Beast Taming: My System is Bugged-Chapter 40 - 39: Risk

"Do you have some compelling reason to go?"

Teacher Zhang had been talking to Gu Ming for two minutes.

No matter what he said, Gu Ming refused to give up on the idea of volunteering.

"Teacher, I just want to learn," Gu Ming said. "At the Pet Beast Store, I can learn a lot of things that aren’t in the textbooks."

In reality, he was just after the salary of Spirit Stones.

If he quit the job, the ten Spirit Stones per month would be gone.

It might not seem like much, but it wasn’t easy for him to convert his own money into Spirit Stones.

When he’d exchanged money for Spirit Stones yesterday, he’d gotten a bad deal. Most of what he got were polluted Spirit Stones, which could only be traded for cultivation materials to take home.

Until Gu Ming found a more stable source for large quantities of Spirit Stones, quitting this job was out of the question.

Besides, things with Manager Ruan Jing were clearly a whole other plotline.

The system considered the small community store to be a Hidden Sect, a tiny shop that housed a "Juvenile Kunpeng" and a "Time Dragon."

He couldn’t imagine what other bizarre and powerful Pet Beasts with incredible Talent were hiding inside.

If he missed out on those world-shaking beasts, Gu Ming would regret it for the rest of his life.

For this reason, he saw the community store as a treasure trove. He couldn’t give it up just because he had another way to get Spirit Stones.

At the very least, he had to explore it thoroughly, confirm he hadn’t missed any ’treasures,’ and find a new source of Spirit Stones before he could resign.

"Alright. If you’re so set on going, then I’ll go volunteer with you."

"Huh?" Gu Ming looked up, thinking he must have misheard.

...

"Teacher Zhang, you’re the most dedicated teacher I’ve ever met. You’re even willing to come work at the store just to teach your student."

When Manager Ruan Jing heard Zhang Yunpeng’s reasoning, she had to stifle a laugh, but she agreed to let him join.

The store was short a couple of volunteers anyway. It was a chronic shortage, since not everyone was willing to take the position.

A teacher of his caliber naturally didn’t need an interview. He just had to put on a red vest and he was ready to start.

Zhang Yunpeng has mistakenly entered a forbidden zone and has chanced upon the scene of your return to the Hidden Sect: the "Qing Lake Community Pet Beast Store."

After a period of observation, he is greatly shocked. This Sect, hidden in plain sight, is truly extraordinary. It is filled with incomprehensible seals, and high-potential Pet Beasts are a dime a dozen.

He decides to join the Sect and diligently study the Great Dao, starting as an Outer Disciple. He will take on daily commissions with you and begin his part-time work.

’Well, there the system goes again.’

The system completely ignored Teacher Zhang’s real reason for volunteering, replacing it with the desire to study the Great Dao.

The problem was, this store didn’t have that many "seals."

During his shift, Gu Ming had already searched every cage, Fish Tank, and plant tray.

Occasionally, he’d get a notification for entering a ’forbidden and dangerous zone,’ but he hadn’t triggered any alerts for special Pet Beasts otherwise.

Your Time Dragon is cultivating in public. Risk +10%

Suddenly, a new notification popped into view.

Now that Cyan Treasure was at the store, it naturally had to continue its Cultivation. It couldn’t just hide from people all day.

Besides, Teacher Zhang had come to the store specifically to supervise Cyan Treasure’s training and offer advice and assistance as needed.

Right on cue, Manager Ruan Jing’s surprised voice drifted over. "Huh? Your Pet Beast has already reached its Mana capacity?"

Ruan Jing had watched this Little Cyan Snake grow up. She’d only given it to Gu Ming a few days ago. How could it have reached this level of Cultivation in the blink of an eye?

’Even for a natural mutation, this rate is just too fast.’

Gu Ming spread his hands. He didn’t know either; he was just a student.

In any case, its Cultivation speed was simply that fast.

Teacher Zhang, however, was able to explain. He told Manager Ruan Jing about the Enlightenment bonus from the Hall of the Great Dao. He explained that when combined with a large infusion of Spiritual Energy Elixirs, the energy could be quickly converted into Mana.

Of course, this also required a certain degree of Talent for Cultivation. Only a naturally mutated Little Cyan Snake could achieve this, and the level of improvement was still within a reasonable range.

"So Cyan Treasure was the one who triggered the Hall of the Great Dao that day."

Ruan Jing put down her phone and walked over to Cyan Treasure, clucking her tongue in admiration. She observed it closely, and the more she looked, the more she liked what she saw.

Your Time Dragon is cultivating in public. Risk +10%

Gu Ming looked at Manager Ruan Jing, his expression changing slightly.

’What does that mean? Is the risk coming from Manager Ruan?’

’No, the Elder Ruan from the future timeline already reminded me. She told me to go into seclusion until I’m strong enough to protect myself.’

Gu Ming couldn’t just stay in seclusion forever. In the real world, he had to go to school.

’After thinking it over, it had to be the ’miscreants’ the system had mentioned.’

Gu Ming looked around. The store was empty a moment ago, but now a few customers had suddenly arrived, seemingly drawn in by the earlier cry of surprise.

The newcomers were Beastmasters, and with their Perception Abilities, they immediately zeroed in on the Little Cyan Snake’s Mana fluctuations.

Such a small body, yet so much Mana. It was only a little over a month old, but it already had the Mana fluctuations of a Quasi-One-star.

The customer was tempted.

"How much for this Little Cyan Snake, Manager?" the man asked with a smile.

Behind him, a boy about ten centimeters shorter than Gu Ming had a disgusted look on his face. He tugged on the back of the man’s shirt and said, "Bro, I don’t want a Little Cyan Snake."

"What do you know? This is a Quasi-One-star Little Cyan Snake! It’s this amazing at only one month old. If we take it back and raise it, it’ll be no worse than those Three-star Potential Pet Beasts."

The man reached out and tapped his younger brother’s forehead.

When the man turned his head again, he saw the Little Cyan Snake had already slithered up to Gu Ming’s neck. It was flicking its tongue, its expression fierce, as if issuing a warning.

’I’m not some ownerless snake!’

"Sorry, sir. This is my Cyan Treasure. We’re already bonded."

Gu Ming stroked Cyan Treasure’s head, using his hand to shield its body from the stranger’s gaze.

The Time Dragon, whose doom is imminent, has been targeted by a Sect Elder. Risk +10%

Elder Wang Zicheng’s eyes flicker. In his view, the Grass and Wood Flood Dragon with Sub-dragon Bloodline is displaying a Mana level severely inconsistent with its body.

Its Flood Dragon Scales have long since fallen off, only two front teeth remain of its sharp Dragon’s Fangs, its eyes are cloudy, and its skin is as dry as dead wood. No matter how you look at it, it appears to have aging meridians and should be unable to cultivate any further. But in your hands, it exhibits the aura of a Quasi-One-star.

Risk +10%

Current Overall Risk: 70%!

Previously, Gu Ming had sent Cyan Treasure out to find Spirit Stones three times. Today, just from this encounter, the risk had jumped four separate times.

Gu Ming had a vague premonition of what would happen next.

But in reality, would a Beastmaster really openly rob someone in the city?

He didn’t quite believe it. This wasn’t some lawless, dark Beast Taming Society.

Outside the city, on the other hand, that might be possible.

’Wait a minute, "Sect Elder."’

’This title... could he be an employee of the community store too?’

He subconsciously retreated behind Teacher Zhang.

Teacher Zhang naturally stood in front of Gu Ming and shook his head, saying, "Sir, please choose one of the Pet Beasts over here. They are not bonded."

He pointed to the Little Cyan Snake breeding tank next to them. Inside, dozens of juvenile snakes were crawling or sleeping. They were all healthy babies, only a month old.

Wang Zicheng ignored him and looked at Ruan Jing beside him, asking with a smile:

"Manager Ruan Jing, how about you have your employee part with his beloved? He can bond with another Little Cyan Snake, and I’ll give him ten times the compensation."

"Wang Zicheng, go back to your own store. Don’t harass my employee, or I’ll report you to the higher-ups." Ruan Jing, who already had a cold expression, now looked furious.

Wang Zicheng was the manager of the store in the next community over. He was also someone whose family had arranged for him to be there to pad his resume. A recent blind date she’d had with him had gone poorly, and she hadn’t expected him to show up today just to be a nuisance.