"Are you still messing with that egg? Give it up, didn't the teacher say that Spirit Beast Egg won't hatch anything? Stop wasting your time."

"Don't joke, I can feel it's about to hatch."

"Come on, how can a dead egg hatch a Spirit Beast? You better go and cultivate a Spirit Beast early rather than delay this."

"Look, it's hatching."

"What?! It's actually hatching?"

In the double room of Maomu City Second High School, a black-haired boy sat at the desk, staring intensely at the cracking Spirit Beast Egg, while a much more muscular boy leaned over curiously to watch it break open.

"Ji~"

A bright yellow, fluffy little head peeked out from the crack of the eggshell, and with gemstone-blue eyes, it looked around and stared blankly at the two boys in front of it, tilting its head before hopping towards the relatively slender boy sitting at the desk.

"Ji~"

"Ha~ stop it~ it's so ticklish~"

The boy hugged the Spirit Beast that jumped towards him. It rubbed against him in his arms, making his neck itchy with its fluffy head, while the muscular boy glanced at the creature and said with some disappointment,

"Is it an Eggshell Chicken? I feel like all those materials were wasted."

Hearing the boy's words, the Eggshell Chicken angrily chirped at him.

As the Eggshell Chicken stood on the desk glaring at the muscular boy, the slender boy took the opportunity to observe it closely. Its egg-shaped body was covered in bright yellow fluff, a small tuft of silly hair on its head, and a pair of short wings folded by its sides. Noticing the boy at the desk staring at it, the Eggshell Chicken tilted its head and looked back with its gemstone-blue eyes.

Seeing the silly hair on top of the Eggshell Chicken's head wobble, he laughed and said to the Eggshell Chicken,

"Hello~ I'm Feng Yuan, remember my name, okay?"

The Eggshell Chicken chirped joyfully as if in response.

"What should I call you?"

The creature looked puzzled at the slender boy.

"How about Xiao Ji?"

Tilting its head, the Eggshell Chicken seemed to think it over.

"That settles it then~ Xiao Ji~"

Upon hearing the slender boy's words, Xiao Ji chirped happily.

Seeing how easily Xiao Ji agreed to the name Feng Yuan gave, the other boy sneered and said,

"It seems it's not very smart either, to agree to such a name."

Feng Yuan frowned and looked at the boy,

"What about your An? Naming a Wood Sprite 'An' isn't any better."

"But, your Eggshell Chicken cost you so many materials to hatch, and it seems hardly different from my An. You really took a loss!"

"Qi Chen, you don't understand. Most of those materials were used to heal Xiao Ji, you know the situation, don't you?"

"How would I not know? But you are not one of those rich people! Using so many resources to finally 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, looking displeased at Qi Chen,

"Qi Chen, you've changed. Since I found Xiao Ji's egg on the brink of death, it was my duty to save it."

"But...you...must know your trouble isn't minor."

"G Organization? It's fine; they can't do anything to me."

Watching Feng Yuan's indifferent demeanor, Qi Chen spoke somewhat angrily,

"You're sure? They are a group of lunatics, only holding off because you're hiding in Maomu City."

"Are you worried about me? Don't worry~"

"Worried about you? I just don't want to see them drag you away one day! After all, as classmates, I wouldn't want to witness your tragic end!"

"It's okay, there's nothing to worry about~ let's go, take Xiao Ji to get checked up."

Watching Feng Yuan say this as he picked up Xiao Ji and left the dormitory, Qi Chen shook his head helplessly and followed.

On the way, Xiao Ji, held by Feng Yuan, feeling the familiar strength, slowly closed its eyes and fell asleep.

"Is this the Spirit Beast that hatched from your Spirit Beast Egg?"

In the infirmary, a mature woman with golden hair looked curiously at Xiao Ji in Feng Yuan's arms, and seeing Qi Chen staring unblinkingly at her, Feng Yuan gently placed the sleeping Xiao Ji on the table and said,

"Yes, I named it Xiao Ji; please help check its health."

The woman stood up, took out some instruments, and walked over to the sleeping Xiao Ji, preparing to start the examination. Seeing Xiao Ji still sleeping, Feng Yuan stretched out his hand and poked Xiao Ji's round belly,

"Ji!"

"Wake up, let's do a health check."

Xiao Ji let out a puzzled chirp, seemingly unaware that he was no longer in the dormitory.

Seeing Xiao Ji's confused state, the school doctor chuckled and said,

"He doesn't need to be awake for the checkup."

"Really?"

Xiao Ji sat up, appearing suddenly in a different environment, curiously looking around.

"Xiao Ji, don't move around, I'm checking up on you. You need to stay still."

Pleasingly chirping, Xiao Ji sat quietly, allowing the school doctor to tinker with him.

After a while, the school doctor put away his instruments, sat down at his desk, and began writing some documents. Feng Yuan walked over to Xiao Ji, picked him up, and placed him on his head.

"Don't poop randomly, okay!"

Xiao Ji chirped angrily, seemingly expressing his displeasure.

"Why are you putting him on your head?"

"It's fun～"

After a bit, the school doctor picked up a stack of documents and handed them to Feng Yuan, saying,

"This is Xiao Ji's health report. So far, he seems healthy, though he is somewhat weaker than the average Eggshell Chicken, likely due to injuries he suffered during his egg phase."

Hearing the school doctor's words, Xiao Ji was startled.

"It's alright～ I don't need Xiao Ji to fight for me anyway."

"Your methods to save Xiao Ji were really astonishing. I had also examined him back then and even consulted my mentors, and they all said he was beyond saving. I couldn't believe you managed to hatch him, weak constitution or not, it's still a miracle."

Seeing the school doctor staring at him, Feng Yuan took a few steps back and asked,

"What are you trying to say?"

"Are you interested in applying to the Spirit Beast Department at Oria University?"

"No, I think Beast Taming is quite good."

"Your miraculous healing techniques prove you have a talent for the Spirit Beast Department. Won't you reconsider?"

"No, thanks. But I can write a report on the process I used to treat Xiao Ji, you all sort out the details."

"Would that be okay?"

Seeing the other party's eyes gleaming as he stared at him, Feng Yuan again stepped back and said,

"Of course, I'll get the report to you in a few days."

After pondering for moment, the other party said,

"Alright then, once we get the paper sorted, your name will be listed as the first author. Eh? Where'd he go?"

Seeing Feng Yuan already escaped from sight, the school doctor shook his head with amusement and said,

"Really now, am I that scary～"

"Why are you running?"

In the hallway, Qi Chen let go of Feng Yuan's hand, and Feng Yuan looked at him and said,

"Why? You have a crush on Ms. Orlina?"

"Not at all! Why are you running out like you did something wrong!"

"Your face is red～ I hit the nail on the head, didn't I? Ms. Orlina is so beautiful, it's normal for you to like her～"

"Cut it out!"

"Do you understand those documents?"

Qi Chen, with a slightly red face, saw Feng Yuan picking up the documents and flipping through them carefully. Curiosity got the better of Qi Chen as Feng Yuan glanced at him and said distractedly while reading,

"Why wouldn't I understand? How do you think I saved Xiao Ji?"

"True, but why wouldn't you choose the Spirit Beast Department? It seems safer not having to leave the city, right?"

"Studying spirit beasts cooped up in the city? Spare me, I prefer outdoor adventures."

"You, don't you think it's dangerous?"

Feng Yuan put down the documents and looked at Qi Chen, who seemed worried, and said helplessly,

"I've told you not to worry about the G Organization, why don't you believe it?"

"Eh? What big event happened at school today?"

Feng Yuan put down the documents and curiously looked out the window.