If you were made a mascot, you would become a legend in the police force.

As the main force assembled, the atmosphere in the valley finally shifted from a tense battle state to a "post-battle inventory" mode.

While comforting the frightened animals, Lin Wan counted the number of people.

Suddenly, she froze.

"Where's Lao Wang?!"

She turned her head sharply to look at Li Tuantuan, her eyes filled with anxiety.

I was so happy that Tuantuan came back alive that I almost forgot the most important task of this trip into the mountains—rescuing Wang Zhenhua, the director of Taiping Town Police Station!

The blood-written letter seen at the police station and the horrific traces at the scene indicated that Old Wang was likely in grave danger.

We've defeated all the monsters, so why haven't we seen anyone yet?

Li Tuantuan was squatting on the ground, directing Jin Dou to sort the treasures in the sack, when she heard Lin Wan's shout and slapped her forehead.

Oh dear, I forgot about that old man!

I was having too much fun playing just now, I was so focused on absorbing trees and recruiting minions.

However, Li Tuantuan was not flustered at all.

He remembered clearly that when the man in black robes was performing the ritual, there was indeed an old man in a police uniform who was hung on a tree.

Although a fight broke out later, he specifically sent Jin Dou to rescue the hostages.

That old man shouldn't be completely dead yet, right?

Li Tuantuan stood up, waved to Lin Wan, and then led the group toward the remains of the ancient tree.

The once invincible Soul-Devouring Ancient Tree is now reduced to a huge, charred stump surrounded by wood chips.

Li Tuantuan circled the tree stump twice before finally stopping in front of a huge, not yet completely withered, burl.

The burl was bulging and swollen, like a large abscess, and its surface was covered with a layer of translucent mucus.

"Squeak!"

Jin Dou jumped onto the burl, sniffed it, and then chirped twice confidently.

There's a heartbeat inside!

Li Tuantuan nodded, gesturing for Lin Wan to step back a bit.

He stretched out his two bear paws and gripped the edge of the tree burl.

"Hey!"

With a low shout (in his mind), he exerted force with both arms.

"Rip—"

The tough bark was torn apart like rags.

A rich, vibrant life force mixed with a faint fishy smell wafted towards us.

Inside the tree tumor, there was a humanoid object covered in green slime.

It was Wang Zhenhua, who had been missing for several days!

At this moment, Old Wang's eyes were closed, his face was abnormally flushed, and his breathing was weak but steady.

He was curled up in this natural "biopod" as if he were asleep.

"Wang Suo!"

Lin Wan exclaimed in surprise and was about to rush forward.

Li Tuantuan stopped her.

Don't worry!

The old man's current condition is a bit unusual.

Li Tuantuan activated the system's [Holographic Perception].

[Target: Wang Zhenhua (human)]

[Status: False Death/Deep Hibernation.]

[Anomaly: Due to its long-term location within the core area of ​​the Soul-Devouring Ancient Tree, although some of its life force was extracted, it also absorbed a large amount of overflowing wood-type spiritual energy.]

[Conclusion: A blessing in disguise. All old internal injuries (rheumatism in the legs, herniated lumbar disc) have healed completely, and bodily functions have become 5-10 years younger.]

Holy crap?

Li Tuantuan's eyes widened.

This old man is incredibly lucky!

They were captured and used as fertilizer, but ended up getting a free "spiritual spa" instead?

If those millionaires who spend millions on stem cell injections knew this, wouldn't they be green with envy?

However, although his health has improved, if the old man doesn't wake up soon, his blood vessels might burst due to the high concentration of spiritual energy.

Li Tuantuan didn't hesitate and directly exchanged a bottle of [Primary Life Elixir] from the system shop.

This stuff costs 500 merit points per bottle. Although it hurts a little, it's worth it considering that Lao Wang used to give him special treatment!

He pried open Old Wang's mouth and poured the spiritual liquid into him.

"Cough cough cough!"

The liquid entered his throat, and within three seconds, Old Wang began to cough violently.

He suddenly opened his eyes, gasping for breath, his eyes still lingering with the fear he felt before losing consciousness.

"No...don't eat me! I have diabetes! I don't taste good!"

Old Wang shouted as he crawled out using both his hands and feet.

Lin Wan rushed over to support him.

"Director Wang! Director Wang, look carefully! It's us! It's me, Lin Wan!"

Old Wang paused for a moment, then his gaze finally focused.

Old Wang was stunned as he looked at the familiar face and the round, black-and-white figure before him.

"Xiao Lin? Gun Gun?"

He reached out with trembling hands, touched Lin Wan's face, and then pinched his own thigh.

"Ouch—it hurts! I...I'm not dead?"

"You're not dead! You're perfectly fine!" Lin Wan's tears fell again.

Old Wang let out a long sigh of relief and collapsed to the ground.

"I was so scared... I thought I was really going to meet Marx this time..."

He wiped the sticky liquid off his face and suddenly felt something was wrong with his body.

"Huh? Why doesn't my leg hurt anymore?"

Old Wang stood up, kicked his legs, and twisted his waist.

My old leg pain, which used to be excruciating on rainy days, now feels warm and full of energy.

Even the herniated disc that had plagued him for years seemed to have healed.

"What... what's going on?" Old Wang was completely bewildered.

Li Tuantuan, standing to the side, pursed her lips, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she had done something smug.

Nonsense, you soaked in the spiritual energy jar for three days and drank my divine water, how could you not be good?

You could easily finish in the top ten of a marathon right now!

Just then, Mantou, who had been standing at the back, walked over.

It looked at Old Wang, let out a low whimper, and wagged its tail gently.

When Old Wang saw the big white dog, his body stiffened abruptly, and his eyes immediately reddened.

"It's you..."

He pushed Lin Wan aside, staggered to the steamed bun, grabbed the huge dog's head, and burst into tears.

"Thank you... thank you..."

Lin Wan was stunned.

"Director Wang, do you recognize this dog?"

Old Wang nodded while crying.

"I know him... how could I not know him..."

"When I was captured by that black-robed monster, I was supposed to be thrown into a tree hole and eaten that very day."

"It was...it was this white dog that desperately broke open the cage and dragged me into that tree burl to hide me."

"To save me, it was hit many times by that man in black robes and had a lot of blood drained from it..."

Old Wang stroked the newly grown tender flesh around Mantou's neck, his heart aching so much that tears streamed down his face.

"It's a good dog! It's a wonder dog!"

Lin Wan was deeply shocked.

It turns out that this white mastiff was not only rescued by Tuantuan, but it had also rescued Lao Wang before.

This is simply fate!

The steamed bun felt a little uncomfortable being held by Old Wang, but it remembered the old man's scent.

Although he's a weakling, two-legged creature, he has a decent heart.

It let Lao Wang hold it and cry for a while, then turned its pleading gaze to Li Tuantuan.

Hey boss, do something about this old man, he's got snot all over my fur!

Li Tuantuan rolled her eyes.

So dramatic!

They're just being grateful to you!

However, seeing how excited Lao Wang was, Li Tuantuan felt quite emotional.

It seems this dog is destined to become a colleague at the police station.

That's good. With this dog, I can slack off more easily now.

"Alright, Your Majesty, this place is not safe to stay any longer. Let's hurry down the mountain."

Seeing that he had vented his emotions enough, Lin Wan spoke up to remind him.

Old Wang wiped away his tears and stood up straight.

Although his police uniform was tattered and his face was covered in mud, his spirit and energy were better than ever before.

"Let's go! Down the mountain!"

"When I get back this time, I'm going to apply for the highest honor for this dog! Anyone who tries to stop me, I'll fight them!"

Li Tuantuan silently gave a thumbs up from the side.

This old man's got it!

That bottle of spiritual liquid I used was well spent.

but……

Li Tuantuan looked at the long string of small animals behind her, and then at Lao Wang's body, which, although he had recovered, was still just a mortal being.

This mountain road is rugged; if we just walk, it will take forever.

It seems it's time to show the real technology.

Li Tuantuan walked to an open space and took a deep breath.

[System, activate the initial stage of the Celestial and Earthly Laws]

next second.

His body swelled up like a balloon being inflated.

Although it didn't become one of those colossal beasts tens of meters tall, it was still three times larger, resembling a small black and white tank.

"Come on up!"

Li Tuantuan lay on the ground, turned her head, and called out to the crowd.

Today, the Panda Bus officially begins operation!