"This wilderness is called the Sighing Wilderness."
"In the centuries since Qingzhou City was founded, battles between humans and supernatural life have broken out time and again. Beneath every inch of soil here lie the blood and bones of human Beast Tamers and Supernatural Creatures."
Liu Gu patted Xu Ran on the shoulder. "We should get going."
"Right."
Xu Ran nodded and took a long look at the forest at the edge of his vision.
Perhaps he could explore it once he became strong enough.
"Meow~"
Seemingly sensing Xu Ran's thoughts, Purple Cloud poked her head out of his arms, her needle-thin pupils also turning toward the forest.
One day, once we're stronger, my Beast Tamer and I will conquer that place!
Du Heng stepped out of the crowd, and the Six-Pointed Star Formation lighting up behind him stirred up a fierce wind.
A massive rhino, a full five meters long with a broad back clad in iron armor, emerged step by step, drawing plenty of attention from the people nearby.
"So this is a Steel-Armored Rhino?" Xu Ran took a deep breath. His first thought was how much energy Grooming such a behemoth would take.
"That's right. This big fellow is really something." Zhang Yun laughed heartily. "The Steel-Armored Rhino handles protection and defense for our squad. Its enormous body also lets it carry us and help transport resources."
"Go ahead and climb on, young boss. It's very gentle." Du Heng's expression softened as he patted the Steel-Armored Rhino's back, signaling for Xu Ran to get on.
"All right." Looking at the big fellow, Xu Ran felt eager to try it himself. Holding Purple Cloud, he leaped up and settled onto the Steel-Armored Rhino's back.
Despite the steel armor covering its body, the big fellow's back wasn't uncomfortable at all. Instead, its breadth gave him a solid sense of security.
Once everyone was seated, the Steel-Armored Rhino strode swiftly forward, and Xu Ran couldn't help marveling.
"It really would be nice to form a contract with a big fellow like this."
"Meow?!" (What?!)
Purple Cloud's ears pricked up, and her fur bristled a little at his words.
My Beast Tamer wants to contract other Contract Beasts?
After seeing that the Beast Tamers who visited yesterday all had more than one Contract Beast, she had realized this day would come. But hearing Xu Ran bring it up himself still made her feel jealous.
"Even if we have new companions in the future, they'll be your little brothers or sisters. You'll be their big sister." Noticing Purple Cloud's reaction, Xu Ran rubbed her head reassuringly.
He suddenly felt that contracting multiple Contract Beasts was like raising several children. Mediating between them like this was rather interesting.
"Meow~" (Is that so...)
Purple Cloud looked thoughtful.
Imagining a little tagalong following her around in the future, she suddenly felt that it might be pretty nice.
"Meow!" (Hurry up and contract your second Contract Beast!)
Purple Cloud patted Xu Ran's shoulder with her paw, urging him on.
"It's not that easy!" Purple Cloud's swift change of heart left Xu Ran torn between laughter and exasperation. "My contract power has to rise from the first tier to the second before I can contract a second Contract Beast, and before you can break through to Elite Rank."
Cultivating contract power required a Beast Tamer to meditate.
He had been trying lately, but the results seemed mediocre. Reaching the second tier probably wouldn't happen anytime soon.
Purple Cloud nodded thoughtfully, feeling that making sure her Beast Tamer meditated and cultivated needed to go on her agenda.
"Young boss, don't just focus on how big and imposing it is. Large Contract Beasts eat more, and all their other expenses rise accordingly. Even finding somewhere for them to live isn't easy." Sitting behind Xu Ran, Yan Fan chuckled.
"Are you an idiot? The young boss runs a boarding shop. Those things wouldn't be much of a problem for him." Liu Xue shook her head helplessly.
"Oh, right." Yan Fan scratched his head, finding that quite reasonable.
"A Contract Beast's size has both advantages and disadvantages." Zhang Yun chuckled. "You still seem to be some way off the second tier, young boss. You can learn more first. There's no rush to choose your second Contract Beast."
"I will." Xu Ran nodded.
He knew this wasn't something he could rush. Contract Beasts were lifelong companions, and finding one often came down to fate.
After turning back to speak to Xu Ran, Zhang Yun looked toward Du Heng, who was sitting at the front. "Du, did you look into getting a second Contract Beast after you went home yesterday?"
"I haven't found a suitable second one yet. I heard a new batch of Contract Beasts will become available for contracts in a while. I can keep an eye on them then."
Du Heng answered calmly, then shook his head helplessly. "Besides, something's come up on my end. This isn't a good time to contract a second one."
"Has your wife been upset with you again over where to keep the Steel-Armored Rhino?" Zhang Yun glanced at Du Heng's twitching mouth and patted his shoulder. "If there's really no other option, put the Steel-Armored Rhino in boarding for now."
"Ah, you can't blame Juan for that. The matter of the baby can't wait." Hearing their conversation, Liu Xue sighed and chimed in.
Liu Gu and Yan Fan joined the conversation as well. As everyone offered their thoughts, Xu Ran, who had been quietly enjoying the gossip, soon learned the whole story.
Du Heng's wife, Pang Juan, and his son, Du Qi, had nothing against the Steel-Armored Rhino. They treated it as a member of the family too.
To give the Steel-Armored Rhino a place to stay, they had converted their home's largest room, the living room, into its room, while the family of three occupied two bedrooms.
But now the family faced a new problem.
Pang Juan was pregnant again. Her belly grew bigger by the day, but there was nowhere at home to put the newborn.
Du Heng had saved up some money. It could either buy the family a larger home that met their needs or buy a high-quality Contract Beast as his second companion.
But he couldn't have it both ways.
That made Zhang Yun's suggestion the best solution for the moment.
If he boarded the Steel-Armored Rhino first, there would be room for the newborn and enough money to buy a second Contract Beast.
Once he earned enough to move into a larger home, he could bring the Steel-Armored Rhino back.
"I'm still thinking about it," Du Heng said slowly. "The Steel-Armored Rhino has fought alongside me for over a decade. Even if I do board it, I have to find a boarding shop I can trust."
"Huh? Doesn't the young boss run a boarding shop?" Yan Fan shifted the conversation to Xu Ran, who had been enjoying the gossip.
"The young boss's boarding shop doesn't offer boarding yet, only grooming." Liu Gu shook his head, quickly rejecting Yan Fan's suggestion.
"Well..." Xu Ran felt he had to speak up. If he stayed silent any longer, the business that had come knocking would slip away. "Actually, the shop will be offering boarding very soon."
"Hmm?" All five members of the Fierce Tiger Hunting Squad turned to look at him.
"If you still haven't found a boarding shop you're happy with by then, you can come take a look at ours." Xu Ran smiled.
He still didn't know exactly what the system's boarding module would be like.
But he had confidence in anything the system provided.
"I'll come take a look then." Du Heng nodded slightly, then changed the subject. "Young boss, is this the place where you wanted to gather resources?"
While they talked, the Steel-Armored Rhino had arrived near a patch of shrubs.
Xu Ran's eyes lit up at the sight of the fruit among the shrubs, gleaming blue-green in the sunlight.
"That's right. This is the place!"
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