Li Qian frowned.

He could tell from Mu Qianqian’s final words, "it’s just a shame," that there was an unusual undertone.

It seemed she had some unspoken troubles.

Though he sensed there was more to the story, Li Qian was wise enough not to ask.

Mu Qianqian had chosen to stop there, which meant the rest was not meant for an outsider’s ears.

He and Mu Qianqian might be called friends, but even including this trip, they had only met three times. They were hardly well-acquainted.

It would be inappropriate to ask about such private matters, especially when they involved her family’s influence.

It might even bring him trouble.

He fell silent and followed Mu Qianqian, venturing deeper into the Secret Realm.

It was very quiet inside the Secret Realm, with few signs of Pet Beast activity.

If this were any other Secret Realm, Li Qian might have found it strange.

But this was the Mysterious Forest Secret Realm, so such a situation was not surprising.

According to Mu Qianqian, the Mysterious Forest Secret Realm was inhabited almost exclusively by Wood-type Pet Beasts.

Over ninety percent of Wood-type Pet Beasts were plant-based lifeforms.

Plant-type Pet Beasts preferred stillness to movement.

At least, that was what Li Qian thought. But soon, he began to doubt his own assumption.

The reason was simple: the Mysterious Forest Secret Realm was far too quiet.

Abnormally so.

Li Qian felt that even if the Secret Realm was filled with plant-type Pet Beasts, it shouldn’t be this quiet.

So he began to observe his surroundings with greater focus.

And his observation did indeed reveal something unusual.

He wasn’t sure why, but this Mysterious Forest Secret Realm—which at first glance appeared lush, vibrant, and teeming with infinite life—now gave him a faint sense of decay and desolation.

Li Qian noticed these anomalies, but he remained silent, listening to Mu Qianqian’s explanations without a word.

He couldn’t be sure if this feeling was based in reality or just his imagination.

He followed behind Mu Qianqian, walking at an unhurried pace.

Before long, a small village came into view.

A small village nestled deep within the forest.

Shrouded by the trees, the small village of white walls and black tiles looked like something out of a pastoral poem.

The arrival of Li Qian and Mu Qianqian attracted the attention of a few figures in the village.

By their sides were a few Pet Beasts, scattered about in small groups. The whole scene felt somewhat deserted and lonely.

A quick glance was all it took for Li Qian to spot a considerable number of Hundred Vines Monsters among the Pet Beasts.

Still, all in all, the small number of people and the few dozen Pet Beasts were but a drop in the ocean compared to the vastness of the Secret Realm. It was less than Li Qian had expected.

The two of them walked straight toward the village.

Li Qian, rather curious, looked all around.

He had never imagined that the Mu Family’s base in the Mysterious Forest Secret Realm would be a quaint, elegant little village with a rustic charm.

Just as they neared the village and were about to step inside, a young voice suddenly rang out, "Aunt Qianqian, you’re back!"

As the voice faded, a boy of about thirteen or fourteen, cute as a polished jade carving, appeared at the village entrance as if from nowhere.

The boy clearly had a good relationship with Mu Qianqian, and a smile spread across his face when he saw her.

But his attention soon shifted to the unfamiliar man walking beside her—Li Qian. "Huh? Who are you? I’ve never seen you before."

Seeing such an adorable boy, Li Qian put on what he believed to be a kind and friendly smile. "Hello there, little guy. I’m Li Qian, a friend of your Aunt Qianqian."

Li Qian thought his smile was gentle enough to get a good reaction from the boy, but the kid’s next word nearly made him keel over. "Boyfriend?"

"AHEM, AHEM... Just a regular friend." Li Qian coughed awkwardly, taken aback by the boy’s unfiltered words.

Mu Qianqian shot the boy a fierce glare, a rare blush creeping onto her cheeks. "Xiaozhuo, how many times have I told you? Call me ’Big Sis,’ not ’Auntie’! And he’s my friend, not my boyfriend!"

The boy, Mu Zoran, looked at Mu Qianqian and corrected her with a straight face. "But we’re from different generations. Calling you ’Big Sis’ would mess up the family hierarchy, wouldn’t it?"

He then added with the earnest air of a concerned elder, "Besides, you’re already in your thirties. If you don’t start dating, you’ll end up old and alone, with no one to even join you for plaza dancing."

Mu Qianqian felt a vein throb on her forehead as her hand rose uncontrollably. "Hey, you little brat, you’ve got an itch that needs scratching, don’t you?"

"Ah! Aunt Qianqian is about to beat up a kid!" Mu Zoran yelped, then vanished in a flash.

Li Qian’s eyes went wide at the sight. "Huh? What was that?"

Mu Qianqian explained, "Xiaozhuo’s Beast Taming Talent is ’Skill Sharing.’ Every time his Power Level increases, he can copy one Skill from a Pet Beast. What he just used was the Skill ’Divine Speed’!"

Li Qian was even more bewildered after her explanation. "Wait, if I heard you right, you’re saying his Beast Taming Talent is ’Skill Sharing’... which means he... he’s already awakened his Beast Taming Space!"

He couldn’t help but ask in astonishment, "How old is he?"

"He’s not that young. He’s already past thirteen," Mu Qianqian said, glancing in the direction Mu Zoran had disappeared and sighing helplessly.

Li Qian was at a loss for words. ’Is this the terrifying Talent of the younger generation from Beast Taming Families?’

It was just too demoralizing.

Compared to this kid, his own reputation as a genius was a complete joke.

Seeing the shock on Li Qian’s face, Mu Qianqian gave a faint smile and continued, "That’s nothing, really. In our Dongxia Federation, it’s not unheard of for prodigies to awaken their Beast Taming Space before the age of ten."

"Besides, awakening a Beast Taming Space that early and developing one’s Spiritual Power prematurely isn’t necessarily a good thing."

"..."

As the two of them were talking and walking into the village, which was a cluster of several dozen quaint wooden houses, the boy’s voice rang out again. "Great-Grandpa, Great-Grandpa! I saw it, I saw it! Aunt Qianqian brought a man home!"

When Mu Qianqian heard this, her face turned livid with rage, and she immediately gave chase. "Mu Zoran, you stop spreading rumors! I’m going to tan your hide!"

Li Qian watched this unfold, feeling utterly exasperated.

Just as he was starting to feel awkward, a deep, kind voice suddenly rang out, "Hahaha, please excuse the scene, young friend."

As the voice faded, an old man with white hair but a youthful complexion slowly came into view. He had a kind and benevolent face.

Li Qian saw the white-haired, youthful-faced elder. Though he didn’t know who the man was, he could instinctively feel his power. He replied respectfully, "Not at all, sir. I think this kind of playful bickering makes a place feel more alive."

The old man laughed heartily, offering a subtle compliment. "It is rare for a young man to have such insight. I have long heard that Lingshui City has produced a nurturing genius, and seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary. This old man is Mu Tianhua. On behalf of the Mu Family, I welcome you to the Mysterious Forest Secret Realm."

Li Qian cupped his fists and said politely, "Then I shall be in your care, Grandpa Mu."