"Of course not."
Wu Chang stopped calling out and turned to ask, puzzled, "Why are you asking all of a sudden?"
"Just curious." Qiao Sang replied casually.
She didnât elaborate on her growing sense of unease about Uncle Zhang.
Would someone really be that kind to another person without reason?
If someone lost their phone, wouldnât the first thing they do be to find a way to contact the other party?
Yet he came straight to the cemetery late at night to look for them. Was that normal?
And this place...
The quietness of the night here was unnerving. No chirping of birds or buzzing of insects. Any sound would stand out sharply. From her vantage point, the area where she and Wu Chang had been standing earlier was clearly visible.
Logically speaking, whether it was their footsteps or the noise from Yabao and Little Treasure, anyone nearby should have noticed immediately.
But Uncle Zhang hadnât greeted them or shown any sign of acknowledgment. It was as if he hadnât heard anything at all.
Was that normal?
A series of questions bubbled up in Qiao Sangâs mind.
If she indulged in a conspiracy theory⊠What if Uncle Zhang was a Beast Master and had noticed the pet beast that could bring good luck?
Then, approaching Wu Chang and coming to the cemetery late at night suddenly made sense.
However, Qiao Sang didnât voice her suspicions. Firstly, it was just her gut feeling.
Secondly, without evidence, if she said anything, Wu Chang would surely think she was imagining things.
On one hand, there was an uncle who treated Wu Chang like his own son; on the other, there was someone sheâd known for less than a day. Anyone would know which side to trust.
She decided it was better not to stir the pot. After all, she had only come here to see what kind of pet beast could bring good luck and whether she could catch some of that luck herself.
âGo on, keep calling it.â Qiao Sang said, masking her thoughts.
Wu Chang didnât suspect anything and turned back to continue calling out in a hushed voice, âYun yun! Yun yun!â
The sound echoed eerily through the silent cemetery, almost like a soul-calling chant.
After a couple of calls, Little Treasure finally couldnât hold back and floated in front of his Beast Master, wearing a puzzled expression.
"Xun xun?"
If that human from earlier wasnât a Beast Master, then whose pet beast was that beside him?
Damn itâŠ
Qiao Sang felt her adrenaline surge.
The nightâs wind was bone-chilling, yet a cold sweat broke out on her back.
To be honest, she was frightened.
A pet beast?
There had been another pet beast beside that uncle earlier?
And she hadnât noticed it at all?
A ghost-type beast?
âHow big was that pet beast?â Qiao Sang asked, swallowing hard.
âXun~â
Hearing his Beast Masterâs question, Little Treasure floated upward until he was about four meters above the ground. Then he circled in a large arc at that height.
About this big.
Qiao Sangâs eyes widened in shock.
A pet beast of that size had to be at least a General-level!
She shuddered, feeling as though the surrounding temperature had dropped even further.
âYun yun! Yun yun!â Wu Chang continued his eerie chant.
Silently, Qiao Sang climbed onto Yabao, who, after hearing Little Treasureâs description, was now warily scanning the area.
She wanted to leaveâŠ
A Beast Master of a high rank hiding their identity must have noticed Wu Changâs extraordinary luck.
Staying in this small town for so long,
how could they not have ulterior motives?
It was best not to get involved.
âWell, if itâs not here, letâs try another time. Iâll be at the Beast Center all week, so you can bring it to me then.â Qiao Sang said, feigning calm.
âItâs definitely here! Maybe it just doesnât want to appear because thereâs someone else here besides me.â Wu Chang said anxiously.
Qiao Sang asked, âDid you tell it Iâm here to help treat it?â
Wu Chang fell silent for a moment before turning to shout softly, âYun yun! Yun yun! Iâve brought someone to treat your injury!â
Qiao Sang: ...
âYun yun~â
At that moment, a voice that wasnât Wu Changâs rang out.
Startled, Qiao Sang snapped her head toward the sound.
She realized it was coming from right in front of Yabaoâs head!
âYabao!â
Yabao bristled instantly, raising a paw. Flames of energy surged, and a fiery blaze ignited around his lifted right paw.
Whoosh!
The flame-covered paw struck forward with a sharp sound, full of momentum. However, when the paw reached the space right in front of it, it was stopped by an invisible force.
The flames exploded outward, their heat illuminating the cemetery and warming the chilly air.
The fiery glow revealed a wall of energy blocking the attack.
âStop! Itâs Yun yun!â Wu Chang cried out.
âYun yun!â
The unseen pet beast nodded furiously.
It was it!
âYabaoâŠâ
The flames dissipated, and Yabao awkwardly withdrew his paw.
That had scared him to death,
he thought it was something else entirelyâŠ
At that moment, Qiao Sang blurted out, âYabao, you can use Flame Claw now?!â
Flame Claw was a mid-tier fire skill, concentrating fire energy into the claws. Apart from its powerful attack, it also had a chance to inflict burns on the target.
This skill... Yabao had never learned it.
How had he suddenly mastered it?
Could it have been out of fright?
Qiao Sang recalled how Yabao had sparked an electric jolt the first time he was scared by a TV show.
This wasnât the first time Yabao had learned a new skill from being scared.
Could Yabao have a talent for acquiring skills under duress?
Maybe they hadnât watched enough horror movies before.
Should she test this theory next time?
âYap yap!â
Yabao, hearing this, first froze, then excitedly raised his paw to inspect it, completely unaware of his Beast Masterâs morally questionable thoughts.
Meanwhile, Wu Chang asked, âYun yun, are you okay?â
Yun yun
, the transparent pet beast shook its head to indicate it was fine.
âYun yun, where are you?â Wu Chang asked.
âYun yun.â The transparent pet beast floated in front of him and waved its paw.
âYun yun, where did you go earlier?â Wu Chang pressed on.
Qiao Sang snapped out of her thoughts and looked up to see Wu Chang seemingly talking to thin air.
If not for the voice responding to him, anyone who didnât know better wouldâve thought he was crazy.
âLittle Treasure.â Qiao Sang called softly.
âXun~â Little Treasure floated down.
âCan you see it?â Qiao Sang asked quietly.
Little Treasure turned toward the source of the
Yun yun
voice but saw nothing. He rubbed his eyes with his paws and tried again, squinting hard.
âXun xunâŠâ
Little Treasure shook his head.
He couldnât see anything.
Not a ghost-type pet beast, but invisible. And it could bring good luck? Judging from the skill it displayed earlier, it was likely a psychic-type.
In Yuhua, what pet beast fit those criteria?
As Qiao Sang pondered, Wu Chang spoke again, âYun yun, I brought someone to heal you. Donât worry; this time, your injury will definitely be cured. Quickly, cover yourself and let her take a look.â
He pulled out a crumpled piece of chiffon fabric from his pocket and shook it out.
âYun yun.â
With a soft sound, the unseen pet beast used an invisible force to move the fabric forward.
As the white cloth draped over it, a silhouette began to take shape beneath,a small figure, about 30 centimeters tall, with two triangular ears.
Luckbringer
.
Qiao Sang stared at the figure revealed under the cloth, her mind going blank as her expression froze.
As if to confirm her suspicions, a low sigh echoed behind her:
âLuckbringer, Iâve finally found you.â