Free Web NovelChapter 47: Chapter 47: There’s Such a Good Thing?
Tuesday morning, Class 1410—
"Let me tell you, the principal held a meeting last night and criticized him. Said Brother Shu was a bad influence and they’re going to make an example out of him."
"The hell? For real?" fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"For real! I have a buddy who does logistics for the student council. He was at the door and overheard it."
"Are they nuts? That guy from No. 2 High was so strong, even Great Emperor might not have won. Brother Shu did his best!"
"Sigh, the school’s higher-ups only care about results! If you win, anything goes. If you lose, you’re the one with the problem..."
Early in the morning, a few well-informed students were already voicing their indignation on Su Zhi’s behalf.
It sounded utterly ridiculous that a student who was improving so quickly would be labeled as an example of improper conduct.
But at No. 1 High, this was also normal.
Just as the group was getting more and more worked up, Su Zhi and his deskmate walked into the classroom.
Su Zhi was glowing, practically floating as he walked, looking like something wonderful had just happened to him.
Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought he’d just gotten married.
Yu Bao trotted along behind Su Zhi, its steps even syncing up with his, creating an oddly cool rhythm.
Shao Ya, on the other hand, couldn’t seem to cheer up, her gaze toward Su Zhi filled with worry.
The students stared at each other, completely baffled.
’Brother Shu was the one who competed and lost yesterday, right?’
’So what’s he so happy about?’
’Did he bet on himself to lose?’
The two deskmates sat down one after the other.
Shao Ya picked up her light blue thermos and held out her hand to Su Zhi. "Yours!"
Su Zhi handed her a matching thermos with a puzzled smile. "What’s the occasion? Why’d you suddenly offer to get water for me today?"
"Cut the chatter. This is a one-time thing. I’m going now. Don’t go anywhere, okay? I’m off."
Shao Ya left, looking back every few steps.
Yu Bao tilted its head and looked at Su Zhi. "Woof?"
’The big sister doesn’t seem to be in a very good mood, does she?’
"She’s not in a bad mood," Su Zhi said, shaking his head with a helpless laugh as he watched the retreating figure with long, bright white hair. "She thinks *we’re* in a bad mood and need comforting..."
Yu Bao tilted its head again.
’Is it just because he lost the match yesterday?’
’The opponent was strong, so winning or losing was perfectly reasonable. Besides, he gained so much and learned a lot. No matter how you look at it, it was a huge win...’
"People don’t share the same joys and sorrows."
Su Zhi agreed, then smugly pulled up the attribute panel—
[Pet Beast: Yu Bao (Yu Dian Dog)
Power: 1.11
Agility: 1.34
Intelligence: 1.37
Constitution: 1.11
Perception: 1.45
Assignable Attribute Points: 0.00]
[Real-time Energy Value: 660]
’Look at these Attributes. Just beautiful.’
’This panel... every time I look at it, it feels so good!’
’Assigning points boosts Attributes, boosting Attributes helps with Skill comprehension, and Skill comprehension grants more points to assign...’
’Talk about pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps.’
Yu Bao’s Real-time Energy Value had correspondingly reached 660 points—this was already at the same level as Xiaoyue’s last Monday.
The higher the Real-time Energy Value, the stronger the Effect and duration of a Pet Beast’s Skills, and the better it could execute its Beast Tamer’s various tactics.
In two more weeks at most, Yu Bao would be able to surpass Xiaoyue.
’The rebellious little brother conquering the big brother—the day is near!’
Yu Bao was also full of fighting spirit now. After comprehending a few brand-new Skills, it would have more sources for Attribute Points.
Unfortunately.
It would be difficult to find a real battle anytime soon, and gaining points through training alone was very slow.
He only gained points quickly while learning those few Skills; once he mastered them, the points gain slowed to a trickle.
Yu Bao drooped its head, a little dejected.
Su Zhi rubbed the little guy’s head empathetically.
He deeply understood this frustration—having a massive power-up but no place to show it off...
Suddenly, a group of students wearing Elite class uniforms with red armbands walked into Class 10 and blocked the doorway.
Cao Mingyu entered last, his eyes scanning the room before finally landing on Su Zhi.
"Student Su Zhi, I am informing you in my capacity as Student Council President: you have violated the school code of No. 1 High. I will now initiate an arbitration match against you, effective immediately. Come with me to the Battle Hall now."
Immediately, someone protested:
"Damn it! Brother Shu worked his ass off fighting for the school, and this is what you do?"
"Calcium oxide your mom!"
"Where’s Old Ban? Go get Old Ban..."
The students of Class 10 protested fiercely, but ultimately yielded to the petty intimidation and Pet Beasts of the red-armband-wearers.
The student council was composed entirely of students from the Elite classes, precisely to ensure they had enough authority to enforce their will on the other classes.
Cao Mingyu knew that Su Zhi must be at a low point after his recent defeat, and that acting now was hardly honorable.
He was also dissatisfied with the school administration’s decision.
’But who told Su Zhi to be so unlucky?’
However...
Su Zhi shot to his feet, his eyes shining.
"So you’re saying you want to challenge me to a Pet Beast Battle?"
Cao Mingyu: "That’s right. This is mandatory. You have no right to refuse."
"That’s great!"
Cao Mingyu: "...?"
"Well, let’s go! We can go right now!"
Before Cao Mingyu could say another word, Su Zhi was already leading the way with Yu Bao.
Cao Mingyu was surprised for a moment, then composed his expression and signaled for the others to follow.
...
"Su Zhi, I have a question for you. Um, it’s a required procedure."
"What question?"
"Why is it that you lost the match, but you don’t seem to be in any pain?"
Cao Mingyu was a top student who had also visited and studied at powerful schools like Shanda University Affiliated School.
At those schools, students who lost even a minor sparring match were expected to act miserable and refuse to communicate with anyone.
Afterward, they would increase the intensity of their own training and their Pet Beast’s, not stopping until they had redeemed themselves.
The loser had to appear pained and motivated by shame, regardless of whether they actually felt that way... otherwise, they would be labeled as unmotivated.
"Why should I be in pain? I learned a lot from the match."
Of course, Su Zhi didn’t mention assigning points.
"I identified my own shortcomings and gained practical combat experience. With so much to gain, I should be happy."
Cao Mingyu raised an eyebrow. "What about winning and losing?"
"Winning and losing don’t matter."
"Is that so..." Hearing Su Zhi’s answer, an imperceptible trace of admiration flashed through Cao Mingyu’s eyes.
’A pure Beast Tamer, one focused on the match, on his Pet Beast, on improving, without caring about victory or defeat.’
’Such a person is a born Trainer, a perfect role model that hardly exists in reality.’
Although textbooks also preached that reflection and progress were more important than winning or losing, the ultimate evaluation criterion in their exam-oriented education system was results.
Everyone was, in essence, striving for rankings and grades. Cao Mingyu was no exception.
After all, that was the mainstream way.
And now, he had found a rebel, someone who defied the mainstream.
The corners of Cao Mingyu’s mouth tilted up.
As they reached the entrance of the Battle Hall, he made a welcoming gesture for Su Zhi to enter.
’So polite all of a sudden? Weren’t you trying to mess with me...?’
Though inwardly confused, Su Zhi walked without hesitation onto the lit arena. There, the student council’s referee and supervisors were already in position.
"Student Su Zhi, due to the negative influence caused by your series of actions that violated school spirit and discipline, the student council now initiates this arbitration match against you."
"In this arbitration match, your Pet Beast is not allowed to make the first move, and it is forbidden from using any Skills taught in the school curriculum..."
The referee read out the rules one by one.
The arbitration match was a competition to "rectify school discipline" in name, but in reality, it was just one-sided bullying.
Forbidding the target of the arbitration from using curriculum-taught Skills was intended to let the arbiter demonstrate the superiority of the standard syllabus.
With the disadvantage of moving second on top of having all standard-curriculum Skills banned, how could the target of the arbitration possibly win?
Cao Mingyu felt it was unfair to Su Zhi. He would have preferred to find a time for the two of them to have a proper, honorable match.
However, after hearing the rules, Su Zhi immediately nodded. "No problem, let’s get started!"
"Woof!"
Yu Bao also looked eager to give it a try.
’They really don’t care about winning or losing, only about progress and the match itself!’
Cao Mingyu’s gaze toward Su Zhi grew even more fervent.
"Then I won’t hold back."
A pale white Beast Taming Light Array lit up beside Cao Mingyu...
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