Return Safely, My Friend

My name was Wang Yan. I was from the Jia Ma Empire, a Three-Star Dou Spirit currently serving the imperial family.

Some time ago, my not-so-bright old partner Wang Dalang and I received a secret mission from the First Princess. Well, there was actually nothing secret about it—we were simply to protect a kid in the shadows.

The First Princess solemnly instructed us again and again that, if necessary, even at the cost of our own lives, we had to ensure his safety.

After leaving the Holy City, Wang Dalang and I followed the kid named Chen Guan. Wang Dalang had a big mouth and could never keep things to himself, muttering all the way as he guessed at the kid's identity. I silently put some distance between us.

What no one knew was that I was just as curious. I had sized the kid up countless times, yet I could never understand where I had lost. Wasn't he just younger and better-looking than me? Why did the First Princess value him so highly? Perhaps Wang Dalang's guess was not impossible.

Of course, I would never say such things aloud. I had maintained my image as a rational man for forty years; I did not want anyone to know that I was actually the reserved type.

I was very glad I had not done anything impolite, because over the following month, I discovered that this kid was actually a monster!

That day, he entered the Magical Beast Mountain Range and returned covered in blood. Wang Dalang and I were startled, but fortunately, he was not seriously hurt.

The next day, he went again. Da Lang and I secretly followed him and found that the kid was actually picking a fight with a Tier 3 Magical Beast.

What a little death-seeker!

At the same time, we discovered that, despite only having the strength of a Dou Shi, he could fight a Tier 3 Magical Beast without falling into danger. He suffered a few losses, but still retreated unscathed.

Damn, that was fucking incredible. How old was he? He looked no more than fourteen or fifteen, right? I seemed to understand why he was so highly valued.

Over the next few days, he went to trouble that Magical Beast every day. His combat experience improved at a visible rate, and gradually, he actually gained the upper hand! It was unbelievable.

Knowing that he fought that Magical Beast every day and would not be in danger, Da Lang and I felt at ease and stopped following him at all times. After all, that was the First Princess's order.

But heaven seemed to be playing a joke on us. That day, Da Lang and I were playing chess as usual to pass the time. Even after night fell, that kid still had not returned.

I began to panic. A sense of foreboding rose in my heart.

"Old Wang, isn't something wrong? Even on the latest days before, Chen Guan should have come out by now."

As the night fully descended and the river of stars faintly emerged, Wang Dalang could no longer sit still. He tossed down a chess piece and spoke.

Wang Yan thought, You fucking only noticed now?

"There is indeed a problem. Let's go take a look. With that kid's strength, as long as he did not venture deeper inside, nothing should have happened."

The two hurriedly rose and plunged into the dark Magical Beast Mountain Range, which lay like some primordial beast crouched in wait.

Knowing where Chen Guan and the Crimson Ice Snake King usually "met," they had a clear destination. With their strength, they soon arrived.

The scene was a mess. Following the traces on the ground, their expressions grew increasingly grim.

He had gone in.

He had really gone in!

Any farther in was already the main territory of Tier 3 Magical Beasts. How did he dare?

Being able to handle one did not mean he could handle a group!

Their only comfort was that, given the strength Chen Guan had displayed, as long as he was not surrounded by Tier 3 Magical Beasts, he should be fine in a one-on-one fight.

Besides, the kid was so highly valued that the imperial family might have given him some means to save his life.

Following the traces, the two arrived at the small lake within minutes. Once there, all traces and scents abruptly vanished.

"Split up and search!"

In no mood to say more, Wang Yan gave the order and set off in one direction.

The Magical Beast Mountain Range was vast. Even the area where Tier 3 Magical Beasts roamed was no small place. It took the two most of the night to barely make a rough sweep of it.

There was no need to say what the result was.

Glancing toward the deeper reaches, Wang Yan's expression was incomparably grim. Had he gone and gotten himself killed in the territory of Fourth-Tier Magical Beasts? That was a place even they did not dare venture too deeply into.

"Da Lang, go back first and immediately send word to report this to the First Princess. I'll try going in and searching. He may really have gone inside."

"No, I'll search. You send the message. I'm smaller, so I'm better at hiding, especially at night. It's decided. This isn't the time to be sentimental."

The two pushed the task back and forth, their steadfast friendship fully displayed at that moment.

They both knew very well that there was a high chance something had happened to the Young Man, but neither said it aloud.

They were destined to bear the blame, yet neither mentioned taking the opportunity to run away. The fact that Yaoye had entrusted this mission to them already proved their absolute loyalty to the imperial family.

With the arrangements made, the two swiftly took action.

Qingshan Town, Ten Thousand Medicine Hall.

It had long been time to close for the night, but tonight, they had delayed for a long while.

Xiao Yi Xian stood before the bamboo window, gazing toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Her Delicate Brows were Slightly Furrowed.

She had not eaten Fire Fox meat today, and her stomach was still growling. Well, that was not important.

What puzzled her was that the Young Man, who came every day, had still not appeared. Had something delayed him, or had he encountered some danger? He really made people worry.

Xiao Yi Xian clasped her hands and prayed for her only friend for a moment. Only then did she shake her head and return to her seat, picking up a physician's notebook to read by lamplight late into the night.

She could not sleep; her mind was unsettled.

Besides, her stomach was still growling. She did not Have the Nerve to go downstairs to look for something to eat, so she could only endure it.

I hope you return safely.

My friend.