Chapter 848: Team-Up (Part 2)
Chapter 848: Team-Up (Part 2)
The dialing tone buzzed for a few seconds before the call was answered. A mature male voice asked:
"Who is this?"
"Hello, I accepted the evaluation mission to enter the Hidden Realm and retrieve the missing Liu Bo. The information I have says you were part of the same team that entered the Hidden Realm with him. Would you be willing to go back with me to the location where he disappeared to help find him?" Qiao Sang got straight to the point.
There was a moment of hesitation on the other end of the line. "What level Beastmaster are you?"
"C-Class", Qiao Sang replied.
"No." Qu Yang refused without a second thought. "I was injured during my last trip to the Hidden Realm and am still recovering."
What a joke. Qiao Sang was a C-Class Beastmaster, and Qu Yang himself was also a C-Class Beastmaster, yet he hadn't even noticed his companion's disappearance during their last trip.
Qu Yang only mentioned his injury after asking about Qiao Sang's level. He must be thinking my level is too low, Qiao Sang thought to himself. "I have a familiar that can use healing skills. I can help you recover."
"No need", Qu Yang declined. "I'm already healed and am currently resting."
He paused for a moment before adding, "Although I can't go with you into the Hidden Realm, I can describe what happened that night."
Qiao Sang didn't push further. "Alright, go ahead."
Qu Yang recalled the events and spoke in a solemn tone:
"After entering the Hidden Realm, we headed southwest. On the third day, we found a pond and spent the night beside it. Liu Bo was on watch that night. When we woke up the next morning, he was gone."
"We searched the area but only found a distress signal about a kilometer away."
Night watch, disappearance—it sounds like the missing incident in the post... Qiao Sang pondered for a moment before asking, "Didn't you hear anything that night?"
"No", Qu Yang replied. "We didn't hear a thing."
Before Qiao Sang could speak, Qu Yang's tone grew serious as he shared his suspicions:
"Actually, this is very unusual. In the Hidden Realm, we are always on high alert, and our sleep is very light. My familiar, a long-eared cat, can hear disturbances from up to five kilometers away. It would wake up at the slightest sound, but that night it didn't hear anything and slept deeply."
It must have been a wild beast companion using a Hypnosis skill... Qiao Sang thought to himself.
"There's one more thing I can't understand", Qu Yang continued. "Why did the wild beast companion only take Liu Bo and not attack us?"
Qiao Sang asked, "Were you all in the tent at the time?"
Qu Yang was taken aback, seemingly surprised by the question. He replied with a hint of confusion in his voice:
"Of course not. There are so many wild beast companions in the Hidden Realm. Being in a tent means you can't see the surroundings immediately upon waking, and you can't react quickly to sudden attacks. It's very dangerous. Haven't you been to the Hidden Realm?"
That doesn't make sense. If you accepted an evaluation mission, it means you're participating in the Regional Tournament. A Beastmaster participating in the Regional Tournament must have been to the Hidden Realm before.
I really haven't been to the Hidden Realm... Qiao Sang said, "I understand. Thank you for sharing all this with me."
Qu Yang instantly forgot about the tent issue and said solemnly, "I hope you find Liu Bo."
Though the chances are slim.
Someone who has been missing for a week in the Hidden Realm is unlikely to be safe...
"I will", Qiao Sang replied.
Qu Yang didn't say anything more and hung up the call.
Qiao Sang then dialed another number.
The call was answered after just one beep.
"Who is this?" a voice lacking vitality asked from the speaker.
"Hello, I accepted the Regional Tournament's evaluation mission..." Qiao Sang briefly explained his situation and asked, "Would you be willing to accompany me to Mystic Realm 88 to search for Liu Bo?"
"You should look for another person named Qu Yang", Yuan Jiewen said, his tone unchanged. "He's friends with Liu Bo. I just temporarily teamed up with them to enter the Hidden Realm."
Qiao Sang was silent for a moment. "You sound a bit down. Are you sick?"
Yuan Jiewen was taken aback by the sudden concern. "I got injured the last time I entered the Hidden Realm."
"My familiar has healing skills and can help you heal", Qiao Sang said.
Yuan Jiewen snorted. "You heal me, and then I go back to the Hidden Realm with you and get injured again?"
Qiao Sang replied, "My familiar's healing skill is called Healing Light."
"Whether it's Healing Light or Healing Heart, I'm not going to the Hidden Realm with you", Yuan Jiewen said impatiently.
Qiao Sang's tone remained calm. "You can look up this skill."
From his dismissive tone, she knew he had no idea what Healing Light was. No one would turn down a Healing Light, even if they didn't have serious injuries at the moment.
"What's there to look up? I already said I won't—", the voice on the other end of the call suddenly changed, and there was the sound of tapping on a mobile screen.
Qiao Sang immediately realized he had switched to speaker mode and was searching for Healing Light. She thought to herself that he was quite the talk-the-talk, walk-the-walk type...
Suddenly, the other end of the call went quiet.
Then, there were rapid breathing sounds, followed by the sound of something being knocked over as the person stood up abruptly.
After a few seconds, the man asked hopefully and cautiously, "Is it the Epic Skill, Healing Light?"
As expected, no one could resist... Qiao Sang smiled. "There's only one skill called Healing Light."
"Wow!" Yuan Jiewen suppressed his excitement and said eagerly, "Just tell me when, and I'll be there on time! I'm willing to help you with your evaluation mission!"
You're using such formal language... Qiao Sang's lips twitched. "Thank you. Let's meet tomorrow at 2 PM at Mystic Realm 88 Entrance."
"Got it!"
After ending the call, Qiao Sang continued preparing for her trip to Mystic Realm 88.
With someone accompanying her, the terrain shouldn't be a problem, considering he had been there once before...
Steel Treasure could scout the area, and with its Bond Strength, they could communicate directly without having to return...
If danger arose, Treasure Seeker could use Spatial Shift to escape...
Fangy would handle the attacks, and Lulu would take care of healing. Frost Haven would only be used as a last resort, as it drained a significant portion of her energy, and even with an Energy Recovery Serum, it would take time to recover. In the Hidden Realm, that wasn't safe...
Steel Treasure could scout, there were escape methods, attack options, healing, and the Treasure Seeker Ring was well-stocked with supplies. She was all set.
Mystic Realm 88 was a C-Class Hidden Realm, and the most advanced beast companions in such realms were usually Royal Tier, with at most one or two. Even if she encountered them, Treasure Seeker could help her escape...
It seemed she didn't need to find anyone else to team up with...
As she was thinking, her mobile phone vibrated.
Qiao Sang picked it up and saw a message from Migala:
[Even though I can't accompany you to the Hidden Realm, I suggest you find someone to team up with.]
Qiao Sang replied:
I've already found him. He was part of the team that went into the Hidden Realm with the missing person. With him, I should be able to find the location where the missing person disappeared quickly.
Migala replied three minutes later:
[Not enough of a safety measure. I suggest you find at least one more Beastmaster to go in with you.]
Qiao Sang: [I think this will be a good opportunity for me to train. Having too many people might not be as effective.]
Migala: [You're not familiar with the Hidden Realm, and this is your first time entering. It's best to team up with someone experienced.]
Qiao Sang: [The person who went with the missing person has been inside the Hidden Realm before. He should know it well and has experience.]
Migala: "……"
This kid, why is he so stubborn!
Migala: [Have you decided when you're going to enter the Hidden Realm?]
Qiao Sang: [Yes, tomorrow at two in the afternoon.]
……
The next day.
1:50 PM.
Golden Fog Mountain.
A thin mist enveloped the mountain peak.
Some people were climbing up, while others were descending.
Those climbing up were full of determination, while most of those coming down were sighing, some with tattered clothes, needing to be carried by their familiars.
High in the sky, a mysterious familiar with Flame Wings sprinted down. As it approached the ground, a powerful surge of energy swept outward from five meters above.
All eyes turned to this clearly powerful familiar.
Qiao Sang dismounted from Fangy.
A middle-aged man in black clothing immediately approached, smiling.
"Are you here to enter the Hidden Realm?"
Though the young girl didn't look like an adult, the familiar by her side was clearly not something an ordinary Beastmaster could bond with.
With his extensive social experience, he could tell that this girl had an extraordinary background and was likely being escorted into the Hidden Realm for training by someone powerful.
Some children from prominent families were like this. Despite not being strong enough to enter the Hidden Realm, they insisted on going, with a group of powerful Beastmasters accompanying them.
Qiao Sang nodded, her gaze sweeping over the flyer in his hand.
The middle-aged man enthusiastically handed her the flyer. "We have a team inside the Hidden Realm. If you encounter any issues, you can contact us."
"Whether it's driving away wild beast companions, replenishing supplies, or healing injuries, we can help. If we can't solve your problem, we won't charge you."
There's actually a service like this in the Hidden Realm. This is a pretty good way to make money… Qiao Sang took the flyer, glanced down at it, and then froze.
A C-Class Energy Recovery Potion for 300,000 Union Coins, one healing session for 500,000 Union Coins, and driving away ten Intermediate Familiars for 200,000 Union Coins, with additional charges for more.
This is highway robbery!
Qiao Sang quickly returned the flyer. "I'm not interested."
After saying that, she turned and left with Fangy.
The middle-aged man sighed. Dealing with the rich isn't easy.
Qiao Sang arrived at the entrance to the Hidden Realm.
The elliptical entrance, several dozen meters high, rippled with a transparent wave, making it impossible to see the other side.
Mysterious and terrifying.
This is the entrance to the Hidden Realm… Qiao Sang took out her phone and snapped a photo to record it, then prepared to contact Yuan Jiewen to ask if he had arrived.
At that moment, a slightly hoarse voice sounded from beside her. "Are you here to enter the Hidden Realm?"
Qiao Sang turned her head to look.
She saw a woman in her forties with slightly sunken cheeks, small but sharp eyes, and prominent brow bones.
She suddenly remembered something and glanced at the woman's hand, realizing she wasn't handing out flyers.
Qiao Sang nodded and asked, "Is there something you need?"
The woman's face lit up with joy as she asked, "Can I join you to enter the Hidden Realm?"
Qiao Sang shook her head without hesitation. "No, I have my own business to attend to inside."
"I won't get in your way", the woman said. "I just want to gather some materials for potion brewing. I'll follow wherever you go."
She sighed deeply, adding, "I had already found someone to team up with, but they suddenly stood me up."
"Sorry, but no", Qiao Sang replied coldly. "I really have my own things to do, and I can't protect you."
"How could you not protect me? Your familiar looks so powerful", the woman said, glancing at Fangy.
"Ya Ya!"
Fangy was taken aback for a moment, then puffed out his chest and let out a call, as if to say, "You have a good eye, human."
Even with your flattery, I won't take you in... Qiao Sang's expression remained unchanged.
She wouldn't forget her mission. Every additional person to protect meant an added risk, and she wouldn't do something so foolish.
As these thoughts flashed through her mind, the woman spoke again, "I can pay you a reward."
I'm not the same person I used to be. Even without my Unlimited Credit Card, I still have a ten-digit balance in my bank account, a stockpile of resources in my Treasure Seeker Ring, and those shares. The most important thing now is to complete the evaluation mission... Qiao Sang's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly regained her composure and refused for the third time, "Find someone else. I really have something to do."
With that, she picked up her mobile phone and resumed contacting Yuan Jiewen.
The woman fell silent for a moment, then lowered her voice, "It's an S-Class Ghost Tear."
"!!!"
Qiao Sang froze, her eyes widening as she looked over.
A Ghost Tear—one of the materials needed for the next stage of a Treasure Seeker's evolution.
Just for helping her team up to enter a C-Class Hidden Realm, she was offering an S-Class Ghost Tear?!
"Really?" Qiao Sang's expression changed several times before she finally couldn't help but confirm.
"Really", the woman nodded. "I obtained it by chance, but I don't have a Ghost-type familiar, so I've never used it."
Qiao Sang's conscience finally got the better of her, and she hesitated, "Isn't it a waste to offer an S-Class artifact as a reward just for teaming up to enter a C-Class Hidden Realm?"
"Not at all. The Ghost Tear is useless to me. I'm just exchanging something I don't need for something I do", the woman smiled.
Qiao Sang fell silent for a few seconds, then said seriously, "I'll make sure to protect you, but you have to listen to me and not wander around on your own."
"Of course", the woman replied with a grateful expression. "Thank you."
I didn't expect Fangy's appearance to bring me such a deal... Qiao Sang picked up her mobile phone and saw that Yuan Jiewen had already sent a message:
【I'm here. Where are you?】
Qiao Sang looked around.
The information provided by the Examiners included not only the details of the three people but also their photos.
She quickly spotted a pale young man who looked somewhat frail.
"Yuan Jiewen", Qiao Sang called out as she approached.
Yuan Jiewen turned at the sound of his name, seeing the girl who had just caught everyone's attention. He hesitated, "You are?"
"The one who invited you to team up", Qiao Sang said.
Yuan Jiewen: "!!!"
"This is our new teammate", Qiao Sang introduced, looking at the woman.
The woman smiled, "I'm Lin Shi."
Yuan Jiewen was still in a daze, struggling to process that the person he had been so excited about was a young girl who looked like a minor.
Qiao Sang checked the time on her mobile phone and said, "It's getting late, and we have our team. Let's head out and enter the Hidden Realm." (End of Chapter)
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