"Fang Yuan?"

Su Zhi blinked, seeing a cold-faced youth with an incredible expression pop out from the room next door.

"You live next door to me? What a coincidence, huh?"

Yu Bao also offered a polite smile: ⌓‿⌓

Fang Yuan stood stunned for a good while before finally snapping out of it. He quickly coughed twice, adjusting his expression back to its usual indifferent, deadpan mode.

"I heard... weren’t you treated unfairly and lost your spot in the city league tournament?"

"That’s right. And thanks to your old man, I lost my eligibility to compete as a student from No. 1 High School.

"Now, I’m competing as an independent participant. Your dad can’t touch me anymore."

Su Zhi’s tone was calm as he opened his own door and went into his room.

He had to admit, the accommodations provided by the city league were quite generous. The bathroom was clean, and the bed was spacious.

There was even a small arena by the bed for Pet Beasts to train and battle. The walls, floor, and ceiling were treated with a special process, durable enough for One-star Pet Beasts and below to go wild.

Even if he got knocked out in the first round, staying here for one night was a total win.

’Speaking of which, with a room this nice, what was Shao Ya even tidying up...’

Su Zhi looked around for a moment, then turned back to see Fang Yuan still standing there, his fists clenched.

"Something I can help you with?" Su Zhi glanced at him.

Although Fang Yuan naturally gave off a cold vibe, Su Zhi didn’t sense any malice from him.

Fang Yuan stared into his eyes. "I’m sorry. I apologize to you on behalf of my father."

"..."

Su Zhi turned and walked away. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

’Is that how you apologize?! If someone more timid were standing here, they’d be scared to tears just by his stare...’

However, just before he entered his room, Fang Yuan’s hand shot out and grabbed his wrist.

Su Zhi’s face paled. "What are you doing?!"

"Woof?!" Yu Bao’s expression turned priceless as it quickly sat down to watch the show.

"You still haven’t forgiven me, right?"

Fang Yuan stared into his eyes, enunciating each word. "Then come with me. I’ll treat you to something to eat!"

’Is that any way to invite someone to eat...’ Seeing Fang Yuan’s gaze, as cold and sincere as a hammer, Su Zhi’s mouth twitched, and he finally sighed.

"Fine, fine, fine. Let’s go, let’s go."

·

The two of them walked along the food street to the west of the Battle Hall.

Fang Yuan followed behind Su Zhi like a bodyguard.

Su Zhi walked in front, staring up at the sky and questioning his life choices.

The last time he was here was... well, the last time he was here, and he had been with Shao Ya. Then Cao Mingyu had popped out of nowhere.

This time, it was Fang Yuan who had popped out.

’Why do I always get targeted by weird guys?’

"Um, how about you just let me go?" Su Zhi turned his head and asked in a negotiating tone.

"I haven’t treated you to anything yet," Fang Yuan replied stiffly.

Su Zhi sighed. It seemed he wouldn’t be able to leave until he ate something.

In any case, the one thing the food street didn’t lack was food. Su Zhi looked left and right and randomly picked an oden stall.

"I’ll have this, this, and this."

Su Zhi casually picked two skewers, then nudged Yu Bao in his arms.

"Which one do you want? Don’t be shy. It’s not my money, anyway."

"...Woof?"

Yu Bao placed its paw on the compartment with the beef meatballs, looked back at Su Zhi, then at Fang Yuan, and gave it a tentative pat.

"Take them. You can have whatever you want," Fang Yuan said without any expression.

"Oh, I couldn’t possibly..."

And so, Su Zhi SWISH SWISH SWISH filled a whole container and brought it to the counter to pay.

Fang Yuan calmly scanned the code and paid.

Su Zhi looked at the 100+ total on the receipt, then at the unfazed Fang Yuan, and fell silent.

He was feeling the disparity in the world.

"Want anything else?"

"Nope, I’m good."

In fact, this one container was more than enough to last them the whole way back. The two humans and one pet left the oden stall and headed back the way they came.

Right in front of Fang Yuan, Su Zhi fiercely bit into a piece of tofu.

"See? I’ve eaten so much of your food. Now you have to believe that I’ve forgiven you, right?"

Fang Yuan looked at him. "You don’t have any other demands?"

Su Zhi: "..."

’Are all you rich people like this?’

"Woof?" Yu Bao looked left and right, then circled around Fang Yuan.

Su Zhi translated, "Yu Bao says it wants to play with your Pet Beast for a bit."

Fang Yuan refused. "No."

Su Zhi said with a deadpan expression, "Then I’ll stop eating, and I won’t forgive you either."

Fang Yuan immediately complied. A pale white Beast Taming Light Array lit up beside him, and the White Flame Battle Spirit appeared.

"..." Su Zhi suspected he’d found the correct way to handle Fang Yuan.

*[A weird piece of knowledge has been acquired.jpg]*

"PANT, PANT~"

Yu Bao held a skewer of spicy meat jerky in its mouth and offered it to 004.

He’d heard that White Flame Battle Spirits and Nether Flame Spirits were actually the same Race. Diya liked spicy food, so 004 should like it too.

"..." 004 didn’t take it. She subconsciously backed away a little and looked at her Beast Tamer.

After getting a nod from Fang Yuan, 004 took the spicy meat jerky and slowly put it in her mouth.

Her light pink eyes suddenly flew wide open.

She had only ever eaten formulated feed. She’d never had anything so delicious.

Yu Bao then nuzzled 004’s runic bracelet as a gesture of friendship. After all, she was a ball of fire, so that was the only spot it could really nuzzle.

didn’t dodge, but she also wasn’t as resistant as when she had first been summoned.

"There, our Pet Beasts have become friends now. I forgive you."

Su Zhi took out a skewer and handed it to Fang Yuan. "You have one, too. Since we’re friends, don’t be such a stranger."

Fang Yuan was a little reluctant, but he still took it and put it in his mouth for a bite.

"So, let’s just chat. For example, why is your Pet Beast named 004?"

"And why is your Pet Beast named Yu Bao?" Fang Yuan retorted gruffly.

Su Zhi answered without a second thought, "Because he’s my Treasure."

"Woof." Yu Bao scratched its head, a little embarrassed.

"Your turn," Su Zhi said, looking at Fang Yuan.

Fang Yuan looked at 004 and said, "I name them by number. She was the fourth Pet Beast I contracted, so she’s called 004."

"The fourth? Then what about the first three?"

"For various reasons, the contracts were terminated, of course."

Fang Yuan’s tone was calm. "For instance, suffering irreversible damage, or not showing a high enough potential. In short, they needed to be replaced."

floated quietly behind him. She was clearly a ball of fire, yet she gave off a feeling of complete stillness.

Su Zhi clenched his fists. After a long moment, he looked up and said, "Replacing Pet Beasts like that... what’s the difference between them and tools?"

"There is no difference."

Fang Yuan looked at him.

"Pet Beasts are not family, not friends, not seniors or juniors... That is merely a viewpoint imposed by people’s subjective emotions.

"A Pet Beast is a Pet Beast. A tool used by a Beast Tamer to achieve a specific goal. It has been this way since ancient times."

Su Zhi’s fists clenched even tighter. "Just because it has always been that way, does that make it right?"

"It is right for the majority, at least."

Having said that, Fang Yuan paused and came to a stop.

"My father believed you were a threat to my chances of winning the championship, so he used underhanded means to violate your rights.

"I apologize for his actions once again.

"At the same time, I do not believe you are a threat to my victory. If we meet in the arena, I will defeat you fair and square.

"Finally, as a friend, I’ll give you a reminder: pouring in emotion and deviating from tradition are both major taboos in Beast Taming. If you truly want to go far on this path, you should correct yourself as soon as possible."

Su Zhi didn’t comment on Fang Yuan’s advice, nor did he argue with him any further.

He just looked into Fang Yuan’s eyes, his own gaze just as frighteningly calm—

"See you in the arena."

·

·

Day four of writing 10k words a day. I had a fever today, no energy, and writer’s block. I gritted my teeth and forced out eight thousand words but just couldn’t write anymore, so I ended up using a Chapter from my stockpile.

But don’t worry, I should be back to normal tomorrow. I’m used to it. When you fight with fate, it’s inevitable you’ll get covered in scars~

In a couple of days, I plan to adjust to a schedule of two 3,000-word Chapters (15 Points) and one 4,000-word Chapter (20 Points) per day, because 2,000-word Chapters feel really restrictive. I can’t fit anything in, and they aren’t satisfying to read...