Several figures clustered by the roadside, pointing anxiously down into a steep drainage ditch.
Was it a construction crew? Or some kind of expedition team? Had there been an accident?
Yang Qi slowed down, pulling over slightly to carefully pass by. He had no intention of meddling in other people's business, but the moment his transport truck brushed past their pickup, his sharp ears caught a faint whimper of pain and terror carried on the wind, along with urgent voices.
"No way, it's too deep."
"Careful, don't startle it. It's hurt."
"Is that... a pangolin?"
"A pangolin? A Chinese pangolin? That's a Class One protected species! Call the police!"
A Chinese pangolin?
Yang Qi's heart skipped a beat. There were Chinese pangolins in Cangshan, but to think there was one here too? And it had fallen into a ditch?
Without hesitation, Yang Qi parked his truck in a safe spot a dozen meters ahead of the pickup. He flipped on his hazard lights, pushed the door open, and hurried back.
