"Is that from Tie Ru Hua?" Professor Yan guessed with a faint smile, noticing Li Qian pick up the envelope to read it.

Li Qian was a little surprised to hear that.

Professor Yan glanced at the letter in Li Qian’s hands and said with a resigned sigh, "This old-fashioned way of sending messages... only he still uses it these days. Did he leave without saying goodbye again?"

Hearing Professor Yan’s words, Li Qian grew even more surprised.

But he quickly figured it out.

’Elder Tie and Professor Yan are both senior figures at Shazhou Beast Taming University, so it’s only natural they know each other. In fact, based on the situation, they’re likely more than just acquaintances—their relationship is probably quite good.’

’Otherwise, Professor Yan wouldn’t have said something like that.’

"It’s always like this. Whenever I show up, he makes a point to avoid me..." Before Li Qian could respond, Professor Yan continued, and his words filled Li Qian with curiosity.

Indeed, Li Qian was extremely curious. He didn’t understand what Professor Yan meant. ’What does he mean, "Whenever I show up, he makes a point to avoid me"?’

’Could it be that their relationship isn’t what I thought? Is there some hidden story, some conflict? Or maybe... Elder Tie did something to wrong Professor Yan, so now he’s too ashamed to face him?’

Driven by curiosity, Li Qian couldn’t resist asking, "Um, forgive me for asking, but is there some... issue between you and Elder Tie? Why does he avoid you?"

Elder Tie had teased him before, leading his mother, Han Yuqing, and Niu Fenjin to start spreading rumors. Niu Fenjin had even rushed over excitedly to confront him about it.

’This isn’t over. I just haven’t found an opportunity to get back at him. Now that I see a glimmer of hope, I’m not letting it go.’

’So I’m more than happy to dig up some of Elder Tie’s secrets. Besides, I’ll be attending Shazhou Beast Taming University after the summer break, so I won’t be short on opportunities to get my revenge.’

"It’s nothing, really. It’s just that Old Tie can’t get over it..." Professor Yan sighed before speaking.

"What happened, exactly?" Li Qian’s curiosity grew, but he asked calmly, not rushing the professor.

Professor Yan looked at Li Qian, pondered for a moment, then said with a complex tone, "There’s no harm in telling you. After all, once you get to Shazhou Beast Taming University, you’re bound to hear about it."

"It’s better you hear it from me than listen to all the wildly distorted rumors."

Professor Yan glanced at the envelope in Li Qian’s hand, as if looking at his old comrade, his friend, his brother, Tie Ru Hua. "It’s nothing, really. When we were young, he fell for a girl. In the end... that girl married me."

"Oh, so he liked..." Li Qian subconsciously started to chime in, but he stopped dead in the middle of his sentence.

"Wait, what the— Elder Tie liked a girl when he was young, and in the end, that girl married *you*, Professor Yan?!"

Li Qian’s eyes widened in disbelief. He stared at Professor Yan, and his gaze instantly lit up, practically flashing with the word "Gossip."

At this moment, a few things clicked into place. He finally understood why Elder Tie was still single.

’He must still be hung up on Madam Yan.’

’Such a heart-wrenching memory... it might have even been his first love.’

As Li Qian speculated, he was already composing the speech he’d give Elder Tie the next time they met.

He had to bring up this romantic history. It was the only way to get even for the rumors the old man had started about him.

"Yeah, just this one thing. So many years have passed, and he still can’t let it go. He’ll deliberately avoid any place I’m at!" Professor Yan said with a wistful sigh.

He sounded quite wistful, but Li Qian thought he could detect a faint trace of smugness in his tone.

’Stealing Elder Tie’s dream girl was probably his greatest achievement. Why else would he sound like he was subtly bragging?’

As this thought crossed his mind, Li Qian shot Professor Yan a suspicious look. ’Are he and Elder Tie really good friends? Aren’t they more like mortal enemies?’

’After all, the feud of stealing a man’s wife is irreconcilable.’

’Er, well, strictly speaking, it probably didn’t go as far as "wife-stealing."’

Sensing something wasn’t quite right, Li Qian decisively chose to run interference for Elder Tie.

’Mocking Elder Tie was his own business; he couldn’t let Professor Yan stand here and gloat.’

So, he played along with the excuse in the letter, nodding in agreement. "Maybe he really is busy. After all, Elder Tie is a Dimensional Rift Guardian for Shazhou Beast Taming University."

With that, he had smoothed things over for Elder Tie.

Having said his piece, he wasted no more time and steered the conversation back on track. "Right, Professor Yan, shall we get back to the matter of the Sky Escape Eagle?"

Professor Yan recognized the subtle way Li Qian was defending Elder Tie, so he didn’t press the topic. Instead, he frowned slightly and went along with the change in subject. "Fine. Let’s talk about the Sky Escape Eagle."

He continued without missing a beat, asking for confirmation, "I heard from the university’s liaison office that you’ve discovered the evolution path from Koi Carp to Frostfire Salamander. You want to trade a Frostfire Salamander for a Sky Escape Eagle?"

Li Qian nodded.

Professor Yan’s smile vanished, his expression turning serious. He said in a grave tone, "But, there’s one thing I need to make clear to you beforehand. My evolution path for the Sky Escape Eagle... the success rate is a bit low..."

Li Qian immediately seized on the key point. "How low?" he asked instantly. "And if the evolution fails, what are the consequences?"

After all his recent studies, on top of his research into the evolution paths from Koi Carp to Cyan-Scaled Flood Dragon and Frostfire Salamander, Li Qian was no longer the complete novice he once was, even if he wouldn’t call himself an expert.

’From a Gray Bean Dove to a Sky Escape Eagle, a leap from Elite Level to Dominator Level—and a Mid-Tier Dominator at that. The difference is like that between clouds and mud. Making that jump is like ascending to the heavens, a Fish Leaping the Dragon Gate. With such a massive transformation, if it fails, the price must be equally high.’

That was Li Qian’s suspicion, and his question reflected it. A moment later, Professor Yan’s answer confirmed his fears. "If the evolution fails... best-case scenario, its potential for any future evolution is destroyed. Worst-case, it will be severely injured or even die."

The word "die," coming from Professor Yan’s lips, made Li Qian’s brow furrow into a deep knot.

’With such severe consequences, no matter how tempting the Sky Escape Eagle’s Potential was, he had to think this through carefully. If it was too risky, a Cloud-piercing Goose wasn’t out of the question. At least it was better than a Storm Eagle.’