Beastmaster: I'm really just a forest ranger

Chapter 447 Junior, put down the opportunity in your hands!
The spring sunshine streamed through the clean car windows, illuminating the youthful, energetic faces of the children.

A school bus painted with the words "Xuanhe Town No. 1 Central Primary School" is driving smoothly along the newly built mountain road into the depths of the mountains.

The car was filled with the cheerful chatter and excited chatter of children.

"Teacher Li! Teacher Li!"

A little girl with pigtails clung to the seat in front of her, her eyes sparkling as she turned around and pleaded loudly, "Please tell us the story of Consultant Chen again!"

The woman addressed as Teacher Li was a young woman in her early twenties. She had neat short hair, wore well-fitting sportswear, and appeared full of energy.

She looked at the children in the bus who had suddenly fallen silent and were all looking at her, and couldn't help but smile, clearing her throat:
"Okay, since everyone is so eager to hear it, then I'll go over it again."

"However, Consultant Chen's story is quite long. Since we only have a limited time for our spring outing today, let's just briefly talk about his upbringing, shall we?"

"Okay—!" the children exclaimed in unison, eager to begin.

With a gentle gaze and a clear voice, Teacher Li recounted the legendary experience that had long been talked about by the residents of Xuanhe Town and countless people from Donghuang:
"Advisor Chen was born in our Xuanhe Village. He was an exceptionally hardworking and intelligent child from a young age, and he studied very diligently."

"After graduating from university, he had many better opportunities for development, but he missed the green mountains and clear waters of his hometown, so he chose to return to the village to become a forest ranger and protect the beautiful Qinling Mountains under our feet."

The children listened intently, as if they could see a young figure walking through the woods.

"Later, the world changed, and the spiritual energy revival began."

Teacher Li's voice carried a hint of emotion: "Thanks to his hard work and talent, Consultant Chen succeeded on his first attempt at meditation, thus becoming one of the first Beast Tamers."

As Teacher Li narrated, Chen Yuan's experiences of taming pet beasts, exploring secret realms, resolving crises, and turning the tide unfolded before the children like a magnificent scroll.

When the train carriage recounted how Chen Yuan had fought his way through the competition at the highly anticipated Donghuang Tournament three months prior and finally lifted the championship trophy, the entire carriage erupted in enthusiastic cheers!
Wow! Donghuang champion! That's amazing!

"When I grow up, I want to be a beast tamer as amazing as Consultant Chen!" A chubby-faced little boy raised his fist high.

"Hmph, I'm even better than Consultant Chen!" another defiant little guy declared, head held high.

At this moment, a boy proudly raised his chin and said, "Hmph, I saw Consultant Chen at the entrance of the department store in town just a few days ago. He walked right past me!"

His statement immediately sparked heated discussion.

"I've seen it too!"

"Consultant Chen even bought some sesame seed cakes from my family's sesame seed cake shop, my dad said so!"

"Yes, yes, Consultant Chen has also bought snacks from my store."

The children chattered excitedly, vying to prove their close encounter with their idols, as if whoever spoke last would lose.

Suddenly, Little Zhao raised his head high and said in a loud voice, "I even helped Brother Chen Yuan drive away the evil beasts that invaded the village!"

"Really?" the children exclaimed, their eyes filled with envy.

Little Zhao became even more smug, but then touched his sore bottom.

The oldest girl, Little Peach, surveyed the room and declared in the loudest voice, "I not only helped out, but I also often ride Coke! Coke runs really fast, the wind whooshes through it!"

"Wow--!!!"

In an instant, a wave of envious shouts almost lifted the roof off the car.

Even though Consultant Chen lived in town and the children would occasionally run into him, the disparity in their social status brought not only respect, but also estrangement and distance.

As Teacher Li listened to the children's innocent yet slightly exaggerated comparisons, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.

Since Xuanhe Town began its vigorous new town construction, this small town at the foot of the Qinling Mountains has undergone tremendous changes.

The brand-new "Xuanhe Town No. 1 Central Primary School" has sprung up, with advanced facilities and a beautiful environment. It not only accommodates children from the town, but also students from surrounding mountain villages, who no longer have to travel far to attend school every day.

In addition to teaching basic courses such as Chinese, mathematics, and English, the school has also specially hired teachers from the Beast Tamer Association to offer courses on basic pet knowledge, understanding of habits, and safe interaction, aiming to allow children to get in touch with this new era earlier and more scientifically.

Today was the school's first group spring outing, and you can imagine how enthusiastic the children were.

"Okay, everyone, be quiet."

Teacher Li clapped her hands and pointed out the window: "We're almost at our destination."

"Everyone, remember the precautions the teacher emphasized before we set off: First, you must follow instructions and not run off alone; second, do not provoke wild animals in the mountains, even if they look small and cute; third..."

"Got it—!" the children answered loudly, their little faces full of eagerness.

Teacher Li nodded in satisfaction, then turned her gaze to several smartly dressed, composed young men and women sitting at the front of the carriage.

They were beast tamers dispatched by the Beast Tamer's Office to assist with this spring outing, responsible for security and dealing with any emergencies that might arise.

The person in charge nodded slightly to Teacher Li, indicating that everything was ready.

The warm spring sun generously shone on the earth, and the school bus stopped beside a flat, grassy riverbank.

As soon as the car door opened, the children's cheers almost lifted the roof off the vehicle. They rushed out of the car and plunged into this natural and wild world.

Beneath our feet lies a vast expanse of soft, thick grass, like a green velvet carpet, stretching all the way to the edge of a lake in the distance, its surface as clear as a mirror, reflecting the blue sky and white clouds.

The lake water shimmered in the sunlight, and occasionally an unknown bird or animal would skim across the surface, creating ripples.

The lake is surrounded by tall, dense forests, their newly sprouted leaves a vibrant green that cast large, comfortable shades.

The air is filled with the fresh scents of grass, earth, and lake water, which is invigorating.

Wow! What a huge lake!

"The grass is so soft, I can roll around in it!"

"Look! Are there any fish in the water?"

The children's faces were flushed with excitement. Some ran wildly on the grass, some carefully squatted by the lake and reached out to splash the cool water, while others looked up curiously at the birds hopping on the branches.

"Slow down! Watch your step, don't fall!"

"Don't go into the deep water! Play on the shore!"

"Everyone, please be careful not to act alone, and especially do not provoke any wild animals in the woods!"

Teacher Li and the other two teachers who were with her raised their voices and kept reminding her.

Seeing this, a young beast tamer smiled and comforted him:
"Teacher Li, please don't worry. We came to survey the environment several days in advance. This area is located on the outer edge of the Qinling Mountains, with a very good ecosystem, but it is mostly inhabited by small, gentle pets that are not aggressive."

“The slightly more powerful guys are territorial and stay deep in the forest. They won’t easily come to this open area with lots of people.”

At this point, he pointed to several pets scattered around, some lying down, some circling low in the air, "And look, our companions are guarding key positions, so they can't miss the slightest movement."

Hearing the assurance from the professionals, Teacher Li finally breathed a sigh of relief and nodded gratefully, "Thank you for your hard work."

After gathering the children, Teacher Li cleared her throat and began an important part of today's spring outing—a wilderness exploration lesson.

"Students, please be quiet."

"Our spring outing today is not just for fun, but more importantly, for learning."

"Next, please follow the teacher closely as we get to know the plants around us and the pets we might encounter..."

She led the children along the lakeshore, patiently pointing to a plant with serrated leaves and small yellow flowers, explaining: "Look, this is called Hemostatic Grass, a first-class spiritual plant. If you accidentally get scratched by a branch, find it, crush the leaves, and apply it to the wound to help stop the bleeding."

The children opened their eyes wide and listened attentively.

For these children who grew up amidst both urbanization and the resurgence of spirituality, this kind of hands-on learning is far more vivid than pictures in books.

After a detailed explanation, it was finally time for free time.

Teacher Li emphasized again with a serious expression:
"Alright, everyone is free to move around now. However, you must strictly abide by the rules."

"Your activity area is limited to this meadow and the open area by the lake. You are absolutely not allowed to run into the depths of the woods over there. You must not leave the sight of your teachers and the Beast Tamers! Do you understand?"

The children answered in unison, and then scattered.

Some children rolled around on the soft grass, giggling.
Some played games in groups of three or five;

A few bolder children gathered around the beast tamers and their pets, curiously touching the glossy fur of the Gale Hound, or cautiously approaching the formidable-looking Cloud Sparrow.
Amidst this harmonious and lively scene, little Zhao looked around and his gaze was soon drawn to a quiet figure by the lake.

That was an uncle who was a beast tamer at the office. He was sitting on a small stool, holding a fishing rod in his hand, and staring intently at the float on the lake.

Little Zhao curiously approached, squatted down beside him, and whispered, "Uncle, are you fishing? Did you catch any fish?"

The beast tamer turned around upon hearing the sound, a barely perceptible hint of embarrassment on his face.

The bucket at his feet was crystal clear and completely empty.

But he immediately straightened his back, put on a profound expression, lowered his voice, and said in a serious tone, "Ahem, little friend, you don't understand, do you?"
"Ordinary fish are no challenge to catch; I just release them as soon as I catch them. I'm waiting for spirit fish that possess extraordinary powers—that's what's interesting!"

"A spirit fish?"

Little Zhao's eyes lit up instantly: "Is it that kind of fish that tastes really, really good for your health? My dad asked someone to buy one for him a while ago, and he made soup with it. It was so delicious!"

Seeing the excitement on Little Zhao's face, the Beast Tamer felt a little uneasy, but he remained calm and casually handed the fishing rod to Little Zhao, smiling as he said:

"Looks like you're quite interested in fishing. How about you try it yourself?"

"Really? Thank you, Uncle!" Little Zhao excitedly took the fishing rod, which was a bit long for him, and, imitating his uncle, sat on the shore, staring intently at the float.

However, things took an unexpected turn.

Almost half a minute after the hook entered the water, the float suddenly sank.

"Hey! A fish has taken the bait!"

Xiao Zhao exclaimed in surprise and hurriedly tried to lift the rod.

A small, lively crucian carp, about the size of a palm, was pulled out of the water.

The beast tamer next to him stared wide-eyed, his mouth slightly agape, inwardly cursing:

"No way? I've been sitting here for almost half an hour and haven't seen a single fish, and this kid has already made a sale after only half a minute?"

Little Zhao carefully picked the fish off his hand, and looking at the little fish thrashing about, he pouted with a hint of regret:
"Alas, it's just an ordinary little fish, not a spirit fish."

"Uncle, you're right. Fishing for ordinary fish is really not fun. Let's release it."

As he spoke, he released the small fish back into the lake.

Beastmaster Uncle: "..."

In the time that followed, it seemed that the fish in the lake had a special connection with Xiao Xiao Zhao.

He almost always catches something when he casts his line, managing to catch a fish every few days, though they are all small and ordinary species.

Every time he caught a fish, Little Zhao would examine it carefully, then shake his head, release it back into the water, and sigh in a childish voice with an air of mature wisdom:

"Sigh, just another ordinary fish. There really aren't any spirit fish here. No wonder you haven't been able to catch one for so long, Uncle."

The Beastmaster Uncle stood to the side, his expression shifting from initial surprise to shock, then to numbness, and finally to deep self-doubt and philosophical contemplation.

He stared blankly at the lake, muttering unconsciously, "Why? Why is this happening?"

same moment.

On the grassy slope it had carefully chosen, the duck spread its wings and webbed feet and enjoyed a sunbathing session that lasted for more than an hour.

It yawned contentedly, its breath smelling of sunshine, and slowly stood up, brushing off non-existent bits of grass from its wings.

It twisted its slightly chubby neck and looked around:
The farmer and another human were busy in front of the grill, and the enticing aroma wafted through the air.
Cola was happily chasing butterflies in the distance; the Fallen Horned Beast was resting in the woods; and the Electric Flying Cat and Youmi had disappeared somewhere again.

Feeling bored, the duck decided to wander around and look for something delicious.

It waddled out of the camp with its signature pigeon-toed gait and strolled into the depths of the woods.

"Duck, don't run too far, the grilled fish will be ready soon!" The farmer's voice came from behind.

Without turning its head, the duck simply raised one wing high, waved it gracefully, and then slowly disappeared into the dense thicket.

With its current strength, although it is not enough to deal with those powerful leader-level pets, it is enough to dominate the outer Qinling Mountains.

Even in unexpected situations, as long as you shout "Big Sister," you'll be safe and sound.

The duck wandered aimlessly through the woods, looking left and right.

Suddenly, the duck froze and looked sharply to its left.

It detected an extremely powerful, pure, and vibrant aquatic energy fluctuation in this direction.

"Gah?!"

The duck's little eyes lit up instantly.

Is there something special?
Or have some delicious aquatic spiritual plants matured?
The lazy duck suddenly perked up, quickened its pace, and followed the source of the energy, turning left and right, pushing aside layers of bushes and hanging vines.

When it finally parted a thicket of extremely lush, thorny leaves, its view suddenly opened up.

A shimmering, sizable lake came into view.

The lakeside meadow was lush and green, and a group of human cubs dressed in matching school uniforms were playing and laughing noisily.

Several adult humans and a few pets that appeared to be of average strength were on guard nearby.

But the duck's gaze merely swept over the noisy scene; its entire attention was already deeply drawn to the scene on the lakeshore.

Its pupils focused, staring intently at the little boy who was sitting on a small stool, holding a thin stick, and gazing intently at the water.

The moment Ya Ya's gaze locked onto Xiao Xiao Zhao, the fishing rod in Xiao Xiao Zhao's hand suddenly bent into a breathtaking arc.

The fishing line tightened instantly, making a "whoosh" sound as it cut through the air!
Little Zhao was thrown off balance by the immense force, nearly falling into the water. He clung tightly to the fishing rod with all his might, his face turning red, and shouted:
"Uncle! Uncle! Help! I've caught a big fish, it's so strong!"

The beast tamer uncle, who had been in a state of detachment from his body, was now completely awakened. He stared in disbelief at the huge shadow struggling wildly beneath the lake, stirring up massive splashes of water: "Are there really spirit fish in there?"

"quack!"

The duck's eyes suddenly lit up, and it strode forward, flapping its wings repeatedly.

Young man, put down the opportunity you have!
(End of this chapter)