Chapter 910: I Knew It Would Be Like This

Lin Jianyi froze for a moment at the sight before him. A sourness welled in his chest, hard to put into words.

So it could act this spoiled? Yet before, it wouldn’t even let me kiss it once…

“Hello, you must be Fire Qilu’s beast master, right?” Lin Jianyi steadied himself with a deep breath and stepped forward to greet her.

Qiao Sang gave a quiet “Mm.”

“This match, your Fire Qilu cooperated really well.” Lin Jianyi said.

Qiao Sang looked him over with curiosity.

“On the first night, what exactly did you say to him? He actually went two whole nights without sleeping.”

On the giant virtual screen, there had been a scene of Yabao forcing him to sleep with Psychic power. At the time, she had been certain Yabao wanted to rest.

But later, when the camera shifted to a wide angle, only the man waking and speaking could be seen, no sound. After that, Yabao showed no sign of wanting to sleep at all.

Clearly, that conversation had worked some strange effect.

Lin Jianyi blinked, then tried to recall seriously.

“Let me think…”

Though primarily an refiner, and not a high-ranking beast master, he had experienced a few instances of backfeeding. Two days ago wasn’t that far. with a little effort, he remembered.

But above all, what stuck in his mind was Yabao’s power directly forcing him to close his eyes and lie down. That was unforgettable.

“I said we couldn’t rest…” Lin Jianyi repeated what he’d told Yabao then.

Qiao Sang listened, then lowered her head to glance at Yabao. A wave of emotion rippled through her.

So. even without the pursuit of strength, Yabao could now restrain his own urge to sleep.

“By the way, you’d better leave through the back door of the venue later.” Lin Jianyi suddenly remembered, lowering his voice.

“Why?” Qiao Sang asked, puzzled.

His expression grew complicated.

“I was there the whole time. I heard plenty of people saying they think you’re Qingqing Ni’s beast master. They want to find you.”

Sure enough. The moment Yabao appeared, her identity had been guessed…

Qiao Sang wasn’t particularly surprised.

Her gaze shifted toward the champion still standing at the center of the award ceremony.

“I have something to do. I can’t leave.”

Even if she were to leave, it wouldn’t be through a back door. She was already a B-rank beast master.

To sneak out like she was running away, what kind of dignity was that? Wouldn’t it be easier to just let Little Treasure Spatial Shift her out directly?

She kept those thoughts to herself.

She didn’t deny it!

Lin Jianyi felt his heart leap.

Could she really be Qingqing Ni’s beast master?

She looked even younger than him, yet she had already contracted one of the legendary pets?!

He wanted to ask outright, but stopped himself. Too abrupt.

Following her gaze, he asked instead, trying to sound casual: “Why are you staring at Teacher Wang like that? Do you want one of the items he refined?”

“Teacher Wang?” Qiao Sang looked at him.

“Wang Shang. Teacher Wang.” Lin Jianyi explained.

“He teaches at the Item Department of the Dragon Nation’s Qingteng University.”

Wang Shang, the champion of this year’s Refining Competition.

Qingteng University, ranked sixth nationwide, one of the top schools in the country…

So he was a professor at a top university. No wonder his refining skills were so advanced

, Qiao Sang thought.

And it wasn’t as though he’d chosen the strongest pet. His partner had been only a mid-level Fire Duck. Its fire-control was merely average, whether dissolving or refining materials, its speed lagged far behind the other Fire-types.

At one point, the Fire Duck even ruined a material completely

Yet even so, Wang Shang still completed the refinement and won the championship.

Lowering his voice again, Lin Jianyi offered: “If you’d like him to make something for you, I could put in a recommendation.”

Qiao Sang’s eyes lit up.

“You know him?”

“I’m his student.” Lin Jianyi said proudly.

“That’s great!” Qiao Sang warmed immediately.

“Then I’ll trouble you to make the introduction.”

“No problem.” Lin Jianyi promised.

With that connection established, he felt bolder. He leaned closer, lowering his voice like a conspirator: “You’re the mysterious beast master who contracted Qingqing Ni, aren’t you?”

Qiao Sang didn’t deny it.

“Unless someone else just recently contracted Qingqing Ni.”

Ah! It really is her!

Lin Jianyi’s excitement spiked.

“Could you… could you let me see Qingqing Ni later? I’ve never seen a legendary pet with my own eyes.”

A breeze stirred across his cheek.

Qiao Sang glanced at the spot the wind brushed and smiled.

“Of course.”

Lin Jianyi’s eyes lit instantly. Excited, thrilled, he felt even happier than if he’d won the championship himself.

Who would have thought?

He had originally gone for the Flame Music Fox, yet ended up picking Fire Qilu of the Yuhua Region instead. Not only had he succeeded in refining without failure, but he’d also gotten close to Qingqing Ni’s beast master!

“Right, how did you even manage to contract Qingqing Ni? They say it can dissolve into the wind, even right before your eyes, you can’t see it.”

You’re right. It drifted past you several times, and you never noticed…

Qiao Sang answered some of his questions with a smile.

While they chatted idly, the award and prize-draw ceremonies concluded.

Qiao Sang didn’t get picked as one of the lucky audience members.

Lin Jianyi, seeing this, said generously: “No worries. Take my item instead.”

He pulled a helmet-type item from his bag. Tested during the contest, it could help a pet break free from hypnosis or charm and regain clarity quickly.

“No need.” Qiao Sang refused.

Her upcoming matches forbade external items. It would be useless to her.

Lin Jianyi was about to insist when he spotted someone approaching. Quickly, he put the item away and straightened.

“Teacher.”

Qiao Sang turned and saw Wang Shang.

“Teacher Wang.” She greeted.

He glanced at the sleeping Yabao, smiling kindly.

“You know me?”

Qiao Sang’s face stayed calm.

“Of course. A professor from Qingteng University, and the one who just won the championship, it’s impossible not to know you.”

The flattery landed. Wang Shang’s smile grew warmer.

As a professor at the nation’s sixth-ranked university, he was no stranger to compliments. But hearing it from someone who might very well be Qingqing Ni’s beast master, that felt different.

“Teacher, she’d like you to refine an item.” Lin Jianyi reminded him.

“Oh?” Wang Shang chuckled.

“What sort of item would you like refined?”

“I’m not here to refine an item.” Qiao Sang said.

“I’d like to trade for a Fire Refining Fruit.”

The smile dropped from his face.

Lin Jianyi stared in disbelief.

Trade for a Fire Refining Fruit?

You didn’t say that!

“Let’s find a quiet place to talk.” Wang Shang said at last, noticing the eyes of the gathering crowd. He didn’t reject her outright.

---

Restaurant, Private Room.

“You want a Fire Refining Fruit?” Wang Shang asked.

Qiao Sang nodded.

“Yes. For my Fire Qilu.”

“What are you offering in exchange?” He asked.

Qiao Sang gestured to the empty air.

“Xun xun~”

Little Treasure emerged, removed his storage ring, and began piling items onto the table, materials and tools she had collected back on Chaosu Star.

With the unlimited card at the time, and not wanting to waste the space inside the ring, she had bought only the most expensive things. And on another planet, everything doubled in value.

The pile’s worth was self-evident.

“These all came from Chaosu Star.” Qiao Sang explained.

“You can pick any ten. That’s my sincerity.”

“From Chaosu Star…” Wang Shang’s eyes widened at the unfamiliar treasures. His heart skipped.

For an refiner, skill mattered, yes, but more than anything, new materials and tools could spark breakthroughs.

Even as a professor at Qingteng, he had never owned such things.

So extravagant

… Lin Jianyi stared at the table, unable to look away.

Wang Shang’s thoughts tangled.

To be honest, his purpose for entering the competition was to obtain the Fire Refining Fruit. Normally, he would reject outright. But if she really was Qingqing Ni’s beast master? His student had just confirmed as much.

He had planned to refuse gently. But this...this offer was too much.

He hesitated, torn.

“Qing qing?”

Qingbao suddenly appeared, head tilted in puzzlement.

Too few?

“!!!”

The impact was immediate.

The sudden appearance left Wang Shang and Lin Jianyi wide-eyed, breath caught, overwhelmed.

“Qing qing?”

Qingbao floated closer, waved a paw in front of Wang Shang’s face.

So close

… His heart raced.

Lin Jianyi recovered first, though his voice trembled.

“Qingqing Ni?”

“Qing qing~”

Qingbao looked at him, chirped sweetly, and nodded.

So cute…

Lin Jianyi froze all over again.

Qiao Sang glanced at Qingbao, her expression complicated. Honestly, she suspected Qingbao knew full well the people here had no resistance to her, that’s why she had appeared just now.

“What did she just say?” Wang Shang asked, finally snapping back.

Qiao Sang translated smoothly.

“She asked if you thought the items were too few.”

She added, without blinking: “Qingbao says she thinks they’re plenty.”

“Qing qing.”

Qingbao nodded innocently, as if the second half had indeed been her own words.

“Yes, yes, plenty.” Wang Shang said quickly. Then hesitated.

“It’s just…”

“Qing qing…”

Qingbao’s expression turned sorrowful.

Too little? Can’t trade?

Even if he couldn’t understand, Wang Shang recognized sadness. His thoughts collapsed at once.

“I’ll trade! I’ll choose ten right now!”

“Qing qing!”

Qingbao’s eyes lit with joy.

Wang Shang felt satisfied.

It was worth it.

“Teacher, some of these might be better suited for Fairy-type pets.” Lin Jianyi offered carefully.

“I know. I don’t need the Fairy-type ones.” Wang Shang replied without hesitation.

People of the Hollow Region…

Qiao Sang twitched a smile, biting back a retort. At least it was in her favor.

---

Beast Center, Dormitory, Room 901.

“Yap…”

Yabao opened his eyes on the bed.

The first thing he saw was a red fruit, its surface traced with flame patterns.

“The Fire Refining Fruit, I got it for you.” Qiao Sang said with a smile, holding it out.

“Do you want to eat it now, or later?”

“Yap!”

Yabao’s eyes gleamed. He snapped at it immediately.

Now, of course!

Qiao Sang let go, watching as he hugged the fruit and ate happily. Her gaze softened, then she reminded him: “Once you eat it, you’ll feel energy boiling inside. That’s normal. During that time, don’t use skills. Don’t train. Just rest and absorb. It’ll take about a week.”

The Fire Refining Fruit didn’t raise a Fire-type pet’s level instantly. It needed digestion time, with strict cautions against reckless energy use.

“Yap…”

Yabao paused, then nodded seriously and kept eating.

“Xun xun~”

Little Treasure floated over, watching Yabao with envy.

If only he could just eat something and break through…

Qiao Sang smiled.

“When the chance comes, I’ll get you one too.”

Little Treasure’s next evolution only lacked a final material. For him, treasures like this were safe.

“Xun xun~”

He glowed happily, rubbing against his beast master’s cheek.

Suddenly, Qiao Sang stood.

“I need to report to Teacher Mikayla. Wait here.”

When she had submitted her mission earlier, Yabao had still been asleep. She had forgotten to tell Mikayla it was complete.

“Yap!”

Yabao gulped down the rest of the fruit, jumped from the bed, and insisted on coming.

“Alright.” She carried him to Room 912 and knocked.

The door opened immediately.

Mikayla looked at her without surprise.

“Mission complete?”

“Mm.” Qiao Sang nodded.

“And the Fire Refining Fruit?”

“Yes.” Her mood was good. The mission had gone smoothly after all, and the fruit was secured.

Only two missions remained, with plenty of time. She had planned to rest before setting out again.

Before she could speak, Mikayla said calmly: “I knew it would be like this. Wait here.”

Wait?

Qiao Sang blinked.

Three seconds later, Mikayla emerged carrying a bag and dragging a suitcase.

“I’ve packed already. Let’s go, we’re heading to Tianfu City.”

Qiao Sang: …

-----

T/n:

*Stares blankly at the empty document for three daily lesson plans to be passed tomorrow.*

...Hmm. Teaching is fun, doing this ain't.

*Stares at another document for the quiz*

I just hope they really do understand what I taught them (🥹) if not, I'm crashing out.

Anywaysssss...I won't promise uploading chapter anymore😭 I promised last time and got overwhelmed checking activities and doing some instructional materials. Every time I promise something, it gets interrupted. I'm just going to suprised you all.

Lastly, would like y'all prefer it to be item-maker, item refiner, or just refiner?