Beast Taming: My System is Bugged-Chapter 58 - 57: A Dark Corner

Lu You trailed behind Gu Ming, her head bowed. She stared at her shoes, not daring to look up at anyone.

She looked at her own tray, worried that the year’s top student would look at her with contempt, especially since his meal was so lavish.

At the same time, she was also worried about eating in the cafeteria. What if everyone stared at them? After all, Gu Ming was so famous, and she was so insignificant.

In that moment, fear consumed her thoughts, and her hands began to tremble uncontrollably.

Only by keeping her head down, letting her bangs cover her eyes, could she hide the panic in her heart.

The person leading the way in front of her suddenly paused.

"There are a lot of people here. How about we find a corner to eat?"

Gu Ming’s thoughtful words reached her, and she let out a huge sigh of relief.

The hamster beside them took the lead, twisting and turning to guide Gu Ming to the corner Lu You often visited.

Lu You was unaware of this, only knowing that the Sunflower Seed-eating Hamster beside her was constantly moving.

A minute later, she looked at the steps of the staircase leading to the rooftop door and felt a dreamlike sense of déjà vu.

’This is great. It’s the secluded corner I always go to, not the cafeteria, and not the lawn under the big banyan tree outside.’

’Here, no one knows me, and I won’t stick out. I can eat alone with my Sunflower Seed-eating Hamster and enjoy our own little world.’

However, after she sat down in delight, her body quickly stiffened again.

Today was different. Gu Ming was also eating with her in this secluded corner, which put a heavy mental strain on her severe social anxiety.

It was like the dazzling light of a confidence-based Gravity Field, a burning torch in the darkness. It looked bright, but once you got close, you would be fiercely scorched and spontaneously combust.

Lu You was afraid of being labeled "incompetent" or "weird," so she instinctively avoided the "year’s top student," who was a strong competitor on the social level.

Lu You’s mind raced with these random thoughts, a tangled mess that made it impossible for her to think clearly.

The Sunflower Seed-eating Hamster, however, felt no such anxiety. It actively hopped onto Gu Ming, rubbing its round little head against Daddy Gu.

This was the Daddy Gu who had raised it for a month right after it was born!

Seeing Daddy Gu reach out to pet it, the little hamster narrowed its eyes and let out a comfortable purr.

And just like that, Lu You was ignored.

Gu Ming petted it for a dozen seconds or so, then noticed that Lu You had been staring into space ever since she sat down. Her eyes were hidden beneath her bangs, her hands holding her chopsticks trembled slightly, and she was shoveling food into her mouth bite after bite like a puppet, without saying a word.

’She seems to be fighting a fierce battle in her own head.’

Gu Ming recalled his earlier interactions with Lu and figured it was most likely a stress reaction from her social anxiety.

’But why would someone with such social anxiety actively seek his advice? Could it be the hamster’s doing?’

He looked at the Sunflower Seed-eating Hamster and made a few hand gestures, asking it to help.

At the same time, Gu Ming gave Cyan Treasure a look, signaling it to help ease Lu You’s anxiety.

The hamster scratched its head sheepishly, while the Little Cyan Snake nodded from behind it.

The hamster turned, led the Little Cyan Snake back to Lu You’s side, and nuzzled its owner’s cheek.

After rousing its owner, it pointed to the Little Cyan Snake behind it.

The Little Cyan Snake lay on Lu You’s lap, rolled over to expose its pale white belly, and its little tail quivered gently.

Lu You’s heart seemed to melt. Seeing the cute hamster and the Little Cyan Snake’s friendly gesture, she subconsciously reached out and petted both Pet Beasts.

The Pet Beasts let out little giggles, which soon made Lu You laugh as well.

As she laughed, the mental pressure on Lu eased.

She realized that being with Gu Ming wasn’t as terrifying as she had imagined. His Pet Beast was also an adorable little creature that knew how to be cute, and its personality was docile, not the fierce predator she had envisioned.

"Which period are you free this afternoon?" Gu Ming asked.

"The last period, study hall."

"Hmm, see you in study hall then. We can learn the Earth Spirit Breath together."

Lu You was full of questions. How could a Grass Attribute Snake Pet practice an Earth Attribute Exhale Technique?

But she didn’t dare to ask, so she could only nod silently.

Seeing that she was eating little meat, Gu Ming asked, "Want some of this meat?"

"No, no." She shook her head, an almost subconscious refusal.

She didn’t want to be a bother. She knew Gu Ming’s meal was twice as expensive as hers. Just one piece of that meat would be painfully expensive for her.

Gu Ming made some small talk with her, but seeing that the more they talked, the more she withdrew into herself, he wisely changed the subject to the Sunflower Seed-eating Hamster’s Cultivation.

Lu You finally relaxed and turned her attention to the hamster and the Little Cyan Snake.

Gu Ming possessed the Great Dao Insights from the Mastery of Wood Escape Ultimate Skill, giving him an intuitive sense of Cultivation for Earth and Grass Attribute Pet Beasts in their Juvenile Stage.

Having just petted the hamster, he could feel that its Mana Cultivation was solid, though its Body Refining was a bit behind. It wasn’t a major issue, though.

The Sunflower Seed-eating Hamster’s path for Body Refining was different from Cyan Treasure’s. It needed to bulk up, building up flesh to store more Mana and increase its Mana capacity.

Following his intuition, Gu Ming discussed a few future Cultivation directions with her.

"I remember that for Earth Attribute Pet Beasts, the Breathing Method they use is called the Earth Element Technique. They meditate on the earth, borrow its power for Cultivation, and breathe Spiritual Qi.

"This can be optimized. For example, while it runs laps, it can use a Breathing Technique to coordinate the body for breathing, Refinement, and exercise, all three at once..."

"But... how do you do that? The Cultivation Technique you’re describing isn’t in any of the textbooks..."

As Lu You spoke, she realized Gu Ming might have a private tutor and a customized training plan.

’Was that why he was reading that book on the Earth Escape Technique Ultimate Skill? Was it on his tutor’s advice?’

’How else could he have thought of these things?’

"My Cyan Treasure relies on its breathing to mobilize its body for Refining Mana while also training its body."

"If the Little Cyan Snake can do it, I’m sure your Sunflower Seed-eating Hamster can too. Their foundations are pretty similar, and the core concepts of Cultivation are universal..." Gu Ming trailed off, suddenly stopping because he saw the system’s bullet-commentary plot update.

’Huh? Talking to Lu updates the plot too?’

’Last time the plot updated, Lu didn’t even have a name in the system. I thought it was just a random event.’

Meanwhile, Lu You fell into deep thought after hearing Gu Ming’s words.

Her learning ability wasn’t poor.

She had gotten into the school with a tuition waiver for her meals, which meant she had achieved excellent grades in middle school.

The reason she had dropped to a regular class was that during her second year of high school, her mental state had been unstable, causing her grades to fluctuate and fall to the level of a regular class.

After that, her grades never managed to climb back up, and she ranked in the middle of the entire school.

Now, listening to Gu Ming’s theory, even though he didn’t provide a cultivation mantra like a training instructor would, the small Cultivation details he pointed out were the very ones the teachers held back. This stirred something in her heart.

Then she saw the Little Cyan Snake begin its Breathing Technique right in front of her, its muscles rippling with the effort.

A few minutes later, a visible green gas slowly formed in the air.

’A Breathing Technique...’ Her eyes sparkled as if she were witnessing a miracle created by a Low-star Pet Beast.

’But... that must require incredible creativity in developing Cultivation Techniques, right?’

’Does my hamster have that kind of talent?’