A heretical cultivator in Bureau 749, I'm the fiercest at pulling out tendons and skinning peop

Ji Zuodao didn't stop walking. Upon hearing this, he merely turned his head and glanced at her.

He shook his head, sighed, and his tone suddenly became earnest, as if he had transformed into a veteran cadre who had worked diligently at a science popularization station in the mountainous area for many years:

"My friend, you can't have this kind of thinking."

"What era are we living in? It's the 21st century! Science and technology are the primary productive forces. We must believe in science and dispel superstition!"

As he spoke, he extended his finger and gestured in the air to emphasize his point.

"To see a new species that's a bit ugly, fierce, or unfamiliar, and immediately categorize it as a 'monster' or 'spirit'? This is a typical remnant of feudal thinking, and it's unacceptable!"

"Our country is vast and rich in resources, with abundant biodiversity. Many remote mountainous areas still harbor species that are not fully recorded or understood by modern biology. That's perfectly normal!"

He spoke with utmost seriousness and righteous indignation.

The female college student was stunned.

That seems to make sense?

But something seems off?

"But……"

Undeterred, she struggled weakly, "It looks really unique. And it's so strong, and it can even..."

"Why!"

Ji Zuodao interrupted her, his brows furrowing slightly, as if he were criticizing a student who was not quick to understand.

"Looks are given by parents—no, they're the result of natural selection! How can you judge a beast by its appearance?"

"As for their great strength and unusual behavior, those are probably survival strategies that this species has evolved in its unique ecological environment. The world is a big place, and there are all sorts of wonders!"

"Young man, your constant use of terms like 'mountain spirits' and 'wild monsters' shows a lack of respect for the hard work of our country's vast number of biological researchers!"

"They brave wind and rain, trekking through mountains and rivers, all to discover, study, and protect these precious natural heritages, aren't they?"

The female college student was completely stunned by this accusation of "disrespecting scientific researchers," her cheeks flushed slightly, and she stammered, not daring to say anything more.

The other college students who were eavesdropping nearby also had a dazed expression on their faces, thinking, "Damn, what he said makes so much sense that I can't even refute it."

Seeing this, Ji Zuodao nodded in satisfaction, reached out and patted the female college student on the shoulder, his tone softening and encouraging:

"To err is human, to forgive divine. From now on, read more books, especially 'Man and Nature,' and less of those nonsensical supernatural tales. Trust in science, understand?"

"I understand..." The female college student nodded blankly.

"Yes, that's right."

Ji Zuodao put his hands behind his back and continued walking leisurely forward, keeping his merits and fame hidden.

Regarding these kinds of "insider" matters, the overarching policy has always been clear:

If you can cover it up, do so. If you really can't cover it up, have those who know the truth sign a confidentiality agreement, put their fingerprints on it, and give a statement.

The core idea is simple: maintain social stability and avoid widespread panic.

As for a small group of ordinary people who happen to stumble upon it and find out, it doesn't really matter.

In this day and age, information is exploding, and truth and falsehood are intertwined.

Some people online claim to have seen aliens, while others say they've played mahjong with Qin Shi Huang. Do you believe them?

Even if these college students go back and vividly tell people, "There are man-eating monsters in Ailao Mountain, and a fierce person even performed eating brains live on the spot."

Most likely, it will just be assumed that they've eaten poisonous mushrooms and are experiencing collective hallucinations.

Ji Zuodao was lost in thought, pondering all sorts of random things.

Suddenly, the dense bushes along the roadside ahead shook violently with a "whoosh".

"Rustling sound—"

The several college students, who were like startled birds, froze instantly, their hair standing on end, and they gripped the wooden sticks in their hands even tighter.

"Holy crap! What is it now?!" The bespectacled boy's voice trembled.

The bushes were pushed aside, and a short, stocky figure emerged unsteadily.

It stood upright on its two hind legs, with its front paws hanging down naturally. Its height was only about up to Ji Zuodao's thigh.

By the sparse, scattered sunlight filtering through the trees, the group could barely make out the faces of the newcomers.

It has a glossy, ginger-yellow coat, a pointed snout, narrow eyes, two small mustaches, and a bushy tail trailing behind it.

It's a weasel.

A weasel that looks well-fed and plump.

"Oh my god! That scared me to death!"

The bespectacled man breathed a sigh of relief, feeling his courage return instantly. He waved the wooden stick in his hand, trying to drive the little creature away.

"Go away! Go play somewhere else! There's no food here!"

The weasel ignored the waving stick and instead of running away, it took a few more steps forward and stopped a few steps away from the group.

It raised its little head, and its slender eyes rolled around.

Then, it cleared its throat and spoke in a slightly peculiar, high-pitched, but exceptionally clear tone:

"Fellow villager—"

It stood upright, one front paw tucked behind its back in a rather dignified manner, its small eyes fixed on the bespectacled boy at the front, and asked slowly and clearly:

"Do I look like a man or a god?"

"..."

Time seemed to freeze for three seconds.

The boy with glasses blinked, his expression of expulsion freezing instantly, then crumbling and collapsing little by little.

His body trembled as if a 220V voltage had been applied:

"Little...little...bro...it...it...it spoke!!! The weasel spoke!!! Oh my god!!!"

His final cry of "Oh my god!" was heart-wrenching. He jumped up and landed precisely behind Ji Zuodao, displaying agility that was arguably the peak of his professional career.

"The weasel is demanding an award! It's the weasel demanding an award!"

Another boy with a little knowledge of folk customs also screamed, his face as white as paper.

"Don't say anything carelessly! You'll be in big trouble if you say the wrong thing!"

"Ahhh, it's looking over here!"

The college students immediately panicked and shrank behind Ji Zuodao, wishing they could hide themselves like a human pyramid.

The two girls were so frightened that they almost used Ji Zuodao as a human shield, clinging tightly to his arm.

Ji Zuo said: "..."

He helplessly moved his arm, which was being held tightly, feeling as if he were being entangled by two frightened sloths.

The weasel's gaze then passed over the trembling college students and landed on Ji Zuodao, whom they regarded as their "backbone."

The little eyes blinked blankly at first, as if trying to make sense of it.

"Um?"

It squeezed out a questioning syllable from its throat and sniffed hard with its little nose.

The next second—

"Ji Zuodao?!"

It shrieked the name, its tone full of disdain.

"Damn it! What bad luck! Ugh!"

It spat out a mouthful of "pui" in an extremely humane way.

Without hesitation, he turned around, landed on all fours, and with a "whoosh," transformed into a yellow blur, darting into the nearby bushes and disappearing without a trace.

The speed and the manner were as if they had encountered a ghost in broad daylight—no, even more unlucky than encountering a ghost, as if they were rushing to be reincarnated.

A mountain breeze blew by, swirling up a few fallen leaves.

The scene was deathly silent.

They looked at the bushes where the weasel had disappeared, then all turned to look at Ji Zuodao.

His eyes were filled with confusion.

Especially that girl, who had a look on her face that said, "Is this what you mean by believing in science?"

Ji Zuodao stood there, his face darkening visibly.

He scratched his already messy hair in frustration.

Oh shit.

That's good now.

The weasel demanding an official title—that definitely falls into the category of "requiring a confidentiality agreement."

The thought of having to contact local comrades to get confidentiality agreements after leaving the mountains, and then have these shaken college students read, sign, put their red fingerprints on them, and record video statements saying "I voluntarily keep this a secret and will never disclose it"...

Ji Zuodao felt a headache coming on.

This process is more tiring than beating up ten mandrills.

He glanced expressionlessly at the group of college students who were still clueless, and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth:

"What are you looking at?"

"Walk."

"Hurry up."

"We'll take you down the mountain to sign a confidentiality agreement..."

Damn it, I have to work even on vacation. I should have just let them feed the mountain demons.