"Next, we'll begin practical training."
"Please follow me to Arena Six."
Zhang Lingxue led everyone onto the Arena grounds.
Ye Bai noticed that Zhang Lingxue had changed into casual clothes at some point. She had even tied her hair into twin ponytails, making her look like the basketball girl next door.
The male students all loved the look and whistled in unison. Of course, Ye Bai was not among them. Instead, he took several steps back, putting some distance between himself and the others.
He had seen what happened to people who flirted with Zhang Lingxue. They had been dealt with terribly, terribly badly.
He had only dared to act that way earlier because he was Zhang Lingxue's prized student.
But when Zhang Lingxue's merciless gaze swept over those people before finally landing on him, Ye Bai knew that Zhang Lingxue intended to deal with him too.
"Alright, future Pet Beast Masters, let me see the mental states of your pet beasts."
"Today's lesson is called How to Properly Understand Pet Beasts."
After hearing their Homeroom Teacher, everyone released the pet beasts they held.
To Ye Bai's surprise, he saw the Boxing Rabbit that He Qingyuan had abandoned. It was currently standing beside a plump student.
Every now and then, the student pulled a Ruby Carrot or Golden Carrot from his pocket and tossed it to the Boxing Rabbit.
The Boxing Rabbit eagerly wagged along after him, without the slightest trace of sadness at having been abandoned.
Well, well. It had found itself a long-term meal ticket.
The student and rabbit were both eating, and crunching sounds rang through the Arena.
The key was that Ye Bai's Thousand Changes Silkworm refused to be left out. It bounced over, circling the student with a fawning expression.
After a while, the plump student finally noticed a chubby white Chameleon Silkworm by his feet. Its tongue hung down to the ground, and drool was already trickling out.
The plump student instinctively handed it a Gilded Golden Carrot. "Want one?"
His voice was deep and muffled.
The Thousand Changes Silkworm nodded like a pounding pestle, its gaze practically glued to the Golden Carrot.
"Then go ahead and eat it."
The plump student stuffed the Golden Carrot into the Thousand Changes Silkworm's mouth.
The Thousand Changes Silkworm instinctively bit through the Golden Carrot's skin, and an exquisite flavor bloomed in his mouth.
At that moment, the Thousand Changes Silkworm felt that if it had wings, it would have been so moved that it would fly into the air.
It stared fervently at the plump student as though he were a walking food reserve.
Ye Bai silently facepalmed. Was he starving the Thousand Changes Silkworm or something? Why was it such a glutton?
Originally, it had been just one student and one rabbit crunching away. Once the Thousand Changes Silkworm, this massive foodie, joined in, the chewing grew even louder.
Zhang Lingxue looked at Ye Bai resentfully, signaling with her eyes for him to control his pet beast.
Ye Bai merely spread his hands, wearing a helpless expression.
Unless the Thousand Changes Silkworm was completely full, no one could interrupt its meal.
Forbearance had its limits; there was no need to endure any longer. Zhang Lingxue's fists clenched tight.
The Thousand Changes Silkworm suddenly felt something watching it. A chill ran down its back. It looked up in confusion, then nearly lost its soul in fright. It was that woman who had been eyeing it lustfully.
"Thousand Changes Silkworm, is the food good?"
"You'll be the first to give everyone a demonstration."
Zhang Lingxue revealed a sinister smile. Paired with her striking looks, she resembled a witch brewing medicine in the forest—like she was brewing medicine for Wu Dalang. Ah, no, that was not right.
The plump student and the Boxing Rabbit were still immersed in the delicious food, unable to pull themselves free.
Zhang Lingxue let out a long sigh. The plump student's name was Li Chen, the son of Jiaying City's richest man, Li Defu.
Because he had suffered abuse from his nanny as a child, he had developed persecutory delusions. He constantly believed that someone was trying to harm him, and only eating could make him forget everything.
To treat his condition, Li Defu had specifically taken him to see the world's foremost psychology expert, Mr. Charles.
After examining him, Mr. Charles told Li Defu that Li Chen was merely somewhat deprived of love. If he encountered a suitable Contracted Pet Beast, his condition would likely improve.
Li Defu had found many pet beasts for him, but whenever Li Chen met one, he would tremble in terror.
When Sacred Mountain Middle School's staff called Li Defu to ask when he would let Li Chen adopt one of the school's pet beasts, Li Defu decided to treat a dead horse as if it were alive and let Li Chen enter the Secret Realm to choose a pet beast.
And as his future Homeroom Teacher, Zhang Lingxue received them throughout the entire process.
The result was that the moment Li Chen entered the Secret Realm, he was so frightened that he could not move his legs. He cowered in the vehicle and refused to get out.
But when they arrived at the Boxing Rabbit breeding grounds, he saw a rabbit standing head and shoulders above the rest, all alone.
That rabbit was skin and bones, as though a gust of wind could knock it over.
It trained alone against a wooden post, its fists smashing the post into fragments.
"That Boxing Rabbit was abandoned before, so it is wary of people. But it awakened a very special skill: Berserk."
"It has not eaten for several days, all to fight for a breath of pride. No matter how the staff tried to persuade it, it would not listen."
Zhang Lingxue introduced it to everyone.
Li Chen could sense the rabbit's unwillingness, loneliness, and solitude. It was just like himself.
So, for the first time ever, Li Chen walked over. Although he was terrified, he made his way there step by step, leaving one clear footprint after another.
"Wait, it's dangerous to approach rashly. That Boxing Rabbit is still somewhat aggressive."
Zhang Lingxue called out a warning.
Li Chen heard her, but he turned a deaf ear. He did not want to leave a bad impression on the Boxing Rabbit.
The Boxing Rabbit, which had been training, sensed Li Chen approaching. It raised an eyebrow as if asking, What is it?
Li Chen saw an unerasable sorrow in the Boxing Rabbit's ruby-red eyes, and his heart was moved once again.
The Boxing Rabbit was so thin that even its jawline showed. Its fists were embedded with wood splinters, blood trickling out in streams and dripping from the backs of its paws to the ground.
New wounds lay atop old wounds, leaving countless scars across its fists. The ground was covered in dried bloodstains.
"What a coincidence. I don't have a Contracted Pet Beast yet. Do you want to be my friend?"
"I can promise that I will never abandon you for the rest of my life."
Li Chen scratched his head and asked the Boxing Rabbit.
Something in Li Chen's words seemed to touch the Boxing Rabbit's sorrow. Tears began falling uncontrollably, drop by drop, onto the ground.
Snot and tears smeared together across its face.
"Once you cry it out, you'll feel much better."
Li Chen stretched out his chubby hand and gently wiped away the Boxing Rabbit's tears.
"Do you like Ruby Carrots?"
"I also have Sapphire Carrots and Golden Carrots."
Li Chen stuffed a bulging backpack into the Boxing Rabbit's paws. "Hurry and try them. I carefully picked these out—they're the things I think taste best."
Before you continue