Beast Taming: I Can Add Points

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[Common Defense Alliance Latest Briefing! Effective Immediately, 15 Secret Realms Are Now Under Lockdown and Will No Longer Be Open to the Public or Other Entities...] (1 hour ago)

[New Adjustments to Beast Taming Industry Policy! Boya Alliance Experts Analyze the Deeper Trends Behind the 23 New Policies...] (37 minutes ago)

[The Grand Military Parade for the 275th Anniversary of the Victory in the Abyssal War Will Be Held at Alliance Headquarters on August 1st. Officials Announce Record-High Number of Participants...] (23 minutes ago)

Looking at the news articles popping up on his phone’s browser and combining it with Shan Bao’s description, Su Zhi’s expression grew increasingly grim.

Just then, his phone rang—the caller ID read ’Luo Sen’.

Su Zhi and Shao Ya exchanged a look.

Shao Ya smiled and nodded at him. "We’ll head back first. See you in a bit!"

"Meow-wrow." Xiaoyue closed the door with her tail.

Su Zhi took a deep breath and answered the call.

"Little genius, been keeping well?" Luo Sen’s slightly creepy laugh came through the phone.

Just hearing that laugh was enough to conjure an image of him licking his blood-red teeth.

Su Zhi said calmly, "You don’t need to ask me that, do you? With your abilities, I can’t escape your surveillance 24/7, except when I’m on the toilet."

Luo Sen laughed again. "The toilet is also an option."

"..." Su Zhi’s face darkened.

"Just kidding. I can indeed do it, but I disdain to. The consequence of abusing technology is being distorted by it."

Luo Sen also took a breath. "You’ve seen the news. How are you feeling now?"

Su Zhi looked out the window. "We’re already very close to war, aren’t we?"

Luo Sen replied instantly, "Yes. And it’s a battle for survival."

Su Zhi was silent for a moment.

"Then, what can I do?"

This time, Luo Sen was also silent for a moment on the other end of the line.

"What’s this? I thought you’d make the correct decision with extreme calm and then execute it. I didn’t expect this slightly bewildered tone.

"But, you are just a little brat who hasn’t even fully grown up yet. It is indeed a bit harsh to hold you to the standards of a genius."

Luo Sen’s tone sounded like he was rolling his eyes at Su Zhi.

"Isn’t it obvious what you should do? Study hard, of course."

With a dark face, Su Zhi said, "I’m being serious..."

"I’m serious too.

"Don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself; it will only make it impossible for you to move forward. For you right now, your main task is to study and get stronger.

"Only by becoming strong enough will you have the ability to face everything and protect everything you care about. Isn’t that right?

"As for the Abyssal, that is not something you should be concerned with right now."

Luo Sen’s tone was extremely calm.

"Shao Yun has told you about the origins of the Alliance Headquarters, right?

"We are the bridgehead on the border, the first wall to bear the brunt of an invasion. We are the Common Defense Alliance, the absolute line of defense, the mortal enemy of the Abyssal.

"But you are not.

"We fight the Abyssal so that you don’t have to. We stand on the front lines so that you don’t have to.

"Your time has not yet come.

"So, go do what you’re supposed to do."

Su Zhi was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "It’s pretty weird hearing you say all this, given your persona... but thanks."

"Giving morality lessons to little brats really isn’t my forte. But if you fall into a state of confusion, it’ll be a big headache for me..."

As Luo Sen spoke, he grinned. "If there’s a next time, I’ll have to add a little punishment, you know? Like letting me slice you up a bit. Bye~"

"..."

Su Zhi hung up, covered in goosebumps. The towering image of Luo Sen he had just formed in his mind instantly crumbled by half.

However, after Luo Sen’s pep talk, Su Zhi’s mood did lighten considerably.

"Woof!" Yu Bao wagged its tail at Su Zhi.

’It’s okay, don’t be afraid of any difficulties, just face them with a smile!’

"Hmph." Wu Bao gave a thumbs-up. The-Handsome-One’s-Approval.jpg

"Chirp~" Shan Bao flew onto Su Zhi’s shoulder and nuzzled him with its fluffy little head.

Feeling the concern from his three little companions, the young man smiled faintly. His heart finally settled, and a sunny disposition returned to his face.

"Yeah, let’s do our best together!"

·

At ten in the morning, the two humans and four Pet Beasts were discharged from the hospital and boarded a bus back to Huai City.

Thanks to the meticulous care of the medical staff and Yu Bao’s assistance, Shan Bao had fully recovered. Shao Ya hadn’t had any serious issues either; she was just exhausted from overexerting her energy and was fine after a good, long sleep.

The old gatekeeper and his Cyan Feathered Falcon reluctantly said goodbye to Wu Bao, begging it to publish a book when it got back.

Su Zhi’s loyal fan—Shan Bao’s attending physician—also reluctantly took a souvenir photo with Su Zhi, even telling him to come back often and that he’d give him a 20% discount.

Su Zhi declined his kind offer.

’A hospital isn’t a place one should visit often...’

The bus was very lively.

"Pant, pant~"

"Chirp chirp~"

Su Zhi sat by the window, with Yu Bao nestled in his lap and Shan Bao perched on his shoulder, hopping around and playing games with Yu Bao.

"Wooo..." Wu Bao, who had been stuffed into the luggage compartment due to its large size, wanted to cry but had no tears.

So, to give it some feedback, Yu Bao’s yelps became even more cheerful. It even ran to the last row of seats and flashed its ancestral smile at Wu Bao:

⌓‿⌓

’Look, look, Shan Bao and I are having so much fun, and you can only be a despicable bystander!’

’You even have to wish Shan Bao a good time in your heart, don’t you?’

’I’ve always wanted to see this look on your face, this expression of you being jealous of me~!’

"Wooo..." Wu Bao’s fists clenched.

Xiaoyue watched from the side with a deadpan expression, paws tucked in.

"Stop messing around, Yu Bao..." Su Zhi said, exasperated, as he dragged Yu Bao back.

This little guy had always been a provocateur.

Su Zhi then looked toward the luggage compartment. "Sorry, Wu Bao, you’re just too big. We have to inconvenience you like this for now."

"...Wooo!"

Wu Bao let out a cry of ultimate grief and indignation.

’If I don’t learn Doubling, I swear I’m not worthy of the name Black Fighting Emperor!’

’Good, very spirited, but your reason for striving to be stronger is a bit strange...’ Su Zhi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

"Pfft..."

The girl couldn’t hold it in, covering her mouth as she laughed for a moment. After she finished, she looked at the young man beside her.

"Do you have any plans for the near future?"

"No special plans. Mainly just regular training for Yu Bao to get used to its post-evolution Power. I’ll also train Shan Bao, since I just contracted it. As for Wu Bao, we can take it slow."

Su Zhi looked back at her. "What about you?"

"Pretty much the same as you. Xiaoyue just evolved, so I also plan to let her get used to her post-evolution Power before preparing for the next step."

At this, the girl winked her right eye. "How about we schedule a battle at the Battle Hall in a couple of days?"

"Sure," Su Zhi replied with a light smile.

Seeing Xiaoyue in the girl’s arms, a competitive spark ignited within him.

The Huajing Cat and the Yu Dian Dog were both Middle Extraordinary Races. But after evolution, the Huajing Cat became a High Level Elite Race, one sub-tier higher than the Yu Dian Farm Dog.

Although Xiaoyue had just evolved, her Real-time Energy Value was already about the same as Yu Bao’s. It was even possible she would surpass Yu Bao in a few days.

Su Zhi patted Yu Bao and said half-jokingly, "You’ve got to work hard, Yu Bao. Whether you can turn the tables and become the big bro depends on our next battle."

"Woof." Yu Bao swiped a paw at him, then ran over to nuzzle Xiaoyue.

’Turn the tables? Become the big bro? It didn’t understand any of that.’

’It, Yu Bao, had always been big bro Xiaoyue’s unfailingly loyal little bro!’

"Meow." Xiaoyue nodded in satisfaction and patted Yu Bao’s head.

’Not bad, little bro.’

"Woof-arf." Yu Bao then turned its head and called for Shan Bao to come pay respects to the big bro.

"...Chirp!" Shan Bao timidly hopped in front of Xiaoyue and took a bow.

’N-Nice to meet you, Big Bro Xiaoyue!’

"Meow-wrow." Xiaoyue patted her head too.

’You’re not bad either, little sis.’

After that, Xiaoyue walked over to the luggage compartment, patted Wu Bao’s horn, and then lazily curled back up in her master’s soft embrace, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned.

’Yosh, all stamped and approved.’

’My little bro’s little bro is my little bro!’

·

The bus stopped. They got off.

The two parted ways in front of their apartment building.

"My Beast Taming Space will reach Tier Three soon, too. I should be able to catch up to you before school starts."

Shao Ya lifted her chin slightly and looked at Su Zhi. "You’d better work hard during the break too, Su Baby, or I might just surpass you~!"

Su Zhi looked at her slightly smug expression, tucked his hands in his pockets, and smiled.

"I’m actually looking forward to being surpassed."

"? I’ll give you a PUNCH PUNCH!"

Shao Ya playfully punched him once, then turned and fled.

Su Zhi and his three pets watched her go up, floor by floor. When she reached the fifth floor, she waved at them through the stairwell window.

Su Zhi smiled and waved back.

Yu Bao also looked up and waved.

Wu Bao and Shan Bao were a bit curious, but they followed suit and waved too.

"Chirp?" Shan Bao quietly sidled over and asked, ’What are we doing?’

Yu Bao scratched its head.

Truth be told, Yu Bao didn’t understand either.

But as the Wise One, the big brother of the team, it couldn’t lose face in front of its younger siblings.

And so...

"Woof!"

Yu Bao gave the other two "Bao" a meaningful and earnest look.

’This is a special ritual to get stronger. Su Zhi has me do it every day. As long as you follow along, you can become as strong as me!’

"Wooo..."

"Chirp..."

A light shone in the eyes of the two "Bao".

"Alright, alright, stop trying to fool them..." Su Zhi, exasperated, told the three "Bao" to wait there. He went home first to get his parents.

Five minutes later, the family was sitting on the lawn—

"Shan Bao? Shan Bao, Shan Bao, little Shan Bao~"

"Chirp chirp~"

"Oh my, oh my! She responded to me! Shan Bao is so affectionate~!"

Wang Sujuan cradled Shan Bao in her hands, petting it, unable to put it down.

Seeing Shan Bao squinting its eyes in enjoyment, the middle-aged woman’s heart was about to melt.

She had seen videos of cute-pet content creators playing with little birds held in their hands, so she had tried buying a couple herself, but they turned out to be very aggressive and wouldn’t let her touch them.

She never expected her son’s new Pet Beast would be such a well-behaved and good-looking "hand chicken"! This is amazing!

On the other side, Su Mao had his arm around Wu Bao’s shoulders as they tirelessly discussed literature and writing, with Yu Bao and Su Zhi acting as translators.

"Xiaoshu, where did you run into Wu Bao? It’s pretty interesting, it actually likes listening to me talk about web novels!"

After a round of pontificating, seeing Wu Bao’s adoring expression, Su Mao’s head swelled with pride.

"I’ve decided! From now on, Wu Bao will be my first and foremost disciple!"

Su Zhi: "You still haven’t posted your update today."

Su Mao: "Crap."

Su Zhi rubbed his temples. "Right, Wu Bao is a bit too big, it definitely can’t stay in our apartment. Where are we going to put it?"

"That’s easy."

Su Mao waved his phone. "Xiaoya just called me. Her family’s garage has been empty, so she’s lending it to us to house Wu Bao for the next couple of days."

Su Zhi froze for a second, then looked up at the fifth floor of the apartment building opposite them.

A head of white hair and blue eyes was also furtively watching him. Noticing it had been spotted, it ducked back with a SWOOSH.

’She got me again...’ Su Zhi chuckled softly, knowing she was only hiding behind the curtain and hadn’t actually left.

He winked his right eye at her from across the distance, as a greeting and a thank you.

"I’m going to make dinner! A Manchu-Han Imperial Feast to celebrate Xiaoshu contracting a new pet!"

"Alright, alright, it’s a rare happy occasion today, so I’ll help you out. Xiaoshu, you guys carry on. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready!"

"Okay!"

His parents hurried back home.

Su Zhi turned his gaze back to Yu Bao. The little guy already looked like it couldn’t wait any longer.

’Can’t hold it in anymore, time to add some points!’

·

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