Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Business Knocking at the Door? Zhang Guowei’s Goodwill? (First release, asking for votes)
Even Su Ping was briefly attracted by the scene but didn’t pay much attention. He didn’t have the leisure to concern himself with such trivial matters right now, instead focusing his gaze on the twin brothers. As his eyes met theirs, the two also looked back at Su Ping, their gazes filled with amazement as they stared at the mutated Forest Wolf.
"What an impressive mutated Forest Wolf! To be able to find such a Pet Beast, and seeing you have so many of them, does your family specialize in this?" one of them asked.
Their Pet Beast had been taken for treatment, so the twin brothers currently had nothing to do. When Su Ping looked their way, they started a conversation. It was indeed easier to strike up a conversation since they had the same kind of Pet Beast, the Forest Wolf, were of similar age, and even possessed comparable strength and skills.
"Yes, it’s right next door at the Heart of Woods Forest Wolf training center. That’s my family’s business," Su Ping confirmed.
Seeing Su Ping nod, one of the twins introduced himself, "My name is Zhang Wen, and this is my younger brother Zhang Wu—not the ’wu’ in ’martial arts,’ but the ’wu’ in ’one, two, three, four, five.’"
Zhang Wu also gave Su Ping a thumbs up. "Neither Zhang Wen nor I knew that the Heart of Woods next door was a Forest Wolf training center. If we had known, we would have gone to check it out."
Su Ping smiled. "My name is Su Ping. You guys are pretty amazing too, with such perfectly coordinated combined attack techniques. How did you manage to do that?"
Although asking such a question might sometimes be seen as forward, Su Ping was genuinely curious.
The brothers exchanged a look, and Zhang Wen explained, "Our Talent is called ’Shared Connection.’ Zhang Wu and I can communicate telepathically, and so can our Pet Beasts. Moreover, ever since we got our Contracted Beasts, we have been training together, and that’s why. But even with that, we couldn’t defeat you!"
With that, Zhang Wen couldn’t help saying, "It’s no wonder you specialize in training Forest Wolves. It’s impressive enough that the mutated one is so powerful, but even the unmutated ones are formidable. Most importantly, they listen to you so well. Truly remarkable."
Su Ping smiled, not particularly moved by the praise, though the outcome did leave him feeling a bit helpless. Indeed, training a well-coordinated combined attack technique was no easy feat.
I just wasn’t sure if the Shared Connection feature from my own Forest Wolf Catalog LV2 had such a capability. But I doubted it, as the primary function of the Shared Connection was to enhance the training of Pet Beasts’ Skills.
Shaking his head, Su Ping wasn’t in a hurry. After all, there was still plenty of time ahead.
Just then, the brothers glanced at each other again, their curiosity evident as they asked, "Your training of the Forest Wolf is so impressive, there must be remarkable Breeders at this training center, right? I wonder if there are any services available for a fee? We brothers would also like to develop our Pet Beasts."
Su Ping suddenly snapped back to reality. Is this business coming to my door?
He replied with a smile, "I am a Breeder, and there are services available for a fee, but this isn’t the right place to discuss it in detail. If you’re interested, you’re welcome to visit my place when you have the time to talk it over."
The brothers nodded in unison. "Great!"
However, at that moment, a voice suddenly sounded from nearby: "Su Ping, you’re a Breeder too?"
It wasn’t Zhou Shuchen but the smiling Zhang Guowei. This Director Zhang had completely revised his opinion of this young man, whom he hadn’t taken very seriously before. When he had initially offered him the scythe giant centipede, he had been rejected and hadn’t thought much of him.
The Talent ’Pet Beast Home’ mainly revolved around logistical skills. However, it wasn’t just about his Talent; unexpectedly, Su Ping also seemed to have a good relationship with that distinguished Life Ancient Tree Beast Tamer who had just arrived. Moreover, he possessed such an extremely rare mutated Forest Wolf. And he was even a Breeder? Now, I’m truly keen on getting to know Su Ping all over again. After all, we both spent time at the same school, so nominally we have a teacher-student relationship, right?
Glancing at the smiling Zhang Guowei, Su Ping simply nodded lightly.
But Zhang Guowei had already started speaking again. "Su Ping, becoming a Breeder is not something just anyone can achieve. Having this Talented Ability is a source of pride for our Sixth Middle School. Don’t say your teacher doesn’t take good care of you..."
As he spoke, Zhang Guowei looked at Su Ping but extended his hand towards a young man standing beside him. This young man had shown a change in expression only at the sight of the Life Ancient Tree and Su Ping’s mutated Forest Wolf. At all other times, he maintained an indifferent demeanor towards Su Ping, his classmates, and the Low-level Beast Tamers present who were training and battling. Others, as well as Su Ping, only knew that this person seemed to be with the Fire King Company, but they did not know what exactly he did.
Zhang Guowei spoke again, "This person here is Jin Cheng, a Breeder with the Fire King Company’s Breeding Department. He is a Junior Breeder formally accredited by the Linzhou Breeder Association, and he has quite remarkable insights into the Cultivation of Pet Beasts, especially beast-type Pet Beasts! You should definitely have a good talk with him about this."
Surprised, Su Ping glanced at the young man, who seemed to be not much older than him.
A Junior Breeder from the Fire King Company’s Breeding Department? No wonder he acted with such an air. Before Qin Xiaoxue arrived, whenever someone called to inquire, they would always ask about this. That’s why I later did some research online and gained a rough understanding of the Breeder Association’s accreditation process. To have such an accomplishment at his age seemed indeed quite remarkable.
Jin Cheng, noticing Su Ping’s slightly surprised expression, hurriedly extended his hand. "Classmate Su, I didn’t expect you to be so interested in Pet Beast Cultivation. Rest assured, if there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask me directly."
His tone was warm, but Su Ping frowned slightly. However, not wanting to snub a smiling face, he ultimately extended his hand and shook Jin Cheng’s. "Then I’ll have to thank Breeder Jin for that."
I could see that Jin Cheng wasn’t mocking me like Zhou Shuchen had. He was merely used to looking down on students like us, accustomed to his elevated position—even with my unique background and my mutated Forest Wolf. But in his own area of expertise, Jin Cheng still adopted a mentoring tone with me. This, too, was a kind of goodwill, I suppose.
After all, for an average person, even one who might become a colleague like Zhou Shuchen, Jin Cheng would only make a simple record and formulate a basic training plan based on the battles.
However, the Zhang brothers, Wen and Wu, exchanged glances, skepticism visible in each other’s eyes.
Obviously, if a breeding center like Heart of Woods had a Breeder proficient in this, that would be one thing. But this youngster before us, even younger than we are, claiming to be a Breeder and clearly still a student... it made us reconsider. Pet Beast Cultivation is expensive! A regular family can’t afford to gamble a large sum on an inexperienced and unknown Breeder.
After all, not everyone has money blowing in the way Qin Xiaoxue does. Nor does everyone have Qin Xiaoxue’s astonishing thought process.
Such hesitation and distrust are only human.