As Zhou You was about to act against that rascal, Li Yunxi exclaimed, "Ning Xufeng, have you no shame? This white tiger obviously came with Zhou You. It's his to sell if he wants. What's it to you?"

"Yunxi, don't defend outsiders. No matter how the tiger came here, since I've caught it, it's ours. Why are you siding with him? Is he your boyfriend?"

"You... spout such nonsense!" Li Yunxi fumed, hands on hips. "I know exactly what kind of person you are, trying to bully people, aren't you?"

Just as Zhou You was about to resolve things with force, a voice from the medical van calmly instructed, "Zhou You, bring that little creature here. I'd like to see it."

Mockingly, Zhou You retorted, "Think they'll do you the favor?"

Shao Qi remained silent, looking towards Ning Xufeng. Their gazes met, and Ning Xufeng involuntarily released his grip. Zhou You deftly caught the falling white tiger.

Gently caressing the white tiger's head, Zhou You noticed a bald patch on its neck, revealing bruised skin. Angrily glaring at Ning Xufeng, he carried the tiger back to the medical van.

When Ning Xufeng came to his senses, he was filled with regret. How could he be deterred by just a look? He asked through his headset, "Boss, are we really going to let that white tiger go?"

Li Hongxi wasn't as driven by greed. Though the white tiger was valuable, if Shao Qi wanted it, why not gift it?

He reassured, "He did save us once. If Mr. Shao desires the tiger, let him have it." Throughout, Li Hongxi never considered the creature Zhou You's property.

"But this white tiger is a rare treasure. Having it as our token would surely make our entrance to Yangcheng base much smoother."

"We already have an introduction letter," said Li Hongxi, eager to get on the move. "Let's get moving. Hopefully, we can find a place to settle by nightfall. If all goes well, we'll be out of these mountains by tomorrow."

This was indeed good news, and everyone's spirits lifted. Engrossed in discussions about their plans once outside, no one seemed to pay attention to the little white tiger anymore.

Li Yunxi climbed back into the vehicle with a huff, confiding to her brother, "The more I see of Ning Xufeng, the less I like him."

Li Hongxi responded, "He wasn't entirely wrong, you know. You shouldn't be defending Zhou You; he's not one of our team, not yet."

"Brother!" Li Yunxi murmured in dissatisfaction. "I just can't stand that sneaky look on Ning's face."

Zhou You, holding the little white tiger, boarded the medical vehicle and, standing a distance from Shao Qi, asked warily, "What do you want?"

Shao Qi stared at the white tiger for a few seconds, then burst into laughter. "You're quite lucky. Do you know what kind of mutant tiger this is?"

Zhou You glanced down at the tiger and shook his head, "No idea."

"After the great catastrophe, a central department was established to study mutant beasts. There are over six thousand identified mutants so far, with eight being tiger variants. The strongest among them is the Skyflying White Tiger, which is the one you're holding. Feel its back; you'll find two protruding bone spurs. When it matures, wings will develop from there."

"The Skyflying White Tiger is not just remarkable for its ability to fly. It's nearly invulnerable. A mature tiger like this would be hard for even that special forces team to subdue. Do you understand its value now?"

"So what?" Zhou You retorted defiantly. "Are you suggesting I should kill it before it matures?"

"Of course not, that would be a pity. But there was some truth in their words earlier. If you were to sell it to the research institute... To my knowledge, they've yet to receive a living Skyflying White Tiger. If those men knew what this creature was, they wouldn't have let you keep it."

"Perhaps you don't grasp the full value. This tiny creature could fetch a ring like the one I wear, plus a multi-functional electronic processor," Shao Qi hinted, pointing to his earlobe, indicating that the holographic map he'd shown before was just one of its functions.

As Shao Qi began to move closer, Zhou You's senses heightened, watching his every move with caution.

Author's note: Zhou You: "It seems I've stumbled upon a treasure."

Shao Qi: "Remove 'seems.' But it might not necessarily be yours."

Zhou You: "Wanna bet?"

Chapter 033: Mr. Shao's Calculations

Shao Qi approached him, looking down to meet the little white tiger's gaze, a sly smile on his lips. "There might be a way for you to keep it."

"What?" Zhou You exclaimed. "What way?"

"There's a law. If an owned creature harms or kills a human, the owner is liable to two hundred percent of the damages. This means not only could the state confiscate your possessions, but they'd also claim your life, demanding full compensation in return."

"But ownership isn't simple. For plants, you'd need environmental clearance, preparation, and payment. For pets, licensing is required, along with a commitment to keep them indoors at all times. The regulations are extensive."

"People keep pets inside the base?" Zhou You found it hard to believe. Given the precariousness of human survival, who would dare take such risks? Waiting for disaster to strike and face judgment would be too late.

"Indeed, they do. With enough influence comes privilege. I've even heard of some breeding mutant beasts for underground fights. Where there's demand, there's a market. But you're different; you won't be able to protect it. If word gets out about your Skyflying White Tiger cub, the world will turn against you. Forget about peace."