Beast Taming Star Journey

The flickering firelight illuminated the tribal chief's solemn face. His argument with the young warrior grew increasingly heated. Although I couldn't understand their language, judging from the chief's gestures—pointing at us at times and pounding his chest at others—the situation seemed to be turning against us.

Lin Yu, the Beastmaster, gripped his long whip tightly and said in a low voice, "Nong Yu, something's not right. We need to be prepared."

I nodded, summoned the Gale Leopard to my side, and warily surveyed my surroundings. I carefully examined the quest map in my hand once more.

The newly added symbols, like twisted claw marks, were deeply etched onto the parchment.

I tried to recall where I had seen similar symbols before, and a sense of unease crept into my heart.

"I remembered!"

Lin, the Beastmaster, suddenly exclaimed, "I've seen these symbols in an ancient book. They represent... danger!"

Danger? What kind of danger? My heart sank.

This mysterious island was already fraught with danger, and now with these ominous symbols appearing on the map, our situation is even more perilous.

I looked at the area on the map that we were about to go to, which was originally marked as safe, but now it was marked with three twisted claw marks.

Could it be... that we were misled from the very beginning? This thought flashed through my mind like lightning, sending chills down my spine.

If that's the case, then who's manipulating all of this behind the scenes? What's their purpose? Could there be a traitor within the Beast Taming Alliance?

I couldn't help but glance at Captain Zheng, who was standing to the side. He was negotiating with the chief, his expression serious, showing no sign of anything amiss.

But for some reason, I felt that his behavior today was a bit unusual.

In the past, Captain Zheng was always decisive and efficient, but today he seemed hesitant, even somewhat... absent-minded.

I quietly put the map away, deciding to investigate the matter in secret.

I casually walked up to Captain Zheng and asked in a low voice, "Captain, this tribe doesn't seem very friendly to us. Should we continue the mission?"

Captain Zheng glanced at me, his tone somewhat perfunctory: "The mission must be completed; this is an order from the Alliance."

"But……"

I pointed to the next destination marked on the map and asked, "Is this place really safe?"

Captain Zheng waved his hand impatiently: "The map was provided by the Alliance, so of course it's safe. Don't be so paranoid; it'll affect morale."

His reaction deepened my suspicions. I noticed that his eyes darted around as he spoke, and he avoided looking me in the eye.

As night fell, the tribe arranged simple accommodations for us. I lay on the simple wooden bed, but I couldn't fall asleep.

I kept replaying everything that had happened today in my mind: Captain Zheng's unusual behavior, the strange symbols on the map, and the tense atmosphere in the tribe... all of this made me uneasy.

I got up and walked to the window, looking out at the dark night sky. In the distance, a wild beast's low growl echoed, sending chills down my spine. I took a deep breath; I had made up my mind.

Tomorrow, I must secretly investigate and find out what secrets are hidden on this island... Suddenly, I heard a light footstep outside the door, followed by a hushed conversation.

I held my breath and listened intently...

Are you sure he didn't find anything?

A familiar voice rang out; it was... Captain Zheng! Under the firelight, Captain Zheng's face was terrifyingly grim.

"Are you following me?"

He lowered his voice, his tone trembling slightly.

I met his gaze without flinching: "Captain, I just want to figure some things out."

I spread the map out in front of him. "Don't you find these symbols strange?"

Captain Zheng sneered, "They're just some tribal totems, what's so strange about them? You're being too sensitive, Nong Yu. This will affect the execution of the mission."

"sensitive?"

I pointed to the newly added paw prints on the map. "These symbols weren't there yesterday, but they suddenly appeared today, and they're right in the area we're about to go to. Is this a coincidence?"

I paused, then my tone became even more resolute, "Captain, I think we've been betrayed. There's a traitor within the Beast Taming Alliance!"

"absurd!"

Captain Zheng snatched the map and crumpled it into a ball. "Are you questioning the Alliance, questioning me? Let me tell you, Nong Yu, completing the mission is what you should be doing. Don't have any wild ideas!"

"But……"

I was about to say something when Captain Zheng rudely interrupted me.

"enough!"

He roared, "I don't want to hear any more of this nonsense! Now, go back to sleep right now, and we'll move on first thing tomorrow morning!"

I gritted my teeth, my heart filled with resentment and anger. Captain Zheng's reaction was too intense, which only confirmed my suspicions.

Could it be... that he really is a traitor? Back in the simple wooden hut, I tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

Captain Zheng's warning, the strange symbols on the map, the tribal chief's hostility... all these signs intertwined, making me feel suffocated.

Exhausted, Su Yao's image floated into my mind. The scene of her, so valiant and heroic, wielding a long sword, fighting alongside me, seemed like it was just yesterday.

I remember her saying, "Nong Yu, I believe in you. You can definitely become the strongest beast tamer!"

Su Yao's smile gave me boundless strength.

For her sake, and to prove myself, I must complete the mission and uncover this conspiracy hidden in the shadows!

I took out the crumpled map again and examined it carefully by the faint moonlight.

My gaze fell on an inconspicuous corner at the edge of the map, where there was a small symbol that looked very much like... Chen the traitor's usual mark!

Chen the Traitor, a new member of the Beast Taming Alliance, is a low-key person with mediocre strength, and I never really had any impression of him.

But ever since he arrived on the island, he has always deliberately gotten close to Captain Zheng. The two often talk in private and behave very mysteriously.

Could it be... that Captain Zheng and that traitor Chen are in cahoots? A chill ran down my spine. If that were the case, what would their purpose be?

I had to find evidence, solid evidence! The next morning, I casually joined the group.

I noticed that the traitor Chen was always by Captain Zheng's side. The two of them would talk in hushed tones from time to time, their eyes flashing, as if they were plotting something.

Lin Yu, the Beastmaster, walked up to me and asked in a low voice, "Nong Yu, were you alright last night? You didn't look too good."

I shook my head, signaling her not to ask any more questions. My gaze was fixed on the traitor Chen, and I already had a plan in mind.

During a break in the group, I quietly said to Beastmaster Lin, "Sister Lin, I have something important to tell you..."

Night fell over the mysterious island. Lin Yu and I hid in the dense jungle, keeping a close eye on the figure of the traitor Chen in the distance.

He sneaked out of the camp and headed deeper into the island.

"Follow him!"

I said in a low voice, a resolute glint in my eyes. We cautiously followed behind Chen, the traitor, through the dense jungle, and arrived at a secluded valley.

There, I witnessed a scene that shocked me... The traitor Chen was standing in front of a group of ferocious monsters, holding a strange...