Beast Taming: My System is Bugged

’Slicer?’

The abrupt word flashed through Gu Ming’s mind.

He immediately understood. This was the system’s assessment of the "Mr. Tree" before him, made from the perspective of thirty-two years in the future.

Mr. Tree still appeared as gentle as ever.

But the word "Slicer" instantly put Gu Ming on high alert, his thoughts racing.

’Is the future Mr. Tree somehow presenting himself in ’slices’ at this very moment, talking to me?’

This was a form Gu Ming had not anticipated. He couldn’t imagine what kind of ability a Beastmaster would need to do such a thing.

The only thing he could picture was a Pet Beast using abilities like duplication, or something like Ah Ji’s Shadow Cloak combined with mimicry, to imitate a human Beastmaster speaking.

But that wouldn’t qualify as a "Slicer."

’Has he sliced himself into multiple pieces, with each piece acting as an extension of his primary consciousness?’

’What kind of Power could possibly keep a Beastmaster alive like that?’

Beastmasters were only mortal flesh. Other than their Spiritual Power, they possessed no extraordinary Life Power. It would be nearly impossible to stay alive through normal means.

The only possibility he could think of was some unknown Demon Power.

After their conversation, Gu Ming inconspicuously approached the Grass Element Pet Beasts that had just undergone Enlightenment.

Pretending to soothe them, he lightly touched their furry chins.

In reality, he was secretly probing them with a wisp of his Divine Sense.

The telepathic feedback he received was pure and natural, like a newborn sprout, completely untainted.

It was even clearer than his own mind, which had been tempered by worldly experience, showing no sign of contamination or manipulation.

Compared to them, Gu Ming’s own thoughts could no longer be considered "pure."

This didn’t put him at ease. Instead, his suspicions only deepened.

"Heh. Gu Ming, you seem quite interested in our methods of Enlightenment," Mr. Tree’s voice suddenly said from behind him.

Gu Ming nodded, taking the opportunity to stand up and naturally steer the conversation elsewhere.

"It was certainly very enlightening.

"Do you know when the Friends of Nature will be holding another public Pet Beast giveaway event? I’d like to go and learn by observing."

Just then, outside the community shop, the continuous popping of firecrackers and the roar of fireworks suddenly erupted.

Colorful lights illuminated the night sky, their boundless radiance washing over the heavens and making the darkness splendid.

Today was New Year’s Eve, and with dinner just over, the most boisterous part of the night had begun.

Amid the din, Mr. Tree simply said there would be the first giveaway of the new year at three o’clock tomorrow afternoon.

Then he and his members hurried off, rushing to their own reunion dinners.

Gu Ming’s phone then rang—it was his parents, calling from outside the shop to hurry him along.

Naturally, he couldn’t stay long on New Year’s Eve.

Fortunately, there had been plenty of hands on deck. Everyone had pitched in earlier, so the Pet Beasts were already safely back in their cages inside the shop.

After everyone had left and the backyard fell silent, Gu Ming said goodbye to the shop manager and stepped outside.

He soon spotted his parents waving from a short distance away.

His mother chided him playfully, "Working overtime during the New Year holiday? What kind of community shop makes you work on New Year’s Eve?"

"I wanted to come. I had some academic ideas I wanted to try out."

Gu Ming casually made an excuse to brush off the comment. His parents’ Pet Beasts were already playing happily with his own three, roughhousing in a big pile. The warmth of family reunion filled his heart.

He walked with his family toward Lanqi City’s famous Lanqi People’s Park.

According to an old custom in Lanqi City, every household would go to Lanqi Park on New Year’s Eve to release Heaven-Sacrificing Lanterns.

They would make wishes to the vast heavens, praying for good fortune in the year to come.

The elders often said that if one was sincere and lucky enough, they might even witness a True Dragon winding its way across the highest heavens.

It would shower the entire city with the auspicious Dragon’s Blessing.

This was considered the ultimate omen, promising a year of favorable weather and success in all endeavors.

This wasn’t the first New Year for Cyan Treasure and Ah Kun, so they were used to such lively scenes.

Ah Ji, on the other hand, had spent years living in the mountain forests near the university. While he had heard the distant booms of firecrackers and fireworks, he had never truly been part of a bustling crowd like this, never personally felt the searing-hot festive atmosphere of the human world.

Now, Ah Ji followed the Gu Family into the surging river of people.

The laughter and the warm glow of lanterns came from all directions, seeping into its heart in a silent yet powerful way, filling it with a pure sense of joy.

It felt as if a missing piece of its once-incomplete life was now being filled.

Gu Ming was making small talk with his parents, enjoying this rare, heartwarming moment.

Suddenly, his mother turned her head, as if she’d just remembered something, and asked softly,

"Mingming, what about your classmate, Lu You... Is she spending the New Year alone?"

Gu Ming paused, taken aback. He replied instinctively, "No, I’m sure she’s with her family."

"How do you know? Did you ask her?" his mother pressed.

"Well... it would be a little awkward to just call her up and ask that, wouldn’t it?" Gu Ming said, hesitating.

But as soon as the words left his mouth, an image of Lu You’s usual quiet demeanor surfaced in his mind.

He also recalled the noticeable sense of detachment in her voice whenever she occasionally mentioned her family.

The atmosphere in her home didn’t seem as relaxed and affectionate as his own.

As the thought crossed his mind, he couldn’t help but murmur, ’Maybe... I should ask?’

His father, who had been listening, clapped a broad hand on Gu Ming’s shoulder with an encouraging smile.

"You’re a young man now. If you’re worried, just ask. What’s the point of standing around guessing?"

"It’s not that I’m worried..."

Gu Ming mumbled, but his fingers were already unlocking his screen and dialing Lu You’s number on autopilot.

RING... RING...

It only rang a few times before the call was answered.

"Hello?" A soft, delicate female voice came from the other end—it was Lu You.

The Gu Family Parents instantly exchanged a knowing glance, their rapport perfect.

At the same time, an Illusory Color Butterfly danced lightly in the air, scattering soft motes of light that subtly dampened the surrounding noise.

Meanwhile, a massive Black and White Long-Armed Ape gently extended its long arms, creating a small, relatively quiet space for Gu Ming within the crowded throng so he could hear clearly.

Even though most of the ambient noise was filtered out, Lu You was still sharp enough to catch the faint but lively murmur of a crowd in the background.

What caught Gu Ming’s attention, however, was a faint, almost unnoticeable hoarseness in Lu You’s voice.

’Did she just wake up?’

’No, it’s more like she just went through some emotional turmoil, or... is shrouded in a kind of invisible loneliness.’

Gu Ming had just finished a battle of wits with Mr. Tree. Although it wasn’t a physical fight, it was still a contest in the Spiritual Domain.

As a result, Gu Ming’s Perception was particularly sharp at this moment.

He could detect a faint trace of loneliness in the subtle shift of her tone.

’Is she really not with her family?’

Gu Ming wondered, but he knew he couldn’t ask too directly.

He cleared his throat and spoke in the most natural tone he could manage.

"Happy New Year’s Eve, Lu You."

"Happy New Year," Lu You replied haltingly.

She was naturally introverted and had some social anxiety.

If Gu Ming didn’t take the lead, the conversation would be difficult to continue.

After three seconds of silence, Gu Ming had no choice but to take the initiative. "Guess where I am right now?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end, as if she was thinking and listening to the background noise from his side.

Then, a somewhat uncertain voice came through the phone:

"Lanqi... Park?"

"You guessed it!" Gu Ming said cheerfully. "We’re going up the mountain to release Heaven-Sacrificing Lanterns and pray for blessings for the new year. It’s our family’s tradition."

"By the way, what about your family?"

Having laid the groundwork, he finally tossed out the key question.

A longer silence followed on the phone.

A few seconds later, Lu You’s voice came back, laced with a forced, deliberate cheerfulness.

"Um... my family is getting ready to go pray for blessings, too.

"They’re getting changed and dressed up now. We’ll be... leaving in a little bit."

As she said this, her gaze drifted to the living room.

There, her family was doting on her little brother, preparing to leave amidst laughter and cheer.

Her own presence, it seemed, had been momentarily forgotten in the corner.

However, perhaps the sound of her phone call reminded her family that they had forgotten to bring someone along.

Mr. Lu suddenly turned his head and called back into the house,

"Lu You, hurry up! We’re leaving."

Lu You froze in disbelief for a second, then immediately called out,

"Coming!"

Gu Ming heard Lu You’s excited-sounding reply to her family over the phone.

The worry in his heart eased a bit, and Gu Ming’s tone softened.

"That’s great. Well... if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll run into each other at Lanqi Park?

"But no worries if we don’t. Happy New Year."

"Okay," Lu You replied softly.

He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but after he said that, the faint sense of loneliness in her voice seemed to have faded somewhat.

It was replaced by a faint hint of anticipation.

「Meanwhile, at Lu You’s home.」

She had just hung up the phone and walked out of her room. The faint blush on her face from the call hadn’t faded yet, and her parents immediately noticed.

"Lu You, honey, who were you talking to? You look so happy," her mother said, leaning in curiously.

"Are you dating someone?

"Is it that boy from the Gu Family?

"He’s a rising academic star publishing in top journals! His future is limitless!"

Her father also looked over with interest, his tone full of approval.

"If it’s him, that’s a golden opportunity. You have to grab hold of it!"

For a moment, both of her parents’ attention was focused on Lu You like never before.

The conversation revolved tightly around Gu Ming, this "high-quality potential stock," and their eyes gleamed with a practical, yet concerned, light.

Lu You stood there, stunned, her cheeks instantly flushing crimson.

In all the days she’d been home, her family’s "concern" had been focused on questions like, "How much money did you make at university?" "How’s your Pet Beast training going?" and "What’s your ranking in the league?"

And yet, if they truly cared, they never bothered to ask for the specifics of her tournament results day-to-day.

She had thought her family didn’t actually care what she did at university.

This sudden, even bluntly materialistic "concern" left her feeling both embarrassed and completely at a loss.

"I... We’re really just classmates!" she stammered in defense, her voice barely a whisper.

"Is that so?"

Her mother clearly didn’t believe her, a knowing smile on her face.

"Then you need to cultivate that classmate relationship even more carefully!

"Come, come, let your mother teach you a few tricks on how to handle a high-quality potential stock like him..."

Mr. Lu also nodded, his expression clearly indicating she had to learn.

Although her parents’ words were quite pragmatic,

this blunt eagerness that jumped straight to marriage still left Lu You flustered, the blush on her face deepening.

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