The meeting concluded.
Wei Xiuyu's gaze fell on Liu Yi, lingered for a moment, then shifted away. “Liu Yi, stay behind. Everyone else can go. Prepare well for tomorrow's battles.”
The team members stood up one after another, gathered their belongings, and left the conference room.
Soon, only Liu Yi and Wei Xiuyu remained in the conference room.
Ziyue stood up from Liu Yi's feet, walked to the open space in the center of the conference room, and looked up at the image of the Nightblade Wolf on the projection screen. In her purple eyes, fighting spirit slowly ignited.
Wei Xiuyu turned off the projector and sat down in the chair opposite Liu Yi.
“An Advanced stage Nightblade Wolf, Dark-type,” she stated plainly. “For Ziyue and Chiying, there's no type advantage or disadvantage. In terms of attributes, you neither gain an advantage nor suffer a disadvantage.”
Liu Yi nodded.
“The key lies in the Nightblade Wolf's Level and Trait,” Wei Xiuyu continued. “Its Oppression Trait makes opponents feel pressure when it appears, increasing their skill energy consumption. This effect is very noticeable on pets below its Level, and your Ziyue and Chiying are no exception.”
She paused, her gaze falling on Liu Yi's face. “But you've also fought Advanced pets at the training base, so you should know what that pressure feels like. Ziyue and Chiying didn't show any obvious fear in those battles, which is your advantage.”
“There's one more thing,” Wei Xiuyu raised a finger. “Pei Yingwu's Nightblade Wolf disregards commands. This was very evident in previous matches. The Nightblade Wolf often fights according to its own will, not Pei Yingwu's instructions.”
“What does this mean?” she asked Liu Yi, as if testing her.
Liu Yi thought for a moment. “It means its behavior patterns are predictable. If it doesn't follow commands, it will fight according to its own habits. As long as we find its habits, we can anticipate its movements in advance.”
Wei Xiuyu's lips curved slightly, an expression of approval. “Exactly. Pei Yingwu's Nightblade Wolf has several very distinct habits from its previous matches. First, it dislikes active attacks, usually standing still to observe its opponent after the match begins. Second, it enjoys toying with weaker opponents and won't end the battle immediately. Third, its attack methods are very singular.”
She paused, then added, “These habits are your opening.”
Liu Yi listened intently, committing each piece of information to memory.
“Also,” Wei Xiuyu asked, “Can Chiying participate tomorrow?”
“Yes,” she replied.
“Good,” Wei Xiuyu nodded. “Let it rest well tonight, and check its condition again tomorrow morning. If there are no issues, arrange the order of appearance according to your judgment.”
Liu Yi's fingers lightly tapped her thigh. “Teacher Wei, could you send me the match footage of Pei Yingwu's eight matches from last week and this week?”
“You want to study his Nightblade Wolf?” she asked.
“Mm-hm.” Liu Yi nodded. “I want to review those habits you mentioned myself to confirm them. And by watching all eight matches, I should be able to discover more details.”
“Alright.” She stood up, picked up her phone from the table, and swiped her finger across the screen a few times. “I'll have the coaching staff compile and send them to you. You should receive them by the time you're done showering in your room.”
“Thank you, Teacher Wei.” Liu Yi also stood up.
“Don't thank me too soon,” Wei Xiuyu put her phone back in her pocket, her gaze on Liu Yi's face. “I can give you the footage, but there's one thing you must remember.”
She raised a finger. “The Nightblade Wolf is an Advanced pet. Regardless of whether it's obedient or not, its strength is undeniable. You're studying the footage to find an opening, not to put more psychological pressure on yourself.”
Liu Yi nodded. “I understand.”
“Go back and rest early. Have Chiying's condition checked again before tomorrow's match.”
“Alright.”
Wei Xiuyu pushed the door open and left, her footsteps gradually fading.
Ziyue stood up from the floor, walked to her feet, and looked up at her.
“Bingbing?”
What are you thinking about?
“I'm thinking about tomorrow's match,” Liu Yi said, rubbing her ears. “We'll talk more when we get back.”
Ziyue nodded and walked beside her, leaving the conference room together.
...
Liu Yi changed into her pajamas and stepped out of the bathroom.
Her phone screen lit up with a new message.
She walked over and picked up her phone.
It was from Wei Xiuyu.
【Teacher Wei: Eight match recordings have been sent to your email. Watch them early, sleep early.】
Liu Yi replied “Got it,” then sat down at her desk and opened her laptop.
A new email lay quietly in her inbox, sent by “Tianqi Beast Taming High School Coaching Staff,” titled “Pei Yingwu · Week One and Two Match Footage Collection.”
She opened the email. The attachment contained eight video files, arranged in chronological order, from the first match of Week One to the second match of Week Two. Each filename indicated the opponent, time, and venue.
...
The video player's progress bar reached the last frame, and the screen went dark.
Liu Yi leaned back in her chair, her fingers lightly tapping the armrest, her gaze fixed on the laptop's black screen, though she wasn't actually looking at anything.
She had watched all eight matches.
Not fast-forwarding, not skipping, but watching match by match, frame by frame.
Pei Yingwu's Nightblade Wolf was indeed very strong.
But Liu Yi had also discovered something Wei Xiuyu hadn't mentioned.
It could be completely utilized.
She stood up, walked to the center of the room, and summoned Chiying.
A ripple spread through her Beast Taming Space, and a dark figure emerged from the void.
“How's your condition?” Liu Yi asked.
“Moling.”
Chiying gently swayed its tail, indicating it was fine.
Liu Yi nodded, walked to her desk, and turned the laptop towards Chiying.
The screen was frozen on the opening scene of Pei Yingwu's match against Sheng Mingxi.
The Nightblade Wolf stood at the edge of the floating island, lazily scanning the Ghost-Mask Moth opposite it, its eyes filled with disdain.
“Watch this opening sequence several times carefully,” Liu Yi said. “Focus on the Ghost-Mask Moth.”
Chiying floated to the desk, its crimson eyes fixed on the screen.
The scene began to play.
After watching it once, Chiying looked back at Liu Yi.
“Moling?”
“Watch it again.”
Chiying turned back, its crimson eyes once again fixed on the screen.
Liu Yi pressed the play button again.
The same opening.
A third time.
A fourth time.
A fifth time.
Chiying didn't ask why, simply watching quietly again and again. Its crimson eyes grew more focused with each repeated viewing, its tail swaying steadily behind it.
Ziyue also came closer, crouching at the edge of the desk, her purple eyes also fixed on the screen.
When the sixth viewing ended, Liu Yi pressed pause.
Liu Yi closed the laptop and turned to face her two pets.
She outlined tomorrow's tactics.
Ziyue and Chiying listened quietly, not interrupting, not asking questions, just occasionally nodding to show they understood.
Finally, Liu Yi asked, “Got it?”
“Bingbing!”
Ziyue let out a cry, her tail held high.
“Moling.”
Chiying also responded.
Liu Yi looked at her two pets, the corner of her mouth curving slightly upwards.
“That's the plan, then.” She stood up. “Tomorrow, Chiying will go first at the start of the match.”
Rate on N.U.
