With the help of Little Treasure’s translation, Qiao Sang learned two things.

First, Water Luriana likes Yabao.

Second, Water Luriana is willing to form a contract.

Qiao Sang stood there in shock. These two revelations echoed in her mind, leaving her unsettled for a long time.

Yabao is still just a child!

And yet, Water Luriana… She’s actually willing to form a contract with Yabao!

Thinking about this, Qiao Sang felt a pang of regret. Why hadn’t she started practicing meditation earlier?

If she had, maybe by now, she’d have unlocked the third page of her Beast Master’s Codex!

It wouldn’t be this awkward situation where a national treasure-level beast is willing to contract with her, but she has no way to make it happen.

After a long silence, Qiao Sang solemnly said to Water Luriana, “Please wait for me a little longer.”

“Lu~”

Water Luriana glanced at Yabao, then, with a slightly embarrassed expression, nodded to show she was okay with it.

Qiao Sang noticed this and looked away awkwardly.

“Yabao, make sure you two get along from now on.”

“Yap!”

Yabao wagged his tail and let out a cheerful bark, his gaze pure and innocent.

He understood that this elderly pet would be sticking around with his Beast Master from now on, just like Little Treasure.

After spending time together, and with Water Luriana having healed him recently, plus considering Water Luriana’s age, Yabao no longer held the same prejudice against her.

“Xun!”

Little Treasure chimed in, asserting his presence.

“Yes, and you too, Little Treasure.” Qiao Sang added.

In the courtyard, Water Luriana was demonstrating the Water Stream Jet attack she had just learned.

Qiao Sang’s attention was split; she watched Water Luriana but also kept half her mind on another thought: Watching Water Luriana, she couldn’t help but feel that maybe it had forgotten the conversation they’d once had about needing heartbreak to trigger her evolution.

Should she remind her?

But then again, if Water Luriana was mentally prepared for heartbreak, would the experience still go smoothly?

As Qiao Sang pondered this, Water Luriana, mid-air, lost control of her momentum and began to plummet downward.

Seeing this, Yabao instantly teleported, catching Water Luriana on his back.

“Lu…”

Water Luriana opened her eyes and, upon realizing she was on Yabao’s back, blushed shyly.

“Yal!”

Yabao barked, indicating he was simply doing what he should.

He remembered his Beast Master’s instructions well: He had to get along with Water Luriana from now on.

Since they would be companions, there was no way he could watch Water Luriana bury her head in the dirt again.

Qiao Sang witnessed the whole scene from the sidelines.

She had initially suspected that Water Luriana had forgotten her own evolution condition; now, she was sure, she had definitely forgotten.

Water Luriana hopped off Yabao’s back.

Qiao Sang stepped forward and commented, “Not bad. Your Water Stream Jet is almost there. Just needs a little more control over the energy.”

When Water Luriana suddenly learned a higher-difficulty intermediate skill, Qiao Sang was only momentarily surprised.

After all, both Yabao and Little Treasure had learned advanced skills early on, even while they were still in the beginner stage.

She had already developed a strong mental resilience against this kind of shock.

Though her mind had wandered a bit just now, the other half of her attention was fully on Water Luriana’s Water Stream Jet.

Not being able to adjust the jet’s direction properly was simply due to insufficient energy control.

“Lu?”

Water Luriana asked, wondering what it should do next.

“One word, practice.” Qiao Sang said with a smile.

A pet’s strength requires long-term training, though there is a shortcut: resources.

Qiao Sang had something unique. Besides resources, she had another shortcut: Her golden finger.

If she could contract with Water Luriana, she wouldn’t have to worry about mastering Water Stream Jet; once performed successfully, she’d ensure Water Luriana had full control over it.

“Lu!” Water Luriana nodded, turning to resume training Water Stream Jet immediately.

Her drive to become stronger wasn’t as intense as before. After all, the person who had been relentlessly pursuing her was now gone, and she had found herself a Beast Master.

Having a Beast Master meant she wouldn’t be chased and forced into a contract anymore, which was part of why she was willing to contract.

But with Yabao working so hard, training every day, surely he would like the best version of herself too!

With this thought, Water Luriana’s expression firmed up, and she dedicated herself fully to training.

The next morning.

Qiao Sang entered the classroom and immediately began meditating at her seat.

This time, she wasn’t being influenced by her surroundings; she genuinely wanted to meditate.

Her top priority now was to unlock the third page of the Beast Master’s Codex. Once she had the third page, many issues would be solved.

First, with the third page, she could contract with Water Luriana, and even if others tried to interfere, it wouldn’t matter.

Second, she could plan for Water Luriana’s evolution earlier.

Since Water Luriana agreed to contract for Yabao’s sake, if she experienced heartbreak before the contract, she might flood the place, swish her tail, and leave without a trace.

With Water Luriana’s previous personality, this was highly likely.

Finally, the skill-learning process could be sped up.

With her golden finger, Water Luriana could either learn new skills or master current ones to their highest potential, even if she had limited natural aptitude.

When Qiao Sang finished meditating, Jin Feifan glanced at her watch. Five minutes remained before the first class.

She turned and asked in a low voice, “Is everything sorted out?”

“All sorted.” Qiao Sang replied with a smile.

After she’d taken leave yesterday, Jin Feifan had messaged her to ask, though Qiao Sang had only mentioned she’d had a minor issue, omitting the fever.

“That’s good.”

Jin Feifan said with a smile, then added, “By the way, yesterday the class was supposed to select participants for the sports meet, but since you were absent, we all agreed to postpone it to today.”

Qiao Sang: ...

She understood. In every sports meet, it was typically the underachievers who represented the class.

And she was the fighter among underachievers.

“Isn’t it early for a school sports meet? School just started.” Qiao Sang asked.

“I heard it’s at the end of September, but they want to pick participants early. Knowing the events beforehand gives them more time to train.” Jin Feifan replied.

Qiao Sang understood. The Beast Master high school’s sports meet was different from ordinary schools.

Most events involved pet beasts, while others required Beast Master and pet cooperation.

For freshmen who had only recently become Beast Masters, these events required familiarization and extra practice.

“Is there an event you’re interested in?” Jin Feifan asked.