Beast Taming Star Journey

Su Yao's breathing became rapid, and she gripped my arm tightly, her fingers almost digging into my flesh.

"Nongyu, did you see that? That figure..."

I followed her gaze, but all I saw was an empty corridor, nothing at all.

"Perhaps I misread it."

I comforted her, but a doubt also arose in my heart. A fleeting, almost imperceptible panic crossed Judge Ma's face, which deepened my suspicions.

He coughed lightly, trying to appear calm, and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll be going now. You should prepare well for the next match."

After saying that, he left in a hurry, his back view showing a somewhat flustered state.

"Something's wrong, so wrong."

Su Yao frowned, her beautiful face filled with worry. "His eyes just now, and that dark figure... I don't think this is as simple as it seems."

I nodded, agreeing with her opinion.

“I also think he has a problem. Maybe it’s not just targeting me. Maybe the whole competition is rigged.”

This idea has been lingering in my mind for a long time. Judge Ma's favoritism towards certain contestants is too obvious, but I have never had any evidence.

"We need to investigate this thoroughly."

Su Yao spoke firmly, her eyes gleaming with determination. The investigation was far more difficult than we had imagined.

We tried to get information from the other contestants, but they either remained silent or gave evasive answers, their eyes filled with fear.

Clearly, they all know something, but dare not speak out. The power behind Judge Ma seems to be far greater and more frightening than we imagined.

For several days in a row, we hit walls everywhere and made no progress. Frustration began to spread, and I even began to doubt whether I was being too sensitive or whether I had wronged Judge Ma.

"Don't be discouraged," Su Yao noticed my dejection and gently took my hand. "We will definitely find a clue."

Her hands were warm and strong, like an electric current running through my body, dispelling the gloom in my heart.

We changed our strategy, no longer focusing on the contestants, but turning our attention to the unassuming service staff, such as the elderly cleaning staff and the waiters delivering meals.

They might know something, but we overlooked them because of their lowly status. One evening, Su Yao found me, her face showing a hint of excitement.

"I've found a clue!"

She pulled me to a quiet corner and whispered, "I was just chatting with an elderly man who cleans the lounge, and he mentioned that he once saw Judge Ma meeting with a mysterious person late at night, and..."

She paused, her expression turning serious. "That mysterious person was wearing a black robe and a mask; he looked very eerie."

"Black robe? Mask?"

My heart sank, a sense of foreboding washing over me. It seemed the forces behind Judge Ma were far more complex than we had imagined…

“The old man also said…” Su Yao’s voice rang out again, and my gaze was fixed on her face, waiting for her to continue… “The old man also said that he heard that mysterious person call Judge Ma ‘Master Ma’.”

Su Yao's voice was very soft, yet it exploded in my ears like a thunderclap.

“Lord Ma? That title…” I muttered to myself, a chill running from the soles of my feet to the top of my head.

This title clearly carries the flavor of ancient bureaucracy, which is out of place in this world where the taming of beasts is revered.

Could it be that the power behind Judge Ma doesn't come from the Beast Taming Realm, but rather...? A bold guess surfaced in my mind, making me feel suffocated.

If that's the case, then the seriousness of the matter far exceeds our imagination.

"We must tell the competition organizers about this!"

I stood up abruptly, my tone firm. Su Yao nodded heavily, her eyes flashing with fury.

We found the competition host and told him everything the old man had said. However, his reaction was unexpected.

Instead of showing the slightest surprise, he waved his hand impatiently.

"These are all nonsense; don't believe the rumors."

This is not a rumor!

I retorted excitedly, "We have witnesses! That old man saw it with his own eyes!"

The competition host sneered, "A witness? An old man who cleans the house? Can we believe his words? You are slandering Judge Ma and disrupting the competition!"

His attitude made me incredibly angry, and a surge of anger rushed to my head.

"You're protecting him!"

I pointed my finger at his nose and roared, "You're one of them too!"

The host's face immediately darkened, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

"You'd better take back what you said, or I'll disqualify you from the competition immediately!"

"Cancel it then!"

I met his gaze without flinching. "Even if I don't participate in the competition, I, Nong Yu, will expose your conspiracy!"

Su Yao stood beside me, holding my hand tightly, offering me silent support. Her eyes were firm and courageous, which strengthened my resolve.

We know that the testimony of an elderly person alone is unlikely to bring Judge Ma and the forces behind him to justice. We need to find more conclusive evidence to bring them to justice.

But where should we begin? Judge Ma and that mysterious person obviously won't easily reveal their secrets.

Moreover, our actions have already alerted them. Will they turn against us? Time passed day by day, and the competition was about to begin.

I stood in the waiting area, looking at the other contestants, my heart filled with anxiety and unease. Suddenly, my gaze fell on contestant Zhou.

He seemed a little unusual today; his face was pale, and his eyes were darting around, as if he were hiding some secret.

His steed, a massive mammoth, also seemed somewhat restless, occasionally letting out a low roar. A thought struck me, and a strange premonition welled up within me.

Could it be…? I quietly approached Su Yao and whispered a few words in her ear. Upon hearing this, her expression changed slightly, and her gaze fixed intently on contestant Zhou…

"Go check his beast registration information."

I said in a low voice, but my eyes never left Zhou.