Beast Taming: I Can Add Points

As a daughter of the sea, Xiaolan had yearned to explore the vast world from a young age.

—Not just the great oceans, but also the vast continents, the myriad of bizarre Secret Realms... and even the starry sky!

She had heard the clan elders tell her that humanity had conquered the stars long ago, even spreading their civilization to other planets. The mighty Fish Dragon Race had yet to accomplish such a feat.

’I want to see the outside world, too! And if I can, I want to go to the stars, high up in the sky!’

However, Han Lan didn’t agree.

Han Lan had told Xiaolan more than once: The sea is dangerous, the outside world is even more dangerous, and only the clan’s territory is absolutely safe.

”You don’t need to temper yourself by traveling the world. Just stay here in the Dragon Palace and grow up safely. If you want to become strong, I will arrange for the best tutors to teach you. They can make you very powerful.”

Xiaolan’s response was always, ”Uh-huh, uh-huh.”

In secret, however, she snuck out to play on more than one occasion, calling it a ”Ranger’s trial”...

But every time, an infuriated Han Lan would drag her back in his jaws and give her a whipping with his tail.

Each time, Xiaolan would sincerely apologize, all the while plotting how she could do better and avoid getting caught the next time.

This game between father and daughter played out dozens of times, both big and small, always ending in Xiaolan’s defeat. It was a constant headache for Han Lan, but knowing she couldn’t get far anyway, he had never made a huge deal out of it.

This time, however, her antics were especially serious, nearly escalating into a diplomatic incident.

The father-daughter reunion was a heartwarming affair. The moment her father confirmed she wasn’t dead—and then reached for his belt—was a bloodcurdling one.

To make sure she’d remember the lesson, Han Lan gave her a harsh whipping, beating her so badly that several of her pretty scales were knocked off her backside. Afterward, he wouldn’t even let Chang Xi comfort her...

”Hiss!”

As she got to this part of the story, Xiaolan pitifully showed her backside to Shao Ya.

Sure enough, a few of her shimmering silver scales were missing, revealing the tender white flesh of her serpent tail underneath, tinged with red.

’It’s not pretty anymore!’

’Actually, I think it’s even more alluring than before...’ Xiaoyue gulped, almost imperceptibly.

”Ooh, that looks like it hurts. Let me blow on it for you,” Shao Ya said, lifting Xiaolan’s tail and breathing on it gently.

A trail of bubbles brushed against the wound on Xiaolan’s tail. It tickled, and the pain forgotten, Xiaolan started giggling and squirming.

Shao Ya seized the opportunity. ”The Han Lan Clan Leader was so harsh this time... I imagine it’s only because he was so worried about you, wouldn’t you say?”

”Hiss,” Xiaolan pouted.

She had been furious just a moment ago, but just as Shao Ya had suggested, after venting about everything, she found she couldn’t really stay angry.

’Father really did hit me especially hard this time... and he was especially worried about me, too.’

Shao Ya stroked Xiaolan’s head again, her eyes curving into a smile.

”Besides, even though he knows now that you’re not a Storm Fish Dragon, his love for you hasn’t changed one bit, has it?”

Xiaolan listened to her, zoning out for a moment.

’She actually understood it all. Her father was just doing what he thought was best for her.’

’Outsiders always thought she didn’t understand and were constantly explaining things to her, but she was actually incredibly smart!’

’She just didn’t want to grow up following a script.’

’She didn’t care about territory, clan status, a pretty nest, or some sexy male Fish Dragon or Sea Serpent.’

’She longed for the vast world. She always had.’

’Eh? Wait a minute... Doesn’t she hate it when people say, ”it’s for your own good”? How come she’s the one admitting it now...’ Xiaolan blinked in confusion.

Shao Ya smiled graciously. ”It’s getting late, and I’m going to head to sleep. Let me take you back. You need your rest too, you’re still growing, after all. You have to grow up big and strong if you want to go exploring!”

”Hiss.” Xiaolan nodded, rising from the patch of seaweed and following behind Shao Ya.

’This doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven Father,’ she thought. ’It’s just a temporary, strategic move. Can’t let this affect my growth.’

”Hiss!”

Noticing she’d fallen a little behind, Xiaolan hurried to catch up, glancing around timidly.

After leaving the vibrant coral reef, the path back to the Dragon Palace passed through a stretch of sea with very low visibility.

The deep sea at night was dark and silent, feeling as though unknown monsters lurked within, inspiring an instinctual fear in all creatures.

’In the past, whenever she fought with Dad, she’d just sleep outside for the night. She’d never thought about going home in the middle of the night before.’

’Only now did she realize just how fish-frightening this nighttime path was.’

Shao Ya gave a teasing smile. ”You can’t be an independent Ranger if you’re afraid of the dark. How are you supposed to explore the world then?”

Xiaolan lowered her head. ”Hiss...”

The girl bent down and patted her head. ”If you’re really scared, you can just close your eyes. I’ll carry you back.”

”Hiss~!” At that, Xiaolan joyfully darted into Shao Ya’s embrace, coiling her long body around and around her.

”Alright, you don’t have to wrap so tightly, I won’t drop you... Oh, Xiaoyue, you’re climbing on too? Are you getting jealous?”

”Mrrroww.”

”Hee hee~”

Holding the cat and the Sea Serpent, the young woman swam toward the Dragon Palace. By the time she had seen Xiaolan home and returned, it was very, very late.

Thankfully, Han Lan wasn’t in the Dragon Palace. Since she didn’t see her father, Xiaolan went inside with only a little token resistance. Otherwise, she probably would have kept up her pout for a while longer.

’She’s really just being childish,’ she thought.

A smile touched the young woman’s eyes as she recalled how Xiaolan, despite no longer being angry, felt she had to keep up the pretense so as not to lose face. She sat back down beneath the coral reef.

Su Zhi had been waiting behind the coral reef the entire time.

She hadn’t said so explicitly, but he had guessed she would return, and so he waited until she appeared.

”So, uh, Xiaoyue, where were we?”

Xiaoyue answered instantly, ”Mrrreow.”

—*Time to make a move on Su Zhi.*

The young woman’s face flushed as red as a tomato. She shook her head frantically, hugging Xiaoyue tight. ”A good kitty doesn’t say things like that!”