"Liu Yi, look, we're first! 2791 points! 19 points ahead of Monte Beast Taming Academy! I think you deserve a lot of credit!"
Gao Xue walked over from the side, glancing at Li Chengying's phone screen. "You've looked at that no less than twenty times already."
"So what? I'm happy!" Li Chengying said, her voice full of conviction, as she tucked her phone into her pocket. "I'm going to have a good meal back at the hotel; these past few days have exhausted me."
Wei Tan'an followed from behind, his Sandstorm Scorpion beside him. "We're going back tomorrow. I'm actually a little reluctant to leave. The floating island scenery in the Monte Region is truly beautiful; we won't see it once we're back in Longwu."
"If you're reluctant, just take more photos," Chu Qian said. "I have dozens saved on my phone."
"Send me a few when we get back," Xie Jing chimed in.
The group passed through the player tunnel and headed towards the exit.
Liu Yi returned to room 1608 and released Ziyue, Chiying, and Jinyao.
The little golden lion landed on the carpet, looking up at her, its golden eyes full of accusation.
"Yanyan!"
You kept me cooped up for so long today!
Liu Yi chuckled at Jinyao's aggrieved expression, then crouched down and gently ruffled its head.
"The closing ceremony is over," she said. "Phase One is done, and we're in first place."
Jinyao's protests abruptly ceased.
It tilted its head, its golden eyes blinking.
"Yanyan?"
First place?
"Yes," Liu Yi nodded. "First place."
Jinyao's tail suddenly perked up.
"Yanyan!"
The entire lion began darting around the room again.
Ziyue, drawn by its commotion, peeked out from the windowsill.
Chiying also opened its eyes, watching the excited little golden lion spinning in circles.
Jinyao ran several laps before stopping, panting as it crouched by Liu Yi's feet, looking up at her.
"Yanyan!"
Does that mean we can go home now?!
Liu Yi was amused by its eager expression.
"Yes, we'll go back tomorrow."
Jinyao's eyes lit up, and its tail wagged even faster.
"Yanyan! Yanyan!"
Boxing Bunny! I want to battle Boxing Bunny!
"Alright, alright."
...
The next afternoon, in the hotel lobby, the School Team members had gradually all arrived.
Wei Xiuyu counted the members, and only after confirming everyone was present did she speak. "Let's go."
The maglev bus carried the Tianqi School Team members towards the airport.
"We're going back," Li Chengying said, leaning against the window, a hint of reluctance in her voice.
Gao Xue glanced at her. "Reluctant to leave?"
"A little," Li Chengying admitted honestly. "Even though the competition was exhausting, this place is really interesting. The floating islands, the sea of clouds, and the Arctic Frostfall at the Cloud Arena—"
"You just wanted to eat, didn't you?" Gao Xue exposed her, deadpan.
"So what!" Li Chengying retorted, unashamed. "Good food is part of traveling!"
Ouyang Qin sat in the front row, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Liu Yi leaned back in her seat, watching the scenery rapidly recede outside the window, her fingers lightly tapping on the armrest.
...
Longwu International Airport, Arrival Hall.
As the Tianqi School Team members exited the arrival channel, they immediately spotted a group of familiar figures in the waiting area.
"They're here! They're here!" Chen Yutong was the first to jump up, holding a handwritten support sign. On it, "Tianqi Beast Taming High School National League Phase One Return" was scrawled, alongside Q-version avatars of a Silver Snow Fox and a Moling Dragon.
Lin Xiaomeng followed behind her, also holding a support sign.
"Liu Yi!"
"Senior Ouyang!"
"Li Chengying!"
The arrival hall immediately became lively. Chen Yutong and Li Hao rushed forward first, with Lin Xiaomeng stumbling behind them, holding her support sign and almost tripping over her shoelaces.
"Why are you guys here?" Li Chengying was the first to greet them, her face filled with surprise and delight.
"To pick you up, of course!" Chen Yutong said matter-of-factly. "The whole school knows you're returning today, so a few of us came as representatives to welcome you! The school even sent a car; it's waiting outside."
As she spoke, her gaze searched through the crowd behind Li Chengying, quickly locking onto a silver-blue figure.
"Ziyue!"
Ziyue's ears twitched, and it poked its head out from beside Liu Yi's leg, its purple eyes calmly observing the excited students.
"Wow, it looks like it's grown a little bit more!" Lin Xiaomeng leaned closer, her eyes sparkling. "Its fur is even prettier now! Did you eat and sleep well in the Monte Region?"
"Bingbing."
Ziyue let out a cry, a hint of helplessness in its tone, but it didn't pull away from Lin Xiaomeng's outstretched hand, allowing her to gently pat its head.
Li Hao stood nearby, his gaze sweeping through the crowd before finally settling on Liu Yi.
"Liu Yi! I watched your match against Ji Hongyuan live!" His voice was filled with excitement. "A Rockwing Giant Lizard is an Advanced pet! Your Ziyue actually fought it to a draw! Everyone was stunned!"
Liu Yi nodded slightly. "Ziyue performed very well."
"More than just well!" Zhao Mingxuan squeezed through from behind, holding up his phone. The screen was frozen on the moment Ziyue unleashed Mirror Flower Water Moon. "I haven't seen this duplicate skill before. Did you just learn it in the Monte Region?"
"Yes," Liu Yi nodded. "I learned it in the Monte Region."
Zhao Mingxuan was about to press for more, when a cool voice came from the back of the crowd.
"Alright, don't block the exit."
Yan Xinliu pushed up her glasses and emerged from the crowd, followed by her Magnetic Cat Pipi.
She walked up to Liu Yi, scrutinized her from head to toe, then nodded. "No heavy dark circles, your complexion looks decent. Looks like you didn't stay up late in the Monte Region."
Liu Yi paused, then chuckled softly. "No, I didn't."
Yan Xinliu nodded in satisfaction, then stepped aside to clear the path. "The car's outside. Let's go."
Tianqi Beast Taming High School's bus was parked at the airport exit, with the Tianqi school emblem and a banner proclaiming "Welcome Home, School Team" affixed to its side.
The team members boarded the bus one by one, found their seats, and their luggage was stowed in the compartments below, making muffled thuds.
The bus drove away from the airport, heading towards Tianqi Beast Taming High School.
The street view outside the window transformed from the wide, flat airport highway to the narrow, congested city roads. Shops lining the streets changed from chain fast-food restaurants and convenience stores to pet supply stores, breeding material specialty shops, and several establishments displaying signs for "Pet Grooming" and "Skill Training Hall."
Everything felt so familiar, yet carried a long-absent sense of novelty.
Liu Yi leaned back in her seat, watching the familiar signs and buildings outside the window, a smile unconsciously forming on her lips.
The bus stopped at the school gate.
Principal Shen Zhuwen stood at the school gate, accompanied by several teachers. She wore a deep blue robe, her silver-white hair neatly coiled at the back of her head, and leaned on a staff carved with dragon patterns.
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