What should I do if my pet loves watching anime?

Chen Xing leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and the only things left in the study were the dim yellow light of the desk lamp and the pulsating buzz of the distant city outside the window.

Instead of the expected intense emotional fluctuations, there was an almost empty calm, like a beach after the tide has receded, open and desolate.

He sat quietly for a few minutes, then opened his eyes, picked up his phone again, and sent a short message to Gu Beiri:

"The formalities have been completed, and we can go to Elder Hong's place anytime."

I've sent you the address. Good luck!

The message was sent successfully. He turned off his phone and the study light.

In the darkness, he walked toward his daughter Linlin's room and gently pushed the door open again.

The warm yellow light of the nightlight remained, and the daughter slept soundly, completely unaware of this major turning point in her father's life.

Chen Xing looked at it for a long time, then gently closed the door.

Back in the bedroom, his wife, Wang Hui, seemed to be sleeping even more soundly.

He lay down beside her.

This time, the chaotic thoughts finally settled, fatigue washed over me, and I quickly drifted into a dreamless sleep.

…………

The following morning, Gu Beiri received a message from Chen Xing.

He stared at the brief but meaningful message, his finger lingering on the screen for a moment.

Chen Xing's decisiveness and efficiency made him realize the weight of this collaboration once again.

This is not just an investment, but a trust that involves betting one's entire career.

He replied, "Received, thank you Uncle Chen. I'll visit Elder Hong today."

After the morning classes ended, Gu Beiri first went to the Pokémon Center to pick up the well-recovered Fizzy and the still energetic and eager Scyther.

Following the address provided by Chen Xing, he took two buses and walked for more than twenty minutes before arriving at a slightly dilapidated residential area on the edge of the old city of Linhai.

There are no high-rise buildings here, mostly old five- or six-story residential buildings with mottled exterior walls and old wires and pipes tangled around them.

The streets are narrow, and the sycamore trees planted on both sides have lush foliage, casting large areas of shade on the ground.

The air was filled with the aroma of home-cooked meals and a subtle sense of everyday life.

The address points to an old brick-and-mortar residential building without an elevator.

Gu Beiri walked up the dimly lit stairs to the third floor.

The door to room 306 was ajar, and the sizzling sound of stir-frying and the rich aroma of soy sauce could be heard from inside.

Gu Beiri raised his hand and gently knocked on the door.

"Coming, coming! The door's unlocked, come in yourself, your hands are occupied!" A strong, slightly hoarse old man's voice came from inside.

Gu Beiri pushed open the door and entered.

What comes into view is an ordinary, even somewhat messy, home scene.

The decor is old-fashioned, and the furniture looks quite dated, but it's very clean.

The living room was small, with an old sofa, an old-fashioned television, and several framed calligraphy pieces and yellowed old photos hanging on the wall.

The most eye-catching feature is the balcony, which has been transformed into a small training corner, covered with thick mats and furnished with several sandbags and wooden stakes showing obvious signs of wear.

The sounds and smells came from the adjoining kitchen.

An elderly man, wearing a faded blue overalls vest, lean and with neatly combed gray hair, was standing in front of the stove, tossing a wok with his back to the door.

The spatula struck the iron pot, producing a rhythmic sound.

The old man's movements were skillful; he was clearly an experienced cook.

"Sit down first, it'll be ready soon! Braised pork, just the last bit of sauce reduction!" Old Hong shouted without turning around, his voice booming.

Gu Beiri responded and sat down on the old sofa in the living room.

The sofa was very soft, and I sank in quite a bit.

The fluffy sheep curiously looked around, while the flying mantis was attracted by the training corner on the balcony, its compound eyes staring at the sandbags, its scythes unconsciously waving gently.

A few minutes later, Old Hong came out carrying two steaming plates of braised pork with a bright red color and placed them on the small dining table in the living room.

He then turned around and looked directly at Gu Beiri.

Old Hong looked to be in his sixties. He was not tall and thin, but had a large frame. His bare arms had clearly defined muscles, and his skin was a wheat color from years of exposure to the sun and wind, covered with wrinkles.

What is most striking are his eyes, which are not large, but exceptionally bright and sharp, like those of a hawk, and when they sweep over Gu Beiri and the two elves, they carry a penetrating scrutiny.

He had a kind smile on his face, like an ordinary retired old man next door.

"You're the kid Xiao Chen was talking about? Gu Beiri?"

Old Hong wiped his hands with his apron, walked over, and lingered his gaze on the fluffy sheep and the flying mantis for a few more seconds, especially on the connection between the flying mantis's wings and its carapace.

"Yes, Mr. Hong, hello. Sorry to bother you." Gu Beiri stood up and greeted him politely.

"Sit down, sit down, don't be shy."

Old Hong waved his hand and sat down at the dining table first, pointing to the chair opposite him.

"Haven't eaten yet? You've come at the perfect time, try my cooking."

You need to be well-fed to have the energy to train.

It was very homey and direct, without any formalities or airs of a senior or expert.

"It is impolite to refuse a gift from an elder; I have been impolite."

Gu Beiri readily agreed and sat down.

"Alright, alright, stop with the formalities. I'm still young, not some old-fashioned man."

Hearing Old Master Hong's dissatisfied words, Gu Beiri couldn't help but chuckle.

Old Hong served two large bowls of rice, pushed one bowl in front of Gu Beiri, picked up the other bowl for himself, took a big piece of braised pork, shoveled a mouthful of rice, and ate with great relish.

"That kid Chen really went all out this time."

Old Hong ate while speaking indistinctly.

"Even my old bones have been brought out."

He mentioned your Scyther to me, saying it has good comprehension and has figured out some things on its own, but its attack method is still a bit unorthodox.

Gu Beiri nodded: "Yes, the prototype of the Demon Slash has just been completed, and the power transmission and instantaneous burst still need to be refined."

"Demon Slash?" Old Hong paused in his chewing, glanced at Gu Beiri, and a hint of interest flashed in his eyes. "The name sounds intimidating."

Let me see in a bit.

He stopped asking questions and focused on eating.

Gu Beiri also ate quietly.

Old Hong's cooking skills are indeed excellent. The braised pork is fatty but not greasy, tender and flavorful, with a rich sauce that goes very well with rice.

The meal was finished in silence, with only the sounds of chewing and the light clinking of bowls and chopsticks.

After the meal, Old Hong quickly cleared away the dishes, wiped his mouth, and waved to Gu Beiri.

"Come on, let's go to the balcony. Let me see just how good your damn Demon Slash really is."

Although the training corner on the balcony is simple, it has everything you need.

Besides sandbags and wooden stakes, there were also some specially made, extremely hard alloy targets piled up in the corner, as well as several small moving target devices used for practicing precise thrusting.

Old Hong kicked away an empty kettle on the mat, stood still, crossed his arms, and looked at Gu Beiri.

"Have your Scyther attack that stake with all its might." He pointed to a stake that looked particularly thick and covered with both new and old cuts.

"Cheers!" The flying mantis, which had been eager to try, immediately flew to the wooden stake and assumed an attack stance upon hearing this.

"Strike with the demonic attack," Gu Beiri ordered.