Beast Taming: the More the Better

Chapter 8 - 8: Old Sha, Resigned to Death! Taking the Magic Potion!

The morning sun rose in the east, adding a few degrees of intense heat to the already high temperatures. A gentle breeze rustled through the forest, bringing a rare coolness to the summer morning.

Sitting in the wicker rocking chair where Su Anyong often lay, Xiao Qing, having grown larger, was still held in Su Pingʼs arms, excitedly watching everything in front of her.

In front of Su Ping was an extremely spectacular sight. Outside the forest, within the shadows cast by the canopy, before the manorʼs path, Forest Wolves of various sizes appeared before him. They behaved like well-trained domestic dogs, sitting on the ground, their green eyes intently fixed on Su Ping. At a rough count, there were over twenty of them.

Among them, seven adult Forest Wolves had reached Elite Level or above. One had reached Elite Ninth Order, making it the highest-level Forest Wolf in the base besides Old Sha. Fewer than twenty were still at Ordinary Level, most of them growing pups.

However, in todayʼs Heart of Woods Pet Beast Breeding Base, the most valuable assets were actually these pups. Normally, those who came to purchase Pet Beasts would buy young ones to nurture as their first. Newly awakened Beast Tamers at the Ordinary Level could not contract with an Elite Level Forest Wolf. Furthermore, Beast Tamers who had advanced to Elite Level wouldnʼt usually buy an adult Forest Wolf, as its potential was limited and its development predictable. Therefore, these seven Elite Level Forest Wolves were largely kept as breeding stock.

In front of this wolf pack stood Old Sha, eyeing Su Ping with a wary and cautious look. Clearly, from his apprehensive gaze, he was still thinking about Su Pingʼs threat yesterday to poison him and feed him feces.

Sure enough, after Old Sha had gathered all the Forest Wolves, Su Ping took out a bottle of dark green liquid. Su Ping slowly turned and looked at Old Sha.

”Old Sha!”

Old Sha shuddered, then, with a look full of deep resentment, turned his gaze to Su Ping. However, in the end, Old Sha didnʼt run away as he did yesterday.

There were rules within the Wolf Tribe. Old Sha possessed the authority of a Wolf King. He commanded the members of the Wolf Tribe, and his attitude reflected the packʼs attitude towards Su Ping. Su Anyong had entrusted the Heart of Woods base to Su Ping, so Old Sha had to take the lead and let Su Ping become the ʼkingʼ these little ones would now obey. Therefore, at this time, even if his young master intended to harm him, Old Sha would not back down.

But when Su Ping actually took the vessel filled with dark green liquid from his pouch, Old Shaʼs body still trembled slightly. Then, under the curious gaze of all the Forest Wolves, he walked forward with somewhat trembling limbs.

Seeing Old Shaʼs pleading gaze, Su Ping was somewhat speechless. Is all this fuss necessary? If Xiao Qing werenʼt so young, and if I didnʼt need to test the potionʼs effects on the other Forest Wolves first, would this be so troublesome?

Su Ping stroked the stiff fur on the temples of Old Sha, who had lowered his head, and then softly said, ”Old Sha, you have to trust me! Iʼm doing this for your own good.”

Old Sha glanced at Su Ping, then at the concoction. Although it had cooled, it still retained some of yesterdayʼs smell after being unsealed. Old Sha looked back at Su Ping again.

Those green eyes clearly said: I donʼt believe you one bit!

But in the end, he nodded.

After all, Old Sha was nearly two cycles older than this young master. Possessing wisdom not inferior to humans, he naturally knew what his young master was actually doing. Heʼs making a Magic Potion. Su Anyong, when he was young, also tried a few times. I even ingested it, but the final effects... And the young master, having just graduated and suddenly taking over Heart of Woods, naturally has the ambition to try out his own ideas. So, after a night of deep thought, I know that even if Iʼm poisoned to death, I must protect the young masterʼs pride. I canʼt let him be like that unreliable Su Anyong, just abandoning efforts and completely wasting the old manʼs lifeʼs work!

”AWOO...”

Thus, Old Sha closed his eyes and let out an extremely desolate howl. It lacked only tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.

With an air of heroic self-sacrifice, as if a loyal pet resigned to death at its masterʼs command, this display made Su Ping utterly exasperated as he poured out the Magic Potion.

He decided not to waste any more words. He looked at Old Sha, who had his eyes closed and mouth wide open, as if bracing himself to be fed feces by his young master, and directly poured this dark green, jelly-like Magic Potion, which resembled herbal jelly, into Old Shaʼs mouth.

Then, Old Shaʼs long, steaming tongue lapped it up, swallowing it down his throat without even properly savoring the taste, gobbling it down as if it were a priceless treasure eaten in haste.

Old Sha opened his eyes and looked at the now-empty Magic Potion bottle, then at the young master eagerly watching him. His gaze suddenly lost its brightness, as if the world had turned gray in an instant. Afterward, he came to Su Pingʼs side and began to whimper softly.

Although it was wolf language, Su Ping could still roughly understand some of the meaning: You must carry on the legacy of the Heart of Woods Pet Beast Breeding Base, and definitely grow and strengthen the breeding of the Forest Wolf! Do not let down the hard work and trust of your grandfather, and develop even more powerful evolutionary paths for the Forest Wolf! And, you must strive to become an even more incredible Beast Tamer, you stinky kid!!!!! These sentiments, and more, were conveyed, as if he was delivering his last will and testament. It was also as if an elder on his deathbed faced his kin with his final, earnest teachings.

For a moment, under the sunlight that enveloped the area outside the woods, the atmosphere became incredibly solemn and poignant. Even the rest of the wolf pack lurking nearby, clueless about what was happening, let out mournful howls in response, as if they were bidding farewell to their Wolf King, their elder.

If Su Ping himself didnʼt know what was really going on, he might have been moved by the atmosphere. But what the hell is going on here? Iʼm feeding him a Magic Potion, not poison!

Fortunately, Su Ping didnʼt have to wait long. Suddenly, the utterly serene expression on Old Shaʼs face, which seemed prepared for death, changed. The low whimpering stopped abruptly.

Su Pingʼs expression turned very serious as he observed Old Shaʼs reaction. In that instant, sparkling emerald specks of light appeared on Old Shaʼs originally bluish-gray fur, as if he were enveloped by a faint, verdant green glow.

Throughout the area outside the forest, the air seemed to become incredibly clear. Simultaneously, in the nearby woods and beneath Old Shaʼs feet, branches burst through the soil, growing at a visible pace. At the same time, a faint aura emanated, making Su Pingʼs eyes widen in shock.

The Forest Wolf pack behind him reacted even more intensely, trembling with fear and prostrating on the ground, not daring to gaze directly at their Wolf Kingʼs aura.

This process lasted only a minute.

The next moment, all the peculiar phenomena disappeared, replaced by a crisp and exceedingly jubilant Wolf Howl filled with indescribable joy!