"Hello, Qiao Sang." Qiao Sang reached out to shake hands.

"I know you." Mu Jing said with a smile.

"Champion of the Beast Tamer Star Tournament."

Qiao Sang gave a shy smile and said, "Should we find somewhere to talk?"

"Let's go straight to my classroom. No one's using it at the moment." Mu Jing replied.

"Alright." Qiao Sang nodded.

The two of them took the elevator to the ninth floor.

Along the way, many people turned to look, clearly recognizing this recently popular figure.

After Mu Jing waved at someone she knew in the distance, she chuckled and said, "Pretty much everyone in our department knows who you are."

Qiao Sang casually asked, "Do all of you in the department watch the Beast Tamer Star Tournament?"

"No." Mu Jing's expression became a bit more serious.

"You're the first person to trigger a bond evolution in a Steel Falcon, and it was a continuous bond evolution too. We're very curious, what kind of person can get a pet with that kind of personality to evolve through bonds like that?"

She had almost forgotten this was the Department of Social and Beast Behavior Studies. No wonder they were curious... Qiao Sang recalled the moment Gangbao evolved and smiled as she said: "I'm not sure how it happened back then. Gangbao, the little Steel Falcon, just evolved through a bond. Actually, I don't think it's that hard to bond with a Steel Falcon. You just have to earn her genuine respect."

Mu Jing gave a bitter smile.

"Getting a Steel Falcon to respect someone from the bottom of her heart, that's the hardest part."

As she spoke, she stopped in front of a classroom labeled Class 3, Third Year and opened the door.

"We're here."

Qiao Sang followed her inside.

Mu Jing closed the door and got straight to the point.

"I left a message saying I didn't want credits. I'd prefer to talk about the reward for this task in person, did you see it?"

Qiao Sang casually picked a seat and nodded.

"I saw it."

After a pause, she asked, "What do you want?"

"I'd like to have a conversation with your Steel-Slash Giant Falcon." Mu Jing said, stating her purpose.

"Many people in our department have conducted related studies. We even tried interacting with Steel Falcons following Blue Star protocols, but none of them showed any emotional fluctuations."

"I'm wondering if your Steel Falcon has a unique psychological profile, so I'd like to conduct a session to monitor her emotional responses."

The Pet Psychology track focuses on the psychological phenomena of pet beasts and how those mental states affect their cognitive functions and behaviors.

When research in this field reaches a certain level, not only can psychological treatment be applied, but a beast's emotional state can be easily influenced to help them unleash greater power.

Bond evolution is one such manifestation of power.

For ordinary beast masters on Chaosu Star, this kind of evolution is akin to a legend. But in fact, Yulianton University has been studying it for a long time.

No wonder she didn't ask for credits, it was all for Gangbao... Qiao Sang mentally grumbled, but said aloud, "If it's just conversation and monitoring emotional fluctuations, that's fine."

Honestly, this was a better deal than spending credits.

Aside from what she earned at the start of the semester, she'd been spending without earning ever since...

Mu Jing's face lit up. She immediately said: "Then I'll fulfill your task first."

She made a hand seal.

A green star array lit up, and a beast about 80 centimeters tall appeared, wearing a lightweight miniaturization bracelet on her claw, mostly black with a ghostly tail and no legs, her gray head wrapped in layers of white bandages, with yellow irises and black sclera.

Memory Shade, a King-level Ghost-type pet. It was said that Memory Shades liked to appear around people nearing the end of their lives

People had two extreme reactions to them.

One: Absolute dislike.

Two: Acceptance.

In fact, some who were near death would even post tasks requesting a Memory Shade to be by their side.

Because most Memory Shades, as they evolved, awakened a high-tier skill, Memory Reading.

To those who still had time to live, this ability felt like a gross violation of privacy.

But for those bedridden and speechless near the end of life, being able to visually replay their memories for their loved ones was something they welcomed.

Qiao Sang recalled the Memory Shade's file and turned to the air beside her: "Little Treasure."

"Xun xun~"

Little Treasure revealed himself.

Mu Jing glanced at Little Treasure and began to go over the precautions before memory reading.

"My Memory Shade's memory reading ability is already at the ultimate level. Displaying memories won't harm the Ghost Ring King at all."

"But there's one thing to note, there must be a clear image in the subject's mind."

"Otherwise..."

Mu Jing grinned, "We might see something we're not supposed to."

Little Treasure has lived an upright life... Qiao Sang wasn't worried and smiled, "Go ahead. He knows what to do."

"Xun xun!"

Before Mu Jing could speak again, Little Treasure raised a paw, wait a second.

"What's wrong?" Qiao Sang asked.

"Xun xun..." Little Treasure replied, saying some time had passed, and he needed a moment to recall the memory.

Qiao Sang took him at his word and immediately became serious.

"Then try to remember it quickly."

Memory reading usually involved three stages.

Stage One: Direct memory reading, this could cause serious brain damage or disorders.

Stage Two: Reading currently recalled memories and projecting them for others to see.

Stage Three: Reading anything that has ever appeared in the subject's mind, even imagined scenes, and projecting those as well.

Ultimate-level memory reading roughly reached Stage Three. Little Treasure had a vivid imagination, she hoped he wouldn't confuse the actual evolution scene with imagined ones.

"Xun xun..."

Little Treasure closed his eyes, concentrating hard.

The evolution... evolution...

After about thirty seconds, Little Treasure opened his eyes and nodded solemnly, he remembered.

Qiao Sang relaxed and nodded at Mu Jing.

"You may begin."

"Do you want me to step out?" Mu Jing asked considerately.

Memory reading is highly private. Most people dislike strangers being present.

"No need." Qiao Sang said.

Little Treasure's next evolution wasn't some big secret. Besides, unless she or Little Treasure said something, who would know what that background scene even meant?

Mu Jing didn't press further. She looked to the Memory Shade.

"Begin."

"Xun xun!"

Little Treasure looked at the Memory Shade with an expression that said, Go ahead.

The Memory Shade said nothing and drifted right into Little Treasure's mind.

At once, a scene appeared, projected above Little Treasure's head.

Marble tabletop, leather sofas, metallic decor, warm lighting.

At a glance, Qiao Sang's heart sank halfway. Two words popped into her head: It's over.

This was clearly a living room inside a villa!

If there had been a landmark, a famous building, or scenery outside, anything, they might've had a lead.

But there were countless villas, she couldn't just barge into them all!

But soon, a second thought came to her: Oh, this was the location of Little Treasure's next evolution. Then it's fine...

Little Treasure's next evolution form was already known. As long as his energy filled up and she had the evolution item, he could evolve successfully.

Knowing the location or not didn't really matter...

Qiao Sang calmed herself, pulled out her phone, opened the camera, and quickly snapped a couple of shots of the scene.

But just then, the image floating above Little Treasure's head suddenly changed.

In the new image, Little Treasure stood at the center, surrounded by herself, Yabao, Lubao, and Gangbao.

"Yap..."

Immediately after, Yabao stepped forward, patted Little Treasure on the shoulder, and gave a cry that meant: I didn't expect you to be so powerful, looks like you'll be the boss from now on.

"Lu Ai." Lubao nodded in agreement.

"Gang Slice." Gangbao also nodded.

With a look of gratification, Qiao Sang said, "Since Yabao said so, from now on, you're the big boss."

"Xun xun, xun xun..."

In the C-position, Little Treasure threw his head back and laughed wildly.

Qiao Sang: ???

Yabao, lying quietly in his beast master's arms but secretly controlling a clone to train inside the villa: ???

Lubao silently poked her head out from the backpack, eyes deep as she stared at Little Treasure.

Was there really any need to read that memory...? Mu Jing could only understand Qiao Sang's spoken line from the image and was left confused.

During memory reading, the subject being read keeps their eyes closed the entire time, focused on the scenes in their mind.

Although Little Treasure's eyes were closed, he suddenly felt a chill down his back, like a wave of killing intent approaching.

Just then, a voice rang out: "That's enough."

He then felt the Memory Shade exit his mind.

Little Treasure opened his eyes and immediately saw his beast master, Big Brother Yabao, and Lubao all staring straight at him.

Especially Yabao and Lubao, their gazes practically radiated killing intent.

"Xun xun?"

Little Treasure blinked, confused about why everyone was staring at him like that.

Mu Jing, seeing the scene before her, suddenly realized something and asked: "Was the scene that just appeared not the one you intended to show? Do you want to try again?"

"My Memory Shade has reached the ultimate level of memory reading, so it might've accidentally pulled out a memory that the Ghost Ring King has been thinking about a lot recently."

"Xun xun?"

Frequently thought about...?

Little Treasure was stunned at first, then suddenly froze as if turned to stone.

"Yap..."

Yabao slowly bared his teeth.

Before he could finish speaking, Little Treasure instantly disappeared from view, pretending he wasn't even there.

"Lu Ai."

Lubao snorted coldly. A water bubble just rising from her nostril popped and she retreated into the backpack.

Looks like Little Treasure's been practicing Aura of Intimidation so much lately, he's grown quite bold, to be thinking about that so often...

Feeling the warmth in her arms and the chill behind her, Qiao Sang silently broke into a sweat for Little Treasure, but maintained a calm smile and said: "No need, I already saw the scene I wanted."

The villa shown in the memory wasn't the one she currently lived in, nor one she'd lived in before.

And Little Treasure couldn't possibly imagine a building layout that detailed, so unless something went wrong, that had to be the location for his next evolution.

No wonder she didn't mind me being there... Mu Jing thought to herself.

She checked the time on her phone and said, "We still have some time. My interview will only take half an hour. Is now okay with you?"

"Sure." Qiao Sang replied, forming hand signs with her fingers.

Soon, Gangbao was summoned.

Upon seeing the first Steel-Slash Giant Falcon on Chaosu Star to achieve continuous bond evolution, Mu Jing's eyes lit up.

"She wants to ask you a few questions, to see what makes you different from other little Steel Falcons who haven't evolved through bonds." Qiao Sang said succinctly.

"Gang Slice."

Gangbao nodded to show understanding, then turned to look at the human her beast master had mentioned.

Mu Jing was from the Psychology department and could read pet expressions to understand their intent.

When she saw Gangbao's expression, she immediately understood that she was ready.

Mu Jing didn't waste time. She went to her usual seat and pulled out a device from her drawer, specially brought for testing, and set it on the table.

Gangbao flapped her wings and flew to the table, standing in place.

Mu Jing attached the device's sensor head to Gangbao's head and said: "I'm going to start asking now."

"Gang Slice." Gangbao nodded.

Qiao Sang sat to the side, quite curious as she watched the scene.

It was her first time witnessing a pet psychology student ask a pet questions in person.

"What do you think of humans?"

"Gang Slice."

No opinion.

"Is that you don't have an opinion now, or never had one?"

"Gang Slice."

No opinion now or before. There are too many humans, and I haven't really gotten to know any of them.

"Why did you choose to form a contract with your beast master back then?"

"Gang Slice."

She's a good person.

"You like good people?"

"Gang Slice."

There are many kinds of good people: Dumb and not dumb. I like the not dumb ones.

"So, in your eyes, your beast master is a not-dumb good person?"

Gangbao hesitated for a moment: "Gang Slice."

Actually, she's kind of dumb sometimes...

Qiao Sang: ???

Hey, hey, did you forget I'm sitting right here?

Throughout the exchange, the Memory Shade acted as interpreter, translating smoothly between the human and the beast.

After each question, Mu Jing would glance at the monitoring device.

She noticed that Gangbao's emotional fluctuations were almost nonexistent, just like all the other little Steel Falcons: Eerily calm.

How could a Steel-Slash Giant Falcon like this possibly form a bond with a human? Mu Jing was puzzled.

The questioning lasted for half an hour.

"Last question: Now that you're in a new form, have you thought about the possibility that you might never evolve again?"

"Gang Slice."

Never thought about it.

Mu Jing glanced at the device, it still showed steady, flat readings. She felt faint disappointment.

"Is it over?" Qiao Sang asked.

Mu Jing replied, "It's over."

Qiao Sang turned to Gangbao.

"Then let's go home."

"Gang Slice." Gangbao called out calmly.

Mu Jing watched the device's screen as the waveform suddenly turned orange and showed a slight but noticeable upward trend.

She was stunned.

It fluctuated, for the first time.

It was a signal of joy.

-----

T/n: Awwww Gangbao likes going home with her beast master🥺 On a sidenote: I listened to the comment of slapping the Bluetooth keyboard and I think it's retaliating because it really don't work anymore😭 Like what the hell is this betrayal...