Celestial Beast Taming

When Zhong Yi came downstairs, only Zhong Chenghuai was there, wiping down the flower stand for the Curled Leaf Luo.

After a good night’s sleep, Zhong Chenghuai, who had looked somewhat haggard before, was now radiant with energy.

As the saying goes, a happy occasion lifts the spirits. Both Zhong Yi and Zhong Ling had awakened their Lifebound Guardian Beasts and Beastmaster Talents, and Zhong Yi was even a Celestial Destiny Seeker.

Nothing made Zhong Chenghuai happier than seeing Zhong Yi and Zhong Ling succeed.

Upon seeing Zhong Yi, Zhong Chenghuai put down his rag and let the elderly Cleaning Mouse take over the cleaning.

"Young Master, I’ll go get you a bowl of congee. I’m not sure why Big Bell was so diligent this morning; it even stewed a basin of boneless pork feet and a huge pot of deboned, red-braised pork ribs."

"Deboned, red-braised ribs lose some of their flavor when you eat them. I’ve never seen Big Bell work this hard before."

Zhong Ling’s Substitute Puppet, Big Bell, was a better cook than Zhong Ling, so it did, in fact, handle most of the family’s meals.

Zhong Chenghuai, who was accustomed to Big Bell’s cooking, had found its behavior a bit odd for the past two days.

Big Bell was usually very particular about balancing meat and vegetable dishes, but now, it was basically only making meat.

Upon hearing this, Zhong Yi suddenly realized something, and a strange look crossed his face.

In that moment, Zhong Yi finally understood. ’So that’s why Hong Ji loves sneaking into the kitchen so much!’

’Looks like I can’t let Hong Ji in the kitchen anymore!’

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Hong Ji was smiling as she kept Big Bell company during food prep. With a calm expression, she took a beef bone that Big Bell had just trimmed and pressed it into her palm.

After devouring the beef bone, Hong Ji moved her cherry-red lips.

"Hmm, not as tasty as a Horned Demon’s leg bone."

Hong Ji, who was joyfully devouring kitchen scraps, had no idea that Zhong Yi had already banned her from the kitchen.

"Uncle Huai, let’s keep the shop closed today. In a little while, I’d like you to accompany me to the Central District to pick out a mansion."

"I could use your opinion on which one would be best."

Beaming, Zhong Chenghuai sat beside Zhong Yi and placed a piece of perfectly lean, deboned, red-braised rib onto his plate.

"Young Master, Xiaolingdang told me about it. I’ll go close up the shop right now. It’ll be difficult to close later if customers come in to look at Guardian Beasts and materials."

By the time Zhong Yi finished his congee, Zhong Chenghuai had already closed the shop, changed his clothes, and returned.

Zhong Chenghuai had never been to the Central District and was worried that wearing the grey robe he used for work would embarrass Zhong Yi.

He had changed into a suit of Leather Armor made from the back hide of a Spotted Water Buffalo. The parents of Zhong Yi’s previous self had bought it for him during the New Year.

Even after so many years, the style was a bit outdated, but it was still perfectly presentable.

There was another important reason Zhong Chenghuai had chosen this particular suit of Leather Armor: it covered the fragmented Beast Pattern on his leg.

"Take your time, Young Master. We’ll leave after you’ve finished eating."

"The Guardian Beast Vehicle I called won’t be here for another half an hour anyway."

Zhong Yi put down his bowl and chopsticks, gulped down half a glass of milk, then said softly to Zhong Chenghuai,

"Uncle Huai, I haven’t seen your Iron-Armed Ape in a long time."

"Go on and summon your Iron-Armed Ape."

Zhong Chenghuai visibly stiffened at Zhong Yi’s words, his expression turning bitter.

The Iron-Armed Ape was his Lifebound Guardian Beast, an old partner who had been by his side ever since his Soul Base first awakened.

A Guardian Beast Master whose Lifebound Guardian Beast’s Origin had never been wounded could never understand the anguish in Zhong Chenghuai’s heart.

Still, at Zhong Yi’s request, Zhong Chenghuai drew upon his Soul Base and summoned the Iron-Armed Ape.

An ape nearly eight and a half feet tall, powerfully built and covered in fine black fur, appeared beside Zhong Chenghuai.

The gorilla’s arms, when spread, were each nearly as long as its body was tall.

However, one of the ape’s forearms was noticeably atrophied, while the other arm hung limply at its side.

There was a bowl-sized hole in its upper arm. Black fur had grown around the edges, but the flesh had never managed to close the wound.

Both arms had sustained wounds to their Origin, though they were far less severe than the injuries suffered by Zhao Kai and his two Guardian Beasts.

To Zhong Chenghuai, these were devastating Origin wounds, but they likely could have been healed if he had found a Fantasy-Tier Healer sooner.

Although a wound to a Guardian Beast’s Origin would cripple it, a high-level Healer could cure most such injuries.

Zhong Chenghuai couldn’t get the Iron-Armed Ape healed simply because his own standing limited him.

After all, without sufficient strength and resources, it was impossible to hire a Healer who had a Contract with a Fantasy-Tier, Healing-type Guardian Beast.

When it was summoned, the Iron-Armed Ape bared its teeth at Zhong Yi. It looked intimidating, but this was actually the ape’s way of smiling at him.

When Zhong Yi and Zhong Ling were children, before the Iron-Armed Ape was injured, they had both used its healthy arms as a swing.

Before Zhong Chenghuai could even react, Zhong Yi summoned his Order Beast, the Resurrection Celestial Lord.

Two Cores of Resurgence landed on the Iron-Armed Ape’s injured arms. In the blink of an eye, the wounds that had plagued Zhong Chenghuai for half his life were completely healed.

Zhong Chenghuai felt a sudden warmth on his calf, and at that moment, his fragmented Beast Pattern was made whole.

"Uncle Huai, I forgot to tell you yesterday. I’m a Celestial Destiny Seeker of the Healing Element."

"From now on, if Iron Arm gets injured again, just leave the healing to me."

Zhong Yi had finished speaking, but for a long moment, neither Zhong Chenghuai nor the newly healed Iron-Armed Ape could process what had just happened.

When he finally snapped out of it, tears of overwhelming joy streamed down Zhong Chenghuai’s face.

As for the Iron-Armed Ape, it began to beat its chest with two powerful arms.

However, the Iron-Armed Ape hadn’t exercised in years. That, combined with the overwhelming strength of its newly healed arms—restored to their genetic potential—caused it to start coughing violently after just a few thumps.

Zhong Yi pulled out a couple of tissues, walked over to Zhong Chenghuai, and placed them in his hand.

"Uncle Huai, it’s all in the past now. There are good days ahead of us."

"Brother Zhao has gone to recruit a Craftsman Apprentice. When he gets back, we can have him help you train Iron Arm."

"Iron Arm has been at the Extraordinary Tier for many years now. It’s time to try pushing for the Fantasy Tier."

"And besides Iron Arm, Uncle Huai, you should also consider forming a Contract with other Guardian Beasts."

"Once you receive the boons from those Guardian Beasts, your own body will become much healthier as well."

Hearing Zhong Yi’s words, Zhong Chenghuai hardly knew how to describe the feeling in his heart.

What had just happened was something he wouldn’t have dared to dream of only a few days prior.

Just a week ago, his only wish had been for Zhong Yi to recover from his vacant, listless state.

After composing himself, Zhong Chenghuai instructed the Iron-Armed Ape to organize the goods in the storeroom.

The Iron-Armed Ape was strong, its arms were long, and it was intelligent—an expert at organizing inventory.

If they were going to move in the next few days, the items in the storeroom needed to be sorted out in advance.

Many of their current items couldn’t possibly be sold in the Central District. Zhong Chenghuai planned to sort out all the low-end goods from the Evolution Shop and either have a clearance sale or sell them in bulk to other shopkeepers at a discount.

While waiting for the Guardian Beast Vehicle, Zhong Yi went to the kitchen and called out Hong Ji, whom he found secretly gnawing on a cow leg bone.

"Hong Ji, eating chicken and beef bones won’t do much to increase your strength. Besides, Big Bell hasn’t undergone a Bloodline Evolution like you have."

"You’re making Big Bell rush around the kitchen all day. It’s about to be worn out."

Hong Ji felt a pang of indignation at Zhong Yi’s words.

’Ever since leaving the Horned Demon Secret Realm, I’ve been so bored I could die!’

Hong Ji was combative by nature and relished the feeling of constantly growing stronger.

Seeing Hong Ji’s sulky expression, Zhong Yi simply handed her a Storage Pouch.