The young woman’s voice was choked with sobs, and she was on the verge of tears. After making sure Su Zhi could sit up steadily, she frantically rummaged through her medical kit for bandages.
"WOOH! WOOH!"
Wu Bao patted Yu Bao’s shoulder, then hastily dove into the bushes and disappeared.
"A-woof."
Yu Bao relayed the message to Su Zhi: Wu Bao had seen a styptic herb on their way here and was going to get it right away!
Then, Yu Bao also nuzzled hard against Su Zhi’s chest, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes.
By now, Shao Ya had carefully wiped away the blood. Fortunately, Su Zhi had no wounds on his face, though his complexion was deathly pale.
"Don’t worry. It just looks like a lot of blood, not as serious as when you were bitten by Leo."
Su Zhi smiled and patted Yu Bao’s head. He then turned to the white-haired, blue-eyed young woman beside him, his voice softening considerably. "I’m fine. Sorry for worrying you."
With that, he also reached out and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
The young woman pouted, refusing to be placated. Her eyes were red and her delicate fists were clenched, looking utterly wronged.
"You scared me to death! What kind of bodyguard are you, making your employer worry so much!"
She said fiercely, "As punishment, you’re not getting your bodyguard salary!"
Su Zhi laughed. "I never had a salary to begin with, my heartless employer."
"Hmm, I guess that’s true..."
The young woman chewed on her finger, thinking for a moment before giving up. She suddenly buried her head in Su Zhi’s chest and hugged him with all her might.
"Anyway... just don’t you dare let anything happen to you. If something did, who would I have to exploit...?"
"Don’t worry, I’m tough to kill! The bodyguard dying is such an old cliché; even novels don’t use that plot anymore."
Su Zhi chuckled and patted her on the shoulder.
After resting for a moment and confirming he felt no other discomfort, Su Zhi told Shao Ya and Yu Bao what had just happened.
"You dreamed of the giant eye again? And it seems to be strongly connected to your injury..."
The young woman wrinkled her nose, sensing the gravity of the situation. "It seems this isn’t just a simple nightmare. You should tell Alliance Leader Luo Sen about it quickly."
"Yeah, I’ll go find him later."
’Su Zhi also realized something was amiss. Even though Luo Sen was a bit of an oddball, serious matters couldn’t be delayed.’
’This time, it was my eyes bleeding. Who knows what part of me will bleed next? The time after that, will I lose a limb?’
’There are some... important parts I can’t afford to lose. That would be a huge problem.’
"Wu Bao went to find herbs? But I don’t remember there being any styptic herbs in the Ancient Jing Forest... Huh, wait a second?"
As if remembering something, the young woman looked at Su Zhi. "You had an experience similar to your last advancement... Does that mean your Beast Taming Space advanced too?"
Su Zhi froze, only then remembering.
’Focusing on the sensation, he realized his Beast Taming Space had indeed become much wider and vaster!’
Su Zhi recalled Yu Bao.
"A-WOOF! A-WOOF!" The little guy’s cheerful barks echoed from within the Beast Taming Space.
The Beast Taming Space got bigger!
Su Zhi’s heart leaped with joy. He summoned Yu Bao again—and just as he expected, the Beast Taming Light Array was now a tender green.
The Beast Taming Space had officially advanced to Tier Three!
The worry on the young woman’s face was instantly swept away, replaced by joy. "It’s really Tier Three? Congratulations, Su Baby!"
"Thanks..."
Su Zhi stared at his hands in disbelief. With the advancement of his Beast Taming Space, his own condition seemed to have undergone a subtle change as well.
To put it simply, his Power was greater, his mind more active, and his thoughts ran faster!
’Su Zhi knew the changes from the advancement went far beyond just this.’
Reaching Tier Three in a Beast Taming Space was considered a minor watershed, because from this point on, the space gained the ability to stabilize injuries and promote a Pet Beast’s recovery.
From now on, if Yu Bao suffered minor injuries or illnesses, he wouldn’t need to go to the Pet Beast Hospital anymore; he could recover just by staying in the Beast Taming Space!
Not that he really needed it... Yu Dian Dogs are Pet Beasts with incredibly tenacious life force.
However, he would inevitably contract more fragile Pet Beasts in the future, like Shan Bao, and for them, the healing function of the Beast Taming Space would be especially important.
"Pretty good."
After sensing the changes in his body, Su Zhi was filled with emotion, but he struggled to find the words to express it. In the end, he just summarized it with two words.
’Well, it’s a little more eloquent than "Holy shit," anyway.’
"Pfft... Su Baby, you’re so calm, giving such an understated assessment of your advancement."
Shao Ya giggled, covering her mouth. "You know, anyone who awakens a Tier Three Beast Taming Space by their third year of high school is considered a total beast! And here you are, this incredible before your second year has even started."
"But your advancement method is a little weird... either you pass out or you start bleeding? What’s next, are you going to get your period?"
"Get lost, I’m a guy, how could I get a period..." Su Zhi muttered, pushing Shao Ya away, half-afraid she’d come out with some other outrageous line like, "Well, I can lend you my feminine products."
Still, he was currently basking in the joy of his advancement.
He could finally contract a second Pet Beast. He had waited far too long for this day.
"Wuh!"
Speak of the devil. Wu Bao came rushing back, pushing through the bushes with a pile of herbs forked on its horns.
Seeing that Su Zhi was all right, a joyous light flashed in Wu Bao’s eyes. "Wuh?"
"Wu Bao, I have good news. My Beast Taming Space is Tier Three now."
Su Zhi said, unable to contain his excitement, "We can finally form an official contract!"
The herbs on Wu Bao’s horns tumbled to the ground as its body trembled with excitement.
If Wu Bao had tear ducts, its eyes would have been brimming with joyful tears—it had also waited for this moment for a very, very long time.
"So, let’s form the contract right now! How about it?"
"WUH!"
Wu Bao nodded vigorously.
The man and the beast drew closer. A breeze swept by, and the forest leaves rustled as if to celebrate the arrival of this moment.
Just as the two were about to begin the contract, a flash of Golden Light suddenly appeared in the distance.
Su Zhi and both pets froze for a moment, then ran in unison toward the source of the Golden Light.
Anyone else might have dismissed it as an errant reflection of sunlight, but Wu Bao, Yu Bao, and Su Zhi all knew better:
That was Shan Bao’s light!
"A-woof?"
Yu Bao pushed aside the bushes and saw Shan Bao, who had fallen into the thicket.
But her current state was quite wretched, even shockingly so:
One of her wings was completely torn, its brilliant golden feathers stained red with blood, and the cross-section of the bone at the wing’s root was faintly visible.
Several deep, bloody holes also dotted her chest, still oozing blood.
Su Zhi’s eyes widened. "Shan Bao? How could you... What happened to you?"
"Chirp..."
Upon seeing them, Shan Bao’s eyes brightened a little. She struggled to say something, but promptly fainted.
Yu Bao and Wu Bao quickly gathered around Shan Bao.
Yu Bao controlled the Earth Force Field, shaping the ground to perfectly cradle Shan Bao’s body and minimize any further tearing of her wounds;
Wu Bao carefully sprinkled the shredded herbs near Shan Bao’s wounds, trying to help stop the bleeding.
"It’s no use, her injuries are too severe... The bleeding won’t stop!"
Shao Ya used every applicable potion in her medical kit, but seeing no improvement, she frowned and bit her lip.
"At this rate, this Flash Gold Sparrow has five minutes, tops!"
Su Zhi grew anxious. "Isn’t there any other way? Even just to delay it for a little while!"
"...It’s not that there are no options."
Shao Ya considered for a moment. "If you contract her right now and pull her into your Beast Taming Space, it might just work! A Tier Three Beast Taming Space can stabilize injuries and buy her several hours. That’s enough time to get to a hospital!"
Contracting a critically injured Pet Beast doesn’t require its consent. During the Classical Era, many Beastmasters used this method to forcibly subdue Pet Beasts, then would slowly treat them afterward.
But...
Frankly, this was unfair to Wu Bao, who had been waiting for a contract for so long.
Su Zhi looked at Wu Bao with some hesitation.
"WUH!"
But Wu Bao nodded with exceptional determination.
Shan Bao’s life is more important. Hurry up and form the contract!
"Then I’m starting!"
Su Zhi gently placed his hand on Shan Bao. A tender green Beast Taming Light flared up, enveloping her body.
A moment later, the light contracted and Shan Bao’s figure disappeared. The contract was formed.
Sensing the new little one and her vital signs within his Beast Taming Space, Su Zhi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
’Now I just need to get to the hospital as soon as possible.’
Su Zhi looked at Wu Bao, filled with self-reproach. "Wu Bao, I’m sorry. The second Pet Beast was supposed to be you. I’ve done you a great wrong!"
"Wuh."
But Wu Bao just patted Su Zhi’s shoulder.
You said that although the order of our contracts might differ, we’re all family. And family is supposed to support and help each other!
Saving a family member’s life in exchange for a later contract? That’s a huge win!
Su Zhi nodded emphatically. He took out his phone to make an emergency call, only to see that Shao Ya was one step ahead and already on the phone.
Su Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at the white-haired, blue-eyed young woman before him, but then his eyes suddenly widened.
’...Something’s wrong!’
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No more updates today, my back hurts...