My Pet Beast is Super Awesome - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Director Zhao’s Invitation

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Shao Zifeng woke up early the next morning and dragged a sleeping Ballie along with him as he went out for a morning workout.
While he had fled the scene yesterday, the only thing that had kept him going was his will, no thanks to his lack of exercise. When he was on the verge of passing out, he had apparently seen a black man giving him a welcome smile. Luckily for him, the “seven dancing pallbearers”1 did not manage to get his business.
His body was still sore after a night’s rest, but he forced himself to run three rounds in the neighborhood.
Regardless of the time and space, he was a sedentary person. Never in his life had he exercised so vigorously before. Shao Zifeng felt as if he was walking on cotton, his every muscle seemingly screaming in protest.
He was sweating like a pig, so he found a public bathhouse to take a shower. When he got home, Ballie was hugging the Tang saber’s hilt again, totally committed to it. He wondered when exactly did Ballie develop this weird habit, but he did not make a fuss about it.
The mutant domestic cat was still asleep. Shao Zifeng examined it, and it looked like the cat was no longer near death’s door. While it was still critically wounded, it would live.
He checked the time. There was still time before he needed to attend his classes. Therefore, he habitually took out his mobile phone and checked the news.
“Breaking News! Southern War Zone General Li Tianwen’s pet beast, a Goldpond Dragonfish, completed its evolution last night. There was a dragon’s roar amid the storm and thunder…”
The video showed something sucking the dark clouds and spinning them into a funnel. There were bolts of lightning and rumbling thunder up in the clouds, but the loud howls of the wind were drowning out everything else, causing the thunder to sound intermittent. Beneath the dark clouds, a light column shot up into the sky with the roar of a dragon before the video ended abruptly.
The video had gone viral online in forums. There were hundreds of new comments with each refresh of the screen.
“A sparkle doesn’t live in the water, it soars into a storm with the wind.”
“Do you have to be so philosophical?”
…
“Has General Li Tianwen’s Goldpond Dragonfish undergone an atavistic evolution? Just a wild guess!”
“What a coincidence! I have something bold in mind when I think of the fish’s mouth.”
“There it is, the smoking gun.”
…
“General Li’s Goldpond Dragonfish has attained the Eighth Order? Will he challenge the Twelve Pillar Beasts this year?”
“What Goldpond Dragonfish? Hasn’t it evolved into something new, some kind of pet beast? I hope to see the official announcement soon.”
“Speaking of General Li, it reminds me of his son who is in Sucheng University. Will he take part in the National University Cup this year?”
“Are you talking about Li Yu? He’s my classmate.”
“I want to know all about him in three minutes.”
“I knew it. His Tricolored Koi is evil. During the qualifying stage, his opponents either had diarrhea or hurt themselves with their own skills. How frustrating is that?”
…
Eighth Order! Shao Zifeng turned off his phone and leaned back in his chair. The footage of the evolution continued to play in his mind as he gazed up blankly at the ceiling.
He wondered when Ballie would evolve to the Eighth Order. By then, he would have probably…
He shook the thoughts from his head and carried Ballie, who was obsessed with the saber’s hilt. Shao Zifeng was ready to go to class.
…
Sucheng University.
It was Monday, and just as Shao Zifeng had imagined, there had been an increase in the number of sparring applications. The university had been pretty responsive, and the vetting standard was unusually lax. Hence, the students who trained in combat were going crazy, seizing every moment to spar with each other
Wang Hao and his Daboia Viper were stealing the show. Fortunately, the venomous pet beast was required to provide a venom analysis report and the corresponding antidote. Even then, fewer and fewer people wanted to spar with Wang Hao.
Shao Zifeng stood and watched those rookies spar from afar. Some time later, he was ready to head back to the class.
“Shao Zifeng?”
Just then, a familiar-looking middle-aged man came up to Shao Zifeng with a smile on his face. He looked friendly.
“Director Zhao?” Shao Zifeng hesitated for a moment before he remembered the man.
“I see that you’re interested in pet beast sparring. Have you ever thought of coming to the Faculty of Combat Training?” Director Zhao nodded slightly as he smiled at Shao Zifeng.
“Me? The Faculty of Combat Training?” Shao Zifeng was confused, not really knowing what Director Zhao meant. The university should have already known about his record and family background. It was incredible of them to be inviting him to join the Faculty of Combat Training.
“That’s right. If you are willing, the university’s management can appoint you as a combat trainer, and you can start contracting pet beasts. How does that sound?” Director Zhao did not rush him and just stood silently on the side as if waiting for his answer.
Shao Zifeng was moved; he really wanted to become a combat trainer. At least, with that identity, Ballie would not have to hide in his pocket all day while they were out. Besides, with the help of energy potions, Ballie would only grow faster and faster. Eventually, there would be no way to hide it anymore.
As though it sensed that Shao Zifeng’s emotional fluctuation had something to do with it, Ballie peered at Director Zhao from inside Shao Zifeng’s pocket, carefully studying him. Director Zhao seemed to sense Ballie. He looked at Ballie with a faint smile that frightened it, causing it to shrink back into the pocket.
“Thank you, Director Zhao, but I think—”
“It’s not what you think but what I think that matters.” Before Shao Zifeng could finish, Director Zhao interrupted him as if it was a conditioned response. After that, he broke into an embarrassed smile.
“Oops!”
Shao Zifeng did not know that an amiable man like him would be so bossy.
“Pardon me, old habits die hard. Shao Zifeng, please think about it and find me in my office on Level 3 once you have decided. Don’t worry, the university will solve the rest for you as long as you want to be a combat trainer. Think about it just for the sake of the little guy in your pocket.” Director Zhao checked his watch, then smiled at Shao Zifeng and left, saying nothing further.
Shao Zifeng approached the man-made lake, and his mind drifted off as he gazed at the sparkling lake surface. He was moved, but his wariness of others meant that it was difficult for him to accept kindness from others. Even the slightest generosity from others would unsettle him.
He was confused because there were two forces wrestling each other in his mind.
“Eekk!”
Just then, Ballie extended its little paw to pull Shao Zifeng’s sleeve. Determination filled its eyes as it looked at him, as though telling him that no matter what his decision was, it was going to stand behind him.
Shao Zifeng did not appear to have anything to lose, especially when an unknown force was still building its web. If he could not become stronger in time…
With that in mind, Shao Zifeng found his confidence and seemingly decided.
“Thank you, Ballie.” Shao Zifeng patted Ballie on the head.
“Eeeek!”
A red koi jumped out of the water, and a rainbow appeared as sunlight shone through the splash.
Then, a few blue dots from the interface popped up. They spun for a second and embarrassingly froze… That was a pretty high latency.