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    Chapter 63: Milk Formula

    Wen Ying's heart was pounding rapidly, feeling somewhat nervous. "Great-Grandma, is it healthy?" It was a white egg. For such eggs, even if the magical beast inside could break out, there would usually be innate defects or weaknesses, making them more prone to illness or death.

    After a thorough examination, Aruda said satisfactorily, "The nutrient solution I prepared seems to have worked well. This is a very healthy baby."

    Wen Ying's tense mood relaxed. He leaned over and bent down, blinking his eyes as he examined the cub that Aruda was holding. The pure white cub in Aruda's arms seemed restless, or perhaps anxious. Its front paws and ears were constantly scratching at Aruda's arm, trying to move towards Wen Ying.

    Aruda placed the cub in Wen Ying's hands. The cub nestled its head against Wen Ying's chest, seemingly very attached to him.

    Wen Ying's heart melted. Although this cub had just hatched and its wet fur affected its appearance, it would surely be cuter than kittens and puppies in the future!

    So small, yet already showing feline... uh, beastly virtues?

    The cat's tail was like a newly sprouted bud, with two small, flat leaves divided into two. It gently swayed back and forth on the back of Wen Ying's hand.

    "Wen Ying asked, "Great-Grandma, what do newborn magical beasts eat?" He subconsciously looked at the eggshell on the bed. Earlier, when he had been sitting on the bed, the egg had cracked, and some of the broken pieces had fallen to the ground while others landed on the bed. Amidst the chaos, Wen Ying had simply left the eggshell on the bed.

    In many anime, he recalled, newborn magical beasts were said to eat their own eggshells?

    Aluda explained, "This is an omnivorous magical beast that eats anything. If it's just born, milk would be best. There's some fresh goat's milk in the fridge for now. I'll get some fresh milk tomorrow." With that, she left the room.

    Wen Ying held the whining cub in his arms, adoring its every move. He smiled, bending his eyebrows, and said, "I'll call you Little Bai."

    The cub continued to whimper, seemingly unaware. Wen Ying recalled the descriptions of magical beasts in the demon world. Many were highly intelligent, while low-level beasts were fools, and high-level ones were as smart as demons.

    Aluda soon returned. Wen Ying watched her feed Little Bai with a basin of milk, and asked, "Grandma, do you know what species it is?"

    "This is a Claw-Ear Beast," Aluda looked down at the white cub. "Look at its ears and front paws. Normal Claw-Ear Beasts have a brown belly similar to tree trunks, and green fur elsewhere. They usually live in forests and stay in trees most of the time."

    "His front paws are thick, and the claws inside will grow longer, reaching about half the length of the paw. When he grows up, the three prongs at the end of his ears can control grasping and climbing like hands. The tail of a Claw-Ear Beast," Aluda stroked the cub's tail from the base, "looks thin, but it's as sensitive as a hand. A few years ago, a thief used a Claw-Ear Beast's tail to unlock doors, and it always worked."

    Wen Ying: "..." So the demon was also a skilled magical beast.

    Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he asked doubtfully, "Why not just use magic, like growing a vine into the shape of a keyhole?"

    Aluda sighed, looking at him as if he were a troublemaker. "There are magical patterns inside the locks in the demon world that prevent magic from entering and being used."

    Wen Ying: "..." Indeed, knowledge of the demon world was a long journey... Damn it, why did he ever search for information on demon world locks on Baidu?

    After feeding the bowl of milk, Aruda continued with his potion-infused pastry-making. Seeing Wen Ying's anxiety, he casually waved his hand and reassured, "Don't worry too much. Magical beasts in the Demon Realm are much stronger than animals in the Human Realm. Apart from starvation, severe injury, or being carried away and eaten by other magical beasts, their cubs hardly die. This fellow looks robust; I don't think it'll perish prematurely."

    Wen Ying remained nervous. "Where should I put it at night?"

    "You can hold it while sleeping. It probably won't be crushed," Aruda said earnestly.

    Wen Ying: "..."

    That night, Wen Ying placed the cub, whom he had named Little Bai, on the square pillow that was originally used to separate egg whites. Initially, he planned to keep it on the bedside table, but fearing that the tiny creature might fall off during the night, he decided to place it directly on the floor.

    Wen Ying was extremely nervous, as if the cub could perish at any moment. The next morning, he woke up to find something pressing against his face. Upon removing it with his hand, he discovered that it was the cub who should have been lying beneath him.

    Wen Ying sat up and gazed silently at the cub, who had only hatched the previous night yet already sported a fluffy coat and opened eyes the following day.

    With its fur puffed up, the cub appeared significantly larger. Its ice-blue eyes fixated on Wen Ying, while its long ears wrapped around Wen Ying's hand holding it. This endearing sight nearly made Wen Ying jump in excitement.

    He had finally experienced the joy of being a pet owner!

    "Little Bai, you're so adorable!" Wen Ying cuddled the cub, rubbing against it vigorously. The cub's melodious cry was reminiscent of a cat, yet distinctively different.

    Alruda knocked on the door, "Little Ying, hurry up and have breakfast. You'll be late for school if you don't."

    Wen Ying glanced at the clock and quickly responded, getting out of bed to change clothes and brush his teeth.

    Little Bai could already walk, albeit unsteadily. As Wen Ying hastily got dressed, he rushed to the bathroom on the second floor, with Little Bai tottering along. Wen Ying had to carry him downstairs when they were done.

    "Wisdom Grandmother, thank you for taking care of him during the day," Wen Ying said. "I'll come back early tonight."

    "It's no trouble," Alruda replied calmly, teasing Wen Ying. "He's just a young magical beast cub. There's no need to be so nervous."

    "It's my first time raising one... He seems to require a lot of attention," Wen Ying said honestly.

    Upon hearing this, Alruda picked up the cub on the ground, making its claws extend from their hidden position. He then used the claw to grasp the wooden table.

    Wen Ying's eyes widened. Under that claw, the wooden table seemed as fragile as paper. He was grateful that Little Bai hadn't scratched his face during the night.

    "I understand, Wisdom Grandmother," Wen Ying said after a pause.

    After breakfast, Wen Ying rushed to school, barely making it in time. Panting, he hurriedly entered the classroom.

    Surrounded by the demons who asked why he was so late, Huo Po inquired if Wen Ying had overslept. With a hint of pride, Wen Ying's lips curled up as he said, "That white egg I found at school hatched! It's a Paw-Ear Beast!"

    Beros turned his head slightly. Had that annoying white egg finally hatched? He thought it would turn into a dead egg. Why didn't Aruda use it for experiments?

    "Ah, a Paw-Ear Beast? You're quite lucky," Li Jie remarked in surprise. "You managed to stumble upon a high-level magic beast cub. Is it healthy? Does it have a high chance of dying young?"

    "My great-grandmother says it's very healthy. So far, there doesn't seem to be any issues," Wen Ying's smile and display of pride never faded. "It's so adorable, all white and cuddly. It behaves so well when I hold it."

    Essence tilted her head with her chin resting on her hand. "That doesn't sound right. I remember Paw-Ear Beasts being quite fierce magic beasts, known as forest killers."

    She looked at the other demons, and Scarlet nodded. "You're not mistaken. During their mating season each year, they often attack demons who accidentally enter their territory. They directly go for the fatal neck, and many demons don't make it through each year. They've gained a notorious reputation now."

    "Decades ago, His Majesty the Demon King ordered all regions to announce the locations of Paw-Ear Beast habitats, warning those without the skills to avoid entering the forests during their mating season. But recently, for some reason, there's been a trend of challenging one's strength by entering the territories of mating Paw-Ear Beasts," Muershi scoffed, his brows raised in amusement as he gazed at his right fingernail. "With the Paw-Ear Beast's sharp claws, everyone could start dining once it strikes at a regular demon's neck."

    Wen Ying maintained his smile, but his eyes betrayed his confusion. He felt a chill down his neck.

    Fierce? Forest killers? Dining?

    Were they talking about the same adorable, tiny white ball from last night and this morning? The Paw-Ear Beast cub that cooed softly and followed him wherever he went?

    Would its claws be capable of killing an ordinary demon?

    Wen Ying felt that they were joking or referring to a different species altogether.

    "Can't a Paw-Ear Beast be that terrifying?" Wen Ying defended the little darling at home. "It's very clingy with me, following wherever I go and loves being hugged by me. It constantly rubs against me."

    The other demons also wore expressions that seemed to say, 'Are you kidding me?', and both sides remained unconvinced.

    The teacher entered for class, Feng Luo, and the two parties immediately fell silent and turned their attention to the lectern obediently.

    When the class finally ended, Wen Ying promptly asked, "Does a Paw-Ear Beast not attack demons randomly? Last night, I placed it on a mat on the floor, and when I woke up this morning, it was lying on my face without attacking me."

    Muershi teased, "Perhaps because it saw you first, it considers you as its dad, ha-ha."

    "Did you feed it? It sees you as its caretaker now; how could it possibly attack you?" Scarlet commented.

    Li Jie turned his head. "Fortunately, there aren't any neighbors or passing demons around where you live, or else you'd have to keep it in a cage. Paw-Ear Beasts have a strong inclination towards aggressive behavior towards unfamiliar creatures."

    Wen Ying felt that they were exaggerating. Little Bai wasn't that fierce. He muttered to himself that he would bring Little Bai to school once it grew up, so Muershi and the others could see for themselves that he wasn't lying. Little Bai was indeed well-behaved, and they were simply falling victim to stereotypes about its species.

    In the Demon Realm, schools did not prohibit the keeping of pets. Wen Ying had seen several demons in Lucifer Academy who brought their tamed magical beasts with them. Little Bai was small and inconspicuous, unlikely to cause panic due to its appearance.

    As soon as school ended in the afternoon, Wen Ying rushed home, leaving no chance for Lan Jiaying to even suggest they play ranked matches together.

    Now, the top position in the rankings seemed to have become a challenge exclusively between Wen Ying and Lan Jiaying, a war between the two demons that no other demon dared to interfere with.

    After leaving Lucifer Academy, Wen Ying flapped his bat-like wings and dashed towards the capital at great speed. Flying was allowed in the airspace above the capital, so he soared through the sky in search of a pet store. With the capital's prosperity, there should be specialized magical beast pet shops around.

    He found one.

    Wen Ying alighted, and he found that the store occupied a vast area with an elegant facade exuding an aristocratic vibe. It was evident that it was expensive. Recalling his daily earnings surpassing ten thousand, Wen Ying thought of the pet food live streamers he had watched on his phone while in the Human Realm.

    These well-fed pets, with their diverse meals consisting of various meats, nutritional powders, freeze-dried treats, vegetables, and fruit snacks, always caught his attention. Watching the bloggers open beautifully packaged pet food bags and cans, pouring them into dog or cat bowls, arranging them artfully, was particularly soothing for him.

    Thus, Wen Ying stepped into this upscale pet store that seemed to promise premium prices.

    Pushing through the glass door, a female demon immediately emerged as a sales attendant. She was about the same height as Wen Ying, with a round, cheerful face. She sized up Wen Ying, but didn't spot any magical beast on him. Glancing outside, there were no signs of large magical beasts either.

    "May I ask if you're looking to purchase a pet magical beast?" the girl asked with a bright smile.

    Wen Ying shook his head and walked towards the shelf that caught his interest. "I'm here to buy pet food."

    He approached the rack filled with various dried fruits and picked up an attractive bag of fruit snacks. "Can this be fed to a newborn Claw-Ear Beast?"

    "Claw-Claw Ear Beast?" The female demon's smile faltered for a few seconds. "You mean the Claw-Ear Beast?" Her tone involuntarily rose, revealing her struggle to suppress her shock, though she didn't entirely succeed.

    "Yes, that's right. The Claw-Ear Beast, the kind with very long ears and huge front paws. Could you recommend some food suitable for a newborn Claw-Ear Beast?"

    Wen Ying was perplexed. Why did everyone react so strongly to the mention of Claw-Ear Beasts? Aruda hadn't said anything about them... Wait, Aruda didn't say anything, but now that he thought about it, it was unsettling. Aruda didn't mention the danger of Claw-Ear Beasts, but other demons did...

    No way, Wen Ying's heart skipped a beat. How could such a cute and clingy creature be dangerous?

    "The Claw-Ear Beast is an omnivorous magical beast with a powerful digestive system. If there's no mother beast around, a newborn Claw-Ear Beast can consume minced meat directly."

    The female demon snapped back to reality, still showing signs of shock. It was hard for her to believe that this seemingly slender demon would raise such a fierce creature. However, she was professional and walked to another shelf, picking up a bag labeled 'Juvenile Beast Meat Mince.' "This amount is enough for a Claw-Ear Beast cub for one week, with three meals a day. I suggest pairing it with milk from the cows specially bred by the Doug family. After a week, you can feed it whole pieces of meat."

    "Take a look over here. This row is all vacuum-packed fresh magical beast meat. If you're worried about its temperament becoming too wild from too much raw meat, you can opt for the cooked meat on this side."

    "Then, get some of this broth. It's made from the bones of high-grade magical beasts, perfect for climbing-type magical beasts like the Claw-Ear Beast with its claws."

    "Normally, you can also buy some treats. It's quite popular among humans to feed their pets with canned food like this. This premium magical beast meat contains bits of Flame Crab, Blue Spearfish roe, and Sturgeon eggs, brimming with magical energy. Your pet will definitely rush over just from the scent."

    "And this one, we added Devil Bee honey while roasting the hind legs of a Running Goat. It's highly nutritious and perfect for the growth of young beasts."

    "..."

    Wen Ying was overwhelmed by all the information, his eyes filled with confusion.

    The salesgirl had noticed the quality of Wen Ying's clothing and assessed his purchasing power, so she vigorously promoted high-end pet food. However, she didn't know that Wen Ying had already mastered the art of politely declining sales pitches in the human world. He only paid for the milk produced by the cow specially researched by the Douglas family.

    Initially, he wanted to order fresh milk, but when the salesperson heard his address, they forced a smile and stammered, suggesting that perhaps he should settle for powdered milk instead, as it was similar to fresh milk.

    It seemed that online shopping wasn't suitable for Arudar's castle, Wen Ying thought to himself. After paying, he carried the bag of powdered milk back home, feeling a mix of heartache and excitement at the cost of three thousand coins.

    Upon returning to the castle, Wen Ying rushed to find Little Bai. Smelling Wen Ying, Little Bai stumbled over to rub against his feet. Wen Ying placed the bag aside and scooped up the Claw-Eared Beast, cooing in a high-pitched voice, "Little Bai, Daddy's back~"

    Arudar suddenly appeared, causing Wen Ying to choke and cough. He looked around awkwardly and asked, "Grandmatriarch, when did you come out?"

    "Just now."

    Arudha's eyes twinkled with amusement, making Wen Ying feel even more embarrassed. He changed the subject, "Grandma, I bought some milk. This brand seems quite nutritious."

    Arudha was surprised, "I remember telling you yesterday that I would prepare the milk for this little guy."

    "Did you go out to buy it during the day?"

    Arudha sighed, "Although I don't have much concept of saving money, it's not worth spending a high price on something that's inferior to what we can get for free. We don't want other demons to think we're easy targets, that demons are fools with too much money."

    Wen Ying was confused again, holding Little Bai with a face full of question marks, "Grandma, where did you go for this free milk?"

    Arudha opened her arms and raised the corners of her lips. The kind and amiable old woman suddenly exuded an immense aura of danger.

    "The Eternal Forest." The four words spoken softly carried an incredibly powerful sense of pressure.

    At that moment, Arudha's entire being as a demon was filled with the imposing presence of a powerful devil. She spoke calmly, dismissing any potential dangers around her with casual ease.

    Startled by Arudha's sudden dangerous aura, Wen Ying had a bad premonition. He cautiously asked, "Grandma, what kind of milk did you get from the Eternal Forest?"

    "It's time to feed it now since it's evening," Arudha reined in that threatening vibe and resumed being the industrious and versatile elder, leading the way, "Come, let's go to the backyard of the castle."

    Wen Ying carried Little Bai over, and when he saw the colossal creature in the castle's backyard, his eyelids twitched wildly. Not just his eyelids—his temples were pulsating too, and his heart rate shot up, pounding like a drum.

    "Granny, oh Granny," Wen Ying stammered, "is that a dragon? The milk you mentioned earlier... wasn't it from...?"

    Upon noticing the straw nest beside the red Western dragon with two eggs inside—one still intact, the other already hatched—Wen Ying realized this was a female dragon. In the straw, the newborn dragonling sat within its cracked eggshell, crunching away at the remaining pieces.

    Alruda didn't respond to Wen Ying but exclaimed in surprise, "The hatchling from that dragon egg hadn't broken out yet. I didn't expect it to come so soon."

    Wen Ying fell silent. He suddenly felt that Muershi and the others might have been telling the truth. If Alruda could carry a dragon back here, what was there to fear about a Claw-Ear Beast? Of course, she wouldn't be alarmed.

    The cub of the Claw-Ear Beast in his arms lifted its long ears and wrapped them around Wen Ying's hand like an arm, looking coquettish. Its ice-blue eyes were clear and devoid of aggression. Wen Ying looked down at Little Bai and hesitated again.

    "Come, let Grandma hold you." Alruda took Little Bai, and the cub's ears reluctantly released their grip on Wen Ying's arm.

    Alruda carried Little Bai directly to the red dragon, who was visibly tense. Its eyes fixated on Alruda, and its limbs were stiff as if afraid to move.

    As Alruda approached, the red dragon used its tail to cover the two children in the straw nest, sparks erupting from its nose as a warning.

    "I told you, I only want you to take care of this child," Alruda said, shaking her head helplessly. She continued to draw closer, and Little Bai, gazing at the massive creature, didn't show any fear in his ice-blue eyes. He stared straight at the dragon.

    Wen Ying observed Aruda feeding Little Bai with the red dragon's milk, his lips twitching. He thought of the infant formula he had left in the living room, that specially bred milk cow from the Douglas family, which was now completely overshadowed by this massive dragon.

    Three thousand gold coins down the drain. The milk Aruda acquired for free was far more nutritious than what he had bought.

    The red dragon, despite its initial reluctance and frustration, relaxed significantly when Aruda offered a high-grade medicinal pill. Its menacing expression softened without bared fangs or glaring eyes.

    Curious, Wen Ying approached the creature. The red dragon glanced at him but didn't pay him any further attention. Wen Ying supposed he didn't appear threatening. As he drew closer, he could sense the temperature rising, indicating that it was indeed a fire dragon.

    "Meet the Scarlet Flame Wyrm," Aruda said, stroking the dragon's scales. She murmured to herself, "Its scales have remarkable toughness..."

    Intrigued, Wen Ying tried to reach out as well. But before his hand touched the Scarlet Flame Wyrm, Little Bai suddenly jumped over, interrupting his action. Adjusting his hold on the cub, Wen Ying chuckled. "Full already?"

    "Chirp." Little Bai nodded, wrapping its long ears around Wen Ying's arm once more and closing its icy blue eyes, seemingly ready for a nap.

    As newborn beasts typically slept after eating, Wen Ying's hands were occupied by the cub, leaving him unable to touch the Scarlet Flame Wyrm. He decided to return indoors.

    Aruda followed, leaving the backyard and entering the kitchen. She served Wen Ying a meal while he held the cub with both hands. After some coaxing, Little Bai released one hand, allowing Wen Ying to eat, displaying an overly clingy nature.

    This demonstration of excellent beastly manners made Wen Ying doubt the authenticity of Muershi's words once again. The cub was so adorable and showed no signs of aggression. It was soft and allowed itself to be petted and hugged freely. Perhaps it was just a racial stereotype, as Little Bai hadn't attacked the Scarlet Flame Wyrm earlier.

    At night, while doing homework, Little Bai occupied one of Wen Ying's hands, causing a slight frown of concern on Wen Ying's face. It was truly a sweet burden.

    In the evening, Little Bai refused to sleep on its mat on the floor and insisted on cuddling Wen Ying's hand. Wen Ying, fearing he might accidentally squish it in the middle of the night, reluctantly compromised after a prolonged standoff. He laid down with the small Claw-Ear Beast in his arms, sighing as he pretended to scold it, "Why are you so disobedient?"

    "Chirp!"

    With its ice-blue eyes gazing at Wen Ying, the Claw-Ear Beast reflected Wen Ying's image up close. It seemed as if Wen Ying was its entire world. Snuggling closer, it took a deep breath before drifting off to sleep.

    Little Bai had an enormous appetite. Apart from drinking the milk of the Crimson Flame Wyrm, Aruda went to the Eternal Forest to fetch more magic beast meat for free. He minced some of it to feed Little Bai, while the rest was reserved for the Crimson Flame Wyrm.

    After a few days, the Claw-Ear Beast became plump and glossy, growing significantly larger in size, now comparable to an ordinary adult cat.

    Curious about how big the Claw-Ear Beast could grow, Wen Ying searched for information on them online using his phone. To his surprise, Muershi and the others were telling the truth. He realized that his own pet was likely an anomaly, with its white fur indicating a gentle temperament.

    Standing by the back door of the castle, watching Little Bai playfully pounce on the young Crimson Flame Wyrm on the lawn, Wen Ying's eyes curved into a smile. Little Bai didn't attack the smaller wyrm, which set it apart from typical Claw-Ear Beasts. There was no need to worry about its aggression.

    The adult Crimson Flame Wyrm had also become tame under Aruda's care. With no fear of enemies disturbing them in the middle of the night and the devil providing food, high-grade magic potions, and magical plants, hunting only occasionally when necessary, the wyrm was quite content with its living conditions.

    Being highly intelligent, it decided to settle down peacefully here, waiting until the second egg hatched before deciding whether or not to leave.

    Freebies are great, but Wen Ying can't experience the joy of a pet owner buying bags of pet food and stocking up on various canned treats at the pet store. He scrolls through a pet-oriented forum and decides to make homemade nutritious treats for Little Bai.

    Pet nutrition blocks come in both cookie and cube shapes, with most being cubes. Their flavors vary depending on the specific magical beast, using different fruit and magic plant ingredients, and the mixture's consistency is adjusted accordingly.

    Over the past week, Wen Ying has been so engrossed in Little Bai that he's made fewer cards. Upon returning home, he spends his time practicing and crafting these nutritious blocks, resulting in a decrease in card production. Muershi is deeply concerned and urges Wen Ying to focus on his career.

    After some thought, Wen Ying tells Muershi it's time to start creating non-magical limited edition cards, along with badges, both incorporating a silver onion double shimmer technique. Muershi is unfamiliar with this process, so Wen Ying suggests he communicate with the factory artisans himself. As the demon world has often borrowed ideas and technology from the human realm, Muershi inquires and discovers the factory workers are capable of executing the technique.

    Having tasted the financial rewards of blind box sales, Muershi initially wants to apply the same concept to the badges. However, Wen Ying intervenes, reasoning that badges aren't as popular in the demon world. They should first cultivate a habit among demons before introducing blind boxes, reserving them for the limited edition cards instead.

    Muershi finds Wen Ying's argument persuasive and agrees, instructing the factory demons to proceed accordingly.

    With the card-making worries aside, Wen Ying immerses himself in enjoying Little Bai's company. The moment school ends, he dashes out without fail, leaving Lan Jiaying startled and unable to stop him. The instant the final bell rings and the teacher exits, Wen Ying is off.

    Beros notices that Wen Ying hasn't visited the arena lately, not only avoiding his match with Lan Jiaying but also skipping other contests to create magic cards. For the past week, Wen Ying rushes straight home. Beros, who happens to run out of the body-enhancing magic potion he obtained from Aruda, decides to investigate today.

    Isn't it just a claw-ear beast? Beros feels a pang of jealousy without realizing it; something about the situation irks him.

    Following Wen Ying's departure, Beros took the same path, arriving shortly after Wen Ying did.

    Standing before the castle, Beros pressed the doorbell of the entrance. He found that the gate was not securely closed, and Aluda's voice echoed from within, "Just come in." Pushing open the iron gate, he passed through the front courtyard. The main door of the castle was also ajar. Standing at the entrance, he sensed an unfamiliar aura, causing his brows to furrow slightly as he cautiously stepped inside.

    The aroma of food wafted out, incredibly appetizing. Beros followed the scent and found both Aluda and Wen Ying in the kitchen, both demons occupied with their tasks.

    His gaze fell upon the pure white magical beast perched atop Wen Ying's head. It hugged Wen Ying's head with its long ears, lounging lazily on top of him. Its slender tail wrapped affectionately around Wen Ying's neck.

    Perceiving the unknown presence, the beast turned its head. Its ice-blue eyes narrowed, baring its teeth as its adorable face transformed into a terrifying expression.

    Wen Ying caught sight of Beros and was about to greet him when he felt a lightening weight on his head. In the next moment, a flash of white light streaked past, immediately redirected to another direction.

    Damn it?!

    Wen Ying's heart leapt, quickly rushing over to catch the flying Little Bai. He cradled the creature in his arms, soothing it as its fangs were bared, displaying a fierce aggression. If not for Wen Ying holding onto it tightly, it would have lunged towards Beros.

    In its struggle, one of the Claw-Ear Beast's claws unintentionally left a shallow scratch on Wen Ying's arm, breaking the skin just enough to reveal a hint of red beneath, but no blood flowed out.

    Upon catching a whiff of blood, the Claw-Ear Beast, initially agitated by the unfamiliar demon, paused in its struggles. In the next instant, a more intense and ferocious demonic aura swept over, overwhelming the beast and rendering it unconscious.

    Wen Ying: "!"

    Wen Ying promptly released his magic to resist the pressure and protect Little Bai. He lifted his head to signal Beros to stop.

    Beros remained expressionless with his red eyes fixated on the unconscious Claw-Eared Beast. He scoffed and turned away. "Throw this disobedient magical beast away."

    Wen Ying stroked Little Bai with a tinge of guilt. Addressing Beros, he said, "It's only about a week old and hasn't learned manners yet... Oh right, were you injured just now?"

    Alright, he admitted that Little Bai wasn't a mutated creature; it still had the temperament of a Claw-Eared Beast. Taking advantage of its young age, he needed to educate it promptly. It couldn't just attack others like that, not even demons.

    Upon hearing Wen Ying's concern, Beros' mood softened slightly. However, seeing Wen Ying tenderly stroking the Claw-Eared Beast, Beros replied expressionlessly, "How could anything happen to me? The one in trouble must be it." It was more annoying than when it was just an egg.

    Aluda, who was making magical pastry nearby, wiped his hands clean and walked over. "That's just how Claw-Eared Beasts are. Don't worry, Little Ying. It has thick skin and flesh. Just let it rest for a bit, and it'll wake up."

    Wen Ying carried the Claw-Eared Beast upstairs. When he came back down, he saw Beros taking a medicine bag from Aluda's hand. Inside the bag, there was the sound of glass bottles clinking against each other.

    "What's that?" Wen Ying descended the stairs, taking three steps at once.

    "Physical Strengthening Potion," Beros replied.

    Aluda replied and then said to Beros, "Beros, stay for dinner tonight. We have plenty of magic beast meat."

    Beros nodded. "Thanks for the trouble."

    Aluda smiled and said it was no issue. He put aside his work on the magical pastry and started preparing dinner.

    Wen Ying walked over to Beros's side and examined his neck for a long time before heaving a sigh of relief when he saw no red marks. He whispered, "Sorry about that. I thought it was different from the other Claw-Eared Beasts."

    "Beros, wait a moment."

    Before Beros could speak, Wen Ying suddenly dashed to the fridge, opened it, took out a bag, and swiftly returned, handing the item to Beros.

    Looking down, Beros saw that Wen Ying was holding a bag of heart-shaped pastries packed in a transparent bag, with a bow tied around the opening.

    "What's this?"

    "These are Nutrient Blocks," Wen Ying smiled, feeling slightly embarrassed about the shape. "They're not for magic beasts, they're for demons."

    Nutrient Blocks came in two types—ones for magic beasts and ones for demons. Although most magic beasts' blocks were also edible for demons, their flavors might not be a perfect match. Besides, the ingredients used in factory-made magic beast Nutrient Blocks might not be suitable for demons.

    In the demonic realm, magical beasts had digestive systems similar to those of ordinary animals on Earth, with a superior ability to process nutrients compared to sentient beings. Demons seldom consumed nutrient blocks from magical beasts unless they made them themselves, unless there was an absolute necessity.

    Just like on Earth, one would rarely touch cat or dog food, especially the cheap ones, as one wouldn't know what ingredients were included.

    Beros took the bag with disdain, "You even tied a bow on it."

    Wen Ying thought to himself: This is just like how you subtly expressed your affection that day on Fire Mountain.

    Beros placed the bag aside on the living room table, next to the medicine pouch given by Aluda, preparing to take them both later.

    "Don't dote too much on that Claw-Eared Beast," Beros said, "It's not good for it. It'll become spoiled and lose its independence. Don't let it stay on you all the time; it needs exercise. Otherwise, it will get too fat. You can just raise it casually in the backyard of the castle as a guard beast."

    Wen Ying vaguely agreed. Now that Beros no longer had Little Bai to distract him, Little Bai allowed him to pet and tousle his fur freely. What could Beros do?

    Aluda soon called them for dinner. After eating, Wen Ying and Beros used water magic to wash the dishes. Initially, Beros intended to leave immediately, but Wen Ying stopped him, suggesting they visit the castle's backyard.

    Beros had sensed an additional aura in the castle's backyard. The aura didn't attempt to conceal itself, belonging to a high-level fire elemental magical beast, though he couldn't identify the specific creature.

    For the time being, Perseus accompanied Wen Ying to the castle's backyard. After they walked to the back and opened the door, Perseus saw the Crimson Flame Wyvern resting there. Beside it was a baby wyvern and an egg, which made him aware of what the Claw-Eared Beast had been eating recently.

    Perseus was in a sour mood. Nevertheless, Wen Ying was overly meticulous with that white Claw-Eared Beast.

    "I've never seen this kind of dragon-type magical beast before," Wen Ying sighed. "I wonder how Lan Jiaying's dragon form looks like."

    When demons reached a hundred years old, they could assume a semi-demonic form and a complete demonic form, their strength multiplying by several times. In fact, Wen Ying was curious about whether there would be a golden spot on Lan Jiaying's body when he transformed completely into a dragon.

    Perseus spoke casually, "It's just a typical black dragon."

    The Crimson Flame Wyvern sensed Perseus' aura and regarded it as a threat. It stood up and growled at Perseus in a low voice to drive him away. Wen Ying said, "Don't worry. He's a familiar demon and won't attack."

    The Crimson Flame Wyvern stared at Perseus for a long time, maintaining its guard. Perseus sneered at its vigilance, not caring at all. He scanned the backyard and found no other magical beasts except for the two Crimson Flame Wyverns and an egg.

    Although Wen Ying said so, the Crimson Flame Wyvern remained uneasy. Wen Ying took out the nutrient cubes he had made from his spatial bracelet. Upon seeing the cubes, the baby Crimson Flame Wyvern slowly flew towards Wen Ying while observing Perseus. Even when it reached Wen Ying's arms to eat the cubes, it still kept an eye on Perseus.

    Perseus instinctively intimidated the baby wyvern with his pressure to force it to leave. The baby wyvern flared its scales in fright. Wen Ying subconsciously patted Perseus' hand hanging down by his side. "Don't scare Little Hong!"

    Perseus: "... What did you name that Claw-Eared Beast?"

    Wen Ying spoke with conviction, "Little Bai."

    Suddenly, Boreas felt much happier. The corners of his lips lifted slightly, and the ferocity of the three-headed dog seemed to dissipate, softening its outline.

    However, now that he knew both the dragon and the Claw-Eared Beast consumed nutrient cubes, Boreas suddenly didn't fancy the heart-shaped nutrient cube that Wen Ying had given him earlier.

    Wen Ying tried to lead the conversation indirectly, "Boreas, when we were at Flame Mountain last month, why did you buy that mask?"

    "Because I liked it," Boreas answered promptly without any hesitation.

    Wen Ying continued to probe, "Did you wear it later? Or was it just that one time?"

    Boreas' deep voice resonated sexily in the quiet night, with only occasional chirping of insects. Moonlight illuminated the surroundings, dispelling the darkness in the distance. This scene, combined with the towering demon's voice, should have stirred up a wild and passionate desire. Yet, Boreas could suppress such impulses effortlessly.

    — Simply by speaking.

    Unaware of what Wen Ying was actually asking, Boreas responded to the surface question, "I only wore it once. It felt good that day, so I kept it for use on Devil's Birthday."

    Wen Ying: "..." Despite his repeated attempts to salvage Beros' words, he still couldn't decipher any hidden meaning that he had hoped for.

    He shouldn't have let Aludra's explanation of the Demon Birthday traditions influence his interpretation of Beros' actions. He had overestimated Beros – this guy had no romantic inclinations whatsoever; if he did, the foundations of the demon world would crumble.

    Undeterred, Wen Ying persisted, "I quite like the ribbon you used for my hair, so I'm returning the favor today. Do you like nutrient cubes?"

    Beros was always straightforward, "I'd still consider it a favorite if you didn't make them for the others too."

    Great, the mystery was solved. Beros hadn't been hinting at his affection that night at all. Wen Ying slapped his forehead, the loud noise startling Little Hong who was munching on a nutrient cube.

    Boros was also startled, his tone filled with surprise, "Why are you hitting yourself?"

    Wen Ying forced a smile, "To teach myself a lesson for the future."

    Boros clicked his tongue, "Your train of thought is quite unpredictable."

    He had no interest in the dragons in the backyard, so he turned around and entered, saying, "I'll be going first."

    "Goodbye." Wen Ying waved weakly.

    Despite his disdain for the nutrient blocks, Beros still took them with him when he left. Wen Ying heard the rustling of birds and beasts taking flight in the nearby forest, knowing that Beros had turned to hunt magical creatures for his amusement.

    In no time, Beros returned with a magical creature as a dinner gift for Aruda. The beast was portioned by Aruda, with large cuts of meat fed to the adult Red Flame Wyvern and some minced meat saved for the Claw-Eared Beast, Little Bai, and the young Red Flame Wyvern. The bones and organs were boiled into a soup for Wen Ying to drink, while Beros also partook in it. The remaining parts were set aside as ingredients for magical potions.

    As Beros flew through the sky after his departure, an idea suddenly struck him. Wen Ying had been mentioning Magic Birthday, masks, and gifts – could it be that he was hoping for an invitation on that day? He had quite an intricate mind, even bringing up the matter of a return gift as a subtle hint.

    Well, why not? Beros picked up the bag, admiring the heart-shaped nutrient blocks inside. He opened it and pinched one out, popping it into his mouth. The instant it touched his tongue, a look of distaste appeared on his face.

    "It's overly sweet."

    Despite his comment, he swallowed it without spitting it out.

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