Chapter 65

Mu Huiyue stumbled back to her dormitory from Su Luo’s office.

She had initially thought it would be a routine work conversation, but she didn’t expect it to turn into a storm of information.

On the projection of the Source Sprite, she had seen a fantasy creature from the world she came from before crossing over, as well as the “hometown” Su Luo, the vice minister, had mentioned…

And then there was the White Tiger Talisman. The wristband’s scan showed that it was an S-level resource, combining steel and light-type protective abilities.

It could unleash a thunderous strike comparable to the Miracle Fantasy Race’s complete form in an emergency. Additionally, it could use the White Tiger’s characteristics to nurture the wearer’s mental strength, strengthen self-awareness, and enhance resistance to illusions, sensory distortions, and spiritual influences.

This characteristic was particularly suited for counteracting the dimensional tremors of the Flash Phase realms. Mu Huiyue remembered that during the development of the Investigators’ wristbands, they had indeed referenced the White Tiger’s traits for the Mental Calibration Mode.

With this talisman, in the event of another Angry Rock Tortoise situation, there would be no need to take the risk of heading toward the volcano’s mouth—she could simply escape from within.

The fact that Vice Minister Su Luo had specifically given her such a valuable resource showed how much she cared about Mu Huiyue’s safety.

After confirming what the Source Sprite she had seen was, Su Luo didn’t ask about Mu Huiyue’s past or reveal any further information.

In the end, she only told Mu Huiyue to continue working hard on improving herself and that she could always contact her directly through the investigator’s wristband if she encountered any difficulties or issues.

It could be seen as a small gesture of care for a “hometown” acquaintance.

Mu Huiyue placed the White Tiger Talisman back into the Beast Taming Space, then lay back on her soft bed, staring at the ceiling as she fell into deep thought.

Although it seemed useless to overthink things right now…

But how could she not think more about it?

What did “the more you know now, the more likely the future will change” actually mean?

By the way, there was also another recent incident involving fluctuations in the laws of space and time.

Regarding the B-level Secret Realm “Xuan Volcano,” Mu Huiyue had also submitted her portion of the second investigation report. The final investigation results were not made public, but they were internally elevated to S-level within the Bureau, marking the realm for future close monitoring.

The investigation concluded that the ultimate form of the Angry Rock Tortoise was related to a special entity killed twenty years ago.

As for why it had suddenly appeared now, the Bureau had not yet reached a conclusion.

As a result of this field report, Mu Huiyue’s investigator rank had been raised to D-level, granting her slightly more authority and access to additional information in the database.

When checking her investigator rating, Mu Huiyue also searched for records about the [Source Spirit].

The Bureau’s official explanation was similar to what was in the textbooks, and there were many people on forums sharing their experiences of seeing the Source Spirit.

Most of the eyewitness reports occurred during the World Tournament.

Indeed, as Su Luo had mentioned, the appearances varied widely, with many in Dayan describing the Source Spirit as resembling the Sun God Phoenix.

There were also beast tamers who did not view extraordinary creatures as originating from religious beliefs, and their sightings varied greatly.

Some saw images of the primal cells of the earliest forms of life, goddesses from obscure myths who gave birth to all things, or the nameless black mountain goat…

The common theme among these sightings was the “origin of all things” as understood by the witnesses.

The projection Su Luo had shown in the office was a special product left behind by an S-level recording-type skill, as ordinary audiovisual equipment could not capture the image of the Source Spirit.

No wonder the existence of the Source Spirit is widely known, yet no book or illustration has ever recorded its appearance.

Many researchers believe that this projection-like trait is an expression of latent energy.

Extraordinary creatures from outer star realms, taking shape through the planet’s own species, are the projection of latent energy, allowing these creatures to become beings that the planet can “understand” and “accept.”

This was a theory Mu Huiyue hadn’t looked into before, so she continued reading with interest.

It wasn’t until she was yanked back to reality by a strong wave of hunger that she glanced at her phone and realized it was already time for a late-night snack.

A long, skeletal hand made of bone reached out, offering a box of energy biscuits.

Mu Huiyue looked up and saw the skeletal figure of Sen Bai standing in front of her, his right eye quietly burning with a ghostly blue flame.

He made a gentle clicking sound.

“Click?” (Do you want something to eat, Huiyue?)

This was the supply that Eren had carried in the shadows for her earlier. Since the ranking matches had ended early, there were still plenty left, and whenever Mu Huiyue was too lazy to go out and hunt for food, she would use these energy snacks to make do.

“Mm.” Mu Huiyue nodded and took the energy biscuits from Eren.

The Bone Soldier did not return to her shadow but, unusually, sat down beside her.

“…Click?” (…Huiyue, do you feel better now?)

Eren’s clicking sound paused for a moment, as if he were carefully considering how to express himself.

“Click, click.” (Since you came back from the White Tiger, it seems like you’ve been in this state, which is different from usual.)

“Click, click.” (If there’s something bothering you, you can talk to us. It’s okay if you don’t want to.)

“Click.” (If you want to be alone for a while, White Fang and I will return to the Beastmaster Space.)

The skeleton tilted its head, and its long finger gently brushed through the human girl’s hair.

“Click, click.” (But remember, we are always here by your side.)

“Woof woo!” (Me too!)

A summoning array with three layers of beast markings appeared next to Mu Huiyue, and Xiao Yunquan appeared on her lap. It let out a low whine and squeezed itself into the Beastmaster’s embrace.

“Ellen, White Fang…”

A warm current surged through Mu Huiyue’s heart.

During the day, both of her pets went to the Training Grounds for their regular exercises.

Because Mu Huiyue remained calm, her pets thoughtfully chose to act as usual.

But both of them secretly paid attention to their Beastmaster’s condition.

After all, dark-type pets are very sensitive to emotions. The moment Mu Huiyue experienced a great mental shock in the office, both Ellen and White Fang must have sensed it.

“Sorry for worrying you, but I’m fine now.” Mu Huiyue stroked the white-furred puppy in her arms and looked at the blue-flame skeleton beside her.

“Click clack?” (What did you see there, Huiyue?)

Ellen hesitated for a moment but still asked the question.

He was really concerned about Mu Huiyue’s emotional state at that time. Even when she was on the verge of death in the Undead Secret Realm, she had never been shaken like that.

“Well…” Mu Huiyue stroked her chin.

“How should I put it? It was like suddenly seeing a creature from my dreams in real life one day?”

“It made me think of some things from the past.”

As Mu Huiyue spoke, she picked up the white-furred puppy in her arms and tilted her head to rest on the shoulder of the skeleton beside her.

White Fang’s black mist thoughtfully wrapped around the nearby bones, allowing the Beastmaster to comfortably and safely lean on it.

“But it’s fine now. I know where I belong.”

No matter when it all began, the current her, Mu Huiyue in this moment, was living in this world.

She still had two contracts that were connected to her soul.

The warmth of the little dog in her arms was reassuring, and the skeleton’s shoulder was solid enough for her to rely on.

Even though she came to this world alone, she was not lonely now.

“Because you are here with me… it’s fine now.”

“Woof woof…!”

The puppy’s eyes were wet, and it tilted its head to lick the Beastmaster’s chin.

Mu Huiyue giggled, feeling the skeleton’s hand bones gently rest on her shoulder, tightening slightly.

“If I really encounter any troubles, I’ll talk to you both.” Mu Huiyue said, “This time it was more like… I was just startled.”

“I really didn’t expect to see such a Source Sprite. Even if it’s a high-dimensional projection, that’s just too much of a cheat…!”

But thinking too much about it wouldn’t help. Even if something really happened, Vice Minister Su Luo was still there to handle it.

For Mu Huiyue, the most important thing right now was to focus on the present issues and work on improving her strength.

If she also became a Beastmaster at the level of a Fantasy Beast Master, with a complete or even ultimate-tier pet beast’s combat power, at least she would be able to handle everything as effortlessly as Vice Minister Su Luo.

With that thought in mind, Mu Huiyue glanced at the energy biscuits placed on the table.

“Maybe I should go out to eat today! I won first place in the rankings, and I haven’t even properly treated myself to a meal, not to mention you two.”

Mu Huiyue smiled and patted the two pets, “The hardworking kids who trained so well deserve a reward.”

“Woof woof!” Baiya’s eyes instantly went from watery to shining brightly.

As long as it was praise from a Beastmaster, it loved it!

…

The capital city of Dayan, Jingjiang, is home to all sorts of delicious food from across the country, and a bustling food street was specially built.

The food street is busiest in the evenings, with crowds of people coming out after work to find something to eat, along with many visitors from other regions. Every store is doing their best to advertise.

Besides humans, it’s not uncommon to see extraordinary creatures here.

Some pet beasts use their unique traits to help attract customers or assist in cooking.

It was like a “floating balloon” covered in hand-painted advertisements, drifting around with promotional flyers; and the master of the grilled fish shop, “Eight-Legged Life,” whose every limb was holding cooking tools, had a long line in front of the store.

There were also wild juvenile creatures active all around the city.

Mu Huiyue walked from one end of the food street to the other and was nearly too full to keep walking.

Baiya, walking beside her, wasn’t in much better shape. Its once light and cloud-like form now carried a heavy presence for the first time.

The pair, one human and one pet, slowly walked back along the pedestrian street, taking their time to digest.

The streetlights cast long shadows on either side of the street, with Mu Huiyue’s shadow stretched out behind her, looking much longer than her actual self.

The color of the shadow grew deeper, and Elen, staying in his favorite shadow space, moved along with the Beastmaster, comfortable and at ease.

The lively atmosphere around her and the pets by her side made Mu Huiyue feel a sense of peace.

She was thinking about buying a cup of bamboo juice from the kind panda master’s shop when her phone suddenly rang.

It was a message from Wen Li.

“Mu Huiyue! You’re still in Jingjiang, right? (Flame Strike Meow Heart Eyes.jpg)”

“Yes, I’m here.”

Mu Huiyue replied.

“Isn’t tomorrow your birthday? Let’s hang out together! (Flame Strike Meow Heart.jpg)”

Mu Huiyue couldn’t help but pause for a moment.

Thinking back carefully, her birthday was indeed in these few days.

When Aisha was still around, her family would celebrate it with her, but eventually, she got used to spending it alone, and over time, she almost forgot about it.

Celebrating her birthday with friends or family felt like something from a past life.

Although, in her past life, Mu Huiyue had also spent most birthdays alone.

Mu Huiyue’s gaze lingered on the heart emoji of the chibi Flame Strike Meow, and she couldn’t help but smile.

“Sure, should I come see you tomorrow?”

“I’ll come find you! I know where the Bureau of Affairs is! (Flame Strike Meow thumbs up.jpg)”