Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!
The light of Intermediate Healing flickered continuously, giving off a gentle aura.
Under its influence, the bleeding wound on Song Xiaomei's shapely leg gradually stopped bleeding.
The wound slowly healed and scabbed over, finally leaving behind a small scar.
The sight once again left everyone astonished. Blackie, who was well-traveled, couldn't help exclaiming.
"Intermediate Healing! It's actually intermediate-level. How is that possible?"
"Intermediate? Are you sure it's intermediate? I thought only Black Iron-level summoned beasts could reach intermediate skills," the portly leader hurriedly asked.
"Absolutely sure. Basic Healing can only stop a wound from bleeding. It can't heal it like this and leave just a tiny scar,
so I'm certain this is Intermediate Healing. No doubt about it." Blackie assured them gravely, her eyes full of amazement.
"Th-this is way too powerful. This cat has to be a special summoned beast. It definitely isn't a Wind-Wing Cat!" the portly leader said solemnly.
"Right, right! Wind-Wing Cats can't use Healing Arts, and they're not this smart, either!"
"Today's been a real eye-opener. At last, I've got something to brag about. I can say I've seen a special summoned beast with my own eyes!"
Everyone buzzed with discussion, marveling at the little kitten's extraordinary abilities.
Even Song Xiaomei, pale from losing so much blood, sat up and reached for the little kitten's head.
Whoosh!
Li Xuan sprang lightly into the air, dodging Song Xiaomei's slender hand, then leaped onto Qin Yue's left shoulder and lay there, quietly examining the left side of her face.
Qin Yue's transformation just now had benefited Li Xuan greatly, making him much stronger. Naturally, the birthmark caught his attention.
Most importantly, the birthmark had grown lighter!
Li Xuan clearly saw that the dark birthmark on Qin Yue's left cheek had faded a little. Even its size had shrunk slightly.
The others might not have noticed, but with the Wind-Wing Cat's keen senses, Li Xuan could spot even the slightest change.
The key was that when the strange markings appeared just now, a powerful desire had risen within him, as though the birthmark would be immensely useful to him.
Clearly, it wasn't an ordinary birthmark. It contained some mysterious power.
What could it be?
Li Xuan wondered, studying it carefully as he tried to figure out what was going on.
While he was investigating, Song Xiaomei stood up helplessly. She was a little miffed because she hadn't gotten to pet the little kitten.
"Mao Mao, thank you for saving me. Even though you wouldn't let me pet you, I'm going to do it anyway."
Song Xiaomei leaned toward the little kitten and gave its head a good rub with her snowy-white hand. Only then did a happy smile spread across her face.
"Xiao Mei, how are you feeling? Does your leg still hurt?" Qin Yue asked with concern.
"It doesn't hurt anymore. It's all better. Mao Mao is amazing. If not for Mao Mao, I might be dead already."
Song Xiaomei looked at the little kitten gratefully, feeling that it was her lucky star.
"Mao Mao really is amazing. It also knocked away a bunch of porcupine quills just now and saved me."
Qin Yue picked up the little kitten and gently rubbed her left cheek against Li Xuan's head.
At that very moment, the little kitten suddenly stiffened and went completely still.
[ Ding! Due to an unknown influence, your contract with Qin Yue has been strengthened. It will never occupy a contract slot, and you will forever receive nourishment for your soul from Qin Yue. ]
Ding!
Name: Li Xuan
Species: Wind-Wing Cat [Ordinary Summoned Beast]
Soul: Black Iron-level
Master: Qin Yue
Abilities: Self-Destruction, Intermediate Healing, Intermediate Fireball, Intermediate God's-Eye View, Wind Wings.
It didn't occupy a contract slot? Didn't that mean he could contract with another summoner?
Li Xuan felt a surge of excitement. If he contracted with two masters at once, he would receive nourishment for his soul from both of them, and his soul could improve by leaps and bounds.
At the thought, Li Xuan grew eager to try. He wanted to return to the summoner world and see if it would work.
But he was out in the wild, and he still had to wait for the Light-Orb Flower to improve God's-Eye View, so he would have to wait a little longer.
Roar!
A thunderous roar suddenly rang out, making everyone's ears ache.
They turned to look and saw Big Black Bear angrily pinning the porcupine to the ground.
The porcupine had lost all its quills and was writhing like a ball of meat, but it was no use. Big Black Bear was far too strong for it to break free.
Roar!
Big Black Bear roared again, then turned to Song Xiaomei as if asking whether it could kill the porcupine.
"Kill it. Porcupines are too dangerous for newcomers. We absolutely can't let it live!" Song Xiaomei ordered sternly, sentencing the porcupine to death on the spot.
Splat!
Blood sprayed as Big Black Bear brought its paw down with terrifying force, killing the porcupine in a single blow and leaving its corpse behind.
"Hm?"
Blackie seemed to have noticed something. She hurried over and examined the porcupine's corpse closely, then shook her head.
"What is it?" Song Xiaomei asked.
"Maybe I saw wrong, but there's something strange about this porcupine. Anyway, could I buy its body from you? I'd like to take it to the lab and dissect it to see if anything's wrong."
Blackie made an offer to buy the porcupine's corpse.
"This..."
Song Xiaomei glanced at Qin Yue. After seeing her nod, she agreed.
The two of them had been the ones to kill the porcupine, so the decision was theirs. The other bounty hunters could only be envious; none of them had any grounds to complain.
"Then thank you. Here's 3,000 yuan. The extra is an apology to Qin Yue and the little kitten."
Blackie looked apologetically at Qin Yue and the little kitten, apologizing for scolding them earlier.
"It's all right. You were worried about Xiao Mei's safety." Qin Yue smiled. Her smile was clearly brighter now.
"Qin Yue, you really are kind. But you need to be more careful when you're out in the world. You can't be so kind to everyone. Sometimes, people are more frightening than mutated beasts."
Blackie walked over to Qin Yue, patted her head, and spoke softly, warning her like a big sister.
"Mm-hm. I'll be careful."
Qin Yue nodded her little head, her small face set in a serious expression.
She hadn't truly experienced the darkness of the world, so for now, she couldn't understand what Blackie meant by frightening.
When she truly understood, it would mean she had grown up.
But enough of that. Back to the story.
After dealing with the porcupine, everyone continued hunting wolfhounds. With their large numbers and powerful summoned beasts, they completed the task with ease and hunted enough wolfhounds.
By dusk, the group returned to Blackstone City, filthy and laden with their spoils.
After collecting the mission reward, Qin Yue looked at the 4,000 yuan in her hands, delighted.
"Are you really giving me 4,000 yuan? Everyone else only got 3,000," Qin Yue asked nervously.
"Of course. Your pet specializes in healing, and that's a highly sought-after ability anywhere. Naturally, it's worth a little more."
The portly leader laughed heartily. His displeasure from that morning was gone, and he now seemed almost obsequious.
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