The So-Called Physical Treatment

The Sparkling Flying Cat knew it could not keep playing dead.

The big fellow it had ambushed several times was already on the verge of going berserk. If it kept pretending, it might well get sent flying by a headbutt.

"Dian dian."

In a flash, the Sparkling Flying Cat's mind raced, swiftly settling on a plan.

The next second,

It slowly opened its eyes, first rubbing its head in a theatrical manner before looking up at the three figures before it, its gaze full of terror and fear.

In an instant, tears welled in the Sparkling Flying Cat's eyes. Its little face drooped miserably as it began to sob softly.

Wuwuwu~

I didn't do it on purpose~

"Aw."

Seeing the Sparkling Flying Cat's reaction, Cola scratched his head, turned toward Spark with a solemn expression, and let out a low howl.

Did we misunderstand her?

Spark did not react. Her deep-blue eyes remained fixed on the sobbing Sparkling Flying Cat, a trace of contemplation flashing across her delicate face.

Something's wrong. Very wrong.

"Snort, snort!"

Unlike the two little ones, who were still hesitating, the Gray-Armored Mountain Pig was utterly unaffected. The scratches on its body constantly reminded it—this little fellow across from it was extremely cunning!

In an instant,

The Gray-Armored Mountain Pig stomped heavily on the ground. Dense, powerful earth energy surged through the earth, rolling toward the Sparkling Flying Cat in endless waves.

"Aw."

Seeing the Gray-Armored Mountain Pig attack the Sparkling Flying Cat without hesitation, Cola looked at the pitiful creature with reluctance in his eyes.

But he gritted his teeth and did not step in to stop it.

Forget it. As long as we successfully bring this guy back to Master, that's enough.

Rumble!

The ground beneath it shook. Seeing that its little trick had no effect on the Gray-Armored Mountain Pig, the Sparkling Flying Cat had no choice but to spread its thin yellow wings. Brilliant currents flashed as it flew upward, successfully dodging Earth Stomp.

But at that very moment,

A blazing pillar of fire erupted from above. The intense heat made the Sparkling Flying Cat feel as though it had been thrown into a furnace. Its expression changed drastically, and it could only abandon the idea of flying higher.

The Sparkling Flying Cat landed back on the ground. Just as it secretly breathed a sigh of relief and rejoiced at having escaped the sudden flames, it met a pair of deep-blue eyes as clear as lakewater.

Those eyes were exceptionally calm, yet they somehow exerted immense pressure on it. The Sparkling Flying Cat's body trembled, and it could no longer muster any thought of running away.

The Sparkling Flying Cat swallowed nervously and lowered its head, catching sight of Spark's icy, razor-sharp claws. It fell silent for a moment.

If those claws hit me, I'll die, right?

In that brief span of time, the Sparkling Flying Cat had already confirmed that this was a terrifying opponent it could not face. Escape existed only in fantasy.

Since that's the case...

The Sparkling Flying Cat bared its teeth, putting on a fierce yet adorable expression, with none of its earlier grievance or fear remaining.

"Dian dian!"

Kill me or carve me up, do whatever you want!

"Aw!"

Seeing this, Cola, who had felt a little sympathy for it, immediately flew into a rage. His majestic dog head let out a low growl at the Sparkling Flying Cat.

I was actually fooled!!!

It's all your fault!!!

At the same time, Cola secretly let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, his Master had not come along.

"Snort, snort."

The Gray-Armored Mountain Pig shot Cola, who had only just caught on, a sidelong glance. A cold sneer appeared on its rough face.

Little bro, now you know how cunning this guy is, right?

"Aw, aw!"

Cola nodded repeatedly.

"Aw?"

Then Cola turned to Spark, asking what they should do next.

"Chirp, chirp."

Spark lightly fluttered her wings, a glint flickering in her eyes.

Bring it back and let the Beast Tamer handle it.

"Why aren't they back yet?" Zhang Hao gazed at the pitch-black night sky. Still seeing no sign of the little ones, he could not help asking.

Chen Yuan's expression did not change. "Don't worry. They should be back soon."

Spark was steady and calm in her work, while Cola was brave and fearless. With the two little ones working together, they were invincible.

Catching a mere fruit thief would be a piece of cake.

"Aren't they back now?"

Within the dense darkness, a dazzling, flame-like figure appeared first, followed by three more figures in quick succession.

"Aw, aw, aw~"

Cola trotted eagerly up to Chen Yuan, his tail wagging from side to side. He stuck out his tongue to lick Chen Yuan's palm, looking inexplicably guilty.

Chen Yuan patted his head and asked, "Where's the fruit thief?"

Cola stepped aside, allowing Chen Yuan to clearly see this fruit-stealing Extraordinary Creature—its entire body was covered in reddish-brown fur, its limbs were rather short and stout, and round yellow electric sacs sat on either side of its round face. The thin yellow wings on its back looked both like a cape and like wings.

Other than those thin yellow wings, Chen Yuan felt this Extraordinary Creature looked at least seventy percent like a red panda—perhaps even cuter.

Such an adorable little thing came to be a thief too?

After silently mocking it, Chen Yuan saw Zhang Hao beside him already taking out his phone to snap pictures. He casually asked, "Taking pictures for Brother Song?"

"I'm taking them for my girlfriend. She likes cute animals like this." Zhang Hao grinned.

Chen Yuan said nothing and merely raised a middle finger.

"Spark, what happened earlier?" Chen Yuan asked, looking at Spark.

"Chirp chirp chirp~"

Spark's eyes were calm as she recounted everything that had happened earlier.

After he relayed the matter to Uncle Zhao and Zhang Hao, Chen Yuan could not help clicking his tongue. "Playing dead and playing pitiful—this little fellow is pretty smart."

"I think it's cunning." There was no room for cute in Uncle Zhao's understanding. He glared fiercely at the fruit thief, his reaction exactly the same as the Gray-Armored Mountain Pig's.

Can cute fill your stomach?

Listening to Chen Yuan and Zhang Hao discuss it, those fruits were worth quite a bit of money, yet they had been ruined for nothing by this fellow!

Chen Yuan looked at Zhang Hao. "Haozi, does the Beast Tamer Association have any relevant regulations for situations like this, where someone destroys people's property?"

"Yes." Zhang Hao answered without hesitation. "First, catch it and bring it back for some ideological education, then choose how to deal with it based on the circumstances."

"If its ideological awareness passes muster and it is willing to befriend humans, it will be sent to the newly built breeding base to await a Beast Tamer's contract."

"If it is unwilling but poses no threat to ordinary people, it will be released back into the wild."

"If... after ideological education, it still carries a certain degree of danger, then compulsory measures will be taken and it will undergo Physical Treatment."

Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Physical Treatment?"

"Beat it up hard. Beat it until it no longer poses any danger to ordinary people," Zhang Hao said lightly.

Chen Yuan fell silent for a moment, yet he had to admit that this was the best way to handle things for ordinary people.

After all, no matter how one put it, people had to come first.

"Then this little fellow now..." Chen Yuan trailed off.

"Mm, it's a little late. I wonder who's watching the gate today?" Zhang Hao frowned and sank into thought.

Chen Yuan suggested, "Then I'll take this guy back to the farm first. It'll be safer if I keep an eye on it."

"That works perfectly." Zhang Hao's face lit up with delight.

He could not have wished for anything better. It would save him a great deal of trouble.

Seeing the two of them ignore it and brazenly arrange its fate, the Sparkling Flying Cat immediately grew furious, baring its teeth and waving its claws!

"Dian dian!"