Chapter 972: Dragon Nation's Beastmaster Combat Team (Part 2 of 2)
Chapter 972: Dragon Nation's Beastmaster Combat Team (Part 2 of 2)
“Xunxun?”
Treasure Seeker called out in a low voice.
There was no response from inside the room.
Then, it had an idea and drifted through the door to the adjacent room.
“Qingqing?”
As it was floating down the corridor, Qingbao’s voice came from nearby.
Treasure Seeker turned its head and saw Qingbao appear out of nowhere.
“Xunxun?”
Treasure Seeker called out in a concerned tone, as if asking where Qingbao had been.
It hadn’t forgotten the humans from the Hollow Plains and their obsession with Fifth One. It was afraid that Fifth One might be captured if they weren’t careful. A few days ago, it had watched a movie about a too-popular familiar that was constantly being chased.
At the time, it had been relieved that it wasn’t that popular.
“Qingqing.”
Qingbao pointed to a nearby room and called out, indicating that new humans had moved in and it was checking if they were targeting their Beastmaster.
“Xunxun?”
Treasure Seeker’s expression turned serious.
Is that so?
“Qingqing.”
Qingbao shook its head.
No, those two humans have been playing games and haven’t done anything to our room.
“Xunxun~”
Treasure Seeker relaxed and called out.
Let’s go back then.
“Qingqing.”
Qingbao called out, indicating that Treasure Seeker should go back while it checked the other rooms.
With that, it used Wind Transformation and disappeared.
Treasure Seeker was taken aback for a moment, sensing the direction Qingbao had disappeared in, and quickly followed.
“Qingqing?”
After floating a few meters, Qingbao reappeared and stared at Treasure Seeker, puzzled, as if asking why it wasn’t going back.
“Xunxun~”
Treasure Seeker grinned.
I’ll go with you.
“Qingqing.”
Qingbao stared at Treasure Seeker for a few seconds, then smiled sweetly and continued in the original direction.
This time, however, it didn’t use Wind Transformation.
The two tiny shadows floated into one room after another. Their expressions shifted from initial seriousness to curiosity, and then to amusement as they watched the humans on TV, realizing that the humans couldn’t see them.
Their excitement grew with each room they entered, feeling a sense of joy similar to opening a blind box.
After checking all the rooms in the Beastmaster Center Residential Area, Qingbao looked around with a lingering sense of curiosity and then gazed at the brightly lit hotel nearby, calling out:
“Qingqing.”
Why don’t we check that place out too? It’s close by, and there might be humans who could notice the activity in our Beastmaster’s room.
“Xunxun!”
Treasure Seeker nodded eagerly.
Sure, let’s go!
…
Meanwhile.
In the brightly lit hotel.
26th floor.
A black rabbit familiar stood by the window, its ears perked up, listening to the sounds from the opposite side of the same floor.
“Can Eartipper hear that far?” a black-haired man with dark circles under his eyes asked skeptically.
“Don’t worry. I found it among thousands of Eartippers, and its Long-range Listener trait has reached B-Rank. It can definitely hear at this distance, though it needs to filter out the noise,” the squatter paparazzo said, holding a pair of binoculars and looking out the window.
A moment later, he put down the binoculars, also with dark circles under his eyes.
“Qiao Sang’s room lights are off; it looks like they’re sleeping,” the squatter paparazzo said.
“Steel Sword Falcon is still standing by the window, but its eyes are closed, so it’s probably sleeping too.”
He reflected for a moment and added:
“I didn’t expect Steel Sword Falcon’s sleeping habits to be like this.”
With that, the squatter paparazzo took out a notebook and pen and jotted down the information.
The black-haired man looked at the dark, seemingly peaceful room in the distance and asked quietly:
“Has Qiao Sang encountered any strange winds during their stay?”
Squatter Paparazzo, upon hearing this, clearly recalled those extremely grueling nights, and his face immediately turned grim. However, he still analyzed rationally:
"Veiled Fairy is Wind's Darling. Even if strange winds appear in her room, they will quickly subside."
"Every night, she seems to sleep soundly, and she hasn't encountered any mental attacks", the Black-haired Man said, feeling a bit resentful at the thought that he might have suffered on her behalf.
Squatter Paparazzo glanced at him and said:
"Didn't you see Qiao Sang's strength today? Even if someone tried to sabotage her room, it would have been dealt with."
The Black-haired Man's resentment instantly vanished, and he reflected:
"How could someone's Beastmaster talent be so high? Coach Tao from the National Beastmaster Bureau must have come specifically for her. As soon as Qiao Sang finished her match, she left."
Squatter Paparazzo replied:
"Otherwise, why would I give up on others to specifically stake out her? In this Regional Tournament, Qiao Sang is clearly the most talked-about. If she is selected by the National Beastmaster Bureau, the value of our future exposés will definitely increase."
The Black-haired Man smiled and was about to speak when suddenly, a strong gale swept through the room.
Before he could react, he was slammed against the wall with a loud "bang", feeling a sharp pain in his back. He then fell to the ground.
The Black-haired Man looked up, seeing the items in the room being blown around, completely bewildered.
"Li Er!"
Eartipper was blown out of the window. However, in the next second, it was controlled by an unknown force and returned to the room.
Squatter Paparazzo, caught off guard, was also slammed against the wall. He stared at the sudden gale, completely stunned.
A thought echoed in his mind:
Could it be that the illusion in the Beastmaster Center hasn't fully worn off?
After a moment, the two dared not stay in the room any longer. Huanran got up and fled the room.
The gale disappeared, and the items fell to the ground.
Treasure Seeker and Qingbao appeared in the room.
"Xunxun!"
Treasure Seeker exclaimed, surprised that the human who had appeared in the Beastmaster Center was now monitoring their Beastmaster here.
"Xunxun~"
It looked at Qingbao with an admiring expression.
Good thing you thought to check here as well.
"Qingqing."
Qingbao showed a shy expression, implying it was just to be on the safe side.
"Xunxun..."
Treasure Seeker recalled how Qingbao had seen two humans kissing in another room and had suddenly blown a gust of wind, knocking off the wig of one of the humans. A hint of suspicion flashed through its mind.
However, it then remembered the recent scene and Qingbao's current shy demeanor, and the suspicion instantly vanished.
It had originally thought that the Fifth One was just entering each room for fun, but now it seemed that it was genuinely looking for anyone who might harm their Beastmaster.
Qingbao glanced at the items scattered on the ground. Before it could show a "what should we do" expression, Treasure Seeker's eyes glowed blue, and it controlled the items, placing them back in their original positions.
"Qingqing~"
Qingbao looked at Treasure Seeker, then smiled, its eyes curving.
...
The next morning, at 7:30 AM.
Qiao Sang woke up naturally, checked the time, and quickly freshened up. She glanced at Fangy and Qingbao, who were still sleeping, and began meditating on the bed.
Morning meditation not only helps to expand the brain domain but also clears the mind.
Suddenly, there were two knocks on the window.
Steel Treasure looked at the mechanical bird familiar outside, which was about the same size as Treasure Seeker, and turned to Qiao Sang with a questioning look.
Qiao Sang, recalling Steel Treasure's thoughts, opened her eyes, glanced at the mechanical bird familiar outside the window, and said:
"Let it in."
Steel Treasure opened the window.
The Mechanical Bird Familiar hopped onto the table next to the window, and without a word, its black eyes lit up with a blue light.
In an instant, a holographic screen appeared, displaying the shadow of a person.
Qiao Sang, who now had a photographic memory, was not unfamiliar with the person on the screen.
It was Coach Tao from the National Beastmaster Bureau.
During the Host Description, the screen had provided a close-up of this person.
"Hello, Qiao Sang. I'm Tao Yun Kai", the woman on the screen said. "I'm from the National Beastmaster Bureau and currently serve as the Coach of the Dragon Nation Beastmaster Combat Team. If you're interested in joining the National Beastmaster Bureau, I'll be waiting for you in the Emperor Suite at the Emperor Hotel at six o'clock tonight."
As soon as she finished speaking, the holographic screen disappeared.
The Mechanical Bird Familiar flapped its wings and flew out the window without looking back.
Steel Treasure silently closed the window again.
Joining the National Beastmaster Bureau... Qiao Sang was momentarily stunned, but she didn't feel particularly shocked or flattered.
When the Imperial Beastmaster Academy had approached her to inform her of her acceptance, and when the Deans of various colleges at Yulinton University had expressed their admiration and tried to recruit her, she had become much more accustomed to sudden visits from these high-profile figures.
However, her heart still raced.
The National Beastmaster Bureau held significant importance for Dragon Nation.
It gathered some of the most powerful beastmasters in the country, primarily to compete in international and interstellar events.
One of these events was the Interstellar Cup.
To participate in the Interstellar Cup, the most crucial step was to gain the state's support to compete in the World Asian Beastmaster League.
This step alone had thwarted countless professional beastmasters.
The number of spots available to participate in the World Asian Beastmaster League was limited, and not all champions of two national-level events within a year could secure a spot.
Thus, obtaining a state-granted spot became the most critical step.
To gain the state's support, joining the National Beastmaster Bureau and becoming part of the Dragon Nation Beastmaster Combat Team was essential.
Was she about to come into contact with the National Beastmaster Bureau? Qiao Sang took a deep breath to calm her racing heart, picked up her mobile phone, and dialed Teacher Mikara's number.
After two beeps, the call was connected.
"Hello", Teacher Mikara's voice came through the speaker.
Qiao Sang got straight to the point: "The National Beastmaster Bureau just contacted me."
Mikara was silent for a second. "Where are you now?"
"I'm in my room at the Beastmaster Center", Qiao Sang replied.
"Wait for me", Mikara said and hung up the phone.
The next moment, Teacher Mikara, dressed in a silk strapless nightgown, appeared in front of Qiao Sang.
"You said the National Beastmaster Bureau contacted you?" Mikara confirmed.
Qiao Sang nodded. "It was Coach Tao Yun Kai, who was at the Regional Tournament."
Mikara thought for a moment and asked, "What did she want?"
Qiao Sang answered truthfully, "She said if I'm interested in joining the National Beastmaster Bureau, I should meet her at the Emperor Suite of the Emperor Hotel at six o'clock tonight."
As a student at the Imperial Beastmaster Academy, and with this identity expected to last for several decades, if she wanted to join the National Beastmaster Bureau, some of her time arrangements would inevitably conflict with those Teacher Mikara had planned. Therefore, she needed to inform her.
Migala said without a moment's hesitation:
"You should go see her tonight."
Pausing for a moment, she added:
"But I'll go with you."
Qiao Sang probed, "Are we going to talk about joining the National Beastmaster Bureau?"
Migala smiled and said:
"I know what you're worried about. It's a good thing that your country recognized your talent so quickly. Our school respects any student who represents their country in competition. Besides, you also represent the Imperial Beastmaster Academy. If you successfully participate in the Interstellar Cup, you'll be representing Blue Star."
Qiao Sang couldn't help but smile.
She had indeed made the right choice in selecting the Imperial Beastmaster Academy.
Steel Treasure silently glanced at Qiao Sang's Beastmaster, thinking to himself that it wasn't the Imperial Beastmaster Academy that had sought her out; she had initially thought the teachers who approached her were scammers and didn't believe she could get into this school.
Qiao Sang sensed something and suddenly turned to look at Steel Treasure.
Steel Treasure quickly averted his gaze.
...
6:00 PM.
Emperor Hotel.
Emperor Suite.
Inside the Vip room decorated in a typical Chinese style, a woman with black hair and fine lines at the corners of her eyes was sitting quietly, sipping tea. She looked to be around forty, dressed casually and relaxed.
This large Vip room was occupied by just a few people, which seemed like a waste... Qiao Sang, led by a server, walked into the Vip room, took a look at the layout, and reflected on the situation.
Tao Yun Kai turned around and, seeing that Qiao Sang was accompanied by a foreigner, was not surprised. He stood up and smiled, saying:
"You've arrived."
"Coach Tao, hello", Qiao Sang greeted.
Tao Yun Kai looked at Qiao Sang with an appreciative gaze and smiled, "Good, good, good! Please, sit down."
"Hello, my name is Migala, and I am Qiao Sang's mentor", Migala said, coming to the table and extending her hand with a smile.
Tao Yun Kai shook her hand, "Hello, I am Tao Yun Kai."
The three of them sat down one after another.
A familiar in a work uniform quickly served the dishes.
"Let's get straight to the point", Migala said, looking at Tao Yun Kai. "You want Qiao Sang to join the National Beastmaster Bureau, correct?"
"That's right", Tao Yun Kai said, turning to Qiao Sang with a serious expression.
"She is the most talented Beastmaster I have ever seen in the field of Beastmastery."
Qiao Sang feigned a bashful smile.
Tao Yun Kai asked, word by word:
"Do you want to join the National Beastmaster Bureau? More specifically, the Dragon Nation Beastmaster Combat Team?"
Qiao Sang nodded immediately:
"I do!"
There isn't a single Beastmaster who wouldn't want to join the State's Beastmaster Combat Team, just as there isn't a single Beastmaster who wouldn't want to participate in the Interstellar Cup.
"Great!" Despite knowing that no one would refuse to join the National Beastmaster Bureau, Tao Yun Kai couldn't hide his pleased expression.
Just as he was about to say something, Migala interjected:
"Qiao Sang is currently a student at the Imperial Beastmaster Academy. We are responsible for her regular training. I hope she won't undergo closed training. Whether she participates in certain competitions will be considered, and I will allow her to compete when the time is right."
Tao Yun Kai looked at her:
"Nothing fosters growth better than joining the national Beastmaster Combat Team and competing in the country's top professional tournaments."
Migala remained silent.
She was well aware of these tournaments. Given Qiao Sang's current strength, even if she were to participate, she would only be a reserve.
Tao Yun Kai conceded:
"What do you mean by 'when the time is right'?"
"When she becomes an A-Rank Beastmaster", Migala replied.
(End of Chapter)
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