Beastmaster: I'm really just a forest ranger

Chapter 401 You're very generous!

The next morning.

The sky over the capital was just beginning to lighten, and a thin layer of dawn light pierced through the thick clouds, outlining the city in a hazy silhouette.

The hotel suite was quiet.

Suddenly, a warm, rough sensation repeatedly brushed against Chen Yuan's cheeks and forehead, accompanied by a familiar scent.

Chen Yuan frowned in his sleep, subconsciously raised his hand and waved it, mumbling, "Cola, stop messing around."

However, the wet sensation did not stop; instead, it intensified, even beginning to rhythmically and gently lick his nose and eyelids.

Immediately afterwards, a series of urgent and dissatisfied "howling" sounds rang in his ears, muffled as if something was in his mouth.

Consultant Chen, who stayed up all night last night admiring the amazement and praise from netizens, was severely sleep-deprived. He barely opened his sleepy eyes.

Through the blurry vision, all I could see was Cola's furry face very close, its azure eyes filled with urgency.

When Cola saw its owner wake up, it immediately let go, nudged Chen Yuan's arm that was sticking out of the blanket with its nose, then picked up the corner of the blanket, made a low whimper, and dragged it off the bed.

"Ow!"

Owner!

Let's go out and have some fun!
After being disturbed by the cola, Chen Yuan's muddled mind finally cleared up.

Throughout the week, it was Egg who fought on the field, helping him secure victory after victory.

But Cola and the others trained hard day and night to maintain their best condition, and were equally exhausted.

However, it is very important to balance work and rest, so Chen Yuan said last night that he would take a good rest today and take the little ones out for a day of fun.

It seems that Coca-Cola remembered this incident very well.

He chuckled and shook his head, then reached out and vigorously ruffled Cola's overly enthusiastic head:
"Alright, alright, I'll get up now."

He sat up, and the soft morning light streamed into the room through the huge French windows, casting warm spots of light on the floor.

In the light, tiny dust particles can be seen floating slowly.

Yumi lay sprawled out in the brightest patch of light, her soft purple belly rising and falling gently with her breath, surrounded by several empty snack wrappers.

It squinted its eyes, looking extremely relaxed and lazy. Occasionally, it would stretch out its little paw and precisely scoop out a piece of dried fish from the open snack bag next to it, chewing it with a "crunch crunch" sound and making a satisfied little purring sound.

Chen Yuan picked up his phone from the bedside table. The screen lit up, and the lock screen was instantly filled with countless news notifications.

#Donghuang Tournament Elimination Round List Released#
#Cangming Spirit Lord advances with a perfect record, what exactly does the Haoyue quality mean?#
#Dark horses emerge frequently, making the knockout stage landscape unpredictable#
The various headlines were particularly eye-catching. Chen Yuan quickly glanced at them. Most of these reports were summaries of yesterday's results and previews of the knockout stage.

He smiled, didn't look closely, and instead opened a map app to search for parks or scenic spots near the capital suitable for pets.

Since it's for rest and recreation, we naturally shouldn't go to places that are too dangerous.

What are some good places for leisure and entertainment in Beijing during winter?

Looking at the dazzling array of entertainment venues, Chen Yuan's eyes flickered, and he was momentarily caught in a dilemma.

Just then, my phone vibrated. Zhang Hao had sent me a message:

"Brother Yuan, are you awake? If it's convenient, let's meet in meeting room number three downstairs in half an hour to discuss the arrangements for the elimination rounds."

When Chen Yuan stepped into the conference hall, all the beast tamers participating in this year's Donghuang Conference had arrived.

Zhuang Jianbai, Shi Gang, Xia Heng, and other advanced contestants sat in the front row, relaxed, chatting and discussing amongst themselves.

The remaining team members who failed to advance sat in the back, the atmosphere somewhat complicated. They were mostly silent, their expressions a mixture of regret and relief.

They are outstanding beast tamers selected from the vast Qin Province, representing the highest level of beast tamers in the region, and each one is one in ten thousand.

However, there were over a thousand such exceptional individuals at the Donghuang Grand Assembly.

When the desire and ambition to bring glory to the whole nation are crushed by cruel reality, no one can accept it.

The team leader stood at the front, with the schedule of the Donghuang Tournament projected behind him.

He first looked at Chen Yuan and the other four with a smile: "First of all, congratulations to the five of you for successfully entering the knockout stage! Your performance has brought great honor to our Qin Province!"

Sincere applause rang out in the meeting room.

Then, the team leader turned his gaze to the other team members, his tone becoming gentle and sincere:
"To those who did not advance, on behalf of the association and myself, I would like to say thank you for your hard work and express my regret."

"The arena is cruel, but we have all seen your hard work and dedication."

He paused and continued:
"Regarding the next steps, the association fully respects everyone's choices. There are three options: First, you can stay in Beijing, with the association covering the relevant expenses, and take the opportunity to relax, enjoy the city, and experience its charm;"

"Secondly, if there are family matters or you wish to return home earlier, the association will arrange your itinerary."

“Third,” he looked at Chen Yuan and the others, “if you’re willing, you can stay and become their sparring partners to help them maintain their form and prepare for stronger opponents. Of course, this is entirely voluntary.”

As soon as Zhang Hao finished speaking, almost without hesitation, the beast tamers who had failed to advance began to speak up:
"Is there even a choice? Of course, he'll stay as a sparring partner!"

"Yes! Stay! You must stay!"

The opportunity to compete with Consultant Chen and others is extremely rare. Even though they have been eliminated, everyone still hopes to learn something from them.

"Okay! It's settled then!"

The team leader nodded emphatically, then turned to look at Zhang Hao, who was standing to the side.

Zhang Hao strode over, then switched the projection screen to display a detailed schedule of the knockout stage:

"Next, I will give you a detailed explanation of the knockout stage schedule. The knockout stage will last for five days, starting tomorrow night and continuing every night until the top eight are determined."

"That is to say, each player will need to play three 2V2 matches over these five days."

"The rules are simple, but also cruel: single-elimination. Losing one match means the end of your journey in this tournament." Zhang Hao's gaze swept over the five people sitting in the front row, his tone solemn. "Therefore, you must go all out in every match and cannot afford any mistakes."

He used the computer to send an encrypted file to the communicator of the advancing team members:

"This is a detailed analysis of all the contestants in the elimination rounds that we compiled overnight, including their pets' skill analysis, their usual tactical styles, and even some potential weaknesses."

"I hope everyone can take the time to study this carefully and understand both themselves and their opponents."

Chen Yuan nodded thoughtfully, deciding to have Chenmu Flower Fairy study it carefully when he got back.

After the meeting ended, Chen Yuan didn't forget his promise to the kids. After searching online for a long time, he finally found a place suitable for leisure and entertainment.

An ice skating rink.

Before the spiritual energy revival, ice skating was already very popular in the capital. Chen Yuan had heard of it for a long time, and this time he finally had the opportunity to experience it.

However, to avoid overcrowding, he specifically chose a remote and expensive ice rink.

The winter sun, like melting honey, lazily spilled onto an ice rink on the outskirts of the capital.

This vast natural ice surface, formed from the frozen lake, is as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the azure sky and the surrounding trees covered with frost.

Scattered groups of people were scattered throughout the ice rink, their laughter and chatter carried on the cold wind.

All sorts of pets are running hard—there are windhounds with their brown coats and hooves that seem to fly, and winter dogs with their thick fur that looks like moving snowballs. They pull ice sleds of various shapes and sizes, carrying excited tourists as they speed across the ice, leaving behind a series of crisp bell sounds and joyful exclamations.

Dogs have always been the best partners for ice skating and skiing.

But at this ice rink, you can not only rent canine pets like the Gale Hound or the Winter Hound, but you can also choose to have your own pet pull an ice sled.

Looking around, Chen Yuan not only saw the Gale Hound and the Winter Hound, but also a few local pets unique to the capital.

Chen Momo temporarily went online.

He approached the beasts with a smile, expressing his desire to pet them. Perhaps because the Eastern Empire Tournament was in full swing, many beast tamers recognized him, readily agreed, and excitedly expressed their wish to take photos.

Chen Yuan agreed to all of them, and when a sum of Source Points was deposited into his account, an even brighter smile appeared on his face.

Watching Chen Yuan stroke his pet with a broad smile, a tourist who recognized him couldn't help but sigh:

"As expected of a champion who advanced to the knockout stage with a perfect record, his attitude of treating all pets equally and loving every pet is something we should learn from."

After Chen Yuan finished petting all the beasts, he stood up with a smile, his gaze sweeping across the entire area, and then suddenly fixed on a familiar figure not far away.

A young man wearing a down jacket was seen leaning lazily against the wooden railing at the edge of the ice rink, hands on his hips, a faint smile on his lips.

His features were exceptionally deep-set, with deep-set eyes and a tall, upright posture, though his skin was slightly dark.

On the ice nearby, a massive, fiery bull was spewing out white smoke with sparks as it struggled to pull a red ice sled.

On the ice sled, Liu Jingyi, wearing a brightly colored down jacket, was waving her hands excitedly, her silvery laughter echoing from afar.
"Brother! Tell Ah Huo to go faster! Faster!"

mid-air,
A Fiery Eagle with broad wings circled for a long time, the flame patterns on its body gleaming in the sunlight, and its long feathers radiating a brilliant metallic luster.

Seeing this, Liu Jinglan covered her mouth and yawned, saying lazily, "Really, I have to take you out to play on my rare day off."

"I shouldn't have brought you to the capital."

Liu Jingyi made a face at Liu Jinglan, then let out two light "little" sounds. As the biting cold wind blew her bangs, her cheerful voice echoed in the wind:

"Hurry up! Hurry up!"

Chen Yuan smiled and patted the eager-to-try Coke beside him.

Cola understood, immediately lowered its body, and rushed out like an arrow. Its four paws scraped up small ice crystals on the ice surface, steadily pulling Chen Yuan's ice sled. With a beautiful glide, it stopped precisely next to Liu Jingyi's ice sled.

As the champion of the entertainment category of the Qin Province Cycling Competition, Kele's skiing skills have long been unparalleled.

Since it's all about "skating," Cola's skating skills are naturally quite good. Although he's just started, he's already quite skilled and can easily dominate the entire skating rink.

Liu Jinglan noticed Chen Yuan's appearance immediately. He was taken aback at first, then smiled and waved: "Advisor Chen, it's been a long time."

Chen Yuan nodded in acknowledgment: "Yes, it's been quite a while since we last met. I didn't expect to run into you here."

The last time they met was during the Spark Advancement stage. Unexpectedly, several months later, the Eastern Glory Conference brought the three of them together again, even though they were thousands of kilometers apart.

As an outstanding beast tamer from Huozhou, Liu Jinglan naturally had the qualifications to participate in the Donghuang Tournament. Chen Yuan even saw the former's name on the elimination round list.

Clearly, Liu Jinglan has made great progress.

However, due to their busy preparations and competitions, the three had not yet found an opportunity to meet. Unexpectedly, they met at this remote ice rink by chance.

Hearing their conversation, Liu Jingyi's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Chen Yuan, what are you doing here?"

Her little face was red from the cold, but her eyes were as bright as jewels: "I went to watch your match live, Lord Cangming is amazing!"

Liu Jinglan added with a smile, "This girl has been insisting on watching your match live these past few days."

"For example, we had a match at the same time yesterday, but she decisively abandoned me and went to watch your match instead."

At this point, he deliberately wiped his eyes as if he were about to cry, and sighed twice: "Ah, Consultant Chen is just more charming than my own brother."

Liu Jingyi wasn't shy at all. Instead, she glared at Liu Jinglan, put her hands on her hips, leaned forward, and said in a clear voice, "Brother Chen Yuan is a favorite to win the championship. Of course, I want to watch the competition of the strongest player."

The two siblings bickered about this topic, it was still the same familiar feeling.

Chen Yuan couldn't help but laugh. He turned his gaze to the direction where the ice stretched out and changed the subject:
"Jingyi, wanna have a friendly match? Let's see if the Blazing Bull is faster, or the Cola is faster?"

"Ow!"

Upon hearing this, Cola's eyes lit up, eager to try.

"Great! Great!" Liu Jingyi clapped her hands immediately, her delicate face beaming with a smile. "We won't lose!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the two ice sleds started moving almost simultaneously.

The Fiery Bull is incredibly powerful, its crimson fur billowing in the wind like a flickering flame. Its sturdy body charges and crashes, making the ice surface rumble.
Cola is agile and nimble, moving like the wind, drawing graceful trails on the ice.

The two pet animals carried Liu Jingyi and Chen Yuan as they chased each other across the ice, sometimes running side by side, sometimes crossing paths, with joyful laughter and cheers rising and falling.

The Fiery Eagle in the air then noticed Spark standing on Chen Yuan's shoulder. It immediately restrained its previous arrogance, folded its wings and landed, approaching cautiously, even its cries becoming much softer.

On the railing at the edge of the ice rink, Youmi, whose form was hidden, sat quietly, her little paws wrapped around her knees, her big amber eyes watching the lively scene on the ice rink without blinking.

When it saw the various snacks in the hands of the tourists, its nose twitched slightly, and when it saw the colorful cotton candy, its throat involuntarily made a swallowing motion.

But instead of flying over to steal food as usual, it simply swung its legs quietly, a rare sense of peace in its eyes, as if silently enjoying the warmth of winter.

After a while, the intense race ended with both teams running side by side and crossing the finish line.

After enjoying themselves, Chen Yuan and the Liu siblings went to the cozy glass-domed café next to the ice rink.

The huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the ice rink, and sunlight filters through the glass, casting dappled shadows inside.

Chen Yuan and Liu Jinglan found a seat by the window, ordered hot drinks, and started talking about the elimination rounds that would begin tomorrow.

"Your Qin Province has really become famous this time, with a total of five contestants advancing. The association president must be overjoyed."

“Unlike our Fire Continent, where only two contestants advanced.” Liu Jinglan sighed deeply when mentioning the contestants who advanced to the knockout stage. “The competition in the Eastern Glory Tournament is too fierce; ninety-nine percent of them are eliminated in the first round.”

Chen Yuan smiled slightly: "Fortunately, we all advanced smoothly."

A smile appeared on Liu Jinglan's face. He hummed softly and then said, "Yes, the special training during this period has finally paid off. We barely made it through."

He paused briefly, then looked at Chen Yuan, who was standing close by, and continued, "I hope the knockout stage opponents I'm assigned to are easy to deal with. I don't want to be eliminated in the first round."

Chen Yuan remained silent.

The Beastmasters who enter the knockout stage are all elites among elites, and it is a 2V2 battle format, so sending out Egg has too low a margin for error.

In the knockout stage, it's time for the three little guys who have been eager to try to make their appearance.

After chatting for a while, Chen Yuan suddenly asked, "How is Flaming Mountain?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Jinglan's smile faded, and his expression became slightly serious:
"Speaking of this, the situation at Flame Mountain has indeed been quite strange lately. The frequency of wildfires is significantly higher than before, and some beast tamers have also spotted the figure of the Blazing Soul Flame Lord."

Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded.

While the two were discussing, Liu Jingyi squatted down beside them, affectionately hugging Cola's neck, feeding it pet treats she had pulled out from somewhere, and muttering to herself, "Cola, can I ride you next time?"

"Ow?"

Liu Jingyi, who had been playing with Cola for a while, turned around and happened to see Youmi, who had somehow broken her invisibility, squatting on the empty chair next to her, staring longingly at the cloud-like pink cotton candy in her hand that she had just taken a bite of.

Liu Jingyi chuckled and generously handed over the cotton candy, giggling, "Here, little one, have some!"

Yumi could hardly believe her ears and eyes. She paused for a moment, then let out a cheerful chirp: "Coo-choo!"

You are very generous!

It quickly took the cotton candy, which was bigger than its face, with its two little paws and couldn't wait to take a big bite.

The sweet taste melted in its mouth, and it squinted its eyes happily, its little face filled with satisfaction, even the tip of its tail trembled slightly with joy.

However, just as this warm and cozy atmosphere was about to overflow, a series of dull and continuous loud "bang bang bang" noises suddenly came from not far away, breaking the tranquility of the coffee shop.

Liu Jinglan's brows immediately furrowed, and the relaxed expression on his face vanished instantly.

He gestured to a nearby waiter and asked in a deep voice, "Excuse me, what's that noise outside? Is there any construction work going on near the ice rink recently?"

(End of this chapter)