Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

Read at: /?m=1

-----

Little Treasure stuck out his tongue, looking bewildered.

“What’s wrong?” Qiao Sang asked, confused by the Crowned Meow’s actions.

“Crown, Crown.”

Crowned Meow pointed at Little Treasure’s tongue with its paw and then turned its head away in disgust.

Little Treasure was suddenly struck like a bolt from the blue, quietly retracting his tongue.

Although Qiao Sang couldn’t understand what Crowned Meow was saying, it wasn’t hard to guess its meaning from its actions and Little Treasure’s expression.

It was clearly disapproving of the "Lick" skill...

As a responsible sparring partner, Qiao Sang said, “If you can’t overcome this, no one will care what you think during a real battle. You might even encounter skills like Stomach Acid, Sludge Wave, and others.”

“You don’t know what the Stomach Acid skill is, do you? It’s when-”

“Crown!”

Crown Meow suddenly interrupted Qiao Sang before she could continue.

It raised its right front paw, signaling a pause, and then turned its head towards the bag on the spectator bench.

Its eyes glowed blue, and the bag opened, causing a stack of alliance coins to float out and land in front of Qiao Sang.

Qiao Sang’s pupils dilated as she stared at the stack of coins in shock for a few moments.

Could this be... bribery?!

“Is this for me?” Qiao Sang asked with a complex mix of emotions.

“Crown.”

Crowned Meow nodded.

Qiao Sang hesitated, “Just so Little Treasure won’t use Lick?”

“Crown.”

Crowned Meow nodded again.

Wow, this really is a bribe! My first time being bribed, and it’s by a pet... Qiao Sang worked hard to look away from the coins, standing tall and righteous as she said:

“Take the money back. I’m your sparring partner, and you’ve already paid for this session. Your goal here should be self-improvement, not avoiding challenges.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than the bag opened again, and another stack of coins flew out in front of her.

Qiao Sang: !!!

What kind of divine pet is this... Qiao Sang said with difficulty, “Just take the money away. I’ll make sure Little Treasure doesn’t use Lick.”

She feared that if she didn’t agree soon, Crowned Meow might throw even more money at her.

If this money had been given by Crowned Meow’s beast master, she would have agreed without hesitation, people eager to hand over money aren’t common, after all.

But this money came from Crowned Meow, and it clearly belonged to its beast master. If the beast master found out, there would undoubtedly be a heated discussion.

It’d be like a mischievous child spending their parents’ money on a pile of game cards at a corner shop.

Not only would the shopkeeper get scolded by the kid’s parents, but the incident might even make the news.

Besides, at least the corner shop gave the kid something, she had nothing to offer Crowned Meow.

“Crown.”

Seeing Qiao Sang agree, Crowned Meow nodded, used its psychic power to return the money to the bag, and signaled the battle to continue.

Qiao Sang let out a sigh of relief and turned to Little Treasure.

“Let’s skip using Lick for now.”

“Xun…”

Little Treasure pouted, still reeling from the blow.

Was his tongue really that disgusting?

If it wasn’t disgusting, why use it as a skill in the first place… Qiao Sang answered in her mind, but aloud she said, “I’ll let you play with the virtual helmet when we get back.”

“Xun!”

Little Treasure's spirits lifted instantly, and he looked at Crowned Meow with renewed determination.

Qiao Sang: ...

It seemed her previous suspicion was right.

Not only was Little Treasure addicted, but he was still thinking about it...

Crowned Meow, seeing Little Treasure’s gaze fixed on it, wasted no time. Its eyes glowed blue.

Little Treasure, who also possessed psychic abilities, was all too familiar with this move.

He vanished from his spot.

“Crown.”

Crowned Meow lost sight of its target and began scanning the surroundings cautiously.

In the next second, Little Treasure’s face appeared enlarged right in front of it.

“Crown!”

Crowned Meow jumped in fright, its fur standing on end, elegance shattered.

“Xun.”

Little Treasure grinned, his eyes glowing purple.

Qiao Sang’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly shouted, “Don’t use Hypnosis!”

“Xun?”

Little Treasure's purple glow faded as he turned his head in confusion to look at his beast master.

Qiao Sang suppressed the urge to tell the truth.

She couldn’t very well say that Crowned Meow was too weak and that his well-mastered Hypnosis skill would knock it out for the entire hour of sparring...

Just as Qiao Sang was thinking of how to respond, Crowned Meow finally realized something.

It couldn’t beat Little Treasure...

“Crown.”

Crowned Meow called for another pause.

It walked over to the phone recording the session, used its paw to delete the footage, then picked up its bag and walked gracefully over to Qiao Sang, placing the bag on the ground and pushing it forward with its paw.

“Crown.”

What is this supposed to mean... Qiao Sang was dumbfounded. Before she could speak, Little Treasure floated over to provide a live translation.

“Xun, xun.”

“Crown, Crown.”

“Xun, xun xun.”

“Crown.”

“...”

After three minutes of Little Treasure’s translations, Qiao Sang finally understood.

“You want to shoot a video where you beat Little Treasure, even though he can use teleportation?”

“Crown.” Crown Meow nodded.

“Why?” Qiao Sang didn’t get it.

“Crown, Crown.”

“Xun, xun.”

Little Treasure started translating.

Qiao Sang listened silently for a moment, then asked, “You’re saying your beast master wants you to learn teleportation and has devised some kind of cruel training regimen?”

“Crown!”

Crowned Meow nodded emphatically.

“So, you want to make a video proving you can defeat a teleporting pet without learning teleportation?” Qiao Sang continued.

“Crown!”

Qiao Sang couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for Crowned Meow.

Some beast masters don’t consider their pets' wishes during training, and it seemed Crowned Meow’s master was one of them.

Crowned Meow’s graceful appearance and the fact that it had come alone at night for training made Qiao Sang believe its story.

“Even if you show this video to your beast master, they’ll still make you learn teleportation.” Qiao Sang pointed out the harsh reality.

For psychic-type pets, teleportation was almost a must-have skill, very few beast masters would let it go.

Crowned Meow’s expression stiffened briefly, and then it pushed the bag forward again with its paw.

“Crown.”

This time, before Little Treasure Ghost could translate, Qiao Sang said, “I have a way to help you learn teleportation without it being exhausting. Want to give it a try?”

“Crown.”

Crowned Meow hesitated for a couple of seconds before nodding.

“It’s like learning to teleport by thinking about passing gas.” Qiao Sang picked up Little Treasure and added, “That’s how he learned teleportation.”

“Not only that, but Little Treasure taught another one of my pets teleportation in less than an hour.”

“Treasure!”

Little Treasure Ghost raised his head proudly.

Just when Qiao Sang thought Crowned Meow would be thrilled.

Without a word, Crowned Meow used its psychic power to loop its bag around its neck, turned, and headed for the door.

Qiao Sang was stunned.

This plot didn’t make sense!

Shouldn’t Crowned Meow be overjoyed to hear such an easy way to learn teleportation and immediately offer tuition? Then she could righteously accept the bag of money.

Why was it leaving?!

Just as Crowned Meow was about to exit, it suddenly stopped.

Qiao Sang breathed a sigh of relief. See? Her plot wasn’t wrong.

Crowned Meow turned around, its eyes glowing blue. Its sun hat, sunglasses, and phone floated up from the spectator bench, returning to their rightful places on its body.

Then, without looking back, it left Training Field No. 2.

Qiao Sang: ...

-----

-----