In fact, Chen Bin's team had quite a few "fools." He, Li Miao, and Yao Chen squatted at the entrance of the police station for half a day, only managing to round up two male students.
In the end, left with no alternative, Chen Bin simply sent a group message, ordering the remaining members to arrive within three hours.
What if they didn't make it?
Not his problem.
After a long wait, when Li Miao and Yao Chen returned from shopping in the afternoon, they found Chen Bin surrounded by a pile of luggage, his face wooden as he squatted on the ground, slurping instant noodles like a construction worker.
All the other students had gone to eat, leaving him alone—a rather pitiful sight.
Unable to resist, Li Miao asked, "Instructor, should I grab you a boxed meal?"
Chen Bin: "…No need."
"Don't stand on ceremony, Instructor. You'll be training us for three months, after all. I'll go get you a boxed meal."
"Oh, right—Instructor, what kind of meal would you like? Yao Chen and I just scouted a nearby restaurant. They've got dishes like pickled fish, cola chicken wings, mapo tofu, sweet and sour pork, fish-flavored shredded pork, beef meatballs, kung pao chicken, cumin lamb chops…"
For a moment, Chen Bin was tempted.
But the mention of "cumin lamb chops" immediately tipped him off—he was being messed with.
"Get lost."
He rolled his eyes at Li Miao. "I don't need it, thanks. Scram. Just looking at you is annoying me."
"Now, now, Instructor. We'll be seeing each other for the next three months. If you're already sick of me, what'll you do then?"
Chen Bin scoffed.
"Brat."
"Out of all the students, you're the craftiest—and the least afraid of me. Fine, quit standing there and come help me watch this luggage."
Li Miao chuckled but said nothing, leading Yao Chen back to where their own bags were stacked.
Slurp.
As Chen Bin took a bite, the aroma of the noodles wafted through the air.
Both the Erha and the Scarlet Flame Hound couldn't resist inching closer, tails wagging eagerly.
Yao Chen felt a bit awkward—after all, the Scarlet Flame Hound was her tamed beast.
Li Miao, however, was unfazed. "Dogs reflect their owners," she mused lazily as she watched the Erha drool. "Hey, Erha, really want some noodles?"
"If you're that desperate, I might share—but…"
The Erha suddenly grasped the unspoken implication, shuddered, and hastily retreated with its tail between its legs.
"Whimper~"
No tiny skirts.
Li Miao clicked her tongue. "Why not? Don't they look cute?"
The Erha wagged its tail: "Bark!"
They're cute, but nowhere near as cute as you!
Damn.
That flattery came out of nowhere.
Li Miao's lips curled up uncontrollably. "Ahem. You're absolutely right, Erha."
"Since you've been so well-behaved, I'll cover your instant noodles for the next three days!"
The Erha's eyes lit up: "Awoo!"
It pawed at Li Miao's leg, stars practically twinkling in its eyes. "Awoo awoo!"
No skirts!
"Fine, no skirts then."
"Awoo!"
The Erha made it clear: Let me love you just one more time.
"Pf—"
Chen Bin coughed, nearly choking on his noodles.
This was the first time he'd seen such a harmonious relationship between a tamer and their beast.
Glancing at Yao Chen and her Scarlet Flame Hound, the contrast was stark.
"Flame, you can't eat this. It's bad for your stomach."
Bark bark bark!
I don't care, I want it!
"But Flame, seriously, you can't…"
No no no!
Yao Chen sniffled. "I-It's just…"
You don't love me anymore!
The Scarlet Flame Hound flopped onto the ground, rolling around dramatically: "Awooo…"
The difference in dynamics was crystal-clear.
One tamer struggled to control her unruly beast—a little menace in the making.
The other? A beast just as mischievous, but firmly under her thumb.
Chen Bin had seen plenty of beasts running circles around their tamers, but rarely had he encountered a rookie who could dominate theirs from the get-go.
Most fledgling tamers doted on their first beasts to the point of spoiling them rotten, turning the creatures into worse brats than actual children—some even bullied their own tamers mercilessly.
But the bond between Li Miao and her Erha? That was the kind of partnership that would go the distance.
With a sigh, the man stood, tossing his empty noodle cup into a nearby trash bin before pulling out his phone.
"Hello?"
"Yeah, they're here. Head over—I just sent you the location."
"Got it, got it—as fast as possible. Yeah, quit nagging."
"Look, I gotta go. Another student just showed up."
"Bye."
Hanging up on the complaints from the other end, Chen Bin exhaled before turning his attention to the steadily gathering students.
This group had thirty members—not massive, but not insignificant either. He only handled candidates from one district, after all.
If he'd been assigned every rookie tamer in the city with compatible beasts, the number would've been far higher.
"Listen up, everyone! Grab your belongings!"
The returning students turned toward Chen Bin.
"A bus will pick us up soon for the temporary base. The trip will take twelve hours, meaning we must depart by 8 PM tonight. It's already 6:30—most of you should've eaten by now, so be ready to go."
He clapped his hands sharply. "Last bathroom breaks, last rounds of calming your beasts. The next twelve hours will be spent on that bus."
Finally.
Chen Bin paused for emphasis. "Don't say I didn't warn you—until your beasts can be stored in tamer space, no loud noises, no relieving themselves everywhere, and no running wild on the bus!"
"Keep your beasts in line. If you piss off the driver, I can't guarantee your survival."
Students: …
Was that a threat?!
Yes.
Yes, it was.
Pale-faced, they glanced at their rowdy, rambunctious beasts.
Barks, howls, and assorted animal noises filled the air, transforming the once-peaceful police station entrance into a chaotic menagerie.
The Erha quivered with restless energy.
The Erha yearned to join the fray.
The Erha was brutally suppressed.
"Tiny skirt warning~"
A demon's whisper drifted past its ears.
The Erha froze, statue-still, as if carved from stone.
With tearful dignity, it sat upright, chin high—fighting to salvage its pride.
Through the glass doors, a few staff members watched, impressed.
"Check out that dog—so well-behaved!"
"Yeah, seriously! It's just sitting there!"
"If I remember right, that's a Siberian Huskwolf… normally super hyper and mischievous."
"Damn, then how—?"
"Either the tamer's got skills, or the beast's being abused. No other way it'd be that obedient."
One person shook their head, tutting. "Who even abuses tamed beasts these days? Doesn't she fear the Tamers' Association?"
"Maybe the girl's just that good at handling it?"
"Doubtful. Even fair judges can't solve domestic disputes."
Sighing, the staff resumed their work—unaware that Li Miao's reputation had just taken a hit.
Meanwhile, Chen Bin promptly dragooned her into service.
Grumbling, she protested, "Instructor, your nitpicky attitude's gonna get you jumped in a dark alley one day."
"Quit yapping and start counting heads. Move!"
Li Miao pouted but complied.
"Twenty-eight, including me. Two missing."
She cocked her head. "Wanna double-check, Instructor?"
Chen Bin glanced at his phone.
"I've got a hunch who those two are."
"For now, get everyone assembled. The bus is here."
Right on cue, a massive puke-green coach lurched to a stop by the curb.