19: Chapter 19 From Stick to Spear: Liu Jun's Admonition

"Hmm? You aren't bringing Black Dog with you?"

"It ate a wolf today and is stuffed, so it's sleeping right now."

It wasn't that Qin Ding intentionally didn't want to bring Black Dog along; it was truly sleeping. Perhaps because it was the first time it had eaten so much spirit beast meat, Black Dog's body was experiencing some changes.

Although it had eaten spirit beast meat before, the quantity was nowhere near this time, and it had always been cooked.

"Xiao Ding is here? Sit down quickly, dinner is just ready."

Zhao Min, who had just placed a dish on the table, saw Qin Ding enter and change his shoes. A smile instantly appeared on her face, making the few wrinkles there all the more prominent.

Qin Ding silently took note of this, gave a soft hum of acknowledgment, and followed Bai Muxue to the kitchen to serve the rice.

"Qin Ding, for tomorrow's cold weapon course, you'll be specializing in the spear, right?"

At the dining table, hearing Bai Muxue's question, Qin Ding stopped eating and nodded.

"Yeah."

Because Zhao Min was present, Qin Ding didn't dare say too much—for example, that his goal had been achieved and he no longer needed to practice the staff. He was afraid this mother would worry about what kind of goal required him to specifically practice cold weapons.

Although his intention was good—to win the school scholarship—a good intention and starting point could still make those who cared about you worry.

For example, asking things like, "Getting this first place must be tiring and hard, right? Is your body okay?"

"Then if I can't master the spear, will you teach me?"

"I will. Even if you didn't ask, I would have."

Zhao Min sat quietly at the head of the table, not saying a word. Even her movements while picking up food could be described as gentle, as she silently watched the two of them chatting while they ate.

A kind and gentle smile appeared at the corners of her wrinkled eyes.

After dinner, Qin Ding returned home, washed up, and sat on his bed to cultivate.

Because of the existence of the Life Records, he could say he didn't need any theoretical knowledge. He only needed enough strength to realize everything in his mind and, at the same time, help Bai Muxue go further on the path of a Beast Tamer.

Well, perhaps Bai Muxue didn't need his help; it might even be the other way around. After all, once someone qualifies as a Breeder, they are highly sought after.

Involuntarily, and not knowing if it was because he thought of something different, Qin Ding's breathing became erratic for a few moments before returning to normal, and he entered into cultivation.

Time passed in the blink of an eye, and the next morning arrived.

Qin Ding felt a familiar touch on his leg and opened his eyes abruptly. Looking at the Earth Dog licking his foot, he clenched his fists tightly.

Unable to help himself, he kicked it away.

"Damn Earth Dog, did I really forget to tell you not to call me that?"

Black Dog, having been kicked away, wasn't angry. It still approached with its tongue lolling out like a pug, completely lacking the demeanor of the mad dog that had killed the black wolf with a single blow yesterday.

"Woof woof!"

[Boss, Boss, I feel like my strength has improved again. I don't even need to drink that bitter water anymore!]

Regarding the advanced cultivation fluid, Black Dog could guarantee that it would remember it for a lifetime.

Nothing else, that stuff was just too bitter. It admitted that it was good stuff, but it had no smell, yet it tasted incredibly bitter when swallowed!

Hmm? It felt like its level had increased?

A confused Qin Ding looked at Black Dog's Life Records and was suddenly shocked.

It was because what Black Dog said was true; its level had really reached level ten. But why? Was it simply that its bloodline improvement had met the requirements for a wolf-type evolution option, or was it the result of its body further developing after eating a large amount of raw spirit beast meat for the first time?

Qin Ding wasn't sure, but he could pay attention to it in the future. After all, didn't it still have that one-in-ten-thousand dragon bloodline?

In the wild, in spirit realms, and among Beast Tamers, dragons existed—even true dragons existed.

"Alright, stay home today. When I come back, I'll bring you something good. At noon, Aunt Zhao will definitely bring you meat, so stay put."

Upon hearing there was food, the Earth Dog immediately calmed down. It even imagined the scene of Zhao Min opening the door with a large bowl of meat to feed it and patting its head.

"Woof!"

[I will, Boss! But Boss, when are we going to treat Aunt Zhao to meat? We've always been the ones eating others' food. You told me before to remember Aunt Zhao, and I've remembered it.]

Hearing this, Qin Ding's eyes flickered, and he thought of what he had said to the Earth Dog two years ago.

"Soon, within these few months. Perhaps even during this winter break. When the time comes, we'll use our own hands to prepare some gifts for Aunt Zhao, how about that?"

"Woof."

[That's good, that's good. When the time comes, we must give her the best.]

"Yeah, the best."

Changcheng No. 11 High School, Beast Tamer Department Class 1 training ground.

The one hundred students of Class 1 stood here, holding wooden training weapons. What was different was that in the front row, one person was missing.

Li Dong was not there; the class of one hundred had become ninety-nine.

At this moment, Qin Ding stood at the very front of Class 1 holding a wooden spear. He was a bit surprised to find that Li Dong was absent, but only a little.

Whether he transferred schools or dropped out, he didn't care.

In front of Qin Ding was Instructor Liu Jun, their Class 1 instructor. After taking roll, Instructor Liu Jun closed the roster.

"I'll announce this here: Li Dong has transferred to Class 3. From now on, our class will only have ninety-nine people."

"Everyone, practice on your own. If you want to switch to a different cold weapon, you can do so now. Qin Ding, come with me."

Qin Ding, having been called by name, felt slightly surprised—not because Instructor Liu Jun called him, but because he was surprised that Instructor Liu Jun would call him during class time.

Yesterday, the performance of his Earth Dog might be considered a decent standard within the spirit beast circle, but within the Black Dog breed, it was simply unbelievably ground-breaking.

After all, spirit beasts of the Black Dog breed were notoriously honest; to put it bluntly, they were a bit cowardly.

If Instructor Liu Jun couldn't see that something was different, he would be the one truly surprised.

After walking far away with Instructor Liu Jun, sure enough, Qin Ding saw the serious expression on Instructor Liu Jun's face.

"Qin Ding, is the contract you signed with your Black Dog a Life and Death Contract?"

"Yes."

Hearing this quick question and answer, which was completely smooth and without the slightest hesitation, Instructor Liu Jun was stunned, his expression immediately becoming much more complex.

"Do you know all the drawbacks of a Life and Death Contract? You dared to use a Life and Death Contract for your very first beast?"

"I am aware."

Instantly, Instructor Liu Jun fell silent. The two of them stood there staring at each other for a long while before Instructor Liu Jun finally sighed.

"I hope that when a crisis comes, you won't regret it."

"Also, don't feel any pressure regarding Li Dong transferring classes. Focus on yourself and strive to improve; otherwise, you will only end up losing more than you gain."

Hearing this, Qin Ding's eyes flickered. He raised his head, gazing into Instructor Liu Jun's eyes with absolute firmness, his tone very resolute.

"Once the move is made, there is no regret. Whether it bears good fruit or bad, I will swallow it all."

"As for Li Dong? If my beast wants to vent my frustration, it is impossible for me to feel guilty towards Li Dong. It's nothing more than facing a bit more hardship; he amounts to nothing."

Hmm?

Without a doubt, this statement from Qin Ding left this middle-aged man, who had been a Beast Tamer for over a decade, feeling stunned and suspicious.

These words did not sound like something an eighteen-year-old youth could say.

Moreover, Qin Ding's trust in his beast was frighteningly high.

After pondering for a moment, Instructor Liu Jun slowly nodded. "Alright, go back to class."

The two of them walked in silence, one after the other, toward the training ground. But before they arrived, they heard arguing. Seeing this, Instructor Liu Jun frowned and quickened his pace, and Qin Ding also felt a bit curious.

But when they learned the situation, both of them fell silent.

The students, who had originally held a variety of wooden training weapons, had now mostly switched to long staffs. There was even a shortage of eyebrow-level staffs, and some people had already started arguing incessantly.

Sensing Instructor Liu Jun's gaze fixed on him from the side, Qin Ding fell silent.

Qin Ding: ...

It has nothing to do with me.