Wei Xiuyu watched its antics and put down her book.
“You want me to play with you?”
“Yanyan!”
Jinyao released her pant leg, its tail held high, golden eyes full of anticipation.
Wei Xiuyu was silent for a moment, then stood up.
Jinyao immediately turned and ran towards the open space in the center of the room. After a few steps, it stopped again, looking back at Wei Xiuyu.
“Yanyan!”
Hurry up!
Wei Xiuyu walked over and crouched in front of Jinyao.
“What do you want to play?”
Jinyao tilted its head, thought for a moment, then opened its mouth and spat out a small ball of flame.
The flame flew towards Wei Xiuyu.
Wei Xiuyu didn't dodge.
She simply raised her hand and flicked her finger.
The ball of flame was dispersed by the airflow from her finger, turning into tiny sparks that vanished into the air.
Jinyao was stunned.
It looked at Wei Xiuyu's finger, then suddenly raised its head, its golden eyes wide with shock.
“Yanyan?!”
It chirped, its voice completely changed.
How did you do that?!
Wei Xiuyu: “Because you're still too young. Your control over your skills isn't enough, and their power is too weak.”
“Yanyan!” It chirped indignantly, wagging its tail back and forth.
Wei Xiuyu ignored its protest, sat back down on the sofa, and opened the book on the coffee table.
“You can try your other skills,” she said without looking up. “Beibei will be watching you.”
A low response came from the air.
“Paradox.”
Jinyao's ears twitched, its gaze lingering on the empty air beside Wei Xiuyu for a few seconds before it looked away, towards the open space in the center of the room.
....
The doorknob finally turned.
Jinyao suddenly raised its head, its entire body springing up from the carpet.
“Yanyan!”
It dashed towards the door, its four short legs moving swiftly.
The moment the door opened, Jinyao ran right to the entrance, nearly bumping its nose. It braked abruptly, its small paws slipping on the smooth floor, causing its body to lurch forward, but it quickly regained its balance.
It looked up, its golden eyes reflecting the figure outside the door.
Liu Yi stood at the doorway, backpack in hand, with Ziyue and Chiying beside her.
Jinyao pounced, its small paws wrapping around Liu Yi's ankle, its entire body pressing against her.
Liu Yi looked down at it.
“Yanyan!”
Jinyao released her ankle, stepped back two paces, and looked up at her, its golden eyes full of accusation.
You were gone for so long!
Liu Yi smiled, crouched down, and reached out to rub Jinyao's head.
“The competition is over,” she said. “I'm back.”
Jinyao squinted as she rubbed it, a comfortable purr rumbling in its throat. But it quickly opened its eyes again, stepped back, and looked up at Liu Yi, its golden eyes full of expectation.
“Yanyan!”
It chirped, its tail held high.
I practiced very well today!
Liu Yi paused, then turned to look at Wei Xiuyu on the sofa.
Wei Xiuyu closed her book and stood up.
“It's been practicing its skills this whole time.”
Liu Yi looked back at Jinyao.
“That amazing?”
“Yanyan!”
Jinyao's tail wagged even higher.
Wei Xiuyu walked to the door. “Try to break through 30% as soon as possible. This little one will surprise you.”
Liu Yi nodded. “Thank you for your trouble today.”
“No trouble at all.” Wei Xiuyu pushed the door open. “I'll be going now.”
“Goodbye, Teacher Wei.”
The door closed behind Wei Xiuyu.
The room was silent for a moment.
Then Jinyao pounced again.
“Yanyan! Yanyan! Yanyan!”
It chirped several times in a row, each cry filled with accusation.
You were gone for so long! Why did it take so long! I waited for so, so long!
Ziyue came around from behind Liu Yi and crouched beside Jinyao, a hint of amusement in its purple eyes.
“Bingbing.”
Master was only gone for a little over two hours, not that long.
Jinyao turned its head, its golden eyes glaring at Ziyue.
“Yanyan!”
Two hours is still a long time!
Ziyue opened its mouth, as if to say something, then closed it.
It remembered when it had just hatched, and Liu Yi went to school, out of sight for half a day. It had also paced anxiously in the living room. Auntie Chen had to hold and comfort it for a long time before it calmed down.
Chiying floated over from Liu Yi's side, hovering above Jinyao, its crimson eyes looking down at the ruffled little lion.
“Mo?”
Didn't you practice your skills this afternoon? Are you tired?
Jinyao's attention was immediately diverted. It released Liu Yi's knee, stepped back two paces, and looked up at Chiying, its golden eyes full of pride.
“Yanyan!”
Not tired! I'm very powerful!
Liu Yi took off her jacket, draped it over the chair back, and then sat on the sofa. Jinyao immediately followed, its small paws clinging to the edge of the sofa, looking up at her.
“Yanyan!”
Carry me!
Liu Yi reached out and scooped it onto her lap.
“Yanyan~”
It chirped, its voice soft and muffled.
“What did you practice this afternoon?” Liu Yi asked.
Jinyao opened its eyes, a flicker of excitement in its golden gaze. It stood up from Liu Yi's lap, jumped to the floor, and ran to the open space in the center of the room.
Its four short legs planted firmly, its body slightly lowered, it took a deep breath, and opened its mouth—
A small ball of flame shot out from its mouth.
The orange-red fireball arced through the air, hitting the edge of the carpet three meters away.
“Hiss—”
A small black scorch mark appeared on the edge of the carpet, emitting a wisp of blue smoke.
Jinyao turned its head, its golden eyes looking at Liu Yi, its tail held high.
“Yanyan!”
Liu Yi looked at the scorch mark on the carpet, then at Jinyao's expectant expression, and was about to speak when Jinyao moved again.
This time, it didn't stay in place but ran a few steps forward. As it ran, its front right paw suddenly glowed with an orange-red light, and flames spread from its claw tip to its entire paw, as if it were wearing a flaming glove.
It swung its paw fiercely.
“Whoosh!”
A flaming claw mark streaked through the air, carrying a scorching airflow, and struck the empty air in front of it.
Although there was no physical target, the trajectory of the claw mark was clearly visible, and the flames lingered in the air for half a second before dissipating.
Blazing Claw. A C-rank Fire-type skill. Scratches the target with a flame-covered paw, with a chance to inflict Burn.
For a lion cub that had just hatched a day ago, being able to fully unleash two C-rank skills already far exceeded Liu Yi's expectations.
Jinyao stopped and turned to look at Liu Yi.
“Yanyan!”
Liu Yi smiled and nodded: “That's amazing!”
Jinyao wagged its tail contentedly, then began to demonstrate its third skill.
This time it didn't attack. Instead, it stood still, closed its eyes, and took a deep breath.
A faint orange glow seeped from within Jinyao, circulating around its body. The light grew brighter, lasted for about two seconds, then gradually receded, re-entering Jinyao's body.
It opened its eyes, a sharp glint flashing in its golden gaze.
Liu Yi's eyes paused.
Charge.
Increases its own Attack by 10%, and doubles the power of Fighting skills used next turn.
Fighting skills.
Rate on N.U.
