Just then, the back door opened again.
Auntie Chen hurried out, followed by Fluffy Butler, whose fur glowed with excited pink light. Boxing Bunny trailed behind them, having recovered from its earlier shock.
Auntie Chen crouched down to look at Jinyao.
Jinyao looked up at her, its golden eyes blinking. Then it took a step closer and gently nudged Auntie Chen's outstretched finger with its nose.
“Yanyan.”
Auntie Chen’s finger trembled slightly, then she smiled. “So well-behaved.”
Fluffy Butler floated over from behind Auntie Chen and hovered in front of Jinyao.
“Come inside,” Auntie Chen said. “Dinner’s ready, and I’ve already prepared Ziyue and Chiying’s latent energy pills. We were just waiting for you.”
Liu Yi nodded and led her three pets into the house.
Jinyao trotted at her heels, its four short legs moving quickly. It almost tripped over the threshold at the door but used its paws to grip the doorframe and steady itself before continuing inside.
The warm yellow light in the living room was soft. A plate of sliced fruit sat on the coffee table, and the TV was on, its volume low, playing a recording of a pet combat match.
Jinyao stopped in the center of the living room, looking up at the unfamiliar space. It eyed the crystal chandelier overhead, the floating island landscape painting on the wall, the plate of fruit on the coffee table, and finally, a corner of the living room.
There was nothing there, but Jinyao stared at it for several seconds before turning its head to look at Liu Yi.
“Yanyan?”
What is that place?
Liu Yi followed its gaze, a slight smile playing on her lips. “That’s where the awakening chamber used to be.”
Jinyao tilted its head. “Yanyan?”
What awakening chamber?
“The one you were in before you hatched.”
Jinyao’s eyes lit up.
Yi smiled at its expression, saying nothing.
Auntie Chen brought out the dishes from the kitchen. Ziyue and Chiying’s latent energy pills were already placed on their respective exclusive plates.
Jinyao smelled the aroma and immediately ran back from the corner, squatting by the dining table, looking up at the plate in Auntie Chen’s hand, its tail wagging rapidly behind it.
Auntie Chen placed a plate of sliced energy meat in front of Jinyao. “This is yours.”
Jinyao looked down at the energy meat, then raised its head, its golden eyes fixed on Auntie Chen, and let out a cry.
“Yanyan?”
Can I eat it?
Auntie Chen paused, unable to understand the words, but she could guess from Jinyao’s eager expression. “Go ahead and eat.”
Jinyao immediately buried its face in the plate and began to eat ravenously.
Ziyue squatted nearby, her purple eyes watching Jinyao devour its food, her tail gently swaying.
“Bingbing.”
Eat slowly.
Jinyao lifted its head from the plate, meat scraps clinging to its muzzle, its golden eyes looking at Ziyue. “Yanyan?”
What did you say?
“Bingbing.”
Eat slowly, don't choke.
Jinyao tilted its head, seemingly pondering the meaning of “choke,” but soon lowered its head again and resumed eating fiercely.
Liu Yi sat at the dining table, picked up her bowl, and took a piece of pork rib.
Auntie Chen sat opposite her, holding chopsticks, her gaze fixed on Jinyao.
“Did it hatch smoothly?” Auntie Chen asked. “Were there any abnormalities?”
“Quite smoothly,” Liu Yi said. “It was very energetic after hatching, slept after drinking nutrient solution, and could breathe fire on its very first day.”
Auntie Chen’s chopsticks paused. “Breathed fire on its very first day?”
“Yes.” Liu Yi nodded. “It can use Spark, Blazing Claw, Charge, and Tail Sweep. Charge and Tail Sweep are Fighting-type skills, so its secondary attribute is Fighting.”
Auntie Chen was silent for a moment, then sighed. “Truly your pet.”
Liu Yi smiled.
Her phone vibrated.
She put down her chopsticks and took out her phone.
It was a group message from 【Did You Work Hard Today Too?】.
【The Beautiful Master of Cute Shadow: @Yi Are you home yet, are you home yet?】
【Yi: Yes, I’m eating now.】
【Zimeng's Dream: We’re back too! Longwu’s air has that familiar scent. Smelling water vapor every day in Yunlin was driving me crazy.】
【Green Lamp with Clouds: The humidity in Yunlin is high, my Candle Spirit isn’t quite used to it.】
【The Beautiful Master of Cute Shadow: Zell Region is even crazier. The swamp mist has visibility under five meters, my Shadow almost got lost.】
【Zimeng's Dream: Speaking of which, has Phase Two been announced? When does it start? Where will it be held?】
【Yi: Not yet, waiting for news.】
【The Beautiful Master of Cute Shadow: Phase One just ended, the organizing committee probably needs a few days to tally everything before announcing Phase Two’s arrangements. No rush, just use these days to get some good rest!】
【Zimeng's Dream: Rest? I still need to train Little Dian. It just evolved, and its skill proficiency is still far behind.】
【Green Lamp with Clouds: Remember to rest alongside training. Overtraining can be counterproductive.】
【Zimeng's Dream: Got it, Nanyun Mama!】
【Green Lamp with Clouds: ...】
Liu Yi watched the screen, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Jinyao finally finished the energy meat on its plate, let out a tiny burp, then contentedly flopped onto the carpet, closing its eyes.
Its belly was round, its four short legs stretched out, the entire lion flattened into a golden rug.
Fluffy Butler hovered above Jinyao, its fur glowing with a gentle pink light, like a floating pink cloud, softly settling beside Jinyao.
In its sleep, Jinyao twitched its ears, snuggled closer to Fluffy Butler, and buried its face in the fluffy fur.
Fluffy Butler’s fur glowed an even deeper pink.
Liu Yi finished her last bite of food and put down her bowl and chopsticks.
“Auntie Chen, I’ll take them upstairs now.”
Auntie Chen nodded. “Go on, get some rest.”
Liu Yi thanked her, then bent down and scooped up Jinyao, who was sprawled on the carpet.
Jinyao was suddenly suspended in the air and groggily opened its eyes. “Yanyan?”
“Time to go upstairs and sleep,” Liu Yi said.
Jinyao blinked, rested its head on her shoulder, and closed its eyes.
Liu Yi walked up the stairs and opened her room door.
The room was arranged exactly as she had left it. Several Beast Taming-related books were on the desk, and her notebook lay open, still displaying the training plan she had written before leaving.
Liu Yi placed Jinyao on the bed. Jinyao rolled around on the sheets, found a comfortable spot to lie down, and quickly fell back asleep.
Ziyue jumped onto the bed and lay down beside Jinyao, while Chiying coiled up at the foot of the bed.
Liu Yi sat down at her desk and opened her notebook.
Phase One of the competition was over.
However, the arrangements for Phase Two had not yet been announced. Subsequent training plans needed to be drafted in advance, especially for Jinyao’s development.
As a Radiance Shift individual, it also had the Fighting attribute and could use skills right after hatching. Its talent was definitely outstanding.
If possible, Liu Yi still wanted Jinyao to get some training in the Phase Two competition, as long as it didn’t affect the overall outcome.
Rate on N.U.
