I'm Just a Beast Tamer

"Lord Zhong!"

After Wei Xiangbo announced he had urgent matters to report, a middle-aged court official arrived unhurriedly at the residence where the Wei Family was being held under house arrest.

Wei Xiangbo sighed in relief when he saw who it was.

The visitor was Zhong Taiwen, a court official who had always maintained close ties with the Wei Family.

Zhong Taiwen’s relationship with the Wei Family was good. With him here, things would be much easier to discuss.

"Young Master Wei, what is this urgent matter? The court’s decision to place your Wei Family under house arrest was a last resort. I hope you can understand."

"Aside from not being able to leave, you shouldn’t have to worry about anything else."

Zhong Taiwen said politely, sipping his tea.

Although the Wei Family was under house arrest, the Daze Dynasty wasn’t treating them too harshly.

In fact, placing the Wei Family under house arrest was the best option for both the Daze Dynasty and Wei Jiemie.

As long as the Wei Family remained in the Daze Dynasty’s hands, the Cao Kingdom couldn’t force Wei Jiemie to act against the Daze Dynasty.

Unless the Cao Kingdom killed Wei Jiemie, it was impossible to force a Grandmaster to act against the interests of his entire family, disregarding their lives and their future generations.

"To be honest, Lord Zhong, my father has a highly trusted person on the outside. If our Wei Family were to face a great disaster, that person would take action and deliver something to the Worldwide Bank."

"The Worldwide Bank will offer a reward for completing a certain task. My father has already decided what that task will be: to avenge our Wei Family."

"The outside world is unaware of my father’s and the Wei Family’s situation. To them, it must look as if the dynasty has persecuted us."

"If I’m not allowed to send a message out, that person will go to the Worldwide Bank, and the target of their revenge will very likely become the Daze Dynasty!"

"That would be a catastrophe for both the Daze Dynasty and our Wei Family!"

Wei Xiangbo said with a bitter smile.

Wei Xiangbo had only learned that Wei Jiemie was captured by the Cao Kingdom after he himself was placed under house arrest.

From an outsider’s perspective, it looked as if the Daze Dynasty had used some scheme to eliminate Wei Jiemie’s entire family.

After all, although Wei Jiemie was a Grandmaster, he did not serve the Daze Dynasty. It would be perfectly normal for the dynasty to find an opportunity to eliminate him.

Things like that had happened in every kingdom.

"Oh, that matter? You needn’t worry, Young Master Wei. The person your father trusts was actually brought under control immediately. Just like you, he is under house arrest."

Zhong Taiwen said with a light chuckle.

"What?"

Zhong Taiwen’s words struck Wei Xiangbo like a bolt from the blue, leaving him utterly stunned.

He had gone to great lengths to conceal the nature of that so-called "thing," precisely because he didn’t want the Daze Dynasty to know that the person was delivering a piece of information to the Worldwide Bank, not a physical object.

If the Daze Dynasty had that person under control, it meant the information had already fallen into their hands.

All the Daze Dynasty had to do was deliver the information to the Worldwide Bank, and they would be the ones to receive the reward.

A wave of dizziness washed over Wei Xiangbo at the thought.

"Rest assured, Young Master Wei. The court has no intention of harming you. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have placed you under protective house arrest."

"From now on, just live here in peace until Grandmaster Wei returns."

"And to keep you from overthinking, I might as well tell you: that so-called ’thing’ is related to the Cultivation Technique Grandmaster Wei practices. The Daze Dynasty will deliver the information to the Worldwide Bank at the appropriate time."

Hearing Zhong Taiwen’s words, Wei Xiangbo’s heart sank, all hope extinguished.

A long time ago, Wei Jiemie had told him that the Jade Stone he possessed was actually something the Worldwide Bank had a bounty on. If the Wei Family ever faced a great disaster, even just sending information about the Jade Stone to the Worldwide Bank would allow the family to receive a huge reward after the bank used the information to find it.

...

「Inside Lizhou City.」

Ruan Jianglan was taken aback when Jiang Zuo told her he was leaving.

After a moment’s hesitation, Ruan Jianglan said, "Zhao, actually, I was already planning to bid you farewell and return to my hometown. Since you’re also leaving, why don’t we just sell the shop?"

"Business isn’t what it used to be, but if we sell it for a low price, plenty of people would be willing to take it."

Years ago, Ruan Jianglan had ignored her parents’ objections and eloped, leaving her hometown with a man she loved.

But she had entrusted her heart to the wrong person. After she gave birth and the money she had secretly taken from home ran out, the man she loved abandoned her and vanished without a trace.

Filled with regret, Ruan Jianglan was too ashamed to go back home.

But after years of managing the shop for Jiang Zuo and saving up some money, she couldn’t resist secretly asking someone to inquire about her parents back home.

When she later learned her parents were facing difficulties, she even secretly had some money sent back to them.

The thought of returning had crossed her mind, but she always suppressed it.

She didn’t want Ruan Xiaoxian to know his father was actually a scoundrel. She had always told her son that his father had unfortunately died of an illness.

Not long ago, however, Ruan Jianglan received news that her mother was gravely ill and likely wouldn’t survive past the end of the year.

Ruan Xiaoxian was a grown man now, with his own judgment. Even if he learned the truth, he would be able to handle it. The thought of going back immediately took hold of Ruan Jianglan’s mind.

She had been hesitating, wondering how to bring this up with Jiang Zuo, only for him to come and tell her first that he was leaving.

"Is that so? You’ve worked hard all these years. I was planning to give you the shop anyway. Do with it as you please."

Jiang Zuo looked at Ruan Jianglan, sighing inwardly.

In the blink of an eye, nearly twenty-eight years had passed by the banks of the Li River.

Ruan Jianglan had worked for him for almost twenty-four of those years, transforming from a girl not yet twenty to a middle-aged woman in her forties.

For over two decades, Ruan Jianglan had been diligent and conscientious, never once slacking.

Jiang Zuo had decided long ago that whenever he quit, he would give the shop to Ruan Jianglan.

The shop could probably sell for three to four thousand taels of silver. It would serve as a bonus for all her years of service.

This...

Ruan Jianglan was stunned speechless.

She had expected Jiang Zuo might give her a share of the money after selling the shop, but she never imagined he would give her the entire shop itself.

By the time she came to her senses, Jiang Zuo had already slipped away.

Ruan Jianglan hurried out of the shop, but there was no sign of Jiang Zuo anywhere.

Facing the direction of the Li River where Jiang Zuo had lived, Ruan Jianglan bowed deeply.

"Zhao, farewell. The luckiest thing that ever happened to me in this life was meeting you."

Ruan Jianglan whispered softly.

...

Having decided to lie low, Jiang Zuo planned to do so thoroughly, leaving no trace for anyone who might search for him.

Jiang Zuo was ready to find a deserted mountain wilderness with a lake or river to continue raising his Black Stone Fish.

Once he cultivated the ability to breathe underwater, he would have nearly enough Beast Taming Reputation to reduce his age to below sixteen.

Then he could find a new place to start over, begin accumulating Beast Taming Reputation, and also start practicing the Life Essence Returning Skill.

But before that, Jiang Zuo had to fulfill the obsession of the gecko carcass.

Jiang Zuo planned to travel down the river, frequenting every casino along the way.

He believed it would take less than a year to resolve the gecko carcass’s obsession.

Great Black and Xiaoqing had already been taken into the Pet Beast Spirit Garden by Jiang Zuo.

Along with them, he had also taken one male and two female Black Stone Fish.

This way, as long as he didn’t go somewhere with an unsuitable climate, he could raise Black Stone Fish anywhere.

With nothing holding him back, the progress on the gecko carcass’s obsession advanced rapidly.

There wasn’t much of the obsession left to begin with. In less than a year, the gecko carcass’s obsession finally vanished.

『The gecko carcass’s obsession has vanished!』

『Beast Pattern ’Limb Regeneration’ acquired!』

——Limb Regeneration: A Tier 3 Beast Pattern. Limbs such as hands, feet, tails, and wings can slowly grow back even if severed.

A Tier 3 Beast Pattern!

By observing a Tier 3 Beast Pattern, his Spiritual Power could increase significantly again.

Furthermore, the effect of this Limb Regeneration was incredibly powerful.

The only unknown was how much of a burden this Beast Pattern, which forcibly granted a Pet Beast the ability to regenerate limbs, would place on it.

However, no matter how great the burden, once he could draw it, he could use the advanced Beast Cage for Learning.

So it wasn’t a problem at all!

Besides the Tier 3 Beast Pattern, the greatest reward was, of course, the Beast Soul Power.

This Tier 3 Obsession Relic, the gecko carcass, had given Jiang Zuo a total of 300 Beast Soul Power!

A truly generous amount.

Jiang Zuo’s Beast Soul Power now totaled 480!

Having fulfilled the gecko carcass’s obsession, there was nothing left for Jiang Zuo to linger for here.

Jiang Zuo immediately crossed the Li River and headed east.

He didn’t know how far he traveled, but eventually, Jiang Zuo arrived at a deep, deserted mountain range.

Before him was a vast, shimmering lake, its surface shrouded in mist. Many birds and beasts were drinking by the shore.

After circling the area and confirming there was no one else around, Jiang Zuo settled down here.

And then...

「Thirteen years passed in a flash.」

By the banks of the Li River, where Jiang Zuo once lived.

A noble young madam dressed in a white fur-trimmed cloak strolled along the riverbank.

’I was hoping I could have some of Zhao’s cooking when I returned, but to think he’s been gone for over a decade.’

’I wonder what kind of person Zhao really was. He’s been gone for so long, yet the Garrison Army is still here, guarding his residence day and night, keeping outsiders away.’

Zhuang Ruying stared at the fishing boat on the shore, now weathered and dilapidated, lost in thought for a long time.

After being away from Lizhou for nearly twenty years, she had finally returned to the land where she grew up.

Nearly two decades had passed, but time had not left many traces on her beautiful face.

Though approaching forty, she looked like a noble lady just past thirty.

She hadn’t changed much, but alas, the people and places of the past were not the same.

Only this small place allowed her to immerse herself in the memories of her youth.

For this, she had gone so far as to bribe the Garrison Army guard on duty just to get inside.

In the following days, Zhuang Ruying returned several more times.

Then, one evening, when she came again, she saw a gentle, elegant, and vaguely familiar male figure standing by the river.

Wen Shulin turned and looked at Zhuang Ruying, their eyes meeting.

"Do you still remember the promise from twenty-one years ago?"

Wen Shulin spoke slowly, his voice rich and calm, putting one’s heart at ease.

"Of course, I remember."

Zhuang Ruying suppressed the ripples in her heart and nodded.

「Half a month later.」

A rumor spread rapidly throughout Lizhou City.

"You know Zhuang Ruying, right?"

"When the Zhuang Family fell, she was just a young girl."

"But even then, she was a business genius! Relying only on the Zhuang Family’s remaining assets in Sishui State, she made a comeback in just twenty years!"

"The Zhuang Family is now one of the largest merchant families in Sishui State. Many talented business people have emerged within the family, and they are at the height of their prosperity."

"And you know Wen Shulin?"

"Of course! You don’t have to tell me. Who in Lizhou doesn’t know the name Wen Hanlin now!"

"Exactly! It’s just that Wen Hanlin and Zhuang Ruying eloped again, right? Even my seven-year-old kid knows about it. If you don’t have any other inside information, then don’t bother saying any more!"

"I do! I do! Someone in my family has connections with the Garrison Army, and I heard a piece of news from them that you’ve definitely never heard before!"

...

"Outrageous! Simply outrageous!"

"At their age, to just abandon everything and elope like a couple of youngsters!"

"So this is why they refused to marry all this time! They were waiting for this day!"

"Send everyone! We must find him and bring him back!"

While the rumors swirled wildly outside, both the Wen Family and the Zhuang Family were furious.

Back then, the two were young and unburdened. It was understandable that they didn’t want an arranged marriage and chose to elope.

But now, one held a high position, and the other possessed immense wealth.

For them to abandon everything and disappear without a trace was inconceivable.

It was true that without the two of them, their families wouldn’t collapse as they might have in the past.

But both families were on a steep upward trajectory, and without these two, their momentum would inevitably be broken.

It would take an unknown amount of time and effort to reach such heights again.

Therefore, both the Wen Family and the Zhuang Family were frantically trying to find them.

This time, however, Zhuang Ruying and Wen Shulin did not return as they had twenty-one years ago.

They vanished completely, leaving behind only a legend in Lizhou.

After the commotion died down, peace returned to Lizhou.

Time flowed like water, and another three years passed.