Beastmaster of the Ages

”That’s right,” Tianming said.

”Outworlders are indeed out of the ordinary, but don’t bother lying to me. The fatigue is fate’s decree. Nobody can escape its grasp within the Xenoabyss, not before, not now, not ever,” Qi Huan said.

”One already has.”

”Sir, don’t mess around. I’m in a really bad mood today.” All things considered, Qi Huan had a good temper, otherwise he wouldn’t have entertained Tianming for so long.

”This isn’t a trick. You’ll know if it can be done or not once I try it. You won’t lose anything from it,” Tianming said in a more daring tone.

”...Fine!” Even though he was confident it was a trick, Qi Huan didn’t want to give up even the slightest sliver of hope.

”I’ll tell you the conditions first.”

”Go on.”

”The cure takes a lot out of me. I’ll only be able to heal one case of xeno fatigue today. Once I do, I want a hundred thousand soulstones and your order fragment. Most importantly, you should know what it means for xeno fatigue to be cured. Whether you choose your mother or son first, make sure not to let either of them out within the short term, lest you cause a commotion.” Tianming wanted to buy enough time for him to settle Beibei and her mother down somewhere safe.

”You make it sound like it’ll actually work,” Qi Huan said with a hopeless smile.

”You can pretend for now, and weigh the pros and cons yourself.”

”If it’s really true, a hundred thousand soulstones and the order fragment wouldn’t be an issue!” Qi Huan would even give his life for his mother and son’s suffering to end. Tianming’s conditions weren’t excessive in the least. Besides, he was already planning to use the funds from selling the order fragment to relieve their suffering in the first place, even temporarily.

”Alright. Come to the entrance and get me,” Tianming said. While it was rather risky, he had made a few preparations before coming. He had also made sure to understand what kind of person Qi Huan was. Not to mention, saving only one person today would leave the other still sick, so the promise of saving the other was his leverage. Additionally, he had Beibei and her mother as backup. Even if Qi Huan broke the terms, Tianming had contingencies planned, though it didn’t seem like he would need them, given Qi Huan’s character.

......

Qi Huan followed Yin Chen to the entrance of the manor and found Tianming. He pulled him into his sleeve and said, ”An orderan outworlder? You’re a brave one.”

”Just so-so, I guess.” Tianming didn’t say too much to keep an air of mystique. The more mysterious he was, the less Qi Huan would risk messing around.

”What’s the point of wasting a grieving man’s time and patience?” Qi Huan said.

”There’s no point. Just watch and you’ll see,” Tianming said, fully confident.

Common sense told Qi Huan that having hope in Tianming was a complete waste of mental effort. However, he had no choice but to have at least some faith, for the sake of his mother and son. What if it was true? He couldn’t afford to miss out on a potential cure if it was.

It didn’t take long before Qi Huan had brought Tianming to the depths of the manor, where the fatigued were quarantined. Others normally wouldn’t dare to enter in fear of being afflicted themselves. It was deathly quiet compared to the busier areas. There were small rooms on the left and right with barely any illumination within.

”Mother or son, choose one,” Tianming said.

”My mother, then.” Qi Huan didn’t hesitate at all. His mother was old and on her last breath. If she wasn’t saved now, she wouldn’t have much longer to live.

”Once I deal with it, you’d better quickly hand over the goods. That way, your son will be saved as well. You know I’m not asking for a lot. You’re truly lucky to have even met me,” Tianming said.

”Stop boasting first. If I find out that you’re playing a trick on me, I’ll beat you up to no end,” Qi Huan said, shrugging.

”Just watch.”

”Hell!”

Qi Huan knocked on the door and opened it. The weak voice of an old woman came from within. ”Huan’er, you’re here again.”

”Mom, sorry for disappointing you. I’m sorry my brother isn’t here to see you,” Qi Huan said with a sigh.

”It’s nice that you visit. You should come more often—I don’t have much time left.”

Tianming saw her in her sickbed, covered by thick blankets. Despite that, she shivered in the darkness. Yin Chen had heard rumors that the matriarch of the house used to be quite the looker, unlike the shriveled old woman before them now.

”Mom, an outworlder kid came by and said that he could get rid of the fatigue in exchange for the order fragment. I brought him here.”

”People from that world like to joke around, huh? I’ll indulge a bit in their fun and games then.”

”Shut up, both of you. Not a sound.” Tianming wanted to get this settled as soon as possible, so he ignored their touching conversation and flew to the forehead of the matriarch before Qi Huan even gave permission.

”You....” Qi Huan furrowed his brows, but his face immediately changed. He watched as Tianming absorbed the miasma of the xeno fatigue from the old woman’s body. ”Huh?”

”What?” The crone opened her eyes wide. She hadn’t felt such clarity for a long time. She and her son both waited with bated breath. Their eyes widened nonstop. Qi Huan’s hands endlessly shook mid air. Soon, a third of the process was complete. Even then, the effects were clear. The matriarch’s flesh seemed far more taut than before; it looked like she had at least two thousand years of life left!

”It’s a miracle!” Qi Huan was stupefied. He teared up and blankly knelt on the ground, slapping his face time and time again in fear he was dreaming.

”Benefactor!” the matriarch also cried.

Tianming knew that the order fragment was his for the taking, judging by their reactions. Looks like they’re indeed kind-hearted people. He had initially been worried that he would run into trouble for being too weak. An outlworlder that could get rid of fatigue should have been showered in riches in the first place. It seemed that working together with these people would be much easier moving forward.

The matriarch’s countenance grew better and better as Tianming continued. His second trial had succeeded. He heaved a sigh of relief and feigned a tired appearance. ”I need to leave for now, but I’ll be back. Family Leader, see for yourself if this is satisfactory.”

Qi Huan and his mother were already uncontrollably crying, tight in each other’s embrace. His mother looked just like her old, attractive self.

”Benefactor!” She pulled her son along and kowtowed to Tianming.

”Thank you for saving my mother, Benefactor!” Qi Huan earnestly said.

Tianming wanted to say that he didn’t care, as long as he got what he was promised, but he didn’t mind this treatment either, even if it felt a little excessive. ”Alright, I’ll go the extra mile and save your son today as well.”