I'm Just a Beast Tamer

Chapter 42: Chapter 40: Departure

「Five days later.」

The area in front of Jiang Zuo’s wooden cabin was bustling with activity once again.

"Look at its coat, its build! The black dog Jiang Zuo has raised this year is incredible!"

"Indeed. I’ve come to watch the spectacle for the past few years, and this year’s black dog is without a doubt the best he’s ever raised."

"It’s more than that. I’d say it’s even a bit better than the one Magistrate Zhang bought at auction for five thousand taels."

"Hehe, you guys don’t know the half of it. This year’s black dog is the son of Magistrate Zhang’s dog. I remember that mutt running over here every day six months ago."

"So that’s how it is! Like father, like son! No wonder it was raised so well!"

The crowd chattered excitedly as they looked at the Thirteenth Generation Great Black.

Jiang Zuo’s annual black dog auction had gradually become a minor festival in Red Fox Town.

For the past few years, many people would come just to chat and watch the fun, even if they weren’t participating in the silent auction.

The Thirteenth Generation Great Black was exceptionally well-raised and was also the son of Magistrate Zhang’s own Great Black.

Jiang Zuo had also spread the word that he was planning to go traveling this year.

The number of people who showed up skyrocketed.

While it couldn’t compare to the auction of the Eighth Generation Great Black five years ago, the commotion was more than half as big.

As the people discussed, lines of text indicating he had gained Beast Taming Reputation would occasionally appear before Jiang Zuo’s eyes.

Listening to the crowd’s chatter, Jiang Zuo stroked Great Black’s head.

Great Black had only reached 100% development progress the day before yesterday. Even for an expert dog breeder like Jiang Zuo, he had to admit it was raised exceptionally well.

—Great Black: Medium-sized black-furred canine, has undergone one bloodline enhancement. Lifespan: 70 years. Exceptionally gifted, fast, agile, and strong. Adept at combat, with an especially keen sense of smell. Possesses two Talent Slots, equipped with the "Learning" and "Combat" talents. Current development progress: 100%.

The Thirteenth Generation Great Black’s lifespan had reached a full seventy years, twenty years longer than its father’s.

Its other attributes were even more formidable, completely overwhelming the Eighth Generation Great Black in every aspect.

Not to mention its combat ability, its raw strength alone was comparable to an average adult man. An ordinary person would be no match for it in a fight.

The most ridiculous part was its sense of smell. As long as it didn’t rain and the scent hadn’t completely dissipated, it could track a smell even from several days prior!

If he didn’t have to leave Red Fox Town to evade pursuit from potential Cultivators, Jiang Zuo would never have sold it.

"Jiang Zuo, I heard you’re going traveling for a few years before you come back. Is that true?"

Someone’s loud voice interrupted Jiang Zuo’s thoughts.

"It’s true. For at least the next five years, I won’t be raising and selling any more black dogs. If I break this promise, I’ll give a full refund to whoever buys Great Black today!"

Jiang Zuo understood the intention behind the question and made a straightforward public promise.

’Never mind five years, they probably won’t be able to buy a Great Black raised by me for the next fifty.’

’Whoever gets this Great Black today is making a fortune.’

Hearing Jiang Zuo’s promise, many people’s interest was piqued.

The auction began quickly, but this time, in addition to the usual demonstrations from previous years, there was also a combat performance.

Jiang Zuo invited several people to come up and spar with Great Black. In the end, these ordinary people were pinned to the ground by the dog in just a few moves.

If Jiang Zuo hadn’t given the order not to injure anyone, they would have already been hurt.

It wasn’t until a Martial Artist who had trained in combat came up that Great Black was finally defeated.

"Jiang Zuo’s dog training skills have gotten even better!"

"This year’s black dog is truly amazing. Where else could you find a dog that can trade a few blows with a Martial Artist!"

Seeing how formidable Great Black was, the atmosphere in the crowd instantly became incredibly fervent.

Watching the text prompts that occasionally appeared before his eyes, Jiang Zuo stroked Great Black’s head.

After deciding not to take Great Black with him, Jiang Zuo had planned to use the dog to milk every last drop of Beast Taming Reputation from Red Fox Town.

The results were even better than he had expected, and it was all thanks to Great Black.

"Master Xu, three thousand seven hundred taels!"

In the end, Master Xu stroked his white beard, smiled, and nodded to the crowd, having won Great Black with a high bid of three thousand seven hundred silver taels.

The auction’s result quickly spread throughout the town.

Not much of note had happened in Red Fox Town in recent years, so the news that Jiang Zuo’s astonishingly well-raised Great Black had once again fetched a high price became a rare major event.

Because of this, Jiang Zuo’s Beast Taming Reputation began to surge once again.

...

A little after nine at night.

The sky was already very dark. Blacksmith Li had sent his apprentices to rest while he remained in the courtyard, putting away his tools.

Once he finished, he would also turn in for the night.

Just then, someone tapped him on the shoulder.

"Jiang Zuo?"

Blacksmith Li turned around and was startled to see who it was.

He was about to say something, but Jiang Zuo signaled for him to be quiet.

Knowing Jiang Zuo might have something urgent to discuss, Blacksmith Li led him into the tool shed at the side of the courtyard and closed the door.

"Mr. Li, I’m leaving tomorrow morning," Jiang Zuo said in a low voice.

"So soon?"

Blacksmith Li frowned.

He had already heard that Jiang Zuo was going traveling, but he hadn’t expected him to rush off the very morning after selling his dog.

"Actually, the whole ’traveling’ story is fake. I’m leaving to escape disaster, and I won’t be coming back. I came tonight to ask for your help with something, Mr. Li."

Jiang Zuo didn’t hide anything, explaining in detail.

"Escape disaster? Who did you offend?"

Blacksmith Li found it hard to believe. Jiang Zuo was famous in town for being well-liked; he’d never heard of him offending anyone.

"It’s hard to explain the specifics, but in short, it’s someone neither you nor I can afford to provoke. If anyone comes looking for you, Mr. Li, and asks about me, you must remember to answer truthfully with everything you know. Don’t even think about hiding anything. They have ways of knowing if you’re lying."

Jiang Zuo shook his head and gave the solemn warning.

’Blacksmith Li doesn’t know any of my real secrets, so it’s fine if he tells them everything. He doesn’t even need to hide information about my parents. There’s been no news of my parents for over a decade. Finding them would be even harder than finding me.’

"I understand. So, what do you need my help with?"

Influenced by Jiang Zuo’s tone, Blacksmith Li sensed the matter was serious and understood why Jiang Zuo had come to find him secretly in the middle of the night.

"It’s like this. I dug a hiding place at the bottom of the well in my courtyard. If some major disaster befalls the town, you can consider taking Xiangtao and the others to hide there, Mr. Li."

"But remember not to bring too many people. It can hide three people at most."

"In that hiding place, I’ve hidden a stone box sealed with paraffin wax to be waterproof. Inside the box, I’ve left a letter and five thousand taels of silver for my parents."

"If my parents ever come looking for you, Mr. Li, please give the letter and the silver taels to them."

"If you find yourself short on money, Mr. Li, feel free to take the silver taels. Just make sure to keep the letter for my parents safe."

Jiang Zuo explained his purpose and carefully detailed to Blacksmith Li how to enter the hiding spot, how to remain concealed, and how to stay hidden inside for an extended period.

Jiang Zuo had complete faith in Blacksmith Li’s character.

If Blacksmith Li were to take the money, it would only mean he was truly in need, which was why Jiang Zuo had been so direct with him.

"I’ll remember."

A complex look filled Blacksmith Li’s eyes. ’Jiang Rulin really raised a good son!’

...

「The next day.」

Jiang Zuo woke up early and cleaned his house from top to bottom.

Everything from the bed to the kitchen utensils was tidied up spotlessly.

Finally, Jiang Zuo went to the shrine hanging on the front hall wall. He lit incense and bowed before the memorial tablets for his father, "Jiang Rulin," and his mother, "Zuo Qing’e."

Picking up his packed suitcase, Jiang Zuo glanced back one last time at the empty house, locked the door, and hid the key in the spot he had discussed with Blacksmith Li.

The suitcase wasn’t large, containing only some clothes and a small amount of silver taels.

The truly important items, like the stone stele buried in the vegetable patch and all the silver banknotes, had already been dug up by Jiang Zuo and placed inside the storage pouch at his waist.

On his way, as if afraid people wouldn’t know he was leaving, Jiang Zuo greeted everyone he knew.

Finally, under the watchful eyes of many, he boarded the carriage heading to Sifang County.

「Evening. Sifang County, Ping’an Post Station.」

"Jiang Zuo, long time no see! What brings you to see your old brother? Huh, are you heading out on a long trip?"

Inside the Ping’an Post Station, Jiang Zuo met with Xu Mingde.

Since Jiang Zuo hadn’t come to Sifang County looking for Dog Seedlings last year, it had been almost two years since Xu Mingde had seen him.

Seeing Jiang Zuo carrying a suitcase, Xu Mingde couldn’t help but ask in surprise.

"Yes, I’m preparing to go to Anxin County. I heard tomorrow’s carriage tickets are all sold out, so I wanted to ask if you had any way to get me a seat, Shopkeeper Xu," Jiang Zuo smiled and said, looking a little embarrassed.

Anxin County was north of Sifang County. It was a necessary stop on the way to the Da Xi Imperial Capital and was quite a distance away.

Many people traveled between the two counties, and when it was busy, the Post Station’s carriages were sometimes booked solid in advance.

"A trivial matter! I’ll have someone take you to ask around and find you a seat!" Xu Mingde laughed upon hearing this.

’It’s not like I’m not taking his money. At worst, I’ll just have to kick someone off and have them take the next day’s carriage.’

A steward with the surname Huang came to lead Jiang Zuo over, but when they arrived at the ticket counter, they discovered there were still plenty of seats available.

Steward Huang found it a little strange, but he assumed Jiang Zuo had been misinformed. He didn’t say anything more and simply helped Jiang Zuo buy a travel pass.

"Young Brother Jiang, you must keep this pass safe. You’ll need it to board the carriage tomorrow morning. If someone steals it, they can use it to take your place."

Steward Huang handed the Wooden Token that served as the pass to Jiang Zuo and reminded him.

The Post Station was a bustling place, so it was impossible to register every single person.

Even the guards at the county seat’s main gate didn’t do that, so there was no way the Post Station would waste manpower on it.

"I’m aware."

Jiang Zuo nodded.

After leaving the Post Station, Jiang Zuo disguised himself and approached a middle-aged man with a worried expression standing outside.

"I heard you don’t have the money to get back to Anxin County? I saw a guy I didn’t like, so I stole his pass. I’m doing a good deed and giving it to you. Whether you dare to use it is up to you."

Jiang Zuo tossed the pass to the middle-aged man and vanished before the man could react.

The middle-aged man was dumbfounded. After seeing that the pass was real, he was overcome with delight and quickly put it away.

After tossing the pass to the man, Jiang Zuo changed his disguise again. As darkness fell, he left the city gates and headed east.

To the east lay the central region of the human territories.

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