NOVEL NEXT Chapter 55 - The Beaver's Offering, A Stone in the Sea
“Good that you understand. Next time, if you dare to risk your life so carelessly, be prepared for me to spank you.”
After scolding Liu Beifeng, Xu Yang turned his gaze to the beaver in his grasp, which was feigning unconsciousness. Clearing his throat, he spoke loudly, “Disciple, it seems this beaver might be suffering from heatstroke. What do you say we roast it for a snack?”
“Great idea, Master! I’d love to show you my grilling skills,” Liu Beifeng replied without hesitation.
Back when she survived in the Cloud Drift Mountains, she had gone through tough months of living off the land. After that, she took the time to learn some grilling techniques from a master chef in town, and her storage ring was stocked with various spices. This was finally her chance to impress her master—though she did wish it was a wild chicken instead of a beaver since her grilled chicken was her specialty.
At that moment, the beaver, which had been playing dead, suddenly jolted and, to Xu Yang’s surprise, muttered in a whimpering voice, “No! Please… I mean, honorable master, this little one didn’t faint from the heat but was simply overwhelmed by your noble presence.”
The beaver, which had recently evolved into a powerful creature, knew it was no match for Xu Yang and saw no other choice but to try flattering him.
Liu Beifeng couldn’t help but laugh at the contrast. Just moments ago, this beaver had been barking threats, but now it was behaving like a bootlicker in front of her master.
“Not the smoothest attempt, but for a beast, you’re surprisingly clever,” Xu Yang noted.
The beaver, puffing up with pride, replied, “Of course! Among my clan, I’m known as the smartest of them all!”
Xu Yang raised an eyebrow. “Very well then, let’s skip the formalities. Hand over whatever fortune you’ve obtained.”
The beaver’s expression froze momentarily but quickly resumed its obsequious look as it said, “Of course, Master! Even if you hadn’t asked, I would have presented it to you. Only someone as refined and elegant as yourself deserves to possess it!”
The beaver spouted out a string of praises, using every flattering phrase it knew.
Somewhat amused, Xu Yang loosened his grip and commanded, “Good. Now, go fetch it. I’ll wait here.”
“Right away, Master,” the beaver replied with a bow, but it didn’t leave immediately. Instead, it called up two other large beavers from the water, slightly smaller in size than itself. These two initially looked reluctant, but after the big beaver barked a series of harsh words at them, their eyes cleared, apparently understanding what was required.
With a look of humility, the large beaver bowed again and said, “Master, this little one might need some time to retrieve the treasure. To keep you entertained while you wait, I’ve brought along two warriors from my clan. They’re not as smart as me, but they’ll do whatever you ask.”
The two smaller beavers hesitated but managed to squeak out a faint “Master” in respect.
Amused by the beaver’s elaborate act, Xu Yang replied casually, “I’ll keep them here. Now, go quickly and return soon.”
The large beaver visibly relaxed and gave a respectful bow before heading back to the river. Just before it left, it shot a warning glare at the other two, likely urging them not to cause any trouble.
Watching the large beaver disappear into the river, Xu Yang turned to the two smaller ones and asked, “Do you two have any talents?”
Since he had some time to spare, he figured a bit of entertainment wouldn’t hurt.
The two beavers exchanged glances, then each flexed their tiny arms to show off their strength. After a moment, they began to wrestle, baring their teeth at each other in a display of what could only be described as a beaver showdown.
“Master, what are they doing?” Liu Beifeng asked, puzzled.
“Based on my guess… they’re putting on a wrestling performance,” Xu Yang replied with a slight grin.
Though he had no love for animal performances, he couldn’t help but find their antics amusing. If this scene took place in a zoo back in his previous life, tickets would sell out every day.
Meanwhile, in a remote valley within the Sky Spine Mountains…
A group of figures emerged, each emanating a terrifying aura that rippled through the air, causing even the strongest beasts in the mountains to cower in fear. This group was none other than the elders of the Mystic Heaven Sect, led by the sect master himself, who had come to avenge the fallen Wang Teng.
The elder in the lead, his face dark and grim, scanned the area before saying in a cold voice, “There are traces of my disciple’s blood here—this must be where the battle began. We will search from here and uncover every possible clue.”
“Couldn’t we just locate the Magnetic Earth Heart directly?” one of the elders asked, puzzled.
“The thief has masked its aura,” the sect master replied, his voice seething with anger. He had initially intended to trace the item’s location, but no matter how hard he tried to sense it, it was as if the artifact had vanished without a trace.
“No matter what, we must find this villain by any means necessary,” he commanded, his expression twisted with rage.
“Yes, Sect Master!” The other elders nodded, their expressions solemn as they extended their senses across the valley, scouring the surrounding area for any clue that might lead them to Wang Teng’s killer.