Chapter 529

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

The two looked at each other, temporarily losing the carefree mood for fun.

Let's find people first.

At least gather our own teammates first, then we'll see.

Shen Yao and Zhou Lan each had candidates in mind; they found a deserted spot, exchanged a few words, and decided to look for teammates with offensive attributes first.

Entering the Secret Realm — safety aside for the moment — without sufficient strength, they wouldn't be able to smoothly harvest the target herbs for this mission.

Historically, the herbs needing harvest are guarded by wild pet beasts; they couldn't very well fail the practical and end up delayed in graduating.

"Classmate, excuse me, you..."

Wearing a smiling face, Shen Yao and Zhou Lan went down the line asking one by one from the start.

Luck wasn't bad; by the fifth person asked, the other party hesitated a moment, then finally nodded.

"But my Boxing Little Child is only Mortal Tier, currently in its Development Period; as long as you don't mind it dragging you down."

After speaking, that person scratched their head embarrassedly, clearly feeling they'd be looked down upon.

No wonder — no matter how proper Beast Taming University is, the people inside all have some tier discrimination.

Simply put: high-tier look down on low-tier, strong combat power looks down on weak combat power; especially some high-tier pets with no real skill, they're basically the objects of disdain.

Shen Yao and Zhou Lan's pet tiers were decent, each with capabilities, but they couldn't overcome being girls, and being unknown at school (in every respect).

The previous four asked — some had joined squads early, some worried Shen Yao and Zhou Lan would drag them down; the person before them, though a bit lower in tier, had offensive means, which was at least better than none; Boxing Little Child or not, a fighting-type pet beast, even at Mortal Tier, isn't weaker than a typical Yellow Tier.

Zhou Lan formally introduced herself and Shen Yao, then exchanged names and contact info with this person, finally pulling this ragtag crew together.

"To find a pet beast skilled in defense, our class already has their picks; let's go ask next door in Class Four."

Tian Qing pursed her lips, carefully gesturing to the circle of people behind her; she was the Beast Tamer of the Boxing Little Child, from Beast Taming Class Two.

Seeing this, Zhou Lan made a hand signal, then pulled Shen Yao to move behind Tian Qing.

Rowdy music and clinking wine glasses frequently appeared in their field of vision; who knew if they'd come early or late — finding team partners proved difficult in various ways.

'Understandable too — two years here, the original host and friends had quiet, gentle dispositions, neither able to make the reputation they should have, nor possessing a powerful family background to inspire envy.

Utterly ordinary and unremarkable; in a world where danger occurs from time to time, others simply wouldn't pay attention,' let alone team up.

Having enjoyed the benefit of two years' peace, they must endure others' pickiness.

Fortunately, Class Four wasn't as arrogant as Class Two; ordinary people were the majority inside.

After asking several in succession, Shen Yao found someone with a Transparent Jellyfish; a Yellow Tier Transparent Jellyfish is a proper defensive pet beast — its Light Screen can block most attacks from same-tier and lower pet beasts.

"But I already have teammates; I can't agree to team up with you."

The girl spoke softly and gently, her long, thick lashes fluttering like dancing butterflies.

Good-looking people always inspire favor; Shen Yao was about to try again — after all, those bad at lying like to blink and avert their eyes; a desirable candidate was hard to come by, she shouldn't give up just like that.

Result: Shen Yao smiled, said goodbye, turned and walked toward the dining table not far away.

Girl:...

Zhou Lan:...

"How come you're back? Not going to keep talking?" Zhou Lan stared wide-eyed, a face of bewilderment.

Shen Yao waved a hand, "She has teammates; we're just small arms and legs — not suitable."

Zhou Lan was a bit anxious, "What's unsuitable? That's a Transparent Jellyfish; as long as it's not too severe..." it wasn't unbearable either.

Shen Yao spread her hands, picked up a piece of Filled Chocolate Ice Cream and put it in her mouth, "Cheng Dong."

Zhou Lan let out a "gah" at those words, What!

"Exactly what you're thinking," that person is Cheng Dong's confidante, quite well-known in Class Four.

If not for Cheng Dong recently being targeted miserably because of Yang Huihui's matter, causing others' heat to drop, Shen Yao wouldn't have been able to ask that person at all.

Zhou Lan had already regained her senses, understanding her friend's choice wasn't wrong; they truly couldn't get involved with Cheng Dong, otherwise with Class Two's behavior style, they'd nine times out of ten be displaced anger targets.

"Alright, keep asking others; defensive pet beasts aren't as sought-after as offensive ones," without the Transparent Jellyfish, there are other jellyfish.

Shen Yao searched hard again, and finally managed to catch a slip-through-the-net.

"I, I, I agree," the somewhat stammering, socially anxious youth trembled as he took out his phone to exchange contact info with Shen Yao, "Phew, don't mind me, I'm slow at speaking; we can just use phones for communication later.

Right, I'm Chang Lei, my pet beast is a Thick Earth Turtle in its Mortal Tier Development Period.

Xiao Tu may be a Mortal Tier pet beast, but its defense is strong; if we encounter trouble we can hide directly under Xiao Tu's belly — ordinary Yellow Tier pet beasts can't break Xiao Tu's turtle shell."

Large paragraphs of text were sent to Shen Yao's eyes via the phone screen, leaving her quite helpless.

But this works too; socially anxious or not, they don't need to chat.

Pulling Chang Lei into the small group, all four stated their pet beasts' situations, then just waited for the practical to start the day after tomorrow, to enter the Secret Realm.

"Now that we're done, relax more; us students coming out once isn't easy," Zhou Lan had already picked up a drink from the table and started drinking freely.

The atmosphere here is great; as long as we don't talk about studies, anyone can converse harmoniously.

With the team-formation stone off her heart, Shen Yao followed with a breath of relief.

Patting Zhou Lan's shoulder, picking up a glass cup with a light wine fragrance, Shen Yao walked to a chair at the side and sat down.

'System, found the mission target yet?'

The system popped up, giving Shen Yao a rather regretful feedback, 'Cui Hengxin isn't on this floor,' or rather, some people (specifically those with power and influence) are all upstairs.

'What about Cheng Dong?'

'Also upstairs.'

Shen Yao raised an eyebrow and drank the liquid in the glass in one gulp. "Speaking of this Secret Realm practice, will there be uncontrollable deaths?"

The System was puzzled. "Uncontrollable deaths? Aren't all deaths uncontrollable? Who knows when they'll die? Don't people only react when death is upon them?"

"I mean those people who always cause trouble for Cheng Dong," Shen Yao said, closing her eyes slightly, placing one hand on her forehead to block the light, casting large shadows. "You've been watching Cui Hengxin lately. The problem between him and Cheng Dong isn't small. With Cheng Dong's sinister nature, what will happen?"

System:...

The System felt it wasn't good. Cheng Dong really had a bit of a sinister nature, especially in the eyes of those girls, who practically all liked Cheng Dong.

As if their brains were controlled, they didn't even have the most basic ability to distinguish right from wrong.

"Host, there must be something bad on Cheng Dong. Get rid of him!" The System bared its fangs, showing true aggression.

"Me? Get rid of Cheng Dong? What an international joke. Using a knife to kill someone is more like it."

Besides, using a knife to kill someone wasn't easy either; she needed a knife she could choose.

Actually, Cui Hengxin was quite good. He had a good background, no scruples, and had conflicts with Cheng Dong. If something really happened between them in the Secret Realm, relying on the Cui Family behind Cui Hengxin, dealing with Cheng Dong would be easy.

The fear was that the suspected Male Lead had a cheat and would probably dodge it smoothly.

Thinking of this, Shen Yao asked the System about its views on Cheng Dong, including what benefits getting rid of Cheng Dong would bring them.

The System pondered for a moment and finally gave a few somewhat vague sentences.

"There definitely won't be any harm; it even counts as getting rid of a future enemy.

After leaving the Task World, there will be extra rewards. He won't be recognized by this Shijie, and we will occupy justice."

Shen Yao:...

Well, it was painting big pies, and the benefits could only be redeemed after leaving here.

With a serious yet polite smile, Shen Yao stood up and joined Zhou Lan's carefree team, eating, drinking, playing, and having fun together, and they even agreed to go upstairs to continue partying.

Shen Yao hadn't completed her goal, so she wasn't in a hurry to leave; she just wandered around here.

If she was tired or sleepy, she could just stay directly. The wealthy Class Two students had booked the whole place, so what courtesy was there?

"Host, what are you doing?" The System stared at Shen Yao staying in the room calmly watching the projection, paired with the pitch-black surroundings where one couldn't see five fingers ahead. Hiss, it was a bit scary.

Shen Yao didn't speak; she raised her hand and pointed at the projection. There were images inside, but without sound, it was like a silent mime.

"Wait for Cui Hengxin to come over."

The relationship between the villain and the protagonist lay in various Fortunes. Even if the villain was immensely powerful and the protagonist was weak with no background, the protagonist could still defeat the villain, make the villain suffer, and lead to the villain's death.

They hadn't entered the life-and-death stage yet, but Cui Hengxin couldn't scheme against Cheng Dong; his own cleverness misled him. Cheng Dong was being lovey-dovey with the School Flower, while he had to be thrown out to freeze for a night.

Shen Yao was kind-hearted and couldn't bear to see anyone suffer.

System:... Host, what nonsense are you saying

Amidst the System's silence, Shen Yao simply went out for a trip and picked up a wobbling humanoid cloth doll.

"Make sure the Monitoring is handled. I fed Cui Hengxin a memory-altering Pill, guaranteeing the source of this matter can't be traced to us."

Shen Yao looked at Cui Hengxin lying unconscious on the bed with an indifferent expression (don't learn from the Female Lead, this isn't right), with no shyness on her face at all.

Well, after so many Task Worlds, she was already an old hand.

It was just an intimate relationship, no big deal~

After a night passed, Shen Yao got up and left, conveniently placing her contact information on the Bedside Cabinet.

System:...?

"Since it can't be hidden, just be open about it. You've monitored Cui Hengxin for a while; you know what his personality is like without me saying more."

This wasn't Shen Yao's fault; she was the victim. Cui Hengxin would only vent his anger on Cheng Dong and conveniently compensate Shen Yao.

A rich and powerful Young Master, bad temper, low bottom line.

Shen Yao smiled inexplicably, and on the way, she received Zhou Lan's concern.

This person had also stayed, just not with Shen Yao. After replying a couple of sentences that she was in the Dormitory, Shen Yao put down her phone and continued walking.

Not long after Shen Yao left, the groggy Cui Hengxin woke up.

Shaking his head, remembering what happened last night, Cui Hengxin gritted his teeth and planned to retaliate.

As for the contact information on the Bedside Cabinet? He would give corresponding compensation.

Look, this was the normal development pace. Shen Yao didn't worry about Cui Hengxin's entanglement at all.

She had just entered the Dormitory when the next second she received a message on her Mobile Banking Bank Card.

One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand... seven digits! Her previous dream of being a Rich Woman came true (this won't happen in reality, don't learn, it's all fake).

"Meow"

Xiao Guai rushed over, then tilted her head. Well, the Owner was a bit different from before.

Shen Yao bent down and rubbed Xiao Guai's Cat Head, poured some Energy Rations for Xiao Guai to eat Breakfast first, then washed up, cleaned her body, and changed into Clean Clothes.

After finishing everything, Shen Yao smiled and sent a thank-you message to that unfamiliar contact.

Since it was said to be compensation, let's just treat it as compensation. Considering the future, Shen Yao didn't think she lost out either.

Taking out a Pill and swallowing it expressionlessly, Shen Yao rubbed her eyes, called Xiao Guai over, and slept a nap holding her.

When she opened her eyes again, it was Afternoon.

Fortunately, tomorrow was a practice arrangement, and there were no class tasks these days; otherwise, Shen Yao would have to force herself to stay awake despite sleepiness.

Ding ding ding—

The Screen in her hand kept lighting up and turning off. Shen Yao picked it up and looked for a while before learning that Zhou Lan and the others were gossiping in the group chat.

"Really, really, it's so tragic. I heard the Iron Hammer Ant is already done for."

"Hiss, are they being a bit excessive? Cheng Dong didn't do anything wrong, right?"

"I don't know. I'm not familiar with Cheng Dong, but I heard the inside story of this matter is quite complex..."

The three of them chatted back and forth, and Shen Yao just peeked at the screen until the topic ended and the group became quiet again.

Shen Yao lay on the bed and let out a yawn, then turned over with Xiao Guai as a pillow.

Getting up was out of the question; it was rare to be this relaxed the day before entering the Secret Realm (the set goals had all been achieved, and she wasn't short on money), so of course she had to lie in bed to her heart's content.

"Meow meow"

Hungry, hungry, want to eat something.

Shen Yao rubbed the cat head with a sigh, then resignedly fed Energy Rations while filling her own flat belly.

As for the content discussed in the phone group earlier, what did it have to do with Shen Yao?

A bit later, Shen Yao said the gathering spot for tomorrow and the Short-Term Plan in the four-person group, including the arrangement for finding the Target Herb.

After all, they had to combine with the actual situation; the Attack Methods and Defense Methods of the four of them were all at a medium level, too high difficulty wouldn't work, too low difficulty would have no effect.

They were Beast Tamers; entering the Secret Realm was first to gather Herbs and pass the practice, second to hone their own Capabilities, thereby improving the Trump Cards that could ensure Survival.

No one knew when the Beast Tide would come? How long could such quiet and peaceful days last? Perhaps one day, humanity would cease to exist in this dangerous world, but before that, they all had to strive and struggle for a better tomorrow.

After waking up, it was another new day.

Preparing the items for entering the Secret Realm, then having Xiao Guai carry her own Daily Rations, person and beast left the Dormitory, heading to the School Gate to gather.