Summoner System in the World of Monster Tamers and Hunters

After a while, the vehicle came to a halt, and both of them stepped down, walking toward a seemingly run-down three-story building. The sign above the door read: Zero Guild.

The letters were chipped. A crack split the 'Z'.

Lin Fang stared at it for a second, then pushed open the wooden door. "Oh? This is surprising."

Inside, it was… unexpectedly clean. Quite a contrast to the outside.

The lobby had old furniture, yes, but it was neat. The floor tiles were mopped, and the air smelled faintly of jasmine.

Faint light streamed in from the dusty windows, falling across a worn couch, a stack of monster-training magazines, and a sleeping white cat atop the front desk.

And behind the desk sat a young woman.

She looked up with a serene expression, her fingers stopping mid-scroll on a transparent tablet.

Lin Fang's steps slowed instinctively.

Not because of nerves.

But because she was just purely stunning.

Even in simple office clothes, a white blouse, a fitted vest, and a narrow skirt, her beauty was undeniable. Her features were sharp and elegant. Her skin was so pale it seemed almost porcelain. The earrings dangling from her ears sparkled with gem-quality clarity. Her bracelet, however, looked like something auctioned for six figures.

A guild building that looked half-dead…

But a receptionist who looked like she walked out of a fashion magazine, although her height is a bit short, more specifically, her legs are a bit short or else she could have easily passed as a model. Well, they are not exactly short. They are average but shorter, just in comparison with Zhi Yan's.

It kinda reminded him of those female interns in the IT industry, those who earn a pitiful salary but maintain the demeanor of a CEO.

Lin Fang just wanted to laugh at this contrasting scene, but kept his cool, though.

"Welcome to Zero. Are you here to post a mission?" She asked calmly. Her voice was smooth and melodic, like still water in a calm lake.

Lin Fang was about to speak, but then Zhi Yan stepped forward confidently. "We're here to meet Li Changfeng. An acquaintance of his told us to meet him."

From elegance to irritation, it happened in the blink of an eye.

The receptionist, so composed in her earlier demeanor, now flopped unceremoniously into her chair the moment she heard the name, "Li Changfeng."

"Ugh... just go to the third floor," she sighed dramatically. "You'll find that drunkard there. Probably passed out. Whether you can wake him up then or not, it's up to you. Not my problem."

Zhi Yan and Lin Fang exchanged glances in surprise. But Zhi Yan offered a tight smile eventually as she thanked her and walked ahead.

However, Lin Fang lingered for a moment.

He glanced at the white cat sleeping peacefully beside the keyboard, and then, quietly, he asked, "Excuse me… What's wrong with the cat?"

A holographic screen floating in his eyes displayed its details.

[Unknown]

Species: Frost Veil Cat

Grade: Epic

Level: 16

Status: Affected by internal ailment – "Moonpaw Fever"

*

The question caught both women by surprise.

The receptionist raised a brow, glancing from Lin Fang to the feline. "It has the condition of Moonpaw Fever. Nothing too serious, but it is terminal."

Zhi Yan turned halfway, also curious.

Lin Fang nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah… I've heard of it. Terminal illness in feline types where one out of every 10,000 monsters is born with. Triggered by full moons, the illness causes restlessness, vivid dreams, even glowing paw pads that could hurt even its master, if it's a high-grade beast."

The woman sat up straighter, her eyes widening in surprise. "Didn't expect you to know about Moonpaw Fever. You have a feline beast companion or something?"

"Nah, just an Occupational hazard," Lin Fang smiled faintly. "I run a monster pet shop. You pick up certain things when you are in the field for seven years."

She tilted her head, clearly amused now. "I thought you were a model or an artist or something. Didn't expect to be a store owner."

Lin Fang blinked. "That's… the first time anyone's said that, well… since high school. But I'll take it." He flashed a smile.

She too smiled back at him, this time, a little warmer, and offered her hand. "I'm Li Xue."

"Lin Fang."

Their hands met briefly, a firm shake.

And just as a glimmer of something relaxed entered the air between them…

*Ahem*

Zhi Yan's polite but sharp throat-clearing drew their attention.

She stood near the stairs with her arms crossed. "Let's go, Classmate Lin," she said in a bit of seriousness. "We still have someone to meet."

"Right. Sorry…"

He gave a small bow to Li Xue and followed after Zhi Yan.

As they ascended the creaky staircase to the third floor, Receptionist Li Xue collapsed back into her chair, taking the napping cat into her embrace. It briefly opened its eyes and meowed before closing its eyes and continuing to sleep.

Meanwhile, they climbed two floors and reached the third floor, where they spotted a man, slumped over a lopsided table and surrounded by empty liquor bottles.

His beard was wild, a tangled mess of grey and black. His robes were at least two sizes too large and stained in more colors than Lin Fang could name. There was no bartender, no staff, and no music. Just the old man and the bottles he emptied.

Zhi Yan took a step forward, trying to keep her tone polite. "Excuse me… Li Changfeng?"

The man didn't move for a moment. Then he groaned and turned, blinking blearily at them. His bloodshot eyes struggled to focus.

"Hmm?"

His gaze drifted lazily, then fixed on Zhi Yan.

Suddenly, he sat up with more energy than expected.

"Oho!" he said, his voice gravelly but strangely vibrant. "What's this? A beautiful young lady in my run-down tavern? Heavens must have heard my prayers."

He stumbled forward, arms open wide as if expecting an embrace. "What's your name, beauty?"

Zhi Yan took a reflexive step back as Li Changfeng stumbled toward her with open arms.

But before she could react further, a hand gently but firmly reached in front of her.

Lin Fang stepped between them, his body angled just slightly to shield her. His eyes, calm yet focused, met Li Changfeng's without flinching. "Hello," he said plainly, "I'm Lin Fang. I'm here on Madam Xiao's recommendation."

Zhi Yan blinked in mild surprise, caught off guard by the subtle way he protected her.

Meanwhile, Li Changfeng paused, then let out a short, amused chuckle. His eyes darted back to Zhi Yan. "Your boyfriend's quite protective. Nice."

Zhi Yan opened her mouth. "He's not…"

But the old man didn't give her the space to correct him. "Come on. You've come to the right place."

With that, he turned around and began shuffling toward the far end of the tavern-like hall, navigating through bottle-strewn furniture and dusty walls.

Zhi Yan and Lin Fang exchanged a brief glance. Then they followed him.

They reached a shadowy corner of the floor, where an old staircase descended downward. It creaked under their weight as they stepped cautiously down, spiraling lower and lower, past the first floor, down to the basement.

Cobwebs blanketed the corners, and the walls were lined with pipes that looked like they hadn't been used in decades. At the center stood a large metallic door, half-covered in dust and spider silk.

He reached out and pulled the old metallic handle with a grunt. The door groaned as it swung open, releasing a faint rush of musty air.

Inside… was pitch darkness.

Nothing could be seen from the outside.

"Come inside." Li Chengfeng stepped in and disappeared from their sight.

Lin Fang hesitated, although just for a breath. Exchanging a glance with Zhi Yan, both nodded and stepped in together.

And all of a sudden, everything changed.

— Fwoosh!

A sudden rush of wind blew past him, warm and grassy.

"What… the… hell…"

A wide grassland stretched under his feet, with tall golden grass brushing against his knees. The air smelled of dew and distant flowers. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves of the sparse trees dotting the land. The sky was clear and bright, but there was no sun.

Behind him, nestled against a rocky outcrop, stood a narrow cave entrance.

As he was digesting the surprise, a faint laugh echoed beside both of them.

As they turned, Li Changfeng was there, now looking far more sober, his drunken slouch gone. His stance was upright, and his voice steady.

"Welcome," he said, gesturing with open arms, "to Spirit Valley."

Lin Fang glanced around. "Spirit valley?"