Museum of Deadly Beasts

“Liang Laosan, how did you end up this way?” Elder Zhou asked. His hand moved to produce a pill, which he fed to Liang Laosan.

Elder Zhou’s pills were incredibly unique; its size was larger than your average pill and there appeared to be movement on the inside.

After consuming the pill, Liang Laosan seemed to be in better shape. He could even sit up on his own now.

“Elder Zhou, I’ve been plotted against. As peers of the Demonic Appraisal Association, you must not stand by and watch,” Liang Laosan said through gritted teeth after regaining some strength.

“Speak slowly. There’s no need for haste. Where is your pet beast?” Elder Zhou asked.

“It died. I was lucky to have used a substitution spell so that my pet beast could resist those strange flames for me. Otherwise, I fear that wouldn’t have made it back here alive.” As if he had just recalled some horrible experience, there was a visible look of fear, as well as anxiety on Liang Laosan’s face.

Subsequently, Liang Laosan began to elaborate on what had happened.

“A while ago, I came across a lion beast with a significant bloodline as I was traveling through Maple City. I wasn’t planning to do anything and just wanted to ask about the creature but the lion’s owner was surprisingly arrogant. So, I planted a blood contract insect on the lion without him noticing…”

Elder Zhou more or less knew what happened halfway through Liang Laosan’s explanation.

“Logically speaking, no average person should be able to notice our blood contract insects. And you were close to having complete control over that lion but everything failed during said crucial moment?” Elder Zhou asked.

Liang Laosan nodded, “That’s right. This morning, I abruptly sensed abnormal movement in the blood contract insect so I invoked a spell. I just wanted to see what the situation was. However, a fire started burning out of nowhere and I was lucky to have been using my pet beast’s blood to cast the inspection spell. Those flames started burning my pet beast and I couldn’t even put them out. It was so bad that even I got hurt from the attack.”

After that, Liang Laosan saluted Elder Zhou, saying, “Elder Zhou, I’m just afraid that someone might be deliberately plotting against us. After all, it’s been so many years and no one could destroy our blood contract insects.”

“You aren’t wrong. Something powerful is involved. At the very least, I think so too.” Elder Zhou extended an arm to pat Liang Laosan’s shoulder. Before the injured man even knew it, Elder Zhou deftly jabbed three of Liang Laosan’s acupoints. The latter’s expression faltered as he felt his body get overwhelmed by unbearable heat.

“Endure it. There’s fire energy lingering inside your body. If we leave it as is, you won’t live past the day after tomorrow.” Elder Zhou’s words startled Liang Laosan and he instantly gritted his teeth to tolerate the discomfort.

Moments later, Elder Zhou took out a small knife to cut a wound between Liang Laosan’s brows. Then, he used a spell to draw some blood out.

Drops of blood splattered out, crackling as they burned in the air. The scorching heat made even Elder Zhou jump back in caution. Unfortunately for Liang Laosan, his eyebrows and mustache were burnt off by the fire.

“What a domineering flame,” Elder Zhou gasped as Liang Laosan rubbed his face in pain.

With this, Liang Laosan’s facial features were disfigured. He originally had an elegant appearance, like that of a refined scholar but with his eyebrows and mustache gone, what’s left of his bald face was a menacing countenance.

As Liang Laosan wailed in agony, Elder Zhou remarked, “What are you crying for. You’re lucky to have made it back in time for me to exorcise this fire for you. If you were even slightly late, hmph, even the reincarnation of Hua Tuo can’t save you.”

Then, seeing the sinister look on Liang Laosan’s face, Elder Zhou warned, “I know you want revenge but this requires careful planning. It’s like you’ve said, our opponent is an expert. Even this flame spell is something I’ve never seen before.”

In other words, Elder Zhou was trying to advise Liang Laosan to give in and give up.

Their Demonic Appraisal Association worked discreetly, possessing their own codes of conduct that were obviously scorned by the righteous and high-minded.

Simply put, if their opponent was someone they could afford to provoke, they would show no mercy. On the other hand, if they couldn’t afford the provocation, wise men should learn to submit to the circumstances and give up.

Otherwise, they couldn’t have survived until today.

“You should stay on the island and recuperate for a while. Refrain from heading out. Now that your pet beast has died, it’s fortunate that we demonic appraisers are able to form blood contracts with other pet beasts immediately after. Get one from the beast pen in the backyard and recover your strength quickly. In two days, we have an important business dealing in Reed City.”

Elder Zhou’s tone was laced with a hint of caution. Liang Laosan understood Elder Zhou’s actions and behavior well enough to know that the man would definitely give him hell if he opted to seek revenge in Maple City.

Although he couldn’t swallow his anger, for now, no matter how difficult it was, he had to.

Otherwise, the consequences would be terrible, possibly fatal.

‘That’s alright. Just because I can’t exact revenge now doesn’t mean I won’t be able to in the future. Whoever this brat in Maple City is, just you wait, sooner or later, I’ll come for you,’ Liang Laosan groused.

“Elder Zhou, what’s this important business deal in Reed City?” Liang Laosan asked.

Elder Zhou laughed out loud and said only three words.

“The Qiao family!”

***

Escort Zhang only arrived at Reed City in the afternoon. He never rested during the journey because after his mountain lion had evolved, even his constitution improved. Hence, despite the hasty journey, he didn’t feel tired at all. He was more elated and thrilled instead because after gaining a Rank 3 pet beast, his life had changed for the better.

His sole reason for hurrying back was to explain the delivery mishap to the Qiao family. Since it was an arrangement by Appraiser Lin, Escort Zhang held it in high regard.

Hence, without stopping by the security services office or his home, Escort Zhang went straight for Qiao Manor.

The Qiao family was most prominent in Reed City.

They owned the biggest mansion in all of Reed City because the family had been merchants for three generations. Everyone in the city knew of this prominent family while many of them relied on the family’s trading business to make a living.

However, the breakout of a storm was imminent for the Qiao family.

The current patriarch of the Qiao family was Qiao Feigong. While he wasn’t the type to pioneer a new market and expand the family business, he was pretty good at reaping profits. He had managed to keep the Qiao family’s business in order for many years. Countless people in the city admired the Qiao family’s prosperity and booming business.

However, everyone, including prominent families had their woes.

And Qiao Feigong was one of them.

In the inner hall, Qiao Feigong was quiet as he looked up at the portraits of his ancestors hanging on the wall.

Standing behind him were the core members of the Qiao family. They include his younger brother, an uncle, and the rest were youngsters, the future generation of their family.

“A storm is brewing,” Qiao Feigong remarked.

The other looked just as worried.

Not too long ago, the Qiao family encountered a robbery attempt. While it was a given that huge families attracted thieves, this time was different.

These people weren’t just average thieves.

They had aimed for the Qiao family’s nucleus, a forbidden territory that was their ancestral house.

The Qiao family members were aware that their ancestors used to stay in that tiny house, situated in the deepest part of the family’s mansion. The massive mansion they had today started out from this tiny family house.