Chapter 93.2

The General looked at Xiang Bie, recognizing him as someone from Bi Ke Zoo, and explained, “Assignments are based on urgency. We won’t send them into severely affected zones or have them engage directly with mutant beasts. Since they lack owners, we’ve assigned temporary owners—soldiers experienced with similar war beasts—to avoid compatibility issues. If you’re still concerned, you can accompany me to the command center where you can monitor all their activities.”

Xiang Bie nodded and asked, “What should we do now?”

The General replied, “Take the war beasts to other search areas.”

Xiang Bie looked at Mu Ling and whispered, “Let’s go. Someone’s watching over Tayun.”

Still worried, Mu Ling glanced back at the Qilin, bit her lip, but ultimately boarded the military ship with them.

*

“Ping’an is injured?” In search area B091 of the East District, Colonel Yin Lingyun frowned deeply after hearing his subordinate’s report.

Late last night, orders had come down due to the scarcity of war beasts. The war dog Ping’an was reassigned to another team, along with its owner.

Now only the war leopard “Brave” remained with them. After hours of searching and eliminating three Mutant Beasts, they hadn’t expected Ping’an to be injured before dawn.

“How did it get hurt?” Yin Lingyun inquired.

“They encountered a group of Mutant Beasts. While others engaged the group, Ping’an chased after a mutant dog and became separated. By the time Gangzi found it, Ping’an had already been bitten.”

Yin Lingyun’s expression darkened. “Is the injury severe?”

“Not too serious, but it’s on the neck—a sensitive area. The vet says Ping’an can’t operate anymore and needs to recover. We’ve lost another war beast.”

War beasts were scarce now. Losing one meant the team would have to rely solely on manpower, which couldn’t detect Mutant Beasts as effectively, increasing the risk of oversight.

Yin Lingyun said coldly, “This is Gangzi’s fault. He shouldn’t have let Ping’an leave the team. No matter what, he should have followed Ping’an.”

The subordinate defended his colleague, “There were over ten mutant rats in that group. It was Pimi…”

“What about the others? Couldn’t they handle it? As a beast tamer, his duty is tied to the war beast—to stay with it at all times! I’ll discipline him after this mission ends.”

Knowing the Colonel’s strictness, the subordinate dared not argue further.

However, he recalled Gangzi mentioning seeing a war bird resembling Tayun…

Looking at the Colonel walking ahead, he hesitated and decided not to bring it up.

Tayun had retired long ago and had received a wing-softening injection. What Gangzi saw couldn’t have been Tayun, just another bird of the same breed. No need to upset the Colonel with this.

Having moved directly from the 917 frontline to the Nurha frontline without checking his light brain or browsing StarNet, the subordinate was excessively concerned about his Colonel’s mental well-being.

Just then, Yin Lingyun’s military light brain buzzed. Opening it, he found the command center was assigning him a new S-class war bird. He was to team up with it for missions in other medium-disaster zones and was instructed to proceed immediately to the East District’s safe zone.

Yin Lingyun frowned at this.

Why did the new war bird lack an owner? Why pair it with him?

Regardless, he wouldn’t go.

As a soldier, he knew he should comply, but… he had vowed never to partner with another war beast again.

If the 917 frontline didn’t still need him, he would have transferred to regular forces long ago. His war beast had retired, and he didn’t want to apply for another—he didn’t want to betray Tayun.

He didn’t want this temporary pairing either; he couldn’t collaborate with another war bird.

Though aware he was defying orders, Yin Lingyun resolutely replied with two words: [I REFUSE!]

“Colonel?” The team members noticed his slow pace and called out.

Yin Lingyun closed his light brain and moved forward.

They had reached the end of the street. After confirming no mutant beast traces, they planned to proceed to the next street.

Suddenly, the war leopard roared.

Its unexpected cry put everyone on alert. In the next moment, it charged into a residential complex.

The team quickly followed. The complex was large, and the leopard moved swiftly.

They watched it leap into a dense flowerbed and hurried after it, only to hear hissing sounds from within.

Yin Lingyun shouted, “Stay alert!”

Everyone gripped their weapons, cautiously observing the bushes. The leopard’s owner called out, “Brave, come back!”

The war leopard sniffed around, then suddenly pounced on a spot, digging furiously at the soil!

Though armored, its paws were exposed. The bushes likely concealed either mutant rats or snakes. Fearing injury, its owner grabbed the armor and tried to forcibly pull it out!

Before they could extract the leopard, a green snake covered with centipede-like legs shot out from the hole, lunging directly at the war leopard’s face!

“Watch out!” Yin Lingyun shouted, slashing at the snake with his short blade.

The snake immediately recoiled. The blade missed, and as the snake prepared to retreat and strike again…

A sharp bird beak suddenly descended from the sky, biting its vital point and severing it in two!

The giant eagle had swooped down at the exact moment Yin Lingyun swung his blade. The blade drove the snake back while the beak caught it—observers might have thought they were coordinating perfectly: one feinting, one ambushing. The entire process flowed seamlessly, as if they had performed it countless times before!

Clad in a full set of light iron armor, the majestic and fierce eagle grabbed the snake’s two segments with its agile talons, emerged from the bushes, and forcefully crushed the snake’s head.

The snake was thoroughly dead, but the eagle’s beak was stained with filth. It took to the air again, circled once, then gracefully landed on the tall man’s shoulder who still stood in the flowerbed.

The man wore combat gear, making his shoulders appear broad. Finding its familiar position on the familiar shoulder, the eagle shook its head, attempting to clean its beak. When this failed, it turned and wiped its beak on the man’s cap—the military hat, made of protective material that was soft yet sturdy, perfect for wiping.

After smearing all the dirt onto the military cap, the eagle shifted its feet, spread one wing, and began meticulously grooming its feathers.

It groomed very seriously—something it had always done after battles. If it didn’t groom, its plumage would become messy and uncomfortable. So the beauty-loving eagle had to be diligent about its appearance.

As it groomed, it suddenly felt the shoulder beneath it trembling abnormally.

It paused, tilted its head, looked at the man beside it, and confusedly called out, “Coo coo.”

“C-C-Colonel…” The subordinates who had followed Yin Lingyun for years felt goosebumps rising all over their bodies.

What were they seeing?

This magnificent war bird… this all-too-familiar war bird… wasn’t it… wasn’t it…

“Ta… Tayun?” Yin Lingyun’s eyes turned bloodshot. His throat bobbed as he spoke incredulously, his body trembling even more violently.

Was this Tayun?

Was he dreaming?

Or was this just a bird that resembled Tayun?

Yes, that must be it!

Otherwise, how could Tayun be here?

It had retired long ago and was on Shenwang Star… and besides…

No, it was Tayun—these small movements, these habits…

It used to wipe its beak on his military cap! Only one bird in the world had this bad habit!

“Tayun… is that you?”

“Coo coo.” Tayun became even more puzzled. It took flight, landed on his other shoulder, spread its wing, and poked the man’s face with it.

“That’s really Tayun! Tayun used to slap the Colonel just like that!” blurted out a subordinate nearby, astonished and delighted. How could the retired Tayun be here?

Yin Lingyun’s eyes reddened further. He raised his arm, and Tayun immediately flew onto it. Yin Lingyun sniffled, wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, and gently stroked Tayun’s wings repeatedly, nodding continuously.

“Good, good. You’ve been well cared for. Your wings have healed, and you recognize me now. You didn’t recognize me before…”

The giant eagle sensed the man’s sorrow but didn’t understand why. Recalling how other animals would lick Mu Ling’s face when she was sad, it hesitated, then flew back onto the man’s shoulder and pecked him with its beak…

“Ah!” Yin Lingyun’s tears instantly receded. He touched his face and felt a drop of blood.

Yin Lingyun: “…”

“Excellent, excellent,” the subordinate said emotionally, covering his mouth. “Besides wiping its mouth with the Colonel’s hat and slapping him, Tayun has now learned to disfigure the Colonel. It’s truly remarkable!”

Yin Lingyun: “…”

Yin Lingyun wiped the blood off his face, cradled the giant eagle in his arms, and gently stroked its back, asking, “How are you here? Did you come specifically to find me? Did you come to Nurha Star for me?”

“Beep beep!” Just as Yin Lingyun was immersed in the joy of reuniting with Tayun, his light brain suddenly beeped.

Upon checking, his smile instantly vanished…

A notification from the command center read: [Request received. You have declined to team up with S-class retired support war bird Tayun.]

Yin Lingyun: “………………”

*

“Tayun’s master? Colonel Yin Lingyun?” Onboard the military ship, Mu Ling was surprised upon hearing the major general’s words. “You mean Tayun went to find Colonel Yin? He’s here too?”

The major general smiled. “Yes, indeed. He had just declined the request but when Tayun went to find him, he immediately agreed. That guy… But with him here, you don’t have to worry anymore, right?”

Mu Ling smiled. “Yes, if Tayun is with its master, then I definitely have no worries. It’s just…”

She turned to look at the other war beasts inside the military ship.

She was still concerned about them…

At that moment, the military ship landed. Once it had fully touched down, the hatch slowly opened, revealing a row of soldiers standing outside.

They were older, both men and women, clearly having waited for some time.

Mu Ling asked the major general, “Are they…”

“Yes,” the major general nodded. “Some of their war beasts have retired; others… have perished. They’ve all transferred to regular military roles, but currently, there’s no one more suitable on Nurha Star to lead these war beasts.”

Mu Ling looked at them, then nodded and led the war beasts out.

Eventually, Lightning, Pimi, Qingjiao, and Lieyan were left there.

Next, they proceeded to the second search zone.

This time, Magic, Qilin, and Feifan were left there.

Finally, they reached the third search zone.

Invincible and Moonlight were left there.

After all the war beasts had been stationed, Mu Ling felt somewhat dazed.

She had thought that leaving them behind would make them scared, that they’d follow her, chase after her. But they didn’t. They seemed to recognize these uniformed individuals, responding to their gestures and commands.

They had been excited since disembarking from the starship.

They anticipated this battlefield, eager to return to it.

They were war beasts; the duty of eliminating Mutant Beasts was ingrained in their very bones.

Even the most timid and introverted Moonlight displayed a resolute and fierce gleam in its eyes upon entering the war zone.

They never feared war. It was she who had underestimated them…

Mu Ling exhaled deeply, smiled, and turned to the major general. “Please take me to the control panel. I want to watch my children perform.”