Chapter 87: Chapter 87

Her dark green hair gradually turned brown.

This was a potion she’d rushed to make, using only the most basic ingredients for brown hair dye.

Luckily, brown looked almost black in low light. Even if someone saw her flying overhead and had good enough eyesight to spot her hair color, they wouldn’t connect it to her.

After all, everyone on the forums knew Mu Ying’s hair was dark green.

She braided her waist-length hair and tied it behind her head, changed into a black outfit she’d never worn before, and threw on a loose black cloak with a big hood that covered most of her face.

“I’m off!”

She gave Gungun’s head a final rub, then, under cover of night, shot up from the plantation on her broomstick, quickly putting distance between herself and the ground.

Even if someone was out in the fields of the sub-camp, the white mist would block their view—they wouldn’t see her take off.

The bright moon hung in the sky, the night breeze was cool, and even the summer insects’ chirping faded with distance.

In such peaceful beauty, Mu Ying wasn’t in a hurry to rush.

After all, her home with Shi Yin in the forest wasn’t that far away. On foot, the terrain would slow her down, but from the air, she’d get there even faster than when Shi Yin used to take her to school—at most an hour or two.

Though only two months had passed, the Green Mountain Forest had changed dramatically.

The vegetation was much denser, covering many landmarks. Even Mu Ying, who prided herself on growing up in the forest, had to pay close attention to find the right direction.

The Shi Yin figurine sat on the broomstick just like Mu Ying, her wolf ears tinged red from the night wind.

“Awoo~”

“Awoo~”

“Awooo~”

From a distant hillside came the mournful howls of wolves.

Mu Ying looked up at Wolf King Hill, frowning slightly. “It’s Da Hui and the others—something’s happened!”"

"On Wolf King Slope, the battered and bruised Big Gray struggled up to the very top of the hill, letting out a long howl to the moon one last time. It knew it wouldn’t live to see the Wolf King return.

The she-wolf, Ah Qing, nestled close to Big Gray, howling along with him, bidding a final farewell.

A few clueless wolf pups found it all very amusing, yipping and rolling around on Big Gray’s tail, until two other adult wolves herded them away.

Suddenly, as Big Gray gazed at the moon, he spotted a tiny black dot.

He blinked weakly, only to see the dot grow larger and larger, and a familiar voice drifted over.

“Big Gray!”

“Awoo~ awooo~” It’s the Wolf Queen! Woo woo! Big Gray’s eyes grew wet, and tears the size of beans rolled down his cheeks.

The moment Mu Ying jumped off her broom, Big Gray collapsed to the ground, sobbing. Just moments ago, he’d still had the dignity of a pack leader, standing tall and howling despite his weakness.

“Alright, enough crying, you’re not going to die,” she said helplessly, reaching out to pat the head of the big crybaby.

Though Big Gray’s injuries looked serious, the wounds themselves weren’t too large. It looked like he’d been whipped by something, and his belly had been pierced through—a coin-sized wound still oozing blood.

They were all external injuries. Mu Ying placed her hand over the wound, cast two healing spells, and then used a life magic spell to restore his strength, even curing the weakness from blood loss.

“Woo~” The ever-dramatic Big Gray hadn’t quite processed what happened, still wanting to cry out all his grievances from this period.

Ah Qing couldn’t take it anymore and stomped on Big Gray’s belly with her paw.

“Awooo!” Attempted murder of her own mate!

“Awoo?” Wait, it doesn’t hurt anymore?

The little figurine Shi Yin couldn’t stand it either. He revealed himself, huffing and puffing as he flew onto Big Gray’s head and started yanking fur with a fierce look.

The moment Big Gray smelled the King’s scent, he became obedient in a second, not daring to act up anymore.

“Awoo awoo!” I was wrong, I won’t pretend to be pitiful in front of the Wolf Queen again!

Mu Ying, who had been eavesdropping on the wolves’ conversation with great interest, had a complicated expression. “Wolf Queen? What the heck is that?”

She’d gotten to know this wolf pack pretty well, and they had a good rapport, but she’d never understood the specifics of their howling before.

But now, after casting Animal Communication on herself, and with these wolves being smarter than most beasts, their meaning came through loud and clear—though she hadn’t expected to hear something so bizarre.

“Awoo awoo—” You—

Big Gray, who always spoke too quickly, was cut off mid-sentence by a sharp pain on his head.

“Alright, that’s enough. Everyone go back and rest,” Mu Ying said, waving her hand with a stern face, grabbing a certain little figurine who was trying to sneak away behind Big Gray’s head.

Once the other wolves had gone down the hill, she asked, “What’s going on?”

The figurine Shi Yin tilted his head, his big watery eyes blinking, trying to act cute and get away with it.

He was just a little avatar—what did the main body’s business have to do with him?

“Don’t play dumb. Do you want me to recite the ring’s effects for you? The player manual’s identification is crystal clear,” Mu Ying said, ignoring the few censored parts in the item description.

“!” The figurine Shi Yin’s eyes widened in shock, his little fingers nervously twisting the hem of his clothes. She knows? Does that mean I’m officially recognized?

His cheeks flushed bright red, and even his ears twitched in embarrassment.

Mu Ying grew even more puzzled. What’s he blushing for?

She watched as he fidgeted, pulling out a little chalkboard and drawing for a long time, his tiny fingers turning red.

At last, he finished and held it over his head.

Seeing the huge heart crammed onto the chalkboard, and Shi Yin’s face so red it was almost steaming, Mu Ying finally understood.

“…” I really didn’t know you had such intentions toward me.

Mu Ying cleared her throat, suddenly recalling some of Shi Yin’s odd behaviors in the past.

She glanced at the ring’s item info again—and was shocked.

[Shi Yin’s Mate Contract (Unilateral)]

[Quality: Orange Mythic]

[Effect 1: Avatar. An avatar formed from a wolf hair at the heart, visible at all times to both parties in the contract; shares thoughts and feelings with the main body.]