Teaming Up (Two in One)

The beeping continued for several seconds before the call connected. A mature male voice asked, "Who is this?"

"Hello, I accepted an assessment mission to enter the secret realm and bring back the missing Liu Bo. The information says you entered the secret realm with him as part of a team. Could you enter the secret realm with me again, go to where he disappeared, and help find him?" Qiao Sang went straight to the point.

There was a moment of hesitation on the other end. "What level Beastmaster are you?"

"C-rank," Qiao Sang said.

"No." Qu Yang rejected her without a second thought upon hearing that answer. "I was injured the last time I entered the secret realm and am still recovering."

Was this a joke? A C-rank Beastmaster? He was a C-rank Beastmaster himself, yet he had not even noticed when his companion disappeared in the secret realm.

He asked my rank before saying he was injured. Is he just looking down on me for being too low-ranked?... Qiao Sang complained inwardly, then said, "One of my pet beasts happens to know healing skills. It can treat you."

"No need." Qu Yang refused. "I've already been treated. I'm recuperating now."

After a pause, he added, "Although I can't enter the secret realm with you, I can tell you what happened back then."

Qiao Sang did not press him. "All right, tell me."

Qu Yang recalled what had happened and said in a deep voice:

"After entering the secret realm, we headed southwest. On our third day inside, we found a pool and spent the night beside it. Liu Bo was on watch that night. When we woke up the next morning, he was gone."

"Later, we searched the area and found only the distress signal he had left