The Salted Fish Cultivator: My Pet System Awakens

A soft, high-pitched yip-yip broke the early morning silence in Lu Tian's room.

Still half-asleep, Lu Tian grumbled, swatting aimlessly at the source of the noise. "Go away…"

The response was immediate—a series of insistent chi-chi sounds, followed by a small weight landing on his chest. He cracked one eye open to find himself nose-to-nose with the snow-white fox. Its silver-marked tail swished as it pawed at his blanket, yipping again with clear urgency.

"Do you have to wake me up like this?" Lu Tian groaned, glaring at the creature.

The fox tilted its head, letting out a soft chi that sounded suspiciously like laughter before nudging his chin with its nose.

"Fine, fine. I'm up." He pushed himself into a sitting position, scratching his head. "What do you want this time? More food? Attention? Or are you just here to ruin my morning?"

The fox gave an excited hop, its bright eyes sparkling as it stared at him expectantly.

Lu Tian sighed. "Freeloader."

---

By the time Lu Tian made his way to the dining hall, the fox trotting happily at his heels, Zhang Wei and Wei Jingyi were already seated, halfway through their breakfast.

Zhang Wei spotted the fox first, nearly choking on his steamed bun. "Brother Lu! Is that… your spirit beast?"

"It's not mine," Lu Tian said quickly, sitting down and pulling a plate of food toward him. "It just won't leave me alone."

The fox leapt gracefully onto the bench beside him, sitting primly as if it owned the place.

Wei Jingyi smiled faintly. "It seems to like you."

"That's because I feed it sometimes," Lu Tian said, picking up a bun and holding it out to the fox. The creature sniffed it delicately before nibbling on it with all the poise of a noble at a banquet.

Zhang Wei watched, slack-jawed. "It's eating your food! Brother Lu, are you sure you're not secretly bonding with it?"

"I'm not," Lu Tian said firmly. "This thing's just freeloading."

Wei Jingyi tilted her head. "It's unusual for a spirit beast to approach someone without a bond. They usually keep their distance unless they sense potential."

Lu Tian raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying it sees me as a genius?"

"Maybe it just thinks you're easy to manipulate," Wei Jingyi replied with a smirk.

Zhang Wei burst out laughing, and even the fox let out a soft yip, clearly amused.

---

The morning took an abrupt turn when Elder Zhao's voice rang out across the dining hall, calling for all students to gather in the eastern training field for the Spirit Beast Observation and Interaction course.

"This should be fun," Zhang Wei said, his grin widening.

"For you, maybe," Lu Tian muttered.

---

The eastern training field was alive with activity. Rows of students lined up as instructors brought forward an assortment of spirit beasts, each restrained by glowing collars that shimmered faintly with Qi.

Elder Zhao paced along the rows, his sharp gaze sweeping over the gathered students. "Spirit beasts are not pets. They are partners, allies, and extensions of your strength. Forming a bond requires respect and discipline, traits many of you lack."

Lu Tian yawned, earning a glare from Elder Zhao.

As assistants began pairing students with beasts, Lu Tian felt a familiar weight land on his shoulder. He turned his head to find the fox perched there, its tail wrapping lightly around his neck like a scarf.

"Oh, come on," he said, exasperated. "You again?"

The assistant assigned to his group stopped, blinking at the fox. "I didn't even bring this one out. Did it just… find you on its own?"

"Lucky me," Lu Tian muttered.

Zhang Wei grinned. "Brother Lu, it's fate. You're stuck with it now."

Wei Jingyi observed the fox closely. "There's something odd about it. Its markings look… unique."

Elder Zhao approached, his sharp eyes narrowing as he studied the creature. "Interesting. This beast has a rare aura. You should consider yourself fortunate, Lu Tian."

"Sure," Lu Tian said flatly. "Feeling very lucky right now."

---

The observation exercises began with simple tasks—guiding the beasts through obstacle courses, feeding them energy pellets, and practicing basic commands. Most students made quick progress, forming tentative connections with their assigned companions.

Lu Tian, however, was having no such luck.

"Sit," he said, holding out a pellet.

The fox stared at him, clearly unimpressed.

"Stay."

The fox yawned, curling up in the grass.

"You're supposed to make me look good," Lu Tian said, glaring at the creature. "Do something impressive."

The fox flicked its tail and closed its eyes.

Zhang Wei, meanwhile, was struggling with a mule-like creature that refused to budge. "Brother Lu, how do you get yours to stay calm?"

"It doesn't," Lu Tian replied.

Wei Jingyi, paired with a timid deer-like beast, was faring much better. She knelt down, holding an energy pellet in her hand, and waited patiently as the creature hesitated before cautiously approaching.

Elder Zhao nodded approvingly. "See? Patience and understanding are key. Learn from her example."

Lu Tian sighed. "Great. Now she's making me look bad."

The fox let out a soft chi, sounding almost smug.

---

As the session ended, students began filing out of the training field, their beasts in tow. Lu Tian stayed behind, watching as the fox lazily followed him to the edge of the field.

"You're not planning to stick around forever, are you?" he asked.

The fox didn't respond, its bright eyes locked onto his.

Elder Zhao approached, his expression unreadable. "You have potential, Lu Tian, but potential means nothing without effort. This beast seems to recognize something in you. Perhaps you should start recognizing it in yourself."

Lu Tian shrugged. "Maybe it just likes free food."

The fox hopped onto his shoulder again, curling up as if settling in for a nap.

Elder Zhao shook his head. "Dismissed."

As Lu Tian trudged back to the dorms, the fox's weight light against him, he couldn't help but wonder what it actually saw in him.