Super Zoo

The details of the incident were quickly cleared up, as animals, after all, are not cunning schemers; they told the truth to Suming, whether it was one thing or another.

The Crested Ibis acted on instinct, and the other animals were acting out of a sense of justice... Suming had overlooked another protagonist of the incident.

It was not until the 'victim' Tai Sui emerged from the bottom of the small lake that Suming learned the reason.

Tai Sui's body was growing every day, now another size larger than when it arrived, floating on the surface like a small pale-yellow island... But this small island was marred with several shockingly grievous wounds.

Tai Sui was still muddled, between an animal and a plant, not knowing how to express its thoughts, but this time, Suming could clearly feel that Tai Sui had emotions.

It was a bit annoyed, or maybe depressed.

Since coming to the small lake, Tai Sui may have had no merits but it did have hard work, soaking in the water every day, turning the whole small lake into a blessed place, even improving the water quality of Shuijun Lake and Huating Reservoir in the distance, so the aquatic life in the lake, and the animals that drank the lake water, all benefitted.

Why did Great Sage Liquor Industry become famous throughout the country in such a short time and sell well everywhere? Besides the gimmick of monkeys brewing liquor, the real secret lay in the Tai Sui water.

It cures the sick, strengthens the healthy, promotes wellness and longevity, enhances intellect, and after drinking Tai Sui water, climbing five flights of stairs is a breeze, no more sore waist or backache, everything tastes delicious, and when peeing into the wind, the backsplash won't wet your feet anymore...

This was witnessed by all.

Moreover, Suming had seen the veterinary treatment records, and since Tai Sui had come to the small lake, there was a noticeable decrease in the rate of illness among the zoo animals.

Tai Sui worked tirelessly, diligently evolving, providing benefits for everyone without getting involved in animal conflicts, offending nobody.

Unexpectedly, it was badly bitten several times by the new arrival, the Crested Ibis Xiaohong, and if it weren't for the other animals discovering it in time and heroically intervening, who knows how much worse Tai Sui's luck could have been.

"Oh, I get it," Suming patted the squishy Tai Sui, infused a surge of spiritual power, soothed its emotions while healing its wounds, and said, "You've been wronged, I'll talk to the Crested Ibis, and this will never happen again."

Luckily, Tai Sui's flesh could grow back, like the water bear, it was a resilient creature. Even if you cut Tai Sui into eight big pieces, or even eight thousand, it wouldn't cause fatal damage to it, as long as there's enough moisture, it would keep growing.

Tai Sui was an honest creature that couldn't speak. Comforted by Suming with a few words, it burbled and flipped a few splashes, then submerged back into the water.

"You guys can disperse now, go back to what you were doing, Xiaohong, come with me," Suming motioned to the Crested Ibis to follow.

Once inside the waterside pavilion and after closing the door, Suming became visibly excited and grabbed the Crested Ibis's beak.

"You're saying that's an elixir of life?"

The Crested Ibis Xiaohong wore a 'that's what you said, not me' look of confusion.

Indeed, it was not the Crested Ibis that 'said it'.

In genetics, the role of genes is very powerful, a fragment of gene carries a lot of information.

Such as how to hunt, how to eat, and so on... much of this is passed down from generation to generation, without the need to learn, just waiting for the right moment to awaken naturally.

To use an analogy, even the most naive person, who has never been exposed to any knowledge about physiology and hygiene, will naturally mature sexually and wake up to sexuality with age; on their wedding night, they don't even need anyone to teach them, they just know what to do... it's just that the execution and technique can be good or bad.

That's the situation the Crested Ibis is in now!

Upon discovering Tai Sui, something in its inherited genes suddenly awakened.

It could feel that this chubby thing was closely related to its ancestors, and they were meant to live together—in human terms, they were supposed to be symbionts.

The Crested Ibis, or rather, the very rare Three-legged Crested Ibis like itself, could become stronger by consuming Taishi.

And Taishi, which almost had no ability to defend itself, could rely on the Three-legged Crested Ibis for protection!

This idea precisely confirmed the vague legend that Park Jeong-ui had mentioned!

The gigantic everlasting medicine, resembling a mountain of flesh, protected by the terrifying firebird!

In the legend, the ancestors of the Park family did not mention how those Japanese soldiers died. It's unknown if they were burnt to death by the firebird's "fire-breathing," but the Three-legged Firebird was indeed very fierce. Surrounded by modern weapons, it brutally killed everyone present except for the ancestor of the Park family who feigned death and escaped.

The toughness and sharpness of the Three-legged Crested Ibis's beak, and its irritable nature towards humans, was already a puzzle compared to ordinary Crested Ibises.

Now everything seemed to be on the verge of making sense: the so-called everlasting medicine was none other than Taishi!

It was entirely possible that in ancient times, Taishi was indeed considered everlasting medicine.

Whether or not Taishi could grant everlasting life is hard to say, but its medicinal value is unquestionable, the older the Taishi, the higher its value.

Suming furrowed his brow and thought for a moment, then looked up at the Crested Ibis again.

Something still seemed off...

Although Xiaohong usually walked like a wild duck, waddling with a learned bad habit.

However, when standing, it appeared quite normal.

But at this moment, standing in front of Suming, the Crested Ibis looked a bit 'off balance.'

One leg high, one leg low, and its body slightly tilted to one side... It resembled a person whose pants had suddenly dropped a red-hot coal inside, causing an unsteady stance.

Suming subconsciously wiped between the legs of the Crested Ibis... That's where its third leg was located.

The third leg, originally as short and thin as a finger, was now noticeably thicker and longer, having grown a whole size!

"Because you ate Taishi's meat?" Suming asked Xiaohong.

The Crested Ibis Xiaohong nodded. It was not yet accustomed to the sudden growth of its third leg and simply lay down on the ground like a duck.

If that was the case...

Suming stood up and paced around the room.

If Xiaohong could indeed undergo abnormal evolution by eating Taishi meat and transform into the legendary 'Three-legged Firebird,' then it would be worth considering having a good talk with Taishi and asking it to make some sacrifices. After all, its meat could grow back after being eaten.

"How much do you need to eat?" What Suming feared most was that Xiaohong would need to consume Taishi's meat like daily meals to be satisfied. That would be troublesome as Taishi was large but couldn't withstand being eaten like that. Xiaohong alone consumed three to four jin of fish every day. Given Taishi's slow growth rate and eating it year after year, it would be consumed faster than it could grow. In no time, and before Xiaohong reached full size, Taishi would be completely eaten.

The Three-legged Firebird was certainly magical, but Taishi was also very important.