Chapter 65: Chapter 65: I’m So Stupid, Really
"Your Pet Beast is incredible!"
Before Su Zhi could even extend his right hand, Peng Kai had already grabbed it, shaking it up and down with excitement.
Cao Mingyu watched from below, completely stunned. ’He never thought this senior would be even more of a social butterfly than him.’
"Did you put together all those Skills yourself? What principle did you use to form them into a system? Why didn’t you build around a Core Skill?"
Peng Kai fired off a volley of questions, only pausing when he saw the question marks practically appearing over Su Zhi’s head. He looked slightly apologetic and said, "Sorry, I got too excited. I lost my composure."
"Ah, uh..."
Su Zhi snapped out of his daze. "It’s okay..."
"Good, if it’s okay, then hurry up and tell me!"
Su Zhi: "..."
Peng Kai froze again, but this time he didn’t bother with an apology. He just scratched his head and laughed heartily. "My bad, this is just how I am."
"It’s fine... My name is Su Zhi! It’s a pleasure to meet you, Senior!"
Su Zhi shook Peng Kai’s hand and added with admiration, "You must be on the city or provincial team, right? Your fighting style is so professional."
"And I have to say, your cosplay is really convincing!"
’Cosplay? He thinks I’m a... cosplayer of myself?’
Peng Kai tilted his head in confusion. After a moment of thought, he suddenly felt a pang of self-reproach.
’It’s true that I’m in a slump right now, listless and down. I’ve long since lost the spirited energy of ’Beast King’ Peng Kai from when I first debuted.’
’And this kid... he’s pure and sharp. He seems gentle, but he gives off an air that he can’t be trifled with.’
’It’s as if my past self is standing right in front of me!’
Peng Kai’s lips curled into a smile, his gaze toward Su Zhi now tinged with a hint of appreciation.
"Your criticism is spot on, Fellow Daoist. I am indeed just muddling through these days, nothing more than a poor imitation of my former self."
Su Zhi: "...?"
"But I will still face my inner self and overcome this slump!"
Peng Kai fanatically gripped Su Zhi’s hand. "I am Peng Kai, of the national team. It is an honor to meet you, the young man who has spurred me on in my moment of confusion!"
Su Zhi: "..."
??????
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「After the match」
Diya hadn’t been recalled to the Beast Taming Space yet. He stood alone, away from the crowd, staring at the battle-scarred ring.
He was filled with regret.
’I shouldn’t have used that move like that... That punch should have been cleaner... I should have feinted with this one...’
"Woof!"
Diya turned his head to see Yu Bao sitting behind him, a freshly opened bag of spicy gluten strips dangling from his mouth.
*Want some?*
"..." Diya stared eagerly at the spicy oil.
For a Fire Element Pet Beast, spicy was the most delicious flavor.
Diya had always been on the national team, where his diet and resources were provided by the Common Defense Alliance at the highest standard. He had never seen anything like this before.
"Sss?"
*What is this?*
"Woof!"
*Spicy strips! Fifty cents a bag!*
"...Sss."
Hearing they were only fifty cents a bag, Diya turned his head away, trying his best to look uninterested.
’He was a national team Pet Beast, a noble Nether Flame Spirit.’
’Even though he acknowledged Yu Bao’s strength, he would never stoop so low as to associate with a country mutt and eat some trashy snack from a backwater place!’
’Besides, how could something that only costs fifty cents a bag possibly be any good...’
"Woof woof." Yu Bao blinked.
*If you don’t eat it, I won’t be able to finish it and will have to throw it away.*
"Sss!"
Diya was taken aback and sternly criticized Yu Bao for being wasteful.
In the end—
To prevent waste, and to protect love and peace, Diya reluctantly accepted the spicy strips. MUNCH, MUNCH...
Meanwhile, Su Zhi was looking up the latest news about Peng Kai on his phone, his head buzzing.
’I’m so stupid, really.’
’I should have checked the news on my phone sooner...’
"Fellow Daoist Su, I’m ready!"
Having dealt with the annoying reporters and fans, Peng Kai eagerly ran back to Su Zhi’s side.
"I have to say, your criticism just now was brilliant! I’ve never heard a critique so refreshing, yet so profound and sharp!"
’Can I just say I didn’t recognize you?’ ... Su Zhi forced a smile. "You’re too kind... Actually, I watch your matches often."
"None of that formal ’you’ stuff! We’re both damn rebels, no need to be strangers!"
Peng Kai laughed and patted Su Zhi on the shoulder.
Su Zhi’s expression shifted from shock, to numbness, and finally to acceptance.
’Oh well,’ he thought. ’Even though I made a fool of myself, it’s not bad to get on good terms with a big shot.’
’Even if the way it happened was more than a little problematic.’
An old man in a black trench coat also walked up to Su Zhi and chuckled. "It’s a pleasure to meet you, you brilliant young man."
Su Zhi took a closer look, and his eyes widened. "You’re... Hall Master Yan from the Battle Hall?"
"Haha, the current Hall Master, yes."
Yan Dingyi smiled. "And I suppose you could say I’m the older cousin of your Vice Principal Yan."
Peng Kai patted Su Zhi with interest. "Oh? So you’re from the same school network!"
"Ah, it’s a pleasure to meet you, sir." Su Zhi was a bit overwhelmed by the attention.
’Hall Master Yan must have recognized me from watching my battle recordings.’
Yan Dingyi then asked curiously, "But child, it’s Thursday. Why are you here instead of at school?"
"I—"
"Allow me to explain on behalf of my good friend, Su Zhi!"
Cao Mingyu suddenly appeared—
Sixty-five seconds later, Cao Mingyu had successfully gotten friendly with the two big shots and described the unfair treatment Su Zhi had received in clear, concise terms.
Su Zhi watched, completely stunned. He was dumbfounded.
Of course, Cao Mingyu didn’t manage to blend in just by being a social butterfly; people of their high status often moved in the same circles, so it was normal for them to get acquainted quickly.
"So that’s how it is. It sounds outrageous, but if it’s Number One High, then I guess it’s normal."
Peng Kai scoffed in disdain. "It’s been ten damn years, and they’re still the same piece of shit. Truly living down to everyone’s expectations."
"Xiaokai, don’t use so much foul language in front of the younger students..."
Yan Dingyi put a hand to his forehead and shook his head with a sigh. "Student Su Zhi, we sympathize with your situation. However, we cannot interfere in the school’s internal administrative affairs. I’m very sorry."
"Actually, it’s not entirely impossible."
Peng Kai laughed. "But it would cause a huge, troublesome scene, and I doubt you’d want that."
"Yes, it’s alright."
A small smile played on Su Zhi’s lips. "If the school won’t let me train, then I’ll just find a place to train on my own. It doesn’t matter where you work hard."
"Well said, Fellow Daoist Su! Such a mindset... I’m ashamed of my own inferiority in comparison!"
Peng Kai gave Su Zhi a heartfelt thumbs-up.
’No, I’m just telling the truth, please stop reading so much into it,’ Su Zhi thought, tucking his hands into his pockets.
"While we can’t change the injustice you’ve already suffered, we can offer you a new opportunity."
Yan Dingyi looked at Su Zhi with a benevolent smile. "For example, how about considering the Common Defense Alliance?"
"J-Join the Alliance?"
Su Zhi was so surprised he started to stammer. "But... isn’t the hard requirement for joining the Alliance to be an Advanced Level Beast Tamer..."
An Advanced Level Beast Tamer—one whose Beast Taming Space has reached Tier Four, who has the ability to form contracts with two Two-star Pet Beasts, and who has contracted at least one Two-star Pet Beast!
Liu Junpo was a grad student—and a total research slave—and he had only just met the requirements to join. I heard he’s been grinding away on his Alliance application essay these past couple of days!
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(One more Chapter to come!)
