My lord, spare his life!

Given that wild bosses can randomly spawn anytime and anywhere, Zhang Yang figured that the boss's departure was probably due to its time being up, so he didn't have much of a grudge about this incident.

She looked around and found the barely alive Zhang Damiao. She squatted down and stared into his eyes: "Bad cat, bad cat, your former master, the savage naked runner, doesn't want you anymore. He abandoned you and ran off with the horse."

Zhang Damiao's eyes lit up as if she had experienced a final burst of energy before death.

Zhang Yang: "Now you only have me left."

Zhang Damiao let out a barely audible whimper.

Zhang Yang tilted her head and leaned closer: "What did you say?"

Guan Si coldly said from the side, "It wags its tail and begs for your mercy."

What a shameless little beast!

"What does 'wagging its tail and begging for mercy' mean? It can be 'discretion is the better part of valor,' or it can be 'abandoning darkness for light,' embracing the future." Zhang Yang felt that Guan Si's words were too harsh. "How can a person verbally bully an innocent big cat? Haven't you heard that harsh words hurt a cat's heart?"

Guan Si simply laughed at this.

"Aren't you afraid it might turn around and bite you one day?"

Unless it is a star beast raised from a young age or one that has been thoroughly beaten into submission and is genuinely afraid of its owner, it cannot be tamed.

They will bite their owner if given the chance.

"Big Meow won't dare to bite back."

Zhang Yang stroked Zhang Damiao's slightly disheveled but still glossy fur, his fingers brushing against the latter's vital parts several times.

He hesitated on the surface, but his mind was elsewhere.

They didn't even notice the trembling beast beneath their fingertips.

Zhang Yang said decisively, "It can still be saved. I'll take care of it!"

The observation sample showed that each person owned thousands of pets and hundreds of mounts, and not a single one of them would destroy a mount because it was disobedient. No matter how much they disliked it, they would just put it in a corner and never ride it again. It wouldn't make them lose a mount, especially since they only have three mounts at most.

Would she really lose such a beautiful spotted big cat?

She couldn't bear to part with it.

She took out some medicine and fed it to Zhang Da Miao, then pulled out the dagger that had been stuck in its vital spot. Zhang Da Miao swallowed the medicine with difficulty, obediently cooperating with Zhang Yang's actions, occasionally sticking out its rough tongue to lightly lick her palm or the back of her hand, making pitiful noises like a cub in its throat. Although it had only known Zhang Yang for less than an hour, its affectionate behavior surpassed that of Zhang Da Gu and Zhang Da Mi.

"Dried saliva smells terrible."

Zhang Damiao tried to stick out her tongue, but she dodged it in disgust. Judging from the behavior of Zhang Damiao's former master, the Wild Man Naked Bro, his diet was probably not clean either, and Zhang Yang didn't want to be licked by something sticky.

Zhang Da Miao is intelligent and perceptive. Upon hearing Zhang Yang's resistance, it wisely shut its mouth and, due to its lack of strength, had to close its eyes to rest.

However, one gaze remained fixed on it.

Zhang Damiao opened one eye and found that the source of her gaze was the bird—oh, it was the little creature on its menu.

A barely audible threatening sound escaped its throat.

The next second—

The bird's slightly open beak, meant for easier breathing, gave it an opening, and in the blink of an eye, its tongue was precisely caught in the eagle's beak. Not only that, the eagle also used one of its claws to press down on the bird's head, while simultaneously pulling the large cat's tongue outward with slight force, causing it to howl in pain.

Zhang Dagu's eyes were cold as he calmly spread his wings to encircle Zhang Da Miao's and Zhang Da Miao's half-body, preventing them from peeping.

Zhang Yang heard the commotion and looked over.

"What is Big Gu doing?"

"Big Gu doesn't have many friends and is quite bored. He's having a private chat with a new friend right now." Guan Si, who understands the two star beasts' swear words, just spoke indifferently, which almost made Yuan Xie choke.

Just because the lord didn't notice it doesn't mean he didn't notice it.

Zhang Dagu almost pulled out the leopard's tongue to use as a snack with his drinks.

Zhang Yang: "Oh, then why did you come?"

"...Entrusted by Uncle Fan." He not only had to guard against Yuan Xie growing out of Zhang Yang's bed, but also against Yuan Xie moving the bed out of his surveillance range. Now he had to add another one: prevent a strange entity from growing out of Uncle Fan's list.

He frowned as he thought of the young military officer he had just briefly clashed with.

Yuan Xie: "..."

His murderous urges reached their peak.

Does Guan Si have to do whatever Fan You says?

Zhang Yang: "What did Uncle Yan entrust to you?"

Surely they're not just watching to see if she's been putting off her homework?

This seems like something Fan You would do.

"Beware of petty thieves who covet it."

"Those petty scoundrels?" He was actually worried that she might run into a red-named NPC while out and about? Zhang Yang couldn't help but reflect on whether she had too much of a stereotype about Fan You. He was clearly just being kind and caring. "Don't worry, that group of people has already been driven away."

Guan Si: "..."

Well, that's not a misunderstanding.

Yuan Xie, with a cold expression, changed the subject: "That person was quite strong. General, could you tell what his strength was?"

"Uncertain, but I guess the opponent's beast transformation is close to the fifth level." Guan Si only exchanged glances with the young general and did not engage in a deep fight. "His aura of killing intent is too heavy, and the ghostly creature is tightly intertwined with his flesh, making him clearly half-human and half-ghost."

Yuan Xie secretly gasped.

"Fifth level of beast transformation?"

Wouldn't that make him on par with Guan Si?

The highest level of the generals belonging to the Four Symbols is only the seventh level of Beast Transformation. Reaching this level not only allows them to summon the Dharma form of one of the Four Symbols, but also allows their physical body to be completely transformed into a beast. Ordinary methods can hardly break through their defenses, just like Guan Si transforming into a white tiger and dismantling city walls with his bare hands.

Such a terrifying being exists in such a tiny place?

On second thought, even the bandits of the Eastern Frontier produced a Guan Si.

Yuan Xie frowned, deep in thought. Zhang Yang, bored, tugged at the roots of some wild grass, picked up a stalk, and put it in her mouth. She stared at the image of the naked savage on the recruitment platform, inwardly cursing the game planners for being biased and purely discriminating against her, an NPC.

"Is my lord facing some difficulties?"

Yuan Xie's voice pulled her back from her own world.

Zhang Yang sat up straight: "I'm thinking—"

Yuan Xie stared intently at her mouth.

Zhang Yang continued, "Why did the savage naked guy have such cool beast shadow effects, but I can't?"

Yuan Xie: "..."

Guan Si: "..."

Zhang Yang glared at Guan Si with displeasure: "You have one too."

Guan Si said, "Your constellation is not among the Four Symbols."

Those born into the Four Symbols camp may have this ability, while those not belonging to the Four Symbols camp will never have it in their lifetime. For example, Guan Si's star belongs to the White Tiger Kui constellation, and his star illusion is the Kui Wood Wolf. After cultivating to the first level of the Four Symbols, his first beast transformation part is the tiger tail corresponding to the Kui constellation. As for that savage, his star illusion is the Ji Water Leopard, and his first beast transformation part is the dragon tail.

Zhang Yang: "I don't like hearing this."

So many months have passed, and the "Stars" section in her data panel is still empty, and it's unclear whether she belongs to the Three Enclosures or the Four Symbols faction. It's unclear whether this will remain the case throughout the game, or if one faction will be unlocked as the quests progress.

Zhang Yang was not worried about either of these.

What she fears is that the "Stars" section requires real money to unlock.

Which player could resist the towering, incredibly cool Four Symbols Dharma Image? Putting aside its actual combat power, the special effects and sheer spectacle alone are enough to make whales willing to spend money. If Zhang Yang weren't so lacking in player currency, she would have spent money too.

Guan Si: "That person won't let this go so easily."

"That savage? Why? I didn't do anything to him."

Are wild bosses allowed to be this arrogant and willful?

Guan Si looked at Zhang Yang meaningfully.

He had no connection with that savage, yet he could strangely understand the other's behavior and logic. The other probably genuinely believed he had encountered the object of his long-cherished obsession, only to have that obsession turn around and tear off half of his human skin, shattering his dream in the most cruel way.

If you can tolerate this?

The strength of a fourth-level expert would become a joke.

The other party will absolutely not swallow the grudge of being mocked.

Taking the opportunity, Yuan Xie advised Zhang Yang to suspend exploring the map, as it was dangerous outside and they could be attacked by that unknown force at any time. He suggested that they go back and lay low for a while until the situation calmed down before venturing out again.

Zhang Yang was somewhat reluctant.

But considering that the trip wasn't entirely fruitless—at least she brought back a new mount—she reluctantly agreed to the proposal.

"Since things have come to this, there's no other way. Let's head back home first." Zhang Yang got up, brushed off the weeds and dirt that were stuck to his clothes, and waved to Zhang Da Gu and Zhang Da Miao, "Let's go, Da Gu and Da Miao."

Zhang Dagu immediately folded his wings.

With a long stride, he hopped and skipped to Zhang Yang's side.

Faced with Guan Si's cold gaze, Zhang Dagu chose to shield himself with his wings. If he can't see it, it doesn't exist, Gu.

While severely injured, Zhang Da Gu was stepping on its head and sucking its tongue, making Zhang Da Miao feel like its brains were about to be crushed out by the broken bird. As soon as it regained its freedom, it darted to Zhang Yang's side, pressing its head tightly against her leg, its tail tucked between its legs, and its ears pressed close to its head.

It dared not look at Yuan Xie on its left, nor at Zhang Dagu on its right; only its new owner could give it a precious sense of security.

The next second—

The weight of another person was now on my back.

Zhang Damiao's body stiffened, and she remained motionless.

Zhang Yang: "Why aren't you leaving?"

Zhang Da Miao only regretted that it couldn't speak human language. If it could, it could say that it was still recovering from serious injuries and asked its master for some pity, or at least try to be cute. But it couldn't speak, Zhang Yang couldn't understand it, and if it disobeyed, it would really be skinned alive.

Zhang Damiao let out a soft howl.

With its head drooping and tail hanging low, it walked slowly with a limp.

Zhang Yang didn't urge him. He rested his chin on one hand, closed his eyes, and took a nap. His upper body swayed steadily with Zhang Damiao's steps but never fell.

Once the group had completely gone far away and their figures had disappeared at the edge of the plain, the scouts who had been monitoring their movements from a great distance withdrew.

"Young General, Young General—"

The scout returned to find the young general coughing up blood.

At this moment, the young general was not only naked from the waist up, but his trousers were also torn above his knees. His right leg was swollen and bruised to more than twice its normal size, and there was a palm-length tear on the side of his left leg, with only a little bit of skin hanging on his leg.

His expression also looked rather grim.

The soil in front of him was stained with blood, leaving a dark patch.

The young general just coughed up blood.

"Which way did you see those people go?"

The young general didn't care about the minor injuries he had sustained.

He still had the "mountain spirit" on his mind.

His intuition told him that this "mountain spirit" was the person he had been searching for all along, or at least the clues lay with her. What exactly had this imposter done to the real mountain spirit? If he caught her, he would tear her to pieces and grind her into blood!

The scout reported, "Tianjiang County."

The young general licked the blood from the corner of his mouth: "Tianjiang?"

That place is full of waste?

He got up to mount his horse, but his guards quickly stopped him.

"Young General, your injuries have not fully healed yet. In my opinion, you should go to the villa to rest for two or three days."

"No need, it's just a minor injury."

He accidentally aggravated his internal injuries while speaking.

He grimaced, the image of that hateful imposter flashing through his mind. The other man possessed no Star Affiliation, at least not from the Four Symbols faction. However, the Three Enclosures faction primarily consisted of civil officials, and even the few generals among them had limited combat power. Their cultivation lacked the vast experience of predecessors available to them, resulting in extremely slow advancement. This cowardly oddball had single-handedly inflicted internal injuries on him.

Although he was partly responsible for his carelessness, it was still shameful to fall into such a trap and lose the star beast he had raised for many years.

On the way back, the young general's leg injuries had fully healed.

His complexion was slightly unusual, but fortunately, no one dared to stare at his face closely. He hurried back to the manor as usual, encountering several brothers and sisters who treated him like a plague, but he ignored them all. Only after he left did everyone in the manor dare to breathe a sigh of relief.

"What's wrong with him today?"

"It looks like someone offended him..."

"Yes, he looks even more ferocious than before."

"I thought he was going to draw his sword and kill us both."

They vividly remembered the incident where their brother, while drinking at the table, suddenly attacked and brutally murdered his own siblings; their fear was even deeper, lest they be next. It was normal for this madman to do anything, yet their father refused to eliminate this precious gem.

They were forced to live under the other's pressure.

However, some clever people realized something.

The madman took about twenty guards with him before he left, but only about ten returned. Where did the rest go?

To investigate secretly.

Suspicious bloodstains were found in the area where the madman often hunted.

Those who were missing also did not return to camp normally.

These people exchanged cryptic glances, trying to guess which assassin had made a difference and caused the Madman to suffer heavy losses.

On the other hand, Wang Ba was also in a bind.

His son, for some unknown reason, wanted to attack Tianjiang County.

"Why did you have to attack Tianjiang County for no reason?"

"kill."

"Weren't there enough rebels and traitors you killed before?"

His power is currently based in Dongxian Commandery, expanding outwards to take Gouqian Commandery and vie with Xixian Commandery for control of the river tributaries. Gouqian Commandery is not large, and with his son providing a significant advantage, taking it will be easy. Currently, the overall focus is on recuperation, with occasional minor skirmishes, such as rebellions. These arduous tasks have been delegated to his son, allowing him to vent his frustrations.

But the son wasn't very willing.

They rarely volunteer for battle.

Why are you taking the initiative to send troops to attack Tianjiang County this time?

The young general said, "Killing them is pointless."

Wang Ba: "Is it really that interesting to kill those cowards from Tianjiang County?"

Why attack Tianjiang County now?

Shouldn't we wait until the warlords of the opposing country are completely defeated before taking action?

Moreover, his son had recently been cursing Tianjiang County.

Young General: "This is none of your business."

Wang Ba: "..."

He took a deep breath and finally gave him two thousand men and half a month's worth of provisions, telling him to come back when the provisions were gone.

The people of Tianjiang County were also shocked.

To be precise, they were shocked to see Zhang Yang's new car.

"Isn't this the star beast of the royal prince?"

"Wang Gongsun? Who?"

"Wang Qi, Wang Gongsun."

??|??w?`)

I recently discovered a previously overlooked rule for choosing characters: "idol worship." For example, people might admire a particular idol and incorporate that idol's name into their own.

Wang Qi's naming logic is like this: Bai Qi is also known as Gongsun Qi, so his courtesy name is Gongsun... Actually, he could also use the courtesy name Wu'an, but it sounds awkward.