Sitting on the second floor of the research institute in the Fox Kingdom, Wang Ya smiled gently and slowly began speaking about the incidents that led to her transformation in the ruins and her guesses regarding what might be inside those ruins.
The ruins from an unknown era were not the ancient tomb that Ansheng had originally suspected, but a large archaeological site instead.
Due to tectonic movements, the ruins, which had been buried for tens of thousands of years or more, were exposed to the surface by a stroke of luck. Wang Ya and others had been conducting archaeological research in the northern region of Qinling before the end of the semester.
When summer vacation arrived, everyone agreed to go to Tianshui City north of Qinling to join the trend and eat spicy hotpot.
But on the way, Wang Ya's car fell into a pit, and they witnessed some bizarre things inside.
"To be honest, we were all very panicked at the time because we had never seen anything like that and were attacked by traps inside the ruins... We left Bena behind and ran away."
After finishing her story about the ruins, Wang Ya took a box out of her nightgown's pocket, placed it on the table with a look of helplessness and melancholy, and pushed it in front of Master Fox, saying:
"Three years have passed, Bena might already have turned into a mummified corpse. However, if possible, I hope Master Fox could retrieve Bena's body during the excavation and return her to her homeland..."
While recounting the events at the ruins, Wang Ya did not show much emotional change and proactively offered to lead Master Fox to the site.
But this was merely out of sympathy for the male foxes and to please them. Wang Ya herself felt awe and aversion towards that place, and if not for the request of a powerful and mighty male fox, she wouldn't have mentioned it at all.
During the group of five, because her beloved car fell into a deep pit, Wang Ya was actually standing still, ready to call for emergency rescue; she did not enter the ruins.
As a local of Chang'an, she knew very well that illegal archaeology is tomb raiding, and tomb raiding starts at three years minimum.
Calling the Security Bureau and the Fire Department, as well as notifying the school's mentors, was the best way to handle it.
But the Italian exchange student, their friend Bena Pastore, was at the front and was engulfed by dense fog sprayed from the metal walls.
Then, green lines on the ground snaked and burst forth, spraying particles akin to plant seeds or stones towards the front area.
Wang Ya instinctively resisted, but her hand was struck, and everyone fled in panic.
They didn't report it to the authorities, nor did they inform their teachers; instead, they went home to inform their parents first.
The circles they mingled with were similar, so involving a student's death could be considered an accident at a small scale, and a diplomatic incident at a large scale.
When Wang Ya returned home, before she could tell her parents about the accident she encountered, she underwent a transformation.
From later events, it seemed that one of the four who escaped did notify their parent.
Bena's death was deliberately suppressed, and nothing stirred for three years.
Nothing happened.
Was the best way to handle it.
Three years passed.
Now with the recovery of Wang Ya, the matter concerning Bena should be concluded, and let Bena return to her homeland.
......
"What is this?"
Seeing Wang Ya take out an exquisite box and push it in front of him, Ansheng looked puzzled. Opening the box, he saw a green ornament resembling a jade pendant inside.
"This is the culprit for my mutation."
Wang Ya looked at Master Fox, sighed, and said, "Now, except for Xiaohua and its friends, I feel apprehensive about anything involving spiritual power. I believe handing it over to Master Fox will ensure the most appropriate and beneficial resolution."
Master Fox ≈ Woodcutter＝ Security Bureau.
Handing that stone over to Master Fox was equivalent to giving it to the nation without needing to make an appearance herself.
Wang Ya felt that this was the only thing she could do.
Handing over the ruins and related materials to the nation, and then letting national experts send Bena's remains back to Italy.
"So... it's this?"
Looking at the emerald gem exposed at the top, encased in metal, Ansheng was lost in thought.
When Ansheng raised his hand to close the box, preparing to speak.
"Ring-ring-ring—"
A sudden ring and vibration came from the saddlebag on Ansheng's chest, interrupting his words.
"Hmm? Who's calling me at this late hour?"
Seeing a call coming in, Ansheng paused his words, took out his phone, and looked at the caller ID on the screen, which was [Wang Qiqi].
"Hmm? It's past two in the morning, why are you calling me instead of sleeping?"
Ansheng answered the call and spoke to the other side.
"Something's happened, Master Fox, where are you? I need your help over here."
On the other end, Wang Qiqi said with a heavy and helpless tone, "We just finished a patrol, investigating a beast attack incident, encountered an ambush, and the Golden Leopard is seriously injured, now... being sent back to the research institute."
As Wang Qiqi spoke, she glanced at the Golden Leopard curled up like a boiled shrimp, using its tail to cover its groin area, arms wrapped around its knees, rolling back and forth.
"What?"
"Did a Spirit Beast hammer the Golden Leopard?"
"Where, where, give me an address, I'll head over right now!"
Hearing Wang Qiqi's words, Ansheng first froze, then a look of glee appeared on his little fox face.
Truly... truly wonderful!
A Spirit Beast that could hammer the Golden Leopard, if I go and hammer its head back, wouldn't that give me [Wish Power +6]?
"I'm currently returning to Chang'an, come over to the Drum Tower! We need to prepare some things before we take the armed helicopter over."
Wang Qiqi explained the arrangements and the meeting location to Master Fox.
The Spirit Beast that defeated the Golden Leopard.
Was not an ordinary Spirit Beast or a specially adapted Spirit Beast in human society, but another type, temporarily referred to by the research institute as [Tribal Characteristic Specialized] Spirit Beast.
This type of Spirit Beast's physique far exceeds others of its kind, but it cannot reach the strength level of ordinary Spirit Beasts of the same tier.
However, they possess a distinctive special feature.
Like having a single unique skill that works for everything.
Just like the prototype of chemical adhesive comes from a secretion of a marine organism, their tribe originally could spray secretions to block predators, giving them time to escape.
But during the Spirit Beast transformation process, most of their evolution occurred in mucus sacs, thereby allowing them to spit out secretions to stick enemies to the ground, then suffocating the enemies through the adhesive's water absorption and expansion.
Wang Qiqi and the Golden Leopard were investigating a severe wild animal attack case at the edge of Chang'an City.
And the true culprit.
Was a Forest Musk Deer, a [Tribal Characteristic Specialized] Spirit Beast, capable of spraying hallucinogenic musk.
Unfortunately, it was in a mining area surrounded by mountains with great airtightness, and the Golden Leopard inhaled it joyfully.
Then.
The Forest Musk Deer executed a move called Nine Heavens Fury Kick, directly kicking the Golden Leopard's behind, dislocating something that wasn't in regular use....
In fact.
The woodcutter, who knew the methods of the Forest Musk Deer, had already formulated a set of strategies to capture it.
They only needed to call in Wang Qiqi's partner and use the strong wind from the hovering helicopter to dispel the hallucinogenic fog sprayed by the Forest Musk Deer, effectively nullifying it.
But!
The Golden Leopard held onto Wang Qiqi, asking her to invite Master Fox to come out.
Although the Golden Leopard has a large body, fierce looks, and is carnivorous.
But its nature is actually very calm and could even be considered friendly.
However.
The Forest Musk Deer kicked its lips crooked, how could the Golden Leopard swallow this? It had to invite Master Fox over.
When Master Fox sees a Spirit Beast, there's no need for words.
No matter where you're from.
First hit you with a hammer.
Whether there's Wish Power or not, Master's judgment prevails!