Beast Taming: The Beginning of Hatching an Ancient Dragon - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Wen Miaohua

The next day, Mu Qingqing did not continue teaching Li Chang’an. The two days were the final exams for high school, crucial for the children’s future, so academic priorities came first. There would be plenty of time later to discuss future paths.

“Read the questions carefully, don’t rush, and double-check your answers after finishing. Be thorough,” Mu Qingqing repeated several times to Li Chang’an, just like most parents, as she dropped him off at school. If someone hadn’t pulled him away, Li Chang’an would still be stuck in Mu Qingqing’s唠叨.

This savior was a girl, dressed in a white summer shirt and a yellow-and-black plaid skirt. Her legs were clad in pristine knee-high socks, with a hint of pink showing through at the knees. The socks left a subtle indentation on her thighs, contrasting beautifully with the smooth, porcelain-like skin above.

This girl was Wen Miaohua, Li Chang’an’s only childhood friend. Similarly, Li Chang’an was her only childhood companion. The two had known each other since birth, as Wen Miaohua’s mother, Tang Xinyao, was Mu Qingqing’s college best friend. Thus, the two families were very close.

Although many classmates had been in the same class as Wen Miaohua since childhood, Li Chang’an was the only one who stayed close to her. This wasn’t just because of their family ties but also because Li Chang’an was the only one who didn’t find Wen Miaohua off-putting. Wen Miaohua was an ice-cold beauty, both literally and figuratively.

“Meow! Meow! (Oh~! Chang’an, there’s something interesting inside this person.)” Li Chang’an had once thought Wen Miaohua had awakened some bloodline or talent, but now it seemed she had inherited a troublesome pet beast ability.

Inheriting a pet beast ability means that after a new beast tamer contracts their initial pet beast, they might gain one of the pet’s skills or talents. Researchers in Donghuang Country found that if a beast tamer contracts a pet beast before its awakening period, they are guaranteed to inherit one of the pet’s abilities when it breaks through to the awakening stage. This is why the prices of popular pet beast eggs skyrocket every summer.

“Today, you seem a bit different,” Wen Miaohua said, her clear eyes fixed on Li Chang’an. Her words flowed like a clear spring from a high mountain, crisp and distant.

Li Chang’an noticed a hint of curiosity in Wen Miaohua’s eyes, something absent from Little Chang’an’s memories. In those memories, Wen Miaohua was cold and repressed, with only sweet cakes able to elicit any change in her.

“I just contracted my initial pet beast,” Li Chang’an said, recalling the unknown attribute on his status panel. He hesitated, “It should be fire-type.”

Should?

Wen Miaohua caught the key point but didn’t press further. She didn’t want to lose the only peer who could stay by her side. So, she simply responded with one word, “Oh.”

Li Chang’an looked at the girl, who was like a snow lotus from the Tianshan Mountains, in surprise. It seemed he couldn’t fully trust Little Chang’an’s memories. For instance, Wen Miaohua, in his perception, was emotionally delicate yet humble. This delicacy was hidden beneath her clear, spring-like eyes, untouched by worldly concerns. Her humility was concealed under her icy demeanor, almost imperceptible.

Li Chang’an instinctively pulled out an orange-flavored candy. Just as he wondered when this candy had ended up in his school uniform, Wen Miaohua’s cool little hand had already taken it from him. She skillfully unwrapped it, the candy forming a small bump on her delicate face as she savored the sweet taste, her eyes narrowing like a contented hamster.

Li Chang’an could clearly sense Wen Miaohua’s joy, albeit faintly. Having just accepted a mental-type talent, he could still perceive it.

When they entered the classroom, the previously noisy room fell silent the moment Wen Miaohua stepped in. All the students dutifully began preparing their exam stationery and then filed out of the classroom.

Li Chang’an took the opportunity to gently touch Wen Miaohua’s jet-black hair. Her ability combined both chilling air and pressure, which was indeed too much for a group of underage high schoolers.

“Let’s go, get your things ready. I checked; we should be in the same exam room,” Li Chang’an said.

The gloom in Wen Miaohua’s eyes was replaced by Li Chang’an’s smile. She didn’t know why her childhood friend had changed so much, but she lowered her head, a faint, cold yet warm smile tugging at her lips.

This scene was witnessed by the classmates who hadn’t left the classroom yet, and they all had one thought: Li, the top student, is truly a real man!

The morning exams were Chinese and Math, which were no challenge for Li Chang’an. Little Chang’an’s memories had already taken care of most of his academic concerns.

By lunchtime, Li Chang’an and Wen Miaohua found a quiet corner in the cafeteria to sit and eat. As a newly minted Level 1 Beast Tamer, Li Chang’an’s senses were sharp, and he easily overheard the energetic high schoolers’ chatter.

“Hey, did you hear? Class Monitor Wen got her head patted this morning!”

“Which Class Monitor Wen?”

“The ice queen from Class 3, Grade 2.”

“Oh, her! Who was the brave soul?”

“Who else? Li Chang’an!”

“That Li Chang’an who, along with Wen Miaohua, dominates Grade 2?”

“Yep, that’s him.”

“Your Grade 2 life sounds tough. Has anyone ever outscored those two?”

A bespectacled boy with short hair proudly replied, “Nope.”

Everyone groaned.

Li Chang’an noticed Wen Miaohua’s ears turning slightly red—well, pink. Sometimes having excellent hearing wasn’t such a good thing.

“Meow. (Chang’an, I want to eat too!)”

Li Chang’an suddenly remembered he wasn’t alone anymore; he had a family to take care of now.

“Right, I’ll get it ready for you.”

Li Chang’an took out a thermal lunchbox from his bag and placed it on the seat beside him. Inside was a large portion of Fire Sprout Milk Soup, made by Mu Qingqing that morning.

A contract array flashed under Li Chang’an’s feet, and a small, dragon-scaled kitten appeared in his arms. He gauged its weight—Mao Mao was at least three times heavier than when it was born. At such a young age, it already showed the potential to be a heavyweight.

The scene of Li Chang’an summoning his pet beast caught many eyes, eliciting gasps. A girl who had just walked past their table shuddered and quickly fled.

“Whoa, a fire-type pet beast.”

In Donghuang Country, novice Beast Tamers didn’t contract flashy lightning, fire, or ice-type pet beasts right off the bat like in TV dramas, then ride off into the sunset. In this world, when choosing a pet beast, Beast Tamers had to consider compatibility, intimacy, and the pet beast’s inherent traits.

For example, a Flame Tail Dog, with its fiery tail, could accidentally burn its tamer or set the house on fire with a casual wag. Flame Tail Dogs were relatively mild; many fire-type pet beasts were temperamental and prone to attacking, leading to numerous injuries.

Then there were lightning-type pet beasts with their risk of electric shocks, and poison-type pet beasts with their risk of poisoning. A Beast Tamer could easily end up in the hospital—or worse—if they weren’t careful.

And that’s not even mentioning other special attribute pet beasts. Light and dark-type pet beasts were not only more eccentric but also posed higher risks. Soul, death, life, and dragon-type pet beasts required precautions that underage high schoolers couldn’t handle.

After all, to build intimacy with a pet beast, you couldn’t wear an insulated suit to approach a lightning-type pet beast, or go gloveless to handle a poison-type pet beast, right?

Thus, most novice Beast Tamers opted for gentler water, wood, and earth-type pet beasts. They were safer and easier to raise. After all, they could always contract more powerful pet beasts later; there was no need to rush.

Wen Miaohua curiously eyed the red kitten quietly resting in Li Chang’an’s hands.

“It seems very obedient to you, unlike most fire-type pet beasts.”

Li Chang’an smiled, “Mao Mao is indeed well-behaved, but only with me.”

Wen Miaohua nodded in agreement, “Mine is the same.”