The Strongest Beast-Tamer (Transmigration)(GL) - Chapter 37

“Yi Xian, come this way.”

Seeing that Yi Xian had mostly recovered, Duanmu Ya pulled her out for a stroll. She claimed it was to get some fresh air, but in truth, she wanted to shop for clothes and other necessities. Just as they had agreed back in the beast tribe territory, the first thing they needed was a storage pouch, followed by a few sets of clothing.

Yi Xian had come to understand that Duanmu Ya was someone who initially guarded herself heavily and trusted no one. Yet once her heart opened up to someone, she became a silly girl who would go to great lengths without caring about the cost.

Following the direction Duanmu Ya pointed toward, Yi Xian saw several finely crafted storage pouches displayed in a small workshop. They came in a variety of vibrant colors and resembled delicate brocade sachets.

Duanmu Ya did not even spare a glance at the general selection. She slapped the counter and demanded that the shopkeeper bring out the store’s prized items. Apparently, the owner recognized her. He greeted her warmly and inquired about recent events. The treasure he presented turned out to be three storage pouches identical in appearance to the others, except they were wrapped in a layer of golden thread.

Duanmu Ya picked up two for comparison. One was fiery red, the other pure white. “I think the white one suits you best. I’ll have my mother embroider your name on it later so you won’t mix it up with anyone else’s. How does that sound?”

Yi Xian did not mind. White went with everything, which would make outfit coordination easier. “You can embroider on these?”

Duanmu Ya stifled a giggle behind her hand. After they paid, she leaned over to whisper, “Normally no, but this is my mother’s special technique.”

Since it was a secret method, Yi Xian wisely did not press further.

Duanmu Ya urged her on. “Just drip a bit of bl00d on it and link with it. After that, you can store anything valuable inside. It’s really convenient.”

Yi Xian pricked her fingertip. A droplet of bl00d spread across the pouch like ink until it disappeared. Her vision suddenly shifted, revealing a space roughly a hundred cubic meters large.

“It’s that big.”

“I made sure to get one the same size as mine for you, so you wouldn’t need to upgrade it later.”

…

It felt like carrying around a full-sized bedroom.

Once they finished at the pouch shop, the two headed to a clothing boutique. The boutique offered a variety of garments, including long robes and battle outfits alike. Just as Yi Xian reached for a form-fitting battle outfit, Duanmu Ya pulled her away. “That’s for assassins. You should wear what a Light Mage would wear.”

Yi Xian could not imagine how cumbersome a robe that trailed behind her would be during a fight. She instinctively resisted. “I want something simple and easy to move in.”

Duanmu Ya stroked her chin and looked her over. “How about warrior gear then?”

In the end, Yi Xian chose two sets each of black assassin wear and green warrior outfits, along with several sets of plain men’s clothing. Duanmu Ya hurried to grab several sets of women’s clothing and chased after her. “Yi Xian, I really think you look good in dresses.”

It was only after returning to human territory that Yi Xian realized her petite frame stood out among other women. Most of the Duanmu family’s maids were about one-point-six meters tall. Even Duanmu Ya herself was only one-point-six-eight, a full ten centimeters shorter than Yi Xian.

In short, it was all a matter of perspective.

Since Duanmu Ya was paying, Yi Xian did not object. She quietly estimated the local cost of living and thought about the handful of copper coins she had lost somewhere. Her heart ached a little. If not for Duanmu Ya’s generosity, she probably could not even afford the bare necessities.

“Ahhh, they have my favorite candied pastry!”

“Sigh.”

Duanmu Ya darted to the opposite stall like a hungry squirrel, bought two pieces, and immediately handed one to Yi Xian. “Try it. This is what food should taste like.”

Yi Xian had initially thought she had landed in a backward era. Now she knew it was just the wilderness that had been primitive. The flavor was a bit too sweet, though. “Duanmu, is there a Mercenary Guild here like you mentioned before?”

Duanmu Ya slowed her chewing, suddenly seeming less enthusiastic. “Yi Xian, why are you asking about that?”

Yi Xian felt a faint pull. In her past life, she had been forced to become a mercenary to survive. Each day was a battlefield of bullets and bloodshed, constantly dancing with death. She had not expected to encounter the same profession even after crossing time and space. “Just curious.”

Duanmu Ya grew flustered. “What’s so interesting about mercenaries? We already saw one back in beastman territory. Yi Xian, being a mercenary is really dangerous. You could die at any time. Didn’t you say you wanted to train at Qingshan Sect with me? Can’t we wait until we have some real survival skills before doing anything so risky?”

Yi Xian found her panic amusing. “I only said I wanted to take a look. I never said I was joining one today. Calm down.”

Duanmu Ya was still skeptical. “Then why do you even want to look?”

Maybe because of that lingering sense of nostalgia.

In the end, Duanmu Ya could not resist Yi Xian’s request and reluctantly brought her to the guild. Along the way, she kept trying to scare her off with words like “danger,” “high risk,” “low pay,” and “only desperate people become mercenaries,” hoping to deter her with a few short phrases.

The Mercenary Guild was not large. A small registration desk sat at the entrance, and the man behind it was napping on the counter. When he noticed them, he mumbled, “Task postings are over there. Registration’s here. You need at least three people to register as a mercenary team.”

Duanmu Ya quickly said, “We’re not here for that. We’re looking for someone.”

The man went right back to napping.

To the left of the desk was a task board filled with all sorts of odd requests like hunting a tier-three fire-type phantom beast or venturing into Flame-Ice Cave to find a thousand-year ice worm. Tasks were divided by difficulty level.

Yi Xian studied the board for a while before understanding the system. Mercenary teams were ranked by points. The higher the points, the more tasks they could accept, and the higher the rewards. Climbing the ranks meant taking on and completing tasks continuously.

Duanmu Ya had no interest in any of it. She looked around absently. “Brother Ming Feng isn’t here. Looks like he’s out on another task.”

“He’s a mercenary too?” Yi Xian asked.

Duanmu Ya nodded. “They took on a task from my Duanmu family, which is how they ended up escorting me to beastman territory. I didn’t expect Brother Ming Feng to encounter the wolf tribe and ask them about me…”

Yi Xian finally understood how everything had escalated. With Duanmu Ya hurling fireballs around like a walking beacon, of course, the wolves had used that to trace her back to the Duanmu family. No wonder they attacked so suddenly. “Surviving was already a miracle.”

Duanmu Ya thought about it and agreed. Sometimes, just making it out alive was enough. Seeing Yi Xian still reading the board, she nudged her. “There’s nothing new here. Same old boring tasks. Let’s go.”

Yi Xian, however, was thinking that compared to her past life, the task system here was incredibly outdated. Plus, forming a team required at least three members. That left her with only two choices. She could either join an existing team or create her own.
Just as they reached the door, they bumped into a group led by Lu Xu. The moment he saw them, Lu Xu smirked. “What a coincidence. Did Young Master Duanmu come looking for me?”

Duanmu Ya spat exaggeratedly. “As if! I’m here for Brother Ming Feng.”

Lu Xu pretended to understand. “Oh, so you’re here for your little lover. But he went to the Qi family for a task. The eldest daughter received him personally. A man and a woman alone, sparks in the air. Who could say what might happen next?
Hey, wait, I wasn’t done talking yet.”

Yi Xian found Duanmu Ya’s angry expression amusing. “We’re back among humans now. Why are you still dressed as a man?”

Duanmu Ya frowned slightly. “Habit.”

Yi Xian had been wondering for a while. They had been mere acquaintances before. “Your face doesn’t look like a disguise. And you have distinct masculine traits. Is it the effect of a pill?”

Duanmu Ya puffed up with pride. “Knew I couldn’t hide it from you. It’s a Gender-Masking Pill. I can give you a bottle if you want. There are ten pills in it. You need one every half month, or it wears off.”

Yi Xian grimaced at the name. “Why not just call it a Disguise Pill?”

Duanmu Ya giggled. “I found the recipe in an old, worn-out book. It said only women could use it. If a man tried, he might get… converted. There were all kinds of strange pills in it, but I’m missing a few key ingredients. Once I find them, I plan to test it out and see if the effects are real.”

Seeing her mood lift, Yi Xian said, “Duanmu, I’m feeling much better. Would you come with me to the Qi family’s trading house?”

Duanmu Ya’s face darkened at once. Her expression revealed pure dread.
“Auntie Xue already thanked them for you. Let’s not go, okay?”

Yi Xian did not push her. “It’s best to thank someone directly for saving your life. I’m awake now. If I pretend not to know, it would be terribly rude. If you won’t go, I’ll go alone.”

Duanmu Ya had no choice left. “You don’t know your way around. Fine, I’ll take you. Happy now?”

Even so, she looked like she was heading into a lion’s den instead of a business hall.

After a short wait outside, they were invited in.

Just as Lu Xu had said, the eldest miss of the Qi family, Qi Yun, was meeting with Ming Feng. As they arrived, Ming Feng was just leaving the room. “Xiao Ya, what brings you here?”

Duanmu Ya snorted. “You’re allowed to come, but I’m not?”

Ming Feng smiled helplessly. Then he spotted Yi Xian standing beside her and looked delighted. “You’re awake?”

Yi Xian had only been seen by a few during her recovery. Ming Feng’s surprise felt sincere. She nodded with a smile. “Yes.”

Ming Feng bowed. “Thank you for risking your life to save me.”

Yi Xian opened her mouth to reply, but Duanmu Ya cut in with a pout. “Enough. We can talk about all that later. Brother Ming Feng, you should head back. We still have business with the Qi family’s eldest miss.”

Ming Feng nodded. “Very well. I’ll come by another day to thank you properly.”

Yi Xian had not even finished forming a reply when he had already left with brisk decisiveness.

Yi Xian had made some rough guesses from Duanmu Ya’s brief comments, assuming Qi Yun was a strong, commanding woman. But upon entering the room, she discovered something entirely different. The young lady sat in a custom chair with a red blanket covering her lower half.

When Qi Yun saw Duanmu Ya, a smile bloomed in her eyes like a vibrant flower spreading across rice paper.

“You have finally found time to visit me, Xiao Ya. It has been a while.”

Duanmu Ya looked embarrassed as she tugged Yi Xian forward to introduce her. “Sister Qi Yun, this is my friend Yi Xian. Last time, it was thanks to Granny Long that she was saved. Yi Xian wanted to thank her in person.”

Qi Yun acted as if she had only just noticed Yi Xian, her expression cooling slightly. “So this is the benefactor Auntie Xue mentioned, the one who saved our Xiao Ya?”

Yi Xian responded politely, “You are too kind, Eldest Miss. It was only through your generosity that I survived.”

Qi Yun gave a faint smile. “I was not aware of any of this. Granny Long acted on her own. If thanks are due, then you should thank her properly. Mo Yu, go invite Granny Long here.”

Yi Xian was more than happy to comply. Still, she could not shake the feeling that the Eldest Miss was not particularly fond of her.

Before Yi Xian had time to dwell on it further, Granny Long arrived. She was surprisingly young, her looks plain and unremarkable, no different from any passerby on the street. But the moment she spoke, her raspy, deep voice revealed her true age. “Eldest Miss.”

Qi Yun gestured toward Yi Xian. “This young lady wishes to meet you. Please take her to the next room. I have not sat and chatted with Xiao Ya in a long time.”

Duanmu Ya flinched, her hand instinctively reaching for Yi Xian’s arm. But at the sight of Qi Yun’s casual smile, she quickly drew it back.

“Ah, Yi Xian, you go ahead. I’ll chat with Sister Qi Yun for a while.”

Now Yi Xian was sure. These two were not romantic rivals. Duanmu Ya was simply terrified of this Qi family heiress.

After a moment’s hesitation, Yi Xian nodded and followed Granny Long into the adjacent room. Once she offered her thanks, she got straight to the point. “I have a question and hope you can help me.”

Granny Long gave her a half-lidded look. “You want to know why I stepped in?”

Yi Xian nodded. “It has puzzled me for some time. If possible, I ask you to tell me the truth.”

Granny Long studied her carefully, her eyes moving from top to bottom. “You look just like her.”

“Like who?” Yi Xian asked.

Granny Long explained that during her early years of experience outside, she once found herself in a life-or-death situation. In that desperate moment, a couple had saved her. “I sensed a faint trace of her aura on you. You resemble her somewhat. Are your parents still alive?”

Yi Xian shook her head and chose not to hide anything. She explained that she had lost most of her memories and did not know who she was or where her home might be. “Do you know where they are now?”

Granny Long shook her head. “That happened nearly twenty years ago. We parted ways and never met again.”

…

Just as Yi Xian was saying goodbye to Granny Long, Duanmu Ya burst out of Qi Yun’s room in a panic and grabbed Yi Xian’s hand like she was being chased.

“Quick, let’s go. Now.”

They ran all the way from the Qi Family Trading House to the Tool Pavilion without stopping for breath.

Yi Xian, out of breath, asked, “You and the Eldest Miss of the Qi family seem to be on good terms. Why are you so afraid of her? She is not going to eat you.”

Duanmu Ya waved her hands. “Don’t even joke about it. Sister Qi Yun treats me well, I know that. But for some reason, every time I see her, I get chills down my back. My legs stop listening to me, and I just want to run.”

Yi Xian raised an eyebrow. “You are a fourth-tier alchemist, afraid of an ordinary person? That makes no sense.”

Duanmu Ya scratched her head. “She is no ordinary person. Sister Qi Yun used to be a lightning element practitioner. One of the most aggressive kinds. But I heard she had an accident, lost her spiritual root, and injured her legs. That is how she ended up like this. What a pity.”

“Yo, Ah Jie. Isn’t this your third-tier alchemist little sister?”

“Yes.”

“Xiao Ya, what are you doing here?”

Duanmu Ya narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. “Whose dog got loose? You should really keep it leashed. What if it bites someone?”

Before Yi Xian could react, the woman flew into a rage. Without a word, she drew a long whip and lashed it toward Duanmu Ya. The whip howled through the air with terrifying force.

Yi Xian had just started to draw the dagger from her sleeve when Duanmu Ya dodged with agility. She threw two fireballs back at the woman, and they followed her closely like shadows.

Duanmu Jie scowled and shouted sternly, “Xiao Ya, stop this!”

Duanmu Ya gave a dismissive snort. Not only did she not stop, she sent two more fireballs flying. She laughed heartily as the woman ran away in panic. With her hands on her hips, she looked completely pleased with herself.

“Ah Jie, help me!”

Seeing her little sister refuse to stop, Duanmu Jie immediately summoned dozens of ice spikes and hurled them at Duanmu Ya. For a moment, Duanmu Ya was overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught and took several steps back in a panic.

Yi Xian placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. “Do not panic.”

She then released dozens of light spheres that shattered every single ice spike.

Duanmu Jie looked surprised. “A beast tamer.”

A glowing mark appeared on her forehead, and she summoned a snow spirit. Instantly, the air turned frigid, the warmth replaced by bone-piercing cold. Clearly, this was the influence of her summoned beast.

Seeing she was serious, Duanmu Ya stomped her feet in frustration. “Duanmu Jie, you are shameless! You are a third-rank Heaven-class beast tamer, yet you bully someone who has only just awakened her spiritual root. No, you are bullying a guest who just woke from a coma! Have you no shame?”

Yi Xian was not intimidated. She summoned her little pony. The creature kicked its legs excitedly, eager for a fight. For a while, Yi Xian had been unable to summon it and thought it was injured. Later, she discovered it was her own damaged core that had forced the pony to remain dormant in her consciousness for five months. Deprived of sunlight, it had nearly grown moldy. However, its spiral horn had grown slightly, now marked with two spirals.

Duanmu Jie hesitated. “A guest?”

Duanmu Ya snapped, “Of course. She is a distinguished guest of the Duanmu family. Do you want outsiders to know this is how we treat guests? If Father finds out, he will be furious.”

Only then did Duanmu Jie lower her hand. She recalled the snow spirit, and the air gradually returned to normal.

“If you had not started it, there would be no misunderstanding.”

She turned to Yi Xian with a slight bow. “Apologies. That was embarrassing.”

Duanmu Ya put her hands on her hips and stuck out her tongue. “Then do me a favor and leash your dog. If she keeps barking all day and offends the wrong person, it might not just be her hair that gets singed next time.”

With Duanmu Jie leading the whip-wielding woman away, the skirmish ended. Only then did Yi Xian learn that Duanmu Ya had a half-sister, Duanmu Jie, a beast tamer. In the past, Duanmu Ya’s dual spiritual roots made her the pride of the family. In contrast, Duanmu Jie’s awakened water root paled in comparison.

But Duanmu Ya had failed to form a beast contract. Her path as a beast tamer was blocked, and her wood spiritual root became nearly useless. The family shifted all their resources to Duanmu Jie. That was the beginning of their sibling rivalry.

Even now, despite Duanmu Ya being a third or fourth-tier alchemist, the sisters remained at odds. Every meeting ended in a clash. According to Duanmu Ya, she was always the one getting bullied.

To Yi Xian, though, Duanmu Ya’s unruly nature suggested that even if she suffered losses, she would find a way to get even.

“Do you still want to look around the Tool Pavilion?”

“Forget it. We went to enough places today. I am tired.”

“Then next time.”

Back home, Duanmu Ya’s first action was to snatch Yi Xian’s storage pouch. She then began nagging like a little monk chanting sutras, listing the benefits of joining the Qingshan Sect.

With every mention, Yi Xian felt a deeper stir of restlessness. She knew the madwoman’s influence was to blame. She had thought the white fox would awaken with her, but she had been too naive. The little pony was full of energy and growing. But the white fox remained asleep, never stirring.

This lingering obsession in the soul mark would continue to affect her unless it was removed.

“I will go.”

“Being a mercenary leads nowhere. Anyone in the three empires with enough money could—wait, what did you just say? Yi Xian, did you agree?”

Duanmu Ya had been repeating the same words over and over until her lips were almost chapped.
When she thought she was hallucinating, she stopped.

“Yi Xian, did you really just say yes?”

Yi Xian, whose ears had grown numb from the nagging, smiled. “Yes. I will go to Qingshan Sect.”

Duanmu Ya screamed with joy, dashed into the courtyard, and then ran back in again. She nearly hugged Yi Xian but was stopped.

“When do we go? What do we need to prepare? What are the requirements to join Qingshan Sect? You must tell me everything.”

Duanmu Ya patted her chest. “Do not worry. Leave everything to me.”

After she left, brimming with happiness, Yi Xian turned her attention to her hands. She looked toward a flower at the window. With a thought, it flew into her grasp, still damp with night dew.

It had started on a lazy morning after she had woken up. She felt thirsty but did not want to move. As she thought about the teacup, it fell from the table. The shock had startled her.

She tried to return the flower to the vase using only her mind, but failed. Yi Xian walked over and put it back manually. Standing at the window, she focused on a teacup on the table. It wobbled but did not move again.

Yi Xian sighed. Something strange was happening. To understand it, she would likely need to consult the archive tower of the Qingshan Sect.