The setting sun looked like blood.
The glow of the clouds stained the northern slope of Qinling crimson, and the once bustling Xuanhe Village returned to its usual serenity, broken only by the chorus of barking dogs.
Chen Yuan brought out tables and chairs, then carried dishes from the kitchen. The sunset's afterglow spilled across his shoulders, while Cola beside the table was already waiting expectantly, tail wagging wildly.
"Dig in," Chen Weiyi said lightly, picking up his chopsticks first.
Dinner wasn't much different from usual—a plate of stir-fried garlic shoots with cured meat, a plate of cold cucumber salad, simple and unpretentious.
Stir-fried garlic shoots with cured meat was a classic Hunan dish, full of color, aroma, and flavor—never gets old, no matter how many times you eat it.
Especially after the cured meat is marinated and smoked, it develops a distinctive taste, the savory aroma lingering between the teeth.
Chen Yuan swallowed a piece of cured meat, chewed it a few times, savoring the flavor, his eyes narrowing in enjoyment.
He then scooped a mouthful of rice, picked up a cucumber slice, crisp and refreshing, clearing the palate.
"Woof woof wooo!" Anxious barking echoed by his ears; Cola under the table eyed the two eating with eager longing, darting back and forth impatiently.
"You eat too."
Chen Yuan placed the leftover lunch into Cola's bowl, setting it in front of her. Cola immediately buried her head in the bowl, tail wagging ever faster.
In the countryside, dog feeding wasn't complicated—the owner eats what the dog eats.
Still, considering other factors, Chen Yuan would occasionally feed dog food, to balance Cola's nutrition and help her grow strong.
"As for you..."
Chen Yuan raised his head slightly, locking eyes with a pair of deep blue gaze.
Thanks to Grandpa's advice, Chen Yuan didn't have Flame Cloud Falcon burn the weeds with fire, but obediently grabbed the sickle and helped Grandpa clear them instead.
But given that Flame Cloud Falcon spent all afternoon practicing skills, hard work if not accomplishment, Chen Yuan decided to treat it with something nice.
As a wildlife rescue worker, Chen Yuan had once cared for an injured hunting falcon, so he understood their dietary needs well.
From what he knew, falcons are carnivorous—mainly eating insects, fish, animal liver, and such.
He took out a plate of freshly cut raw beef from the fridge, grabbed a piece with tweezers, and handed it to Spark.
"See if you like it?" He looked at Spark expectantly.
If Spark didn't like beef, there was always chicken breast in the fridge.
Luckily, Spark didn't disappoint—tilting his head, he scrutinized the beef, his eyes gleaming with thought, then opened his beak and gulped it down in one bite.
"Chirp!"
Having eaten the beef, Spark spread his wings, a hint of delight in his expression, even rubbing his head against Chen Yuan's right hand.
"I'm glad you like it." Chen Yuan smiled warmly, handing another piece of raw beef to Spark with the tweezers.
Cola, who had just finished her leftovers and the tiny bit of cola Chen Yuan poured specially, raised her head in satisfaction, couldn't help but burp, her tail slowing down as a wave of sleepiness washed over her.
After eating and drinking, it's snooze time, woof!
But when Cola lifted her head, what she saw stunned her on the spot—mouth agape, dazed eyes, and an incredulous look told of her shock at that moment.
"Woof woof!"
Regaining her senses, Cola bared her teeth at Spark, fur bristling, face torn between outrage and envy.
"Chirp～"
Spark enjoyed Chen Yuan's attentive feeding, stealing a glance at Cola's dramatic reaction, then affectionately nuzzled Chen Yuan's palm.
"Woof woof woof woof!"
Cola could no longer sit still—jumping up, she rushed to Chen Yuan's feet, grabbing his pants leg in her jaws and tugging forcefully.
Don't let the owner be charmed by it!
"Silly dog," Chen Yuan laughed and scolded, then crouched down and gently stroked Cola's furry back with his palm. Cola finally calmed, even sticking out her tongue and laying down at Chen Yuan's feet.
To Chen Yuan, he definitely preferred Cola, whom he'd raised since she was a pup—dumb as she could be, but loyal above all.
The sort that, even across a whole mile, would run up wagging her tail as soon as she spotted him.
But Chen Yuan had already become a Beastmaster, while Cola was still an ordinary creature, unable to form a contract.
He had to settle for contracting with Spark, hoping to get ahead in this brand-new era.
If Cola ever evolves into an Extraordinary Creature, Chen Yuan would contract with her without hesitation.
"Tsk."
On the lounge chair, cooling off, Chen Weiyi watched the two little ones competing for affection, waved his big palm fan, and marveled, "The times really have changed."
As night deepened,
Chen Yuan stayed in his bedroom. Outside, the world was pitch-black and vast—no light anywhere, just an endless mix of bird calls and barking, never stopping.
Maybe tired from a long day, Spark was already fast asleep, lying on a soft pillow, gently snoring.
"Woof..."
Cola whimpered weakly, lying on the floor, feeling the breeze swirling round her.
"Woof!"
She stretched out a paw and tried to swipe at the air, but caught nothing, puzzled, so she scratched her head.
Chen Yuan sat cross-legged on the bed, ready to meditate to strengthen his Spiritual Power. Recalling the meditation points, he exhaled lightly, focused his breath and mind, about to close his eyes, when he noticed a faint glow blooming at his chest.
"Eh?"
Chen Yuan looked down, finally noticing that the Jade Pendant hanging on his chest was emitting a soft light.
This Jade Pendant was the Chen Family's heirloom. After Mr. Chen's accidental death, it fell into his hands.
A glowing Jade Pendant—if you told anyone, it'd sound like mystical nonsense, fit for an episode of "Approaching Science."
But Chen Yuan thought of the changing world, evolving creatures, and muttered, "Guess that's nothing weird anymore."
Next second, an ashen-gray space appeared in his mind from nowhere, the edges lit up by a glowing spot.
Chen Yuan was stunned. "Beast Taming Space?"
The next moment, he shook his head, vetoing his guess, "No."
This space was different from the Beast Taming Space he sensed upon awakening—distinct in many ways.
As he considered it, Chen Yuan noticed that glowing spot started moving, drifting closer, the glow getting brighter, flooding his vision in a blink.
In that instant, Chen Yuan felt like something was calling out to him.
...
Shanghai,
Inside a detached villa,
Jiang Wenning gazed down at the glowing Jade Pendant in her hand, her long, straight legs crossed, right hand propping up her chin, brow furrowed. "Grandpa's Jade Pendant... it can actually glow?"
In the next moment, her pupils contracted—she saw a dazzling, radiant spot fill her vision, engulfing everything.
She stood frozen, blurting out instinctively:
"Am I about to transmigrate?"