Lin Mu pulled out a Beast Taming Ball from his Beast Taming Waistband, and with a 'click,' it expanded.
He threw the ball towards an open space, releasing a butterfly.
Lin Mu: "Look at the person in front of you, do you still recognize who it is?"
The butterfly flew around Du Guang, flitting left and right.
Du Guang exclaimed, "Your Pet Beast evolved?"
Lin Mu grinned, "Of course."
Du Guang smiled and extended a finger, "Flower Floating Butterfly, long time no see."
The Flower Floating Butterfly gently landed on Du Guang's finger, rubbing its body against his fingertip.
Lin Mu looked at the Flower Floating Butterfly with a complex expression.
You've never done that to me!
Lin Mu: "Without looking at your Firefly, who would have thought you were a Beast Master specializing in the Light Department."
He imagined the sound effects of a battle.
['Lin Mu' used 'Verbal Sparring'!]
Du Guang looked at Lin Mu's light green hair, nodded, and agreed, "Unlike you, one look and it's clear you're of the Wood Department."
Lin Mu: "..."
['Lin Mu' was defeated by 'Du Guang'!]
Lin Mu irritably ruffled his hair.
Du Guang's Pet Beast, 'Firefly,' flew over, and the Flower Floating Butterfly's attention was immediately drawn, flying away from Du Guang's fingertip.
Du Guang rubbed his fingers, looking at the glittering powder that had adhered to them, then turned to the Flower Floating Butterfly and said, "Be careful when you fly, remember not to drop your phosphorus powder into the water cup."
The laptop chimed.
Lin Mu opened his laptop, glanced at the chat box, replied to a message, and then started browsing the news.
He casually remarked, "Flower Floating Butterfly isn't intelligent enough; it won't understand what you're saying."
Du Guang said without hesitation.
"Alright then, if I find phosphorus powder in my cup, I'll come find you to settle the score."
Lin Mu: "?"
Is that what I meant?
Du Guang packed his things and said, "I'm just passing through this time; I won't be staying long."
Lin Mu's laptop chimed again; he replied to messages while saying, "As expected. What are you going to do this time?"
"The Summer Secret Realm, I heard there's a different colored Pet Beast."
Lin Mu's movements paused.
He looked up.
He looked at Du Guang in disbelief, "You still believe in that?"
Du Guang said as a matter of course, "Yes, I do. Last year's Treasure Seeking Rat was real, so this year's should be real too."
Lin Mu asked, "How do you know the Treasure Seeking Rat was real?"
Du Guang's eyes deepened.
"Because I've seen that Treasure Seeking Rat."
Lin Mu was dumbfounded, and after a long moment, he smacked his lips, "Alright, alright..."
You saw the Treasure Seeking Rat and couldn't even catch it, you're a real beast!
Lin Mu: "But you, can you enter the 'Newbie Secret Realm'?"
Du Guang said seriously, "I only have one Pet Beast, Firefly."
Lin Mu opened his mouth, as if he knew what Du Guang was going to say next.
Du Guang: "Firefly is only Awakening Level 7 right now."
"Therefore, I meet the conditions for a 'Newbie Beastmaster.'"
Du Guang looked at Lin Mu, "Moreover, Firefly has no combat power, so during this time, I'm entrusting you with taking care of Firefly."
Lin Mu was dumbfounded.
You're a dog, Du Guang, you're truly a dog!
He couldn't help but imagine the scene that would unfold.
Du Guang sternly commanded, "Du Guang, use Iron Fist Strike!"
[Beast Master 'Du Guang' wins!]
Is this even reasonable?!
How can a Beast Master personally enter the fray and beat up Pet Beasts?!
Lin Mu had never felt the world was so fantastical.
Beast Masters personally entering the fray has happened...
Next, will Pet Beasts learn Beast Taming and rule the world?
However, the Summer Secret Realm also has powerful Pet Beasts.
Lin Mu pondered for a moment, then relaxed.
Most Pet Beasts in the Summer Secret Realm are neutral and relatively friendly; they won't actively attack Beast Masters.
And...
Lin Mu couldn't help but chuckle, teasing, "If you really can't win, you can still use your [Beast Taming Talent] to ask your 'brothers and sisters' to show mercy!"
Du Guang laughed and spat, "Go on."
Lin Mu's laptop beeped, and he directly typed a positive reply to the other side, then looked at Du Guang, "Coincidentally, I'm delivering something for someone, and we're going the same way. Want me to accompany you for a bit?"
Du Guang finished packing, put on a baseball cap, and neatly slung a small shoulder bag over his back, saying decisively, "Let's go."
Lin Mu picked up a delivery box with one hand, then randomly grabbed something from the table and stuffed it into his pocket, following behind Du Guang as they left the dormitory building.
"Oh, right, there's a place near us that recently became a scenic spot, right by a road, very close!
"It's night now, perfect! I'll take you to see it!"
...
Lin Mu led Du Guang to a roadside.
The lights were sparse, and the surroundings were incredibly dim, with only an old streetlamp emitting a faint yellow glow.
Du Guang looked at the large tree next to the streetlamp, and relevant knowledge points naturally surfaced in his mind.
[Luo Luo Tree, commonly found at Awakening Levels 1 and 2, a common greening plant in cities in the Southern Eastern Wasteland.
Salicaceae, Populus genus, deciduous broadleaf tree, characterized by wide and large leaves...
Leaves fall in autumn, new leaves grow around March in spring...]
However, this tree was somewhat different.
Lin Mu said smugly, "Haven't seen this before, have you!"
In the areas where the light beam couldn't reach, the tree trunk was bare, without a single leaf.
But on the other side, facing the streetlamp, the large tree, which should have shed all its leaves, was densely covered with leaves because it was close to the streetlamp, and they were illuminated orange-yellow by the warm light.
Because of the light, these leaves had remained since autumn.
They had not withered, not fallen, growing to this day, Luxuriant to this day.
Du Guang: "I've certainly never seen it with my own eyes..."
Lin Mu enthusiastically introduced, "Isn't it beautiful! This place became a popular spot for Jiang University students to check in during winter!"
"Others say that the light prevents this big tree from being lonely in winter, and these leaves also accompany the streetlamp, clinging to this human world's light."
"They even wrote a very beautiful sentence for this tree and light."
Lin Mu's eyes showed longing: "You accompany me through the cold winter, and I will make you no longer lonely."
"This is the romance belonging to liberal arts students."
Du Guang: "Grass (Sino-Japanese bilingual)."
Lin Mu didn't hear clearly: "What?"
Du Guang murmured, "Long-term light exposure affects abscisic acid formation;
"Trees not shedding leaves means photosynthesis is occurring constantly;
"Affects winter dormancy, disrupts normal metabolism..."
Du Guang looked at the tree, unconsciously pulling out his phone. Lin Mu thought he was going to take a picture, but instead, he saw him open the dial pad.
Lin Mu grabbed his hand, "What are you doing?"
Du Guang's voice was solemn: "This is typical light pollution!
"Call the Pet Center and tell them to move the Luo Luo Tree!
"If it stays like this for too long, this tree will die!"
Lin Mu froze.
Du Guang decisively dialed the number and explained the situation to the Pet Center.
After hanging up, Du Guang said to the Luo Luo Tree, "Soon, you won't be troubled by the light anymore."
The Luo Luo Tree was incredibly moved.
Finally, someone understands me!
A gentle breeze blew, and the remaining leaves rustled, as if thanking this kind Beast Master.
Du Guang's black, messy hair fluttered in the wind.
A leaf fell.
Du Guang extended his palm, and the leaf landed perfectly in his palm.
The solitary tree, the streetlamp, and the dim yellow light illuminated his handsome face.
Du Guang crossed his arms, looked at Lin Mu, and said seriously, "This is the romance belonging to science students."
Lin Mu stared blankly at Du Guang.
Although he lost a check-in spot.
But...
His gaze gradually softened.
If he had a Pet Beast, and it formed a contract to become his Pet Beast, what kind of luck would that be?
...
At the entrance of the Secret Realm Management Hall.
Through the glass door, Du Guang saw the swirling Secret Realm entrance, people coming and going to handle entry and exit procedures, and reception staff working around the clock.
Du Guang: "You can drop me off here."
Lin Mu put an arm around Du Guang.
He patted his back a few times forcefully, said nothing, and with his other hand, stuffed something into Du Guang's arms.
Du Guang caught it with his hand, his eyes narrowing.
Level 2 resource, suzuki incense.
[suzuki incense: Wearing it can increase the favorability of wild Pet Beasts, with a higher probability of gaining their affection.]
As expected of the Item Department.
Du Guang: "Thanks."
Lin Mu waved his hand without looking back, "We're brothers. I'm off."
Du Guang: "Have a safe journey."
After Lin Mu walked away, Du Guang turned and pushed open the main door of the Secret Realm Hall.