Beast Taming Star Journey

I slowly reached for the beast-taming pouch at my waist. A flash of white light, and the little beast vanished.

All around was silent, save for Zhao Lingyun's heavy breathing and the flamingos' restless cries.

Zhao Lingyun's face was ashen, and he slumped his shoulders, whispering, "I...I lost."

The referee declared me the winner. I forced myself to stay awake and walked to where the little beast had disappeared, picking up the few scales it had left behind.

The scales shimmered with a faint blue light, as if still telling the story of the fierce battle that had just taken place. For the next few days, the entire academy was abuzz with talk of the competition.

I, an unknown grassroots boy, actually defeated Zhao Lingyun and became a prominent figure in the academy.

Walking on campus, I could feel the complex gazes of my classmates—admiration, envy, jealousy, and... some emotions I couldn't quite decipher.

It's a strange feeling, like walking in a fog and not being able to see the road ahead.

My roommate Zhang excitedly ran into my dorm room, saying, "Nongyu, you're amazing! The whole college is talking about you now, you're my idol!"

He went on and on about what his classmates thought of me, but I just couldn't feel happy.

These accolades sounded wonderful, but I always felt something was unreal, even uneasy. This unease was soon confirmed.

Some classmates who previously looked down on me were jealous of my success and started spreading rumors behind my back, saying that I cheated in the competition.

They made up all sorts of stories, saying that I used some kind of forbidden technique, or that I colluded with the referee.

These rumors spread like wildfire throughout the college, and gradually, some of my classmates who had initially supported me began to waver.

"Nongyu, did you really cheat?" a classmate asked me cautiously.

I looked at him, my heart filled with helplessness and anger.

I tried hard to control my emotions and said calmly, "I didn't."

"But...they're making such a detailed and convincing story about you..." He hesitated, his eyes filled with suspicion.

I took a deep breath and offered no further explanation. I knew that explanations were often futile in the face of rumors.

My roommate Zhang angrily defended me: "Don't listen to their nonsense! Everyone can see Nong Yu's ability; he doesn't need to cheat at all!"

However, his voice was quickly drowned out by the murmurs of the crowd. I silently returned to my dormitory, my heart filled with bitterness.

I know that while this competition brought me honor, it also brought me more challenges.

I must work harder to prove my abilities and break down these prejudices. Just then, there was a knock on the dormitory door.

I opened the door and saw a strange figure standing outside. He was wearing the uniform of the advanced class of the academy, and had a faint smile on his face.

“Nong Yu, hello, I am…” He smiled slightly and introduced himself, “I am Li Yunfei, a student in the advanced class. I have long admired your name.”

Li Yunfei? I've heard of that name. He's one of the top students in the academy's advanced class, and supposedly incredibly strong. What does he want with me?

I was puzzled, but I still politely invited him into the house.

"Nong Yu, I watched your competition, it was very exciting," Li Yunfei said bluntly. "Your talent for beast taming is very high, I admire you very much."

His words surprised me; I didn't expect him to express his appreciation for me so directly.

"You flatter me," I replied modestly.

“No need to be modest,” Li Yunfei waved his hand. “Your abilities are obvious to all. There’s no need to pay attention to those rumors.”

He paused for a moment, then continued, "I know you've been in some trouble lately. I'll help you deal with those who are jealous of you."

His words warmed my heart, and a feeling of gratitude welled up within me. In this unfamiliar environment, receiving help from such a strong person made me feel incredibly at ease.

In the following days, the atmosphere in the college indeed changed. Those students who had been spreading rumors all shut up, and a few even came to apologize to me.

I know this is all thanks to Li Yunfei. I've gradually made more friends. Some classmates who used to keep their distance from me are now starting to befriend me.

They were full of curiosity about me and also expressed their admiration for the abilities I demonstrated.

I began to feel a sense of belonging I had never felt before, as if I had truly integrated into this group. Occasionally, I would see Su Yao in the college.

She still looks as dashing as ever, and every time I see her, my gratitude towards her deepens.

Without her help, I might have been defeated by Zhao Lingyun long ago.

I longed to muster the courage to express my gratitude to her, and even... to express my affection. But every time I mustered the courage to approach her, I would back down.

I'm afraid of being rejected, and even more afraid that my feelings will cause her trouble.

Although my status in the college was elevated, those classmates who were jealous of me did not stop their underhanded tactics.

I know they're just lying low, waiting for the next opportunity to deliver a fatal blow. I must remain vigilant at all times to deal with these potential threats.

During this time, I noticed that my pet beast was acting strangely. It became more sleepy than usual, and its appetite decreased significantly.

Moreover, I felt that the connection between it and me seemed to have weakened. I tried various methods to examine its body, but I still couldn't find the reason.

This unusual behavior made me uneasy, as if something bad was about to happen.

I gently stroked the little beast's scales and asked softly, "What's wrong?" It slightly opened its eyes, let out a soft groan, and then fell into a deep sleep again.

There seemed to be a hint of...fear in its eyes? My heart tightened, and an ominous premonition welled up inside me.

I looked up at the window. The night was deep, and a crescent moon hung in the sky, casting an eerie glow. Just then, I heard soft footsteps outside the door…