted its head, thought for two seconds, and then pushed the little girl in its arms toward Yang Qi.

Yang Qi immediately caught the child with one arm while handing over the beer with the other.

The Great Sage caught the can with both hands, tilted its head back, and started pouring it into its mouth. GLUG, GLUG. It drank so fast it let out a loud burp, a look of bliss on its furry face.

Yang Qi held the little girl tightly and quickly turned to walk back down the mountain.

"He did it!"

The crowd erupted in a deafening cheer, followed by thunderous applause.

"I've seen it all now! A monkey kidnapping someone to demand a drink!"

"Tch, don't be so surprised. Monkeys have always been known to drink. Plus, have you ever heard of Monkey Wine?"

"That guy is incredible! He can actually understand what the monkeys are saying!"

...

The crowd cheered.

As Yang Qi descended Monkey Mountain and was escorted away under the protection of the four staff members, he received a system notification.

[Host was fearless in the face of danger, and his courage is commendable. For cleverly rescuing an innocent child from the 'Eight-armed Vajra,' a special reward is granted: Ten Thousand Beasts Affinity.]

'What the hell? Eight-armed Vajra?'

Yang Qi's steps faltered, and he nearly missed his footing. Luckily, a staff member beside him steadied him with a firm hand.

"Careful. Are you exhausted?"

"N-no, I'm fine. Thanks, man." Yang Qi quickly shook his head, but his heart was filled with joy.

[Ten Thousand Beasts Affinity]

Just from the name, this ability sounded like a perfect match for "Beast Language Proficiency."

It would make his future work at the Beast Taming Sect much easier, like giving a tiger wings.

'Still, it's pretty funny that the system mistook the "Great Sage" for some "Eight-armed Vajra"...'

Yang Qi complained silently.

He carried the little girl back outside the enclosure, where the waiting crowd immediately swarmed him, erupting in fervent applause.

"Way to go, young man!"

"You're amazing, man."

"Bro, can you really understand what monkeys are saying?"

...

A chorus of praise flooded his ears.

The little girl's parents were the first to rush over.

The woman, her face streaked with tears, snatched the little girl from Yang Qi's arms. She hugged her tightly, calling Qiqi's name over and over while peppering her small face with frantic kisses.

The man at her side gripped Yang Qi's hands tightly. His own palms were clammy, trembling slightly from a mixture of lingering fear and excitement as he thanked him profusely.

"Thank you! Thank you so much, my friend! If it weren't for you… I just don't know… Thank you, thank you!"

"It was nothing. I'm just glad the child is alright," Yang Qi said reassuringly.

Huang Zhongmu took a timely step forward and raised his voice.

"Everyone, please rest assured. This brave young man is Yang Qi, an employee of our zoo. Protecting the safety of every visitor is not just our responsibility as zoo employees—it's our professional instinct."

These words not only soothed the little girl's still-shaken family but also cleverly wove Yang Qi's personal heroism into the collective honor of the zoo, earning nods of approval from the surrounding visitors.

Of course, if Yang Qi had failed to save her, it would have been a different story.

Upon hearing Huang Zhongmu's words, a flash of understanding appeared in the eyes of the middle-aged woman, whose face had been deathly pale with anxiety just moments before.

After the little girl's father emotionally thanked him again and let go of Yang Qi's hand, she immediately stepped forward, naturally filling the empty space.

"Xiao Yang, thank you so much!"

The middle-aged woman's voice carried a faint, almost unnoticeable tremor, but her tone had already returned to the competence of a professional woman. "I'm the director of the zoo's administrative office. My surname is Mei. You can just call me Sister Mei."

She first introduced herself to build rapport, then looked at Yang Qi sincerely. "We owe it all to you today. You reacted swiftly, acted decisively, and stepped up at the critical moment. You've demonstrated the incredible professionalism and sense of duty of our zoo's staff!"

"Having an employee like you is the pride of our zoo. Director Huang and I are both very proud of you!"

[Sincere gratitude from the General Affairs Hall Master. Thank you, Host, for protecting the sect's reputation. Contribution Points +30]

'The director of the zoo's administrative office is the General Affairs Hall Master?'

...That's actually pretty fitting.

'But what are Contribution Points used for?'

Yang Qi wondered.

[Host can obtain Contribution Points through rewards from sect higher-ups, by making contributions to the sect, and by completing tasks such as cleaning the Beast Garden, feeding Spirit Beasts, and taming Spirit Beasts.]

[Every 100 Contribution Points can be used for one draw.]

[Rewards include: Qi Condensing Pills, Spirit Awakening Pills, Grain Avoidance Pills, Beneficial Spirit Pills…]

In short, all kinds of cultivation resources!

'Not bad, not bad.'

Yang Qi was delighted, but he remained humble. "Thank you, Director Mei. I was just doing my job."

'It's all just polite talk, anyway.'

'But I'll take as many rewards like Contribution Points as I can get!'

At this moment, the tear-streaked woman finally calmed down. She led the little girl over to Yang Qi, bowed deeply, and spoke in a voice thick and nasal from crying.

"Thank you, young man! If it weren't for you, I don't know what would have happened to Qiqi."

"Thank you, Uncle," the little girl chimed in timidly, blinking her big eyes.

"It's okay now, don't be scared." Yang Qi smiled gently and reached out to lightly pat the little girl's head.

Seeing this, the little girl's father quickly took a business card with a simple design from his inner pocket and, without taking no for an answer, pressed it into Yang Qi's hand.

The business card felt exquisite to the touch. Four words were clearly printed on it—"Hongyun Group, Chen Hao"—along with a phone number.

"Brother Yang, words can't express my gratitude! This is my contact information."

Chen Hao gripped Yang Qi's hand firmly, his tone sincere. "My wife and daughter got a scare today, so I'll take them home first. I'll invite you to our home another day so we can properly express our gratitude. If you ever have any trouble in life or at work, don't hesitate. You must call me!"

With that, he asked for Yang Qi's phone number, carefully saved it in his own phone, and they added each other on WeChat.

Huang Zhongmu stepped forward at the right moment and once again expressed his apologies to the couple. "Mr. Chen, Mrs. Chen, we are deeply sorry that this happened. If the child needs any psychological counseling or check-ups afterward, our zoo will cover all the expenses…"

Before he could finish, Chen Hao cut him off with a wave of his hand, his tone somewhat cold. "Director Huang, that won't be necessary. I'm not the kind of person who would use my daughter's safety to get compensation, and our family doesn't need the money. If you at the zoo really want to show your gratitude, then thank this Brother Xiao Yang properly! If it weren't for him today, none of you would have gotten off so easily!"

With that, he nodded to Yang Qi again, then left, holding his daughter in one arm and his wife in the other.

The little girl, resting on Chen Hao's shoulder, gave Yang Qi a sweet little wave.

"Goodbye, Uncle!"

"Goodbye!" Yang Qi waved back.

As he watched the family of three disappear from view, the crowd of onlookers also began to disperse.

Huang Zhongmu turned to Yang Qi, his tone calm. "Xiao Yang, come with me for a moment."

Yang Qi's heart tightened. He hurried to follow and took the initiative to apologize. "I'm sorry, Director. I acted on my own just now and didn't listen to you…"

"That's all in the past."

Huang Zhongmu waved his hand dismissively and said comfortingly, "It was an emergency. You handled it very well. The outcome was good, and that's more important than anything."

Then, his tone shifted, his eyes filled with curiosity and scrutiny. "But I am very curious, how were you so sure that 'Great Sage' wanted a drink?"

"Well…"

Yang Qi paused.

'Of course, I can't tell him the truth.'

'That I can understand the language of beasts? As if.'

Scratching his head, Yang Qi stuck to his previous story and, biting the bullet, explained, "Director, I wasn't entirely sure, to be honest. I just really enjoy observing animals, and I'm pretty familiar with monkey behavior. Based on Great Sage's eyes and movements at the time, I just got the feeling that he wanted the beer that man was holding."

"Besides, Great Sage hadn't harmed the child, so I figured it was worth a shot. I asked for the beer and handed it over… I can't believe I actually guessed right."

Facts speak louder than words.

Although Huang Zhongmu felt the explanation was a bit far-fetched, he couldn't think of a more reasonable one, so he had no choice but to believe it.

Right then and there, he looked at Yang Qi with admiration. "Ah, Xiao Yang, with your powers of observation and understanding of animal behavior, having you as just a janitor is a waste of your talents. How about this? I'm transferring you to the Animal Care Department. You can be a keeper!"

Yang Qi was overjoyed to hear this. It was exactly what he wanted, as he would be able to get closer to the animals.

"Thank you, Director! I'll definitely do a good job!"

Director Mei, who had been following alongside them, immediately chimed in with a smile, her words smooth and tactful. "Oh, this is a perfect example of putting talent to good use! Xiao Yang has such a special skill, and you, Director, have a keen eye for talent. This is truly a blessing for our zoo!"

In one sentence, she praised both Yang Qi and Huang Zhongmu.

Yang Qi gave an embarrassed, sheepish grin.

Huang Zhongmu also smiled and instructed Director Mei, "Director Mei, I'll have to trouble you to handle Xiao Yang's onboarding paperwork and arrange for his employee housing as soon as possible."

"Don't worry, Director. I'll get right on it," Director Mei replied crisply.

"Thank you, Director Mei!" Yang Qi quickly added his thanks.

"I told you, just call me Sister Mei," Director Mei chided playfully.

"Thank you, Sister Mei!"

Yang Qi replied obediently.

As they were talking, a burly man with a ramrod-straight posture strode over.

The man was about fifty, with dark skin, a resolute face, and an impeccably worn security uniform.

Seeing him, Director Mei introduced him to Yang Qi. "Xiao Yang, this is Chief Zhao Dalong, the head of our zoo's security department."

"Hello, Chief Zhao!"

Yang Qi quickly greeted him, recognizing him at the same time as the staff member who had firmly steadied him at the base of Monkey Mountain when he had nearly lost his footing.

"Yang Qi, thank you!"

Zhao Dalong extended a broad, powerful hand and gripped Yang Qi's firmly, his voice loud and sincere. "We really owe you for today. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable, and as head of security, I would have been the first to be disciplined."

Zhao Dalong's gratitude was plain to see and clearly came from the heart.

[Sincere gratitude from the Precepts Hall Master. Contribution Points +30]