Chapter Eight: Legacy and Cultivation
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Within the lineage of the Beastmaster, it is believed that all things possess spirit, all things contain qi. Through the interaction of qi, a bridge is built between humans and living creatures, allowing the transmission of one’s emotions and the release of goodwill. Gradually, the creatures come to recognize and accept one’s qi, thereby becoming strengthened.
At first glance, this ability seems rather trivial. Particularly, since the qi one cultivates cannot be wielded directly as a weapon but only used to reinforce other creatures, many extraordinary individuals have dismissed it as worthless.
What could one possibly do after mastering it? Become a monkey trainer, performing for the nobility and dignitaries?
Moreover, the Beastmaster arts are notoriously difficult to learn and practice. The fact that this heritage has survived to the present day is truly a rare stroke of fortune.
At this point, Old Meng asked solemnly, “Xiao Fan, even if others look down on this Beastmaster skill, do you still want to learn it?”
Meng Fan nodded without hesitation. Having read the original manga, he knew just how formidable the Beastmaster’s potential could be; there was no way he would refuse.
To Meng Fan, perhaps it would be more fitting to call it the Art of Beast Domination.
Seeing his son nod, Old Meng seemed relieved, letting out a long breath. “Very well, then. I will guide you in your training.”
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Meng Fan’s practice proceeded smoothly. Being young, his qi was relatively simple to perceive; in less than three days, he sensed its presence.
Under Old Meng’s instruction, he gradually began to hone the skills unique to the Beastmaster.
The most important aspect of the qi cultivated by a Beastmaster is that it must be imbued with affinity and kindness, closely aligned with nature.
Animals are the most sentient of creatures; their senses are often more acute than humans’. Even the slightest inappropriate movement can awaken their wariness.
To command unfamiliar animals requires relentless refinement and painstaking effort.
Just like the Old Meng in the original manga, who subdued the dog named Chen Junyan by Chen Duo despite its initial intent to bite him.
Only when Meng Fan truly began practicing did he realize the sheer difficulty involved.
His “training subjects” were the many animals in the zoo, since after a year or two of interaction, they were familiar with his presence.
Originally, Old Meng chose a cow as Meng Fan’s first target: cows are gentle and kind by nature.
Their temperament is mild, and although their intelligence is not as high as that of cats or dogs, it far surpasses that of insects and the like.
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The higher the intelligence of the animal, the less qi is required to communicate with it; conversely, lower intelligence makes communication more difficult.
From this, one can also appreciate Old Meng’s talent as a Beastmaster — to be able to communicate with and control even prokaryotic organisms like bacteria is no small feat.
The difficulty involved—tsk, tsk, tsk!
Meng Fan, however, declined Old Meng’s choice and instead set his sights on Da Huang, the tiger who often carried him around. It must be said, he chose a truly hellish starting point.
Meng Fan placed his hand on Da Huang’s forehead, continuously infusing qi, cautiously attempting to communicate.
But Da Huang only blinked his sleepy tiger eyes, glanced up briefly, then turned his head away in a perfunctory manner and went back to sleep.
No, big brother, at least give me some reaction!
Just sleeping like that—what’s that supposed to mean?
And you even yawned—there’s no need to be so insulting!
Of course, Meng Fan never expected to succeed at once, but dozens, even hundreds of failures were quite disheartening.
Old Meng stepped forward to comfort Meng Fan: “Xiao Fan, how about we try with a chimpanzee, or even a dog? Da Huang, this old tiger, is really too difficult for you right now.”
Meng Fan hung his head in dejection. “Alright.”
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Time passed slowly.
Meng Fan was now a big six-year-old, no longer the three-year-old child he once was, with a clear, handsome face and a poised demeanor.
One must admit, after more than two hundred years of refined breeding, the Li family bloodline rarely produced unattractive offspring; aesthetic sensibilities were well cultivated.
Despite his young age, Meng Fan exuded a sense of calmness—perhaps from spending so much time with Da Huang, he carried a “tiger’s gaze over the crowd” aura.
Today, the zoo was closed. Meng Fan stood atop the artificial rock in the tiger enclosure. Beside him lay Da Huang, a tiger so fat he resembled a pig. Meng Fan gestured grandly, filled with enthusiasm, declaring: “Look, this is the empire I have built for you!”
Da Huang gave him a bored glance, silently pondering what to eat for lunch.
Sensing Da Huang’s mood, Meng Fan slapped his forehead, then stroked his whiskers and rubbed his chubby cheeks.
“Eat, eat, eat—you just think about food! If you keep getting fatter, you won’t even be able to climb onto the bed—ugh, I mean the rock. How will you serve as my mount then? You’d embarrass me wherever we go!”
Da Huang: “Roar (⋋▂⋌)”
Meng Fan: “How dare you talk back! I think Grandpa Wang should feed you less. We pay three yuan for admission but spend thirty feeding you.”
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A staff member cleaning up nearby watched Meng Fan and Da Huang bantering, smiling. Not afraid that Da Huang, a tiger, might hurt Meng Fan, the worker turned to a fifty-year-old veteran employee, saying with a smile, “Uncle Wang, Da Huang’s gotten fatter these days. Maybe feed him less so he can lose some weight.”
“Many visitors complain that they came to see animals, not pigs,” the younger worker added.
Old Wang scratched his head. “What if he gets too skinny? Then people will say our zoo is mistreating the animals.”
The other worker sighed, rubbing his forehead. “In our zoo, if they get skinny, that would actually mean we care about the animals’ health.”
“Don’t talk about Da Huang—look at the others: bear pigs, crocodile pigs, fox pigs... Some even say now they finally understand why crocodiles are called ‘pig dragons.’”
“They’re really rotund, like pigs!”
“Alright, alright, I’ll try to feed less fatty food and switch to lean meat.”
Worker: “?!!”
Just then, as Meng Fan rode Da Huang inspecting the tiger enclosure, a staff member called out to him: “Xiao Fan, your father is looking for you.”
“Okay, I’m coming!”
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At the staff dormitory, Meng Fan looked at Old Meng with curiosity and asked, “Dad, what do you need from me?”
Old Meng held a phone and said excitedly, “Xiao Fan, you’re six years old now. I’ve found a master for you. You must study hard.”
Meng Fan: “Huh?”
Where did this master suddenly come from?
Old Meng explained, “The master I found for you is a friend of your grandmaster. Your grandmaster once did him a favor and he helped your grandmaster with some cultivation techniques, so he promised a disciple spot.”
“Our sect knows nothing beyond the Beastmaster art; we need some means of self-defense!”
“I want you to apprentice under him. What do you think?”