...

...

The night passed quietly. Sunlight snuck into the living room through a gap in the curtains.

Su Mao put on his beloved little pink apron and matching pink sleeve protectors. He pulled open the living room curtains, then pushed open his precious son’s door.

"Xiaoshu, time to get up... Huh?"

His eyes followed the motion up and down. "What are you two doing?" Su Mao asked, curious.

Su Zhi said blankly, "Training."

Yu Bao was practicing its Yellow Earth Wall. The Skill had reached Tier Two a long time ago, allowing it to be summoned multiple times.

However, under certain conditions—like when a heavy object was on top of it—the summoning speed would be a little slower.

To compensate for this weakness, Yu Bao had Su Zhi sit on the ground, then summoned the Yellow Earth Wall to lift him up.

And that’s what led to the current scene...

Su Mao nodded, filled with emotion. "In the future, when people ask me how my son trains his Pet Beasts..."

’How nauseating...’ Su Zhi stuck his tongue out.

As his gaze fell upon Yu Bao, who was tirelessly controlling the Yellow Earth Wall, a smile crept into Su Zhi’s eyes. "Alright, Yu Bao. The competition is tomorrow. Let’s take a day off today. No more training."

"Woof," Yu Bao whined, sitting on the floor with an eager look in its eyes.

It still felt there were many areas where it could do better. The more it felt this way, the more anxious it became, and the more anxious it became, the more it wanted to train...

"You’re caught in a vicious cycle," Su Zhi said with a helpless smile.

"But that’s actually a good thing. It means you’re constantly improving. The day you feel you’re nearly perfect is when you should really start to worry.

"The City League is designed so that contestants can’t be fully prepared. It’s a test of who has the nerve to win in a head-on clash.

"Try looking at it from another angle. You feel you’re not good enough in many areas, but other Pet Beasts have plenty of weaknesses too. Everyone’s at the same stage. Even if some are talented, how much of a lead can they really have?

"So don’t worry. You just need to ask yourself: have you made the most of every single day up until now?"

"Woof-arf!" Yu Bao nodded without hesitation.

When it came to effort and perseverance, it had absolute confidence.

"Then there’s no problem. We’ve done the best we possibly can, and the results definitely won’t let us down."

Su Zhi gave Yu Bao’s head a vigorous ruffle.

"Come on, let’s go eat... food?"

Before Su Zhi could finish his sentence, Yu Bao had already cheered up and, Bling Bling, dashed toward the dining room...

Breakfast was especially lavish.

Su Mao had made freshly ground soy milk, fried an egg for both Su Zhi and Yu Bao, and drizzled them with the aged Zilin vinegar unique to Shanyou Province.

The main dish was potstickers, pan-fried to a golden brown on both sides. One bite revealed distinct corn kernels and a fragrant pork filling.

"Xiaoshu will be gone for a long time, won’t he?"

Wang Sujuan picked up a shrimp dumpling, her gaze reluctant to let him go.

"When they grow up, they eventually have to leave the nest and fly."

Su Mao sighed as well.

Su Zhi broke out in a sweat. "No, I’ll only be gone for a few days..."

To ensure the well-being of the contestants during the competition and to prevent any possibility of cheating, all participants in the City League were required to stay together in apartments designated by the event organizers.

Once the tournament was over, the contestants could go home.

Listening to his parents’ tone, Su Zhi felt as if he were about to leave for college in another city... 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Wang Sujuan smiled sweetly. "Even if it’s only a few days, I’ll still miss you. You’re my precious treasure; how could I not worry over you?"

Su Zhi subconsciously started eating a little slower.

Yu Bao tilted its head curiously.

’This food is so delicious, could it be that Su Zhi doesn’t like it?’

’Then he can give it to me...’

"But just like your father said, it’s fine to fly for a few days. Yes, go on and fly!"

Su Zhi nodded, still not speaking, and quietly finished his breakfast.

"I’m off!"

"Do your best!" "Stay within your limits!"

His parents spoke at the same time, but with conflicting advice.

"..." "..."

Then they glared at each other.

"We’re supposed to be cheering Xiaoshu on! Can’t you show a little more spirit? What’s this ’stay within your limits’ nonsense?"

"Winning a championship has always been a matter of mysterious luck. Maybe if I jinx it, it’ll have the opposite effect and he’ll actually win..."

The couple started bickering again in low voices.

The corners of Su Zhi’s mouth turned up. He quietly closed the door and left with Yu Bao.

At the entrance of the apartment building.

A young woman stood quietly in the open space in front of the building. Her brilliant white hair, which usually hung loose, was tied up in a high ponytail today.

Shao Ya was wearing cool denim shorts and a white short-sleeved shirt. Her high-top canvas sneakers and white socks made her legs look bright and slender. The sight of her with a backpack on and pulling a suitcase wasn’t cumbersome at all; instead, she looked full of youthful energy.

Xiaoyue was lying on the suitcase, sprawled out into a puddle that covered the entire surface.

Looking down from its high perch at the dumb little dog, the Cultivation Cat’s lips curled upwards.

’I’m holding the high ground today. You can’t stick to me now, can you?’

"Woof~"

Yu Bao wagged its tail happily, summoned a Yellow Earth Wall, and lifted itself to the same height as Big Brother Xiaoyue.

’Skills change lives!’

Xiaoyue looked resigned. It had no choice but to sit up and cede the other half of the suitcase to its little brother. It would be even worse if the dog decided to lie on top of it.

"Why aren’t you trying to scare me today?"

Su Zhi took the suitcase—and the two little guys—from her.

Seeing that Shao Ya was no longer the one pulling the suitcase, Xiaoyue got off.

When Yu Bao saw Big Brother Xiaoyue get off, it followed suit.

"I try to scare you every day, but it’s not like I’ve ever actually succeeded."

Shao Ya muttered under her breath. Seeing Su Zhi actually look thoughtful for a moment, the corners of her lips curled up slightly.

Then the two of them fell silent.

It wasn’t until they were on the subway that Shao Ya finally spoke leisurely:

"We have to stay for five days, you know. You packed so little. Are you planning to buy all your toiletries and stuff there?"

"Crap!" Su Zhi froze. "I forgot to pack them!"

"I knew it. You can’t remember anything except Beast Taming~"

Shao Ya sighed like a mother, then gave Su Zhi a little wink. "You should thank me! I happened to pack two of everything, so I can share a set with you."

"..."

Su Zhi realized something and turned his head away.

’She waited until we were on the subway to remind me I forgot my things. This wicked woman!’

"Oh, are you pouting now?"

"Hmph."

"There, there, Su Baby~"

"..."

·

As the highest-level high school tournament in Huai City, the City League was held at the Municipal Battle Arena.

The surrounding facilities—accommodations, restaurants, Pet Beast medical centers, and more—were all fully equipped, having been built specifically for hosting major competitions.

Even a small-time city like Huai City wouldn’t fall behind when it came to constructing facilities for Beast Taming competitions.

"I’m in 301. What about you?"

After finishing their registration, Shao Ya and Su Zhi each received their room keys.

"302." Su Zhi looked at his own number, a smile playing on his lips. "We’re right across the hall from each other."

"Woof!"

Yu Bao wagged its tail excitedly.

’Now I can see Big Brother Xiaoyue as soon as I wake up!’

Xiaoyue, on the other hand, lowered its head, the will to live draining from its face.

"I’m going to go tidy up my room first."

Shao Ya finished, then winked mischievously. "Want to come with?"

Su Zhi facepalmed. "I think I’ll pass on that..."

"Hahahaha. See you later, then!"

"Yeah."

After watching Shao Ya enter her room, Su Zhi prepared to go check out his own.

The moment he inserted the key into the lock, the door to the room next to his suddenly burst open—

"Su Zhi?!"

·

·