Chapter 2: I Thought You Were My Sister, But You Want to Be My Wife

"What? Are you serious?" Xiao Ye was dumbfounded. Wasn't his good buddy Cheng Bingxi just helping him out? Why did she want to form a contract with him?

"Wow! An SSS-Ranked Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox template, there aren't many of those in the entire Dragon Kingdom."

"Damn, this beast-eared maiden is stunning, her face flawless. The number one school beauty is back!"

"I'm so pissed! Xiao Ye is just a bit taller, a bit fairer, and a bit more handsome than me, so why do both school beauties want to be his girlfriend?"

The surrounding students were in an uproar, each exclaiming in surprise.

"Of course, I'm serious. Xiao Ye, do you look down on me?" Cheng Bingxi's beautiful eyes showed a hint of grievance as she pouted on her flawless face.

"How could I? But aren't we good brothers? After the contract, you'll become my wife!" Xiao Ye scratched his head, bewildered.

In this era of beast-eared maidens, it was common knowledge that a person could only contract with one girl, equating the contract to a marriage certificate. Therefore, the contract was significant, and young men and women couldn't contract rashly. To contract with another, one must break the existing contract, which came at a great cost, something most wouldn't do.

Seeing Xiao Ye's hesitation, Cheng Bingxi stepped forward and grabbed his arm, secretly pinching the soft flesh on his side and twisting it 360 degrees, speaking fiercely yet playfully: 

"Good brothers? Do you really think pure friendship exists between a man and a woman? That was just my stalling tactic!"

She continued, "Will you contract with me or not? Agree, or you're dead!"

Xiao Ye winced in pain, inhaling sharply, "Okay, I agree! Cheng Bingxi, my wife."

Only then did the beast-eared maiden Cheng Bingxi release him, a blush rising on her flawless face. "Glad you know what's good for you!"

"Hurry and awaken your Beastmaster talent; once that's done, we can form our contract."

Cheng Bingxi didn't care what level of Beastmaster talent Xiao Ye would awaken; she only knew that he was the only one who hadn't distanced himself from her in three years of high school—the only true friend, the only good brother, the only dear one.

"The principal's here, and so is the dog-like grade director. Everyone, line up!" someone shouted, and the previously relaxed group quickly straightened up.

The grade director was known for his stern demeanor and strictness with students, often imposing hellish training plans on the Awakening Class, even if students got injured. To the students, he was an old relic, stubborn and set in his ways, hence the nickname "Dog Stubborn."

As for the principal, he was a renowned figure in the Wild Plains Base City. As a grandmaster-level Beastmaster, he had once single-handedly repelled a beast tide attack on the Third High School, though he was left with injuries and a lasting condition.

"Cheng Bingxi! Get a grip, you're an SSS-Rank template holder, a pillar of the nation, destined to fight against magical beasts. You must contract with an SS-Rank or higher Beastmaster!" the grade director scolded Cheng Bingxi upon arrival.

"And you, Xiao Ye, as a man, show some sense. If you want to contract with Cheng Bingxi, you must awaken as an SS-Rank Beastmaster, but honestly, you..."

Before the director could continue his tirade, the principal interrupted, his face kindly as he addressed Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi: "Forming a contract is no small matter; your parents must be informed. Why not take a couple of days to think it over?"

"This..." Cheng Bingxi's fluffy fox ears drooped, her eyes filled with pain.

If not for the principal saving her during that beast attack in her first year, she might have perished rather than standing here now, albeit with a scarred face.

Lost in her dilemma, Cheng Bingxi didn't want to disappoint the principal, nor did she want to give up on Xiao Ye.

"I'm an orphan, raised in an orphanage!" Xiao Ye interjected.

"As far as I'm concerned, once I agree, that's it! The head of the orphanage respects my choices."

Xiao Ye stood firm; as long as Cheng Bingxi was willing to contract with him, no one else's words mattered.

The grade director, scowling, was about to reprimand him: "Xiao Ye, as a top student in academics, how have you picked up bad habits from delinquent students, defying the principal's advice? Agree with the principal at once!"

Cheng Bingxi was incensed at this, "Dog Stubborn, this is Xiao Ye's personal choice; you have no right to stop him."

The grade director was stunned; it was the first time someone dared to openly call him Dog Stubborn, especially Cheng Bingxi. "What did you call me?"

Cheng Bingxi touched her fox ears, "Dog Stubborn, sorry, it just slipped out!"

The grade director snorted, "In any case, you two cannot rashly form a contract! With your template's rank, this should be escalated to a national level."

The principal approached Xiao Ye, whispering as he placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "Xiao Ye, don't be hasty. Take a couple of days; once Cheng Bingxi's parents agree, you can form the contract. Rest assured, I'll compensate you."

Xiao Ye was about to refuse, confident in his Divine Beastmaster System, knowing that whatever Beastmaster talent he awakened, it wouldn't be unworthy of Cheng Bingxi.

Seeing Xiao Ye's silence, the principal assumed he was hesitating and added, "As long as you awaken an F-Rank talent or higher, I'll introduce you to my daughter. How about that?"

He said this while glancing at the grade director.

"What?" Xiao Ye was surprised. An F-Rank talent was enough? Could it be that the principal's daughter hadn't awakened a fierce beast template? In this world, not everyone could awaken a fierce beast template or Beastmaster talent, with only about a fifty percent chance.

"No need, Principal. Cheng Bingxi's parents will agree, I guarantee it!" Xiao Ye declined the principal's offer and compensation.

"I doubt it!" the grade director snorted.

"Next, Xiao Ye, prepare for awakening!" came the voice of the instructor beside the Awakening Platform.

"Ha!" Ex-girlfriend Xie Mengxuan laughed gleefully, seeing even the principal trying to stop Xiao Ye from contracting with Cheng Bingxi. "Xiao Ye, you really think someone will pick up your mess? Think you deserve it?"

The trash Xie Mengxuan discarded, she didn't want any other girl to pick up. Trash belonged in the trash heap.

From the perspective of the students, they too believed it was impossible for Xiao Ye and Cheng Bingxi to form a contract. Though they had been envious moments before, now they mocked him.

"The number one school beauty belongs to everyone, not just Xiao Ye!"

"Wow, I thought I'd have to pay back that 129.5 yuan, which is my lunch money!"

"I have a feeling Xiao Ye will at most awaken a B-Rank Beastmaster talent, enough to do well in the Wild Plains Base City, but to contract with Cheng Bingxi? No way."

Watching the dashing figure on the Awakening Platform, the beast-eared maiden Cheng Bingxi clasped her hands, her eyes filled with worry, her fluffy fox tail tense.

As Xiao Ye stepped onto the platform to awaken, the system panel lit up.

[Divine Beastmaster Awakening in Progress]

A mysterious purple aura spread tens of thousands of miles from the east, enveloping the skies of the Wild Plains Base City.

"Roar!!" "Howl!!" "Chirp!!" "Gurgle!!"

A five-clawed golden dragon soared through the purple aura, the God of Battle White Tiger leaped within it, the divine bird Vermillion Bird danced, and the Kunpeng seemed ready to swallow the city whole.

Images of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox, the divine beast Taotie, the mystical Black Tortoise, the auspicious Qilin, the divine bird Phoenix, and others appeared.

Above Xiao Ye, celestial music resonated, and ethereal flowers bloomed in harmony.

This spectacle was tenfold that of Cheng Bingxi's awakening.

The massive Awakening Platform echoed with the announcement: "Xiao Ye, SSS-Rank Beastmaster!"

"Error detected, re-evaluating, system overload, auto shutdown!"