Sometimes, the Master could be downright frightening—especially in situations like this. He always brought to mind the mad scientists depicted in literary works from Zhao Xuan's previous life.
Perhaps the Master did share some traits with those mad scientists: a love for what he studied, curiosity toward what he did not understand. That curiosity was the most frightening part.
Just like the saying went, curiosity killed the cat. And here, Zhao Xuan was the cat.
So Zhao Xuan asked tremblingly, "Master, are you alright?"
The burning intensity in the Master's eyes receded like a tide, replaced by his usual stiff, expressionless face, carrying an inexplicable air of sternness.
He stared heavily at Zhao Xuan for a long while, until Zhao Xuan's scalp began to tingle, then said in a deep voice, "Come with me."
The Master acted with swift decisiveness. After leaving those words behind, he headed out of the room.
Zhao Xuan hurried after him. "Master, where are we going?"
A forest south of Suotuo City.
Lush trees rose from the ground, their canopies spread like pavilions. Summer sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, casting dappled patches of light and shadow across the ground.
A summer breeze brought a trace of coolness, and the leaves rustled softly.
"Master, what are we doing here?" Zhao Xuan asked in confusion as he followed behind him.
The Master motioned for him to be quiet, then began wandering through the forest.
Zhao Xuan had no idea what the Master intended to do, so he could only follow obediently behind him.
After walking aimlessly through the forest for quite a while, the Master suddenly stopped.
"Master?"
"Do you see that Spined Pig ahead? Capture it." The Master pointed at a Spined Pig leisurely wandering not far ahead.
"A Spined Pig?"
Zhao Xuan