Chapter 187: Chapter 146: The Broken Crimson Flame Frenzied Lion
Its breathing grew heavy, and a low, unintelligible growl rumbled in its throat.
As the video progressed and the scenes of the liger cub’s birth and its comparison with normal cubs appeared, Bart began to pace restlessly on the stone platform, its tail thrashing irritably.
When the video finally froze on the intensely jarring comparison shot—
"ROAR—!!!"
A deafening, furious roar—filled with anger, shock, disbelief, humiliation, and even a trace of fear—erupted from the depths of Bart’s throat.
The immense shockwave of sound reverberated within the enclosure, so powerful it even made the stand holding the display screen outside tremble slightly.
The emotions within the roar were complex and intense, hitting everyone with visceral force.
Everyone in the observation area was startled by the sudden roar, their hearts skipping a beat.
Guo Xiaoyun couldn’t help but ask in a low, worried voice, "This... Was it too much stimulation? Might it backfire?"
"I-I don’t know."
Zhao Mingfeng’s palms were sweating with nervousness, and he subconsciously glanced at Lu Gangsheng beside him.
Lu Gangsheng didn’t respond. He was completely focused, binoculars raised, intently studying Bart’s every subtle movement and facial tic, trying to interpret the lion’s reaction from the perspective of animal behavior.
Yang Qi also remained silent, but inwardly, he felt a slight shift.
The others might have only heard anger and agitation in the roar, but he understood its true meaning.
’This is impossible!’
’What is that monster?’
’Why is this happening?’
’No... That’s not right...’
In short, Bart’s defenses had been shattered!
His established worldview had been utterly shattered by the cruel and "abnormal" images!
"Play the second video clip again," Yang Qi suddenly said in a low voice.
"Huh? Again?" Zhao Mingfeng was taken aback, a little hesitant.
’He reacted so strongly to it once,’ he thought. ’If we play it again, won’t something terrible happen?’
But seeing the calm certainty in Yang Qi’s eyes, and remembering that the man was the "attending physician" here, Zhao Mingfeng steeled himself and signaled to the technician. "Do as Advisor Yang says. Play it again!"
The large screen outside the enclosure lit up again, and the "tragic" tale of the male lion and the White Tiger "uniting" to give birth to a liger began to unfold once more.
This time, Bart’s reaction inside the enclosure was even more intense.
He no longer just stared. He began to pace back and forth anxiously, his massive claws scraping against the floor and producing a harsh, grating sound.
When the comparison shot of the liger cubs appeared on screen again, he suddenly reared up, slamming his front paws hard against the sturdy metal bars with a tremendous CLANG.
At the same time, a series of even more furious and anguished roars burst from his throat.
"ROAR~!"
’It’s not like that!’
’Monster! That’s a monster!’
’That’s not a cub, it’s a monster!’
’Two-legged Beast, come out here! Get out here!’
This last cry was exceptionally clear, confirming Yang Qi’s suspicions.
Bart wasn’t going berserk. Rather, in the wake of his shock, confusion, and shattered worldview, he was subconsciously seeking an explanation and confirmation from the one being he felt he could "communicate" with, the one who "might know the truth": Yang Qi.
"Director, Teacher Tong, Minister Zhao..."
Yang Qi turned and spoke quickly to the assembled leaders, "Bart is calling for me. I’m going in."
"What? You’re going in now?" Zhao Mingfeng was still worried.
"Be careful," Tong Xiaoyue urged, her expression full of concern.
Guo Xiaoyun nodded as well. "Stay safe. If anything seems off, get out of there immediately."
Yang Qi nodded to show he understood, then opened the door to the staff corridor and walked into the inner section of the enclosure.
He didn’t get too close, stopping a few paces from the metal barrier and calmly regarding the frenzied-looking lion inside.
The moment Bart saw Yang Qi, he lunged at the barrier as if he’d found his target. His enormous head nearly squeezed through the gaps in the bars as he opened his cavernous maw and let out a deafening roar right at Yang Qi, blasting him with a wave of hot, fetid air.
"ROAR~!"
’Two-legged Beast! What is that thing on the screen?!’
’That’s not a cub, is it?!’
Facing the suffocating blast of air, Yang Qi held his breath, his expression remaining perfectly calm and composed.
Activating his Basic Spirit Communication Technique, he said aloud, "That’s right. It’s a monster. Didn’t I tell you before? When different kinds of beasts are forced to breed, the offspring they produce often turn out to be ’monsters’ like that."
Bart froze, his paws still pressed against the barrier. His massive jaws slowly closed, but his bloodshot eyes remained fixed on Yang Qi, his gaze a whirlwind of complex emotions.
Swirling within them were shock, lingering fear, shame, and a trace of dazed confusion from being struck by the "truth."
Yang Qi spoke calmly again. "That beast you like, the White Tiger named Duke... I’ve found out where he is. If you want to—"
"ROAR!!"
Before Yang Qi could finish, Bart cut him off with another furious roar, his cavernous maw flying open again to spray a hot, saliva-laced gust of air.
Yang Qi had been expecting it. He remained standing in the same spot, simply holding his breath again.
Outside the enclosure, the observers jumped again.
Their shock was immediately followed by a wave of admiration for Yang Qi.
The sheer courage to stand unflinching before a roaring lion was something few people possessed.
Anyone else would have either frozen stiff or their legs would have given out. They might have even pissed themselves in fright.
Inside the enclosure, Bart’s roars were filled with humiliation and a sentiment akin to "impotent rage."
’Stop talking!’
He clearly understood what Yang Qi was about to say and felt an intense resistance and shame toward the topic.
Yang Qi suppressed a smile and continued to fan the flames. "So you don’t want to see him anymore?"
"ROAR~!"
That did it. Bart was completely incensed, letting loose an even more furious roar at Yang Qi.
’I told you to stop talking!’
