Silence and darkness enveloped the surroundings, filled with an eerie quiet. A black figure suddenly approached, emitting a harsh laughter. It lacked limbs, only having a body resembling a human head, floating in the air, with dark red eyes fixated on the white-clothed girl as if she were prey.
In the next moment, the limbless body sprouted a hand with only two fingers, reaching toward the girl’s heart. The hand passed through her body and pulled back empty. The black figure stared in disbelief, eyes wide. The girl raised her head, and a face devoid of features slowly emerged in the scene…
“Ya!”
Fire Tooth Dog leaped into Qiao Sang’s arms. It didn't want to see anymore!
Qiao Sang gently patted its head, a bit regretful…
The next two days coincided with the weekend. Qiao Sang turned down Fang Sisi's offer to go out and decided to study alone at home. Aside from taking some time to register her Beast Master identity and Fire Tooth Dog's account at the Beastmaster Center, she spent the rest of her time buried in books.
Not knowing if it was due to the awakening of her Brain Domain, her memory was much better than in her past life. She could almost remember everything after just reading it once.
Soon, it was time to return to school.
“Fire Tooth Dog, be good. After school, I’ll let you out,” Qiao Sang coaxed the dog. Ever since Fire Tooth Dog got tired of the game in the Beastmaster Codex, it hadn’t gone back in. This time, Qiao Sang wanted it to enter again, but it showed signs of reluctance. It preferred being outside rather than in the Codex.
“Ya.”
Fire Tooth Dog shook its head, indicating it didn’t want to go in.
Qiao Sang felt a bit helpless. The school didn’t have strict rules against bringing pet beasts, but having Fire Tooth Dog outside when everyone else still didn’t have a contracted beast would attract too much attention. She didn’t want to be the center of attention.
“If you come in, I’ll buy you some red mush berries when we get back from school,” Qiao Sang tempted.
Fire Tooth Dog proudly turned its head away.
It didn’t want that.
Qiao Sang twitched her lips. Her mother had bought six red mush berries last time, and she had already fed Fire Tooth Dog four on the first day and one each on the following two days. Had it grown tired of them?
“If you don’t come in, I’ll just leave without you.”
“I’m leaving.”
“I really am leaving.”
Qiao Sang squatted down by the entrance, putting on her shoes and pretending to head out.
“Ya!”
Fire Tooth Dog suddenly leaped into her arms, raising its wet eyes pitifully to look at her.
“If you want to come with me, you have to go in first. I promise I’ll let you out right after school,” Qiao Sang said.
“Ya.” Fire Tooth Dog lowered its head, responding weakly.
Qiao Sang’s heart softened.
It was still a child after all.
Qingcheng Gardens was an area within the school district of Wencheng Middle School, only about nine kilometers away. One could take buses 23, 36, or 57, or the subway lines 5 and 7 to reach it directly.
Qiao Sang chose not to take the subway as she usually did.
On the 36 bus, Fire Tooth Dog joyfully stuck its head out of the window while Qiao Sang held it, feeling the wind ruffle its fur. It excitedly gazed at the outside world.
“Once we get to school, you have to behave and go inside, okay?” Qiao Sang said with a smile.
“Ya!”
Fire Tooth Dog responded energetically.
Qiao Sang couldn't help but pat its head. When they arrived, Fire Tooth Dog obediently let Qiao Sang tuck it away in the Beastmaster Codex, even happily wagging its tail.
…
In Class 37 of Wencheng Middle School,
“Did you finish your homework? Can I copy it?”
“Can’t you see I’m still writing?”
“…”
“Did you watch the competition in the Lianbo area yesterday?”
“Of course! I’ve been waiting in front of the TV since 7 PM. Lin Jinyang's blood-colored dragon was simply the coolest!”
“Exactly! And that golden-scale ant—I’ve never seen a golden one before! It almost blinded me!”
“…”
“Did you hear that Dai Shushu from Class 9 got recommended to Holy Water Middle School?”
“Weren’t there rumors last time that she was going to Li Tan Beastmaster High School?”
“It seems the spot was revoked.”
“No wonder; it’s the top high school in our province after all. Even Dai Shushu couldn’t get in.”
“Let’s see if you can even get into Holy Water Middle School.”
“…”
A slender figure appeared at the classroom door. When she walked in, the chatter suddenly quieted down.
Qiao Sang sat down and noticed some classmates secretly glancing at her. Sensing the strange atmosphere in the classroom, Qiao Sang touched her nose and leaned over to Fang Sisi, asking quietly, “Did you tell the class about my Self Awakening?”
Fang Sisi was furiously copying her homework and, only when she heard someone speak, did she realize Qiao Sang was there.
“Legends! You finally showed up!” Fang Sisi leaned closer with sparkling eyes. “I wouldn’t say anything without your permission. Do you want me to promote you in class?”
“Definitely not.” Qiao Sang shook her head quickly and then asked in confusion, “So why is everyone staring at me?”
“Didn’t your mother come to school twice? And then you asked for a day off and missed class. Everyone’s wondering if something happened to you,” Fang Sisi explained.
Qiao Sang was taken aback. “Missed class for a whole day?”
“Yeah.”
Though she had suspected her mother might have forgotten to ask for leave, it still weighed on her when she realized it was true.
Was the homeroom teacher going to drag her into the office for a verbal assault again…?
At that moment, Fang Sisi added, “Also, everyone knows you scored zero on the mock exam.”
The homeroom teacher didn’t directly call her out in class out of consideration for Qiao Sang's feelings, but later, the study committee head summoned her to the office and even called her parents to the school.
Had it ended there, perhaps no one would have been that interested, since it wasn’t uncommon for Qiao Sang to be scolded in the office for her poor grades.
But things became serious when the parents were involved.
Aside from fighting, Mew had rarely called parents to the school.
At the end of school, if Qiao Sang didn’t speak, the study committee wouldn’t mention it, and the homeroom teacher also wouldn’t say anything, so hardly anyone would know.
Yet the next day, Qiao Sang took a leave of absence, and the day after, she directly skipped class.
Taking leave and skipping class at such a critical moment made things quite obvious, igniting everyone's gossip flames. Before long, they figured out what had occurred.
Qiao Sang was both amused and helpless, but she didn’t feel much about it.
News spread quickly in their small school setting.
Her scoring zero and being called in parent involvement weren’t distorted facts. Perhaps children their age might feel ashamed if people knew, but not Qiao Sang; she felt no pressure.
“By the way, have you done your Spiritual Plant Analysis assignment? Can I copy it?” Fang Sisi poked Qiao Sang’s arm.
“I was absent, how would I know what the assignment was? Besides, you’re the fourth from the bottom in class; am I going to lose face copying from you, who’s third from the bottom?” Qiao Sang retorted, feeling speechless.
“Legends! I won’t allow you to say that about yourself!” Fang Sisi scolded, then made a pitiful expression. “I was just thinking your mom would come to school on Friday and might bring you your assignments. I envy all of you who don’t have to do homework.”
Qiao Sang: “…”
Ignoring Fang Sisi’s antics, Qiao Sang fell into deep thought.
It seemed she still didn’t know why her mother had come to school last time.
(End of this chapter)