A task could be taken on by multiple people or as a team, but it had to be specified in the agreement beforehand.

Qiao Sang hadn’t expected that, by just being a little careless, she would end up with a task where competition was involved.

For a team task, the participants were in collaboration. But when multiple people took on the same task individually, it was a competition.

If someone completed it before you, not only could they leave a bad review, but the task would automatically be canceled by the Beast Control Center platform without requiring any handover.

No wonder the task didn’t specify requirements for the beast master or their pet.

What a hassle. Qiao Sang sighed inwardly.

The knocking continued. The man got up and opened the door.

Qiao Sang looked over and saw a man standing outside. He looked ordinary, wore black-rimmed glasses and a plaid shirt, a typical IT guy.

“Come in.” The man scrutinized the new arrival before stepping aside to let him in.

The man in plaid took off his shoes and entered. He paused briefly when he saw Qiao Sang on the couch.

“She’s also here for the task, just like you.” The man explained.

“Hello.” The man in plaid nodded in greeting.

“Hello.” Qiao Sang replied.

The man in plaid sat down on the couch and asked, “Mr. Gu, you said you were being followed. I’d like to know if you’ve offended anyone recently.”

“No.” The man replied, crossing his legs.

Hearing the conversation, Qiao Sang looked at the man in plaid and asked, “Do you know him?”

“How did you know my last name was Gu?” The man squinted, scrutinizing him.

The man in plaid didn’t dodge the question and replied, “I’m online often and have seen you around. I’d say I’m a fan.”

A fan?! The man froze, slowly uncrossing his legs.

Seriously? Even staying at home, fans come to him. Meanwhile, she couldn’t even bump into one while walking on the street. For a moment, Qiao Sang suspected her three million followers were probably all bots.

“Are you sure you haven’t offended anyone?” The man in plaid continued to press.

Seeing that this was his fan, the man’s attitude softened. After a moment’s thought, he said, “I get along well with people, and my social circle is clean. But online... yeah, I’ve offended quite a few.”

“But as my fan, you probably know my videos are controversial. And let’s face it, no one becomes an influencer without some critics. It’s not like the haters would go to the trouble of tracking me down just to follow me.”

“Only a really idle, insane person would do something like that.”

The man in plaid paused for two seconds, then chuckled, “True.”

“Could it be a crazed fan?” Qiao Sang asked.

The man stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“That’s very possible.”

Hearing this, the man in plaid’s mouth twitched slightly.

“If that’s the case, I think Mr. Gu should stay home for now. I’ll check for any suspicious people nearby.”

Before the man could respond, Qiao Sang interjected, “I disagree.”

The man in plaid looked over.

Qiao Sang met his gaze, saying firmly, “We can’t guard him around the clock. Since his address has already been discovered, I think it’s better to lure the stalker out and resolve this quickly.”

The man in plaid’s mouth curled into a slight smile.

“How do you plan to lure them out?”

“Simple. Let him go out more often.” Qiao Sang answered.

“We still don’t know if the stalker is a beast master or a regular person. If it’s a beast master, going out casually could be dangerous.” The man in plaid replied, shifting his position.

“But we’re also beast masters.” Qiao Sang pointed out, looking at him.

The man in plaid narrowed his eyes.

The room fell silent, the air in the living room thick like still water.

Knock, knock, knock.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

“Hello? Anyone there?”

The man didn’t get up.

Instead, he furrowed his brow and raised his voice, “Who is it?”

“My last name is Pang. I came here for the task." Replied the person outside.

Qiao Sang: ???

Another one?!

The man looked shocked as he quickly stood up, glancing between Qiao Sang and the man in plaid, taking a deep breath.

“I’ve only received notification of two people taking this task.”

Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?

Two people? But aren’t there three here now? If there are only supposed to be two, then who’s the extra one?!

Qiao Sang’s heart began to race as the atmosphere around her suddenly turned ominous.

The man in plaid remained calm and suggested, “If you don’t trust us, you can check the platform for the task details. If our info matches, then the person outside is likely the target of this task.”

“I’ll check.” The man anxiously grabbed his phone from the coffee table and began checking.

Something felt off. How could he be so calm?

Qiao Sang looked at the man in plaid, who was intently watching the man with the phone.

The man in plaid noticed her gaze, turned his head, and chuckled quietly. “You should be in school, not meddling in this mess.”

Qiao Sang: ???

Before she could process his words, the man checking his phone’s expression changed. He bolted toward the door.

“Kid! Run! That guy’s an impostor!”

Qiao Sang’s heart skipped a beat as she leapt to distance herself from the man in plaid, hands already forming a seal.

Just then, a purple creature with an oversized head, side hollows, and a robe-like lower half appeared before her.

Before Qiao Sang could react, dizziness hit her, and she struggled to keep her eyes open.

So sleepy...

Though her consciousness was slipping, a deep instinct reminded her she had to stay awake.

In her half-dazed state, she thought to herself, How unlucky.

Last night, she adjusted her virtual helmet for uninterrupted sleep, so now her Little Treasure was snoozing from all that studying in the virtual space.

She’d had to stow him in the Beast Codex before leaving this morning.

If her Little Treasure were here, she wouldn’t have been caught off guard.

Qiao Sang’s awareness grew foggy.

Just then, a voice echoed from far away: “Look at this, you brought a kid with a backpack! Hilarious...wait, why is the backpack moving?”

Backpack. Water Luriana. Right, Water Luriana was in her backpack!

No! She had to wake up!

The voice in her subconscious grew louder as she struggled.

In her mind, the pages of her Beast Codex began glowing and flipping rapidly.

Qiao Sang’s eyes snapped open.

Her face was pale, and her forehead was drenched in sweat.

“How did you wake up so fast?!” The man in plaid stared, eyes wide with disbelief.

Qiao Sang looked in his direction.

She saw the task issuer lying on the floor, paralyzed but staring at her with relief.

Beside him stood the mysterious man in plaid.

Taking a deep breath, Qiao Sang didn’t speak; instead, she formed a seal with her hands.

In the next moment, a green star formation flared up on the ground.