Beast Taming: Starting From Zero

The moment the girl appeared at Class Nine's doorway, the noisy and playful students fell silent instantly.

In Shengshui High School, if there’s anyone who currently holds the title of most famous, it’s definitely Qiao Sang.

Yesterday, Qiao Sang had just joined the senior team, and by that evening, the news had spread to every student living on campus.

When a figure like that appeared at their classroom door, everyone was understandably stunned.

“You know Qiao the Great?” A boy sitting next to Liu Qijia asked nosily.

“How come you never mentioned it?”

Liu Qijia gave him a glance.

“Not really. We just both joined the brick-breaking event during the last sports meet.”

“Yeah, right. If you didn’t know her, why would she come looking for you?”

“Like Dai Shushu, who keeps claiming she knows Qiao the Great, but we’ve never seen her come to find her, have we?”

“Believe it or don’t.” Liu Qijia tossed the words over his shoulder as he walked towards the door.

Everyone in the class turned to watch.

Liu Qijia walked with confidence.

Though he appeared calm, he couldn’t deny feeling a bit smug, though the feeling quickly faded.

“Is the gold glove ready?” Qiao Sang asked.

Liu Qijia weakly replied, “I asked, but the money’s not enough.”

Qiao Sang looked at him quietly.

In the silence, Liu Qijia felt himself wilting under her gaze.

Unable to bear it, he blurted out, “I just bought several huge tubs of energy powder to prep for the sports meet. I’m really low on funds.”

Qiao Sang could somewhat understand.

Though gold wasn’t the main currency these days, it was still widely accepted as a precious metal, and the price wasn’t much different from her previous life.

Since becoming a Beast Master, her allowance had increased significantly, but most of it went towards her pet beast, leaving little left over.

And here was a high school student, whom she expected to buy a gold glove as big as her hand, that was indeed a bit challenging.

After thinking for a while, Qiao Sang decided to be a good person.

She was about to summon Little Treasure to show his tiny paws so Liu Qijia could base the glove’s size on that.

Just then, Liu Qijia said, “I even told my parents about it, but my dad didn’t believe me at all. He thinks I’m trying to scam him out of money.”

As he spoke, he suddenly got excited.

“How about you come home with me and prove it to him!”

“Prove what?” Qiao Sang asked.

“Prove that the Treasure-Seeking Demon really can use Brick-Breaking!” Liu Qijia said.

“My dad promised that if I really lost to a brick-breaking Treasure-Seeking Demon, he’d never punish me again in this life, the next, or the one after that.”

Qiao Sang: …

“And he’ll pay for your gold glove!” Liu Qijia added.

It actually sounded like a good deal, going there in exchange for a larger gold glove…

Qiao Sang thought it over and said, “You board at school, right? How about we go this weekend?”

At Shengshui High School, boarders were allowed to leave on weekends, as long as they returned at the designated time.

Liu Qijia chuckled.

“Why wait until the weekend? Let’s go today.”

Qiao Sang was surprised. “Aren’t you a boarder?”

“I am.”

Liu Qijia said meaningfully, “but that doesn’t stop me from going out.”

Qiao Sang: ???

“Wait here.”

Liu Qijia called across the classroom, “Xiang Chengfei, come here!”

A cheerful voice responded, “On my way!”

Following the voice, Qiao Sang saw a boy with skin paler than most girls’. Sitting next to him was a familiar face.

Qiao Sang wasn’t surprised to see Dai Shushu in Class Nine.

With her grades, Dai Shushu could’ve stayed in the Elite Class.

But ever since the vice principal took charge of the senior team, a few top students each year were assigned to the Elite Class, sparking opposition from the teachers in Class Nine.

Although Class Nine wasn’t the Elite Class, it boasted high university acceptance rates thanks to its talented students. Occasionally, a standout student would even make it to top universities.

Now that some exceptional students were being placed in the Elite Class each year, the university acceptance rate was no longer secure, and the teachers naturally weren’t pleased.

As a result, in recent years, top-ranking students from entrance exams or those with recommendation letters often ended up in Class Nine.

Having been at Shengshui High School for over a month, Qiao Sang was well aware of this situation.

Dai Shushu was holding a book, appearing to read, but anyone watching closely would notice that she hadn’t turned a page since Qiao Sang arrived at the classroom door.

Qiao Sang had no idea that Dai Shushu was so distracted by her presence. She just glanced over, then looked away.

Though her academic scores might not rival Dai Shushu’s, she no longer felt any urge to see her as competition.

With different perspectives, goals change.

Qiao Sang’s only ambition now was to win first place in the senior national campus Beast Mastering League and earn a spot as an interstellar exchange student.

At that moment, the boy named Xiang Chengfei ran over and asked Liu Qijia, “What’s up?”

Liu Qijia placed a hand on his shoulder and lowered his voice, “I’m going out tonight. Same price, alright?”

Qiao Sang raised her eyebrows at the exchange.

Apparently, he had a special way of getting out.

“You’re going out with Qiao the Great?” Xiang Chengfei glanced at Qiao Sang, quickly looking away when he found her watching.

“Yep.” Liu Qijia replied.

“Are you in or not?”

“Of course! Why wouldn’t I be?” Xiang Chengfei responded immediately.

---

7:33 p.m.

As soon as training for the senior team ended, Qiao Sang went to their agreed spot.

Behind the school warehouse, near the wall.

Liu Qijia and Xiang Chengfei had been waiting for about ten minutes.

Seeing Qiao Sang approach, Liu Qijia eagerly said, “Let’s go!”

“Alright.” Qiao Sang nodded.

“Hurry up and summon your gatekeeper!”

Liu Qijia urged Xiang Chengfei, “I need to be back before curfew!”

“Chill.” Though Xiang Chengfei’s words sounded calm, his hands moved quickly.

A white star pattern appeared, and a pet beast emerged, a 30-cm creature with a brown, dome-like shell and four small paws.

Qiao Sang recognized this pet beast.

It was a Door Helmet, a ground-type pet with the door-opening ability.

When it stuck to a surface, it could transform it into a door, allowing free passage. Once it detached, the surface would return to normal, leaving no trace.

This made it popular among locksmiths, and Qiao Sang had seen it a few times.

“Gatekeeper, stick yourself to the wall.” Xiang Chengfei directed the Door Helmet.

“Door door.”

The Door Helmet nodded, scurrying over to the wall and adeptly placing its front paws on it.

“Hurry, I need to get back for evening self-study.” Xiang Chengfei said, pushing the Door Helmet against the wall.

The solid wall transformed instantly into a door shaped like the outline of the Door Helmet.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.” Liu Qijia crawled through the small, 30-cm opening with all the grace of someone climbing through a dog door.

Once outside, he popped his head back through the tiny doorway, calling, “Qiao Sang, come on!”

Qiao Sang stood silent for a moment before saying, “No need. I’ll use the main gate.”

Liu Qijia: ???