After all, you are still the master they serve!
"Seriously?"
"Why do we have to train too?"
"Help! Trainer, just let us go!"
The young boys and girls wailed in confusion, with some even suspecting that the instructor was retaliating because he overheard their gossip about him having an affair with his beast.
But in reality—
Chen Bin rolled his eyes disdainfully.
"You don't actually think having a beast means you can just lie around and get stronger, do you?"
The crowd fell silent, some even wearing expressions that seemed to say, "Isn't that how it works?"
Chen Bin scoffed at this. "What a bunch of idiots! If that were true, why do so many people fail to advance? How many struggle just to get past the novice beastmaster stage?"
His expression darkened slightly as if recalling something unpleasant.
"Let me spell it out for you—having a beast doesn't mean you can lean on it to grow stronger while doing nothing."
"Beasts have their own temperaments and personalities. They're not your puppets, ready to level up or evolve at your whim."
"Listen up. If you want to become advanced beastmasters, or even saint-tier, or god-tier, you have to work hard yourselves—your beasts' cooperation alone isn't enough."
The students fell into thoughtful silence, which didn't surprise Chen Bin.
There were always those who assumed that owning a powerful beast meant effortless progress.
But those who thought that way usually faded into obscurity, becoming just another face in the crowd.
A faint smile crossed Chen Bin's face as he observed the young boys and girls before him.
"Think about it carefully."
"When your beast is training, you're lounging in bed snacking; when it's fighting, you're cowering behind it; when it's striving to evolve, your weak spiritual energy can't handle its power, forcing it to stop mid-evolution."
"At that point, won't your beast get angry? Furious? Won't it feel like killing its own master?"
The young beastmasters remained silent for several seconds.
Though some wanted to argue, citing the eternal loyalty of beasts, the occasional headlines about abused beasts turning on their masters stifled their objections.
Chen Bin wasn't surprised.
"Students, whether it's talent or your beast, what truly determines your future is the growth of your spiritual energy. And in the early stages, spiritual growth depends on strengthening your own body."
"Unless you want to muddle through life like ordinary people, even with a beast, you'll never truly step into the ranks of a beastmaster."
The group exchanged uneasy glances.
"Now, if you don't want to end up like commoners, spread those legs, plant your feet, and run at least three laps around the base!"
The young students hesitated.
Unfamiliar with beast training, they couldn't tell if this was genuine or just hazing.
But Li Miao believed it.
She was the first to step forward, breaking into a jog with Erha in tow. Though lazy, the dog followed obediently as its master moved.
A subtle, inexplicable bond seemed to form between the two—
One by one, more students began to follow, dragging their beasts along. Some hugged their dogs, others tugged at their leashes—a chaotic, motley procession.
Not all beasts were like Erha, submitting under their masters' dominance.
Nor were all as shameless as Erha, bending easily and even mocking others.
Chen Bin moved at a leisurely pace behind Tengzai, watching Li Miao disappear into the distance with a faint smile.
"What do you think of that girl?"
He asked Tengzai.
"Teng! Teng!"
Tengzai waved its vines excitedly, one even splitting off to form a new "Tengzai" that rolled away toward where Li Miao had gone.
It seemed pleased.
Very cute!
"I wasn't asking about her looks."
Chen Bin's face darkened slightly. "And retract those vines. If I see you cuckolding me again, I'll chop you up!"
Tengzai retracted its vines sulkily.
"Teng!"
You don't love me anymore, wuwu.
"I'm being serious here!"
Chen Bin gritted his teeth.
Tengzai sheepishly withdrew its vines. "Teng~"
Fine...
"So, answer me. What do you think of that girl?"
Tengzai waved enthusiastically again. "Teng!"
She smells nice! You stink!
Chen Bin: "..."
So he's just a clown, huh?
His own beast actually disdains its master?
How is that fair?
He sighed helplessly.
Meanwhile, blissfully unaware of the praise, Li Miao quickly hit her limit.
But Erha was even worse off.
Three laps around the base totaled over fifty kilometers—
Practically the size of a small town!
Slowing to a stop, Li Miao panted heavily. "Erha, I can't go on… want to run on your own?"
Erha screeched to a halt, nearly face-planting.
"Oww!!!"
No! I stick with you!
If you slack, I slack—team laziness!
Erha's plan was flawless.
But Li Miao saw right through it and chuckled. "Just kidding."
Erha: ?
???
Reluctantly, the dog resumed the grueling run beside her.
Eventually, both collapsed at the start of the second lap—
Li Miao was drenched in sweat, gasping like a drowning victim, yet something inside her seemed to soften the excruciating strain.
Meanwhile, Erha flopped like a dead dog and started snoring within seconds—right in front of her.
It had fallen asleep.
It actually fell asleep in the middle of training!
Li Miao finally grasped a fundamental truth—
A dog wasn't just a dog.
It was a beast!
Beasts shouldn't rest—because beasts need to evolve, but dogs don't!
With this revelation, she shook Erha awake. "Erha!"
"Get up and run!"
Erha whined, attempting to charm its way out.
But the judgmental look in its dark-circled eyes only fueled Li Miao's irritation.
"What are you staring at?!"
She snapped. "Train properly, or it's skirt time!"
Defeated, Erha staggered to its feet, grumbling as it limped after her.
Li Miao smirked.
Think you can outwit me?
Joke's on you!
After all, you are still the master they serve!
Erha swore it had never met a master so utterly shameless!!
"Erha! Faster! Someone's catching up!"
Erha panted like a dying dog, tongue lolling, legs wobbling—any passerby would assume it was disabled, when in truth… it was just exhausted.
Drawing a deep breath, Li Miao pushed on.
Despite her own trembling limbs, she refused to quit.
Because one day, she'd make Erha evolve into a dog god.
And then…
She'd dress it in a skirt.