Fierce Beast Transfer Student

As a half-blood Taotie, before high school Zhou Mu attended pure Yao Clan schools. To describe it in one word: excellent in both character and villainy.

Because his mother preferred a nomadic life, after staying too long in one place they'd move somewhere new to eat. The year Zhou Mu was in his second year of high school, the whole family moved to a Human Race city, and he transferred as a new student to a Human Race high school.

Before the move, his Human Race father had drilled into him: living among humans isn't like living among Yao. Humans are very fragile.

Moreover, Yao living in Human Race cities typically fall under the management of a special local government office—the 'Yao Clan Comprehensive Management Office,' also known as '404 Office.'

The rules and regulations issued by 404 Office cover every aspect of Yao life and work locally, naturally including the prohibition against indiscriminate killing.

Father talked on this topic for a full half hour, all out of fear that Zhou Mu wouldn't adjust to a Human Race high school, or would clash with ordinary humans and local Yao.

'There's also a rule that children should study hard.'

—If father hadn't added that last line, Zhou Mu might have believed him completely.

He sensed something was off, laughed twice, and asked: 'Dad, when Mom lived in Human Race cities before, those 404 Office people... how many did she eat?'

Zhou Mu didn't even ask whether she'd eaten them—he went straight to how many.

Father: '...Don't try that with me.'

He should have known long ago that fooling his son was absolutely impossible. Fierce Beasts have low fertility; once born, they come into the world with all survival skills maxed out.

When Zhou Mu could barely walk steadily, he'd already use his own father as bait to lure Yao... self-taught the tactic of encircling a point to strike reinforcements, taking down a whole string at once.

Although father hadn't scared Zhou Mu, his words still left an impression of 404 Office on Zhou Mu, even made him somewhat wary. This place would clearly be an obstacle to him.

...

The first day after moving to the Human Race city, Zhou Mu came into contact with 404 Office people.

At first, he just wandered around the city with a map, planning to scout the terrain, see what was fun, what was tasty.

At the Provincial Museum, he spotted a very popular volunteer docent inside, and stopped to observe.

The docent's name tag read 'Jiang Xiaocong.' He wore a white tracksuit, his slightly long hair tied in a half-bun, looked quite young. From the quiet discussions of visitors who liked him, he seemed to be a student doing part-time work.

Whether Jiang Xiaocong was actually a student, Zhou Mu didn't know, but he was certain this guy definitely wasn't young. To put it bluntly, he wasn't human at all—he was a Yao Clan member, and one who smelled pretty good.

Zhou Mu smiled to himself, deliberately releasing a hint of alluring aura—his hunting Seductive Scent. Jiang Xiaocong's eyes indeed changed instantly.

Humans usually feel nothing from his scent; their six senses have long since atrophied, at most their appetite might improve. Yao Clan are different—the fragrance can make them drool straight away, even lose their reason. Jiang Xiaocong only had a slight shift in his eyes, which already counted as decent self-control.

But what surprised Zhou Mu was that not only did he not have a particularly large reaction, he could actually hold back—hold back long enough to finish his explanation first.

After finishing the explanation, many people wanted to add Jiang Xiaocong's contact info, but he pushed through the crowd, taking huge strides, walking toward Zhou Mu who seemed to be waiting for him right there. He paused two seconds, found an excuse, and said dryly: '...Earlier I said the Spring and Autumn period ran from which BCE year to which BCE year—do you remember?'

Zhou Mu hadn't been listening carefully at all: 'Don't remember.'

Gongzi Cong, disguised as Jiang Xiaocong, said in a low voice: 'Then come here, I'll review it with you carefully.'

Others: '...?'

Watching Gongzi Cong lead Zhou Mu away, the other visitors were a bit confused: How come there are knowledge points to quiz tourists here? Why quiz him and not me?

...

Gongzi Cong brought Zhou Mu into a corridor, checked that no one was around, then said earnestly: 'Are you a Yao Race just entering the city? Don't reveal your aura so casually—you smell way too... way too delicious! If you hadn't run into me, you'd be done for!'

This little Yao looked young, with an air of inexperience, and his body was even frailer—just walking on flat ground was a bit unsteady.

Zhou Mu asked curiously: 'Oh, then why don't you eat me?'

'I just won city-level Outstanding Student—how could I eat you?' Jiang Xiaocong said, exasperated. Seeing Zhou Mu didn't laugh at his joke, he awkwardly added, 'Fine, I just have a strong sense of morality. I never eat Yao Race or humans.'

Oh, the city really did have all varieties—even such a vegetarian Yao Race.

Zhou Mu said thoughtfully: 'I see, you're really a good person.'

But as a perpetually hungry teenager still in his growing phase, Zhou Mu didn't let him go just because Jiang Xiaocong hadn't attacked him. Praise is praise, eating is eating.

Gongzi Cong had brought him to a secluded place—lucky coincidence. How could he let it go?

Zhou Mu immediately shifted back to his true form, not worried anyone would pass by, and directly opened his mouth to take Gongzi Cong's head in one bite. No buildup at all—completely out of nowhere.

'Oh god—AAAHH!!' Gongzi Cong was caught off guard by Zhou Mu's true form. From fragrance to desperately holding back, to his head suddenly being taken in, the whole world plunged into darkness. He could already feel sharp teeth—his neck was just a hair away from snapping.

Fortunately, the protective charm he carried on him activated, blocking Zhou Mu for a moment.

Luckily his head hadn't been crunched yet. Gongzi Cong seized this brief window, pulled his head out, gasped for air, and shouted: 'You—you—you!! You're a Fierce Beast! How can you enter this city without registering at 404 Office!! I'm reporting you!!'

Zhou Mu didn't care: 'Report then, take your time reporting from inside my stomach.'

'I'm a sword!!' Gongzi Cong yelled, touching his neck where a ring of blood marks had already formed. 'What's wrong with you? What's good about eating a sword!'

'I won't let you talk about yourself like that—can't swords be eaten?' Zhou Mu shouted, even more agitated than him.

Gongzi Cong: '@#%&*!'

Gongzi Cong was completely baffled. He now also realized that Zhou Mu's earlier alluring aura had just been a hunting tactic—but before knowing Zhou Mu's true form, he had specifically let Zhou Mu go.

He hadn't expected Zhou Mu to be so... so uncouth, still wanting to eat him.

Does this Yao Race not have a shred of conscience?

'This is too much! Don't come any closer! I called the police, I called the police, I called the police! Don't think just because you're a Fierce Beast you can be arrogant—404 Office has managed city Yao Clan for all these years, think about how capable they are yourself!' Gongzi Cong pressed the shortcut to call 404 Office, which is the Yao equivalent of calling the police.

Gongzi Cong had only said he was a sword, but he wasn't an ordinary sword—he was Duke Huan of Qi's personal sword, a national first-class protected cultural relic. So 404 Office had also received strict standing orders to protect him.

But this unusual identity—whether facing Fierce Beasts or otherwise—Gongzi Cong never liked to flaunt it at any time. That was the way of a gentleman.

But Zhou Mu's eyes only brightened further when he heard him call the police: 'How long until they get here?'

Gongzi Cong wanted to spit blood. What kind of freak was this?

Seeing things going badly, before the reinforcements arrived, Gongzi Cong could only throw out a feint, then sprint.

Zhou Mu saw Gongzi Cong run. Though he wasn't fooled by the feint, he still paused a few seconds before unhurriedly following.

The two darted straight up to the rooftop, chasing each other across the tops of tall buildings. Zhou Mu always let Gongzi Cong think he was on the verge of escape, when in reality everything was under Zhou Mu's control.

He just wanted to string Gongzi Cong along, let him run a bit, work his muscles.

Because Gongzi Cong's identity was rather special, 404 Office responded quickly. In just five minutes, about ten Office personnel arrived at the chase scene, surrounding and intercepting them from all directions.

Gongzi Cong wasn't dealing with 404 Office for the first time. Spotting the figures, he immediately shouted: 'Director Cui! Help!'

As if shouting could give him a bit of courage, his speed increased too. Once close, he immediately ducked behind this city's 404 Office Director Cui Jue. From originally graceful and elegant, to now utterly wretched—all it took was one Zhou Mu.

'You—how do you even do your jobs? Huff... this Fierce Beast entered the city with zero warning, and he's especially, especially arrogant!' Now that he felt he had backup, Gongzi Cong spoke a bit more boldly, even complaining at Cui Jue.

Cui Jue didn't turn around, his sharp eyes assessing Zhou Mu.

Zhou Mu looked back at Cui Jue and the others, relaxed, sizing up how full a meal this might be.

The moment their eyes met, even Gongzi Cong felt his hackles rise—danger about to snap loose, something big about to blow at any second...

But at that moment, Cui Jue had already moved.

Zhou Mu narrowed his eyes—

Cui Jue bent slightly at the waist, bowed to Zhou Mu, and asked with polished courtesy: "Young Master."

...The taut, arrow-on-the-string tension dissolved into nothing in an instant.

Gongzi Cong, who had been bent over gasping, froze, then snapped upright: "What?!"

Zhou Mu was even more bewildered than Gongzi Cong, but quickly laughed in understanding: "Haha, don't try that move—getting familiar won't work. Don't call me Young Master, calling me Grandpa won't work either."

Gongzi Cong watched Cui Jue nervously, his feet already unconsciously edging away from Cui Jue. He was nearly losing his mind. Hard to believe, but Cui Jue's expression was dead serious.

Please don't tell him his backup just became Zhou Mu's backup.

Lunatics, a whole pack of lunatics!

"Director Cui, don't joke with me—what kind of person is he exactly? I'm a National First-Grade Cultural Relic, you've been ordered to protect me!" Gongzi Cong was so tense his voice was almost changing, picking up a trace of his hometown accent. "Don't tell me he's some First-Grade Protected Animal—he doesn't have my historical significance, right!"

Even the low-key Gongzi Cong couldn't help emphasizing his cultural relic status now—because he so rarely said this kind of thing, he was a little embarrassed saying it.

"Gongzi Cong, calm down a bit." Cui Jue looked at Zhou Mu, who seemed ready to eat him, and gave a wry smile without surprise. "We are old acquaintances with your mother. I hope you'll show mercy on her account. We came in a hurry and only brought a small gift—please accept it."

At his words, a subordinate brought the gifts forward—some robust, plump Yao Race beasts, very much to Zhou Mu's taste.

"You know my mom?" Zhou Mu said evenly. "Why didn't I ever hear her mention it?"

"This—does it need saying?" Cui Jue said with faint embarrassment. "You're almost an adult, your appetite must be growing daily. Your mother must find you increasingly an eyesore by now."

Gongzi Cong: "..."

What a loving family.

Zhou Mu wasn't embarrassed at all, openly saying: "Looks like you really do know my mom, but I still need to video-call to confirm. You Human Race people are too cunning."

Zhou Mu clumsily pulled out an old phone—he never needed one living in the Yao Clan settlements. This one was a gift from his grandfather, barely used; even his WeChat was on his grandfather's old account.

Zhou Mu opened a WeChat account named "Lifetime Happiness," its avatar a fishing rod and water surface, found his mother He Shi's contact card, and dialed video.

"Mom, I'm out hunting, someone from 404 Office says they know you. How do you know each other? Have you eaten them?" Zhou Mu's questions were pointed, yet Cui Jue heard them and still smiled without changing expression.

He Shi was at home unpacking luggage, completely unaware Zhou Mu had gone out. She never restrained Zhou Mu—most of the time the child's father did the educating; she only modeled how to throw one's weight around.

Hearing Zhou Mu's words, He Shi said lightly: "I know them. I founded 404 Office. Of course I've eaten them."

Zhou Mu: "............?"

Gongzi Cong wanted to bolt right then—listen to the staggering logic and information density in that one short sentence!

Zhou Mu was simply puzzled. He had never known this—his father didn't either—because for at least the past twenty years He Shi had been living as a free spirit, tasting delicacies.

Put it this way: his mother looked like the most unruly one of them all! How could she have once worked within the system, even founded such an institution? If the Yao Clan heard about it they'd be scared to death.

"Why look at me? I was a civil servant longer than the country has existed, through several dynasties. In the Song Dynasty I started working at the court office that specialized in capturing troublesome Yao Race beasts. The Emperor even gave me a death-exemption gold medal. After the founding, a group of feng shui masters arrested your grandfather—I had to use the death-exemption medal to ransom him." He Shi recalled on camera.

What a familiar plot...

But this was exactly the sort of thing his unreliable grandfather would do.

Zhou Mu said: "Did they really let you ransom him?"

"Of course not—they didn't recognize the thing. I wasted half a day flipping through it." He Shi complained. "So I worked for them as exchange. I single-handedly founded 404 Office. Later I wanted to rest, so I resigned."

"Your position has always been kept open—anytime you want to come back, you can." Cui Jue quickly said. "If the Young Master wants to take the civil service exam after graduation, you can come directly to our Office."

"I don't care about that." He Shi said indifferently. "As long as he stays away from me, goes and finds his own territory to hunt, and stops eating and drinking mine."

"I'll eat, I'll eat, I'll eat." Zhou Mu stuck out his tongue and hung up the video.

With this connection, and Cui Jue's people sensibly bringing gifts, Zhou Mu reluctantly agreed to follow cultural relic protection law. He looked at Gongzi Cong with ill intent: "Hey, the food was all gifts from them—your share I still remember. Also, you look pretty sharp..."

Though the words weren't finished, they made Gongzi Cong shiver!

He looked at Cui Jue pleadingly, weakly saying: "I—I'm a National First-Grade Protected Cultural Relic..."

Just this one sentence—he'd said it more today than in the past ten years combined.

Cui Jue ignored him, and said to Zhou Mu: "We still have cases. Adding you on WeChat first—we'll be going. Call us if anything comes up."

He'd already saved Gongzi Cong's life—knowing Zhou Mu wouldn't eat him, his mission was complete. The rest wasn't his duty, and he had no power to help.

Cui Jue could only ignore Gongzi Cong's pleading eyes, and strode away with his subordinates.

After Cui Jue left, Gongzi Cong couldn't move and didn't dare move, watching Zhou Mu revert to his original form, even opening his mouth to demand Gongzi Cong carry him around the city and act as tour guide.

Gongzi Cong thought for three seconds, really couldn't refuse, could only brace himself and stand beside Zhou Mu.

Though Zhou Mu had now pulled back his aura, Gongzi Cong's two legs still had a tendency to tremble. Leading Zhou Mu around the streets, he kept regretting why he'd agreed to be a guide today, and feared Zhou Mu, only hoping for divine justice—whoever could subdue this Fierce Beast.

Even if a billboard fell from the sky and hit his head, at least that would vent his anger...

Right, he just arrived in the Human Race—hopefully he doesn't understand things, gets taught a lesson by heavy weapons. Today's weapons aren't like me.

Gongzi Cong's daydreams grew more satisfying.

Zhou Mu saw someone eating snacks—this Human Race flavor he hadn't tried—and immediately craved it: "Hey, buy me some, let me see how they taste."

Gongzi Cong could only say meekly: "Yes, what would you like? Jelly?"

Zhou Mu coldly assessed him: "You're thinking—since I just arrived in the Human Race city, I'll easily get into trouble because I don't understand things?"

Gongzi Cong: "!!!"

This Fierce Beast was so perceptive he even knew what Gongzi Cong was inwardly cursing, even what he was cursing about—could he actually read minds?

Gongzi Cong was a bit panicked, a little sweat breaking out on his forehead—this was probably his most undignified day ever.

Gongzi Cong was still stammering, Zhou Mu gave a cold laugh.

"You want to harm me?" Zhou Mu took out his inherited WeChat. "I've learned about the Human Race from my grandfather's Moments—you think I don't know jelly is made from leather shoes?"

As he spoke he showed two sharp fangs: "Watch me not take a bite out of you..."

Gongzi Cong: "............"

...Gongzi Cong couldn't tell if Zhou Mu really believed it, or was putting on an act to eat him—after all, Zhou Mu had already shown his highly skilled acting side.

In this moment, he could only, separated by just half an hour, dial the 404 Office hotline again and let out a scream: "Help—rescue a National First-Grade Protected Cultural Relic!!"