Chapter 219: Chapter 157: The Parrot "Bullying" Incident (Part 2)
[Don’t you lie to me, handsome~]
[I sing so beautifully.]
[They should still like me, right?]
"Do you think a bald bird singing is the same as a beautiful, magnificent bird singing?" Yang Qi continued to coax it. "If you don’t believe me, ask the others."
With that, Yang Qi turned and waved to the dumbfounded Cheng Yao, Xiaozheng, and the others. Raising his voice, he motioned and said, "Everyone, tell us, does ’Liang Zai’ look better without plucking his feathers, or with them plucked?"
Although none of them could understand the specifics of the conversation between Yang Qi and Liang Zai, they could guess what was happening from Yang Qi’s gestures and the parrot’s reaction.
Hearing his question, they immediately started chiming in.
"Of course he looks better without plucking his feathers!"
"Definitely better not plucking! ’Liang Zai’ is the most handsome!"
"His feathers are so beautiful. It would be such a shame to pluck them."
"’Liang Zai’, be good, let’s not play this game anymore!"
"’Liang Zai’ is the prettiest~"
"..."
Liang Zai tilted its head, listening to the chorus of affirmations from the people outside. Though it couldn’t understand the specific words, it could sense their tone and that they were talking about it. It looked back at Yang Qi, a low, gurgling sound rumbling in its throat as if it were carefully considering the matter.
Finally, as if it had been persuaded, or perhaps had just lost interest, it spread its wings and flapped them, then spoke clearly in human language.
[Alright, alright.]
[That’s no fun anymore~]
[I’m not playing, not playing anymore.]
After speaking, it truly stopped its feather-plucking. It began to stroll leisurely on its perch, occasionally preening its other, undamaged feathers, resuming its usual proud and unruffled "lordly" air.
"Whew—"
Seeing this, Cheng Yao, Xiaozheng, and the veterinarians all breathed a collective sigh of relief, their faces breaking into relieved smiles.
The process had been a bit bizarre, but the outcome was a good one.
"Yang Druid, you’re the only one who could’ve done it! Thank you so much!"
Cheng Yao said with heartfelt gratitude, patting her chest.
The Veterinarian and the keeper, Xiaozheng, also thanked him profusely.
Yang Qi, however, waved his hand, his expression remaining serious.
He turned and walked straight towards the neighboring enclosure, which housed a dozen or so Red-breasted Parakeets. As he walked, he said, "Don’t be in such a hurry to thank me. The real problem hasn’t been solved. ’Liang Zai’ was just copying what it saw. There’s a Red-breasted Parakeet next door that’s actually self-harming. ’Liang Zai’ learned it from that one."
"What?!"
Hearing this, everyone’s hearts, which had just settled, leaped back into their throats.
This was especially true for Xiaozheng the keeper; the color drained from his face in an instant, leaving it deathly pale.
He was usually responsible for looking after these two adjacent parrot enclosures.
’He hadn’t noticed a parrot in the next enclosure was self-harming?!’
Anxiously, the group hurried after Yang Qi to the neighboring enclosure.
Through the glass and wire mesh, everyone quickly spotted the Red-breasted Parakeet in the corner with severe feather loss and abnormal behavior.
Seeing the patchy, uneven feathers on its chest and the ones scattered on the ground before it, everyone’s hearts sank.
Cheng Yao and the other veterinarian’s expressions turned grave.
The keeper, Xiaozheng, was even more anxious and ashamed, cold sweat beading on his forehead as he stammered, "I... when I was feeding them yesterday, it seemed to be hiding a little, I didn’t pay much attention... I..."
"Now is not the time for that."
The older veterinarian cut him off, his expression serious. "We need to give it a detailed examination immediately to see if it’s a physiological illness or a parasitic infection..."
As he spoke, he gestured for Xiaozheng to open the nearby staff entrance, preparing to go in and catch the bird.
"Wait!"
Yang Qi spoke up to stop them, his brow slightly furrowed.
Just as he approached, the system finally displayed a notification.
[Task Triggered: A Purple-headed Spirit Parrot suffering from deep-seated sorrow has been discovered. The host is requested to quickly ascertain the reason and help it overcome its emotional burden.]
’Deep-seated sorrow?’
Yang Qi’s gaze sharpened.
Clearly, this Red-breasted Parakeet wasn’t suffering from a simple physical illness or environmental discomfort, but from a deeper psychological trauma or emotional issue.
"I have a feeling this parrot isn’t physically sick. I think it’s a psychological issue."
Yang Qi’s gaze fell on the cowering Red-breasted Parakeet in the corner.
"Let me go in first and try talking to it. If I can find out what the problem is, we can address it directly."
"Well..." The older Veterinarian Zhao hesitated.
Although Yang Qi’s earlier display had been incredible, diagnosing psychological problems in animals was far more complex. Plus, the parrot before them showed clear signs of self-harm. He was still inclined to perform a comprehensive physical exam first to rule out any physical ailments.
"It’ll be quick."
Yang Qi saw his hesitation and added, "It won’t take more than a few minutes. If I can’t find out the reason, or if I discover it does have some physical discomfort, it won’t be too late for you, Dr. Zhao, to take it for a detailed examination."
Hearing this, Veterinarian Zhao looked at the parrot in the enclosure, which was clearly in distress, then back at Yang Qi’s calm and confident expression, and weighed his options in his mind.
’Yang Qi’s ability to communicate with animals is plain for all to see. Maybe he really can find some clues.’
’A few minutes really won’t make a difference.’
"Alright then. Be careful, don’t agitate it."
The veterinarian nodded and didn’t insist further.
The keeper, Xiaozheng, dejectedly went to open the staff entrance.
Yang Qi stepped into the enclosure.
Inside the enclosure, upon seeing Yang Qi enter, the dozen-odd Red-breasted Parakeets reacted in different ways: some peered over curiously, others took flight and landed at the top of the enclosure, and some simply continued to play among themselves.
Yang Qi didn’t immediately approach the "problem bird" huddled in the corner.
As he walked, he discreetly retrieved a dozen or so plump, crystalline grains of Spirit Rice from his Hundred Pouches Belt. They emanated a faint, refreshing Spiritual Qi.
Although not as potent as the powerful, alluring aura emitted by the Vitality Nutrient Cream, the fresh fragrance of the Spirit Rice held a natural attraction for ordinary animals, serving as an excellent way to soothe and entice them.
