“Old man, your illness is pretty much completely cured now.” Jiang Fei observed the faint red marks barely visible on old man Jibunipo’s body as he helped him put his clothes back on.
The old man’s complexion had fully recovered, no different from any other elderly person. He could now dress himself without his sons’ assistance and manage daily life independently.
“I have to thank you, Dr. Jiang! If it weren’t for you, this old life of mine would’ve been long gone. You’re truly my savior!” Jibunipo exclaimed with heartfelt gratitude.
Jiang Fei smiled and shook his head. “Don’t say that. I’m a doctor—treating patients is just my job.”
“Dr. Jiang, my brother and I will never forget your kindness. Even if we had to crawl through fire or climb mountains of blades, we’d repay you! From now on, whatever you need, just say the word!” Dunzhu and Sangzhu, the two brothers, had come to Jiang’s clinic together this time.
Dunzhu, the elder brother, had returned to his hometown for a while and had only just come back to Jincheng two days ago, bringing along a captured eagle for Jiang Fei.
Seeing their fervent expressions—as if they were truly ready to die for him—Jiang Fei quickly waved his hands. “You’re exaggerating! No need for fire or blades. Just treat me to some butter tea and barley wine when I visit your hometown someday. That’ll be more than enough.”
After personally administering acupuncture to Jibunipo and adjusting his prescription based on his recovery, Jiang Fei assured him that in three more days, once he finished the medicine, he’d be well enough to leave Jincheng and return home.
The eagle Dunzhu had brought from the grasslands was a fully grown goshawk.
This medium-sized bird of prey had been transported in an iron cage, covered with a black cloth to avoid drawing attention. While many in the country kept hawks and falcons despite legal restrictions, getting caught still meant hefty fines.
Excited, Jiang Fei didn’t unveil the cage in the clinic. Instead, he carried it out discreetly, got into his car, and only then removed the cloth.
“Wow, it’s huge!” Jiang Fei marveled, his eyes lighting up.
The goshawk had the classic features—dark brown head, white neck feathers with black streaks, black ear coverts, and grayish-brown plumage with dark wing bars—but it was noticeably larger than average, likely a prime specimen Dunzhu had handpicked.
With a body length of about 60 cm and wings that likely spanned over 1.2 meters when fully extended, the bird still carried a wild glint in its eyes. Though restless, it didn’t thrash or shriek—probably exhausted from days in captivity.
“Perfect,” Jiang Fei murmured, grinning.
As a child, he’d always been fascinated by birds, climbing trees to peek into nests and raising fledglings (most of which, sadly, didn’t survive). Now, the chance to raise a raptor thrilled him.
Without delay, he drove straight to Daocun Village, where he hadn’t been for days.
As a master of beast-taming (level nine, no less), taming this goshawk would be effortless. His prior experience with Simba, the Tibetan Mastiff, made it second nature. While others might spend weeks “breaking” a wild eagle, Jiang Fei could do it in minutes.
But a bigger question lingered: Should he give the goshawk a bottle of “Beast Evolution Elixir”?
With the in-system Shop now accessible, he didn’t have to wait for random level-up rewards. For 1,050 gold coins (a steep but manageable sum from his 4,000-coin stash), he could buy the elixir outright.
Yet, that same amount could buy a life-saving “Li’s Flying Dagger” or a miracle pill sellable for millions. Was evolving a bird worth the cost?
Jiang Fei wrestled with the dilemma.
An hour and a half later, Daocun’s idyllic scenery came into view. Parking at his villa, Jiang Fei whistled, and within seconds, Simba came barreling over, furiously wagging his tail.
The mastiff’s lion-like mane had grown even more majestic. Standing on hind legs, he now reached 80 cm tall—his roar deeper, more beastlike than ever. If paraded in the city, someone might mistake him for an actual lion.
Spotting the goshawk, Simba’s predatory instincts flared, but Jiang Fei lifted the cage out of reach. “Easy, this isn’t food. He’s your future hunting partner!”
Inside, the goshawk recoiled, intimidated by the mastiff’s presence.
Jiang Fei unlocked the villa, placed the cage on a table, and—before the eagle could react—pressed a finger to its head.
A system prompt flashed: [Congratulations! You’ve tamed the goshawk!]
The bird’s defiance vanished instantly. Released from the cage, it circled the room before obediently perching on Jiang Fei’s arm.
“Impressive wingspan—definitely over 1.2 meters. But light, barely 1.5 kg,” Jiang Fei mused. While formidable for hunting rabbits, it was a far cry from the legendary eagles in The Legend of the Condor Heroes that could carry humans.
The fantasy tempted him. Gritting his teeth, he bought the Beast Evolution Elixir for 1,050 coins.
“No risk, no reward. Coins can be earned back. But the chance to soar the skies? Priceless.”
