"You're still fiddling with that egg? Give it up, the teacher already said that Spirit Beast Egg won't hatch a Spirit Beast. Stop wasting your time."
"Stop it, I can feel it's about to hatch."
"Quit kidding, how could a dead egg possibly hatch a Spirit Beast? You'd better start raising a proper Spirit Beast soon, don't fall behind."
"Look, it hatched, didn't it?"
"Huh?! It really hatched?"
In the double-room dormitory of Maomu Second High School, a black-haired boy sat at a desk staring intently at the hatching Spirit Beast Egg. Beside him, a much more robust boy curiously leaned in to watch the egg continue to crack open.
"Ji~"
A fluffy, bright yellow little head poked out from the opening in the eggshell. Gemstone blue eyes looked around, then stared blankly at the two boys in front of it. Tilting its head, it seemed to sense something and hopped towards the boy sitting at the desk who was slightly slender.
"Ji~"
"Ha~ Stop it~ That tickles~"
The boy grabbed the Spirit Beast as it hopped into his arms, rubbing against him nonstop. The boy's neck felt ticklish due to the fluff on its head, and the sturdy boy looked at the Spirit Beast with a hint of disappointment said,
"It's just an Eggshell Chicken? I feel like all those materials were wasted."
Hearing the boy's words, the Eggshell Chicken angrily squawked at him.
While the Eggshell Chicken stood on the desk glaring at the robust boy, the slightly slender boy took the opportunity to observe it closely. Its egg-shaped body was covered in bright yellow fluff, a tuft of hair stood silly on its head, and a pair of small wings rested by its sides. When the Eggshell Chicken noticed the boy looking at it, it tilted its head and gazed back with its gemstone blue eyes.
Seeing the silly tuft of hair on the Eggshell Chicken's head bobbing, he laughed and said while staring at it,
"Hello~ My name is Feng Yuan, remember my name, okay~"
The Eggshell Chicken joyfully chirped as if responding.
"What should I call you~"
The other party looked at the slender boy with a puzzled gaze.
"How about Xiao Ji?"
Tilting its head, the Eggshell Chicken seemed to contemplate.
"That settles it then - Xiao Ji~"
Upon hearing the slender boy's words, Xiao Ji cheered with a happy chirp.
Seeing how Xiao Ji effortlessly agreed with the name given by Feng Yuan, the boy beside them sneered and said,
"Seems like its intelligence isn't all that great, agreeing to such a name."
Feng Yuan looked at the boy with a displeased expression and said,
"What about your Ah Mu then? Naming it Ah Mu isn't any better."
"But your Eggshell Chicken took so much material to hatch, and it looks just about the same as my Ah Mu. You've really lost out!"
"Qi Chen, you don't understand. Most of those materials were used to save Xiao Ji since you also know what the situation was like at that time."
"How could I not know?! But you aren't one of those rich folks! To use so many resources and in the end hatch an Eggshell Chicken, do you think it's worth it?"
"Ji..."
Seeing Xiao Ji looking a bit disheartened, Feng Yuan rubbed its head and held it in his arms with an unhappy expression as he looked at Qi Chen and said,
"Qi Chen, you've changed. Since I found the egg of Xiao Ji, which was on the brink of death, it's my obligation to save it."
"But... you... should realize you're in quite a bit of trouble."
"The G Organization? It's okay, they can't do anything to me."
Looking at Feng Yuan's unconcerned manner, Qi Chen said somewhat angrily,
"You think so? They're a bunch of crazies. It's just that they haven't dared to act rashly because you're hiding out in Maomu City."
"You're worried about me? Don't worry~"
"Worry about you? I just don't want to see you get caught by them someday! After all, we're classmates—I don't want to see you end up miserably!"
"It's fine; there's no need to worry. Come on, let's take Xiao Ji to get a health check-up."
Watching Feng Yuan leave the dormitory holding Xiao Ji, Qi Chen shook his head helplessly and followed them.
On the way, Xiao Ji, who was cradled in Feng Yuan's arms, soaked in the familiar warmth and feeling a bit tired, slowly closed its eyes and fell asleep.
"Is this the Spirit Beast you hatched from that Spirit Beast Egg?"
In the infirmary, a mature woman with golden hair looked at Xiao Ji in Feng Yuan's arms with some curiosity. Noticing Qi Chen staring intently at her, Feng Yuan gently placed the sleeping Xiao Ji on the table and said,
"Yes, I've named it Xiao Ji. Please help check its health."
Standing up, the woman took out her equipment and approached the snoozing Xiao Ji, ready to start the inspection. Seeing Xiao Ji still sleeping, Feng Yuan stretched out a hand and poked its round belly.
"Ji!"
"Wake up, time for a health check."
Xiao Ji let out a confused chirp, seemingly unaware that they were no longer in the dormitory.
Seeing Xiao Ji's bewildered expression, the school doctor chuckled softly and said,
"It's possible to check even without waking it up."
"Really?"
Xiao Ji sat up curiously as if suddenly finding itself in a different environment, looking around with interest.
"Xiao Ji, don't move around, we're checking your health, you need to stay still, okay?"
Chirping happily, Xiao Ji sat quietly, allowing the school doctor to handle it.
After a while, the school doctor put away the instruments and sat down at the desk to start writing reports; Feng Yuan walked up to Xiao Ji, picked it up, and placed it on his head.
"Don't poop on me, okay!"
Xiao Ji chirped angrily as if expressing its displeasure.
"Why do you want to put it on your head?"
"It's fun~"
Later on, the school doctor picked up a stack of papers and handed them to Feng Yuan, saying,
"Here is Xiao Ji's check-up report. It seems quite healthy for now, but it's weaker than an average Eggshell Chicken, probably because of a serious injury during its time as an egg."
Startled by the doctor's words, Xiao Ji chirped in surprise.
"It's all right~ I don't need Xiao Ji to fight for me anyway~"
"The way you saved Xiao Ji is truly amazing. I had also examined its condition at the time and even asked my mentor, but they all said it was beyond saving. I never expected you could still make it hatch. Though its constitution is a bit weak, this is a miracle."
Feeling the school doctor's stare, Feng Yuan stepped back and asked,
"What are you trying to say?"
"Are you interested in applying for the Spirit Beast Department at Oria University?"
"No, I think the Beast Tamer Department is great."
"Your miraculous healing method proves you have talent for the Spirit Beast Department. Won't you reconsider?"
"No, but I can write up an explanation of the process I used to heal Xiao Ji, and you can sort out the specific details."
"Really?"
Seeing the eagerness in the other's eyes, Feng Yuan once again stepped back and said,
"Of course, I'll give you the explanation in a few days."
The other person pondered for a moment and then said,
"Alright, once we compile the paper, we'll put your name first as the author. Eh? Where did he go?"
Seeing that Feng Yuan had already slipped away, the school doctor shook his head with a smile and said,
"Really now, am I that scary~"
"Why are you running?"
In the hallway, Qi Chen let go of the hand Feng Yuan was pulling and looked at him, asking,
"What's the matter? Got a crush on Professor Orlina?"
"No way! Why are you running out like you've done something wrong?"
"Your face is red~ I hit the mark, didn't I~ It's normal for you to like Professor Orlina since she's so pretty~"
"Cut it out!"
"Can you actually understand those papers?"
Qi Chen, his face slightly flushed, grew curious as he saw Feng Yuan picking up the report and intently flipping through it. Feng Yuan glanced at Qi Chen and distractedly responded while reading,
"How could I not understand? How do you think I brought Xiao Ji back?"
"Right, but why didn't you choose the Spirit Beast Department? Staying in the city for the Spirit Beast Department should be safer, shouldn't it?"
"Studying Spirit Beasts within the city? Spare me, I prefer going on adventures outside."
"You, don't you realize the danger?"
Feng Yuan put down the papers and looked at Qi Chen, who seemed worried, and said helplessly,
"I've told you there's no need to worry about the G Organization, why won't you believe me?"
"Eh? Did something big happen at the school today?"
Feng Yuan put the papers down, looking out the window with a hint of curiosity.