Qiao Interstellar Five-Star Super A-level Fugitive An was once the criminal with the highest bounty in the N91 Star System.
Unlike other Beast Taming Clan People, she was willing to reform powerful members of the Beast Clan with her heart, helping them achieve their potential and fulfill their wishes. In the past, she had also punished countless evil alien races.
But on the peaceful Blue Star, she wanted no part in any more conflicts. She just wanted to be an ordinary person.
But the disappearance of Ao Bai ignited a fury within her!
There's nothing wrong with being born weak. The strong, including humans, should be merciful. But there are always scumbags who will prey on the vulnerable.
Standing in the most dilapidated part of the city, Qiao An let out a sharp whistle, and countless small animals swarmed out from their hiding places in the shadows.
"Strange human, what is it? Why have you summoned us?"
Swarms of small mice hid at Qiao An's feet, while countless crows spread their wings, circling overhead.
"Ao Bai is missing. He must still be in the Urban Village. Go find him. Whoever finds the first clue will be handsomely rewarded!"
She tossed down the plastic bag she was carrying, scattering all kinds of pet food. The small animals scrambled madly for their share. Qiao An avoided the cameras and turned to leave again. To others, he was just a stray cat nobody cared about, but to her, he was the one line that could not be crossed.
Thanks to the powerful joint effort, news arrived quickly.
A stray dog who had known Ao Bai for years was very familiar with his scent. It seemed a trace of it lingered outside a certain abandoned garbage dump.
"A garbage dump?"
'That man reeked of a foul odor. A place like that would also throw dogs off the trail.'
"I understand. You can all disperse. Tomorrow, I'll pack up food and leave it in the places you frequent."
Qiao An tried to leave, but the stray dog blocked her path. The creature was all skin and bones, with a long scar across its face and one blind eye. Yet it still bared its sharp teeth, completely ignoring the gazes of others.
"We don't need you to repay us with food. We need Ao Bai here. He's not without friends. We thank you, strange human. Thank you for being willing to help us find Ao Bai. That guy really likes you, too."
The iciness in Qiao An's eyes melted away, bit by bit. The corners of her mouth finally curled upward again.
"I'm not a strange human. I have a name. It's Qiao An!"
It was the name the orphanage director had given her, hoping she would grow up safe and sound. Unlike the old her, who had no name, only a cold string of numbers.
Qiao An reached out and rubbed the stray dog's head. From behind her, Little Bai and Little Qing slithered out, their massive bodies intimidating all the other animals.
"Let's go. We're going to bring our lost friend home."
Home!
'Going home is such a wonderful thing.' Little Bai wagged its tail. To save itself the trouble, Little Qing coiled directly around Qiao An's waist, hidden beneath her loose tracksuit.
When Qiao An got close to the abandoned garbage dump, a tremendous stench assaulted her nose. It was so strong it even made her eyes water.
After circling the area twice and confirming there were no cameras, she quietly slipped through a gap in the dilapidated wall.
Countless piles of rotting garbage emitted a pungent odor. As she walked, she couldn't tell what soft, mushy things were staining her pant legs. Qiao An held her breath, concealed herself among the heaps of trash, and continued to climb upward.
The towering trash heap reached an open window on the second floor. Paying no mind to the filth, Qiao An lay flat on the garbage and peeked her head over to survey the situation.
Even though it was daytime, the abandoned, ruined room was pitch-black inside. Aside from the endless stench, there was no sound.
"Little Bai, sneak in and see if anyone's there..."
Slithering through the gaps in the trash, Little Bai quickly disappeared into the pitch-black room.
Qiao An's body relaxed, and even her breathing slowed. She lay in wait in the shadows, like a predator stalking its prey.
Soon, Little Bai returned to Qiao An's side, flicking its tongue.
"Sister, there's no one here, but there are several new freezers. It's weird. I saw the lame cat. He's injured and has been thrown onto the rooftop."
Just as Qiao An was about to enter the room and climb to the rooftop to get Ao Bai, the abandoned door was pushed open with a CREAK... CREAK...
A skinny man with a hunched back appeared. His calves were incredibly slender, clad in black stockings and a pair of worn-out red high heels.
Watching the figure swagger unsteadily into the ruined room, Qiao An's eyes narrowed, her pupils constricting.
"I'm starting to get angry..."
The cold words, murmured from the corner of her lips, dissipated into the stench. Qiao An didn't move, remaining prone on the garbage.
Soon, the sounds of various animals crying out in misery echoed from within the room.
At that moment, Qiao An vaulted lightly through the window. Her frame was slender, and she made no sound as she moved, landing on the balls of her feet and walking through the piles of trash like a graceful cat.
The Beast Taming Clan can not only understand all forms of Beast Language, but they can also learn the nature of any beast. Right now, she was like an agile cat, slowly closing in.
The man stood in the filthy room, holding a long needle and viciously stabbing it into a large, bleeding dog. As he listened to its whimpers grow faint, he seemed to grow bored and tossed the object aside.
"The women are still more fun, hehe. Cursing me with disgust one moment, then begging me for mercy the next. HAHAHA! Too bad I can't play those games recently. It's so frustrating."
The irrepressible, insane thoughts made the man's whole body itch. He could only vent his frustration by stomping on the big dog a few more times.
Just as the big dog was about to give up hope, its eyes suddenly lit up. A figure had appeared behind the man like a ghost.
"Like to play games? How about I play with you?"
Her loose tracksuit concealed the contours of her body, a mask covered her face, and beneath the brim of a baseball cap, Qiao An's eyes were ice-cold.
Hearing such a delicate voice, the man spun around abruptly. A scalpel was clutched in his hand, and he slashed it through the air.
As if she had been expecting it, Qiao An flipped into the air and landed silently once more, without even stirring up any dust. Her fingernails began to lengthen and curve, revealing sharp edges.
"I love playing games the most..."
Why had she become a criminal so feared throughout the star system? It was because she loved to play games. The hunt is an animal's instinct. The encirclement, the slaughter—it all became part of the fun of the game.
"A woman? I love playing games with women the most!"
The man assumed Qiao An was unarmed and paid her no mind. But when her nails pierced his skin and the barbs tore at his flesh, he let out a wretched howl.
Hearing the man's screams, Ao Bai, who had been on the verge of giving up, felt a renewed will to live and began to struggle again.
Qiao An's waist was impossibly supple. As she once again plunged her claws into the man's chest, he began to beg for mercy.
Foul-smelling bits of flesh and blood stuck to the barbs on Qiao An's fingertips. A brilliant smile spread across her face, but her glistening eyes held nothing but ice.