Chapter 32 - 32 30 The Strange Goat

32: Chapter 30 The Strange Goat 32: Chapter 30 The Strange Goat [Moment of Enlightenment: Through your continual observation of the herd during shepherding, you finally comprehended the true skill of pasturing. There’s no need for constant hands-on effort—just identify and manage the special individuals within the herd.] As a result, you gained the Skill—[Beast Recognition]. [Beast Recognition (Knowledge Skill)] Usage: Focus on a beast and attempt to obtain relevant information about it. Skill Introduction: A skill that shepherds have mastered through a long-term association with animals. It’s possible to understand a beast’s capabilities and its status within a group by observation. It is said that beasts, like humans, have a social hierarchy, and different individuals possess distinctly different abilities and talents. Therefore, Beast Recognition has become an essential preliminary Skill for Taming Beasts.] This… Xiao Jie was lost for words. What kind of skill is this, and where’s the Beast Taming Skill he was promised? However, it made sense when he thought about it since he spent most of today focusing on identifying the leader of the flock. He sighed helplessly. Although he could continue shepherding, he had a vague feeling that Moment of Enlightenment wasn’t something that could be triggered indefinitely. There might just be one opportunity for a Moment of Enlightenment in a related field. Nevertheless, he had gained a skill, which was something to be happy about. Let’s test it out and see if it’s any good. He used Beast Recognition on a goat. The skill did not require any Energy use—just a few seconds of focused observation of a beast was enough. Soon, a line of data appeared above the goat’s head. [Billy Goat (Beast), Level 3, Life Value 40. Taming difficulty: entry-level. Skills: Mountain Climbing Skill LV2, Wild Goat Charge LV2.] He switched to another one. [Female Goat (Beast), Level 2, Life Value 30. Taming difficulty: entry-level. Skills: Mountain Climbing Skill LV2, Wild Goat Charge LV1.] And another. [Kid (Beast), Level 1, Life Value 20. Taming Difficulty: entry-level.] Skills: Mountain Climbing Step LV1, Wild Goat Charge LV1.] Continuing to switch targets, this time he focused on the largest goat, the herd leader. [Mountain Goat Leader (Beast), Level 5, Life Value 80. Taming difficulty: Normal. Skills: Mountain Climbing Skill LV3, Wild Goat Charge LV3, Beast Herd Leader LV1.] Tsk tsk, even an Aura Skill—fitting for a leader. Xiao Jie switched to observing another one. [Odd Goat (Beast), Level ?, Life Value 128. Taming difficulty: Untamable. Skills: ?????? Note: The target level is too high, you are unable to read more information.] Huh? Xiao Jie was startled and took a closer look. Indeed, both the level and skills were question marks, although the Life Value was visible. 128, a full half more than the leader goat. What’s the story behind this ‘Odd Goat’ that made it so extraordinary? He moved closer for a better look. At first glance, there didn’t seem to be anything special about this goat. Its size was quite standard—not the miniature model like a kid nor the robust body like the herd leader—but looked just like the ordinary billy goats around it. If there was one thing unique— Xiao Jie suddenly noticed that the goat’s pupils were round, somewhat similar to human eyes. Regular goats have rectangular pupils, a particularly distinctive trait among animals. The eyes of this goat, however, were completely different. This minor difference would have been impossible to spot from a distance, and if it were any other day, Xiao Jie likely wouldn’t have noticed. If not for the strange data provided by Beast Recognition, he would have missed it entirely. Now that he had spotted the difference and examined it more closely, the details made him feel a trace of creeping dread. The goat seemed utterly oblivious to Xiao Jie’s astonishment and continued to graze as if nothing were amiss. But Xiao Jie had already drawn his knife. “Immortal? Demon?” he queried tentatively. The goat kept nibbling on the grass as before. Xiao Jie suddenly laughed. The goat’s satiety was at 100%, and yet it was still grazing—clearly a cover for something. There was definitely something amiss with this goat. If it wasn’t something with a unique background, at the very least, it must be a Rare Elite. Killing it might yield some valuable loot. “Hey, how about some reaction? If you don’t speak up, I’m going to make my move,” he called out playfully. Yet the goat kept looking at the grass on its own. Hey, I can’t believe this. Without a second word, Xiao Jie started charging up, preparing to use his knife. After all, the worst that could happen was compensating with 200 coins, an amount he could afford to lose. Finally, the goat’s eyes betrayed panic, and it abruptly spoke in human language. Mysterious Goat: “Baa, young man, I have no grudges against you, so why must you relentlessly pursue me?” Upon hearing the goat speak, Xiao Jie initially jumped in shock, then quickly followed with joy. Haha, so it really does have a story. “Ha, why didn’t you speak sooner? Now, tell me what you really are. An immortal or a demon? Why did you end up in this herd of sheep? Speak the truth quickly, or don’t blame my knife for not having eyes,” he said. As he spoke, he retreated two steps to slightly increase the distance between them. With the goat being so peculiar, it could pose a certain threat, but judging by its blood volume, the threat shouldn’t be too great. He figured he should be able to handle it as long as he was careful. If it really came down to it, he could call for help, but it was best not to reveal himself unless absolutely necessary. The goat spoke with a tone of helplessness. Mysterious Goat: “If you kill me, how could Old Yang let you off the hook?” “Heh, don’t worry yourself about that; if it comes down to it, I’ll just compensate with money,” he retorted. Mysterious Goat: “Humph, don’t be arrogant. Do you really think you can defeat me?” After speaking, it slightly bent its forelegs and aimed its horns at Xiao Jie, ready to charge. Xiao Jie, however, was not nervous. A wild goat’s charge, huh? He had learned that move often enough; as long as he dodged in time, it wasn’t a threat. “Even if I can’t beat you, I can still call for help. I’m quite curious to know, if others found out about your existence, whether they would chop you up for mutton skewers, thinking you were a demon.” Upon hearing this, the goat instantly cowered. It hurriedly put its horns down, “Baa, young man, please don’t spread rumors. Isn’t it enough that I’m talking to you? To tell the truth, I am not some demon; I am merely a goat from the mountains. I have been nourished by the spiritual energy of this valley and have developed a pinch of spiritual wisdom. My hope was to find an opportunity to cultivate into a demon and achieve an immortal business. Who knew disaster would strike, with evil demons plunging the world into chaos? I, a mere unenlightened goat, had nowhere to run and could only seek refuge in Ginkgo Village to survive. Thanks to the Gingko Immortal Tree in the village, I have managed to stay alive until now. The Yang Family has been herding sheep for generations, and I have been blending in with the herd, changing identities until today.” “So, haven’t you lived for five hundred years then?” Xiao Jie said in surprise. Mysterious Goat: “Time in the mountains is beyond my knowledge, and the same goes for this sheep pen. I don’t recall exactly how many years have passed, but it must be around that time. As I said, I am not a demon, nor do I have magical powers, but I am a bit wiser than the average goat. Over these five hundred years, I’ve never harbored any intention of harming humans. Please, brave sir, don’t tell others about me. If the villagers find out, I won’t live another day.” Xiao Jie didn’t immediately agree, considering what benefits he might gain from this extraordinary encounter. Seeing his hesitation, the goat added, “I’m not ungrateful for your help. If you agree to my request, I too have some benefits to offer.” Xiao Jie’s eyes suddenly brightened, “Let’s hear it. Could it be some monster’s inner core? A cultivation method?” The goat gave a bitter smile, “How could I, a goat that isn’t even a demon, know such things? Inner cores and whatnot are but fool’s dreams. However, having lived five hundred years, I have learned something. Although they might be trifling skills, perhaps they will be of interest to a strong warrior like yourself. I can impart to you three ultimate skills. But sir, you must take an oath vowing never to reveal a single word about me to anyone else. If you break this vow, you’ll surely suffer the Heavenly Punishment,” it said. System Prompt: You have triggered the special encounter [Goat’s Oath]. Quest Description: In a flock of sheep, you’ve discovered a peculiar goat that can speak human language and may have an unspeakable origin. To prevent you from exposing it, the goat is willing to teach you all the skills it has learned. In return, you must swear a [Heavenly Punishment Oath] as a pledge to keep the secret. Note: The Heavenly Punishment Oath is a special game mechanism. You take an oath to the heavens that, if broken, triggers a [Heavenly Tribulation] as punishment. The more grievous your oath-breaking, the higher the level of the [Heavenly Tribulation] you will face. Upon reading this, Xiao Jie’s expression became serious. Heavenly Tribulation sounded dangerous. As a level 2 character, facing the Heavenly Tribulation was guaranteed death. He knew he must choose carefully. “First, show me the skills you’ve got,” he said. Mysterious Goat: “Of course, the three ultimate skills I possess are extraordinary. Should you learn even one, it will be beneficial for a lifetime. Now, look—” A dialogue box suddenly popped up before Xiao Jie. [Option 1: Wild Goat Charge (Combat Skill). Imitate a goat’s combat move to headbutt the enemy, inflicting 20 points of blunt impact damage and stunning for 1 second. Requirements: Strength 15. Option 2: Mountain Climbing Steps (Ultimate Skill). Gain mastery of climbing techniques to move effortlessly in mountainous terrain, unaffected by the landscape. Requirements: Agility 15. Option 3: Beast Language Skill (Mystical Skill). Gain the ability to understand the language of beasts, allowing you to converse and interact with animals. Requirements: Comprehension 15.] Out of the three skills, two were greyed out, meaning he didn’t have the attributes to learn them. Only the last one, the Beast Language Skill, was learnable. After going over the three skills, Xiao Jie concluded that the Wild Goat Charge was just an ordinary Combat Skill, while the Mountain Climbing Steps had some value but not much. Only the Beast Language Skill seemed quite interesting. Being able to talk to animals? That certainly sounds fun to use in reality. “All right, I agree not to reveal any information about you to others. As my reward, teach me this Beast Language Skill,” he said. Xiao Jie decisively chose Option 3. [System Prompt: You have taken a [Heavenly Punishment Oath].] The peculiar goat let out a relieved “baa” and spoke, “Very well, listen up, here is how you use the Beast Language Skill…” [System Prompt: You have learned the new skill [Beast Language Skill (Mystical Skill)].] “Thank you, young man, for your cooperation. Now that I have taught you the Beast Language Skill, from this day forth we shall act as strangers to one another,” it said. “Of course,” Xiao Jie replied. As his voice faded, the goat suddenly turned and blended into the flock of sheep. Xiao Jie’s eyes blurred for a moment and when he tried to find the goat again, it was nowhere to be found.