Gu Xun and Dong Qianqiu sat on the fishing platform, Paopao chase other small fish around in circles.
"Now that's more like a shark,"
Dong Qianqiu finally nodded, seeing Paopao's pursuit of the other fish.
Gu Xun's eye twitched at the scene below. One exhausted little fish had simply given up.
Seeing its surrender, Bubble circled it a few times, then nudged it gently. There was absolutely no aggression whatsoever.
"Seriously, did you raise your shark wrong? A shark actually befriending carp?"
Dong Qianqiu couldn't help but tease as she watched Paopao play with the carp. Gu Xun just shrugged.
"How is that my fault? How aggressive can a pet shark really be?"
"Well... I still think this shark is kinda dumb. Doesn't act shark-like at all."
For some reason, seeing Paopao like this made Dong Qianqiu feel a mix of disappointment and frustration—the kind a clan leader might feel toward a talented clan member.
"So what do you want to do about it?"
Gu Xun turned to Dong Qianqiu, seeking clarification on her intentions. At his question, Dong Qianqiu instantly broke into a smile, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
"How about... you let me take care of Paopao for a few days?"
"I knew it! You came to my house just to steal the shark!"
"Oh, come on, what's the big deal? I'll take good care of it, okay~"
Dong Qianqiu wrapped her arm around Gu Xun's, pouting like a child, seemingly determined to take Paopao away for adoption.
"Then I have a few questions for you."
Seeing Dong Qianqiu resort to such underhanded tactics, Gu Xun knew he had to change his approach to dissuade her.
"What questions?"
Dong Qianqiu's eyes lit up with anticipation at Gu Xun's concession.
"Do you have a place to keep Paopao?"
Gu Xun's words stabbed Dong Qianqiu like a knife. She realized she truly had nowhere to house a shark.
The academy dorm was too small—there was simply no space for a baby shark. Dong Qianqiu fell silent instantly.
"Also, can you afford to keep Paopao? That little one eats like a horse."
Dong Qianqiu fell silent again. She didn't have much money either, surviving on scholarships and academy subsidies.
She was already living frugally, and Gu Xun's question hit her right where it hurt.
"Third, Paopao is naturally active. Without other fish to play with, she might get depressed."
Dong Qianqiu fell silent again. That meant she'd need at least a swimming pool-sized space to keep Paopao.
Plus, she'd have to keep many other fish. That was just too damn much. Dong Qianqiu instantly wilted, while Gu Xun extended his fourth finger.
"Fourth, you still have school. Do you even have time to take care of Paopao?"
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. Stop talking, you're hurting my feelings."
Seeing Gu Xun about to continue, Dong Qianqiu immediately began apologizing. Gu Xun, seeing this, retracted his fingers.
Dong Qianqiu finally breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced around the quiet surroundings and asked Gu Xun.
"Do you live alone in such a huge place?"
"No, there's also my friend's child and... my little sister."
"Two more people? Where are they?"
Dong Qianqiu's curiosity piqued, while Gu Xun's eye twitched. Wasn't he the only human here?
Yuan En Huihui belonged to the Elf Clan, Di Qiu'er was a three-eyed golden lion in human form, and Dong Qianqiu was the hundred-thousand-year Demon Spirit Great White Shark King in human form. Gu Xun was the sole human among them.
Though he was the only human, there was nothing he could do about it. After all, who could blame him for decending on Elf Planet first?
When Dong Qianqiu inquired about the other two's whereabouts, Gu Xun answered his question.
"Oh, them? They should be studying theoretical knowledge right now. Since we got out of class early today, they probably won't be back for a while."
Hearing Gu Xun's explanation, Dong Qianqiu nodded. Glancing at the surrounding forest, curiosity began to stir within him.
"In that case, may I explore the area?"
Gu Xun agreed to Dong Qianqiu's request but cautioned him.
"Be careful. There are many ten-thousand-year and even hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts around here. Don't get eaten."
"Spirit beasts! Real spirit beasts? Ten-thousand-year and hundred-thousand-year ones?!"
Dong Qianqiu's eyes widened instantly. She then shrank her neck in fear. She was merely a low-level spirit master—how could she possibly stand a chance against ten-thousand-year or even hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts?
"Real spirit beasts? Of course there are spirit beasts here. Elf Planet is the living territory of both the Elf Clan and the Spirit Beast race."
Dong Qianqiu snapped to understanding at Gu Xun's explanation. Then, realizing something, she immediately turned to Gu Xun and blurted out.
"Wait—you live among spirit beasts? You're not actually a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form, are you?"
Gu Xun's face darkened at Dong Qianqiu's words, while she instinctively took a few steps back, clearly afraid of him.
Gu Xun raised his hand, summoning a blazing white spear. Dong Qianqiu gasped—had she exposed Gu Xun's true identity? Was Gu Xun about to attack her?
Thud!
Before Dong Qianqiu could react, the Heaven-Supporting Spear gently tapped her forehead.
"Ow! That hurts! Why'd you hit me on the head?!"
Dong Qianqiu immediately clutched her head, wincing in pain as tears welled up in her eyes.
"Did you learn all your theory from sharks? Have you ever seen a spear-wielding spirit beast?"