Chapter 58

Chapter 59: I’ll only tell you this, you must never…

The Beast Taming Teacher in the distance raised his hand to calm the excited students and called out: “Classmates, settle down.” He spoke loudly and warned them: “Even though this Flame Hound looks quiet, you must never treat them like ordinary dogs. Remember at all times that Magibeasts are fierce and violent. Even if they act friendly for a moment, it could be a trick.”

He added with a stern face: “Also, the belly is a Flame Hound’s weak spot. When you try to interact with them, do not touch their belly. A student broke that rule before and got his entire right leg bitten off.”

Before he could continue, the class exploded into noise again.

Someone pointed and shouted: “Whoa, look!”

Another gasped: “What is Qian Qi doing?”

A third blurted: “Didn’t you say we can’t touch a Flame Hound’s belly?”

The Beast Taming Teacher turned, confused, and saw the “fierce and violent” Flame Hound lying like a normal house dog. A long soft tongue hung from its toothy mouth, and its solid body had melted into a puddle on the ground. Only the tail kept slapping the floor in a steady rhythm as it let out excited awoo sounds.

The teacher stared and thought: [What in the world just happened?]

Under everyone’s gaze, Qian Qi knelt by the Flame Hound’s side. Her two small fists moved like she was punching a sandbag, going “hey,” “hup,” “thunk,” “clack” as she drummed on the Flame Hound’s belly. With every thump, the tail popped and wagged higher.

Even with all his experience, the Beast Taming Teacher could not help gaping. This was too outrageous. Why was the Flame Hound not going berserk under Qian Qi’s “attack,” and instead looked like it was loving every second? That should be impossible.

Students raised their hands and asked all at once: “Teacher, what is going on?”

Another said: “You said we can’t touch a Flame Hound’s belly.”

A third added: “Why can Qian Qi touch it? Is it because she is a Beast Tamer and this is her Contract Beast?”

A fourth frowned: “But I thought she was in Magiplants…”

The Beast Taming Teacher was curious too. He glanced at the other classes and saw those Flame Hounds still baring their teeth and acting vicious. That was how a Magibeast should look.

He walked over and said: “Hold on.” Then he asked Qian Qi, “Classmate, is this your Contract Beast?”

Qian Qi stopped what she was doing and looked up with wide, puzzled eyes as she answered: “No, why?”

The teacher hesitated, then explained: “Ah, you are not in Beast Taming or Magibeasts, so you might not know. The belly is a Flame Hound’s weak point. If you strike its belly, it will go berserk.”

But right now, under her hands, the Flame Hound was not mad. It was… pleased.

Qian Qi blinked and said: “Oh, you mean that.” She clicked her tongue, glanced around, and covered her mouth with her hand as she leaned closer to the teacher: “I will only tell you this, but you must not spread it.”

The teacher bent down right away to listen.

Qian Qi whispered with an air of mystery: “This Flame Hound is an M.”

The Beast Taming Teacher froze, then stared and thought: [What did she just say?]

Qian Qi lifted A Tu’s right hind leg, set the strap of her flip flop over a joint, and pressed. With a sharp crack, A Tu yipped with joy.

The teacher wiped his face and thought: [Well, I will be. It really is an M.]

He turned to the rows of hopeful faces and did not know how to answer. He could not exactly tell a class of students that this Flame Hound had special interests.

Seeing him stuck, Qian Qi felt a bit of kindness and offered: “Let me help you explain.”

She waved Old Master Li over to hold A Tu’s leash, then walked to the other class. One by one, she leaned in and murmured to each student: “Our A Tu has some special hobbies. Please do not spread it, and do not judge it.”

The teacher covered his eyes and thought: [So this was your plan? I thought I would be the only one to know.]

Later, after the Flame Hound demo, several students led their own Flame Hounds in through the north gate of the Beast Taming plaza. They were E rank Beast Tamers who had successfully signed Flame Hounds. They had been invited to teach those who had not yet signed a Beast Contract, sharing tips and experience.

One senior student explained with a serious tone: “There are no real tricks to getting along with a Flame Hound. Start with feeding from a distance. When it gets used to your scent and does not see you as a threat, use your Beast Taming Talent to send a Beast Contract request.”

He added: “But this method fails at least ninety nine times out of a hundred. Unless you are rich enough to buy Fire Qilin Fruit, then your chance goes up by maybe twenty percent.”

Hearing that, Qian Qi frowned, yanked out the System, and grumbled: “Did I get scammed?”

If Fire Qilin Fruit boosted success, then with her Magiplant skills, she could just grow Fire Qilin Fruit and sign a Flame Hound that way.

The System popped up with glittery text: [Wuli Qian Qian, do not listen to them. There are many bad classmates outside. They will only trick you, got it? Only I truly treat you well. ?v?]

Qian Qi squinted and thought: [Are you copying me now?]

The System finished that line and instantly went offline, faster than a rabbit.

Qian Qi sighed and thought: [Thanks. Trust between us minus one.]

While she was grinding her teeth, she felt the leash in her hand lift. She looked up and saw A Tu turning his head to fart at the Flame Hounds that had been contracted. Those Flame Hounds, bought with tiny snacks-pfah-shame of the dog circle.

Qian Qi tugged his leash and said, exasperated: “What are you showing off for? You will be my Contract Beast sooner or later.”

The words “Beast Contract” made the Flame Hounds twitch. Even if they could not understand human speech, some words stuck after hearing them enough times.

A Tu stretched his newly flexible body in a graceful arch and struck a pose no normal dog could pull off, as if declaring: “Even if I get contracted, I will be a cut above. I have evolved.”

He wagged and thought: [Come look, come look. See my flexible body. You do not have this, right? Hmph. I do.]

The contracted Flame Hounds gaped at the display, stunned for a long moment. When they finally processed it, they jerked as if waking from a dream, broke away from their Contract Masters, and sprinted toward A Tu.

In their eyes was one frantic question: [What is going on? Why has your body evolved? Why, why? Answer now. I am so anxious I could explode.]