Chapter 46:

“You, no patrol duty tomorrow. Take your battle pet to the designated location for treatment,” the captain ordered.

“No need for trouble,” Xiang Yeru refused. “After my battle pet fell ill, I visited all the clinics in the camp and consulted every doctor, but none of them could diagnose its illness.”

The captain’s expression turned cold, “If I tell you to go, you go. Why so much nonsense?”

Xiang Yeru replied, “…Yes.”

Following the address given by the captain, it didn’t take long for Xiang Yeru to arrive at the destination.

Glancing at the endless fence, he muttered, “What a hassle.”

A tricolor squirrel was peacefully perched on his left shoulder, and upon hearing his words, it affectionately nuzzled its owner’s cheek.

The squirrel’s back and tail were deep brown, with white stripes on its back, and its front was a tawny color, while its belly was white, making it both splendid and beautiful.

Xiang Yeru’s heart softened, and his tone relaxed, “Forget it, since I’m here, let’s go in and take a look.”

What if it could be cured?

After verifying his identity information, Xiang Yeru was led to see the doctor.

Upon entering the bamboo house, he overheard someone lamenting, “The mountain cat is too picky! It won’t eat anything but high-star magical beast meat!”

“Doctor, you know, magical beasts generally have large appetites. Usually, they are fed a mix of grains and meat to ensure they are full without incurring too much cost.”

“But the one I’m raising refuses to eat grains! If I mix it with the rice, it picks out the meat bit by bit. It would rather starve than eat without meat.”

“I really don’t know what to do… Not buying high-star magical beast meat, I’m afraid it’ll starve in a couple of days. Buying it every day is financially straining, and I can’t afford it.”

Yun Shan thought for a moment and then turned to Doctor Xia, earnestly asking, “Why would someone bring this kind of issue to a doctor?”

Doctor Xia cleared his throat and quietly replied, “Some battle pet hospitals are very powerful, with specialized doctors for different types of treatment, but most pet hospitals don’t make such distinctions. Similarly, as long as there are problems encountered during the breeding process, owners might seek help…”

Okay. Yun Shan sighed.

“Is there really nothing you can do?” Owner Lin Zhaochu, a big man, looked full of despair at this moment.

Yun Shan responded, “If making mixed rice results in the meat being picked out, why not cut the meat into small pieces so it can’t be picked out?”

Lin Zhaochu, “…”

Mountain cat, “…”

Doctor Xia, “…”

Would that work too?

“Is it that it really won’t eat grains, or it doesn’t like the previous feed?” Yun Shan said as she took a piece of cornbread from her bag and tore off a small piece, offering it to the mountain cat, “Give it a try?”

The cornbread was handmade by Yun Shan.

She also personally fed it to the mountain cat.

Initially uninterested in the cornbread, the mountain cat, upon seeing Yun Shan and hearing her gentle whisper, opened its mouth, as if enchanted.

It took a couple of chews and then… without any reluctance swallowed it down.

Lin Zhaochu: ???

“Good boy,” Yun Shan patted the mountain cat and tore off another small piece of cornbread, smiling as she said, “Here, take another bite.”

The mountain cat obediently opened its mouth, fully cooperative.

Lin Zhaochu: …

This is definitely not my pet.

With a wooden expression, Lin Zhaochu watched as Yun Shan finished feeding the entire fist-sized cornbread and rewarded the cat with two beef cubes.

“Isn’t it well-behaved and has a good appetite?” Yun Shan asked, while brushing the mountain cat’s fur, glancing up.

The mountain cat squinted comfortably.

Yes, I’m super obedient, well-behaved, and amazing!

Lin Zhaochu: Don’t ask, asking is despair.

He didn’t understand why his battle pet was so picky at home but seemed to recover when outside…

Yun Shan: “Perhaps the current feed at home is not to its liking.”

Lin Zhaochu: “…I didn’t feed it commercial feed, I prepared every meal for it myself!”

Yun Shan thought for a moment, then handed another cornbread to the owner, “Try feeding it with this.”

Lin Zhaochu took it and tried tearing the cornbread into small pieces, just like Yun Shan had done, and offered it. For some reason, the mountain cat looked disdainfully at its owner. Clearly, it was the same cornbread handmade by Yun Shan, but when offered by the owner, it hesitated to eat.

Yun Shan: What kind of pig feed did it receive before? This little one seems to have some psychological trauma!

“Not fond of it?” Lin Zhaochu asked, somewhat apprehensively.

After watching its owner for a while, the mountain cat finally reluctantly opened its mouth and cautiously chewed the piece of cornbread, seemingly testing it for poison.

After a dozen chews, reassured that the food was safe, it finally swallowed it down.

“Great! It ate it!” Lin Zhaochu rejoiced.

Watching for a while, Yun Shan almost understood what was happening. “In the future, don’t cook for it yourself. Just buy battle pet feed directly.”

Lin Zhaochu looked at Yun Shan’s bag, hesitating to speak.

Yun Shan understood.

She first took out six cornbreads, then grabbed a handful of beef cubes, pork jerky, and other treats, and packed them in the bag, “Take this to feed your battle pet. Remember to visit a pet hospital/pet supply store and exchange it for battle pet feed that suits its appetite. If one doesn’t work, visit a few more.”

“Thank you so much!” Lin Zhaochu couldn’t stop expressing his gratitude.

The mountain cat’s face inexplicably showed a sense of relief, and it even rubbed its cheek against Yun Shan’s hand, as if expressing gratitude.

Yun Shan: Both of them have it quite tough…

After seeing off Lin Zhaochu, Xiang Yeru entered and got straight to the point, “My battle pet has been consistently conveying the message ‘not feeling well’ to me, and sometimes it gets inexplicably injured. But when I take it to the battle pet hospital, the doctors find no problem except treating the injuries… Do you know what illness it might have?”

“Come here, let me take a look,” Yun Shan beckoned the tricolor squirrel.

The squirrel glanced at its owner, then swiftly darted over and perched in Yun Shan’s palm.

Yun Shan pinched the squirrel’s small paws, rubbed its belly, and stroked its tail, thinking it was very cute.

Xiang Yeru: “…What are you doing?”

Yun Shan spoke seriously, “I’m examining it.”

How could he feel like she was taking advantage of examining his battle pet?!

Xiang Yeru stared at Yun Shan as if he were sitting across from a villain, ready to pounce on the innocent and lovable squirrel at any moment.

Withstanding the owner’s intense gaze, Yun Shan calmly completed her work and then said, “It’s not an illness, it’s an advancement. Due to insufficient accumulated energy, multiple failed advancements have burdened its body.”

Xiang Yeru was taken aback.

He had visited many doctors with his battle pet, but this was the first time someone had clearly explained the reason to him.

“If it’s an advancement, why didn’t my battle pet inform me of the reason?”

“Adult, one star. This is a low-level magical beast,” Yun Shan subtly reminded.

Xiang Yeru realized.

Generally, the higher the level of the magical beast, the higher its intelligence. For an adult to remain at one star, it was destined to have little potential, making it reasonable for it to be unable to describe its condition clearly.

“The battle pet injured itself in the attempt to reach two stars,” Xiang Yeru organized his thoughts, “By the time it was brought to the hospital, the advancement had ended, so the doctors couldn’t find any issues.”

“That’s correct,” Yun Shan nodded.

Xiang Yeru blurted out, “How did you know?”

Yun Shan smiled but didn’t say a word.

Doctor Xia added, “You may not know this, but Yun Shan has raised many magical beasts and has extensive experience in guiding them through successful advancements. You’ve found the right person by seeking her for treatment.”

It all made sense.

With a serious expression, Xiang Yeru earnestly asked, “What should I do next? Please guide me.”

Yun Shan took out a bottle of medicine, “This is a special advancement elixir for magical beasts—Nourishing Essence Pill. It contains rich energy that effectively removes impurities from the body and helps the magical beast advance smoothly.”

As she spoke, it pained her deeply.

The Nourishing Essence Pill required over ten types of herbs for its preparation. Two of the ingredients matured only once every six months, and another ingredient matured once a year.

When Yun Shan sold the premium Purple Grass Ointment formula, she had an agreement with Manager Meng. Specifically for her, the Red Maple Pharmacy provided a special “unrestricted purchase of medicinal materials” privilege.

However, due to having too many magical beasts at home and the high demand for medicinal materials, they often ran out of stock, leaving Manager Meng with no options.

Originally, Yun Shan planned to wait for the next batch of herbs to mature to produce the Nourishing Essence Pill and accelerate the advancement of the magical beast legion. However, she later learned about the camp’s practice of stockpiling strategic supplies, which led her to consider using the existing stock and agree to treat the patrol team.

After all, it was the apocalypse, and even with strategic reserves in the warehouse, the quantity was limited.

Having used up all the materials to make Nourishing Essence Pills for the magical beasts at home, there was still a portion left to help treat others…

Yun Shan felt she was in a difficult position.

As the medicine was handed over, Xiang Yeru inquired, “How should it be used?”

“One pill a day, continuously, until the advancement is successful,” Yun Shan replied. “There are ten pills here, which should be enough for its advancement.”

Yun Shan spoke as she took a deep breath, as if determined to recoup her investment.

The tricolor squirrel: I sense a strong feeling of love.

It obediently lay down, not only offering no resistance but also making contented grunting sounds.

Xiang Yeru: …

“Thank you, Doctor,” he signaled discreetly for the battle pet to come back.

Unexpectedly, the tricolor squirrel remained motionless, transmitting a rather complex set of emotions, as if struggling deeply within.

After a while, it reluctantly stood up and ran back to perch on Xiang Yeru’s left shoulder.

Yun Shan expertly packed the cornbread and the meat treats in the bag, “Take this and feed it to your battle pet. It’s good for its health.”

The tricolor squirrel’s eyes lit up with desire.

Xiang Yeru doubted that if he continued to stay here, there would be nothing left once his battle pet was healed.

“Goodbye, Doctor.”

Xiang Yeru took the bag, lightly patted his battle pet, and swiftly left the room. His demeanor suggested he was being chased by a demon.

After he left, Yun Shan sighed, “So smooth and silky, feels really good.”

Doctor Xia smirked, “Doctor, you’re quite clever to think of preparing food in advance to bond with the battle pet through feeding.”

Yun Shan replied, “There’s nothing that beef cubes can’t solve. If they don’t work, try pork jerky. If that fails, bring out the ham sausage and dried chicken and duck meat.”

“Understood.” Since it was getting late, Doctor Xia stood up to bid farewell. “Yun Shan, the treatment for today is over. I’ll take my leave.”

“Wait!” Yun Shan halted him, a puzzled expression on her face. “Aren’t you working at the Pet Hospital in Gao Ling? Why are you willing to come and help here?”

“It’s a stroke of luck and a learning opportunity for me to be able to work alongside you, learning from various cases,” Doctor Xia responded earnestly.

After a brief pause, his smile grew wider, “My decision to help out here is known to the boss (Gao Ling). She fully approves and encourages me to learn as much as I can.”

“If you’re concerned about the Pet Hospital, Dr. Liang has joined and will cover for me on duty.”

“If anything comes up, the boss will inform me through my wristwatch.”

Feeling somewhat reassured, Yun Shan said, “Since you’ve both discussed this, I won’t say anything more.”