Free Web NovelChapter 148: Chapter 133: Summer Came to the Boy First
After leaving the examination hall, Su Zhi went to the campus store and bought two bottles of water.
Afterward, he found a shady spot near the school’s Battle Hall, sat down, and ruffled Yu Bao’s head—
[Pet Beast: Yu Bao (Yu Dian Dog)
Power: 1.22 -> 1.30
Agility: 1.90 -> 2.00
Intelligence: 2.00
Constitution: 1.40 -> 1.42
Perception: 2.00 -> 2.10]
[Real-time Energy Value: 1680]
In the nine days between the wilderness training and the final exams, Yu Bao had acquired a total of 0.30 Attribute Points, averaging 0.04 to 0.05 per day.
The rate of acquiring Attribute Points had slowed down significantly, but it couldn’t be helped. While preparing for finals, it was hard for Yu Bao to encounter any strong new opponents, so he could only gain points through daily training.
However, Yu Bao’s current Skill Proficiencies were nearing their saturation point, making the efficiency of gaining Attribute Points from repetitive training very low.
"Woof..." Even though he had finished allocating his points, Yu Bao looked at Su Zhi with a pitiful expression.
For the past few days, all Su Zhi did was study, study, study, completely neglecting him.
"The *Beast Taming Fundamentals* textbook is so thick! I had to get the exam out of the way first!"
Su Zhi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as he patted the little guy’s head. "If I failed, we’d have to use our vacation time for a retake. That would just interfere with our training, which wouldn’t be worth it."
"Woof," Yu Bao nodded thoughtfully.
After his Intelligence reached 2.00, he had become a little dog of profound and inscrutable wisdom. He naturally understood the logic of short-term pain for long-term gain.
’Huh? Wait, that’s not right...’ Yu Bao looked at Su Zhi, his expression subtle.
’You were so afraid of failing that you studied your way to a perfect score?’
Su Zhi threw up his hands. "You can’t blame me for that. I thought it was going to be hard, so I studied a little more diligently. Who knew it would turn out to be so simple?"
"..." Yu Bao opened his mouth, then looked up at the sky.
’What a flex. A silent kill, yet the aftertaste lingers. As expected of my Beast Tamer!’
’I’ve learned something! I’m going to flex like this in front of other Pet Beasts in the future!’
Sensing the little guy’s thoughts, Su Zhi couldn’t help but let a hint of amusement show in his eyes.
’He wasn’t actually lying. He really had only studied a little harder than usual...’
His perfect score on the Beast Taming theory exam was actually related to his preparation for the city league tournament a while back.
Back then, Liu Junpo had Su Zhi submitting and revising skills every single day, nearly driving him mad.
To pass muster with his senior’s sharp eyes, Su Zhi had pushed himself to the limit. He was constantly poring over research papers from the official websites of various Beast Taming Universities, and had even read through a few low-security official papers from the Divine Strategy Alliance.
At first, it was agonizing. He could barely read two lines without wanting to find a Yellow Earth Wall to smash his head against... but eventually, Su Zhi could just about manage to follow the masters’ lines of reasoning.
Over time, Su Zhi actually developed a habit of reading these papers, and would browse through a couple whenever he had free time.
So when he faced the theory questions on the exam, he was actually caught off guard: ’I can’t believe it’s this simple...’
"Woof!" Yu Bao wagged his tail energetically again.
’The points are allocated, the test is done, so now it’s time to train a new skill.’
Lately, Su Zhi had been making him consolidate his Sand Manipulation Technique, which made Attribute Points come in so slowly. The thrill of rapid progress he’d felt at the beginning was gone.
"Sometimes, what looks like the best option isn’t always the best one."
Su Zhi said earnestly. "A skill like the Sand Manipulation Technique is something the Desert Swans master over long periods of flight. If you don’t train it with high frequency in the early stages, all your previous effort could go to waste."
"Mmm," Yu Bao nodded in agreement.
The Sand Manipulation Technique was indeed unlike his other skills. It was closer to an "instinct," and its Skill Level rose very slowly, pouring a bucket of cold water on Yu Bao’s attempts to grind its proficiency to Tier Two in a single day.
However, with his recent practice, he had become more and more proficient. He could now achieve stable, long-term levitation or short, quick bursts of speed.
He believed that in the near future, he could get the Sand Manipulation Technique to Tier Two!
"They’re here."
Though he was sitting in the shade of a tree, Su Zhi’s eyes brightened.
Not far away, a girl with white hair and blue eyes was jogging toward him. She was wearing the summer school uniform today—a short-sleeved top and skirt in a blue and white color scheme that fluttered in the wind, outlining her gentle curves and making her seem vibrant and full of life.
"Thanks!" Shao Ya snatched the unopened bottle, twisted it open, and took a big gulp.
Su Zhi shook his head and chuckled. "Not very ladylike. Be careful, or no one will want you in the future."
"Wouldn’t that be perfect?" The girl winked her right eye.
The two of them shared a knowing smile and fell silent, then got up and walked toward the school exit together. The person he was waiting for had arrived, so there was no need to linger.
"Did the exam go well?"
"Yeah. Judging by the expressions on Principal Yan and the others, I don’t think I’ll fail."
"Pfft! You can tell just from their expressions..."
"What about you? How’d it go?"
"What do you think? The person ranked first in our year doesn’t have to worry about failing, of course."
Shao Ya covered her mouth and giggled. Taking advantage of his distraction, she crept closer and suddenly leaned her head in. "Have you noticed anything different about me?"
"Oh?" Su Zhi looked at the girl.
Observed up close, her small, delicate nose and lively eyes seemed even more beautiful. Her white hair stirred gently in the wind, giving her a magical aura.
Su Zhi glanced around her and saw Yu Bao looking about curiously.
Su Zhi: "...Did you eat Xiaoyue?"
"Bullshit!" Shao Ya gave him a solid punch.
Immediately after, a silver Beast Taming Light Array lit up beside the girl. Xiaoyue emerged from it calmly, looking regal and elegant.
’I am Xiaoyue. Supremely noble, inviolable, looking down upon all mortals.’
"Huff huff~" Yu Bao scooted closer.
"..." Xiaoyue sighed.
Su Zhi looked at Shao Ya, surprised and delighted. "Your Beast Taming Space is Tier Two now, too?"
"Mhm, after I finished my Meditation last night, I suddenly realized I’d reached Tier Two."
Shao Ya blinked mischievously. "Unlike a certain someone who passed out for an entire afternoon and had nightmares~"
Su Zhi nodded, the corners of his mouth turning up. "Yeah. Congratulations!"
"Oh, right. You’re going to the Common Defense Alliance summer camp the day after tomorrow, aren’t you?"
Shao Ya seemed to recall something else and gazed at the distant horizon. "If I remember correctly, you’ll be gone for about a week. Including travel time, that’s even a bit longer than the city league tournament..."
Su Zhi answered instantly, "I’ll be sure to pack my own toiletries this time."
The girl covered her mouth with her hand, giggling and bending over slightly.
"So, what else?"
Su Zhi paused. "What... what else?"
"There will be students from many good schools at the summer camp, so you have to seize the opportunity to expand your network! Don’t just keep to yourself.
"But you also have to be careful how you socialize! If they offer you cigarettes, you’re not allowed to smoke. You can drink a little alcohol, but not too much, and don’t mix liquor with beer.
"And, if there’s a conflict, we should be modest, but if it’s something intolerable, you absolutely can’t put up with it. You have to hit them back hard..."
Shao Ya counted off the points one by one on her fingers.
Su Zhi tilted his head, watching her bright white hair flutter in the wind. There was a hint of resigned amusement in his eyes, but mostly, just warmth.
Shao Ya nagged him about so many things.
The thought of being away for seven days without hearing her nagging suddenly made Su Zhi not want to go anymore.
"Alright, I’m done," Shao Ya said, wiggling all ten of her fingers. "Can you repeat it all back to me?"
Su Zhi put a hand to his forehead in resignation. "Who could possibly repeat all that..."
"Sigh, you really make me worry, Su Baby," Shao Ya sighed fretfully.
Then, she suddenly lifted her head. Her sapphire-blue eyes, catching the sunlight, shone as brightly as jewels.
"Guess there’s no choice. I’ll just have to keep looking after my Su Baby at the summer camp, too," the girl said with a radiant smile.
Su Zhi froze for a second. "You too?"
"Yep. I went through the special recruitment channel for campers, so I didn’t take up one of Huai City’s slots~ I’ve already been approved!"
Without realizing it, the two of them had been talking the whole way back to the foot of their two apartment buildings.
"See you at summer camp!"
The girl suddenly gave him a fierce hug, then bolted away in a flash.
Su Zhi stood there dumbfounded, his brain completely shut down.
In that moment, summer arrived for the boy first.
·
Huai City Municipal Pet Beast Hospital.
In a hospital room of soft, clean whites, 004 floated in place, full of anxiety. Her pale pink eyes were fixed on Fang Yuan, who stood to the side.
Just like the previous seven days, the doctor used several instruments she had never seen before to scan her body.
The doctor put away the instruments. "Alright, I think we have some results."
Fang Yuan nodded, gave 004 a look indicating she could rest, and then left the room with the doctor.
The room contained a hibernation pod specially designed for Pet Beasts, with sleep-aiding effects comparable to a Tier Two Beast Taming Space,
But 004 was in no mood to lie down in it. She floated cautiously to the door of the hospital room and pressed herself against it.
The voices of Fang Yuan and the doctor drifted in from outside...
Fang Yuan: "What’s the current situation?"
Doctor: "The Nether Flame Body is recovering well. Basic training should be fine. But if you’re thinking about competitions, I still wouldn’t recommend it at this stage."
Fang Yuan: "So you’re saying she can’t handle her previous level of intensity, is that right?"
Doctor: "That’s right. If her previous training regimen was really as you described, she can’t even handle half that intensity, let alone the full amount."
"I see."
’It’s not like that! I can train!’
004, huddled behind the door, scratched at the frame with her claws, on the verge of tears from anxiety.
Just then, the doctor’s voice came from outside again. "I still recommend you take a trip to that Pet Beast Breeding Base she used to be at."
Fang Yuan: "Is it really necessary to go?"
Doctor: "It’s your choice. If you don’t think it’s necessary, you don’t have to. But I’d strongly advise you to consider it."
Fang Yuan: "Alright, I’ll go tomorrow..."
Hearing this, 004 froze, her body trembling slightly.
"CREAK—"
Fang Yuan opened the door.
hurriedly scrambled back and, in her carelessness, tripped over a piece of medical equipment, nearly falling to the floor.
She quickly stood at attention, trying to make herself look more dependable.
But the more she felt this way, the more she messed things up.
The doctor laughed. "See what I mean? In her current state, it really is quite necessary for you to take her back to the Breeding Base."
Fang Yuan nodded. "You’re right. I understand. Thank you, Doctor."
"You’re welcome~"
The doctor left the hospital room. The room fell silent, with only the tamer and his pet looking at each other.
"You probably heard what the doctor said just now, right?" Fang Yuan said calmly, picking up a plastic bag from the bedside table, taking out a Red Oak Nut, and handing it to 004.
took the Red Oak Nut with both paws and nodded, her body still trembling slightly.
"Good. As long as you know."
It was lunchtime, so Fang Yuan went to get his meal as usual. "In that case, let’s go to the Breeding Base this afternoon."
The door slammed shut with a BANG.
DRIP. DRIP.
Tears wet the floor.
forcefully shoved the Red Oak Nut into her mouth. The fruit was distinctly sweet with a hint of spice, but to 004, it felt like swallowing knives, making it impossible to get down.
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