Closer to Revealing My True Self
Chapter 116 - 102 So Awesome_2

Chapter 116: Chapter 102 So Awesome_2

"How do you have so many points? Are you also in scientific research?" Huo Jin asked curiously.

"No. I’ve participated in scientific expeditions and volunteered." Feng Yi didn’t plan to elaborate; his points were legitimate and not subject to questioning.

Huo Jin clapped his hands with a smile that was warmer than before, "No problem then! I couldn’t tell, brother!"

After replying to the research team, they quickly agreed, gave a location and time, and asked Feng Yi to come over tomorrow.

"I’ll drive you there tomorrow since it’s not far," Huo Jin said.

"Thanks!"

"Hey, don’t mention it! We’re going to do some sampling later; want to join in for fun?"

If it weren’t for someone who had experienced scientific expeditions, Huo Jin certainly wouldn’t extend this kind of invitation, as the inexperienced would just be a hassle. Calling it fun? Would they really think it’s just for play?

Feng Yi, having nothing else to do today, decided to go with them and might even be of some little help.

Two members of Huo Jin’s small team couldn’t go out due to altitude sickness and needed to rest for another day, so Feng Yi’s addition was indeed helpful.

Huo Jin drove the team to the mission location.

There were many rocky mountains nearby; as Feng Yi got out of the car, he saw a large bird dropping something high in the air, which struck the rocks not far away.

Huo Jin glanced in that direction nonchalantly, "The bearded vulture is smashing bones again."

As he spoke, Huo Jin pulled out a high-definition photo of a bearded vulture he had taken before, "Bearded vultures look like this, born with a villain’s face. Some people call it Lammergeier, but it has more hair than you can be envious of!"

"They love smashing bones?" Feng Yi asked.

"They love to eat marrow, mainly feasting on bones; they break large bones and swallow them straight away! They’re very accurate bombers, hitting the rocks spot-on with each throw."

Saying this, Huo Jin touched the top of his head, "Does eating marrow contribute to hair growth?"

Of course, this was just a joke.

As a researcher, Huo Jin certainly understood the reason behind the bearded vulture’s thick plumage.

Other vultures mainly feed on carrion, needing to stick their heads into animal carcasses to eat, and through natural selection to avoid feathers on the neck getting bloodied and matted, the evolution towards "baldness" eventually occurred. The true getting bald also meant getting stronger.

But bearded vultures are different, as they mainly feed on bones. They don’t need to stick their heads into the body cavities of prey, and they don’t worry about neck feathers getting matted with blood.

Huo Jin explained these facts simply to Feng Yi.

Seeing that Feng Yi was still looking at the bird, Huo Jin said, "It will probably bomb about a dozen more times. Want to take photos?"

"No need." Feng Yi withdrew his gaze and began to help with the sampling.

Besides the bearded vulture, Feng Yi also spotted a golden eagle.

Golden eagle, a national first-class protected animal.

However, Huo Jin and his team had more complex feelings towards the golden eagle.

People always have their preferences.

"Every year when the migrating Siberian crane flocks fly over the Himalayas, there are golden eagles waiting there."

Being involved with the Siberian crane project, and more emotionally invested, naturally, Huo Jin and his team favored the Siberian cranes, regardless of the protection level.

"A national first-class preying on a national second-class," Feng Yi remarked.

Huo Jin didn’t want to talk about the topic that saddened him.

Feng Yi didn’t bring up the topic again, and asked instead, "Is there any snake at an altitude of 4,000 meters?"

As long as they didn’t talk about the golden eagles, Huo Jin was quite eager to speak.

"Yes! The research team you’re hitching a ride with tomorrow came to the plateau specifically for the hot springs snake.

"However, their task concerning the hot springs snake is almost complete, and they’ll soon set off to another location to look for the red-spotted pit viper.

"Both can survive at altitudes above 4,000 meters. Perhaps there are other snakes that just haven’t been discovered yet."

"Red-spotted pit viper? Vipers are venomous, aren’t they?" Feng Yi said.

"Definitely a viper. But don’t worry, it’s just a small snake that eats moths. Its tiny fangs can’t even puncture gloves."

"I’m not scared," Feng Yi was just a bit surprised.

Hot springs snakes can only live near hot springs, but the red-spotted pit viper has no such restrictions and is still venomous.

It really isn’t easy for venomous snakes to live at an altitude of 4,000 meters.

Initially, Feng Yi was just preparing to catch a free ride, but knowing the team was going to look for the red-spotted pit viper, he became somewhat interested.

So, the next day, he located the scientific research team at the agreed time and place and took the initiative to share his experience as a volunteer in the Nan Chong Conservation Area’s South 6 team.

The leader of the research team wasn’t too keen on bringing an outsider. They only agreed to give Feng Yi a lift because of his more than 1,000 points, but their attitude changed immediately when they heard that he was good at catching snakes.

After the period of abnormal climate, the red-spotted pit viper was hard to find, so having one more person increased the chances of success.

Feng Yi had already sent his bicycle and cycling gear home and changed into a different set of clothes. When he left in the research team’s vehicle, a cycling team happened by, which included the five individuals he had encountered during the traffic jam on the road.

However, Feng Yi didn’t pay them any attention; to him, they were all just strangers he had met once, with no intersections in the future.

Feng Yi naturally didn’t know that after he left, the cycling team reached the tent he had stayed in the night before, and using the photos on their phones, they started asking around for the black car’s driver.

...

The car Feng Yi caught a ride in was owned by an amateur enthusiast who had volunteered with the expedition team a few times and met the necessary points requirement. He knew the leader of this research team and came mainly to photograph snakes this time.

The owner’s surname was Huang, named Huang Ye, in his twenties, probably because he often ran around outside, he had gotten quite tan.

"You’re Feng Yi, right? I heard you’ve been with the South 6 Team in Nan Chong? The one that got really famous this year for catching a big python and a king cobra?"

"Yes," Feng Yi replied.

"Impressive! I’ve applied there before but got rejected. Anyone favored by the South 6 Team must be really skilled!"

Huang Ye was particularly excited, precisely because he had been rejected several times. He knew all too well how discerning South 6 Team’s selection was. Of course, that didn’t include media types, like the outdoor live streamer who had been kicked out of the team this year after being bitten by a cobra—he wasn’t that skilled, but he certainly caused a lot of drama.

For someone like Feng Yi, who got into the team on genuine merit, Huang Ye had great admiration. The way he looked at Feng Yi was as though he were gazing at a master who could elevate his own skills.

Thus, to coax more expertise out of Feng Yi, Huang Ye lavished him with a torrent of flattery.

Feng Yi felt his face heat up with embarrassment, thinking to himself: Catching snakes is just an instinct, what’s so great about me? I’m not even a "kiddo," just an egg at best.

But on second thought, Feng Yi felt—

I’m freaking awesome!

You’ve never seen an egg find its own place to hatch, have you?

So, the heat on Feng Yi’s face subsided, and he calmly continued to listen to Huang Ye’s barrage of flattery.