Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

But now, she was called to the principal’s office, only this time, she was drinking tea with the principal of the top-ranked Beast Taming High School in Hanggang City.

Qiao Sang sat in her chair, staring at the hot tea in front of her, momentarily lost in thought.

"Qiao Sang, what do you think of my proposal?" Wang Weidou asked, holding his tea and leaning back in his chair with a smile.

If it had been someone else asking, Qiao Sang would have answered without hesitation: Not interested.

But this was the big boss of her current school, so Qiao Sang had to be a bit more careful in her response.

To be honest, she didn’t understand the principal’s thinking. Why on earth would he suggest that she compete in the national campus beast mastering league’s senior division?

It was like playing a game where the final rewards were the same no matter which difficulty mode you chose.

Why would she go for the hard mode instead of the easy one? She wasn’t foolish.

Qiao Sang carefully chose her words and replied, "I don’t think I have the strength to compete with the seniors just yet."

Hearing this, Wang Weidou nearly choked on the tea he had just sipped.

That’s not what you were like at the opening ceremony today!

At first, he’d dismissed the idea, but after seeing her Flame Hound not only had the Blaze trait but could also use the advanced skill Meteor Rain, his interest in having her defeat Ding Yanjing was rekindled.

Ding Yanjing was a senior now. If they missed this national league, there would be no more chances to bring him down a peg.

In his view, Qiao Sang had a real shot at beating Ding Yanjing.

Even if she lost, she could still compete in the national league next year. With her skills, securing first in the province as a junior wouldn’t be difficult; it would just be delayed by a year.

He had assumed that Qiao Sang, given her high-profile, competitive attitude at the opening ceremony, would agree without a second thought.

Yet she was willing to downplay her abilities just to turn him down…

Wang Weidou set down his cup and asked, "Do you know why I suggested you participate in the senior division?"

Qiao Sang shook her head.

"It’s because I believe you have the skill." Wang Weidou said seriously.

Even if you say that, I’m still not going… Qiao Sang replied modestly, "I’m only a bit better than others my age."

"Students your age don’t evolve their Fire fang Dogs into entirely new forms, nor do they teach low- and mid-level beasts advanced skills." Wang Weidou remarked with a smile.

"Just lucky, I guess." Qiao Sang responded with a smile of her own.

So young, yet as difficult to handle as Liu Yao… Wang Weidou sighed and added, "There is actually a very important reason I want you to join the senior division this year."

Qiao Sang took on a look of focused attentiveness.

"You know about Litan Beast Taming High School, right?" Wang Weidou asked.

Qiao Sang nodded.

"Among their senior students is Ding Yanjing. Whenever he wins a match, he doesn’t stop at that, he makes sure his opponent surrenders of their own accord. Otherwise, he tortures their beast on the field until they do."

Wang Weidou sipped his tea and continued, "One of our students faced him in a match, and his beast was tormented so badly that he ended up quitting the school team afterward."

"I thought you might have a shot at beating him. If you could win against him in his last national league, that would be ideal. But even if you don’t, with your skills, you can show him that our students aren’t pushovers."

Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned. Torturing beasts? That twisted?

"But if the beast hasn’t fallen, how could they surrender? And if the beast does faint, the referee declares a winner, right? How could he continue to torment it?" Qiao Sang asked, puzzled.

Was this Ding Yanjing guy knocking his opponents down and healing them over and over? Qiao Sang couldn’t help but wonder.

Wang Weidou didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled out his phone, opened a video, and pushed it across the table toward Qiao Sang.

"Watch this." He said gravely.

Qiao Sang looked down at the screen.

It was footage of a match.

In the video, a Hunshi Bear was entangled in green vines, swaying unsteadily, clearly in bad shape, then knocked out by a green energy ball.

Just as the referee stepped forward to start the countdown, a small beast, green in color with a round, milky-white tuft on its head and holding a stalk of foxtail grass in its right paw, trotted up to the Hunshi Bear.

The camera zoomed in.

"Will you surrender?" A boy in the Litan High uniform asked.

The video cut to the contestant from Shengshui High School.

Thanks to her improved memory, Qiao Sang recognized him right away as one of the 200-plus competitors she’d faced today.

Of course, a big reason she remembered him was that his method of waking up the Hunshi Bear using food was unforgettable.

Xue Chuhua stood there with a dark expression, saying nothing.

Seeing this, the boy in the Litan High uniform commanded, "Tail Grass, wake it up!"

The referee hadn’t finished the countdown. The beast, Tail Grass, quickly placed the foxtail under the bear’s armpits, tickling it. Then it moved to the bear’s soles, scratching away.

Soon, the Hunshi Bear awoke.

The referee declared the match continued.

Qiao Sang: …

Wang Weidou spoke up at just the right moment.

"The beast was already hurt, but he kept tickling it awake, forcing it to laugh despite the pain. For a beast, that’s pure torment."

Qiao Sang understood.

Though it seemed comical, imagining a creature laughing helplessly, worsening its injuries from the effort, that was torment, both physically and mentally.

Wang Weidou smiled kindly.

"Now you know why I wanted you to compete in the senior division this year. Don’t feel pressured. Whether or not you go is your choice, and I’ll respect it either way."

Qiao Sang thought for a moment and replied, "Principal, this is a big decision. I’ll need to discuss it with my mom."

"Good! Good!" Wang Weidou’s face lit up.

In his mind, once a parent heard that the principal himself was encouraging their child to participate, they would surely agree.

After all, he was the principal!

Just pacify the principal with her mom as an excuse, then say her family disapproves, and he won’t press her… Perfect! Qiao Sang’s smile deepened.

---

After leaving the principal’s office, Qiao Sang managed to sneakily get Water Luriana out of the fountain and into her bag, only to be ambushed by a group.

It took half an hour to shake them off and get out of the school.

She’d only walked a few steps outside when she heard the familiar sound of the class bell. Qiao Sang felt instantly elated.

One perk of being on the school team was no evening self-study sessions!

Her good mood was short-lived, however, as a familiar voice called out.

"Lu lu."

Startled, Qiao Sang quickly rotated her bag 180 degrees to the front.

"Why did you poke your head out?" She asked in a hushed voice.

"Lu lu?"

Water Luriana’s ears twitched as she looked shy.

Where was that annoying guy?

Qiao Sang blinked, then said with realization, "Oh, you’re asking why we’re not home yet? Starting today, I have school. I might be a little later getting back."

Water Luriana: …