A Clumsy Method

Upon hearing Linley's words, Doehring Cowart was stunned for a moment before hurriedly saying, "There's no need to bother your teacher with such a trivial matter. You have Grandpa Doehring here; how could I let you actually get bitten by a little Shadow Mouse!"

At this moment, Doehring Cowart felt a bit troubled. Ever since he had awakened, he had been constantly overshadowed by Zhao Nan. He had finally found an opportunity to put his own abilities to use, yet he had nearly ruined it because of his own oversight.

Therefore, after Doehring Cowart managed to dissuade Linley, he immediately said to him, "Little Linley, don't you want to try taming a magical beast yourself and earn some praise from your teacher?"

Linley was only eight years old at the time. Although his strength was already quite impressive, he still possessed the temperament of a young boy. Upon hearing that he could earn praise from Zhao Nan, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Grandpa Doehring, I certainly want to earn Teacher's praise!

But didn't you say that if I were even slightly careless, I would get bitten by this little Shadow Mouse?"

"Haha, little Linley, don't you worry. If you do as I say, there won't be any problems at all.

However, my method is a bit of a clumsy one. It requires you to have enough patience; you must not be too hasty."

After Doehring Cowart said this, he proceeded to explain his clumsy method to Linley: "Little Linley, the Shadow Mouse is an omnivorous magical beast. It eats stones, bones, and even meat, but what it likes most is still meat—especially roasted meat.

This is all based on my past experience in taming magical beasts."

After Doehring Cowart finished speaking, he let Linley digest the information before continuing: "So, you must first go to Wushan to kill a small wild animal, then place the meat on the ground far away from you.

Remember, do not try to approach it actively. Only give it food each time, and wait for it to approach you on its own."

After saying this, he added with a smile, "If you try to approach it, you might cause it to panic, which could lead it to attack you!

But if you wait for it to come to you, there will be no danger at all."

"Although this method is a bit clumsy, it is the safest one."

After listening to Doehring Cowart, Linley felt a sense of clarity. Although the method was indeed clumsy, he had to admit that it was the simplest and most convenient approach.

However, Linley still asked with some concern, "Grandpa Doehring, will this Shadow Mouse run away?"

Although Linley felt the method was effective, he was still somewhat worried.

Doehring Cowart pondered for a moment after hearing Linley's question before saying, "I can't say for sure. This sort of thing depends on luck, but in my opinion, this little Shadow Mouse shouldn't leave for a short while."

Linley nodded upon hearing Doehring Cowart's words, indicating that he understood, and set off to catch some small prey to feed the Shadow Mouse.

As Linley spoke, he ran toward the outside.

Fortunately, as an earth-style mage, Linley moved without making a sound, which prevented him from waking the Shadow Mouse.

Arriving at Wushan, Linley quickly spotted a wild rabbit with its head down, eating grass.

Without a second thought, Linley chanted a spell, and a Stone Spike pierced the rabbit, killing it instantly.

After killing the rabbit, Linley picked it up and headed back toward the ancestral hall.

"Linley, why didn't you roast it?

Although the Shadow Mouse likes meat, roasted meat is its favorite." Seeing Linley's actions, Doehring Cowart asked him.

"Grandpa Doehring, you must have never coaxed a child before," Linley said while running.

Doehring Cowart was taken aback. He had no children; as a dignified Saint-level grandmage, how could he possibly go about coaxing a child?

"Uh, no, I haven't," Doehring Cowart admitted.

Linley chuckled and said, "I often coax little Wharton. Let me tell you, when you give things to a child, you can't start with the best stuff. Otherwise, the child will want the best every time, or even something better.

Right now, that Shadow Mouse is gnawing on stones. If I give it raw meat now, it will definitely be very happy. I'll feed it raw meat for seven or eight days, and then when I give it roasted meat, it will be even happier."

Doehring Cowart understood instantly upon hearing this.

After all, Doehring Cowart was an old and wise soul; he naturally understood this logic, but it just hadn't crossed his mind at the time.

Meanwhile, back at the mountain, Zhao Nan had naturally discovered the actions of Linley and Doehring Cowart. He had also long since noticed Bebe, the God-Eater Rat, but Zhao Nan did not interfere and simply watched Linley's movements quietly.

Outside the ancestral hall!

"I wonder if that Shadow Mouse will eat something given by someone else," Linley whispered to himself. He then took a deep breath and slowly walked into the ancestral hall.

Linley walked very carefully, not making a sound with each step.

Linley was now a fourth-rank warrior, so even without making a sound, his movements were still very swift.

Linley walked into the former ancestral hall and looked at the scattered stones and fallen leaves, but he did not see the little Shadow Mouse. He couldn't help but say to Doehring Cowart, "Grandpa Doehring, where did the little Shadow Mouse go?

It's only been a short while, and it's already gone!"

Upon hearing Linley's question, Doehring Cowart flew out from the Coiling Dragon Ring.

Just as Doehring Cowart flew out and before he could speak, a familiar sound of gnawing on stone echoed.

Linley and Doehring Cowart both looked toward the source of the sound and saw the little Shadow Mouse continuously gnawing on a stone.

Seeing the little Shadow Mouse, Linley couldn't help but smile, though he made no sound.

Soon, Linley walked to the outside of the room where the Shadow Mouse was and gently kicked the door frame with his foot, making a very faint sound.

Following the sound, the Shadow Mouse's figure flickered, and it instantly vanished from its spot, reappearing more than ten meters away.

The Shadow Mouse then raised its head, its small, pitch-black eyes scanning the surroundings before it spotted Linley at the doorway.

Upon discovering Linley, a look of intense wariness flashed in its eyes.

Linley naturally saw the wariness in the Shadow Mouse's eyes, so he revealed a kind smile and said to Bebe, "Come, have this meat!"

As Linley spoke, he tossed the wild rabbit a short distance away from Bebe.

Although Bebe did not understand human language, it could sense the kindness in Linley's smile and understood the intent behind his actions.

Even though Bebe understood the meaning of Linley's smile and actions, it still didn't move at all, simply watching Linley quietly.

Seeing that Bebe remained motionless, Linley kept persuading himself in his heart, Don't be impatient, don't be impatient.