Beast Taming: My System is Bugged-Chapter 36 - 35: The Unnamed Truth of Another Timeline

Chapter 36: Chapter 35: The Unnamed Truth of Another Timeline

"Son, Teacher Zhang is willing to give you private lessons. You should arrange a time with him every day at noon and in the evening to train your Pet Beast. You don’t have to go to that volunteer job anymore." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

At dinner that night, Gu Ming looked up from his meal, listened to what his parents were saying, and shook his head.

’Was that just a job?’

’No, that’s one of my sources of Spirit Stones.’

’Ten Spirit Stones a month isn’t much, but it’s a steady source.’

’Besides, a Beastmaster’s Power comes from their Pet Beast.’

’As long as the Pet Beast is constantly training, it doesn’t matter what he himself is doing.’

’And since the future version of Cyan Pine drained his Spiritual Power and required a long rest, the time in between was perfect for his volunteer work.’

After these thoughts ran through his mind, Gu Ming shook his head and said, "I have to go at noon, but the evening is negotiable."

"This kid! Why are you so stubborn?" Mrs. Gu was exasperated; she felt like giving him a good spanking.

’He’s usually so smart, so why is he dropping the ball at such a crucial time? Is that really the kind of work he should be doing right now?’

Mrs. Gu didn’t dare say this out loud. Instead, she shot a look at Mr. Gu. ’See? It’s all your fault with that damn "raise him poor" plan. Now we’re stuck in this predicament.’

Mr. Gu just kept his head down, shoveling rice into his mouth without a word.

’A little lost time isn’t a big deal,’ he reasoned. ’The Little Cyan Snake can train on Gu Ming’s shoulder while he works.’

’Besides, cultivating a Spiritual Technique isn’t something you do every second of the day. The brain needs to rest, too.’

’Doing a bit of manual labor is a perfect way to let the brain relax.’

Having convinced himself, Mr. Gu nodded.

"Son, I’m not as smart as you are. As long as you think it’s the right thing to do, I’ll support you unconditionally!"

The next second, Mr. Gu felt a sharp glare from his wife land on him.

Mr. Gu quickly lowered his head and went back to shoveling rice into his mouth, not daring to say another word.

Gu Ming, however, felt a warmth spread through his chest.

’His dad might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he had his back when it counted, and that was enough.’

"It would be even better if you two didn’t gamble," Gu Ming muttered. Seeing their embarrassed expressions, he seized the opportunity to ask, "Why is Teacher Zhang giving me private lessons? What did you talk to him about?"

"We asked him to tutor you privately," Mr. Gu said.

They could have coached their son themselves, but every profession has its specialists. As Combat Beastmasters, they knew how to fight, not how to teach. They were far less experienced than a professional from the Cultivation Element who was also on the front lines of education.

What’s more, Zhang Yunpeng had created the Dual-Colored Technique himself, which made him far more capable than any ordinary tutor. He was absolutely worth the cost.

"What? You guys have spare money?!"

Gu Ming’s first reaction was shock. He wasn’t on the same wavelength as his parents; his mind immediately jumped to the check.

"It’s gone, it’s really all gone! This time, we’ve resolved to stop gambling for good. Our monthly salaries will go to paying Teacher Zhang."

"Teacher Zhang is smarter than we are; he was able to develop an original Cultivation Technique. With him teaching the Little Cyan Snake, it’s sure to go much further."

"Son, whether you believe us or not, we’ve really quit gambling this time!"

Mrs. Gu waved her hand, promising fervently.

His dad also patted his chest, which echoed with a loud THUMP, THUMP.

Gu Ming remained skeptical. He didn’t believe a word of it.

’Teacher Zhang has definitely been fooled by them. When they can’t afford to pay his salary next month, he’ll see their true colors. Their promises are worthless.’

’But it didn’t matter. Gu Ming had already left his money with Teacher Zhang. If his parents couldn’t pay, he would cover it.’

Gu Ming moved past the topic, finished his meal, and went back to his room to continue his Cultivation.

His parents watched him go, but they didn’t use their Pet Beasts’ abilities to spy on him through the door. They both deeply respected their son’s privacy.

Back in his room, Gu Ming quickly received the first draft of a Pet Beast training plan from Teacher Zhang.

"That was fast," Gu Ming muttered as he opened the plan to take a look.

The Little Cyan Snake would follow a speed and poison damage build, focusing on the Green Treasure Breathing Technique and supplementing with the Snake Swallowing Elephant Technique to improve its digestion after every meal. Tomorrow, it would begin practicing Body Techniques, such as the Z-shaped Shaking Body Technique.

The training plan was laid out column by column, scheduled from the next day until the end of the month. It not only covered the Little Cyan Snake’s Skill acquisition but also scheduled its Evolution for exactly one month later.

What Teacher Zhang didn’t know, however, was that the Little Cyan Snake had already completed one hundred Circulations.

Gu Ming wondered why the projected Evolution date was so far off. He sent a message: "Teacher Zhang, my Little Cyan Snake has already completed one hundred Circulations."

"What? Wasn’t it at just sixty Circulations this afternoon?"

Teacher Zhang’s estimate had been based on the snake’s condition that afternoon. At the time, the Little Cyan Snake wasn’t holding a Spirit Stone, so its Mana Refinement was a major bottleneck, preventing the Dual-Colored Technique from realizing its full potential.

Once it started cultivating with a Spirit Stone, the technique no longer had that weakness. It could fire on all cylinders, instantly filling the remaining Mana deficit.

"I fed it some High-Level Spiritual Energy Pills," Gu Ming replied.

Teacher Zhang understood immediately. Ah, the power of money.

If he hadn’t been aware of the Gu Family’s situation, he would have wondered where Gu Ming got so many Spiritual Energy Pills.

After all, the remaining forty Circulations couldn’t be completed with just a few Spiritual Energy Pills. Even with High-Level ones, it would still take dozens.

But after speaking with the Gu Family Parents, he found it completely natural.

"Alright, I’ve got it. I’ll customize the second version of the plan after I give your Pet Beast a physical checkup."

Just when Gu Ming thought the conversation was over, Teacher Zhang sent a second document.

It wasn’t a plan for the Pet Beast, but one for the Beastmaster.

First Draft of the Beastmaster Cultivation Plan

Gu Ming opened it and found it wasn’t what he’d expected. Instead of a plan to spend his afternoons and evenings running and working out, it was a guide on how to write a paper on the Cultivation Technique.

’This... is to help me earn extra credit.’

As Gu Ming read on, he began to understand what a huge advantage he had gained when Teacher Zhang named the Cultivation Technique.

’So that’s how it is... Cyan Treasure has become the founding patriarch of this Cultivation Technique. This was supposed to be for his daughter’s Pet Beast...’

The subsequent entry into the Hall of the Great Dao, its acceptance by the Celestial Dao, the bonus Credit Points from publications—Cyan Treasure had reaped all of these benefits.

Future practitioners of this technique would never have the same high level of attunement as Cyan Treasure itself.

This was also the reason for Cyan Treasure’s extraordinary cultivation speed that afternoon. With the radiance of the Great Dao enhancing its inspiration and its attunement with the technique at 100%, its progress when Cultivating the Technique was incredibly fast.

As long as it had enough resources and its Spiritual Power wasn’t depleted, it could cultivate nonstop until it reached its limit.

And because the Little Cyan Snake’s total Mana capacity wasn’t very large, it filled up quickly.

If it had taken any longer, the cultivation bonus from the Hall of the Great Dao would have faded.

It was at this moment that the system’s plot commentary began to scroll.

You now understand why the Breathing Technique, though complete, had remained unnamed.

Deeply angered by the death of Teacher Zhang’s daughter, you promise to help him exact his revenge.

Zhang Yunpeng shakes his head. "That was thirty-two years ago. Your Flood Dragon’s days are numbered, so don’t say such things. You’re lucky just to be alive."

For these thirty-two years, Zhang Yunpeng, with a heart full of obsession, has been endlessly researching the Cultivation Technique, getting lost in the minutiae. If not for the success with Cyan Treasure, he would have likely continued down that path indefinitely.

Gu Ming stroked his phone, his expression frozen.

’Teacher Zhang’s daughter is dead?’

’Thirty-two years ago?’

’But isn’t that this year?’

Gu Ming’s breath hitched as he scrolled back to re-read the system notifications.

’So that’s why. No wonder when I met Teacher Zhang in my fifties, the final step of the Cultivation Technique was still incomplete.’

’The technique was always meant for his daughter. If I hadn’t forcefully interfered with the plot, Teacher Zhang would have kept the technique reserved for her forever.’

"I can’t let that future tragedy happen," Gu Ming murmured to himself. He had to find a way to ask the future Teacher Zhang exactly when his daughter had been killed.