A World Worth Protecting

1

Wang Baole’s face darkened when he heard the donkey’s braying. The expression it bore made Wang Baole want to punch it in the face. His look grew unfriendly as he started considering whether he should use his most powerful moves to scare the donkey into knowing who’s boss.

The donkey could feel a murderous intent exuding from the considering Wang Baole. It stopped braying momentarily and stared at Wang Baole with its innocent eyes. As if sensing that wasn’t enough, it turned abruptly and kicked its feet, sprinting into a run and escaped.

“Still trying to run?” Wang Baole got even more furious. He went into pursuit immediately, but the donkey was very quick on its feet. As it ran about, it continued biting into whatever it came across. A tree appeared in front of it, and as the donkey raced past, it bit into the trunk and tore a huge chunk out of it. Its speed increased as it swallowed the chunk of tree it had bitten off.

The sight was soon seen by many teachers and students, and they were all shocked. They watched with wide eyes and gaping mouths as the donkey sprinted throughout the school. Whatever it came across—statues or road curbs, flowerbeds or buildings—it would sink its teeth into.

It even took a few bites of the school’s extremely costly gates. A student had taken out a Spirit Stone from his storage bracelet and was about to buy something in school, but as soon as he had pulled out the Spirit Stone, it vanished. The student was dazed. He saw a shadow dash off into the distance…

Chaos spread throughout the school. Wang Baole could no longer control his rage, and his cultivation erupted. His physical strength spiked exponentially as well, his speed surging. The donkey was fast, but its cultivation was still leagues behind Wang Baole’s. The furious Wang Baole soon caught up to the donkey and grabbed its long ear.

The donkey had come from the Sea of Beasts, though. It might look adorable but deep in its bones hid a wild, ferocious nature. It was driven to a corner now. Its eyes reddened as its ear was caught, and it turned its head suddenly and tried to sink its teeth into Wang Baole’s wrist.

“You dare to bite me?” Wang Baole had been angry earlier, but he had been more frustrated than angry. An icy glint flashed across his eyes as he watched the donkey try to bite him. He kicked suddenly, his foot landing directly on the donkey’s crotch.

The donkey let loose a loud, pained scream. It collapsed to the ground, crying. Wang Baole had attacked in fury, but he had still shown restraint. He snorted, grabbed the donkey’s ear, and dragged it back to his residence.

The donkey was no longer in pain when they reached Wang Baole’s residence. It became meek and laid obediently on the ground. When it looked at Wang Baole, it was with an intent to please.

Wang Baole ceased his punishment when he saw the donkey’s obedience. He didn’t realize that the donkey would only keep up its good behavior for three days. Three days later, it cheered up and swallowed Wang Baole’s newly replaced gates. Then, it charged into the school. It brayed and sank its teeth excitedly into everything it saw.

Despite being caught by Wang Baole and given a beating, the cycle would repeat. After another three to five days, it would perk up and do the same thing again. This drove Wang Baole crazy and terrified the teachers and students of the entire academy. The teachers and students even predicted with confidence.

“The dean’s war beast… give it a month… no, two weeks. It’ll eat up everything and anything that can be found in the school within that time!”

Wang Baole’s forehead started pulsating. He genuinely felt that he wasn’t raising a War Beast but trouble… he was genuinely considering whether he should get a monster bracelet. A monster bracelet was different from a storage bracelet, though; it was a luxury item with a costly price tag. Even Wang Baole ached thinking about the cost of it.

Even the students from the Ethereal Dao College’s Beast Taming Pavilion reared their War Beasts in the backyard and let them roam free, as few could afford monster bracelets. With the trouble that this donkey was giving him, Wang Baole felt that he shouldn’t be spending more money on it.

It had barely been hatched for a month. The amount of food it had inhaled, combined with the various fines and monetary compensation that Wang Baole had to pay, would have been able to pay for the crafting of a fifth-grade Numinous Treasure.

<em>I can’t afford it! Wang Baole simmered in his frustrations. He considered slaughtering it, but the donkey was truly a rare beast. He was torn. He sighed and stared at his residence’s door and the donkey that kept gnawing on the frame persistently like it had some sort of grudge against the inanimate object. Wang Baole felt a sense of helplessness come over him for the first time in his life.</em>

The truth was—the donkey had the memory of a goldfish. No matter how hard a beating you gave it, it would revert to its original nature a few days later. As Wang Baole felt trapped in a helpless situation, Jin Duoming’s transmission arrived like a gift from heaven. His voice rang out from Wang Baole’s voice transmission ring.

“Baole, I heard you got your hands on a rare beast? I heard it’s really fast and has quite the character. Why not bring it out and let me take a look? If both of us are okay with it, you just say the price, and I’ll buy it!”

Wang Baole wasn’t surprised at all that Jin Duoming knew about the donkey. News of the donkey had spread throughout the school, what with its frolicking and monkeying around recently. It was to be expected that Jin Duoming had found out about it.

As soon as Jin Duoming raised the idea of buying the donkey, Wang Baole’s eyes brightened. He turned and eyed the donkey that was still gnawing on the door frame, and the light in his eyes grew brighter.

<em>I can’t believe Jin Duoming is expressing interest in the donkey… great, I’ll exchange the donkey for a seventh-grade Dharmic Armament. No, an eighth-grade Dharmic Armament! </em>Wang Baole got excited at the thought. When he looked at the donkey, his eyes were no longer as stern as before. Instead, a gentle look had replaced the stern stare.

His sudden stare seemed to scare the donkey. It froze and momentarily stopped its enthusiastic chewing of the gate. The wooden chunk in its mouth fell out, and it immediately sprawled on the floor and stared at Wang Baole with innocent eyes.

“Don’t be afraid, kid.” Wang Baole’s voice was soft and gentle. He walked over eagerly. His tone of voice only sent the donkey’s breathing quickening. It suddenly kicked its four legs and made to escape, but Wang Baole had long grown accustomed to its immense speed. He moved more quickly than the donkey and caught it.

“What are you running for? Come, let’s go give you a shower. If we’re going to sell you off, we have to make sure you look good for your new owner,” Wang Baole said excitedly. He ignored the donkey’s persistent kicks and led it to the showers while humming a cheerful tune under his breath. He didn’t find it troublesome at all as he scrubbed the trembling donkey’s fur. He even cast a spell and blow-dried the donkey.

That wasn’t the end of it. After some thought, Wang Baole got his three office assistants to bring some perfume over. Amidst the strange gazes of his female assistants and the horrified look in the donkey’s eyes, Wang Baole sprayed the donkey with a mist of perfume. He pulled out a length of rope with great satisfaction and tied it around the donkey’s neck. Then, he led it outside.

“Son!” The donkey kept crying on the way, the fear in its eyes intensifying.

“Don’t worry. We aren’t sending you off to the butcher!” Wang Baole turned back and smiled widely at the donkey. He patted the donkey on its head. The gentle look in his eyes terrified the donkey, causing it to bray even more loudly.

“Son! Son! Son!” It kept crying. Its bum fell onto the ground firmly, and it refused to move a single inch. It even bared its teeth, as if weighing the consequences of biting clean through the rope and eating it.

“If you dare to break the rope and run off, I’m going to turn you into the first eunuch donkey!” Wang Baole said coolly. His casually said words sent a shiver through the donkey’s body. It climbed to its feet hurriedly, then stared at Wang Baole with sorrow and protest in its eyes.

Wang Baole had long realized that the donkey understood what he was saying, but it was too unruly and forgetful. He thought an eighth-grade Dharmic Armament a fair exchange for the beast.

His anticipation intensified at that thought. He led the donkey and raced towards Jin Duoming’s residence. They had agreed to meet at Jin Duoming’s Martian residence instead of the Fire Spirit Academy, though it was also located in Zone Twelve.

Wang Baole soon arrived with his donkey. As soon as he reached the place, he saw a single three-story pavilion before him. He knew he had reached prime Martian estate. The land area the three-story pavilion took was so vast it could be used to build a hotel instead.

<em>Rich folks! </em>Excitement roared inside Wang Baole. When he reached the gates, he immediately sent a transmission to Jin Duoming. The doors soon opened, and three beautiful female servants with rather shapely figures welcomed Wang Baole. They escorted him personally into a room, then left.

Wang Baole grabbed onto the rope collaring the donkey and stood in the first-floor living area of the residence. Both his and the donkey’s breathing sped up. They stared in shock at their surrounding… the extravagance and lavishness of the living room had reached unimaginable heights.

Long, circular shelves crafted out of Spirit Wood surround them. On the shelves were numerous pills, and any one of them would cost a fortune. They were protected in clear pill bottles, and a spotlight shone on each bottle, which exuded a fragrant herbal scent. Countless Numinous Treasures even hung on the walls as decorative items.

The sofa, tables, and chairs, as well as other furniture, were all built out of Spirit Stones. Even the few items crafted out of wood seemed like rare treasures that surely cost a fortune.

The curtains were spun from Spirit Thread and the lights made from polished Spirit Stones, and they gave off a soothing, soft light. To top it off, strong Spirit Qi permeated the room.

Wang Baole was stunned, as was the donkey. Wang Baole stared unblinkingly at the Numinous Treasures and pills while the donkey stared at the sofa and furniture. It lowered its head and sniffed discreetly at them without Wang Baole’s notice. Its eyes started shining brightly, and it couldn’t help licking its lips. Then, it considered Wang Baole’s strange behavior today and decided not to risk it. It controlled its urges to nibble at the furniture.

Before long, just as the donkey could no longer keep its urges under control, laughter drifted from the second floor. Jin Duoming appeared at the top of the stairs and started walking down the steps.

“Brother Baole, welcome to my humble abode. It’s a little spartan. I’ve only arrived on Mars, after all. I hope you won’t find it too much of an embarrassment.”

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