"The bell!"

Du Yu drove into the mountain road, listening to Li Mengnan's words, and couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Bell?"

"Mhm, mhm." The girl in the passenger seat nodded repeatedly, staring at the info Senior Brother Li Jing had sent on her phone. "This spiritual artifact is a bell."

At that, Du Yu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Hearing this unique classifier, Du Yu naturally thought of those ancient bells that monks struck in temples.

Du Yu: "And then? How did Team Two disappear?"

Li Mengnan looked for a while, then shook her head. "It doesn't say. It just says the bell appeared in the Grassland Province on May 16."

"Grassland Province?" Du Yu thought for a bit, then said, "Grassland Province is huge. East, west, south, north—where?"

By now, Du Yu had already "lit up" several provinces.

He'd been to the southwest of Great Xia, Celestial Province's Jinguan City.

Been to the northwest, to Longyuan Province with its Qilian Mountains, to Xixia Town.

Also to the neighboring foot of Mount Tai, Shandai Province's Golden Valley City.

Gradually assimilating into the Otherworld, Du Yu already had some grasp of Great Xia's territory.

The so-called Grassland Province, mapped to his previous life's world, should be Inner Mongolia plus Outer Mongolia—talk about vast land.

That place wasn't just a paradise for animal husbandry in Great Xia, but also for wild Demon Beasts.

Just earlier at home, Big Cat was watching an "Animal World" episode, and over half the footage was from Grassland Province.

The types of Demon Beasts there were just… off the charts!

Li Mengnan said quietly, "The ancient bell appeared in the northwest of Grassland Province, near Icefield Province."

Du Yu: "..."

Icefield Province was even further north, basically poking right into Russia's territory in his former world...

A few days ago when Du Yu took Big Cat home, they encountered a family of four in the parking garage; the little boy had mistaken the silver lynx for an icefield leopard.

Water and Earth Dual-Attribute Demon Beast—Icefield Leopard, was exactly Icefield Province's specialty in Great Xia.

Du Yu felt troubled. "That's so far."

Li Mengnan was curious. "No matter how far it is, we're flying—why are you making that face?"

Du Yu tilted his head slightly, gesturing toward the big cat in the trunk. "I want to bring her along."

Li Mengnan: "Didn't you already register at the Book House? The Bureau even made a work card for Silver Cat."

"It's just… not too convenient." Du Yu shook his head, a bit helpless inside.

He really wished he could just store Big Cat inside himself...

The car slowly came to a halt at the gate of an abandoned mountain villa. Du Yu and Li Mengnan, acting in tacit understanding, both fell silent.

The silver lynx in the trunk stuck its head out, looking around curiously, but soon picked up faint flute music.

Du Yu and Li Mengnan exchanged a glance—sure enough, Senior Brother Fu was still here!

The two got out of the car at once. Du Yu went to open the trunk, while Li Mengnan gazed at the bleak villa, silently sighing to herself.

This is just so hard.

To outsiders, it might seem that Fu Jianzhou struck it rich by acquiring an ancient spiritual artifact.

But only the person drinking the water knows if it's hot or cold.

Just look at Senior Brother Fu's current life!

He probably no longer even has a life of his own. Barely 28 or 29 years old, yet he lives in seclusion in the woods, with only the Deserted Pavilion Ancient Flute for company.

"Seems like Senior Brother Fu's state is okay—his playing doesn't sound as mournful as I imagined." Du Yu walked over with the big cat, speaking softly.

Li Mengnan neither agreed nor disagreed, offering no reply.

Du Yu, possessing a Demon Soul, was particularly sensitive; he sensed that the girl's emotions were complicated.

He reminded her gently, "Don't let on too much—hide things like judgment or pity.

We've got to face not just Senior Brother Fu, but also West Xia's Flute."

"Okay." Li Mengnan nodded obediently, knowing full well how terrifying West Xia's Flute was.

"Let's go." Du Yu mounted the cat, stroking the beautiful silver fur; Demon Soul shimmered in his palm. "Bring Mengnan too."

For anyone else, Big Cat might not even bother giving a ride.

But over the last week, the girl's attentive care had won significant favor from the silver lynx.

The big cat's long tail swept down, encircling Li Mengnan, and deposited her casually behind Du Yu's back.

"Whoa~" Li Mengnan yelped softly, her mood flipping almost as fast as her body.

The sudden move from the silver lynx made her almost giddy.

Proving, in fact, that yes—even cats can be tamed!

But Li Mengnan had no time to think. As the big cat sprang away, her upper body was yanked backward, and she instinctively grabbed Du Yu's waist.

A streak of silver lightning tore across the desolation; the scenery whipped by so fast, Li Mengnan nearly thought she was riding a Dust Spirit Deer!

But compared to the Immortal Deer, the big cat's body just wasn't made for human riding.

The silver lynx had a gorgeously streamlined physique.

While running, its joints and muscles moved violently—nothing like the steady backs of horses or deer.

In a blink, the silver lightning screeched to a halt!

Never mind Li Mengnan who'd never ridden before—even Du Yu, expecting it, still had to lay flat; both of them slid forward nearly half a meter on Big Cat's back…

Du Yu tried to sit up, only to find the girl had a hand pressed on the back of his head, shoving his face right into that blanket of silver fur.

Right next to his ear, the flute sounded crystal clear.

"Uh…" Li Mengnan, still pressing Du Yu's back, cautiously propped herself up, her head spinning a little.

At last, Du Yu straightened and turned to look.

He saw inside the broken pavilion, a graceful figure dancing lightly.

And in front of the Pear Blossom Girl, Fu Jianzhou—hair loose and messy—leaned against the mottled pillar, completely focused on playing the White Jade Flute.

Who knows, maybe Fu Jianzhou had been nourished by the ancient spiritual artifact. His skin—especially those hands—looked even whiter, almost like jade.

People say jade nourishes people. Today, Du Yu was seeing it for himself.

Looking at the whole scene, Senior Brother Fu's temperament was just like a destitute noble son from ancient times.

Under the melodious flute, Li Mengnan's gaze went unfocused. "The Pear Blossom Fox, dancing for Senior Brother again."

Du Yu quietly watched, saying nothing.

In the deserted pavilion, the enchanting Pear Blossom Girl's dance suddenly stopped.

A pair of fox eyes gazed from afar, toward the desolate courtyard.

She looked frightened, quickly backing away several steps, scattering pear blossoms everywhere.

In an instant, the flute music vanished; that half-lying, half-sitting nobleman on the stone steps looked over at the two humans and one lynx.

"Senior Brother."

"Senior Brother Fu." Du Yu and Li Mengnan slid off the lynx and called out.

Fu Jianzhou stared at them blankly for a full two or three seconds before seeming to come back to himself.

Du Yu stepped forward. "Senior Brother, the Bureau has a new mission for you."

Fu Jianzhou nodded lightly and stood up slowly.

"Ying~" Hua Mantang seemed terrified of the desert lynx—with not even a greeting, she dissolved into a shower of pear blossoms that rushed toward Fu Jianzhou.

As the rain of flowers twined around, it turned into wisps of Demon Breath, merging with his body.

Fu Jianzhou looked toward the silver lynx, speaking softly, "A new Demon Pet?"

He finally spoke, and his already gentle voice was even softer, almost soothing to the ear.

"Yeah, brought back from Thousand Blade Mountain." Du Yu stroked the big cat's silver fur, smiling and nodding.

"What's its name?" With that, Fu Jianzhou beckoned to the silver lynx.

"Meow!" The silver lynx stared hard at Fu Jianzhou, wary eyes locked on him.

Just now, she'd calmed under the flute's influence; now, she was back to her usual self.

She didn't care if the human in front of her was friendly. What she felt was immense pressure.

Ever since entering human society, this was the strongest human she'd encountered!

Especially that jade flute in his hand, which made her heart jump with dread.

The silver lynx was sure that just now, under that flute, her very nature had been plundered. Her entire survival pattern, built since childhood, had been thoroughly altered—totally unacceptable!

"No name yet." Du Yu frowned a little, sensing Big Cat was about to puff up in alarm.

He hurried to her side, hands on her head, soothing constantly, "Senior Brother, the mission is urgent, let's get going—all the details on the way.

Mengnan, call Senior Brother Li Jing and give him an update."

"Okay." Fu Jianzhou walked over.

"Meow!" The silver lynx's voice was razor sharp, making Du Yu's scalp tingle!

"Go, go, go." Du Yu quickly mounted the big cat, leaving the senior and junior behind as he rushed off. "Why so hostile toward Senior Brother Fu?"

"He attacked me."

Du Yu: "You mean the flute? He didn't do it on purpose. Besides, we were the ones who intruded on his turf."

At that, the silver lynx fell silent, then shot off like a silver flash.

Du Yu, barely staying upright, finally managed to sit: "You really are a tyrant—and a foolish monarch on top of it.

Later, I'll have Mengnan ride behind to keep you and Senior Brother Fu apart."

"Hmph." The big cat snorted coldly.

The man and the lynx came to the back of the car. Du Yu opened the trunk, waiting patiently for the senior and junior to return.

Eyeing the cat's grumpy expression, Du Yu suddenly said, "How about calling you Desolate Silver Lynx?"

"Meow?"

Du Yu shrugged. The name came straight from Big Cat's species plus her heterochromatic trait—perfect summary.

And even though "荒银" and "荒吟" aren't written the same, they sound identical.

Tyrant or Foolish Monarch—either fits "Desolate Silver" beautifully, right?

Thinking of her lazing and hogging his bed, devouring snacks like a little criminal at home—this name was just perfect~

As he scratched her head, Du Yu smiled, "That settles it for your formal name. For nicknames—Foolish Monarch or Tyrant—you pick."

The Desolate Silver Lynx lifted her chin arrogantly. "Terrible! Call me King of Beasts in the desert!"

Du Yu: "..."

"Hmph." The Desolate Silver Lynx turned away.

Du Yu: "Fine, then you get two nicknames.

Next time you say something so cringe, it'll be 'Foolish Monarch.' Normally, you'll be 'Tyrant.'"

"Meow!!!"

Clearly, Tyrant was not amused~

"Du Yu!" Just as Du Yu was comforting Tyrant, Li Mengnan's voice called from far off.

"Hm?"

Li Mengnan came striding over with her phone. "Senior Brother Li says we're to head to the West City Camp. The military plane's already waiting for us."

Taking a military plane to Grassland Province?

Looks like the Twenty-Ninth Bureau really is freaking out.

"Alright." Du Yu hurried to the driver's seat. "Mengnan, you ride in back… wait, what's wrong?"

Li Mengnan didn't look so good, like something had happened.

She said, "Senior Brother Li Jing just sent another document—about the Team Two disappearance."

Du Yu: "Come on, details."

Li Mengnan: "At first, Team Two mistook the Spiritual Artifact Grand Bell for a small mountain. But as they kept investigating, the stone and dirt on the bell wore away—and then the true form was revealed."

"Go on."

Li Mengnan: "They probed the outside for a long time with no results, so they decided to check the inside. Team Two dug in from underground, and then…"

Du Yu's heart seized. "Don't tell me they got trapped inside the ancient bell?"

"If they were, at least we could contact them and they wouldn't be missing." Li Mengnan stared at her phone, growing more and more alarmed.

Her voice trembled. "The ancient bell suddenly became enormous—so huge it covered everything around it.

Then, when it shrank back to its normal size, everything around it was gone."

Du Yu's face went blank. "Gone?"

"Yeah! Just gone! Even the ground's missing. Now the ancient bell is sitting in the middle of a gigantic pit—no one dares go near it anymore."

"This…" Du Yu's head spun. Had everything been devoured by the bell?

No wonder Li Mengnan looked so shaken!

Their mission this time might end up the same as Team Two's—go in, never return!

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