13: That's a bit perverted.
Everyone around looked utterly bewildered.
They had imagined countless possibilities.
Bone Dragon hatchlings, terrifying knights wielding scythes.
At the very least, it should have been an Undead Creature on the same level as Lin Anan's Wanyan Horse, right?
But who could have imagined that Bai Ye, after spending six days in the Secret Realm and causing such a huge commotion, would end up contracting... such a harmless ornamental plant?
Many people knew about the Ghost Orchid.
It is a relatively rare Plant System Demonic Beast, difficult to evolve because it lacks combat strength.
It is usually only seen in botanical gardens or the back gardens of wealthy people.
To put it plainly, it was just a vase.
With this thing, let alone counter-killing a Transcendent Limit Lich, it's hard to say if it could even defeat a Skeleton Soldier.
Some people's gaze towards Bai Ye changed.
The shock they felt earlier turned into pity, mixed with a hint of schadenfreude.
"After all that fuss, turns out he just got lucky, hid in a corner for six days, and then casually contracted a plant before coming out."
"I knew it, how could Bai Ye be that fierce?"
"The Lich corpse and bone blade on the ground were probably the result of Yao Beasts fighting each other inside the Secret Realm, and he just picked up the leftovers."
The whispers were not loud, but they clearly reached Bai Ye's ears.
He turned his head and saw that they were indeed the sharp-tongued, mean-spirited people in the class.
No matter what, everyone present had attended high school.
Whether it was luck or not, everyone present knew exactly the value of clearing a Secret Realm.
These people were likely speaking this way to vent their jealousy.
"Then why don't you guys come and try? Don't worry, I won't let Xiao Lan go all out."
His composed demeanor, on the contrary, left the surrounding people speechless.
You're already like this, what more can we say?
It's not like they could really go up and fight a beast pet.
They were just jealous, not stupid.
They immediately shut their mouths, afraid to meet Bai Ye's gaze.
Lin Anan, however, didn't think too much, and landed a heavy punch on the faces of those outspoken fellows.
Amidst their cries of pain, she once again approached Bai Ye and curiously poked the Ghost Orchid.
"Bai Ye, so this is your beast pet, it looks quite pretty, but... it doesn't feel soft at all."
She pouted, clearly dissatisfied with the hard, "crystal" texture.
"But it's still better than my skeleton frame, at least it won't feel so rigid."
Saying this, she started sighing again, mourning her lost fluffy dream.
Bai Ye's mouth twitched.
The Wanyan Horse seemed to understand Lin Anan's words, snorted, and the eerie green flame in its eye sockets surged, trying to intimidate the Ghost Orchid, which usually only served as its snack.
Xiao Lan merely floated quietly in Bai Ye's palm, without even shaking a single leaf.
Bai Ye, even less affected, simply yawned.
"Hmm~ Trying to rebel?"
Lin Anan glared fiercely at her beast pet, and the Wanyan Horse immediately lowered its head, making a wronged sound.
The Man in Suit couldn't jump to conclusions like an ungraduated student, instead, he stared intently at the Ghost Orchid.
Something is wrong!
The Wanyan Horse's pressure wasn't strong, but it was genuinely Extraordinary Level.
How could a student who just contracted a beast pet accept that without changing expression?
And that Ghost Orchid, wasn't it too calm?
Could it be... the absurd thought resurfaced in his heart.
He first looked Bai Ye over, then looked at the pile of Undead-attributed items on the ground.
These things couldn't be faked!
If the Ghost Orchid didn't do this, then who did?
It couldn't have been Bai Ye himself, right?
An ordinary student, smashing a Transcendent Limit Lich with bare hands?
Haha, that's even more outrageous than the Ghost Orchid doing it.
"Ahem."
The Man in Suit cleared his throat and suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his mind.
He looked at Bai Ye with a serious expression.
"Student Bai Ye, I know you might be tired, but there are certain procedures that must be followed."
"Considering you spent a long time alone in a dangerous environment, we need to arrange a comprehensive psychological evaluation for you."
His tone was very polite.
Bai Ye also understood that this matter wouldn't easily pass.
The mere fact that he cleared the Secret Realm was enough to warrant serious attention.
Of course, being sliced up and studied wouldn't happen.
Instead, Bai Ye might be directly recommended to a top national Beast Taming University based on this achievement.
The Association has always been dedicated to investing in Geniuses.
"I understand."
Bai Ye nodded.
He also didn't want to be gawked at like a monkey here.
"However, I don't want to go back with them."
Bai Ye's gaze swept over the classmates who were looking at him strangely, finally resting on the school bus parked alone not far away.
The Man in Suit was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood Bai Ye's meaning.
That's fine. Taking him back separately could also avoid unnecessary trouble.
"Alright."
The Man in Suit nodded in agreement.
"We will send a dedicated person to escort you back."
"Supervisor Zhang, please leave this matter to me."
Suddenly, the crowd parted.
A young woman wearing the standard combat uniform of the Beast Tamer Association walked over.
She looked similar in age to Bai Ye and the others, perhaps fourteen or fifteen at most.
She had neat short hair, delicate features, but an expression as cold as ice.
Perched on her shoulder was a palm-sized Silver Owl, whose head turned 180 degrees, looking quite spooky.
"Qin Yue? Why are you here?"
The Man in Suit was clearly startled when he saw the young woman.
"I was ordered to go rescue someone from the solo Secret Realm, but it seems I won't be needed now."
The young woman called Qin Yue was concise.
Her gaze fell directly on Bai Ye, sizing him up, as well as Xiao Lan in his palm.
"Student Bai Ye, right?"
"I am Qin Yue, a student from the academy affiliated with the Beast Tamer Association, and I am responsible for conducting the inquiry and psychological assessment regarding this Secret Realm incident."
Her voice was pleasant, but lacked warmth.
A Second-Tier Beast Tamer!
The surrounding students stirred again.
A Second-Tier Beast Tamer younger than them—this was definitely a Genius.
"You're escorting me?"
He voiced his thought directly.
"Yes."
Qin Yue seemed to have anticipated this; she nodded and then turned to the Man in Suit.
"Supervisor Zhang, I'm taking this student now. I will submit the follow-up report."
"Well... alright."
Although the Man in Suit was a supervisor, he couldn't say much in the face of a Genius like Qin Yue from the Association.
He waved his hand, signaling the rescue team to start clearing the scene and registering the students' information.
Lin Anan squeezed through, looking at Bai Ye with a worried expression.
"Bai Ye, are you really not coming back with us?"
"No, the Association needs to talk to me about something."
Bai Ye shook his head.
"Then be careful!"
Lin Anan forcefully shoved her wallet into Bai Ye's hand and whispered.
"There are tens of thousands of yuan in here, take it first to buy some clothes. Remember to pay me back once you sell those scraps."
After speaking, she glanced at Bai Ye's chest muscles and added quietly:
"Next time we enter a Secret Realm, you must let me cling to your leg. It would be even better if you could grow some leg hair."
Bai Ye: "..."
This girl's obsession with fluffiness has reached a twisted level, hasn't it?
He pushed the wallet back, feeling amused and helpless.
"Alright, go back quickly. Your horse looks like it's about to tear this place down."
Not far away, the Wanyan Horse was impatiently pawing the ground with its hooves, the eerie fire in its eye sockets burning brighter and brighter; the surrounding students dared not approach.
Lin Anan sighed, walked back with a look of utter resignation, and began comforting her not-at-all fluffy "skeleton frame."
"Let's go."
Qin Yue said concisely to Bai Ye, then turned and walked towards an off-road vehicle marked with the Beast Tamer Association emblem.
Bai Ye recalled Xiao Lan to his beast taming space, tidied up the items on the ground, and then followed her.
He could feel that, from beginning to end, the gaze of the Silver Owl had never left him.
As if it wanted to see right through him, inside and out.