Yang Qi turned the steering wheel, merging into the evening rush hour traffic. "But you need to learn your lesson. When you’re driving in the future, if you run into a scumbag like that, just tolerate it if you can. If you really can’t, call the police. Don’t get physical. The moment you throw a punch, you’re already halfway in the wrong."
"I’m not usually this impulsive."
Gao Zhenyue sounded aggrieved. "I just really lost my cool this time. You have no idea how foul that guy’s mouth was. It was one thing for him to curse me, but he even started insulting my parents... I couldn’t hold back."
He paused, looked at Yang Qi, and said earnestly, "Brother Qi, thanks. If it weren’t for you today, I probably would’ve been extorted for a chunk of money. Even if he didn’t get the two hundred thousand, I’d have been on the hook for a few thousand in medical fees, and maybe even detained for a few days."
"What are you thanking me for?" Yang Qi smiled. "Come on, let’s find a place to eat and calm your nerves."
"My treat, it has to be my treat!" Gao Zhenyue patted his chest.
The two found a restaurant they frequented, ordered a few dishes, and chatted while they ate.
Gao Zhenyue vented all his frustrations from the day, feeling much better afterward.
After dinner, the two went their separate ways.
Yang Qi returned to the Zoo.
The city was ablaze with lights at night.
...
By the time he returned to the dormitory by the mountain, it was already past eight in the evening.
The courtyard was quiet.
Xiaojiu was lying on the windowsill. Seeing the car’s headlights, it let out a lazy "MEOW."
Bai Wan and Leopard ran out from the doghouse, wagging their tails in greeting.
Hu Zi squatted calmly by the door.
Liu Fu was on the climbing frame, its body color having changed to become nearly identical to the dark wood.
Yang Qi parked the car and went around ruffling the heads of his furry children.
Then he went into the kitchen, took out the Spirit Rice, and started cooking a pot of Spirit Rice Porridge.
The light, sweet aroma of the rice soon filled the air.
While waiting for the porridge to cook, he went to the backyard and set up the "Demon Extermination Array."
After the porridge was cooked, he let it cool for a while.
He took out several food bowls and served some to each of his furry children.
"Time to eat."
Yang Qi called out. Xiaojiu immediately leaped gracefully from the windowsill, while Bai Wan, Leopard, and Hu Zi gathered around at once.
Liu Fu also scurried down from its frame.
Yang Qi ladled out a bowl for himself as well, enjoying the meal with his Guardian Beasts.
After the meal.
Yang Qi filled a basin with clean water and went to the other side of the backyard, far from the Demon Extermination Array’s area.
Then, from his Hundred Pouches Belt, he took out the "Jade Water Calm Wave Pearl."
Under the moonlight, the azure pearl glowed with a soft halo. Inside, a current seemed to ripple slowly. It was cool to the touch.
Yang Qi exhaled, mobilizing the Magical Power in his Dantian.
The faint cyan vortex spun slightly faster as a wisp of pure Magical Power flowed along his meridians to the right hand holding the pearl.
He focused his mind, sinking it into the Jade Water Calm Wave Pearl.
In an instant, a mysterious connection formed between Yang Qi and the pearl.
It was as if the pearl had become an extension of his arm. Yang Qi could clearly perceive the abundant and gentle Water Spirit Qi inside the pearl, as well as the omnipresent water vapor in the surrounding air and beneath the ground.
Finally, Yang Qi’s gaze fell upon the basin of water in front of him.
With a thought.
WHOOSH!
The clean water in the basin, as if stirred by an invisible hand, suddenly began to spin.
It spun faster and faster, the center dipping down as the edges rose up.
In the blink of an eye, a miniature waterspout, about a foot high and as thick as a bowl, took shape in the basin!
The waterspout spun rapidly, creating a WHIRRING sound. All the water in the basin was swept up into a crystal-clear pillar, its top even fanning out slightly into a fine mist.
The moonlight and lamplight shone on the waterspout, refracting into a mesmerizing display of colors.
Yang Qi stared without blinking, controlling the waterspout’s form with his mind.
He made it rise, fall, thicken, and thin, even trying to make it move slowly around the basin.
He controlled it as easily as his own limbs.
An unprecedented sense of control washed over him.
’So this is the power of a Magical Artifact.’
’Even though this is just the most basic level of activation, this kind of exquisite control over water is definitely not something I could achieve out of thin air with my current Cultivation.’
’The Jade Water Calm Wave Pearl really is a wonderful treasure!’
The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and he focused his mind again.
The waterspout in the basin slowly dissipated, the water falling back into the basin and creating circles of ripples.
He didn’t stop, but continued to experiment.
Water Blade, water bubbles, water curtains...
Various basic forms of water manipulation were displayed one by one in the small basin.
His few Guardian Beasts gathered around, curiously watching the water in the basin constantly change shape.
"WOOF~"
[Master is so amazing.]
Leopard’s tail wagged happily.
"WOOF WOOF~!"
[Master is getting stronger and stronger.]
Bai Wan chimed in with agreement.
Hu Zi didn’t make a sound, but its eyes were full of admiration.
Xiaojiu also remained silent, merely reaching out a paw to touch a newly formed ring of water...