"Sir, there's one more thing."
Xu Ran pointed at the price list on the wall. "Your Contract Beast is medium-sized, so a grooming session costs 26,666 yuan."
A dog as tall as a person would definitely have counted as a large pet in his previous life, but in this world of Contract Beasts, it still fell some way short of the large category.
"26,666 yuan?!" Liu Gu's eyes widened. "You've got to be kidding me, young man!"
Although he wanted to help his Contract Beast companion, he couldn't accept that price.
His dog's love life wasn't worth that much.
"We're leaving!" Liu Gu shook his head and started toward the door. "Come on, boy. We'll find somewhere else!"
"Awoof?!"
The Wind Lion Dog panicked.
For some reason, he felt that if he left now, he might miss the most important opportunity of his canine life.
The Wind Lion Dog caught the hem of Liu Gu's clothes between his teeth and shook his head, refusing to leave.
An Elite Rank Contract Beast was already quite intelligent, and it knew its master thought the price was too high.
But remembering that the materials from just one supernatural creature of his own tier could sell for tens of thousands on the battlefield, the Wind Lion Dog barked twice.
"Awoof! Awoof!" (Let's stick with this place! Next time, I'll work harder and kill a few more supernatural creatures of my tier!)
"You..." Liu Gu met his Contract Beast's eyes and shook his head helplessly.
Thinking of everything he and the Wind Lion Dog had been through together, he relented.
"You'd better make this worth my money, young man!"
With a huff, Liu Gu scanned the payment code and paid.
"You can rest assured about that." Xu Ran soothed the little kitten, who had been cowering in a corner ever since the Wind Lion Dog appeared. "By the way, your Contract Beast doesn't have any temper issues, does he?"
He was a little nervous about bathing such a large dog.
"Don't worry." Liu Gu patted his chest. "He's very good-tempered! Even when someone stole his sweetheart, he didn't go fight his romantic rival."
"Awoof!"
The Wind Lion Dog angrily swatted his Beast Tamer with a paw.
Did you really have to bring that up?
Then he looked at Xu Ran with expectant eyes.
He could finally get Grooming!
Would he look more handsome than that hateful guy afterward?
Looks like this dog has a story.
Watching the man and his pet horse around, Xu Ran nodded. "In that case, your pet beast can come with me. You can accompany him or wait in the lounge over there."
"I'll wait in the lounge, then," Liu Gu said without hesitation.
What was there to see about a dog getting a bath?
The lounge had a TV, a game console, and snacks. Wasn't waiting there a much better option?
The Wind Lion Dog wagged his tail, equally unconcerned about his Beast Tamer.
He eagerly trotted after Xu Ran toward the grooming room.
Only after the Wind Lion Dog disappeared did the little kitten leisurely return to its previous spot and settle down again, looking toward the entrance.
My litter-box cleaner is gone. This kitty will guard the shop!
[To improve the results of this grooming session, the system will grant the host knowledge of "fundamentals of canine pet beast grooming" and "fundamentals of wind-type pet beast grooming."]
After receiving the knowledge, Xu Ran looked at the Wind Lion Dog, who was already lying obediently on the grooming table beside him. He started warming up the showerhead and added resources suitable for wind-type Contract Beasts to the water tank.
A moment later, Xu Ran picked up the showerhead, whose indicator light had turned green, and sprayed the Wind Lion Dog.
[Happiness Points from the Wind Lion Dog +5]
Xu Ran fell into thought.
All he had done was wet the Wind Lion Dog's fur.
Was this guy really that easy to please?
Xu Ran turned to look at the Wind Lion Dog.
The Wind Lion Dog gazed back at him with anticipation and a hint of bashfulness.
What the hell are you being bashful for?!
Fur Plucking, activate!
First, Xu Ran gave the Wind Lion Dog a quick brushing with a wide-toothed comb, removing the large clumps of dried blood and bits of flesh stuck together on his body. Then he began applying a degreasing product.
As he applied and worked in the degreaser, the stubborn black and gray patches of grime on the fur gradually loosened. A rinse washed them away, sending them down to the floor with the water.
Watching the gray-black water flow into the drain and the Wind Lion Dog's fur begin to reveal its pale green color, Xu Ran felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
The text that kept appearing before his eyes made that satisfaction even stronger.
[Happiness Points from the Wind Lion Dog +10] [Happiness Points from the Wind Lion Dog +10] [From...]
The Wind Lion Dog lay completely relaxed on the grooming table, as though his powerful muscles and sturdy frame no longer existed.
He narrowed his eyes, feeling his body grow progressively lighter as the grooming continued.
At that moment, he felt the wind calling to him.
After rinsing off the degreaser with clean water, Xu Ran applied the lathered shampoo to the Wind Lion Dog's fur. Then he slowly massaged every area with his fingertips, letting the shampoo clean deep into the pores.
The Wind Lion Dog suddenly shuddered.
This feeling...
He felt as though every pore was cheering, reveling in the firm, soothing touch.
It was as if he had become part of the wind, dancing with it.
The Wind Lion Dog gazed hazily upward, an indistinct sound spilling from his throat.
"Awoooo~"
In the Beast Tamer lounge, Liu Gu was hugging a bag of chips and grinning foolishly at a comedy show on TV when the rather strange sound made him jerk.
What the hell?
Of course, he recognized the voice of the companion who spent every day by his side.
But... why did something sound a little off?
No, he had to take a look!
Liu Gu hurried out of the lounge, pushed open the door, and entered the grooming room.
"Are you all right, boy? You..." Once he saw what was happening inside the Grooming Room, Liu Gu blinked.
"Awoof~" (I'm fine!)
There was something rather odd about the Wind Lion Dog's voice.
"Are you really okay?" Liu Gu asked suspiciously.
"Awoof~ Awooo~" (I really am. The grooming just feels so... good!)
"Would you like me to bring you a stool so you can sit beside him and keep him company?" Xu Ran paused his work and asked considerately.
"No need!" Liu Gu shook his head.
Once he confirmed that his Contract Beast was fine, he felt relieved.
"Thanks for your hard work, young man. Carry on!"
He slowly closed the grooming room door.
"No trouble at all. It's my job."
Xu Ran nodded politely and resumed massaging.
[Happiness Points from the Wind Lion Dog +20] [Happiness Points from the Wind Lion Dog +20] [From...]
The Wind Lion Dog was clearly providing more Happiness Points than the Blazing Fox had earlier.
Xu Ran wasn't sure whether that was because the Wind Lion Dog had greater grooming needs or because its Growth Rank was Elite Rank, one rank above Transcendent Rank.
He looked at the Wind Lion Dog before him as though he were an ATM, his gaze brimming with tenderness.
"This is... my Contract Beast?!"
When Xu Ran emerged from the grooming room with the completely transformed Wind Lion Dog, Liu Gu's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.
This big fellow, whose every strand of fur flowed smoothly and gracefully, shimmering beneath the lights in graduated shades of pale green-this very embodiment of elegance and strength-was actually his Contract Beast?!
"Thank you for your business. We hope to see you again."
"You... you will."
Still unable to wrap his head around it, Liu Gu blankly led the Wind Lion Dog out of the shop.
This was his Contract Beast?
His dog could look this cool?
The Wind Lion Dog followed behind his Beast Tamer, looking back every few steps, his face full of reluctance to leave.
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