Three years?

Qiao Sang was shocked.

Beastmasters typically entrusted their beasts to beast training centers for short periods, daycare, weekly care, maybe a month at most.

She had never heard of long-term care spanning years!

And this was a full three-year stint!

Three years!

How many three-year spans does one have in life?

For young beasts, three years could mean half their lives. If Lubao hadn’t evolved back then, she might have only had three more years before her time was up, a huge portion of her short life!

No normal Beastmaster would ever make such a decision!

“Have they really not come to see it in all this time?” Qiao Sang couldn’t help but ask.

“Yeah.” Liu’s father nodded.

“To be exact, it’s almost three and a half years. They’ve paid the boarding fees every year, but haven’t shown up once.”

Great, so it’s been even longer than three years.

“Could it be that they’re…gone?” Qiao Sang speculated.

From her perspective, unless the Beastmaster had passed away, she couldn’t imagine any reason why they wouldn’t come to see their own beast in three years.

Liu’s father’s mouth twitched.

“He’s still alive, actually. He lives just two kilometers away in Tianjing One. He comes back every New Year, but hasn’t stopped by to see Jianzhan at all.”

Qiao Sang’s initial question already had her realizing that her assumption was off.

If a Beastmaster had died, no matter how far away, their bonded beast would immediately sense it.

Jianzhan wouldn’t be standing around foolishly waiting for a Beastmaster who was no longer alive.

Qiao Sang’s second guess was that Jianzhan’s Beastmaster might be stuck somewhere due to an emergency, but she hadn’t expected he’d come back every year and still not check on Jianzhan.

This left her a bit baffled. Frowning, she asked, “Why?”

Perhaps because the young girl before him didn’t come off as an immature high schooler, or maybe he just needed to get it off his chest, Liu’s father shared his thoughts.

After a brief silence, he said, “Most Beastmasters who board their beasts here are nearby residents. I haven’t had much interaction with Spike Warrior’s Beastmaster, but I’ve heard a bit from people who stop by.”

“Apparently, a few years back, that guy hit it big and formed a bond with a Fairy-type beast in a secret realm. Since then, he’s poured all his attention into that beast, neglecting the ones he bonded with previously.”

“From what I’ve heard, the Fairy-type beast didn’t get along well with Spike Warrior. Later, Spike Warrior sustained an injury in a battle, which wasn’t treated promptly, leading to lingering issues. Even if it heals, high-intensity training could trigger a relapse.”

“So, he sent Spike Warrior here. Seeing as he hasn’t visited in over three years, I think it’s fair to say he’s abandoned it.”

“Some people are like that. Once they get a favorite beast, the others just feel like burdens.”

“But they’ve already formed a bond, and while they can’t break it, they don’t want to invest in caring for the others. So they send them off somewhere.”

“Like here.” As Liu’s father spoke, his tone grew heavier.

“As long as the beast stays alive, it’s fine by them. If it evolves, even better, they’re only paying a bit of money and don’t consider what their bond means to the beast!”

Qiao Sang stayed silent, tightening her hold on Lubao slightly.

Lubao looked uncomfortable but didn’t struggle or make a sound. She simply glanced up at Qiao Sang, seeming to sense her mood, and cleared her throat.

“Lu lu…”

“Xun xun!”

Next to them, Little Treasure had a look of panic and hurriedly tugged at a strand of Qiao Sang’s hair.

Stop daydreaming! Something’s happening!

Qiao Sang snapped back to attention and rubbed the spot on her head that was tugged, wincing.

“What is it?”

“Xun!”

Little Treasure, trembling, pointed a paw at Lubao.

The moment he did, Lubao opened her mouth:

“Lu lu~”

“Xun!”

Qiao Sang: !!!

What the heck! Why are you singing all of a sudden? And why does it sound worse than yesterday?! Qiao Sang instinctively covered Lubao’s mouth.

Please! Stop singing!

“Lu…”

Lubao stopped singing, gazing up at Qiao Sang with a questioning look.

Feeling uncertain, Qiao Sang said, “Okay, I’ll let go, but don’t start singing again.”

Lubao nodded.

Relieved, Qiao Sang let go.

“Lu?”

After being released, Lubao called out, maintaining her usual aloof look. But if one looked closely, they’d notice a hint of seriousness in her gaze.

Is that better?

Qiao Sang blinked.

“Better…how?”

“Lu.”

Lubao responded.

Your mood.

Realizing what Lubao was getting at, Qiao Sang was surprised to find that her earlier discomfort had completely disappeared.

She was stunned.

What?!

Could its song actually have an effect?!

Did it just master a healing soundwave?!

If Little Treasure knew what his Beastmaster was thinking, he might just have a heart attack on the spot.

“Xun…”

Little Treasure sighed wearily beside them.

He had no idea if his master was feeling better, but he definitely was not…

Just then, Liu’s father looked at Lubao with a pale face and asked, “What kind of beast is this? Why did it suddenly use a soundwave attack?”

“Yan!”

On the sidelines, a beast that had been doing a stable one-handed handstand suddenly wobbled for the first time that day due to Lubao’s song.

Qiao Sang: …

“Lu!”

Before Qiao Sang could answer, Lubao turned to glare at Liu’s father.

A soundwave attack? It was a healing soundwave! A healing skill!

“It’s an Ice Qiya, a beast from the Ancient Guwu Region.” Qiao Sang introduced.

As she finished speaking, Liu Qijia and his Power Monkey entered, carrying three chairs.

“Dad, Qiao Sang’s the one who beat me with her Treasure-Seeking Demon in the bare-handed Brick-Breaking event I told you about.” Liu Qijia said as he placed a chair beside Qiao Sang.

“You didn’t believe me, so now that she’s here, let her Treasure-Seeking Demon demonstrate its Brick-Breaking move for you.”

After saying this, he gave Qiao Sang a meaningful look that clearly said, It’s all up to you now!

Qiao Sang was taken aback, remembering her original reason for coming here.

Oh wow, she had almost forgotten about the golden glove!

“Really?!” Liu’s father looked astonished, as if his whole understanding of the world had been shaken.

Qiao Sang, however, was calm.

“Yes.”

She nodded serenely and said, “Uncle, can my Treasure-Seeking Demon demonstrate now? I still need to get home and finish my homework.”

“Xun!”

Little Treasure floated forward, flexing his paws with a ready to go expression.

“Lu.”

Lubao glanced at Qiao Sang, then at Little Treasure, before turning toward the door.

After looking at it for a few seconds, Lubao jumped down from Qiao Sang’s arms and headed outside.