Unserious Beast Tamer

"I heard you went for a pet beast grooming session at noon?" Duan Anxun gently stroked the slender feathers of her pet beast. "Coincidentally, I also spent two thousand dollars for a thorough care for my own beast."

"Two thousand, that's the top standard grooming fee for small pet beasts." Du Ting interjected with a smug expression. "The experience of meticulously grooming every single feather, you wouldn't understand."

Lin Yue eyeballed the Colorful Cloud Parrot. Its appearance had clearly elevated after the grooming session. Nevertheless, she remained relentless in her retort, "What? You have feathers? You experienced it?"

"I find it bizarre. Anyone would think this Colorful Cloud Parrot belongs to you! Why do you talk so much?"

"You..." Du Ting glared at Lin Yue, "Is the Flame Fox your pet beast?"

Lin Yue defiantly returned the glare, "My choice, none of your business?"

Watching her desk mate stand up for her, Su Xiaoxiao felt warmed and motioned for Lin Yue to stop talking, "When the assessment comes, the winner and the loser will be clear."

"Well said." Duan Anxun nodded, "My win and your loss will indeed be clear!"

After leaving these harsh words, Duan Anxun led Du Ting back to their seats.

After the glaring match, Lin Yue retracted her gaze. She was silently mumbling and venting, "Feeling proud for what! Spending two thousand on a pet beast grooming, people could be rich but they could be dumb too!"

"Uh…" Su Xiaoxiao suddenly looked awkward. She lowered her head and pulled on Lin Yue's hand, "Yueyue, stop talking."

"What's wrong?" Lin Yue was puzzled.

"I..." Thinking about the price at that shop, Su Xiaoxiao's voice dropped even lower, "I spent six thousand six hundred and sixty-six…"

"Hiss——"

Lin Yue took a sharp breath, "Rip-off!"

"Small pet beast grooming doesn't cost that much at all, you got ripped off!" Lin Yue was full of righteous indignation, "After school, take me there. I will help you get your money back!"

Su Xiaoxiao was momentarily at a loss for words.

Indeed, the shop she went to was considerably pricier than Duan Anxun's grooming session.

But…

She compared the Colorful Cloud Parrot before and after the grooming, then compared her own Flame Fox before and after its grooming.

If a two-thousand-dollar grooming session yielded those results, she seemed to have…

Profited?

Of course, she would not mention this thought to Lin Yue, otherwise Lin Yue would definitely think she was crazy.

"It's our class's turn now. Everyone, line up outside the classroom for the Pet Beast Appearance Assessment!"

The class teacher peeked his head through the door and shouted.

"Let's go, off to the assessment." Lin Yue got up, pulling on Su Xiaoxiao's hand. She looked at Xiaoxiao and said seriously, "I have faith in your Flame Fox. Duan Anxun won't stand a chance!"

"Also..." She paused, a glint of righteousness in her eyes, "After school, we will go to that rip-off shop together. I will definitely help you get your money back!"

Su Xiaoxiao: "…"

-----------------

"Student Duan Anxun."

"Here!"

Duan Anxun, tall and graceful, stood out like a phoenix among chickens. Upon hearing her name, she responded and strode to the center of the assessment field.

"You two better open your eyes wide and watch!" Du Ting, who had already finished her assessment, gazed at Lin Yue and Su Xiaoxiao who were lined up behind, "An Xun will surely score above 95!"

"On what basis? Because you, of a 100 maximal score, only scored 81.3?" Lin Yue, ruthlessly hit where it hurt, "Worry about whether you'll be surpassed by me first!"

"You…" Du Ting's face turned from red to white, and finally, she grunted and turned her attention back to Duan Anxun in the field.

Lin Yue didn't bother with her anymore either. She held Su Xiaoxiao's hand while watching the ongoing showcase nervously.

"Good afternoon, distinguished judges. My name is Duan Anxun. This is my pet beast, Colorful Cloud Parrot, also named Xiao Caiyun." Duan Anxun at the podium introduced herself confidently, then quickly raised her hand.

The Colorful Cloud Parrot in synchronization spread its wings like an arrow shot from a bowstring, darting into the sky and swiftly descending, demonstrating intricate flying skills along simple movements made by Duan Anxun. Throughout the process, various skills were also demonstrated.

The Colorful Cloud Parrot is a light attribute Transcendent Being. With its show, the venue was lit up with colorful lights. The female figure in the light, skirt fluttering, seemed ethereal and powerful.

"Wow! This is Duan Anxun's strength!"

"Every movement of the Colorful Cloud Parrot just brushes past Duan Anxun. A touch late Duan Anxun could be injured!"

"It's simply like a walk in the park, as easy as wielding a blade!"

"When can my pet beast and I have such a tacit understanding!"

"I think the first place in this assessment is already decided..."

As Duan Anxun started her performance, the other students who were watching couldn't help but exclaim in hushed whispers. Discussion was abound.

The performance lasted three minutes. During these three minutes, as the difficulty of Duan Anxun's performance ramped up, the exclamations grew louder.

Soon, the three-minute show ended, and Duan Anxun's assessment score was freshly out.

97.4 points, a full 5 points higher than the current second place.

The pride on Du Ting's face was more intense. She didn't bother with Lin Yue anymore, but gave Lin Yue a scornful look as if saying "See, this is Duan Anxun's strength."

"So proud of what?" Lin Yue huffed, gripping Su Xiaoxiao's hand, "Xiaoxiao, don't be nervous! You can do it!"

"Mhm…" Su Xiaoxiao responded absently.

In fact, at this moment, she was communicating with the Flame Fox at home via the Beast Taming Contract. She didn't even watch Duan Anxun's performance closely.

As she expected, the Flame Fox was presently watching a drama series at home.

And it ate the snacks that she had just bought!

After Duan Anxun, the students went on stage for their presentations one by one.

Their scores were without exception significantly lower than that of Duan Anxun's.

A gloating Du Ting looped her arm in Duan Anxun's, "I knew it, nobody could stand in your way!"

"As expected." Duan Anxun's lips curled up at the corners, "I just want to know, since Su Xiaoxiao talked big, how much could she score?"

As they were talking, Lin Yue, who was lined up before Su Xiaoxiao, was on stage.

She unfolded a bright hexagram pattern behind her. Accompanied by gusts of wind blowing in circles, a green eagle with a wing spread of one and a half meters flew out from the void behind the hexagram.

A wind pet beast, the Green Wind Eagle.

"Swoosh!"

The Green Wind Eagle circled around above the field, ready to start its show.

Su Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and clenched her fists.

She was next.

"Little Flame, do well when it's your turn."

"Ying~"

Responding to her was a leisurely chirp.

The Flame Fox lounging on the couch at home, leisurely watching the drama, didn't take this seriously at all.

Su Xiaoxiao helplessly shook her head.

"Do well, and next time I'll bring you again to that Pet Beast Foster Shop for grooming."

"Ying!" (Deal!)

The Flame Fox's response visibly livened up, easing Su Xiaoxiao's worries.

"Miss Lin Yue, the assessment score is 86.3."

"Next, Miss Su Xiaoxiao!"

"Here!"

Su Xiaoxiao responded then quickly stepped forward to stand in the middle of the field where a hexagram pattern of light was interwoven behind her.