Beast Taming: I'm Really Not a Cultivation Master

Chapter 203: Chapter 182: Flaw, Human Figure

Besides that, there was one thought Li Qian kept to himself. He didn’t voice it, partly because he wasn’t sure how, but mostly because he had no proof.

He had a nagging feeling that the Golden Pearl Bud evolving by absorbing the Golden Pearls of its kin was... odd. It didn’t seem like a proper evolutionary path for a Pet Beast.

Of course, his guess could be wrong. Perhaps the Golden Pearl Bud’s evolution truly did require the sacrifice of its own kind.

It reminded Li Qian of an anime from Japan he’d seen in his past life on Earth. In it, a certain pair of eyes could only reach the next stage of power by absorbing the Pupil Power of a close relative.

”What do you think this flaw in the evolutionary process might be?” Sun Hongyi nodded. Li Qian’s assessment matched his own, so he decided to press the issue and ask directly.

Hearing this, Li Qian shook his head with a wry, helpless smile. ”Professor Sun, you give me too much credit!”

To pinpoint the evolutionary defect after watching just one transformation from a Golden Pearl Bud into a Tidal Sea Spirit... Li Qian didn’t believe he was that capable.

”Ah, I suppose I was getting ahead of myself,” Sun Hongyi sighed, shaking his head in frustration. This problem had plagued him for a long time, but a solution remained elusive.

”Don’t worry, Third Uncle,” Sun Ruirui, who had been standing by and watching, said. She pumped her fist in an encouraging gesture. ”With Li Qian joining you, I’m sure the two of you can put your heads together and solve this problem in no time.”

”I think so too,” Li Qian said, echoing her sentiment with a soft chuckle as he looked at the charming and adorable Sun Ruirui.

Sun Hongyi’s lip twitched as he watched the two interact. After a moment of silence, he spoke again. ”You’ve seen the evolution from Golden Pearl Bud to Tidal Sea Spirit. Do you still want to proceed with our collaboration?”

”Yes, let’s continue. I have no objections,” Li Qian said with a faint smile.

Though he hadn’t offered any concrete suggestions, his words were brimming with confidence.

The subtext was clear: it wouldn’t be long before he could fix this evolutionary defect and achieve a complete evolution into a Tidal Sea Spirit.

And he had good reason to be confident. The only thing stopping him now was that both of his task slots were occupied, preventing him from starting a new Pet Beast research task.

Once he completed one of his current tasks and freed up a slot, he could create a new research task for it. Then, with the guidance of the task system, he could easily complete this evolution—one that was likely already very close to being perfected.

”Ah Hai, you’ve worked hard tonight. Take the Golden Pearl Bud and head back down,” Sun Hongyi said, waving his hand at the Tidal Sea Spirit on the water’s surface now that he had Li Qian’s answer.

The Tidal Sea Spirit let out a soft, whimpering cry in response, then led the Golden Pearl Bud as it dove back into the water.

Once the Tidal Sea Spirit and Golden Pearl Bud were submerged, he turned his focus back to Li Qian. ”It’s getting late. You should go get some rest. I’ll give you the evolution data for the Molten Rock Worm tomorrow morning.”

He then added, ”Oh, and once you have the data, don’t hang around here. Leave immediately.”

Li Qian heard this, glanced at Sun Ruirui beside him, and couldn’t help but smile wryly. ’This guy is clearly treating me like the big bad wolf.’

”Third Uncle...” Sun Ruirui wasn’t a fool; she immediately caught the subtext in his words. A blush crept onto her cheeks, and she cried out in mild reproach.

Seeing this, Li Qian rubbed his nose helplessly. He really wanted to explain that he wasn’t some delinquent out to cause trouble.

But it seemed Sun Hongyi’s opinion of him was already set in stone. ’An explanation would be useless,’ Li Qian figured, so he kept his mouth shut.

Even though the evolution from Golden Pearl Bud to Tidal Sea Spirit he’d just witnessed was flawed and ultimately failed, Li Qian still felt he had gained a great deal.

At the very least, he was now brimming with confidence that he could fix the defect and achieve a complete Tidal Sea Spirit evolution. He even felt it wouldn’t take him long at all.

”Li Qian, don’t listen to my third uncle’s nonsense,” Sun Ruirui said to Li Qian, a little embarrassed, as the three of them walked off the Red Bridge. ”He was just joking with you. You can stay at Hongqiao Manor for as long as you like!”

Li Qian heard this and glanced at Sun Hongyi to gauge his reaction. The professor’s meaningful stare made him immediately backpedal in his mind.

’This guy must have a serious niece complex!’

The pretty, adorable girl before him, Sun Ruirui, was definitely his type, aesthetically speaking, but she wasn’t so beautiful as to be utterly devastating.

Li Qian had no desire to get on the bad side of an Emperor Level Beast Master like Sun Hongyi over her. Who knew if he would end up like Xu Yue, secretly trying to sabotage him.

So, as they walked back, he directly refused her offer. ”Actually, I have other business in Zhonghai City. I have to leave tomorrow after we finish our collaboration.”

Nearby, Sun Hongyi heard this and shot Li Qian a glance, a flicker of ”you know what’s good for you” in his eyes.

Sun Ruirui was a sharp girl and quickly figured out what was happening. She turned her head to look at Sun Hongyi, who immediately put on an innocent expression.

Seeing this, Li Qian couldn’t help but grumble internally. ’This guy’s acting skills are probably on par with his breeding expertise.’

The three of them continued walking, and soon enough, they arrived outside the room where Li Qian was staying. Sun Ruirui stopped, a radiant smile on her face as she looked at him. ”Well, Li Qian, get some rest.”

Then, she softly added two words, ”Good night.”

”Good night,” Li Qian replied with the same two words, then pushed open the door and went inside.

After seeing Li Qian to his room, the uncle and niece continued on their way. There was still some distance to their own quarters. Midway there, Sun Hongyi suddenly asked, ”Sweetheart, do you have feelings for him?”

Sun Ruirui froze for a second. A moment later, a smile graced her lips as she replied, ”He’s a very interesting person.”

Her answer was neither a denial nor a confirmation, but Sun Hongyi, who knew his niece’s personality well, frowned almost imperceptibly.

He looked at his niece and said gently, ”But you know your own situation. Until you’re cured, you simply can’t live like other girls... Sigh.”

Sun Ruirui looked up at the bright moon high in the sky, her voice tinged with longing. ”Third Uncle, I know my situation. I’m just... yearning, that’s all.”

Hearing this, a pained expression crossed Sun Hongyi’s face. His gaze hardened with determination. ”Don’t worry. Your third uncle will definitely find a way to solve this problem for you.”

Back in his room, Li Qian checked the time. It was already late, nearly midnight. He didn’t delay any longer, quickly washing up before getting into bed. It wasn’t long before he fell asleep.

Later that night, a sudden noise came from outside the window. Li Qian had been asleep, but the sound didn’t stop. It continued, intermittently.

The persistent rustling sound roused Li Qian from his sleep. His vision was blurry, but he could vaguely make out what looked like a human figure standing outside his window.

The sight of the figure gave Li Qian a jolt. It just stood there, motionless, outside the window. It was a genuinely terrifying sight, and any trace of sleepiness vanished in an instant.

’What is that?’

After the initial shock and horror passed, Li Qian quickly calmed himself. This was Sun Hongyi’s manor, after all. There were bound to be plenty of Pet Beasts around.

The appearance of a few humanoid Pet Beasts seemed perfectly normal in a place like this.