Beastmaster: I'm really just a forest ranger

Chapter 402 A Shocking Appearance! A Fish Leaps Over the Dragon Gate!
When Liu Jinglan asked where the continuous, muffled loud noises came from, the waiter next to her first looked around nervously, then took a few steps closer, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of helplessness:
"You may not know this, but the lake where our skating rink is located has crystal-clear water. When it freezes over in winter, it becomes as smooth as a mirror, which is why it is called the Crystal Mirror Lake."

"The lake was originally home to many colorful koi, but after the spiritual energy was restored, most of these koi evolved into golden-scaled fish."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuan's eyes flickered.

The Golden Scale Fish is not a spirit fish that makes ducks drool; it is a water-attribute pet, and its naturally born quality is elite.

It's quite rare that such a small crystal lake can nurture a large number of fish and other pets.

The waiter's voice continued in my ears: "The golden-scaled fish are round and plump, with a golden-red body and scales that shimmer in the sunlight. They are very gentle and friendly. When the weather was warm, many tourists and locals liked to come and feed them and watch them swim in groups in the lake. Their movements were so graceful."

He paused, a hint of worry on his face: "Among these fish, there is one that is particularly large, which should be considered their leader. We all call it the Fish King."

"This fish king is quite intelligent. It protects the small fish and shrimp in the lake and drives away many wild pets that want to catch fish and eat them, such as those annoying clouded larks."

Chen Yuan burst out laughing.

The lark is incredibly resilient and can be found all over China, but its volatile temperament makes it a source of deep resentment and hatred for many.

“But since winter came, the lake has frozen solid, and these fish have been stuck under the ice.” The waiter sighed and pointed to the thick ice outside the window. “We can only watch them swim through the ice, in a blur.”

"But something strange happened five days ago. I don't know what happened, but these usually docile fish suddenly went crazy and started recklessly ramming their bodies against the ice."

"Especially that king fish is the most aggressive. The loud bangs just now were caused by them. They haven't stopped for the past few days, scaring customers away from that area."

"The owner had no choice but to temporarily seal off this area and prevent customers from entering."

A pet animal that has gone mad.
Upon hearing this description, Chen Yuan couldn't help but think of the Soul-Devouring Gu from some time ago.

But he quickly shook his head.

This is not the Qinling Mountains, but the capital city with extremely strong defenses. Even if the New Star Society had a hundred times the courage, they wouldn't dare to cause trouble here.

Moreover, the pet beast possessed by the Soul-Devouring Gu is not only mad, but also inherently violent, and its abnormal behavior will definitely attract the attention of the local criminal investigation department.

Since the local police department has not taken any action against the unusual situation, it means that the situation is not critical.

Liu Jinglan nodded thoughtfully, then frowned even more: "This has been going on for five days, and your organization hasn't tried to resolve it?"

The waiter waved his hands repeatedly, looking distressed, and said:

"Oh dear, how can we not think of a solution! But this matter is not simple. It involves the abnormal behavior of a pet beast clan, the reason for which is unknown. Who dares to take action lightly?"

"If these pets are injured, or if mishandling leads to more serious consequences, no one can bear the responsibility. In addition, it is currently a crucial period of the Eastern Empire Tournament, and the beast tamers in the capital who are capable of handling this kind of matter are all focused on the competition, so we simply cannot get them to come."

He changed the subject, a smile appearing on his face: "Fortunately, the Donghuang Tournament is on holiday today. Our boss went to great lengths to finally invite a bounty hunter who is said to be very experienced in handling these kinds of things to help us take a look."

"I heard that this bounty hunter is quite famous in Qin Province and has handled many similar cases."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuan's eyes flashed with understanding, and he nodded thoughtfully.

Liu Jinglan immediately became interested and asked, "Oh? Bounty hunters? Where do you solve this problem? Can we go over and check it out?"

The waiter looked troubled and hesitated, saying, "Well... that area is currently a work area, so it's not convenient for customers to go there."

Upon hearing this, Liu Jinglan took out an ID card from his breast pocket, handed it over, and coughed lightly as he did so: "I'm quite interested in these kinds of things. If possible, could you please ask your supervisor?"

The waiter looked down and a line of small print immediately caught his eye—Donghuang Tournament Contestant Certificate: Liu Jinglan.

His eyes lit up instantly, and he straightened his back involuntarily, nodding hurriedly: "Okay, okay, please wait a moment, I'll go and ask the supervisor right away!"

Watching the waiter's figure disappear quickly, Liu Jingyi nudged Liu Jinglan's arm and pouted, asking, "Brother, we clearly agreed to come out ice skating and have a good rest, why are you joining in the fun again?"

"You have a match tomorrow, so you need to stay in good shape. It would be troublesome if something unexpected happened."

Listening to Liu Jingyi's rambling, Liu Jinglan picked at his ear and casually replied, "Oh dear, how can we miss something so interesting?"

As he spoke, his eyes flickered slightly, and he continued with a smile, "Moreover, accidents often mean opportunities, and opportunities often bring rich rewards."

"In this highly competitive new era, to stay ahead of the curve, you have to seize every fleeting opportunity."

He turned to look at Chen Yuan, his smile widening: "You agree, right, Advisor Chen?"

Chen Yuan smiled and said nothing.

Liu Jingyi muttered under her breath, "You make joining in the fun sound so elegant and refined. Last time, because you insisted on joining in the fun, we were chased for ten kilometers by a group of Blazing Lizard Monsters, and the time before that..."

Seeing that Liu Jingyi was getting more and more excited, Liu Jinglan quickly covered her mouth and lowered her voice, saying, "Advisor Chen is here. We can discuss these matters when we get home."

As the two siblings were playfully bickering, a manager in a suit, looking anxious, strode over and warmly greeted the three of them:
"Distinguished guests, this way please! It's wonderful that a contestant from the tournament is willing to help us take a look!"

The supervisor led the three across the rest area at the edge of the ice rink to the other side of the lake where the loud noise had come from.

The closer you get, the clearer and more deafening the thuds become; you can even feel the slight vibrations on the ice beneath your feet.

Upon arrival at the scene, three people were seen standing on the ice.

The man in the lead was lean and composed, accompanied by a young man and a young woman.

Seeing this, Chen Yuan smiled and said, "What a small world."

At this remote skating rink, I first met two siblings from the Fire State, and now I've met these three masters and students.

The only bounty hunter who fits this description is Huo Hong, who is from Qin Province and has been in the capital recently.

"He's really hardworking, coming to work on his rare day off," Chen Yuan thought to himself.

But on second thought, Huo Hong has to support two big eaters and several pets at the same time, which is a very heavy burden. It's understandable that he would take on extra work on this day.

At this moment, Huo Hong was intently observing what lay beneath the ice, while his partner, the Azure Hound, vigilantly patrolled back and forth on the ice, sniffing lightly and pricking up its ears.

Upon closer inspection, the ice surface in the vicinity was covered with spiderweb-like cracks, some of which were several inches deep, clearly caused by repeated impacts from enormous forces.

Looking down through the ice, you can vaguely see many round, golden-red figures. These tireless golden-scaled fish are frantically ramming their heads and bodies against the ice, each impact bringing a dull thud and causing the ice surface to tremble.

Amei and Shitou, who were standing nearby, noticed Chen Yuan and the others approaching. They turned around and their faces lit up with joy: "Advisor Chen!"

The two voices caught Huo Hong's attention. He turned around and saw Chen Yuan. A smile appeared on his serious face, and he nodded in greeting.
"Advisor Chen, what a coincidence."

Compared to his two apprentices, his reaction was rather calm, as if he was already used to encountering Chen Yuan in such situations.

"Wow, is he also a friend of Brother Chen Yuan?" Liu Jingyi exclaimed in surprise.

Chen Yuan nodded, then briefly introduced their identities before getting to the point: "What's the situation here?"

Upon hearing this question, Huo Hong's gaze returned to the ice, his brows furrowing:

"The situation is a bit tricky."

“We have carefully examined the fish and found that they have not been affected by mind control or other pet skills. No external toxins or energy pollution have been detected in the ice or water.”

Chen Yuan nodded silently.

Huo Hong's investigation has preliminarily ruled out the influence of external factors, and the possibility of Xinxing interfering is almost zero.

Huo Hong's voice continued: "Their frantic ice-collision behavior is entirely spontaneous, as if they are being driven to desperation by something, or as if something unknown has happened in the lake that is driving them to desperately try to find their way out."

The supervisor wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and asked anxiously, "Mr. Huo Hong, what... what should we do?"

"This noise continues every day, making it impossible for this prime ice rink area to operate. The losses are enormous!"

Huo Hong did not answer immediately, but pondered for a moment, then suddenly turned to Chen Yuan and said: "Advisor Chen, you are experienced and knowledgeable. In your opinion, how should we proceed in this situation?"

Chen Yuan smiled slightly and said in a calm tone, "Just do it your way of thinking."

Upon hearing this, Huo Hong nodded solemnly, then said to his supervisor:

"At present, it seems that observation alone is no longer enough to find the cause. The best way to solve the problem is to face it head-on."

"We must break through part of the ice to allow these fish to leap out of the water. Only then can we observe them up close and figure out why they are so restless."

"If it's just a disease or abnormality in the fish themselves, it's relatively easy to handle; but if the problem is at the bottom of the lake, then it may be necessary to report it and ask the police to investigate."

Upon hearing this, the supervisor's face showed a struggle, but looking at the figure still frantically crashing beneath the ice, and listening to the incessant roar, he finally gritted his teeth and nodded heavily:

"Okay! Let's do it your way! Let's break the ice!"

Huo Hong turned to look at Amei and Shi Tou, and said decisively: "Amei, have Liu Yun Que use wind blades to cut the edge of the ice. Shi Tou is in charge of directing the Silver Armored Mantis to split open large pieces of floating ice. Qing Lan Hunting Hounds are to use vines to wrap around the broken ice and drag them to the shore. Be careful."

“Understood!” Amei and Shitou replied in unison.

Azure Hound: "Woof woof woof!"

With a clear cry, the Cloud Sparrow soared into the air, its wings flapping, sending countless invisible, sharp wind blades precisely slashing towards the edge of the ice layer.
The silver-armored mantis wielded its scythe-like blades, slashing fiercely at the ice surface with a whooshing sound, leaving deep marks.

The Azure Hound growled softly, its eyes shimmering with a gentle emerald light. In an instant, resilient green vines sprouted from its body, like agile tentacles, binding the shattered ice. "I'll help you." Seeing this, Liu Jinglan waved his hand and joined the fierce ice-breaking operation. "Blazing Bull, use Flame Surge to help melt the ice!"

The Fiery Bull tilted its head back and spewed out a burst of scorching flames. The rolling heat wave continued to burn the ice surface, making a sizzling sound, and white mist rose up for a moment.

As Liu Jinglan's initial pet, the Blazing Bull has made great progress in overall strength compared to before, and has helped Liu Jinglan win one victory after another in the points competition.

"Flaming Eagle, let's help too!" Liu Jingyi also commanded her pet beast to join in.

The Fiery Eagle swooped down, using its sharp claws and scorching heat to help break the ice.

Chen Yuan turned to look at Kele, who was already eager to try: "Go ahead, but be careful."

Cola let out a cheerful "woof," and the air around it surged, condensing into countless sharp wind blades that joined the ice-breaking team.

Rumble!
A barrage of wind blades swept out, relentlessly bombarding the ice layer. In an instant, a deafening, continuous roar resounded, ice chunks flew everywhere, and cracks appeared everywhere.

Yumi remained perched on the ice a little further away, clutching a small dried fish she'd somehow acquired, munching on it with relish while wagging her tail and watching the commotion: "Chirp~"

With the combined efforts of everyone and their pets, the ice cracked much faster. At the same time, the fish beneath the ice seemed to sense the commotion above, and their collisions became even more frantic and intense.

boom!
Click!

Before long, under the concentrated and fierce attack, a large block of thick ice cracked under the strain, then collapsed with a crash, falling into the lake and splashing up a huge spray of water.

The brilliant sunlight poured down without obstruction onto the newly cleared water, making it sparkle like scattered gold.

Almost the instant the ice broke, a golden-red figure leaped out of the water.

The golden-scaled fish drew a graceful arc in the air, its rounded body shimmering dazzlingly in the sunlight. The gold and red on its scales intertwined, like flowing golden flames. The height it leaped was astonishing, as if it were about to release all the power it had accumulated over the past five days.

As the breach in the water widened, more and more golden-scaled fish leaped out of the water in a frenzy. For a moment, the lake surface shimmered with gold and red, water splashed everywhere, creating a spectacular scene, full of wild vitality as if breaking free from its constraints.

"Fish, lots of fish!"

Liu Jinglan's eyes lit up as he pointed at the leaping golden fish, his expression one of extreme excitement.

Panting, the group and their pets retreated to a safe position, all watching the scene intently, deeply shocked.

"Ow!"

At that moment, Cola thought of the ducks far away on the farm.

If Duck saw this scene, wouldn't it be so happy it would faint?
Chen Yuan smiled and nodded: "Yes, this place is simply a happy place for ducks."

Although the golden-scaled fish is not a sacred fish, it is still edible.

Although the golden scale fish is far less nutritious than the spirit fish, it is said to be delicious and a must-try delicacy for pets.

"Advisor Chen, this scene is truly spectacular, don't you think?" Liu Jinglan suddenly exclaimed.

Upon hearing Liu Jinglan's question, Chen Yuan's attention was entirely focused on the plump golden-scaled fish, and he couldn't help but think of ways to cook them, such as braised fish chunks, grilled fish, and boiled fish. So he nodded in agreement: "Yes, they are really delicious."

Liu Jinglan: "Delicious?"

Just then, an exceptionally large figure, resembling a small submarine, leaped high from the depths of the lake, carrying with it a powerful surge of water.

This golden-scaled fish was much larger than its kind, and its golden-red scales were thicker and deeper, reflecting a metallic luster in the sunlight. An indescribable aura of majesty instantly enveloped the entire area.

The supervisor shouted excitedly, "It's it! The King Fish of Liuli Mirror Lake!"

When this giant fish, far exceeding the size of its kind, leaped out of the lake with tremendous force, everyone's eyes were captivated, and their breath caught in their throats.

Its massive body stretched out in the winter sun, its golden-red scales reflecting dazzling light, and each powerful tail swish brought up a shower of glistening water droplets, creating an awe-inspiring sight.

Cola looked up at the plump and muscular figure, her throat bobbing involuntarily, making a clear "gurgling" sound, and glistening saliva almost dripped from the corner of her mouth.

Chen Yuan quickly estimated that if this big guy were made into braised fish, it would be enough to feed the farm's group of little guys with their ever-growing appetites for several meals.

"Hmm, Duck will probably have to sleep with it tonight," Chen Yuan chuckled to himself.

The appearance of the Fish King seemed to be a signal, and the remaining golden-scaled fish in the lake became even more frenzied. They began to swim and leap wildly around the Fish King in the center, and the entire lake surface was like boiling golden lava, surging endlessly.

The King Fish was located at the center of this boiling scene, leaping high into the water again and again, only to crash back down, creating huge waves taller than a person and making a loud "boom," as if it were performing some ancient and intense mysterious ritual.

"Brother, what are they doing?" Liu Jingyi asked, her face full of confusion.

Liu Jinglan spread his hands and said with a smile, "Your brother isn't an encyclopedia of pets, how would I know about such things?"

After a brief pause, he added, "However, this scene does remind me of an idiom."

"What?" Liu Jingyi asked.

Liu Jinglan replied, "Like a fish leaping over the dragon gate."

Liu Jingyi gave a soft "oh," then looked left and right: "The fish has leaped, but where is the Dragon Gate?"

Liu Jinglan stood with his hands behind his back and replied calmly, "The Dragon Gate is in your heart."

"Brother, I'm a materialist."

Liu Jinglan tapped Liu Jingyi on the back of the head with her finger and laughed, "I'm also a materialist, but in this new era of spiritual energy revival, we must look at everything in the world dialectically."

The supervisor had no time to attend to the siblings' playful fight. Looking at the completely out-of-control scene before him, he looked anxious: "What on earth is going on? Mr. Huo Hong, what should we do now?"

Huo Hong frowned. He stepped forward to observe carefully, then prepared to get close to the restless golden-scaled fish and establish a connection with them using another pet.

However, at that very moment, something unexpected happened.

In the center of the lake,

The fish king, having just completed a high leap, did not fall back into the water as before. Instead, at the moment it reached its highest point, it suddenly stopped in mid-air.

Immediately afterwards, a pure and dazzling white light burst forth from its body without warning.

The light was not dazzling, but carried an indescribable sense of weight and vitality, like a tangible milky white stream of water, which quickly enveloped the fish king's enormous body, forming a huge white cocoon of light.

The surface of the cocoon is shimmering with iridescent light, and you can vaguely see complex energy patterns flowing and recombining rapidly inside.

The fish, which had been leaping and frolicking, seemed to receive a silent command and instantly fell silent.

They stopped their frantic swimming and jumping, and surfaced one by one, silently and orderly circling around the white cocoon of light, heads raised, as if guarding and waiting for something.

The once bustling lake surface fell into an eerie silence in an instant.

This sudden turn of events left everyone on the shore stunned.

"What...what's going on?" Liu Jingyi stared wide-eyed, covering her mouth with her small hand, her expression filled with disbelief.

Liu Jinglan, who was standing nearby, reacted quickly and immediately took out her phone to start recording, muttering to herself, "There's definitely going to be some excitement."

Huo Hong and the other two also looked surprised and suspicious. The Azure Hound lowered its body and let out a wary growl.

Chen Yuan stared at the white cocoon of light in the center of the lake, which was expanding and whose energy fluctuations were becoming increasingly intense. A look of understanding flashed in his eyes. He spoke slowly, his voice calm:

"It's not a riot, it's an advancement."

"Advanced?" Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.

After a moment of silence, Liu Jinglan broke the silence first: "But doesn't advancing require going to a specific place and using specific spiritual plants?"

He looked around, a deeper question appearing on his face: "Could this golden-scaled fish be a pet placed here by some beast tamer? Is this the place where the golden-scaled fish advances?"

Chen Yuan shook his head: "You're talking about advancement driven by human factors. Actually, there's another way of advancement—natural advancement. If you're interested, you can look at the paper my brother published recently; it contains a series of studies on natural advancement."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Yuan saw everyone shaking their heads in unison. He smiled and said, "In short, this golden-scaled fish must have devoured a large amount of aquatic resources in a short period of time. The immense energy accumulated in its body made it unbearable, so it could only vent its pain by crashing into the ice."

"Now, it should have successfully digested the energy in its body, so it is beginning to advance."

After hearing Chen Yuan's explanation, Liu Jinglan looked surprised: "There's such a thing?"

He turned to look at the fish king in the center of the lake, enveloped in white light, and sighed with emotion: "I never expected to encounter such a magical thing. I really am destined to be connected with the capital."

As soon as he finished speaking, the white light became even more dazzling, becoming incredibly blinding.

Everyone reached out to shield their eyes from the white light, only to see the Fish King's body rapidly expand in that instant, its shape transforming from plump to slender.

The next second, the white light dissipated, and a huge figure, completely different from the previous one, came into view.

"Roar!!!"

(End of this chapter)