Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 4: Requesting Leave

Her mother hesitated. “Isn’t the Fire Fang Dog too aggressive?”

Attributes, talent, and potential are key factors Beast Masters consider without fail when selecting a pet beast.

Yet for novice Beast Masters, the temperament of the pet beast matters most.

Beginners often favor pets such as the Fat Dove, White Sand Fox, Short-Tailed Snake, Sand-Diggers, and Deepfur Turtle because of their mild dispositions.

Not every pet beast raised in pet centers boasts a tame nature or lacks aggression.

A beginner Beast Master contracting a fiery-tempered pet beast first would face challenges commanding it in fights and even basic training.

Last year, a South City boy fresh from high school entrance exams bonded with a Fire Sparrow.

Just days later, the Fire Sparrow chose backlash over maintaining the contract.

The boy suffered heavy damage to his brain domain, falling far behind classmates by the time he returned to high school.

The trouble began when the boy demanded the Fire Sparrow pose for his social media post...

This event even hit the headlines briefly.

Fire-type pet beasts tend to be rough and stubborn, and the Fire Fang Dog fits right in.

Qiao Sang saw it differently. She figured not every Fire Fang Dog shared the same fierce nature; surely some had milder tempers.

A whole species with uniform personalities would be downright boring otherwise.

“Mom, you mentioned I have talent in Beast Mastery. I believe the Fire Fang Dog is perfect for me,” Qiao Sang replied.

As a fire-type pet beast boasting powerful attacks, the Fire Fang Dog would qualify her for E-grade Beast Master status after evolving once.

Though cheaper than superpower-type pets like the Bubble Bell, the Fire Fang Dog still costs far more than something like the Fat Dove.

A Fat Dove goes for about 30,000, while a Fire Fang Dog runs around 100,000.

Qiao Sang knew their family finances well, and this price was within reach.

“Fine then. We’ll head to the pet center first thing tomorrow morning,” her mother conceded without more debate.

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At dawn the next day, Qiao Sang’s mother woke her up.

Urged by her mother, she dressed, ate breakfast, and left home in a mere ten minutes—by 7:06 a.m.

All the while, Qiao Sang’s eyelids sagged, showing she wasn’t fully alert.

They arrived at Hanggang Pet Center at 8:31 a.m., right when it opened.

Being so early, no other buyers were around for pet beasts.

No need for appointments or waiting in line.

A female staff member in her thirties greeted them with a warm professional smile.

“How can I help you?” she inquired.

“We’re here to purchase a Fire Fang Dog,” her mother declared straightforwardly.

“Right this way, please.” The staff led them ahead.

Her experience shone through as she kept explaining nonstop, easing any silence.

“Right now, our center has 27 Fire Fang Dogs, all in top shape. Two are nearing evolution. Of the other 25, 19 know Spark.”

“Plus, 7 have Fireball down pat. They stand a few centimeters taller than average, and 5 others…”

They reached the Fire Fang Dog rearing area during her rundown.

Before Qiao Sang drew near, a loud blast erupted, flames bursting five meters from her spot.

Startled, Qiao Sang leaped back and whipped around to the flame’s origin.

Two oversized Fire Fang Dogs bared flame-wrapped teeth at each other.

Fire Fang, the skill nearly all Fire Fang Dogs inherit, coated their teeth in fire.

The staff stayed composed, noting, “These two are pre-evolution Fire Fang Dogs. They clash nonstop to claim top dog status, but fights always end tied.”

Even as she explained, another flame blast landed four meters from Qiao Sang.

A chill raced down Qiao Sang’s back.

The staff gestured to bushes a short distance leftward.

“That Fire Fang Dog just fired the Spark you witnessed. Its strength stands out.”

Qiao Sang glanced over to see one Fire Fang Dog facing off against another, tension thick in the air.

True enough, they lunged into a fierce biting brawl moments later.

“They’re rivals battling for a female Fire Fang Dog’s favor,” the staff went on. “But it won’t pan out—the female prefers yet another one.”

Qiao Sang: “…”

After pausing to think, she queried, “Where’s the female Fire Fang Dog?”

Female Fire Fang Dogs often show calmer temperaments than males.

The staff smiled. “She’s the one egging them on from the sidelines—the female Fire Fang Dog.”

Qiao Sang blinked in surprise. Looking closer, she spotted a Fire Fang Dog with sleeker, softer fur than the brawlers, yapping excitedly from the bushes.

“Yah!”

“Yah!”

“She’s cheering them on,” the staff interpreted. “Doesn’t fancy either fighter but loves the spectacle of their rivalry over her.”

Qiao Sang: “…”

While Qiao Sang puzzled over it, the staff noticed her mother’s silence and offered, “Any particular Fire Fang Dog catch your eye? I can fetch it for a better inspection.”

Her mother shook her head. “I’m just accompanying my daughter. She’s the one set to contract a Fire Fang Dog.”

Understanding dawned on the staff. “Ah, that explains it. Your daughter must be a self-awakened Beast Master.”

Her mother beamed proudly. “What gave it away?”

“It’s Friday, and she’s still in her Wen Cheng Junior High School uniform—third-year junior high,” the staff replied.

“The Beast Master Alliance’s annual group awakening hasn’t happened yet. Without self-awakening, she couldn’t contract a pet beast now. Plus, skipping school’s tough during such key times.”

These were educated guesses on her part.

She recalled a recent case: a self-awakened girl from Wen Cheng Junior High who came with parents to contract a pet—and she’d served them.

Tonight, she’d chat with her husband about loans for a school district house; their son was in fourth grade already.

Her mother’s smile slowly froze.

Qiao Sang snapped out of it and asked, “Mom, did you call my homeroom teacher for today’s leave?”

Her mother chuckled awkwardly. “Haha, forget something like that? No way.”

“You got leave for yesterday, but today…” Qiao Sang pressed.

“Yesterday, I snagged two full days off for you straight away!” Her mother’s tone pitched higher without thinking.

Qiao Sang nodded. “Good to know.”

Inwardly, she let out a quiet sigh.

She pondered if her mother realized her voice always rose when fibbing.

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