16: I want to be a salted fish
As
a newly rich family in Jianghuai City, the Zhao family, especially Zhao
Xingrong, had always been proud.
Not
to mention the luxurious lifestyle on the surface; the most important thing was
that no matter where she went, others would look up to her, treating her
politely.
Until
Zhao Xingrong entered the First High School of Jianghuai City, the best
provincial key high school in the entire Jianghuai City.
Only
then did Zhao Xingrong realize that in the same school, in the same grade,
there were still many people with wealthy backgrounds like hers.
Some
of these people had good relationships with her, while others were like water
and fire.
Among
them, Song Yu and Huang Jiayan were the two people she used to dislike the
most.
The
former was not worth mentioning, but the latter was truly a deep-seated enemy!
She
could overlook being outperformed in academic performance, but not long after,
Huang Jiayan snatched away the senior that she had secretly admired!
Moreover,
Huang Jiayan didn't cherish him, causing the high-performing senior to only be
admitted to a second-tier university in the end!
Of
course, these were not the most important things! The crucial point was that
this woman dared to splash dirty water on her brother?!
How
could she endure that?
If
she didn't knock out the two big front teeth of the Huang family's surname, she
wouldn't be surnamed Zhao!
Left
hook, right raised leg...
The
military boxing taught by the school was thrown by Zhao Xingrong with great
momentum.
Zhao
Xingrong kicked with her right foot, viciously hitting Huang Jiayan's calf.
Then, she grabbed Huang Jiayan's right arm, raised her hand for a hook punch,
and just as it was about to hit Huang Jiayan's abdomen...
"Swoosh,
swoosh, swoosh!"
Suddenly,
three figures rushed over from the side!
The
angry brain instantly sobered.
Unconsciously,
Zhao Xingrong's arm slowed down by half a beat, and she immediately thought
that things were bad.
Finished!
How could she forget the warning in the school broadcast?
What
did the broadcast say just now?
—Fighting
for the Beasts on the scene is not allowed!
—Violators
will be banned from raising Beasts for life and prohibited from participating
in the college entrance examination for ten years!
Zhao
Xingrong: "??!!"
Oh
no! How did she forget that fighting would result in a ban from the college
entrance examination and raising Beasts?
Three
figures rushed over, making quite a commotion.
Huang
Jiayan also saw the three people with the corner of her eye.
The
three figures approached them, getting closer and closer...
Twenty
meters, ten meters, three meters...
"Swoosh!"
Zhao
Xingrong and Huang Jiayan, both released their hands, which were grabbing each
other's hair and collars. They both cursed in their hearts.
"What's
wrong with you two?!"
"Did
you just fight for the Beasts?"
"Show
me your ID cards, come with me to the isolation area. You two won't need to
participate in this year's initial Beast contract, and your grades will be
recorded as zero!"
The
education bureau staff had a serious face, raised his hand, and asked Zhao
Xingrong and Huang Jiayan for their ID cards.
Zhao
Xingrong and Huang Jiayan, like twin sisters possessed by spirits, instantly
had a tacit understanding.
Both
covered their shoulder bags, shook their heads simultaneously, and said in
unison, "Teacher, we were just playing! We didn't fight for the Beasts!"
Zhao
Xingrong forced a smile, put her left hand, which had just grabbed Huang
Jiayan's hair, on Huang Jiayan's shoulder, pretending to be intimate,
"Teacher, look at our good relationship. We used to be best friends in
school. We often practiced in physical education class and just happened to do
it. Teacher, we really didn't fight for Beasts."
Huang
Jiayan fake-smiled, using the right hand that had just punched Zhao Xingrong's
cheek to tightly hug Zhao Xingrong's slender waist, "Teacher, we really
just casually practiced a bit. Who knew everyone would misunderstand... Look at
our good relationship, how could we possibly fight? My grandfather and her
grandfather have a great relationship; they're old friends."
Education
Bureau Staff: "..."
Hey
hey hey! Don't treat me like a blind person!
Those
panda eyes you have from being beaten by each other don't match your words!
The
education bureau staff lifted his eayelids,
swept his gaze, and even saw several clumps of hair on the grass, torn off in
different colors.
"Cough!"
The
education bureau staff cleared his throat, preparing to take the two away and
announce that they wouldn't have to take the college entrance examination for
the next ten years.
However,
two other school teachers nearby glanced at each other, then quickly grabbed
the education bureau staff.
Teacher
A whispered, "Sir, you know, kids nowadays have it tough. They've been
going to school and studying since the age of 6... Punishing them so severely
all of a sudden, isn't it a bit too much?"
Teacher
B quickly nodded, "Yes, yes, you see, these two kids are fine. They didn't
lose any limbs or need to go to the hospital. Punishing them with a 10-year ban
on the college entrance exam will ruin their future, won't it?"
The
education bureau staff raised an eyebrow, somewhat moved but still standing
there without saying a word.
Seeing
this, Zhao Xingrong and Huang Jiayan hurriedly approached, pleading and
expressing that they really didn't fight for the Beasts.
Seeing
the situation, Teacher A lowered his voice and pleaded again, "Sir, you
don't know, this girl with dyed yellow hair is one of the few A-level Tamer
Space owners in our school this year. It's a pity if she can't become a
professional Tamer."
Teacher
B added, "I heard that the level of the high school students in the
neighboring Jiangzhou City is strong this year. In case there's a youth Tamer
competition between the two cities in the future, if it falls short by just a
bit, wouldn't that be a loss? We're considering the future of Jianghuai
City."
The
two teachers from Jianghuai City High School spoke one after another, finally
persuading the education bureau staff, who decided to give these two another
chance.
However,
since they fought, there had to be a punishment.
"After
today's event, the two of you will stay and clean the playground together until
it is fully restored tonight."
The
education bureau staff stared at them and said seriously, "Since you have
the strength to fight, you should have the strength to clean and take out the
trash, right?"
Zhao
Xingrong: "..."
Huang
Jiayan: "..."
The
two of them silently looked at the vast playground, with an area of fifty to
sixty thousand square meters, the size of six or seven football fields.
They
also looked at various basic facilities around - a small beach, a small forest,
a small desert, small rocky areas, and those trees that were five to six meters
high.
However,
if a tree fell during the cleaning of the playground, both of them would get
dizzy with a fractured rib.
It
was easy for teachers with Beasts to help, but what about them? Wouldn't they
die?!
Although
Zhao Xingrong and Huang Jiayan were eager to go back ten minutes and scold
themselves, 'Are you an idiot?', they still squeezed out a grateful smile on
their faces.
At
a young age, Zhao Xingrong and Huang Jiayan had already learned the exaggerated
and insincere courtesy.
With
a smile, they said in the sweetest tone, "Thank you so much, teacher. We
will definitely clean up properly!"
Both
of them: "We will make the playground spotless!"
After
a series of pleasantries, Zhao Xingrong and Huang Jiayan finally breathed a
sigh of relief. They remembered the most important thing now - the Beast
contract!
Even
though they both claimed that they didn't fight for the Beasts just now, the
main reason for the fight was, in fact, that Blood-Toothed Pig cub.
Thinking
of this, both of them quickly turned around and looked at the Blood-Toothed Pig
cub.
But
at this moment, they saw the little pig covered in green fur and blood-red
tusks, with shining eyes and a joyful nose, running happily towards a familiar
figure in the crowd!
That
person was - Song Yu!
And
in Song Yu's hands, she was clearly holding two items with extremely strong
attraction to Beasts!
Huang
Jiayan widened her eyes, "???"
Zhao
Xingrong shivered, "????!"
Damn!
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!
Huang
Jiayan was so angry that her face turned green!
Zhao
Xingrong was equally shocked and indignant.
What's
going on? Didn't we agree not to snatch? Did Song Yu use a trick to fool them?
She
trusted Song Yu so much before! This was too much.
Thinking
of how she had taken out the Green Feather Leaf earlier, and the other party
pretended not to know, she became even angrier!
The
two things in the other party's hands were obviously more attractive to the
Blood-Toothed Pig cub than the Green Feather Leaf.
Huang
Jiayan and Zhao Xingrong stomped their feet and ran towards Song Yu.
Both
of them were determined not to let Song Yu contract the Blood-Toothed Pig cub
before them.
But
they never expected that, on the other side, when Song Yu saw the Blood-Toothed
Pig cub running towards her, she widened her eyes, her buttocks felt like they
were on fire, and she turned and ran towards the area with other fire-type Beasts!
She looked more panicked than them, treating the Blood-Toothed Pig cub as if it
were a ferocious beast, even more anxiously than they were!
Huang
Jiayan: "..."
Zhao
Xingrong: "...?"
They
didn't understand, but they were greatly shocked.
*****
Seeing
several wood-type Beast cubs stumbling towards her.
Song
Yu was startled, handed the energy fruit to Song Qi, and grabbed her younger
brother, heading to the fire-type Beast area on the opposite side.
Song
Qi, full of confusion, subconsciously followed his sister.
But
after running for about a hundred meters, Song Qi grabbed Song Yu's arm and
frowned, "Sis, just now several wood-type Beasts came towards us. It means
the energy fruit and Hundred Flowers Honey have a great attraction to them. Why
run to the fire-type Beast area? Anyway, we can only contract one Beast today.
If you really like fire-type Beasts, you can wait until we go to the Beast base
next time to buy."
Song
Qi frowned and murmured softly, "Did the contracted beasts resist because
they felt a decline in their cultivation resources and were deceived?"
However,
on one side were high-talent, high-potential but disobedient contracted beasts,
and on the other side were ordinary-talent, obedient contracted beasts...
Song
Qi's mind couldn't turn around for a moment, and he couldn't figure out how to
choose.
In
fact, Song Qi, who had been led into the pit by Song Yu, hadn't thought about
it at all.
As
long as the training was proper, through about half a year of adaptation, most
contracted beasts, which were initially a bit naughty and disobedient, would
become obedient with proper command.
If
this didn't work, the contracted party could consider contracting a second Beast,
which was currently the mainstream method of contracted cultivation.
Song
Yu and the others stood still, attracting too much attention.
Especially
with Song Qi's nearly 1.9 meters of height and the bold white hedgehog head, it
was even more likely to catch people's eyes as they passed by.
Before
Song Qi could figure it out, the staff member who had let Song Qi and the
others in saw that they had stayed for too long and urged them like chasing
away chicks, "Hey hey hey! I said, little student, I let you in with good
intentions because you were delivering things to your sister. But now that
you've delivered them, why aren't you leaving?"
The
staff member continued, "Since you're not a senior student and haven't
awakened the Beast Space, don't stay here. Hurry up and leave with me!"
Song
Yu was surprised. They came in, and now they were being driven out?
Was
this a windfall from heaven?
If
she had known earlier that she could have the staff member kick Song Qi and the
others out of the field, she wouldn't have had to act so hard.
Afraid
that Song Qi would see the surprise in her eyes, Song Yu pinched her thigh to
dispel the smile that was about to overflow from her cheeks.
She
pretended to be full of righteousness, like a captain marching onto the
battlefield with guns and cannons. She patted Song Qi's shoulder like a
commanding officer, and with a solemn tone, she said, "Xiao Qi, go back...
I won't contract a Beast that doesn't value me as a person. I am different from
those who like to contract dozens or even hundreds of Beasts."
"Whether
their potential is high or low, as long as I contract them, I will
wholeheartedly nurture them, regardless of their aptitude!"
Song
Yu gestured grandly, speaking with a sense of righteousness, even convincing
herself, "Choosing a Beast is a mutual choice—only such a mutual bond between
human and beast is the most perfect combination!"
"The
evaluation of talent and potential is not important to me! Even if the road
ahead is difficult, we can still work together to break through the levels. But
if we can't be connected in heart and soul, share our destiny, and breathe
together after contracting, how can we be true partners?"
"If
that's the case... how am I different from those unscrupulous capitalists who
deceived ancient serfs into signing lifetime contracts?" Song Yu's words
sounded more and more like that, her eyes becoming red, and even she herself
was moved by her own grand and righteous speech.
Sure
enough, as she glanced at her younger brother from the corner of her eye, she
found him in a state of shock after hearing her speech.
Song
Qi stood in place with his mouth wide open, seemingly stunned by an earthquake,
unable to recover for a long time.
"Clap
clap clap clap!!!"
Applause
suddenly erupted.
That
staff member who wanted to drive away Song Qi began clapping, looking at Song
Yu with a smile, "I didn't expect such insight from such a young
student."
"Our
education bureau and the Beast Master Guild have emphasized mutual devotion and
bonds in recent years. We have been saying that there is no strongest
contracted beast in the world, but there is the most suitable contracted
beast." The staff member's gaze softened, sweeping over every high school
student present, and continued, "A suitable contracted beast, when
interacting intimately with the Beast Master, can greatly boost combat power
during cooperation. Conversely, the combat power may sharply decrease...
Sometimes it might even harm the Beast Master."
The
surrounding students who were eavesdropping with ears erect also felt that
these words were resonant.
Several
students who had extended their arms, eager to stuff fire-type energy ores
directly into the mouths of the contracted beasts, slightly stiffened their
backs. They quietly withdrew their hands, hiding them behind their backs, and
looked at Song Yu with admiring eyes...
The
staff member clapped and said loudly, "Only those who truly care about
their contracted beasts, treating them as partners, can gain their wholehearted
devotion!"
Song
Qi: "..."
Song
Qi silently looked around at the people present and then glanced at the
education bureau staff who were cheering for his sister.
He
was deeply immersed in reflection...
Was
it because he had treated contracted beasts as tools for future ascent before?
Ah~
Song
Qi felt deeply guilty.
He
decided that two years later, on the day of the initial Beast distribution, he
would learn from his sister!
And
he had to treat his contracted beast a little better, even better.
"Clap
clap clap!"
"Clap
clap clap clap!"
Suddenly,
someone in the crowd started clapping.
Many
students around looked at each other and immediately joined in clapping.
Some
even shouted out the words Song Yu had just said, whistling.
"Heart
to heart, shared destiny, and synchronized breathing!"
"Heart
to heart, shared destiny, and synchronized breathing!"
As
the applause surged higher and higher, and more and more students around joined
in, even many teachers and professional Beast Masters who had heard Song Yu's
speech also clapped, some even giving a thumbs-up to Song Yu.
Song
Yu: "..."
Song
Yu was bewildered and almost collapsed.
She
stood in the midst of the enthusiastic crowd, looking at the suddenly excited
classmates and teachers on the field, her eyelids twitching frantically.
No,
she just casually made up a story; how did it turn into this in just a few
minutes?
Teacher
Zhou Tao, the homeroom teacher, didn't know when he had stood next to Song Yu.
He pushed his glasses up his nose and sighed deeply, "I didn't expect that
after teaching for more than twenty years, I still can't understand you."
Song
Yu's throat was dry, "..."
No,
teacher, I was just making things up. I didn't expect you all to take it
seriously.
You
see, in the original novel, the male protagonist prefers to attract a large
number of high-potential Beasts by using various natural treasures and
spiritual materials.
At
least half of the contracted Beasts in the original novel had this situation.
But
in the end, he still broke through and became the strongest Beast Master in the
world!
So...
Fifteen
minutes later.
Song
Yu stood awkwardly in place, watching many classmates happily put away the
"money-making" natural treasures into their backpacks, storing them
in crystal boxes, and running happily to contract Beasts. Her eyes were
complicated, struggling to speak.
Could
it be that she accidentally misled these people? What if the potential values
of the contracted beasts are low?
It
shouldn't be. How did these simple words turn into such a situation?
What
Song Yu didn't know was that in this world without philosophy or political
thought classes, the phrase "Heart to heart, shared destiny, and
synchronized breathing" was truly inspiring.
*****
On
the other side.
Hearing
the applause and commotion, Bai Yuhan remained silent for two seconds...
He
silently put down his left hand that was just about to reach into his backpack.
In
his backpack was the intermediate-grade gold-element energy ore he had worked
hard to buy in the past few years, saving up two years' worth of wages.
"Do
you want to contract with me?"
Bai
Yuhan extended his fair and slender right hand towards a black little lizard
about thirty centimeters in size in front of him, earnestly explaining,
"Actually, although this gold-element energy ore can accelerate the
condensation speed of your gold-element abilities, your most suitable path
should be a body tempered through thousands of trials, like steel... If you
contract with me, even if you don't have the gold-element energy ore to eat, I
will sell this ore and buy many training tools for you to become
stronger."
"So,
do you want to contract with me?" Bai Yuhan paused for a moment, then
added earnestly, "I will treat you well in the future, just like my own
brothers and sisters."
The
little lizard with a dark appearance tilted its head and looked at Bai Yuhan,
blinking its eyes...
Just when Bai Yuhan thought he was about to fail, the little lizard wagged its tail, "Ya-hoo!" and jumped up, burying its head in Bai Yuhan's palm! It looked extremely cheerful.
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