My Pet Beast is Super Fearsome
Chapter 387 - Chapter 387 Chapter 386 Speculations About the Footprints

Chapter 387: Chapter 386: Speculations About the Footprints (Two-in-One) Chapter 387: Chapter 386: Speculations About the Footprints (Two-in-One) A group of people whispered around the footprints that Shao Zifeng had discovered.

Click.

After Yang Qi took pictures with his camera,

with the help of his colleagues, he carefully poured the prepared plaster into the footprint.

This was the most commonly used method in paleontology field research when encountering fossil tracks.

After making a footprint model using this method, one could more directly observe the details of the foot of the creature that left the tracks, and it was also more convenient to carry.

Although using materials like resin and silicone to make models was more convenient for preservation, unfortunately, those materials required higher melting points and were not suitable for use in snowy areas.

Even plaster mixed directly with water had a high chance of failure.

While everyone was busy, Shao Zifeng stared at that footprint.

It really resembled the one he saw in the underground cave so much, but if there was any difference, this footprint was much smaller than the one in the underground cave.

‘Could we have been targeted by something?’

Shao Zifeng muttered to himself in his heart.

“It’s done, be careful.”

After the plaster set, Yang Qi and the other two, armed with tools, carefully peeled it off.

After using a small brush to sweep away the snow on top, the three showed looks of disappointment on their faces.

“Did it fail?”

Chen Yixin stood behind them, arms crossed.

But because the protective suit was too bulky, this gesture looked somewhat funny.

“It failed,” Yang Qi said with some discouragement, “The snow here is too soft; the footprint was ruined by the plaster.”

“I see,” Chen Yixin said indifferently, “Do you know why you guys were asked to deal with this footprint directly this time?”

The three looked at each other and bowed their heads slightly, “We’re sorry, Professor, we’ve disappointed you.”

“I’m not disappointed because I knew what the outcome would be before you discussed the approach,” Chen Yixin shook her head and spoke in a calm tone, “Now that this footprint has been destroyed, let’s move on to the next step. Let’s all share our speculations about the creature that left this footprint.”

Shao Zifeng looked up at Chen Yixin, feeling that she seemed to imply something.

In all fairness, this was the first time he had seen Chen Yixin guide researchers.

Yang Qi looked at several other footprints on the ground and had his suspicions, but due to academic rigor, he did not speak out easily.

Similarly, the other two seemed hesitant, seemingly on the verge of speaking but stopping themselves.

Cang Haiyuan craned his neck to take a look and nudged Shao Zifeng’s shoulder, whispering, “Isn’t this just the footprint of the Fire Phoenix Pheasant? It’s not that hard to guess.”

Shao Zifeng’s mouth twitched, and he ignored him.

Standing on the other side of him, Zhao Li, with a dark expression, said, “The Fire Phoenix Pheasant’s footprints aren’t this thick.”

“It got swollen,” Cang Haiyuan chuckled, “With the weather being this cold, maybe your Fire Phoenix Pheasant is not accustomed to it.”

“Crack!”

The Fire Phoenix Pheasant, upon hearing this, immediately took umbrage and flapped its wings, doing a White Crane Spreads Wings pose, ready to scratch Cang Haiyuan with its slender claws.

“Fire, calm down.”

Zhao Li held the wings of his Fire Phoenix Pheasant.

And the Fire Phoenix Pheasant stretched its neck, angrily waving its claws at Cang Haiyuan, creating quite a commotion.

Chen Yixin glanced at them but did not intervene.

She then continued to look at the three researchers, tapping her fingers on her arm.

“What, afraid to say it?”

“What have you been learning all these years?”

“Can’t even answer the most basic questions in paleontology?”

Hearing Chen Yixin’s words, the men felt slightly embarrassed. Yang Qi clenched his teeth and mustered the courage to say, “Judging from the footprints, they look somewhat like those of small carnivorous dinosaurs, but dinosaurs have been extinct for hundreds of millions of years, and moreover, the extremely low temperatures of Antarctica are not suitable for their survival, so, so…”

Chen Yixin nodded slightly and said to the other two, “Do you also think the same?”

Seeing the two nod, Chen Yixin said with a hint of frustration, “In today’s world, what is impossible?”

“The world has changed over the last twenty years. Our research is progressing slowly exactly because you are too constrained by past scientific theories and methods.”

“Just like earlier on, how on earth did you come up with the idea of using plaster to make molds in this snow? Yang Qi, is your Greenland seal for show? Wouldn’t it be better to directly freeze it with ice elements?”

“Yes, now you have based your research on scientific theories and managed to come up with some things, and that has made you arrogant?”

Faced with a string of criticisms, the three grown men hung their heads like children.

Seeing this, Chen Yixin softened her tone quite a bit.

“Of course, it can’t all be blamed on you; mainly, it’s those stubborn old men who always want to use science to explain supernatural powers. However, times have changed, and as the new force of Daxia, you should be daring enough to break these old notions.”

Shao Zifeng understood what she was suggesting. Chen Yixin had talked to him about her theory of regressive evolution quite some time ago, but this theory contradicted mainstream scientific supremacism.

Although he wasn’t clear about the progress of her research on regressive evolution, one could sense her dissatisfaction from her words.

“If you have any wild guesses, just speak up. I won’t blame you.”

Her words made the others less inhibited. Yang Qi cautiously said, “But if we are to speculate from the footprints, I guess they might be those of an Albertosaurus or a Celestine Dragon.”

Chen Yixin nodded and looked at the other two, “Continue.”

With Yang Qi breaking the ice, the two researchers, who Shao Zifeng did not know very well, also shared their thoughts.

“I think it looks more like a Dalian Bird or a Grandma Tyrannosaurus.”

“The Dalian Bird is a possibility, and so is the Feathered Dragon. Compared to other small carnivorous dinosaurs like Albertosaurus, they have feathers that can keep them warm.”

Yang Qi immediately felt indignant upon hearing this. He retorted, “That’s not necessarily the case. Professor Chen said we need to break away from conventional ideas; I think it’s more likely to be tracks of an Albertosaurus than of a Dalian Bird or Feathered Dragon.”

“Impossible…”

Watching the three researchers argue heatedly, Chen Yixin nodded in satisfaction.

Although she was one of the most outstanding young research scholars in recent years, with some prestige and authority,

often her influence was weak. The older generation’s blind worship of past scientific theories left her quite dissatisfied, but under the influence of the larger environment, it was difficult for her to make changes.

After conquering the technology to revive ancient frozen creatures, her theory of mythical creatures was outright rejected, and feeling disheartened, she simply returned to her hometown and applied for her own laboratory.

In the end, it took the matter of the Ice Plateau Saber-toothed Tiger to bring her back into the fray.

As far as she knew, some Western countries were starting to attempt to break away from scientific norms in their research, causing a sense of urgency in her.

At the same time, it also gave rise to different ideas; since she couldn’t change the old generation’s way of thinking directly, she would try to subtly influence the new generation.

She hoped that they could be more imaginative in the research of mutant creatures in the future, otherwise the advantages that Daxia had gained over the years might be overtaken by other countries on the inside track.

Without disturbing the discussing researchers, Chen Yixin turned and looked toward Zhao Li and the others.

“This footprint must have been left recently; look around nearby for any other clues.”

“Yes.”

Upon hearing Chen Yixin’s instructions, the group quickly sprang into action.

Shao Zifeng approached Chen Yixin and asked, “Sister Yixing, can you be certain that this footprint was left recently?”

“Of course, I can be sure,” Chen Yixin replied, seeing the doubt in Shao Zifeng’s eyes. “You might think that the leeward footprints are better preserved, right?”

“Although we are in a leeward location where the wind won’t directly bring snow to cover these tracks, when the wind blows over the mountaintop, the snow will directly fall onto the leeward side.”

“So, I estimate that these footprints are no more than two days old.”

Just as Shao Zifeng was about to continue his inquiry, the voice of a soldier caught everyone’s attention.

“Professor, we’ve found something!”

Chen Yixin, accompanied by Shao Zifeng, walked toward the soldier, who was standing next to an all-terrain snow vehicle.

“What did you find?”

“Take a look here.”

Following the direction pointed out by the soldier, Shao Zifeng appeared stunned.

He saw chaotic footprints beside the transport snow sled, and even more, there were several scratches on the sled, the tarp used to cover the items had been slashed open, and the torn fabric flapped noisily in the cold wind.

“Be on guard!”

Seeing this, Zhao Li’s face changed dramatically.

This proved that some creature had been there while they were conducting scientific investigations on the mountain, and perhaps it was now watching them from the shadows.

“Fuck!”

At this moment, Cang Haiyuan cursed loudly, standing not far away, with several torn and ragged bags scattered around him.

It turned out that his transport snow sled was the one that had been stolen.

As for the missing items, they were his favorite military rations.

“Snap!”

Several Fire Phoenix Pheasants then took off, scouting around the area.

Shao Zifeng also summoned Qiuqiu to help stand guard.

By now, he was fairly certain that something had been following them all along.

“Ying?”

No sooner had Qiuqiu emerged than it burrowed into his collar.

Rubbing its eyes, it let out a soft, cute cry.

Shao Zifeng patted its little head, “Keep sleeping, I’ll call you if something happens.”

“Ying.”

Heeding Shao Zifeng’s words, Qiuqiu grabbed his collar with its little paws and fell into a deep sleep.

“Any findings?”

“Snap!”

A few Fire Phoenix Pheasants shook their heads.

Thinking for a moment, Shao Zifeng spoke up, “Yixing sister, I suspect I’m being targeted.”

“Being targeted…”

Chen Yixing reacted, “You mean the egg.”

“It’s more than just the egg,”

Shao Zifeng said with a wry smile shaking his head, “I dismantled someone’s home.”

The others exchanged looks, not understanding what he meant.

Shao Zifeng then gave them a brief account of the underground cave incident, naturally omitting some details that were hard to explain.

“You mean the footprints in that underground cave are the same as these?”

“They seem similar, but the ones in the underground cave seemed larger.”

Shao Zifeng’s words caught the attention of the three researchers, who looked at him eagerly, as if they couldn’t get enough information.

Chen Yixing’s previous remarks had led them to bold speculations, and now Shao Zifeng’s words undeniably made them ponder cautiously.

“Zhao Li, call back the Fire Phoenix Pheasants, there shouldn’t be any danger.”

“But Professor Chen…”

“It’s probably just a small creature, if it were really that powerful, it wouldn’t need to sneak around.”

“Everyone’s tired from the day, let’s get ready to camp and rest.”

…

Nighttime.

It should be nighttime according to the clock, Shao Zifeng opened his eyes.

Picking up the cell phone given to him by Chen Yixin, a dim glow illuminated the inside of the tent.

It was February 2, 2021, three o’clock in the morning.

Less than two days remained until Qiuqiu’s birthday, and Shao Zifeng was planning to give it a surprise.

As for the date of its birthday, it was the day Shao Zifeng first encountered Qiuqiu in his memory, so he arbitrarily decided to treat that day as the little guy’s birthday.

He figured the silly little thing wouldn’t have any objections.

Gently opening his sleeping bag, he took out Qiuqiu, which was clutching his clothes and cuddling its own little paws in its sleep, from his embrace.

After zipping the sleeping bag back up for it, Shao Zifeng tiptoed to his feet.

Looking at the sleeping Qiuqiu, his face softened with tenderness.

The little guy had expended too much energy in the previous battle and now always seemed short on sleep, just like a little child.

Putting on his protective suit, Shao Zifeng washed up briefly, then stepped out of the tent.

The sky was as usual filled with dark clouds; taking in a cold, fresh breath of air, Shao Zifeng couldn’t help but shiver.

They say the Antarctic summer is the time when you can see the sun, but unfortunately, Shao Zifeng never had that chance.

In Shao Zifeng’s memory, ever since entering the Antarctic Circle, the weather here had always been gloomy.

He had almost forgotten what the night even looked like.

The camping area was chosen where they had discovered the footprints yesterday, six tents arranged so that Chen Yixin’s tent was in the middle.

Nylon ropes were used to tie the tents to one another to prevent them from being blown away by sudden gusts.

“Hey, you weren’t scheduled for night watch, were you? Can’t sleep?”

A familiar voice sounded.

Shao Zifeng looked up to see Cang Haiyuan tending the campfire, leaning against the body of an Emperor Penguin, the red light of the fire casting a reddish glow all around.

Cang Haiyuan was holding a crinkled cigarette in his hand, sniffing it contentedly under his nose.

Actually, Shao Zifeng rather admired Cang Haiyuan.

Some have said that people who can quit smoking are quite formidable.

But Shao Zifeng felt that Cang Haiyuan was even more terrifying than those people.

He didn’t have the urge to quit smoking, yet he could resist the temptation to smoke; his self-control was undeniably strong.

“Got something to do, thought I’d take care of it now during the rest period.”

Upon hearing Shao Zifeng’s words, Cang Haiyuan’s interest piqued, and he gave him a sly smile along with a look that said ‘every man understands’.

“What, you’re embarrassed to do it in front of Qiuqiu?”

Shao Zifeng was startled, somewhat puzzled as to how Cang Haiyuan knew he was preparing a birthday gift for Qiuqiu.

“Indeed, it’s a bit embarrassing. I’m planning to give the little guy a surprise.”

“Sss!”

Cang Haiyuan exaggeratedly inhaled sharply, “No way, you’re really planning to do that in front of your own pet?”

“Haven’t you ever done it?”

Shao Zifeng was somewhat puzzled. As the person closest to a pet, wasn’t it natural to celebrate its birthday, particularly the first together, which seemed quite significant?

Cang Haiyuan furrowed his brows in thought: “I have done it, yes, but it feels weird with it watching me. Anyway, you go ahead, I’ll keep your secret.”

After saying this, he gave Shao Zifeng a knowing look and continued to sniff at his cigarette.

But from time to time, he stealthily glanced at Shao Zifeng, his face full of wistful sighs, muttering something under his breath.

“Weird as it gets…”

Muttering to himself, Shao Zifeng summoned a small deer and headed toward the nearby mountains with a climbing axe in hand.