Jiang Chen's faint but firm words echoed in the room, causing the elderly beast trainer to freeze momentarily.
The old man's gaze locked onto the teenage boy, disbelief and irritation flashing across his face.
"Youngster, are you implying that I lack the necessary skills to save this Flame Tiger?" he asked, his tone sharp.
"Isn't that exactly what I said?"
Jiang Chen's calm retort cut through the tension.
"This Flame Tiger is clearly salvageable, yet you claim it cannot be saved. If that's not poor skill, what is?"
---
The old man's expression darkened, and he snorted coldly.
"Who do you think you are, kid? A mere boy barely old enough to be taken seriously, and you dare challenge my expertise?"
He pointed at the dying tiger and said, "This beast is clinging to life only because of the Life Sharing Contract. It's beyond saving, and that's an indisputable fact!"
Jiang Chen shrugged, his expression indifferent.
"You claim it's beyond saving because it's clinging to life through the contract, yet you acknowledge it's still alive. Doesn't that mean there's a chance to save it?"
---
"Boy, you know nothing about beast training, so stop spouting nonsense!" the old man barked, his face flushing with irritation.
"I am an experienced third-rank beast trainer. If I say this Flame Tiger can't be saved, then even the most skilled beast trainer in the world couldn't do it!"
Jiang Chen's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Fixing a second-rank Flame Tiger is hardly worth calling in the world's most skilled trainer. I can solve it myself."
---
The old man laughed derisively, his voice dripping with disdain.
"You? A mere child? Do you even know what you're saying?"
To the old man, Jiang Chen's claim was nothing more than the boastful words of an ignorant youth.
---
"Master Jiang, can you really save the Flame Tiger?"
Huo Ziluan stepped forward, her eyes filled with hope as she looked at Jiang Chen.
The old man, alarmed by her trust in Jiang Chen, interjected quickly.
"Miss Huo, this boy is just spouting nonsense! Don't let him mess around. If he does, your father's condition might worsen!"
---
Jiang Chen's gaze turned colder, and his voice sharpened.
"Miss Huo, your father's life is already bound to the Flame Tiger. According to this old man, if the tiger is doomed, so is your father. In his eyes, they're both beyond saving. So tell me, what more danger could there be?"
Jiang Chen's words landed like a slap. The old man's face turned red, but he was unable to retort.
"You're confused and incompetent. If you can't save them, don't interfere," Jiang Chen added, his tone dripping with contempt.
---
The old man's frustration boiled over, and he growled, "Boy, if you're so confident, then stop talking and prove it! Save the Flame Tiger if you can.
"If you manage to heal it, I'll kneel before you and call you Master!"
Jiang Chen smirked.
"Good. Start preparing to kneel. With me here, this Flame Tiger won't die—even if it wants to!"
---
Ignoring the old man's scowl, Jiang Chen turned his full attention to the Flame Tiger.
A system prompt suddenly sounded in his mind.
[Ding! Observing the severely injured and dying Second-Rank Beast, Flame Tiger, has triggered a hundredfold comprehension!]
[Ding! You have comprehended the cure method for the Flame Tiger!]
Jiang Chen quickly absorbed the knowledge granted by the system, formulating a plan in his mind.
---
He strode to the desk in the room, grabbed a pen, and began writing a list of ingredients.
After a moment, he handed the list to Huo Ziluan.
"Miss Huo, have someone gather these materials immediately. Once they're ready, boil them for a quarter of an hour and bring the liquid here."