Chapter 51

Feng Yi hadn't been at the property management office for long when he saw Cao Xing and the two children, accompanied by their parents, crouching by the fence of the temporary pond, watching the fish.

The parents of the two children were keeping an eye on their kids while talking to a woman in her forties.

Seeing Feng Yi, the parents of the two children quickly led their children over to thank him for saving Cao Xing and the other child the night before.

The night before, the lighting was too dim to see clearly, and with their attention focused on their own children, they hadn't paid much attention to anything else. They had rushed home, and only after confirming that their children were relatively fine did they ask the property management for Feng Yi's contact information.

However, the property management refused, saying that they needed Feng Yi's consent to provide his contact information, otherwise they wouldn't give it out casually.

Although they didn't get Feng Yi's contact information, the photos posted in the homeowners' group included a picture of Feng Yi, so the parents of the two children knew what he looked like.

With his distinctive appearance, they recognized him as soon as they looked up.

The parents of the two children were grateful for Feng Yi's rescue. Seeing the size of the fish and recalling Cao Xing's account, they knew that if it weren't for Feng Yi, Cao Xing would have been dragged into the water!

After asking for Feng Yi's address, the parents of the two children planned to visit him formally at a convenient time to express their gratitude. They couldn't just thank him with words for such a life-saving act!

"How are they? Were they scared too much last night?" Feng Yi asked about the psychological state of Cao Xing and the other child.

The parents smiled, relieved and somewhat pleased, "They're doing well. They can come to watch the fish and are even very enthusiastic. They were just bragging to their friends a moment ago."

The parents told Feng Yi that there was a psychologist in the neighborhood who had seen the two children. Cao Xing's fear of the near-death experience was not as severe as they had thought, and the situation was more optimistic. Mentioning the fish didn't evoke much fear.

"Ah, I don't know if it's because they watch too much TV. For such a big fish, they just treat it like a little monster. Even though they almost got dragged into the water, they weren't really scared after they calmed down. They're more afraid of you, thinking you're a big monster, hahaha!" Cao Xing's father laughed.

If this big catfish was a little monster, then Feng Yi, who could drag it ashore, must be even more powerful.

The adults thought they understood the children's logic and treated it as a joke.

Under the strong insistence of the parents, Cao Xing and the other child, who had been boasting to their friends, slowly approached, trembling as they thanked Feng Yi, not daring to look him in the eye.

The gratitude was genuine.

The fear was also genuine.

At this moment, someone from the property management office came over, scanned the area, and then focused on Feng Yi.

"Mr. Feng! Someone is here!"

The people responsible for species identification had arrived.

Feng Yi's spirits lifted.

150,000 yuan was coming!

Three people came with the property management staff. One was older, in his fifties or sixties, and was responsible for the species identification.

The other two included a man in his forties with a stern face, who was none other than Captain Yuan, whom Feng Yi had met during the small green dragon incident.

The person next to Captain Yuan was a young man wearing a badge of the Joint Protection Bureau, likely a recent recruit.

Feng Yi felt nervous when he saw Captain Yuan. It wouldn't be easy to deceive this experienced captain of the Joint Protection Bureau!

Wasn't he busy with the Yueshan Nature Reserve? Had the investigation been completed?

How should I fabricate a story when I'm questioned?

The young recruit recognized Feng Yi. He had seen the files and photos from the small green dragon incident, which included Feng Yi's unmasked and unmasked photos.

How is it this kid again?

He's quite reckless!

Last time, he single-handedly choked a two-meter-long small green dragon, and this time, he dragged a three-meter-long catfish ashore!

This isn't something an ordinary person can do!

While the young recruit was sizing up Feng Yi, Captain Yuan walked over, glanced at the fish, then at Feng Yi, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

Feng Yi felt that this smile was somewhat profound. After hearing from the butler about Captain Yuan's past, Feng Yi was worried that the captain, who had been hit in the face before, would seek revenge on him.

The butler had said that Captain Yuan was too busy to bother with him, but why did he come in person for a fish?

While Feng Yi was thinking about how to fabricate the story of dragging the fish, Captain Yuan said, "Invasive species, European catfish. Reward: 150,000 yuan, plus 15 points."

Feng Yi's heart leaped at the mention of "points."

After the establishment of the Sixth Database, to encourage people to protect the local ecological environment, a "points" system was introduced, awarding points based on contributions.

These points were directly linked to the Sixth Database and recognized globally.

There were many benefits, such as tax discounts, personal credit, and visa processing, which could be seen as another form of social value. If one had high points, they could use a green channel in certain situations.

Some wealthy individuals who made charitable donations, especially in ecological areas, would also receive points, but not in a simple proportional exchange.

15 points were far more valuable than 150,000 yuan.

Fifteen thousand yuan to buy 15 points was a pipe dream.

For Feng Yi, the 15 points were more important!

While Feng Yi was happy about the 15 points, Captain Yuan added, "The points for catching the small green dragon have been issued, 30 points."

Feng Yi: !!!

So many points for catching a snake?!!!

As if knowing what Feng Yi was thinking, Captain Yuan continued, "Normally, catching a snake wouldn't earn so many points, but this time it was significant. The snake wasn't harmed, and it served as a good publicity effort. There was no reward, so we applied for more points."

Feng Yi understood that getting so many points must have been due to Captain Yuan's efforts.

I was being petty!

After saying this, Captain Yuan went over to examine the fish closely and said to the young recruit, "At this size, it's likely from the initial batch that was released. We'll take samples and sequence them for comparison."

A curious onlooker asked, "What do they eat to grow so big?"

Captain Yuan replied coolly, "Anything. Pigeons drinking water, pets, even young children."

Wow!

The crowd was stirred.

Previously, when pets went missing, people had various speculations and rumors, but they didn't take them seriously. Now, with the confirmation of such large fish in the river, families with children and pets became more vigilant and stayed away from the water.

The young recruit from the Joint Protection Bureau was recording information and asking about the events of the previous night.

The onlookers had discussed the incident many times and recounted the events in detail.

Crowd: "... Cao Xing and the others climbed over the wall to look for wild bird eggs..."

The young recruit's forehead veins bulged.

Crowd: "... They didn't find the bird eggs but saw a wild turtle and rushed to catch it..."

The young recruit's veins bulged again.

Captain Yuan, however, smiled and said calmly, "Call their parents over."

The onlookers enthusiastically contacted the parents of the two children, telling them they were about to receive a "loving education" from the Joint Protection Bureau.

After the young recruit finished asking about the incident, he questioned Feng Yi, trying to get more details for a detailed report.

"Why did you go back into the river after saving the children?" This was something the young recruit couldn't understand.

It was so dark at night, and since he had already saved the children, and didn't know what was in the river, how could he have the courage to rush into it?

Feng Yi couldn't say he was driven by his "beastly nature."

"I moved too fast and couldn't stop, so I slipped into the water."

The young recruit nodded, as this explanation was plausible, and then asked curiously, "How did you catch it in the water?"

Feng Yi: "When it opened its mouth, I grabbed it and dragged it ashore."

"Is that all?"

"Yep, that's it. The fish wasn't very aggressive."

Joint Protection Bureau recruit: ???

Feng Yi: "I was too excited at the time, so I don't remember the details clearly."

The recruit asked, "It didn't struggle violently?"

Feng Yi recalled that the fish did struggle, but not violently.

He then said firmly, "No."

"..."

The young recruit stared intently at Feng Yi's eyes but couldn't detect any lies.

Captain Yuan, who had just finished talking to the species identification expert, overheard the conversation and said to the young recruit, "Don't ask him; his account isn't reliable. Ask the residents of this neighborhood if anyone has lost a pet by the river, and when it happened, in which month or season."

After that, no one paid attention to Feng Yi.

An hour later, these people left with the big fish and told Feng Yi that the reward would be transferred to his bank account within 24 hours.

In the homeowners' group, people were heatedly debating—

Does living in such a place really extend one's lifespan?

Or will it shorten it due to the constant fear?

Feng Yi wasn't interested in such topics. After returning home, he contacted the butler. The "beastly nature" from the night before had a significant impact on him, and he wanted to ask the butler if there was a way to suppress it.

The old butler, upon hearing this, didn't think it was a big deal and didn't agree that it was "beastly nature."

However, since Feng Yi was so concerned, the butler suggested, "You can try some relaxing exercises or listen to music that makes you feel happy and relaxed."

Feng Yi thought about it. It made sense, like how someone with a bad temper would try to cultivate a more peaceful nature.

But how does one cultivate a peaceful nature?

What kind of exercise can alleviate irritability and suppress aggression?

Actually, it doesn't have to be a specific exercise. The ancients cultivated their nature by playing the zither, right?

Feng Yi had learned to play the zither for a web drama role, though he wasn't naturally talented and didn't play well, it looked better than a complete novice during filming.

What else besides playing the zither?

Listening to music?

Feng Yi didn't particularly like soothing music and usually listened to rock and pop.

So, besides rock and pop and soothing music, what else could he listen to?

What should he listen to?

After much thought, Feng Yi finally remembered another type of music to try and see if it would work.

Taking out his phone, Feng Yi typed into the search bar—

"Snake charmer's flute music"