Chapter 57
Chapter 57: There Are Lots of Bad Classmates Outside, But Only I Truly Treat You Well
The next afternoon, Qian Qi arrived early at the Magic Beast Storage Room.
“Pick a blazing hound and put on the bite muzzle and leash,” Uncle Li said, placing the equipment in her hands. “Take it to Beast-Taming Plaza and walk it around a few laps first. Burn off some energy so it doesn’t snap at students during class.”
Qian Qi nodded eagerly and headed straight for Room 1.
She had a soft spot for this one. So much that she’d only ever named a single dog.
A Tu.
A unique name for a unique bond. That was love, right?
The blazing hound didn’t resist when it saw the muzzle and leash. Those things meant one thing: it got to go outside.
This cramped indoor space was slow torture. The blazing hounds could only slam themselves against walls to vent the rage simmering under their skin. To reduce damage, Uncle Li usually took a few of them out to Beast-Taming Plaza at dusk.
And if the muzzle went on, it meant there was “food” out there hoping to contract it.
A Tu was mid-snort when it felt a small hand land between its upright ears, stroking the bald top of its head.
The hand’s owner leaned close to its ear and whispered sweetly, like she was telling it the world’s saddest secret. “A Tu, there are lots of bad classmates outside. They only bully you, you know? Only I truly treat you well.”
The System popped up like it couldn’t help itself.
“Wow,” it said flatly. “For a contract, you’ll really do anything.”
“That’s straight-up manipulation.”
Qian Qi smiled and ignored it. She slipped the muzzle onto A Tu, clipped on the leash, and opened the barred door.
Outside, Uncle Li had brought several power-type awakeners. Each one was hauling a blazing hound like they were dragging a car with bad brakes.
Compared to them, Qian Qi’s leash might as well have been a ribbon.
When they saw her holding her blazing hound with zero effort, they all stared.
Qian Qi immediately put on a pained expression, patted A Tu’s side, and sighed dramatically. “Poor A Tu has been shedding lately. Depressed. Doesn’t even want to struggle.”
The others looked at A Tu’s patchy hide and nodded like it all made sense.
Ah. Dog depression. Tragic.
Only Liu Wang Da, who knew exactly who caused the shedding, stood there in silent agony.
Leaving the Magic Beast Storage Room, the blazing hounds dragged everyone toward Beast-Taming Plaza, thrilled by the open space. They sprinted the outer ring, howling like maniacs.
A Tu ran too, clearly ready to do ten full laps—
Until the leash snapped tight and yanked its neck back like the universe itself had said, absolutely not.
A Tu looked back.
Qian Qi had stopped, bent over, panting hard. She clutched its body for balance, gasping, “I—I can’t run anymore.”
This thing was fast as hell. Another second and she would’ve been dragged across the ground like a mop.
Two awakeners lapped her, laughing. “Hey, little classmate, push harder!”
“Yeah! We have a pre-class lap contest. Last place buys dinner tonight!”
Qian Qi froze.
Dinner?
For seven or eight grown men?
That would cost a fortune.
Slowly, she turned and stared at A Tu like it had personally threatened her wallet.
A Tu: ???
“Get down,” Qian Qi snapped, climbing onto its back. “I refuse to lose and go broke.”
A Tu tried to resist. It didn’t work. The strength gap was humiliating. Qian Qi shoved it flat, then swung the leash and slapped its butt.
Smack.
Her face went feral. “Charge, A Tu! Show some magic beast dignity—”
A Tu yelped and exploded forward.
A gust whipped past the awakeners. By the time they processed what happened, all they saw was Qian Qi riding a blazing hound, shouting, “Dei—giddyup!” as she vanished into the distance like a tiny black missile.
Liu Wang Da and the others stood there, stunned.
“Wait… why can she ride one?!”
They looked down at their own blazing hounds, temptation sparkling in their eyes.
They tried.
Their blazing hounds rolled and launched them into the dirt. Faces full of dust. Pride fully shattered.
They lay there, coughing, furious.
Unfair.
The Beast-Taming Department’s first-year practical class was the start of everything: choosing a magic beast, trying to build a relationship, lowering hostility. Only when a blazing hound stopped wanting to murder you on sight could a contract have any chance of success.
But compared to other academies, the Beast-Taming Department didn’t have many students.
The whole first year only had a bit over two hundred. It sounded like a lot until you realized plenty of them were repeat students—first-year lifers who’d been stuck for years.
As far as Qian Qi knew, you couldn’t advance to second year until you successfully contracted a magic beast and passed the related evaluations.
Some people failed for four years straight.
In front of each blazing hound, teachers gave explanations while groups of students watched.
“Classmates, today we’re observing E-rank blazing hounds,” one teacher announced. “Fire-element attribute. Their E-rank skill is Bite. Their attack power isn’t high, but their speed and agility make them dangerous in combat.”
A whole class ended up in front of Qian Qi and A Tu.
Someone recognized her immediately.
“Holy shit—Qian Qi? The big shot? Why are you here too?”
After her duel with the D-rank iron bear beast, student-recorded videos had flooded the campus forum. Most Beast-Taming Department students could recognize her on sight.
And when they saw the blazing hound beside her—quiet, obedient, barely even growling—the envy got louder.
“Why is hers so calm?”
“Mine’s trying to eat my face!”
“Wait… why is that one missing so much fur? Is it sick? Is that why it’s not fighting?”
Qian Qi stared at A Tu’s patchy body and guiltily patted its bald head.
It was just that during the race, she’d accidentally hit its balls. Once. Maybe twice. It wasn’t like she meant to.
She’d even asked Senior Su Xing Le. He said blazing hound balls were sturdy. Nothing would break.
A Tu shot her a look full of complicated despair.
Yeah, sure. They wouldn’t break.
But holy fuck, they hurt.