The monkey immediately sat down cross legged before placing all four palms upon different parts of the instrument. Its immortal sense slowly spread outward. The drums began glowing faintly and the formation runes hidden beneath the drumheads awakened one after another.
Several minutes passed quietly, then the glow settled. The instrument slowly floated into the air before circling around the monkey once. Its aura gradually synchronized with the beast’s own immortal fluctuations.
The monkey opened its eyes. "It listens now."
"Good." Lin Mu nodded. "It belongs to you now."
The monkey looked down at the instrument affectionately before suddenly tilting its head. "What is its name?"
"I honestly don’t know." Lin Mu scratched his cheek. "I never used it. Usually immortal tools carry their names within themselves. You should have learned it when binding it."
The monkey frowned. "I didn’t hear any names."
"Then perhaps it never had one." Lin Mu shrugged. "If that is the case, you may name it yourself."
"I’ll think carefully." The monkey looked thoughtfully at the seven drums. "A name should fit."
Lin Mu approved. "There is no rush."
Several peaceful moments passed while the monkey experimentally played different binations. Each new rhythm sounded more confident than the previous one. It had already begun discovering possibilities that the instrument offered.
Lin Mu quietly enjoyed listening.
The forest itself seemed to appreciate the music as birds resumed singing and leaves rustled gently. Even distant beasts appeared calmer.
Finally, Lin Mu stood. "If everything is settled, I should be going."
The monkey stopped playing. It climbed down from the roots before walking toward Lin Mu.
"Our debt is gone."
Lin Mu nodded. "I’m glad."
"You interrupted my song." The monkey puffed out its chest. "But you also gave me a better song. So we’re even."
Before turning away, Lin Mu suddenly remembered something. "There is one favor I’d like to ask."
The monkey looked curious. "What?"
Lin Mu spoke calmly. "It would be better if you kept the source of those drums a secret."
The monkey blinked. "You don’t want anyone knowing?"
Lin Mu nodded. "I’d rather avoid unnecessary attention."
The monkey immediately pounded its chest proudly with two fists. "Simple. I won’t tell anyone. My mouth is tighter than tree bark."
Lin Mu chuckled softly. "Thank you."
He had no intention of creating unnecessary stories around himself. If word spread that the newly recruited Little Bull casually handed Mid Grade Immortal Tools to immortal beasts, questions would inevitably follow.
Questions were exactly what he wished to avoid.
The monkey clearly understood. It had lived around Wild Peak long enough to understand that humans often plicated simple matters. As Lin Mu prepared to leave, the monkey suddenly called after him.
"Wait."
Lin Mu turned.
"What is your name?"
For a brief moment, Lin Mu almost answered with his real one. Instead he remembered exactly who he was supposed to be.
"My name is Little Bull."
The monkey stared for several seconds. Then it burst into loud laughter and its booming voice echoed through the surrounding forest.
"Little Bull? A human named after a beast? That’s wonderful!" The monkey laughed. "I like that. It sounds strong."
Lin Mu smiled helplessly. "It wasn’t my choice."
"Still funny." The monkey laughed for another minute before finally calming itself. "Little Bull. It suits you."
Lin Mu raised one hand in farewell before bending his knees. In the next instant, he launched himself from the tree branch. His figure crossed dozens of meters before landing lightly upon another towering tree.
Without slowing down, he continued traveling through the endless forest. Behind him, faint drumming gradually began echoing once more. At first the rhythm sounded hesitant, then it became steadier.
Soon it transformed into a lively melody unlike anything Lin Mu had heard before. Even after several kilometers, the sound remained faintly audible thanks to his powerful senses. The monkey had already bee pletely immersed in its new instrument.
Lin Mu could almost picture it happily experimenting with every possible bination. He found himself smiling.
Somehow, during what had merely been an attempt to find an elder... He had ended up making friends with an immortal beast. It certainly had not been part of his plans. Yet the unexpected encounter felt strangely pleasant.
The Four Armed Drummer Monkey had gained an instrument it would likely treasure for centuries. Lin Mu had gained something equally valuable. A friend living within Wild Peak.
Considering the sheer size of the mountain range and the countless beasts inhabiting it, that friendship might prove useful one day. Even if it never did, Lin Mu still found the exchange worthwhile.
Not every relationship needed to begin with calculations and benefits.
Sometimes helping another living being simply because one could, brought its own satisfaction.
As the cheerful rhythm of the drums gradually faded into the distance behind him, Lin Mu continued leaping across the enormous trees of Wild Peak, carrying with him the quiet feeling that the mountain had bee just a little more weling than before.
By the time Lin Mu left the territory occupied by the Four Armed Drummer Monkey, nearly another hour had passed.
The sounds of rhythmic drumming continued echoing faintly behind him for quite a while before finally disappearing beneath the cries of countless immortal beasts that inhabited the vast mountain range.
He continued traveling by leaping from tree to tree, making full use of the terrifying strength hidden within his physique.
Every jump carried him several hundred meters through the air before his feet lightly landed upon another massive branch. The giant trees hardly bent beneath his weight despite him carrying enough raw physical power to flatten mountains.
As he continued moving, the dense wilderness gradually began giving way to signs of civilization. The trees became more orderly, broad stone roads appeared between the forests, and eventually several large buildings emerged beyond the canopy.
Lin Mu slowed his pace.
Rather than barging into the area by jumping across rooftops like an oversized squirrel, he landed upon the road leading toward the pound and dusted off his clothes.
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