22

"Are you sure it's me who has to feed it, and not you?" Lin Kai scoffed, disbelief evident in his tone. What a joke! There was no way he'd rush into that shed to feed that beast. If he had to feed it, he'd just toss the fruit through the metal bars. Besides, wasn't Ji Yan supposed to show him how things worked here? Why had the roles suddenly reversed, making him the one who needed to handle the beast?

"Well?" Ji Yan tilted his head slightly, his brows furrowed. "Didn't they tell you? It's 'your' job to take care of these beasts. I'm just here to guide you until you get the hang of it. How I do that... well, that's up to me."

"I need to observe first. What if I do something wrong?" Lin Kai shook his head in frustration. It hadn't even been an hour since they told him about his new duties. He couldn't just rush in blindly. He needed time to understand how things worked. Taking a deep breath, he continued, "How about you handle today's tasks, and I'll take notes? Tomorrow, I'll take over."

Though he hadn't had the chance to read through the book completely, he'd skimmed enough of it to get a rough idea. It listed numerous beasts, their habits, and the methods for caring for them. All Lin Kai needed to do was observe Ji Yan, compare it with the book later, and fully grasp the process.

Unfortunately for him, Ji Yan wasn't having any of it. Shaking his head, Ji Yan immediately shot down the suggestion. "How can that work? You need to listen to me. If you don't like it, feel free to bring this up with the elder who assigned you here. Let's see if you still think you don't have to follow my lead."

His voice was calm but firm, leaving no room for debate. That same infuriating smirk never left his face, clearly enjoying Lin Kai's helplessness. Lin Kai, on the other hand, seriously reconsidered punching Ji Yan in the face.

"....." Lin Kai stood in silence, weighing his options. But no matter how much he thought, there didn't seem to be any way around it. Every now and then, he glanced at Ji Yan. By now, it was clear: even if the previous body's owner knew this guy, they were no friends. Ji Yan either had a grudge or was purposely trying to make things difficult for him.

As for why... Lin Kai had a vague idea. The way Ji Yan came and went freely, and the fact that he'd been assigned as Lin Kai's partner, suggested this brat had some powerful backing. He might even be a direct member of the Ji family, targeting Lin Kai for reasons unknown.

'Could it be that he's figured out about my bones?' Lin Kai's mind spiraled with wild speculations, each one more troublesome than the last.

"Hurry up! We've got a lot of work to do." Ji Yan finally grew impatient, urging Lin Kai to get on with it. "Go on, pick it up, enter the shed, and then feed the Blood Goat."

"Ugh…" Gritting his teeth, Lin Kai took a few steps forward, reluctantly grabbing the basket of glossy heart-shaped fruits. He glanced at Ji Yan, then at the menacing Blood Goat inside the shed. After a brief hesitation, he decided to feed the beast from outside first, just to see how it would react. Without anyone to guide him properly, he had no choice but to figure things out on his own.

Just as he picked up a Heart Fruit and was about to toss it into the shed, his entire body stiffened. Not from fear or hesitation—but from excitement.

A familiar panel popped up in front of him.

[Absorb Heart Fruit?]

[Yes/No]

"Gulp." Lin Kai swallowed hard, instinctively wanting to choose [Yes]. But now wasn't the time. If he were alone, he might have done it. But with Ji Yan standing right there...

Suppressing the urge to absorb the fruit, Lin Kai focused on the task and tossed the fruit into the shed.

"Huh?" Ji Yan, who had been watching him closely, frowned as he noticed Lin Kai freeze for a moment before throwing the fruit. Though he didn't say anything, Ji Yan couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief. Feeding the beast this way was a mistake, and Lin Kai was about to find out why.

Sure enough, the moment the fruit hit the ground, the Blood Goat reared up on its hind legs, then stomped down with a furious snort, smashing the fruit into pulp. It turned its gaze toward Lin Kai, shaking its head violently as if mocking him.

"This…" Lin Kai stood there, dumbfounded by the almost human-like reaction of the beast. He wasn't imagining it. The creature had clearly mocked him.

"Why don't you just follow orders?" Ji Yan's exasperated voice came from behind. Walking over to Lin Kai, he stood beside him, looking into the shed with a sigh. He had intended to mess with Lin Kai a bit, but seeing how cautious and hesitant he was, Ji Yan was left speechless. He had encountered cowards before, but Lin Kai was on another level.

"Why did it crush the fruit?" Lin Kai didn't show it, but his heart ached. Based on the panel, the fruit was valuable. If he could absorb it, it would likely grant him an improvement or even a new skill. But now... it was nothing but mush. For a moment, he was even tempted to see if he could still absorb the smashed fruit.

"Does it seem strange to you?" Ji Yan raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on his face. He took a step forward, picked up another Heart Fruit, and before Lin Kai could react, reached through the metal bars to unlock the door.

"This…" Lin Kai's eyes widened in shock. The Blood Goat had looked ready to tear them apart just moments ago. Was this brat insane?

But to Lin Kai's surprise, Ji Yan stepped into the shed, raised his hand, and presented the fruit to the beast. The Blood Goat, which had been so ferocious just moments ago, now acted like a well-trained dog, calmly awaiting its treat.

"What the..?" Lin Kai was at a loss for words. The difference in its behaviour was staggering. No wonder this guy had been put in charge of taking care of the beasts.

What Lin Kai didn't know was that the moment Ji Yan entered the shed, the Blood Goat had initially wanted to trample him. But just as it was about to act, it felt an overwhelming pressure. It was a one-sided suppression, like a beggar before a king, or a firefly before the moon. The creature didn't dare defy him. In an instant, it became docile, awaiting its master's command.

"See?" Ji Yan's voice snapped Lin Kai out of his thoughts. "It's that simple."

"The thing about these beasts is that you can't just treat them like household animals. Though wild in nature, they demand respect." Ji Yan spoke in a calm, steady tone, almost like he was delivering a well-practiced lesson. Whether it was all true or not, Lin Kai had no idea.

"Come in." Ji Yan stepped aside, waving for Lin Kai to enter the shed.

Lin Kai hesitated, eyeing the Blood Goat warily. But seeing how Ji Yan seemed fine, he gritted his teeth and took a step inside. The first thing that hit him was the overpowering stench. He wrinkled his nose in disgust and approached the beast, which kept flicking its gaze between him and Ji Yan. For a moment, Lin Kai saw cruelty flash in the creature's eyes, but as soon as it met Ji Yan's calm, smiling face, the beast trembled and stayed still.

This time, Lin Kai picked up the glossy Heart Fruit and, with a steady hand, moved it toward the Blood Goat's mouth. Unlike before, when it smashed the fruit to pulp, the beast quietly opened its mouth and ate it.

"See? Nothing to worry about." Ji Yan flashed a smile before picking up the remaining fruits and feeding them one by one until nothing remained. "Now that it's been fed, go ahead and clean the enclosure."

Without waiting for a response, Ji Yan strolled out of the shed and stood in the open air.

Lin Kai glanced at him, not saying a word. Bending down, he grabbed a broom and started cleaning the shed. The mess was overwhelming—no wonder they needed to clean these places regularly.

It took nearly an hour to get the shed cleaned up. During the entire time, Lin Kai kept a cautious eye on the Blood Goat, now resting in the corner. As for Ji Yan... he had disappeared somewhere again without a word.

When he was finished, Lin Kai looked around to make sure no one was watching. His heart pounded with anticipation as he bent down, his hands trembling slightly, and gathered the smashed pulp of the Heart Fruit he'd managed to collect. Though it was covered in waste and fur, the possibility of absorbing its power excited him. If this worked, who knew what it could mean for his future?

With a mix of nerves and hope, he placed his hand on the pulp. Instantly, a familiar feeling surged through him.

[Absorb Heart Fruit?]

[Yes/No]

Without hesitation, Lin Kai grinned and selected [Yes]. The pulp was quickly enveloped in a thin, dark layer and then vanished entirely.

A shiver ran through Lin Kai's body, but it disappeared just as quickly as it came. He took deep, steadying breaths, trying to calm the excitement rushing through him. His eyes flickered as the panel appeared before him.

[Name: Lin Kai]

[Realm: 8th Step (False)]

[Skills: Exploration, Self-Heal, Empowerment]

[Empowerment: Ignite your blood to strengthen yourself.]

"This..." Lin Kai whispered, his breath cold in the air. He hadn't expected this. Though he'd hoped to gain something from the Heart Fruit, he never really believed a new skill would appear. His hands twitched, itching to try out the skill immediately, but he forced himself to stay calm. There would be time for that later. He stepped outside, carefully closing the shed behind him, trying to suppress his growing excitement.

"Relax, take your time," he muttered under his breath. The day was far from over. He still had plenty of time to test out the skill once his work was done.

With a deep sigh, Lin Kai walked to the second shed. Curious, he peeked inside, but to his surprise, it was empty. Judging by the mess, a beast had clearly been here, but now, it was gone.

"Strange." Lin Kai frowned, moving on to the next shed. But it was empty as well. He checked a few more, but all of them were the same—completely vacant.

"They've all gone with their respective owners," just when Lin Kai was wondering what was going on, Ji Yan's laid-back voice came from behind.

"Owners?" Lin Kai couldn't help but ask, confused. He thought the beasts were being kept for their flesh and blood, not as pets for the Ji family.

"You didn't think we were just keeping a bunch of beasts here for no reason, did you?" Ji Yan chuckled, stepping closer to Lin Kai. "Every beast here has formed a contract with a member of the Ji family. That's why servants are assigned here to take care of them. Their status is just as high as the core family members."

"I see..." Lin Kai nodded, understanding now. No wonder the Blood Goat was being fed such precious treasures. While the Heart Fruit might be a dream come true for someone like Lin Kai, to a giant like the Ji family, it was probably just another item.

"But if the beasts are gone, what should I do now?" Lin Kai was like an ant sitting on a hot pan. He was itching to rush back to his room and test his new skill, but Ji Yan's next words crushed that hope.

"Clean their enclosures, of course." Ji Yan looked at him like he was looking at an idiot. "You didn't think your work was over just because the beasts aren't here, did you?"

"Er..." Lin Kai knew he was trapped. With no way out, he sighed heavily, picked up the broom, and resigned himself to cleaning the next shed.