Chapter 22: Searching for the Frog

Bighead staggered, his mind buzzing, and he plummeted straight down from the air.

Nearby, Ye Luo’s mouth was wide open, still emitting that piercing noise. The salamander clutched its head and howled in agony.

As a salamander—even with wings—it remained a salamander. Salamanders were born fearful of light, and, more than that, terrified of noise.

It couldn’t understand: how could Ye Luo, that woman, produce such a precise sonic attack? It was suffering, but Ye Luo was now also a salamander—shouldn’t she be in just as much pain?

Yet Ye Luo seemed utterly oblivious to discomfort, relentlessly unleashing her cacophony.

Bighead struggled to rise, determined to press forward. It didn’t want to lose—no, it couldn’t afford to lose.

But the noise Ye Luo made seemed tailored specifically for salamanders. It was impossible to fly, impossible even to crawl; every movement took monumental effort.

Just then, a hand landed on its shoulder. Lin An had caught up.

Bighead turned, his face twisting into a human-like smile of despair. He had seen many humans’ faces at their lowest, but now, in Lin An’s eyes, he saw that same hopelessness mirrored in himself.

“The game is over. The losers will be eliminated within three seconds.”

A cold mechanical voice echoed.

The three salamanders' faces filled with dread. They turned to flee, but a colossal hand materialized out of nowhere and seized them.

They thrashed desperately.

The hand tightened its grip, and in an instant, all three salamanders were reduced to bloody pulp.

A rain of crimson splattered down. Ye Luo, who had just reverted to her human form, recoiled with a hint of disgust.

The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood.

Lin An and Huo Qianqian fell silent.

Lin An looked at Ye Luo and couldn’t help but speak, “Sister Ye…”

---

“What is it?” Ye Luo rubbed her brow.

To be honest, making that noise had been hard on her, too. She simply had a knack for enduring discomfort. If Lin An wanted to ask about the game, she had no patience for explanations right now.

Lin An said, “I was just wondering, Sister Ye, when you turned into a salamander, where did your clothes go? And then, when you turned back, your clothes were perfectly intact!”

Ye Luo stared at him, expressionless.

Lin An shuddered, hastily backpedaling, “Forget I asked, just forget it!”

He turned to Huo Qianqian. “Sister Huo, what happened with you? The floor was so flat—how did you manage to fall?”

He eyed her warily, convinced something was off about Huo Qianqian.

She shrugged helplessly. “I was just too nervous, that’s all. I really didn’t mean to—I’m sorry, I almost cost us the game.”

“‘Just nervous’? My eyes see through too much. You did it on purpose! Tell me—are you… a frog?”

He edged closer to Ye Luo, seeking the comfort of her presence.

“A frog?” Huo Qianqian waved her hands frantically. “No, I swear—I’m human!”

“I don’t believe you, unless you…” Lin An started to press her.

Ye Luo cut him off, “Enough. Stop being so suspicious. We’ve got half an hour left; let’s be cautious and leave this exhibit.”

“But Sister Ye, she’s obviously…” Lin An protested, clearly dissatisfied.

Huo Qianqian was definitely hiding something. Surely the big boss could see it?

“Just shut up,” Ye Luo said bluntly, striding deeper inside.

“Wait, Sister Ye!” Lin An shot Huo Qianqian a wary glance and hurried after Ye Luo.

After a moment’s hesitation, Huo Qianqian followed as well.

The inner hall was styled like a forest. As they walked, strange reptiles would occasionally leap out from the undergrowth.

Lin An glanced upward and spotted a greenish snake coiled around a branch, watching them intently. His scalp tingled under its gaze.

Seeing Ye Luo’s calm demeanor, he forced himself to stay composed.

After a while, Lin An noticed Ye Luo seemed purposeful, as if searching for something.

“Sister Ye, what are you looking for?” he asked, surprised. “Do you have friends here?”

Ye Luo replied calmly, “This is the Amphibian Pavilion. If there are frogs in Cute Pet Paradise, they’re most likely here.”

As for her purpose—she was, of course, searching for frogs.

Don’t forget: she and Lin An had a hidden quest. Before meeting the giant frog, they had to slay a small frog. Otherwise, when they returned to the plaza, they wouldn’t escape the fate of dancing.

Ye Luo’s words made Lin An realize their predicament. He scanned his surroundings warily, dreading a frog might leap out at any moment.

Suddenly, Huo Qianqian’s hesitant voice broke the silence. She pointed, “Is that a frog over there?”

Ye Luo looked over, her gaze sharpening.

These frogs weren’t green; their skin resembled tree roots. They squatted motionless, almost invisible unless you looked closely.

“Sister, does this frog count? Should we deal with it?” Lin An hesitated.

The rules of Cute Pet Paradise forbade harming animals. But without hurting a frog, they couldn’t complete the Frog Prince quest.

It was a dilemma.

Ye Luo remained composed, “The rules say, if you spot a frog, you must immediately alert a staff member. Let’s bring the frog to the staff.”

Lin An’s heart skipped a beat.

Ye Luo approached the grayish frog. The frog didn’t flee, allowing Ye Luo to pick it up.

Its mouth stretched wide, and its eyes were so large they nearly covered half its face. With a single leap, it landed on Ye Luo’s shoulder and settled there contentedly.

“Sister Ye, to hand it to the staff, do we go to the entrance?” Lin An asked softly.

Ye Luo nodded, “It’s about time. Let’s head back.”

Since participating in the salamander game, the three seemed to have gained a temporary buff; no animals attacked them as they walked.

But on their way back, whether the buff faded or something else changed, they found themselves surrounded by peculiar lizards, enormous pythons, lumbering tortoises…

Amphibians and reptiles of every kind converged on them.

Under the blood-red moon, the animals’ eyes began to glow crimson.

In a matter of seconds, every creature in the pavilion fell into a frenzy.

Countless red eyes encircled the trio.

“What’s happening?” Lin An cried out, panic rising.

Huo Qianqian’s voice was low and apologetic. “I’m sorry.”

Lin An and Ye Luo both turned toward her.