The Cat's Story, Lin Yuan's Choice

"His story was actually quite interesting," Liu Xing began, telling it at a leisurely pace.

"This Still Spirit Cat's mother gave birth to four offspring about half a year ago. She was a Nether Spirit Veil Cat—a monarch-quality pet beast that had evolved from a Still Spirit Cat into a Still Spirit Veil Cat, then evolved again."

"She was one of the core pet beasts of a large Lineage's deputy head."

"High-quality, high-level pet beasts already had a fairly hard time reproducing."

"Giving birth to four offspring at once was harder still."

"And each of the four had its own traits."

"This Nether Spirit Veil Cat must have mated with some kind of lion pet beast. One of her offspring was a lion-type pet beast born with the prestigious quality of low-grade commander. It was called a Frenzied Spirit Lion."

"A pet beast of that quality made an excellent second pet beast, or even a third. It was soon bestowed upon an outstanding member of the Lineage."

"The other two Still Spirit Cats were both high-grade extraordinary quality. One even possessed the special shade attribute and was worth no less than the Frenzied Spirit Lion."

"The last one was this fierce little Still Spirit Cat."

"They all said its siblings must have been too exceptional and had sucked away its talent and essence. How else could it be only high-grade common quality?"

"At first, the Lineage's breeders thought its appearance meant it had inherited its father's lion bloodline."

"Later, they discovered it really was just an ordinary Still Spirit Cat—one that was, if anything, far too ordinary."

"They studied it for nearly a month before admitting there was no saving it. It had no research value, and no one in the Lineage wanted to contract a common-quality cat."

"So they sold it at auction. Although it was common quality, its 'excellent background'—a Nether Spirit Veil Cat mother and a Frenzied Spirit Lion sibling—still got someone to pay a hundred thousand Alliance Coins for it."

"The buyer's purpose was research, of course."

"But if the breeders of a large Lineage couldn't do anything with it, other breeders naturally couldn't either."

"Anyway, it seems to have changed hands another couple of times. A week ago, it was traded to the breeding center in exchange for resources."

"It was a special Still Spirit Cat, after all, so the breeding center naturally wanted to see whether it had any potential left."

"The answer, of course, was no."

"That high-grade extraordinary Still Spirit Cat was priced at two hundred thousand Alliance Coins because of its outstanding quality. This one, on the other hand, was priced at just fifty thousand Alliance Coins because its quality had regressed."

"And even at that price, I don't think anyone will buy it..."

"Look at how frail it is. Among high-grade common pet beasts at the same price, there are far too many better choices for a first pet beast."

Liu Xing looked at the cat and shook his head helplessly. "Still, I do feel sorry for it."

"Pet beasts are intelligent to begin with. What it's been through lately couldn't have been pleasant—sold by a large Lineage, studied, experimented on, then passed from hand to hand. It couldn't have been happy through any of that."

"Compared with its three siblings, it's had a miserable life."

"So once I learned its story, even though it really gives me headaches, I found it hard to get angry with it."

"Breeders are too calculating far too often... They want to get every last bit of use out of everything, pet beasts included. They put high-quality ones on pedestals. A low-quality one with an unusual background interests them at first, but once they find nothing special about it, they toss it aside."

Liu Xing went on, "I've actually made up my mind. If this Still Spirit Cat is still at the breeding center when my internship ends, I'm going to buy it and take it away."

"It's the pet beast that gave me, Liu Xing, an embarrassing mark on my record, after all. I can't let it waste its whole life here. I really don't think anyone will buy it."

At that, Lin Yuan took another careful look at Liu Xing.

Liu Xing had wanted to buy the Mist Spirit Spider because he saw its potential. As a breeder, he might be able to raise it into an entirely new species and make a name for himself in his career.

But Liu Xing hadn't spotted anything unusual about this Still Spirit Cat. It was obviously not because the cat had "given him an embarrassing mark on his record."

Lin Yuan thought Liu Xing was kind at heart. A breeder who took the time to learn a pet beast's story and, moved by pity, couldn't bear to let it "suffer" in the breeding center couldn't be summed up as merely "refusing to admit defeat."

But Liu Xing probably wouldn't get to fulfill that wish.

Because Lin Yuan had already made his decision.

"Senior Liu Xing, I want this Still Spirit Cat." His voice was firm. "Teacher Chen always says that when contracting a pet beast, 'fate' is what matters most. Whether it's a connection you feel at first sight or an unseen bond, it might mean something."

"Today was one of the few times I overslept and nearly arrived late. But if I hadn't, I wouldn't have happened to run into the staff at the entrance just as they were putting it into the glass box."

"Even while I was looking at the other pet beasts earlier, I kept wondering why this Still Spirit Cat was so unusual."

"And after seeing it, I felt even more certain." Lin Yuan continued, "I can sense its defiance, its wildness and resilience. Those are qualities I want in my first pet beast. That's why I asked you about its story."

"After hearing its story, I'm even more certain."

"Senior Liu Xing, if I told you I could make it the most extraordinary Still Spirit Cat in the world, would you believe me?"

Liu Xing froze.

Truthfully, he didn't believe it at all.

But he couldn't crush a second-year high school student's ambition and enthusiasm.

More importantly, he genuinely didn't think this pet beast was suitable as Lin Yuan's first. Its potential and quality were both too low.

He had promised Teacher Chen he would help Lin Yuan today.

If Lin Yuan went home with this pet beast, how would that be any different from Teacher Chen setting him a test and him failing it?

"Junior, I believe in your determination, but I really don't recommend buying it."

"Any of the three I mentioned earlier would be much better."

"But when it comes to choosing a pet beast—especially the fate you mentioned—it really does come down to the beast tamer's own feelings and judgment. So if you've thought it through, I won't argue."

"Are you absolutely sure? You're not choosing that Mist Spirit Spider?" Liu Xing asked gravely.

"Yes." Lin Yuan's answer was brief and firm.

"All right. I'm actually pretty happy, though I don't know why." Liu Xing stopped trying to lecture him.

"I don't know whether I'm happy someone's taking this little cat away, or happy you aren't taking that special Mist Spirit Spider."

"This Still Spirit Cat costs fifty thousand. With a ten percent discount, that's forty-five thousand. Your starting funds are a hundred thousand. Do you plan to buy some special materials too, or pay with your own money?"

"I'll pay with my own money. I can come back for materials when I need them."

"Mm, that makes more sense. I haven't the faintest idea what to recommend for this Still Spirit Cat anyway."

"Then I'll hand this Still Spirit Cat over to you. It's quiet most of the time, but it runs around in the dead of night. It usually ignores people, but as long as you don't force it to do anything, it won't be too fierce."

"You can pay at the breeding center's front desk afterward."

"As for the contract, you can establish a bit of a bond with it once you get home. And since it's only high-grade common quality, contracting it won't be difficult at all for a one-star beast tamer like you."

Five minutes later.

Liu Xing put the Still Spirit Cat into a glass cat carrier and handed it to Lin Yuan, then turned to prepare the bill.

The little cat seemed used to being packed up and moved around. It knew it must have been bought yet again.

It was going to change homes again.

But as long as it didn't have to live among other Still Spirit Cats and put on an act, it could accept that.

It raised its head and gave Lin Yuan a lazy glance.

Lin Yuan looked into its silvery-white eyes. There seemed to be little light in them.

He leaned close to the glass carrier and said softly, "You want to become a lion, don't you? I can help you."

At those words, its pupils widened a little and light sprang into its eyes, only to fade again.

How did this human know about the little dream it entertained when it had nothing to do?

But it was just an underdeveloped cat...

How could it become a lion?

It lowered its head and narrowed its eyes, seeming once again to care about nothing at all.

Liu Xing handed Lin Yuan the bill and a business card.

"Take this card to the front desk and swipe it to pay. Once you've paid, the restraint on the little cat's carrier will unlock, and you can take it away."

"Also, this is my business card. I think highly of you. If you have any questions about your studies, you can ask me anytime. You'll be a good beast tamer, and you have the potential to become a good breeder too."

"Who knows? Maybe we'll even go to the same university someday!"

Lin Yuan took the two cards. "Senior, you liked that Mist Spirit Spider, didn't you? I have a small suggestion."

"Oh?" Liu Xing's eyes lit up.