Led by Gong Cheng, Du Yu arrived at the first-floor cafeteria on the east side of the dormitory building.
Maybe it was the smell of food in the air, but the Little Fire Fox, who had been curled up in Du Yu's hands, couldn't help poking out its tiny head, its nose twitching lightly.
"Go get some Fire Element Demon Pet Food." Gong Cheng reached out and picked up the Little Fire Fox, plopping down onto a dining chair. "Get the sandwich biscuits. Say I want them."
"Okay." Du Yu hurried over to the serving counter to speak with the chef.
On the long buffet table were all kinds of Demon Pet Food. It was clear that the neatly arranged red bean cakes in the metal tray were Fire Element Pet Food.
"Here you go~ One order of Firethorn Fruit Sandwich Biscuits."
The chef uncle came back holding a bowl of sandwich biscuits, then pointed to the QR code stuck to the side of the counter: "High-Level Fire Element Pet Food, 388 yuan!"
For a moment, Du Yu was stunned on the spot.
The teacher had previously said this training was free. But clearly, only the red bean cakes in the steel tray were free—the high-level special order food cost extra.
Du Yu's face was a bit awkward: "Teacher Gong told me to ask for these."
"Oh, really?" The chef uncle looked up. Gong Cheng, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, just waved his hand without even looking up.
"Alright, take it." The chef uncle chuckled, handing the porcelain bowl to Du Yu. "Ours are cheaper than outside. The school gives big subsidies. If your Demon Pet likes it, remember to stock up before you leave!"
Du Yu nodded, not daring to say anything. He picked up the bowl and left. Counting the number of sandwich biscuits in the bowl, he couldn't help but feel a pang of pain.
There were only 8 sandwich biscuits in the bowl, each barely the size of a coin!
48.5 yuan per piece?
Du Yu's feelings were complicated. As he returned to the table, Instructor Gong was still holding up the Little Fire Fox's big tail, examining it carefully.
"Eee~" The Little Fire Fox looked pitiful, tilting its head up at Du Yu, its fox eyes full of grievance, yet unable to escape Gong Cheng's claws.
"Interesting." Gong Cheng, still holding the Little Fire Fox's big tail, placed the fox gently back in Du Yu's arms.
"Awuu~" The Little Fire Fox curled up timidly in Du Yu's arms, not even looking at the sandwich biscuits, just rubbing insistently against Du Yu's palm.
Gong Cheng stood up and walked to the counter. When he returned, he had with him a bowl of hot milk, which he set next to the biscuits. "Feed her."
Do I have to twist it and dip it?
That's what Du Yu thought, and that's what he did.
He twisted apart the little sandwich biscuit. The red jam inside was crystal clear—this had to be the so-called Firethorn Fruit Jam?
Du Yu dipped a biscuit into the hot milk as he spoke: "Thank you, Teacher."
"I want one too." Little Fen Yang's voice abruptly sounded in his mind.
"I remember, Little Fen Yang. When Teacher leaves, I'll secretly feed you, okay?" Du Yu tried to speak to him mentally.
"Mm." Little Fen Yang replied softly, sounding a little disappointed, but obedient, not making another sound.
Across the table, Gong Cheng said, "Your Little Fire Fox isn't a mortal grade."
"Ah." Du Yu came to his senses and replied instinctively.
Gong Cheng: "This Little Fire Fox is probably a heterochromatic Demon Pet that has not fully mutated yet. Do you know about heterochromatic breeds?"
Du Yu certainly knew his Demon Pet was special—after all, Little Fen Yang helped him choose. He composed himself and nodded lightly: "Yes, I know."
Gong Cheng pointed at the Little Fire Fox's big tail, indicating that small tuft of fiery red fur. "Make sure you nurture it well. This Little Fire Fox is full of spirit and tenacity.
From her perspective, she is fighting against the heavens, against herself, and against the laws of nature."
Du Yu: "Oh?"
Gong Cheng: "There are always some special existences among Demon Pets—color differences are just outward appearances.
The real difference is that heterochromatic breeds always excel in certain aspects compared to regular breeds.
It might be endurance, or power, or agility and other attributes—it could even be exceptional talent in every aspect."
Gong Cheng marveled at the child's luck, then continued: "You and I both know that the Demon Spirit Academy would never gift a heterochromatic breed to a newbie like you.
So, when it landed in your hands, it was just an ordinary Demon Pet. Once you signed the contract and started helping her, the Little Fire Fox began her effort to transform."
Du Yu gently stroked that tuft of fiery red fur and nodded.
"Eee~" The Little Fire Fox whimpered, pressing a tiny paw onto a sandwich biscuit in the bowl.
Totally taking on that "Hurry up and serve your lady" kind of style.
Feeling her intent, Du Yu picked up a sandwich biscuit, dipping it in the hot milk again.
Watching the soft, warm biscuit get swallowed up by the Little Fire Fox, Du Yu's face softened into a gentle smile.
Gong Cheng's voice turned stern: "There aren't many Demon Pets that mutate after birth, and even those have very low chances of successfully evolving. But if there's even the slightest chance, you need to fight for it!
From now on, you need to absorb the Little Fire Fox into your body as much as possible, use your own body to nurture her growth. Also, you have to make sure she keeps eating high-level Fire Element Demon Pet Food.
If you can supplement her with rare Fire Element exotic fruit as well, even better."
On hearing this, Du Yu nodded silently.
Money... money!!!
It's really going to be the death of Du Yu!
Gong Cheng continued, "The free pet food provided in the cafeteria is all low-level. This meal's on me, but from now on, buy these sandwich biscuits—it'll help your Little Fire Fox grow. Don't hold her back."
"Mm... mm." Du Yu nodded stiffly, his face wooden.
"What? Not enough allowance from home?" Gong Cheng was dissatisfied with Du Yu's reaction. "The path of Demon Taming is costly, yes, but this is the initial investment—you mustn't be stingy.
Explain to your parents. Once your strength grows, you'll be able to support yourself. When you reach the Demon Tamer rank, you'll be able to earn a living."
Demon Tamer?
Demon Tamer Prentice → Demon Tamer Journeyman → Demon Tamer.
So I need to reach the third level?
The Prentice and Journeyman stages both lay the foundations, boosting your physical fitness and elemental resistance in all aspects.
But once you reach Third Level·Demon Tamer, Du Yu will be able to condense Demon Breath Transformations and summon Elemental Demon Soldiers out of thin air.
Which also means Du Yu can make and sell Newbie Demon Soldiers to earn money.
It sounds wonderful, but that day still feels so far off...
"Your Little Fire Fox is working really hard—don't let her down." Gong Cheng spoke earnestly, giving Du Yu a gentle pat on the shoulder before leaving the cafeteria.
Du Yu watched the Little Fire Fox gracefully eat, her happy squinting little face making his heart ache even more.
"Why are you sad? Is it because of me?" came Little Fen Yang's voice in his mind. "If I don't eat, will you stop being sad?"
Du Yu hurriedly picked up another sandwich biscuit: "No, it's not because of you."
Little Fen Yang: "Then why are you sad? I can help you?"
With the contract linking them, even the Little Fire Fox sensed his feelings. She curiously turned her head, watching Du Yu's complicated expression, then reached toward him.
"Eee~" The whimpering, spoiled sound carried comfort. Her powdery pink tongue gently licked Du Yu's face, leaving behind a faint milky scent.
"Thank you, both of you." Du Yu felt a surge of emotion, and quietly popped a biscuit into his mouth.
The Little Fire Fox blinked her eyes—she didn't even guard her food.
In her mind, the biscuits were so delicious that sharing them with her master was only natural.
This is just like the Little Fire Fox, though. If it were a human, seeing Du Yu stealing Demon Pet Food, he'd probably get looked at weirdly...
After all, Demon Pet Food is made for demon pets, with fixed ingredients. For Demon Tamers, it isn't deadly, but isn't of much use either.
Once the sandwich biscuit was in his mouth, Du Yu's expression became truly remarkable!
The biscuit itself was normal, but the filling—the Firethorn Fruit Jam—was shockingly sour, like lemon concentrate a thousand times over!
Du Yu's face twisted, eyes reddened, tears threatening to spill over.
"Mm~ so happy~" As the biscuit entered his belly, Little Fen Yang's satisfied voice echoed in his mind.
Du Yu propped his elbow on the table, hung his head, and after a long while, absentmindedly grabbed the hot milk and chugged it all down.
Little Fire Fox: ???
She tilted her head, looking at Du Yu, her tiny brain full of big confusion.
"Sorry, sorry." Du Yu stuck out his tongue, grabbing another sandwich biscuit and handing it to the Little Fire Fox.
The Little Fire Fox took a step forward and gobbled the biscuit down happily.
At that moment, a figure burst energetically through the door: "Second Bro!"
Du Yu kept his head down, wiping at his damp eyes and muttering, "You didn't win."
"Hmph~" Li Mengnan smacked Du Yu on the shoulder. "But I didn't lose either!"
That much was true.
Li Mengnan plopped down, squeezing Du Yu to the side of the bench, and whispered, "What did Teacher Gong say to you... eh? What's wrong with you?
You're not a kid anymore—why are you crying?"
Du Yu turned away: "Teacher Gong noticed the red fur on Yan's tail. He said Yan is fighting her destiny, struggling to become a heterochromatic breed."
"Huh?" Li Mengnan instantly dropped the other matters, hurriedly grabbing the Little Fire Fox's big tail to inspect closely.
Though the bright red fur patch wasn't even as big as a fingertip, it was definitely unusual in color.
"It's true!" Li Mengnan was excited. "That's awesome! You really have to train her well—did Teacher Gong give you any specific tips?"
Du Yu: "He told me to absorb Yan into my body as much as possible, using myself to nurture her growth."
"Then what are you waiting for? Put Yan away!" Li Mengnan said, although she was still clutching the Little Fire Fox's tail, reluctant to let go.
Du Yu nodded: "I'll wait till Yan finishes eating."
At that moment, the Little Fire Fox stuck her head into the bowl and pulled out a sandwich biscuit.
When Li Mengnan saw how few biscuits were left, she immediately stood up and headed for the counter: "That's so little! I'll go get more."
"Hey, Li Mengnan!"
Obviously, Du Yu couldn't stop the whirlwind long-legs. Soon, he heard the chef uncle's loud voice again: "High-Level Pet Food, one Fire, one Wind—total, 776. Use the QR code."
"Isn't it free?" Li Mengnan was a little startled, turning to look at the tables behind her.
The chef uncle smiled: "Don't worry, we don't treat anyone differently. That kid's pet food was paid for by Teacher Gong. If you want the free stuff, that's over there."
"I see." Li Mengnan nodded, feeling a pang at the price, but eventually gritted her teeth and paid.
Looks like I'll need to hit up my "cheapskate" dad for support.
Li Mengnan is from a divorced family; she hadn't seen her father since fourth grade.
But whenever she snuck behind her mom's back to ask her dad for pocket money, he was always generous. Seems like her cheap old man's not doing too badly?
Li Mengnan picked up two bowls of pet food. She seemd to finally understand why Du Yu might have cried.
Was it guilt? Self-reproach?
Yan was trying to defy her fate, and he just couldn't take care of her?
Li Mengnan pondered this quietly as she walked back.
Thinking back to yesterday outside the hospital shop—Du Yu had stubbornly insisted on paying back even for ten yuan's worth of bread and milk. Sigh...
She sat down next to Du Yu, picked up a little biscuit, and held it to the Little Fire Fox's mouth: "I know you'll beat fate and become a heterochromatic breed.
Eat well, grow fast. Everything will get better."
Upon hearing this, Du Yu turned his head to look at Li Mengnan.
In his memory, this wild and crazy girl had never seemed like someone who would say such heartwarming words.