Chapter 197: Water Snail

Traveling all the way from the ancient Guwu Region to become a security guard in Yuhua was no easy feat.

Ending up at an estate with a creature like Water Luriana living there seemed almost too coincidental.

It wasn't that Qiao Sang didn’t believe in coincidences, but combined with that guy’s subtle facial expression, her gut told her that this security guard from the Guwu Region was anything but ordinary.

Of course, gut feelings are a kind of metaphysical science.

Without concrete evidence, Qiao Sang couldn’t outright judge if this person was suspicious, but she did make a mental note of it.

Back home, Yabao immediately headed to the courtyard to train his Fire Fang skill. He was now nearly at mastery level; it wouldn't be long before he reached the ultimate stage.

Meanwhile, Little Treasure didn’t stay idle either, drifting over to the virtual helmet and putting it on himself.

This sight left Qiao Sang, who had just walked in and wanted to flop onto the bed, feeling a bit guilty.

With her two pets working so hard, how could she just think about resting?

Qiao Sang headed to the kitchen and opened the fridge, looking for something to snack on while reading.

But as soon as she opened it, looking at the fridge stuffed with various fruits, vegetables, and drinks, her thoughts began to drift.

With so much food at home, and with her leaving a bottle of milk for Water Luriana every day before going out,

would it really go out of its way to steal those white sticky fruits from next door?

White sticky fruits could help pets recover from paralysis, but they didn’t hold much appeal for water-type pets that weren’t affected by any negative status.

After pondering for a moment, Qiao Sang realized a critical point.

People only mentioned seeing a blue pet that had stolen two white sticky fruits running to her place;

they hadn’t said it was Water Luriana…

With this in mind, Qiao Sang took a bottle of milk from the fridge and went to the courtyard.

“Yap!”

Yabao noticed Qiao Sang and immediately dissipated the Fire Fang he had just condensed, wagging his tail as he ran over.

“Yap!” Yabao’s eyes lit up upon noticing the milk in her hand.

Was it for him?

Not quite..

. Qiao Sang chuckled as she handed over the milk.

“It’s a bit cold, so don’t gulp it all at once.”

“Yap!” Yabao nodded, sitting down and cradling the milk bottle with his paws.

Watching him sip the milk with squinted eyes, Qiao Sang smiled, then turned back to the kitchen to get another bottle and head to the courtyard.

Before she could even take two steps toward the pool, Yabao called out again.

“Yal!” Turning around, she saw him holding the empty milk bottle, looking at her with those wet, pleading eyes.

After a slight hesitation, she opened the second bottle and handed it over.

On her third trip with milk to the courtyard, Yabao, now holding his second empty bottle, simply sat there, wagging his tail and looking at her, full of trust, as if certain that the milk in her hand was for him.

Alright, who could resist that?

Qiao Sang struggled for two seconds but ultimately went over to him again with the bottle.

“Yap.” Yabao took the milk and, remembering her earlier words, didn’t gulp it all down in one go, finishing it in two sips instead.

“Do you want more?” This time, Qiao Sang asked wisely.

“Yap.” Yabao shook his head after a moment's thought.

He had to get back to training.

Qiao Sang sighed in relief. But when she brought the fourth bottle to the courtyard, Yabao stopped training, looking over at her with an exasperated expression.

“Yap?”

Didn’t he say he didn’t want more?

Qiao Sang: …

After clarifying things with Yabao, Qiao Sang approached the pool and placed the milk beside it.

“Did you go out today?”

No response from the pool.

Qiao Sang wasn't surprised, continuing to speak to herself, “When I got back, the security guard mentioned seeing a blue pet that had stolen two white sticky fruits from next door and ran here.”

“I don’t think it was you, but did you see any suspicious pets coming in?”

“Oh, and recently, a new security guard from the Guwu Region arrived. Do you think he’s here for you?”

“Oh, by the way, Yabao peed in the milk I left this morning…”

“Lu Lu!!!” Water Luriana sprang out of the pool, glaring at Qiao Sang before turning toward Yabao, clearly ready for a showdown.

“Yap!” Hearing the commotion, Yabao turned, clueless but instantly assuming a fighting stance upon seeing Water Luriana’s combative posture.

Fight? Bring it on!

Seeing the two about to clash, Qiao Sang hurriedly intervened, “I was just kidding!”

“Lu Lu!” Water Luriana shot her a suspicious look.

“I swear, it was just a joke! Surely you’d notice if the milk tasted different by now!” Qiao Sang nearly swore on it.

Who would’ve thought Shui Luyan would be so riled up over a casual remark…

“Lulu! Lulu? Lulu! Lulu!!”

Water Luriana angrily pointed at the milk with its paw.

Watching it gesture, Qiao Sang explained again, “I was only joking. Ask Yabao if you don’t believe me.”

“Yap?” Yabao looked blank.

Ask about what?

“Lu Lu!” Water Luriana grew more furious, grabbing the milk and slamming it down in front of her.

“So, you never want to drink it again?” Qiao Sang guessed.

“Lu Lu!!!” Water Luriana’s paw trembled with anger.

The more they talked, the angrier Water Luriana became.

In the end, it was only with Yabao’s translation that Qiao Sang finally understood Water Luriana had never touched the milk she left.

Exhausted, Qiao Sang couldn’t help but think,

If that’s the case, why did the milk always end up watered down every day?

And if you didn’t drink it, why get so worked up when I joked about Yabao peeing in it?

Drinking it isn’t a big deal; stop being so stubborn.

After finishing her inner rant, Qiao Sang placed the milk in front of Water Luriana and, in a serious tone, said, “Whether you drink it or not, I’ll keep leaving a bottle for you every day.”

Surely, that would move it enough to agree to a contract with her on the spot.

Water Luriana glanced at the milk, then turned with a flick of its tail and leapt back into the pool, splashing water all over Qiao Sang’s face.

Qiao Sang: ...

---

10:56 p.m.

Qiao Sang lay in bed, her consciousness retreating from the Beasts’ Codex.

At the same time, in the security dorm at her complex.

The chubby security guard she’d met earlier swayed over to the beer-can-covered table and kicked the man slumped over it.

“Old Xu, already passed out? Come on, let’s have a bit more.”

The man at the table, reeking of alcohol, didn’t respond, eyes closed.

The chubby guard's eyes suddenly cleared, shedding all signs of inebriation.

“You lightweight, trying to outdrink me.”

As he spoke, a soft-bodied, blue creature with no visible shell, red-faced, damp and sticky, emerged from his collar.

“Water Snail, let’s head out once more. I refuse to believe we still can’t find that guy.” Grabbing Water Snail and lifting it to eye level, he spoke determinedly.

“Drip…” Water Snail grinned, then promptly closed its eyes and tilted its head to the side.

“What the heck! How are you drunk, too?”