"Uh~" Du Yu's palm grew warm, and a little Fireball flew over.
Unlike the Little Fireballs from fighting the Wind Witch before, this time the Fireball Xiaoyan spat out was noticeably much smaller.
Before Du Yu could even experience what it felt like to be attacked, the Little Fireball burst, and a wave of burning hot air hit him in the face.
Heroic Bronze · Spark Splash!
In the misty drizzle, Du Yu brushed away the sparks flying everywhere and saw the softly whimpering Little Fire Fox.
After Du Yu coaxed her again and again, Xiaoyan finally obeyed orders and attacked him.
But after spitting out the Fireball, she kept staring nervously at Du Yu, as if she was afraid she might have burned her master to death…
"Hand." Gong Cheng said, "Show everyone."
"Ah." Du Yu only felt the Demon Breath in his palm surging chaotically. Forcing his trembling hand to be steady, he raised it to show the other students watching.
Gong Cheng looked at Du Yu's unharmed palm, but was far from satisfied.
Because the Demon Breath covering Du Yu's palm hadn't shattered, and the drizzling rain couldn't even soak his hand.
Clearly, the Little Fire Fox was too protective, and hadn't given it her all in casting her Demon Skill.
Gong Cheng spoke up: "You're all Demon Tamer Prentices, your Demon Breath Battle Robes aren't very durable.
They can block raindrops, and block tangible Demon Skills. For example, Du Yu just blocked a Copper Level · Spark Splash, and his body took no damage, but he definitely has Demon Breath invading his palm."
Demon Breath Battle Robe?
Du Yu nodded silently. That name really fit the effect.
Swoosh!
In an instant, everyone felt a blur before their eyes!
Gong Cheng's large hand swept up from below, suddenly swinging. In a daze, it was as if the shadow of a staff flashed past.
"Crack!" That was the sound of the Demon Breath Battle Robe shattering.
"Ah!" Du Yu let out a cry of pain, only feeling a burning heat in his palm!
What the heck just whooshed by?
"What are you yelling for?" Gong Cheng's face darkened as he snapped sharply.
Du Yu gritted his teeth tightly, feeling the Fire Attribute Demon Breath in his body trembling violently.
As a Demon Tamer Prentice, the Fire Demon Breath in his body had no proper order, mostly gathered in a line of four acupoints along the forehead–Sea of Qi under the navel.
And after Gong Cheng's shadow-staff strike, the Fire Attribute Demon Breath along those four points trembled even more, rampaging through his body, making Du Yu grimace in pain.
Did I just get hit by an Inner Power Attack for real?
Gong Cheng looked at the students: "Without the protection of the Demon Breath Battle Robe, Demon Skills will directly injure your flesh and blood.
The Demon Breath that charges into your body along with the Demon Skills will also increase drastically, and might even make you lose combat ability for a short time!"
Gong Cheng placed his big hand on Du Yu's shoulder: "Looking at the sorry state Du Yu's in, you all understand what I mean."
"Yes, understood!"
"Yes!"
Du Yu: "..."
The students all replied, while all Du Yu wanted to do was, while his palm was still hot, sneak in a sucker punch to Old Demon Gong!
"Just like Demon Tamers, your Demon Pets can wear Demon Breath Battle Robes too. Now, take your Demon Pets and go train." Gong Cheng swept his fierce gaze across the class, then added, "Watch out for your lives—don't die."
The students who had just started to move all froze. This Old Demon Gong is really a disgrace as a teacher—he's so rough and just full of threats and intimidation.
You gotta wonder if his own life fell apart so he's taking it out on the world.
As the students left, Gong Cheng grabbed Du Yu's hand and glanced over it casually: "Stop making faces at me, there's not even a burn mark."
Du Yu carefully withdrew his hand, feeling curious himself.
Old Demon Gong really has some skills. My Demon Breath is all shaken inside, yet my palm isn't even scratched! That's magic!
"Yip~" The Little Fire Fox whimpered, leaving little muddy pawprints on Gong Cheng's pant leg, then leapt into Du Yu's palm.
She bowed her head, stuck out her cute pink tongue, and gently licked Du Yu's palm.
Under the misty drizzle, this scene was almost too beautiful to be real.
Gong Cheng had been about to harshly lecture Du Yu some more, but seeing this lovey-dovey display between human and pet, he pulled a face and walked off…
He's got a bunch of Demon Pets himself, but he's never seen one as caring as this one!
And it wasn't just Gong Cheng feeling that sting; the other students with Little Fire Foxes were already emotionally shattered!
Damn it! Did Demon Spirit Academy give me a fake fox or something?
Why is Du Yu's Little Fire Fox so charming and seductive, showing off her femme fatale vibes at such a young age, while mine just eats, sleeps, and stares at the sky?
"Nice Demon Pet." A young man's voice suddenly sounded beside him.
Du Yu turned and saw Lin Shihang, his hair tied in a little braid.
As he spoke, Lin Shihang reached out to touch the Little Fire Fox's tail.
Du Yu wasn't pleased, so he stepped back and pulled his hand away, letting Lin Shihang reach for nothing.
Lin Shihang looked up at Du Yu, put his hand down with a smile: "So spiritual already at her juvenile stage, that's rare. Wanna go back to the dorm and talk?"
Du Yu frowned slightly; he didn't need any private chat to guess Lin Shihang's intentions.
Du Yu shook his head firmly: "Not interested."
Lin Shihang's smile radiated confidence: "I like talking to smart people. Once you hear my offer, you'll be interested."
This time, Du Yu was even more direct: "Not for sale at any price."
Lin Shihang gave Du Yu a look and pointed his chin at Xiaoyan's fluffy tail: "At lunchtime, I saw you feeding her High-Level Demon Pet Food. I was puzzled, but now I know why."
Du Yu smoothed the Little Fire Fox's fur, not replying.
Since yesterday, the red fur on Xiaoyan's tail had been growing noticeably, it was bound to be spotted by others.
Add that to Xiaoyan's unique behavior, and there was no way not to draw attention.
Lin Shihang: "A rare Demon Pet like that—High-Level Pet Food alone won't trigger mutation.
She needs extra care, some rare fruit, Celestial Materials and Earthly Treasures. Money alone won't do."
Lin Shihang looked at Du Yu, that superior air in his tone: "If you really love her, and want what's best for her, you should set aside your selfishness and entrust her to someone more capable."
Du Yu: "You think you're capable?"
Lin Shihang shrugged, totally smug: "Ancient Pine Tower City has five districts and five county-level cities. In that whole region, you won't find a family more equipped to raise her than the Lin Family."
Du Yu: "You're very confident."
"Heh." Lin Shihang chuckled, "Can't blame you for being dissatisfied, but you know I'm telling the truth. I'll make you an offer you can't refuse.
If you're not interested in money, we can talk about swapping Demon Pets, or maybe Demon Soldiers."
Du Yu: "No, I am interested in money. Just not yours."
Lin Shihang stared at the Little Fire Fox for a while, then said lightly: "What a shame."
He didn't spare Du Yu another glance and walked off.
Looks like Lin Shihang had already concluded that the mutation of this Little Fire Fox would fail.
Du Yu snorted to himself. This little braid sure knows how to be annoying.
"Let's go, Xiaoyan. Let's train over there." Du Yu hugged the Little Fire Fox and headed toward the old classroom building.
The abandoned school building was run-down, but at least it kept out the wind and rain.
But Du Yu didn't expect that just after he'd taught Xiaoyan to put on her Demon Breath Battle Robe, a lovely figure walked in.
"Yip~" Xiaoyan was lightning-fast to react. Before Du Yu could stop her, she rushed right at the pretty big sister.
"Hehe~" Lin Shiyi crouched down, arms open to catch the leaping little critter, her face full of doting affection.
Lin Shihang, Lin Shiyi, of the Ancient Pine Tower Lin Family.
Du Yu watched Xiaoyan play with the girl, at a loss for words.
"Lin Shihang came to you earlier. Was it for her?" Lin Shiyi hugged Xiaoyan and glanced up at Du Yu.
"Yeah."
Lin Shiyi: "If you really plan to sell, no matter what price he offers, I'll pay double."
Click click—now that's a proper big family. Love the confidence.
Du Yu cut her off, straight as a blade: "Not selling."
Seeing Du Yu's reaction, Lin Shiyi just smiled and nodded, thoroughly approving: "I knew you wouldn't sell.
What kind of disgusting Demon Tamer would abandon their beloved pet?"
Du Yu nodded in total agreement. Hearing Lin Shiyi say that made him have a better impression of her.
At the same time, Du Yu was really curious and asked, "So what are the two of you doing in a place like this? Shouldn't you be at home, getting better training and education?"
Lin Shiyi stroked Xiaoyan's fluffy ears: "The Thousand Paper Cranes' big rain triggered awakenings for a lot of our generation.
Lin Shihang made some kind of bet with the others. I got dragged into it."
Du Yu clicked his tongue in awe, "That's a real big family. How many of your generation are there?"
Lin Shiyi: "Over forty, I think. Setting aside those that awakened early, and the ones too old to awaken, there were eleven of us who awakened together a few days ago."
Du Yu: "..."
Some have to watch their crops die in drought, others are flooded with fortune!
They've got forty-odd cousins in one generation, and me—hell, I'm an orphan for two lifetimes?
Du Yu: "You and Lin Shihang—are you real siblings?"
"No, he's my…" Lin Shiyi thought for a moment, then confirmed, "My third grandpa's third uncle's kid, I think? Cousin, I guess? Anyway, I just call him by his name."
So he's the third grandson huh…
Du Yu nodded: "So what's their bet about?"
Lin Shiyi played with her hair, teasing the Little Fire Fox in her arms: "There are too many to list. We've been talking and I bet there are even more projects in the family group chat now.
This lot literally has to compete about everything… Hello?"
Following Lin Shiyi's gaze, Du Yu glanced at the door—and saw a little head poking around the edge.
Li Mengnan?
Floating beside her face was a Wind Witch Doll, looking as sneaky as its owner.
|･-･`)
Having been spotted, Li Mengnan pushed open the door and strode in, shooting a not-so-friendly glare at the Little Fire Fox in Lin Shiyi's arms, then looked at Du Yu: "What are you guys doing in here?"
Du Yu hadn't said anything yet, but Sea King Yan was already panicking!
She peeked up at Lin Shiyi's serene smile, then at Li Mengnan's sulky face, and immediately grew restless with unease.
Lin Shiyi kept her soft smile, gently rubbing Xiaoyan's head and comforting her: "There, there, don't be scared, I'm here."
At those words, Li Mengnan's hackles were instantly up.
Damn it!
I was here first!
"Yip~" Xiaoyan clearly sensed something and quickly wriggled out of Lin Shiyi's embrace, running straight to Du Yu.
With a nimble leap, her big tail curled around Du Yu's neck, and her little head hid behind his neck.
Pretending to be a scarf?
No surprise, the two girls' eyes turned toward him in unison.
Du Yu: "..."
Damn, you sly fox, Xiaoyan!
Now you want the King to be your shield? Where was all that flair just now?
Where's all that passionate drama you acted out before? Go perform for them!