Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

Qiao Sang was quite baffled by her first experience as a sparring partner.

Fortunately, after asking the receptionist, she found out that even if the sparring session ended early, her pay wouldn’t be deducted.

From this, it seemed that although the Hongying Beast Combat Club wasn't large, its system was quite humane.

---

Upon returning home, the first thing Qiao Sang did was summon Yabao.

"Yap!"

As soon as Yabao appeared, he joyfully nuzzled his head against Qiao Sang.

By now, Yabao had become accustomed to spending time inside the Beast Codex, but every time he came out, he was as excited as the first time.

Qiao Sang patted Yabao's fluffy head and casually said, "How about I take you to get your fur dyed?"

How could she suggest touching his handsome fur?

"But without a new look, it's hard for you to accompany me when I go out." Qiao Sang explained.

Back when Yabao was still a Fire fang Dog, people would instinctively keep their distance when they saw him on the bus.

Now, as an evolved Flame Hound, still a fire-type beast, his psychic abilities hadn’t spread widely yet, but people's attitudes had shifted 180 degrees. His popularity lasted longer than that of most newly-evolved beasts.

This was not only because the Flame Hound was the latest evolution of the Fire fang Dog but also because of his striking appearance.

When the other evolution of the Glittervine, the Witherthorn, had just emerged, most photos shared by netizens were taken from afar. In contrast, people were eager to take close-up selfies with the Flame Hound.

Sometimes, the world of appearance-based preferences can be quite realistic.

"Yal..." Yabao looked helpless. Does he really need to dye his fur?

"Xun~"

Just then, Little Treasure spread his paws, indicating that this wasn’t a big problem, even without dyeing Yabao’s fur.

"Yal." Yabao turned expectantly toward Little Treasure.

What could a little guy just over a month old come up with...

Qiao Sang raised her eyebrows and asked, "Do you have a solution?"

"Jie jie jie..."

Little Treasure didn’t answer immediately but instead covered his mouth, letting out a wicked laugh like a villain. There was a certain mischief to it.

Qiao Sang was stunned for a moment. She hadn’t expected Little Treasure to make such a sound.

After laughing for a while, Little Treasure called out to his Beastmaster.

"Xun xun~"

He wouldn't reveal his plan just yet, but they’d see it tomorrow morning.

Well, he even knew how to keep secrets now... Qiao Sang chuckled and said, "But you haven't been able to wake up early these days."

"Yap."

Yabao nodded in agreement.

Little Treasure’s expression stiffened.

"Xun..."

After a brief struggle, he called out, promising that he would wake up tomorrow morning for sure.

"Alright, I’ll see what you've got tomorrow."

Qiao Sang responded, though she wasn’t convinced Little Treasure would come up with anything good. But she still acknowledged it.

After that, she prepared to go to the bathroom to wash up before heading to bed.

"Xun xun!"

She had barely taken two steps when Little Treasure teleported in front of her, calling out.

Qiao Sang looked at it curiously and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Xun xun~" Little Treasure hesitated for a moment, then gestured toward his head.

Does she remember the game helmet she promised to let him play with?

Qiao Sang: ...

---

The next morning, when Qiao Sang woke up, she found Little Treasure awake. Not only that, but a black tic-tac-toe mark had been drawn on his left cheek with a marker.

Yabao was staring at him curiously.

At first, Qiao Sang thought Little Treasure had drawn the scar on his face for fun, until they went outside.

On the way to school.

Yabao walked proudly down the street, while Qiao Sang sat on his back, nearly moved to tears.

She never expected happiness to arrive so suddenly!

No need to dye his fur or change his look. Nor did she have to wait for the Flame Hound’s popularity to fade. Yabao could now walk openly and freely down the street.

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure didn’t stay invisible today. He perched on Qiao Sang’s head, occasionally making fierce faces at passersby who got too close.

None of the passersby dared to make eye contact and quickly hurried away.

Seeing this, Qiao Sang couldn't help but reflect. Why hadn’t she thought of this earlier?

Though Little Treasure didn’t look scary at all, the fact that he was a ghost-type beast was enough to keep people away.

Most people wouldn’t want to catch the attention of a ghost-type beast.

Wherever a ghost-type beast appears, except for professional Beastmasters, most people prefer to avoid them.

Little Treasure was quite clever...

With a pleasant mood, Qiao Sang began to enjoy the surrounding scenery.

Before long, a passing advertisement blimp caught her attention.

Qiao Sang looked up casually.

Before, she was always rushing and didn’t have time to pay attention to the blimp’s TV screens. But now, she could afford to look.

"We interrupt with a missing pet announcement. Last night at 20:12, a Crowned Meow went missing near Gubei Residence. Female, 35 cm tall, wearing a large, wavy straw hat and black cat-shaped sunglasses. The last surveillance footage shows it carrying a cheese-colored square bag."

"Its whereabouts are currently unknown. A reward of 200,000 alliance coins will be offered for accurate information, and 1 million alliance coins for its safe return. Contact Wang Yiding. Phone number..."

The blimp flew away gradually.

Qiao Sang, sitting on Yabao's back, was deep in thought. After a long silence, she asked, "Little Treasure, did you see that?"

"Xun!"

Little Treasure nodded enthusiastically.

He saw it! Someone nearby had sneakily taken a picture!

Qiao Sang muttered, "So, I wasn’t mistaken. The Crowned Meow that sparred with us yesterday was the same one just shown on the blimp..."

"Xun?"

Little Treasure tilted his head.

What was his Beastmaster talking about? He didn’t understand.

"So, I missed out on 1 million alliance coins yesterday..." Qiao Sang murmured to herself, dazed.

1 million... 1 million! Oh my god! What did she miss yesterday?!

Qiao Sang was screaming inside.

She knew it was strange for a Beastmaster to be so nonchalant, letting a Crowned Meow roam freely!

Turns out, it had run away on its own!

Qiao Sang felt her gut twisting in regret. Her previously cheerful mood had completely vanished.

Wait! Accurate information was still worth 200,000!

Qiao Sang snapped out of it.

She could still get 200,000!

Right, the contact was Wang Yiding. What was the phone number again...

Her brain kicked into overdrive, blood boiling with excitement.

She didn’t realize that her brain cells were unusually active, with several light spots gathering in her Beast Codex.

The scene in her mind began to rewind.

"...The last surveillance footage shows it carrying a cheese-colored square bag. Its whereabouts are currently unknown. A reward of 200,000 alliance coins for accurate information, 1 million alliance coins for its safe return. Contact Wang Yiding at 1390000..."

Just then, her phone vibrating broke her concentration.

Who the hell is calling at a time like this?!

Fuming, Qiao Sang angrily answered the phone.

"Who is this?"

"Hello, is this Miss Qiao Sang? I’m Wang Yiding. I received a tip that you sparred with a Crowned Meow last night at Hongying Beast Combat Club.

"That Crowned Meow is actually my pet. It ran away from home after we had a disagreement. During the sparring, did it tell you anything? Do you know where it went afterward?"

"Could you tell me? I’m really worried."

"Hello, Miss Qiao Sang? Are you there?"

"Hello? Hello?"