Beast Taming: I Can Add Points

In just a few short minutes, the two Hao Waterfowl had already exchanged nearly a hundred blows. There were no techniques or tactics—just the purest, most direct clash.

Both little ones were panting with exhaustion, but Xue Li seemed to be in worse shape. Her feathers were completely soaked, and while her gaze remained resolute, her stance was becoming unsteady.

—Hao Waterfowl are Water Element Pet Beasts that can easily control water currents. Keeping their bodies dry is a fundamental ability.

For one to get soaked during a battle against its own kind was usually a sign of flagging strength.

"Quack~" Bilang raised her head, looking a little smug.

’You’re soaked. You’ll lose if we keep this up, so you might as well surrender.’

"...Quack!"

Xue Li, however, defiantly tossed her head, shaking the water from her feathers.

’I’m not surrendering. It’s not over yet!’

’Did you even eat today? Your water streams are pathetic!’

"QUACK!!" Enraged, Bilang launched a new barrage of attacks against Xue Li.

A High-pressure Water Gun tore through the air, impossibly fast!

Towering Waves blotted out the sun, threatening to swallow the entire beach!

A heavy, powerful Flowing Shield shot forward, whistling with an oppressive force that seemed capable of striking down anything in its path!

Xue Li’s small, slender body was submerged beneath wave after wave, and any sound she made was drowned out by the roar of the water.

Xue Li was already a spent force. This wave of attacks would have sent even a Thorn Armor Dragon, renowned for its Defense Power, flying on the spot—let alone another Hao Waterfowl.

After what felt like an eternity, the waves finally receded.

Bilang was shocked to discover that although Xue Li looked like a total mess, so unsteady she could barely stand, she still hadn’t collapsed.

She was so small and frail, yet she seemed like a colossus, projecting an unshakeable sturdiness that could endure any attack without falling.

But in truth, Xue Li wasn’t surprised.

Not long after this Pet Beast Battle began, she knew that victory would inevitably be hers.

The countless days and nights of arduous training would finally bear fruit, forging a body that was battered and bruised, yet indestructible!

"Quack."

Xue Li looked up at her opponent, her body enveloped in a faint blue light.

’Are you finished with your attacks?’

’Because now it’s my turn. No objections, I hope!’

In that instant, an overwhelming sense of danger washed over Bilang.

Judging from the Energy field, the attack was clearly only a little stronger than the last few, but she had a gut feeling she couldn’t block it. Besides, her recent Strong Attack had almost completely drained her stamina...

’No, it wasn’t a matter of stamina. It was simply because her opponent was Xue Li!’

"WHOOSH—"

A giant wave roared forth, washing over Bilang and her chaotic thoughts.

When the immense wave receded, Bilang was left on her back with her feet in the air, completely unable to get up.

’We won!’

Xue Li, who had been so unyielding just a moment before, suddenly went limp. She instinctively turned to share the good news with Liu Yuhang, but her balance gave out and she began to topple over.

Just as she was about to fall, a large, warm, familiar hand caught her and scooped her into an embrace.

So Liu Yuhang had been here all along.

But then, Liu Yuhang himself staggered. He’d meant to drop to one knee but almost ended up flopping onto the ground in a W-sit.

The shock gave Xue Li a sudden burst of energy, and she quickly jumped down to steady Liu Yuhang.

"Don’t worry, I’m fine."

Liu Yuhang smiled and reached behind him, bracing himself against a wall.

The battle hadn’t just been draining for Xue Li; it had taken a significant toll on him as well. Even in a simple clash of skills, maintaining a high degree of synchronization with one’s Pet Beast is a major test of a Beast Tamer’s Spiritual Power.

But that was all in the past! Xue Li had won the Pet Beast Battle, and as her Beast Tamer, he couldn’t be happier.

Katie’s voice sounded beside him. "Why push yourselves so hard? The chance to evolve would’ve been yours even if you’d lost."

"Win or lose, you have to give it your all. We take every battle seriously and live in the moment. That’s our creed."

Liu Yuhang said softly, "I want to earn what I get through my own power, not rely on the charity or assistance of others.

"This was my battle, and Xue Li’s. We wanted to win—we wanted it badly—so we gave it our all."

The young woman smiled. "Well then, congratulations on your victory!"

"Thanks." Liu Yuhang pushed himself up from the wall.

He froze after he stood up, a belated thought striking him: ’This is a beach. Where would a wall have come from?’

As he came to his senses, he realized the surface under his palm felt a little too soft...

Liu Yuhang stared blankly as he turned around and saw Katie, who had appeared by his side at some point. He still had his hand on her arm.

Liu Yuhang’s face burned, and he snatched his hand away as if he’d been zapped.

"Hm? Are you okay? Can you stand on your own?"

"I’m, I’m fine!"

Liu Yuhang pretended to admire the scenery, stammering out a single word. "Th-thanks..."

He was so flustered he’d even managed to stutter on a single word.

A small head popped into view on his left. As Katie bent over and tilted her head to get a better look at him, Liu Yuhang whipped his head to the right.

Katie let out a small laugh. "How are you so easily flustered? This is so much fun!"

Liu Yuhang’s brain short-circuited. Finally unable to stand being the center of her attention, he trotted back to Su Zhi and basically hid behind him.

Su Zhi and Shao Ya were sitting in a row, watching the drama unfold. When Liu Yuhang came over, Su Zhi folded his arms. "So now you remember your own family?"

"Family my ass!"

·

Five minutes later, guided by Katie and the resident Beast Tamer, the group entered the core region of the Storm Strait.

Contrary to its name, the surface of the sea here was surprisingly placid—so still it didn’t seem like a natural body of water.

Shan Bao curiously extended a little foot to dip it in the water.

A ripple instantly spread across the surface, expanding into the distance before gradually disappearing, the water becoming perfectly still once more.

"Chirp!" Finding this fun, Shan Bao bounced on the spot.

Yu Bao lay off to the side, an expression of fond indulgence on its face, looking just like a proud father.

Su Zhi asked curiously, "There aren’t any other Hao Waterfowl here. Since it’s so wide open, why did we need to make a reservation?"

"That’s what’s special about the Storm Strait. It can only accommodate the evolution ritual of a single Hao Waterfowl at a time.

"After entering the Storm Strait, as soon as a Hao Waterfowl activates its Core Skill, Broken Waterfall Judgment, the surface of the sea here will erupt into an incomparably fierce storm that envelops the Pet Beast.

"If it can withstand the trial of the storm, the Hao Waterfowl will successfully evolve into a Turbulent Duck!"

Katie explained languidly, her eyes blinking as she watched Liu Yuhang, who was holding Xue Li with a somewhat lost expression.

Liu Yuhang scratched his head. "So... what exactly does the trial of the storm entail?"

Katie stuck her tongue out. "I don’t know either, ducky~"

Liu Yuhang blushed again and quickly turned his head away.

’If you don’t know, just say you don’t know. What’s with adding ’ducky’ to it? And sticking her tongue out... It makes her seem...’

’...weirdly cute...’

Shao Ya gazed at the calm surface of the sea, looking thoughtful. "Speaking of which, Hao Waterfowl are freshwater Pet Beasts, right? So why do they need to evolve in the ocean?"

Katie shook her head. "Hao Waterfowl haven’t always been freshwater Pet Beasts. Quite the opposite, in fact. During the Classical Era, they were Ocean Pet Beasts. It was only later, due to the combined effects of domestication by human Beast Tamers and climate change, that they gradually adapted to fresh water.

"The Turbulent Duck is an Evolutionary Type that only appeared in recent history. The Classical Era’s evolution for the Hao Waterfowl was called the Wave-Riding Duck, and it was an Ocean Pet Beast through and through. Many Beast Tamers have tried to bring back the Wave-Riding Duck, but they’ve all failed..."

At this, Katie looked at Liu Yuhang curiously. "Oh, that’s right, what’s your Beast Taming Talent again?"

Liu Yuhang answered frankly, "It’s Ocean Affinity."

"Aha, that’s not bad! That’s a pretty good match for the classical Hao Waterfowl."

Katie chuckled. "Maybe you’re the chosen one, the protagonist of some novel, fated to rediscover the lost evolution of the Hao Waterfowl!"

"I’m not that incredible. I’ll be happy just doing the best I can," Liu Yuhang said, scratching his head.

Katie looked at his earnest expression, her eyes crinkling with amusement.

"Alright, I won’t bother you anymore. Go on, start the evolution."

"Oh. See you later, then..."

"Hold on a second~"

Liu Yuhang had just started to step forward, his foot still hovering in the air.

Katie bounced over to stand beside him, then made a gesture to Yu Bao. "For the sand art, just draw the two of us, please!"

"Huh?" Liu Yuhang’s face flushed red again. "Isn’t, isn’t this a little inappropriate...?"

"What’s inappropriate about it? We both have a Hao Waterfowl, and we’re both evolving them on the same day. You could call it fate. Besides, it’s just a normal picture together."

Katie blinked. "Unless... you thought it meant something else?"

"Ah... It’s nothing!"

Liu Yuhang also figured that getting this shy over a simple picture would just make him look weird. So, he planted his feet firmly and stood beside Katie with a determined expression, even though the blush on his cheeks had yet to fade.

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