Another day passed by in relative peace, which Lin Mu spent in cultivating.
The Brown Shrubby Forest Cat had woken up a little while after its breakthrough and had eaten more of the beast meat, after which it fell into a slumber again. Lin Mu had thought that it would awaken again that night, but it did not happen.
He then learned from Senior Xukong that the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat was now stabilizing its cultivation after having broken through to the mid stage of the qi refining realm. He told him that the beasts had an innate understanding of their own cultivation thus knew how to do it. Lin Mu thus let the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat rest and focused on his own cultivation.
Finally, in the afternoon the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat woke up and Lin Mu could try to get it to guide him towards the location of the Dual Circle Ascension fruit.
Upon waking up, the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat took a big stretch, raising its tail. It then walked up to Lin Mu and rubbed against him to show its affection. The beast had developed a liking to its master after having its wish fulfilled, although it wasn't really a difficult thing for Lin Mu to accomplish, anyway.
Lin Mu kneeled down and looked at the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat while trying to communicate with it. He tried to show the beast the description of the Dual Circle Ascension fruit, but was rather successful. Even after many attempts, it seemed like the idea was perhaps too much for the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat.
"Hmm, perhaps try asking it something else. Brown Shrubby Forest Cats usually keep to their usual territories and seldom leave them. Perhaps the location of the Dual Circle Ascension fruit is somewhere there or nearby it." Xukong suggested.
"Hmm, that's a good idea." Lin Mu replied.
He then focused on the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat, who was curiously gazing at its master.
"Home?" Lin Mu asked in a very simple thought.
"Take me" he continued.
The Brown Shrubby Forest Cat tilted its head in confusion for a bit before it finally understood what Lin Mu was trying to tell it. Having understood this, it bumped its head against Lin Mu as if gesturing him to follow him.
"Wait," Lin Mu spoke, making the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat stop in its tracks.
"Let me carry you, there are a lot of people out there." Lin Mu said as he picked the beast up.
He then took out a cloth again and covered the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat. The beast did not struggle in Lin Mu's hands and rather sat comfortably as if it knew it was safe with Lin Mu. Seeing that the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat was calm, Lin Mu left the courtyard and headed towards the Northern forest.
Along the way, although people saw him and some even looked at him with curious looks, no one really bothered much. The Brown Shrubby Forest Cat having been covered with a cloth only made it look like Lin Mu was carrying a package and not a spirit beast.
Both of them reached the Northern forest after fifteen minutes, and Lin Mu let the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat down on to the ground. The beast looked up at Lin Mu as if feeling a bit sad that its fun ride had ended, but then Lin Mu told it again what he wanted.
The Brown Shrubby Forest Cat then turned in a direction and started running that way. Lin Mu followed after it and ran. Still, it was getting harder for him to keep up with the beast because of its speed. Although it was already moving slow, so as to let Lin Mu follow it, that speed was still higher than Lin Mu's top speed.
"Brown Shrubby Forest Cats are indeed quite fast. I wonder what more can they do." Lin Mu muttered to himself.
"Brown Shrubby Forest Cats although timid are quite strong. While they are small and look like they can be harmed even by a child, that is not so. Do not forget that it is a mid tier spirit beast now, that can easily crush the bones of a commoner." Xukong added.
"I understand senior." Lin Mu replied while running.
He continued following after the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat for nearly an hour, after which he realized that they had come quite deep into the Northern forest. According to the direction it had taken him in, Lin Mu realized that it was in the Northeastern region of the forest.
Lin Mu had not come to this part ever before, thus was a little confused about the area. But it mattered less to him now as he could directly scan the area with his spirit sense as he passed by. This way not only was he following the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat but also memorizing the topography.
Another half an hour later, the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat had slowed down and came to a thickly forested area. The trees and bushes in this area were densely packed together, and Lin Mu had a hard time passing through them. He eventually had to use his short sword to cut the trees and plants that came in his path and blocked it.
The Brown Shrubby Forest Cat was able to maneuver through them with relative ease, and it seemed like it had a lot of experience.
But suddenly at a certain point, the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat disappeared into thin air.
"What the… what happened where did he go?" Lin Mu uttered with shock as he tried looking around for the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat.
He checked on his connection and saw that it was still there and was just as strong as before. Lin Mu communicated with the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat, trying to call him back.
Lin Mu's attempt was soon successful as the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat returned, appearing out of thin air the same way as before. At least this time Lin Mu could see where it had gone. Lin Mu looked at the exact place the Brown Shrubby Forest Cat appeared from and observed it curiously.
The Brown Shrubby Forest Cat walked up to Lin Mu and bumped its head into him before speaking to him.
"No home?" It asked.