Monster Compendium

Xiao Xiao had never even considered whether monsters could understand what he said.

The facts proved that the monster had not disappointed his expectations.

And, "You can see me?" The slightly strange pronunciation carried a peculiar rhythm, yet it was undeniably human language.

Xiao Xiao froze.

The fox monster from before could speak too, but it had possessed a human and spoken in human form. Naturally, that was far less shocking than hearing a monster speak in its true form this time!

"Y-you can talk?" Xiao Xiao was so stunned that he stammered, his voice rising involuntarily.

This drew the attention of the people around them.

Of course, that was also because, during the time Xiao Xiao had been gripping the monster's tail, the Young Man had urged his friends to push him away as quickly as possible.

By now, the monster had lost interest in the human who had disturbed its dwelling. Instead, it was now staring with great interest at the rare human before it who could see monsters.

It truly had not encountered a human who could see it in a very long time.

"Third Brother, what's wrong?"

"Third Brother, when did you come over here?"

Hearing the commotion, Zhang Bo and Zhao Luzheng hurried over in a few long strides, somewhat puzzled.

Zhuge Yun looked regretfully at the Young Man's retreating figure. He was just leaving like that? He had thought something would happen.

He took a few more unwilling looks until the man was completely out of sight, then turned back. "Hey, what do you guys think..."

"Huh, where are they?"

Turning his gaze, he spotted Xiao Xiao and the others beneath the maple tree ahead.

As he walked over, he complained, "You just left me behind like that?"

"Who was the one gazing at someone so affectionately?"

"What are you talking about? I just wanted to see whether anything strange would happen..." Zhuge Yun said awkwardly.

Zhuge Yun's banter diverted Zhang Bo and Zhao Luzheng's attention.

Xiao Xiao let out a breath of relief and slowly loosened his grip, his eyes fixed on the monster the whole time, afraid it would take the opportunity to flick its tail and lash at him.

Fortunately, this monster seemed to have a pretty good temper.

That could be seen from the way it had playfully teased that Young Man earlier, though it had gone a little too far in the end.

"Third Brother, what, haven't you had your fill of looking yet?"

To the others, Xiao Xiao's gaze fixed on the monster in the tree looked like he was "mesmerized" by the maple tree.

"You really do like maple trees."

Xiao Xiao could only smile at that.

He couldn't exactly say that he was not looking at the maple tree, but at a monster, could he?

"But, Third Brother, Comrade Xiao Xiao, aren't you hungry? I'm starving. I urgently need food."

"Yeah, Third Brother, my stomach's already growling."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go eat already." As soon as he said that, Xiao Xiao received unanimous, massive eye-rolls from the others.

Who was the one who had kept staring at the maple tree?

And he could still act as though nothing had happened—truly shameless.

Facing their contemptuous stares, Xiao Xiao calmly ignored them. He cast one more inconspicuous glance back, only to find that the monster had disappeared again.

Xiao Xiao was startled, then decided that this was for the best. He would come back alone next time.

A monster that could speak.

Xiao Xiao felt as though the world before his eyes had become even more fantastical.

What a wondrous world.

Xiao Xiao smiled and followed Zhang Bo and the others down the mountain.

After a full day of fun, Zhang Bo and the others fell asleep soon after climbing into bed that night, having washed up.

Listening to the snores filling the dorm room, Xiao Xiao pulled the blanket over his head and carefully took out the black notebook.

Under the faint light of his phone, everything looked hazy and indistinct.

That was why the faint silver gleam was especially eye-catching.

What was this...?

Xiao Xiao nearly pressed his nose against the notebook's cover and discovered that several words had appeared on it at some unknown time.

The familiar script was the same as the script used for the monster names Xiao Xiao had seen in the notebook before.

Xiao Xiao rubbed the few words that had suddenly appeared and read them aloud, one by one. "Monster Compendium."

Was that the name of this black notebook?

So it was not some nameless notebook after all, but something with "a name and identity."

Then how had it appeared in the library? And why had it appeared there?

Even if Xiao Xiao racked his brains, he could not figure it out.

Yet there was one thing Xiao Xiao felt vaguely certain about. He felt as though everything had been destined by fate, that this Monster Compendium was meant to be his.

Since it was already in his hands, there was no need to fuss over minor details.

A man should not be so petty.

Xiao Xiao quickly soothed his overly restless heart and slowly opened the Monster Compendium.

He looked through the first few pages. Nothing had changed, while the Ear Mouse and Qin Yuan, whose images had originally been dim, had regained their vivid appearance. The brilliant vermilion ink was like flowing water, outlining an aura of vibrant life.

Xiao Xiao could not help but smile faintly.

He then turned to the next page.

The yellowed, rough paper appeared utterly ordinary, but Xiao Xiao's heart stirred. He seemed to sense an unusual aura, surging and gathering, on the verge of bursting forth.

A vast wash of red spread across the page, and the monster he had encountered at the Fragrant Hills that morning gradually took shape.

It resembled a pheasant, but had a long tail.

It was crimson like cinnabar flames, with a blue-green beak.

"Ling Yao."

Xiao Xiao murmured the name, a thoughtful look appearing between his brows.

Suddenly, Zhang Bo rolled over in the bed opposite him, startling Xiao Xiao.

Instinctively, Xiao Xiao hurriedly shut the Monster Compendium, covering it with his hand as well, terrified that even the slightest glimmer of silver light might leak out.

Only after Zhang Bo's snores resumed did Xiao Xiao let out a breath. Then he found it somewhat amusing. Why did he feel like a guilty thief?

Besides, since ordinary people could not see monsters, they probably could not see the Monster Compendium's abnormalities either, right?

At least for now, Zhang Bo and the others could only see it as an ordinary black notebook. They had no idea about its contents and simply assumed its pages were blank.

If that was the case, they probably would not notice any changes to the Monster Compendium either, right?

Xiao Xiao carefully turned over. After that scare, his heart was still pounding. He took out his phone and checked the time, only to be startled—it was already two in the morning.

He still had class tomorrow morning. It was time to sleep.

At last, darkness returned to the dorm room.

There were no classes on Wednesday afternoon, so Xiao Xiao went to the Fragrant Hills alone.

As he walked along the mountain path, the woods were painted in layers of color, and the ground was carpeted with brilliant red maple leaves.

Here, even the sky seemed red.

If it were dusk, with sunset clouds filling the sky, would this place and this scenery not be even more intoxicating?

Xiao Xiao did not linger long over the beautiful view before him. His steps carried a distinct sense of haste.

He did not know whether Ling Yao was still in the maple grove where they had met last time.

If it was not, then in a place as vast as the Fragrant Hills, how was he supposed to find it?

Yet the closer he got to that maple grove, the more hesitant Xiao Xiao's steps became.

Before coming, he had been filled with excitement and had not thought about anything else.

But once he arrived, all sorts of thoughts came rushing in, leaving him inexplicably conflicted.

Gazing at the maple grove before him, Xiao Xiao came to a stop.

Compared to the weekend, there were far fewer people at the Fragrant Hills today.

Only now and then did he spot a few tourists passing by.

Naturally, that was a good thing for him. He did not want others to think he was crazy.

After thinking a bunch of random thoughts, Xiao Xiao finally made up his mind and stepped into the maple grove once more.

His feet occasionally produced a crisp crunch as they stepped on the ground. Maple leaves and branches intertwined, breaking up the light and shadows before his eyes. The clean scent of maple wood filled his nose, faintly astringent, carrying a sense of peaceful, untroubled years.

Xiao Xiao's agitated heart gradually calmed down.

There was no point in being anxious now. It all depended on his luck.

Uh, it seemed his luck was not very good.

After walking through the entire maple grove, Xiao Xiao could not help but smile bitterly.

But his heart slowly sank, and he could not help feeling somewhat disappointed.

Then Xiao Xiao suddenly sensed something. He whipped around and could not help but smile.