Beast Taming: I Can Add Points

[Gou Yu]: boss_man_smoking.jpg

[Su Zhi]: scaredy_cat_smirk_limited_edition.jpg

[Gou Yu]: I’ve_got_two_modes_and_I_just_finished_eating.jpg

[Su Zhi]: here’s_that_lewd_pic_you_wanted.jpg

[Gou Yu]: that’s_it_a_balloon_emoji_is_lewdier_than_that.jpg

After a few rounds of meme-sparring, Su Zhi relaxed a little.

Vice Alliance Leader Gou Yu’s profile picture was some 2D waifu. Combined with his chat style and the countless figurines on his social media feed, he seemed to be a pretty easy-going bigshot—and probably a bit of a geek, too.

[Gou Yu]: You’re Su Zhi? The one coming to Hundred Rivers?

[Su Zhi]: Yes, yes.

[Su Zhi]: I’m so sorry. I’ve had a lot on my plate recently and I forgot to contact you!

[Gou Yu]: Don’t worry about it. It’s normal.

[Gou Yu]: ...

[Gou Yu]: You’re about to board, right? Let’s talk after you land.

[Su Zhi]: Oh, okay! Goodbye, Senior!

[Gou Yu]: okay_okay_tell_it_to_the_cops.jpg

After the brief chat, Su Zhi subconsciously pursed his lips.

’Why does Boss Gou’s attitude toward me feel a little strange? It’s like... I owe him money or something.’

’It must be my imagination. We only just met today... Yeah.’

·

「At 6:00 AM」

After an overnight flight, the passenger plane landed smoothly at Celestial Paradise International Airport in Hundred Rivers Province.

The flight had been quite smooth, without a single bump. Su Zhi had taken the opportunity to sleep on the plane, and he felt refreshed and energized when he disembarked.

It was just sunrise. The morning sun cast its first rays over the mountains, dyeing the airport’s vegetation a golden hue. Mist swirled between the mountains, and their peaks were wreathed in colorful halos, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

”Woof...”

”Wooo...”

”Chirp...”

The three Treasures stared wide-eyed, making noises that betrayed their lack of worldliness.

”Beautiful, isn’t it?” Su Zhi asked back, pretending to be a seasoned traveler himself.

”Wooo!”

Wu Bao excitedly pulled out a tablet, opened the notepad app, and picked up a stylus with its paw.

Shan Bao and Yu Bao curiously sidled up to it, and even Su Zhi stood behind Wu Bao with great interest. From Wu Bao’s gestures, it seemed to have been suddenly struck by inspiration and wanted to write a poem.

’Yu Bao is the great Wise One, and now Wu Bao is a great author?’

’Not bad. I never expected my Pet Beast to have this kind of talent... By the way, if it can write poetry, could it write a web novel? If I posted it on Qi Point, would it get popular?’

Wu Bao put stylus to screen. Su Zhi saw the title: ”Hundred Rivers.”

’He’s got something. Concise, straight to the point, a true return to simplicity!’

And then came the content...

[Oh, Great Hundred Rivers]

[So fucking big]

Wu Bao lifted its stylus, tilted its head back proudly, and indicated it was finished.

Shan Bao: ”...”

Yu Bao: ”...”

Su Zhi: ”...”

’Never mind,’ Su Zhi thought. ’I really shouldn’t have such high expectations for my Pet Beasts.’

The first stop was the Common Defense Alliance museum in the Hundred Rivers Region. Su Zhi looked at the map, figured it wasn’t far from the airport, and decided to walk there directly.

And then he discovered... he couldn’t find it...

Although the marker on the map was correct, the terrain and architectural style of Hundred Rivers were a bit beyond Su Zhi’s comprehension.

He thought he was on a road, but it turned out to be a rooftop. He thought he was on the sixteenth floor, but he was actually in a basement. Even the airport, it turned out, was on a rooftop...

The various pedestrian walkways twisted and turned in every direction. There were barely any roads. Cable cars and maglev vehicles zipped through the air, and Su Zhi couldn’t even figure out where to hail a cab.

According to the map, this was a bustling area near the city center. The vertical space was utilized to the extreme. He looked down to see a bustling street, and he looked up to see another bustling street.

He asked a passerby for directions, but the person replied in a thick, Sichuan-flavored dialect. He could vaguely understand the meaning, but he didn’t recognize a single one of the dozen or so place names and turns the person mentioned...

「One hour later.」

At some nameless intersection, Su Zhi stood there, his hair a mess in the wind, completely bewildered.

Wu Bao was lying next to Su Zhi. Yu Bao was lying on top of Wu Bao. Shan Bao was lying on Yu Bao’s head. All of them were dog-tired.

The man in question was now feeling one thing: regret. Deep regret.

Su Zhi’s phone buzzed.

[Shao Ya]: Moshi moshi~

[Shao Ya]: Has Su Baby arrived in Hundred Rivers yet?

[Su Zhi]: I’m here.

[Shao Ya]: Good to hear~ I won’t disturb Su Baby’s ”research mission”! Hope everything goes smoothly!

[Shao Ya]: Special reminder: don’t forget to eat!

[Su Zhi]: Mm.

After reporting his safe arrival to the ”family,” Su Zhi sighed as he looked at the bustling streets. ’The part that’s not going smoothly has only just begun,’ he thought wryly.

But Shao Ya was right. An army marches on its stomach. And since he was already here...

Su Zhi waved his hand grandly and randomly picked a breakfast shop by the road. ”Time to eat!”

The light returned to the three Treasures’ eyes.

The shop was already quite crowded early in the morning. A tall, round uncle standing by the entrance made it feel even more packed visually.

An enticing aroma filled the small shop.

He may have gotten shamefully lost, but the breakfast in Hundred Rivers sure smelled good.

Unlike Huai City, which was dominated by wheat-based foods, the Hundred Rivers People enjoyed all sorts of rice products. Various kinds of rice noodles were a common sight on the breakfast table.

In fact, Su Zhi ordered it because it looked long and thin, somewhat similar to the *minqu* he often ate in Huai City... Only after taking a bite did he realize it was different.

*Minqu* were fine noodles made from mung bean flour. They had a crisp and refreshing texture. Served with a clear broth and a soul-infusing aged black vinegar, they were a breakfast memory for countless people from Huai City.

The rice noodles here in Hundred Rivers, on the other hand, had a soft and delicate mouthfeel, yet they were chewier than regular noodles. Although they looked like noodles, they were authentic rice products, and you could really taste the unique fragrance of rice when you ate them.

Add in the Sichuan-style chili oil, rich broth, and fatty intestines, topped with a sprinkle of scallions and cilantro, and it was exceptionally appetizing. Su Zhi gobbled down the entire large bowl.

*Ahem*. He wasn’t lost. He was following the guidance of fate to have this fateful encounter with a bowl of rice noodles!

”Sir, another bowl!”

”Coming right up~”

The second bowl was served quickly, and Su Zhi rubbed his hands together gleefully. The restaurants in Hundred Rivers were so generous; a second serving was only a buck more.

The owner had said that when you ate out here, you only had to pay for the main dishes; the rice was all-you-can-eat. You’d never find a deal like that in Huai City.

Shan Bao and Wu Bao watched Su Zhi chow down with longing eyes, feeling like the breeder feed in their own bowls had lost all its appeal.

Yu Bao was the exception, happily eating wontons next to Su Zhi.

Most Pet Beasts were very delicate and required strict dietary control, but the Yu Dian Farm Dog was not one of them.

That’s the value of a mutt for you.

Noticing Wu Bao’s envious gaze, Yu Bao deliberately carried its bowl over to Wu Bao, lay down, and raised its eyebrows in a perfect imitation of a famous scene from Kamen Rider.

’I’ve always wanted to see that look on your face... that look of you being jealous of me~’

”Alright, that’s enough...” Su Zhi, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, separated the two Treasures. Just as he was about to continue eating, two shadows suddenly fell over him.

”Which one o’ you is Su Zhi from Huai City?”

A female voice, thick with a Hundred Rivers accent, came from beside him.

Su Zhi instinctively looked up.

So big—

Su Zhi was referring to her eyes. They were very big. She was a girl with long, deep red hair and strikingly bright golden pupils, which gave her pretty face an ostentatious flair.

Compared to the quiet and reserved girls of Huai City, a girl from Hundred Rivers had a personality like that bowl of rice noodles—soft, yet refreshingly spicy. She left a deep impression, even at first sight.

Of course, another aspect of her was also quite large.

Su Zhi had to admit, even compared to Shao Ya, this girl was only slightly less impressive.

”You’re Su Zhi?” the red-haired girl asked, raising an eyebrow.

Su Zhi glanced at the other three Treasures at the table and blinked. ”It couldn’t be one of them, could it?”

”Quit the smart talk. Preparatory Alliance Member, Shen Chuqing from Celestial Paradise First Middle School.”

The young woman stuck out her thumb, pointed it at herself, and jutted out her chin.

”I’ve seen all your matches. I’m a big fan. I’m here to challenge you to a friendly match.”

”I refuse.”

”Huh? Whazzat?”

Su Zhi went back to eating his rice noodles and mimicked her accent. ”Busy, no time!”

Shen Chuqing’s lips curved into a smile. This time, she spoke in perfect standard Mandarin. ”You’re clearly just lost, aren’t you?”

Su Zhi’s body stiffened.

”Besides, aren’t you curious how I found you?”

Su Zhi asked curiously, ”Good point... how did you find me?”

”That jerk, Senior Gou, told me.”

Vice Alliance Leader Gou... Su Zhi’s eyes widened.

’Of course! If I’m lost, I can just ask him! I wasted the whole morning walking around for nothing!’

’This is so weird. Has my memory gotten this bad lately? I was lost for so long and it never even occurred to me...’

’Wait a minute. Does this mean Vice Alliance Leader Gou was watching me the entire time I was lost, but didn’t show himself?’

’Damn. A real dog, just like his name.’

”That jerk Senior Gou knows you’re lost. He’s busy right now and can’t get away, so he sent me to take you to the museum. Until he gets back, I’m yer guide.”

Su Zhi’s eyes lit up. ”Really? Thanks, Sis!”

”If you want to thank me, then have a Pet Beast Battle with me.”

”...” Su Zhi looked at her beautiful eyes, which were burning with fighting spirit, and was at a loss for words.

’Doesn’t this woman have a distant relative named Peng Kai or something??’

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