Chapter 250: Chapter 249: Besieged by Rock Sheep

The lead sheep was larger than a typical Rock Sheep, exuding a strong sense of oppression. Its curved horns glimmered with a bronze sheen under the sunlight, while its well-defined forelegs aggressively pawed at the ground.

Its pupils contracted into thin slits out of anger, and its nostrils puffed out streams of white vapor.

“Watch out!”

Just as Xu Ying shouted a warning, the lead sheep dashed forward in a flash, precisely flipping the phone out of Ji Xuehui’s hand with its hard horns. The phone traced an arc in the air before landing with a “plop” in a distant snowbank.

[It’s because of this damn thing!]

The lead sheep bellowed furiously, its voice echoing through the valley, [that’s how our clan leader ended up falling off the cliff!]

It stomped its front hoof heavily on a protruding rock. Unlike other sheep, the hooves of Rock Sheep had an edge as hard as steel that could embed like climbing spikes into rock crevices, while the soft, elastic pads in the center provided excellent grip.

This was the gift of nature that allowed Rock Sheep to walk effortlessly on vertical cliffs.

Xu Ying stared at the group of Rock Sheep that had inexplicably charged at them in anger, utterly baffled.

When did they ever provoke these climbing masters of the animal kingdom?

Xu Ying gently and patiently asked the lead sheep the reason, receiving only a cold look in response.

[This thing suddenly started ringing “ding-ling-ling”,]

The lead sheep kicked at the phone on the ground with its hoof, its voice filled with rage, [and scared the clan leader, who was licking salt crystals on the cliff, into tumbling off a 300-meter precipice!]

An image immediately formed in Xu Ying’s mind: the aged Rock Sheep Clan Leader was intently licking minerals on the cliff, only to lose balance and fall down the nearly vertical rock face when the phone started to ring…

She didn’t rush to question about the phone but stepped forward cautiously, maintaining a safe distance before slowly crouching to appear less threatening: “How is the clan leader doing now? Is the injury serious?”

Her voice carried a sincere apology, “I’m truly sorry that something from us humans has caused you harm.”

The lead sheep’s anger seemed to abate slightly as it shook its head: [The right hind leg is broken, and the leader is now recuperating in the clan’s cave.]

It pointed a hoof toward the distant cliff, [That noisy thing fell out from that crevice over there.]

“I’m a veterinarian,”

Xu Ying took an emergency kit from her backpack and showed it, “I can help treat the clan leader. As for that noisy thing…”

She glanced toward where the phone had fallen, “It’s called a mobile phone, and it likely accidentally fell from someone in trouble, not deliberately placed here to scare you.”

“We’re investigating this case.”

The lead sheep scrutinized Xu Ying cautiously, but thinking of the clan leader’s injury, it eventually nodded: [You, come with us.]

Xu Ying tentatively asked: “To prevent the ringing phone from disturbing you, can I take it back? A discarded phone can cause metal pollution to the environment.”

The Rock Sheep drooped its ears: [That noisy thing was already taken back by the other Rock Sheep.]

It turned around and made a few short calls to the sheep flock.

Then, it turned to Xu Ying and said: [But only you are allowed to approach the clan leader, all other two-legged creatures must stay away!]

Led by the lead Rock Sheep, Xu Ying and her group trudged through thick snow to a sheltered rock face.

Even before entering the cave, the sound of painful moaning came from within.

[Baa—hurts like hell…]

The voice was weak but forceful, distinctly resonating in the silent valley.

The lead sheep glanced back at Xu Ying, eyes holding a mix of wariness and expectation.

The cave was not deep, but spacious enough.

In the light filtering in from the entrance, Xu Ying saw over twenty Rock Sheep lying in small groups on piles of straw.

The ewes encircled the lambs protectively, warily watching these uninvited guests. Female Rock Sheep would stay in groups with the young, while males either lived alone or in small groups.

The air was filled with the scent of straw and the unique musk of Rock Sheep, intermixed with a faint smell of blood.

In the deepest part of the cave, an elderly female Rock Sheep lay on the thickest pile of straw.

Its right hind leg was severely swollen, with unnaturally purplish-red skin under its fur, clearly deformed.

Upon seeing the humans enter, it laboriously turned its head away, its robust horns scraping a white line on the rock wall.

[Shameful… why did you bring the two-legged creatures here?]

The old Rock Sheep’s voice was full of regret, [Dignified Rock Sheep Clan Leader, a climbing master for decades, and I was scared by a noisy little cube to the point of breaking my leg… How can I face the clan if word gets out…]

Xu Ying carefully approached, stopping two meters away and slowly crouching down.

She placed the veterinarian’s kit on the ground, gently opening it to reveal the medical instruments inside.

“Don’t worry, I’m a veterinarian, let me take a look.”

Her voice was gentle yet firm, “I’m quite competent in treatment, and with me here, you’ll be able to return to your agile climbing self.”

The old Rock Sheep turned its head suspiciously, a gleam of hope flashing in its cloudy eyes.

Xu Ying took the opportunity to slowly move closer, her fingers lightly touching the injury.

The Rock Sheep Clan Leader flinched with pain but resisted the urge to struggle.

“You’ve got a comminuted fracture of the tibia, with severe bruising,”

Xu Ying explained softly as she examined the injury, “First we need to reduce the swelling, then stabilize it.”

She took a prepared herbal paste from the kit and gently applied it to the swollen area.

The paste exuded a faint minty scent, helping the old Rock Sheep’s tense muscles gradually relax.

Next, she took out specially-designed animal splints and skillfully performed the stabilization.

During the entire process, Xu Ying’s fingers remained warm and steady, providing the animals with a sense of trustworthy professionalism.

“The thing that scared you,” Xu Ying asked softly as she bandaged, “where is it now?”

The old Rock Sheep sighed, pointing its nose to a natural pedestal in the deepest part of the cave: [The youngsters put it there. None of us dare to go near it.]

Xu Ying gave a look to Chen Su, who immediately understood and quietly walked over to the pedestal.

The other Rock Sheep watched him warily but did not interfere.

A moment later, he returned quickly, holding a phone with a shattered screen: “Found it!”

Guan Lin took the phone and pulled out equipment to test it from his backpack: “Let me see if this phone can still turn on.”

Everyone’s hearts were in their throats.

After much fiddling, Guan Lin suddenly let out a cry of joy: “It’s on!”

“The phone is still usable!”

Their faces beamed with an irrepressible smile; now that it was nearly dark, they had finally found a breakthrough clue after so many setbacks!

Guan Lin glanced at the phone’s wallpaper, his tone curious: “The wallpaper is a photo of a man climbing a mountain!”

“But this person isn’t one of the four climbers.”

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