Beast Taming: I Can Add Points

"...I give up." Su Zhi had combed through every document on the Flying Shadow Alliance he could find in the museum, yet he still came up empty-handed.

Shen Chuqing folded her arms and looked at him. "Didn’t you go to a Flying Shadow Alliance summer camp? Did your guide—the Alliance Member—have anything to say about it?"

"Nope." Recalling the long, ice-blue hair, Su Zhi shook his head, a little sheepish.

’The main thing is, I didn’t even ask back then... My mind was completely focused on Beast Taming and sightseeing. Who would pay attention to a piece of history that was deliberately downplayed...’

Besides, he had Level-One Visitor access for the Divine Strategy Alliance, allowing him to directly search all the documents they had on file. Selena probably couldn’t see as much as he could.

Of course, the Divine Strategy Alliance’s documents were all legitimate. There wasn’t any of *that* kind of material.

"Welp, looks like we’re not solving this mystery for now."

Shen Chuqing gave a lazy yawn and glanced at her phone. "Let’s go."

Su Zhi, still holding a document, was a bit stunned. "Th-that’s it? We’re done?"

Shen Chuqing shot him a deadpan glance. "What else? This is a museum anyone can visit. You didn’t really expect to unearth some incredible secret, did you? To be honest, you didn’t even need to come. I could’ve just told you all this myself."

Su Zhi was at a loss for words. "Then why did Luo Sen arrange for me to..."

"Because Fuguang Lake and the Luojin Mountain Range don’t open until the afternoon. Luo Sen figured since you got here this morning with nothing to do, you might as well come have a look."

Su Zhi: "Damn it."

’So much for "since you’re here anyway."’

It wasn’t a complete waste, though. At least he got to see that unique fossil. The shape of the Radiant Gold Pattern was quite beautiful, and at Yu Bao’s insistence, Su Zhi even took a picture as a memento.

’Speaking of which, isn’t Yu Bao a sand painter? Why is it so interested in this? Or do all artists just have broad interests?’

’But Su Zhi really couldn’t see what was so special about it. It was just a regular Radiant Gold Pattern. The tree back home that Shan Bao always used for Skill practice was covered in them...’

"Awoo, awoo."

Yu Bao’s expression seemed to say, ’You wouldn’t get it even if I told you.’ It then left him with a profound, inscrutable look and trotted ahead with a gait that screamed, ’Everything is under control.’

"Pfft..." Shen Chuqing stifled a laugh.

A tic mark appeared on the forehead of Yu Bao’s Pet Beast, Su Zhi. "Let’s go... So, where are we off to next?"

"To get a room, of course."

Shen Chuqing said lazily, "Or we could do it in the car, if you’d prefer."

Su Zhi was floored. "Are you Hundred Rivers People always this wild?"

Shen Chuqing shot him a look. "What do you mean, ’wild’? So, are you getting a room or not?"

"I refuse!"

Su Zhi declared, his tone firm and righteous.

"Even though you’re beautiful, rich, and have a strong Pet Beast—I’ll admit, it’s a tempting offer—my heart already belongs to someone else. I’m sorry, but you’ve got the wrong guy."

"..."

Shen Chuqing stared at him, her face a blank mask.

Then she folded her arms and retorted, "I was talking about finding a place to take a nap. What the hell are *you* talking about?"

Su Zhi: "..."

"Such a dirty mind. The struggle is real, y’all," Shen Chuqing said with a mocking grin.

Su Zhi was bewildered. "Wait, is taking a nap here really such a formal affair...?"

"Whatever. Luo Sen already booked a hotel room for you, and it’s fully reimbursed. If you don’t like an air-conditioned room with a king-sized bed and would rather sleep on the street, be my guest."

Shen Chuqing yawned and walked ahead. "Some of us are just normal people who like to take advantage of a freebie. Unlike the great God Su, who thinks on such a grand scale that he won’t even let the organization cover his business trip expenses. Tsk, tsk... come on, let’s go... we clearly misjudged him~"

"No! You guys judged me perfectly!"

Su Zhi immediately fell in line, a shameless grin spreading across his face.

·

「Huai City, Municipal Battle Hall.」

The Battle Hall didn’t close for lunch, so visitors could continue to use it, but the front desk was on break until two o’clock and wouldn’t be providing any services until then.

"SCREE!" Bubble launched a dive attack at Lilith on the ground. A layer of Cyan Light coated its wings, making them look terrifyingly sharp.

Cyan Feathered Falcon Racial Skill: Steel Feather!

"Chirp." Lilith dodged with ease, swatting Bubble on the butt with one of its claws.

Bubble lost its balance and face-planted, unable to get back up.

"Aww, we lost again..." From her command post, Xu Ruo pouted in frustration, then quickly rubbed her cheeks and went over to comfort Bubble.

"It’s okay! It’s perfectly normal to lose to Fang Yuan! You’re already amazing!"

Watching her from the side, Fang Yuan was suddenly reminded of that one reaction meme, and he almost laughed.

’It wasn’t actually funny... but hearing it from Xu Ruo just made it feel different. She was always so cautious and earnest that it made one instinctively want to reach out and ruffle her hair.’

Of course, Fang Yuan would never do something so strange.

WHOOSH! The roar of rushing water came from a nearby arena. Liu Yuhang and Katie were in the middle of a Pet Beast Battle.

"Nice one, Bilang! Just like that, blast Xue Li off the stage!"

"Come on, Xue Li! If we lose, we’re buying the drinks!"

On the stage, Bilang and Xue Li were locked in a fierce battle.

In an amusing contrast, the command posts for both sides were completely empty.

Liu Yuhang and Katie were sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on a bench not far from the stage. One sat prim and proper, the other was completely relaxed, yet there was a strange harmony between them.

Suddenly, Katie thrust her fist forward with a "Hah!"

"Bilang, for the free energy drinks, use Flame Fist on Xue Li!"

"But... how can a Water Element Pet Beast use Flame Fist...?"

"Aiya, it’s a joke! You have zero sense of humor!"

𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Katie gave Liu Yuhang a light punch.

Fang Yuan watched with a complicated mix of feelings, as if he were the one who had just been punched.

’On one hand, he’d already guessed their relationship might be more than just teammates for the group tournament, but he hadn’t expected them to get this close, this fast.’