Beast Taming: I Can Add Points

The morning had been bright and clear, but by afternoon, the sky had turned gloomy.

The thick, dark clouds inspired a primal fear in both humans and Pet Beasts.

Before the might of nature, all life seemed insignificant.

”Driver, to the City Second Breeding Base.”

”You got it.”

followed Fang Yuan into the taxi, her mind elsewhere. It wasn’t until she heard the car door slam shut that she realized they were already moving.

Outside the window, the hospital, the streets, the willows—everything was instantly left behind as the car pulled away.

pressed her face to the window, watching as the passing scenery was swallowed by the encroaching gloom, disappearing from sight.

Normally, whenever they went out, Fang Yuan would recall her to his Beast Taming Space. This time, however, he had let her stay outside.

’Perhaps she would never get to go back there again.’

Suddenly, she felt a slight touch on her paw.

Looking back, she saw Fang Yuan holding a Telekinesis Crisp, offering it to her.

silently took it and began to eat.

This time, she ate very, very slowly, taking care not to choke.

As she ate, a wave of sadness washed over her.

Her two little paws clutched the Telekinesis Crisp, squeezing it tighter and tighter.

’She suddenly wished this Telekinesis Crisp would last forever. That way, Fang Yuan would never have to break their contract.’

Seeing her reluctance to finish, Fang Yuan asked in a soft voice, ”Not feeling well?”

frantically shook her head and stuffed the remaining half into her mouth, only to choke again from eating too quickly.

GACK—

The taxi stopped at the entrance of the Breeding Base.

stared blankly out the window at the grand architecture of the Breeding Base, her eyes glazed over.

’Three years ago, she had left this place, thinking she had escaped a living hell and found someone to follow for a lifetime. She never imagined that three years later, she would return with an incurable injury, left with nothing.’

remained lost in thought for a long, long time. She only snapped out of it when Fang Yuan paid the fare, got out, and urged her to follow.

Man and Pet Beast walked toward the Breeding Base.

Just a few steps from the entrance, a low rumble of thunder rolled across the sky. Then, a torrential downpour suddenly began.

Startled, 004 sped up, floating forward so quickly she accidentally bumped into Fang Yuan.

She quickly pulled away from him, her gaze nervous and fearful.

”It’s raining.”

Fang Yuan looked outside. It was impossible to tell if he was talking to himself or to her. ”Good thing I brought an umbrella.”

’He brought an umbrella.’

’But she would never have the chance to share it with him.’

floated by the entrance, watching Fang Yuan speak with the receptionist, a hollow feeling spreading through her.

’The truth was, when Fang Yuan came to get her, he had only seen her potential. He hadn’t taken her out of pity or sympathy.’

’From the very beginning, their relationship had been like that of a superior and a subordinate.’

’Now that she was injured, she could no longer reach the heights Fang Yuan had once expected. Of course he would break their contract. It was only natural.’

’A Pet Beast like her deserved to be abandoned.’

’She deserved to be ostracized by her peers and left alone in the rain.’

Even with these thoughts, when Fang Yuan’s gaze swept over the Pet Beasts available for contract and he beckoned for her to follow him deeper inside, her heart still ached.

’To him, she was just a replaceable Pet Beast.’

’But to her, he was everything.’

·

Led by a Breeder, Fang Yuan and 004 arrived before a small room—the very place 004 used to live.

Fang Yuan gestured for her to go inside with a look.

looked at Fang Yuan, then at the Breeder.

’There was no turning back.’

With her pale pink eyes downcast, the White Flame Battle Spirit drifted slowly into the small room, leaving the bright, open space for the dim, cramped hovel.

”How are you feeling now?” Fang Yuan’s voice suddenly sounded from behind her.

froze. Her eyes began to sting.

She looked back at Fang Yuan, her body trembling slightly, no longer able to hold back her tears.

Tears fell to the floor, one drop after another. The sound—PATTER, PATTER—was jarring in the quiet room.

’Even though it was a foregone conclusion, she truly didn’t want to be separated from her Beast Tamer...’

Through her blurry, tear-filled vision, 004 saw Fang Yuan suddenly crouch in front of her, looking at her in astonishment.

”Why is she crying?”

”Maybe she’s remembering some bad things. You know she was always getting bullied here.”

The Breeder scratched his head. ”You know, if you wanted to break the contract, you really didn’t have to come in person. You could’ve just done it at home and put her in a pet carrier. We have people who handle the transport.”

”She’s very emotional right now. If you break the contract, you might suffer from some kind of spiritual backlash...”

But Fang Yuan shook his head. ”We’re not breaking the contract.”

’Not breaking the contract?’

stopped crying, her pale pink eyes widening.

Fang Yuan clumsily pulled out a tissue and began to wipe her tears.

”The doctor suggested I bring her back to the Breeding Base. He said that letting a Pet Beast revisit a past environment might lift her spirits and help her Nether Flame Body recover.”

The Breeder said, ”...And does this doctor know what 004 went through here?”

Fang Yuan blinked. ”No.”

”Then blindly following his advice will have the opposite effect!”

The Breeder threw up his hands, exasperated. ”Your Pet Beast was isolated and bullied by her peers here. She must be full of nothing but fear and disgust for this place. Bringing her back is only going to make her miserable.”

Fang Yuan was silent for a long moment, apparently thinking.

Finally, he managed two words: ”Makes sense.”

’This guy looks so cool and handsome, but he’s a total airhead...’ The Breeder sighed to himself.

”Well... if you don’t like it, let’s go home,” Fang Yuan said to her.

Fang Yuan wiped her tears dry, then stood up and headed for the exit.