Chapter 51: Interview

“She looks good, but Ba Xue蝶 is still prettier,” Qiao Sang answered again.

Since both Ba Xue蝶 and Ba Du蝶 evolved from Cotton Bugs, it was easy for people to compare the two.

Ba Du蝶 was vibrantly colored with multicolored wings, looking like a toxic species at a glance.

In contrast, Ba Xue蝶’s wings were like transparent gauze, giving off a sense of pure, elegant whiteness.

Fang Sisi glanced at the Cotton Bug, and the image of Ba Xue蝶 surfaced in her mind.

Indeed, Ba Xue蝶 was prettier...

What the Cotton Bug didn't know was that its Beast Tamer had been mesmerized by the Ba Du蝶 on the field and had almost changed its evolutionary form.

The competition continued to proceed efficiently.

"Let us welcome contestant number 105, Pan Jiashu..."

"I'll go to the waiting area first," Qiao Sang said.

At this rate, it should be her turn in about ten minutes.

"Mhm, go ahead. I'll record Fire Fang Dog's heroic moment for you," Fang Sisi nodded.

Hearing this, Fire Fang Dog hurriedly used its paws to adjust its sunglasses.

...

Qiao Sang didn't have to wait long in the backstage waiting room before a staff member wearing a headset called her name and told her to head to the arena.

"Let us welcome contestant number 123, Qiao Sang."

Qiao Sang felt a momentary daze as she walked from the tunnel to her position in the arena.

Standing in the center of the arena as a contestant felt very different from viewing it from the spectator stands...

Fire Fang Dog was equally dazed.

*Why are so many people staring at me...*

It silently puffed out its chest, trying to stand more upright.

"Contestant Qiao Sang's pet is actually a Fire Fang Dog! For a 15-year-old rookie Beast Tamer, contracting a fire-type as a first pet is quite rare! Sha Duo, what do you think?" the middle-aged commentator with slicked-back hair asked.

"Indeed, Qiao Sang's choice is very bold. At fifteen, I wouldn't dare deal with fire-type pets," Sha Duo joked about himself.

"It seems contestant Sun Jie is in a bad position this round. I wonder what his pet is?" the middle-aged commentator said, looking at the situation on the field.

Most F-rank Beast Tamers, who usually only possessed a single junior-level pet, would carry their pets with them to showcase their identity.

However, some preferred to keep their pets inside their Beast Codex to maintain a sense of mystery.

Contestant number 124, Sun Jie, was clearly one of those people. He had been on-site for a while but had yet to summon his pet, appearing very mysterious.

"Both sides, please send out your pets," the referee reminded contestant 124 when there was no response.

After struggling for a while, Sun Jie summoned his pet.

A familiar figure appeared before Qiao Sang.

It was a Cotton Bug...

Contestant Qiao Sang, a slender girl, had a Fire Fang Dog, while contestant Sun Jie, a tall man standing about 180cm, had contracted a Cotton Bug.

This pairing provided a very striking visual effect for the audience.

"It looks like there will be no suspense for contestant Qiao Sang this round."

As the commentator's voice fell, Fire Fang Dog unleashed a fire vortex, swiftly ending the match.

"Contestant Sun Jie was just unlucky. If he hadn't encountered Qiao Sang, he might have been able to put up a fight."

The commentator tried his best to salvage some dignity for Sun Jie.

The Baixin Tournament had not only live spectators but also netizens watching the platform's livestream.

【Isn't this just bullying a noob?】

【Why are there so many people contracting Cotton Bugs?】

【Because they're cheap.】

【I need the link for those sunglasses on this Fire Fang Dog within one second!】

【Link please +1】

【Link please +10001】

【Link please +10002】

"Ya!"

Returning to the seat, Fire Fang Dog impatiently demanded the video from Fang Sisi.

It wanted to see its heroic performance on the field!

Although Fang Sisi couldn't understand Fire Fang Dog's words, she could understand its body language.

She gave an awkward laugh. "Haha, I just happened to get a phone call."

That wasn't actually the case.

The truth was that when she started recording, an Apricot Mushroom species she liked happened to pass by, and she couldn't resist turning the camera toward it. By the time the species had walked away and she turned the camera back to the arena, the match was already over...

Fire Fang Dog's wagging tail stopped instantly.

The sunglasses hid its disappointed gaze, but Qiao Sang sensitively noticed it.

"If you want to watch it, we can watch it when we get home. The tournament platform has replays," Qiao Sang comforted it.

Fire Fang Dog's tail immediately started wagging again.

Watching from the side, Fang Sisi was full of admiration.

As expected of someone who dared to contract a fire-type as their first pet; she had Fire Fang Dog completely under her thumb.

...

Although the F-rank Beast Tamer matches were dull and lacked highlights, Qiao Sang stayed at the arena to watch for the whole day.

She was in the habit of being prepared for everything in advance.

7:20 PM.

Qiao Sang looked at the notes recorded in her phone's memo app.

A total of 21 Beast Tamers were recorded.

Aside from contestant number 67, who possessed a Little Rhinocerous Dragon, the rest were all F-rank Beast Tamers who already had mid-level pets.

Most rookie Beast Tamers around Qiao Sang's age were basically just "one-day tourists" in the arena.

Among the newly graduated students from Class 3-7, besides Qiao Sang, the other four participating classmates had all been wiped out.

【Qiao Sang, you better step up!】

【You're the only one left in our class!】

【If you run into a contestant named Zhao Hai, remember to avenge me!】

Even though they had graduated, the class group chat had not been disbanded, and the eliminated classmates were tagging Qiao Sang one by one in the group.

But Qiao Sang never appeared in the chat.

She was busy researching opponents and formulating tactics with Fire Fang Dog.

After studying all 21 Beast Tamers in her memo and re-watching all the recorded videos, Qiao Sang searched for today's match replays and handed the phone to Fire Fang Dog.

The Baixin Tournament wasn't a massive event, but during this period when middle school graduates in Hanggang City were just finishing their exams, it held a certain amount of popularity.

Every contestant with a highlight had been singled out for edited clips of their matches. The clip Qiao Sang showed Fire Fang Dog was its own little segment.

The bullet comments on the video occupied more than half the screen.

"Ya!"

Fire Fang Dog let out an anxious cry.

Qiao Sang reached out and turned off the bullet comments, and only then did Fire Fang Dog begin watching the video with satisfaction.

After finishing, it let out a cry, and Qiao Sang replayed it for it.

After Qiao Sang had replayed it three times, Fire Fang Dog stopped calling out.

As the video ended again, Fire Fang Dog tapped the screen with its paw.

Having watched its Beast Tamer operate the phone so many times, it had learned how to replay videos on its own.

...

The next day.

Shuke Garden.

At the entrance of the Pet Arena.

Qiao Sang was blocked as soon as she arrived.

"Contestant Qiao Sang, I am a reporter from the Ruixin Times. Would it be convenient to take a few minutes of your time for an interview?"

In every tournament held in various places, there were always a few contestants who became the subject of discussion.

Following yesterday's livestream, Qiao Sang had already become one of those discussed contestants.

It wasn't because her match was particularly clean or decisive, but because, as a rookie Beast Tamer, she actually dared to contract a fire-type as her very first pet.

"I'm sorry, I have to go in for my match," Qiao Sang refused.

"Yesterday, everyone was stunned by your courage in contracting a fire-type and Fire Fang Dog's handsome entrance. Everyone wants to learn more about you and Fire Fang Dog. We hope you won't refuse, contestant Qiao Sang," the Ruixin Times reporter said with sincere eyes.

"Is that so..."

"Ya~"

Both Qiao Sang and Fire Fang Dog felt embarrassed.

"Then you guys..."

"It's contestant Lu You!" someone shouted.

The reporter, who had been full of sincerity just a moment ago, and his team vanished from before Qiao Sang's eyes, running toward the direction where Lu You was being called.

Qiao Sang: "..."

Fire Fang Dog: "..."

(End of Chapter)