Back at Lin Jin’s home, Zhao Ying, Lu Xiaoyun, Han Dong, and Jia Qian waited for his return. Upon receiving news of their mentor’s victory, they came here with delicious food and fine wine to celebrate with him. However, before they even began their feast, Lu Yunhe and Zu Can showed up as well.
Since they were already well-acquainted with each other, the students didn’t mind the extra company and celebrated together.
It was Lin Jin’s first time being forced to drink till he passed out and when he woke up, it was already the next day.
Han Dong was given the responsibility of taking care of him. When Lin Jin woke up, he was told by Han Dong that the Shi family’s lord had dropped by, bearing congratulatory gifts.
Lin Jin felt helpless. It wasn’t a marriage nor did he pass an imperial examination. Weren’t the gifts a little too extravagant for winning in a mere tournament?
However, Lin Jin understood and appreciated what the Shi family was trying to do. They only managed to pick themselves off the ground thanks to Lin Jin’s prescriptions. He was the reason why the tables had turned in their favor, so it was only natural for them to express their gratitude for his assistance.
Each gift was a valuable item and more than half were precious medicinal ingredients.
Lin Jin could tell from the bundle that Shi Wenjun was great at picking out presents.
Lin Jin glanced at Han Dong and then picked a few gifts from the pile before dividing them up. He then instructed Han Dong to pass these items to Zhao Ying, Lu Xiaoyun, and Jia Qian.
Every single item, if converted to cash might fetch up to several hundred taels. Han Dong didn’t dare to receive them at first, but after getting an earful from Lin Jin, he had no choice but to accept the items.
After Han Dong left, Lin Jin felt more at ease.
He wouldn’t visit the Friar Association anymore if he could afford it. After all, he only had one goal for joining the Friar Association and that was the lesser dragon blood pill.
Now that he attained his goal, there was obviously no reason for him to linger around there anymore.
Come to think of it, he hadn’t been going to the Beast Appraisal Association lately so Lin Jin had to focus his attention back there and to keep on refining his beast appraising skills.
That was his true profession.
He wasn’t in a hurry to change Xiao Huo’s constitution with the dragon blood pill. After all, Xiao Huo had just evolved and some time was required for it to get used to its powers. Also, Lin Jin had to consider the future for Shang’er and the others. He couldn’t possibly let them stay so deep inside the mountains.
The reason couldn’t be any simpler.
If a woodsman were to come across a beautiful young woman so deep inside the forest where no humans lived, he would find it odd too, wouldn’t he?
In contrast, being inside the city was much safer.
As the saying goes, ‘a great hermit would retreat into the noisiest fair’.
At this, Lin Jin shuddered at the thought of Shang’er living in his home.
This idea of keeping a bunch of monsters at home was too absurd. No one in the right mind would dare to do something like this.
But it would be so much more convenient.
There would be no need for Lin Jin to travel about at night. Further, if they could master transfiguration and stay indoors most of the time, things might just work. Even if they were to go out, they could take up a human form so the chances of being exposed were relatively low, granted that some degree of caution was exercised.
Lin Jin began to seriously consider this farfetched idea of his.
Although this was practically asking for danger, after careful analysis, placing them in the city might be safer than the great outdoors.
Of course, safety measures were necessary.
Lin Jin planned this for the longest time before coming to a conclusion.
It would work.
Though the fox cubs couldn’t transfigure, if they didn’t run about, no one would notice them. Shang’er and Little Five, who could achieve human forms would use the ability during daytime.
The great white ape would be a tad bit troublesome. Fortunately, Lin Jin had a way to change its fur color so if it maintained a small size, it would not arouse suspicion.
Lin Jin obviously had much to prepare but that was the gist of it. That was what he would do.
And so, Lin Jin took Xiao Huo out for a stroll.
Simultaneously at the City Lord Manor, Bai Zhenkong, Ye Yuzhou, and Lu Bin were waiting for news.
The imperial city of Jade Dragon Kingdom was just as concerned about the threat of war with Snake Country. Not only did they mobilize their troops in advance, but they even sent out spies to gather information about the situation in Snake Country.
If all went well, they should receive feedback today.
Just as the trio was getting impatient, someone came in reporting that the imperial city’s messenger eagle had arrived.
Bai Zhenkong got up at once to receive the message.
This message was delivered by an eagle beast specially trained for such tasks. Its swift speed allowed it to deliver the message from the imperial city to Maple City in just an hour.
Bai Zhenkong impatiently opened up the message and was soon stunned by the contents.
“City Lord Bai, what does the letter say?” Ye Yuzhou came over.
Bai Zhenkong looked at Ye Yuzhou before handing him the letter.
When Ye Yuzhou was done reading, he laughed heartily and passed it to Lu Bin.
Lu Bin was equally shocked after reading. “Snake Country’s requesting for peace?”
Even Ye Yuzhou was mildly startled by this outcome. In his mind, he figured that Snake Country wouldn’t resort to war but it surprised him that they were actively pursuing peace talks.
This was in spite of the fact that the Jade Dragon Kingdom had yet to attack them.
After giving it more thought, Ye Yuzhou figured out the reason why.
“It must be Black Crow and Madam Ghost Child!”
Ye Yuzhou’s eyes lit up. This was the only possibility. Both Black Crow and Madam Ghost Child must have seen the news he posted on the villainous community newspaper. It goes without saying that they must have handled the Snake Country issue afterward.
Otherwise, they couldn’t possibly have asked for peace without rhyme or reason.
Ye Yuzhou was now curious as to how Black Crow and Madam Ghost Child did it.
In Snake Country on the Grassy Continent.
The state preceptor was currently in terrible shape. He had already persuaded Snake Country’s king to declare war on the Jade Dragon Kingdom, after all, justice must be reclaimed for the death of his son.
But never in his wildest imaginations did he expect grim reapers to visit their country when they were in the midst of preparations.
It was a group of four individuals.
But three of them had Rank 4 pet beasts and these people’s capabilities far exceeded those on the same rank as them.
As an intermediate country, Snake Country had eight Rank 4 beasts. However, five of these eight pet beasts had to guard the country’s borders as a deterrent force against their neighbors. Without a valid reason, they couldn’t be transferred back so the actual number of Rank 4 beasts Snake Country could currently mobilize were limited to just three.
In other words, these newcomers had more power at their disposal than Snake Country’s entire army.
Of course, Snake Country had several hundred Rank 3 pet beasts and countless Rank 2s so there was nothing to be afraid of, given that they had numerical superiority. But the problem was, their enemies were no average experts.
“Black Crow, an infamous villainous expert from the West Continent. His black falcon was Rank 4 and had once annihilated dozens of smaller countries. This man is ranked top twenty among all villainous experts.”
“Evil Scholar, like Black Crow is a villainous expert hailing from the West Continent. His white cat is Rank 3 and other details unknown.”
“Madam Ghost Child, South Continent’s villainous expert. Pet beast unknown but at least Rank 4. Ranked top ten among villainous experts.”
“Coffin Man, South Continent’s villainous expert. Pet beast unknown, Rank 4. Once killed the duke of an intermediate country and has been wanted since then. The heavy bounty on his head has been around for more than twenty years now…”
Either one of these people was enough to cause headaches but they actually banded together to give Snake Country trouble.
The group seized control of one of their cities but they didn’t steal nor kill anyone. Instead, they just occupied the territory and when someone was sent to negotiate, this odd party’s only request was for Snake Country to give up their pursuit of war with the Jade Dragon Kingdom.
The king of Snake Country had already agreed to their request as he couldn’t afford to provoke these individuals. It wasn’t because they hadn’t tried attacking. Quite the contrary in fact, as Snake Country had already sent forth their three Rank 4 pet beasts to fight these intruders. Alas, they were no match for the villainous experts. The battle had lasted half a day where they fought like no tomorrow. Half of the city was reduced to mere rubble but nothing was gained out of the fight.
They couldn’t win, nor would the intruders leave. The king of Snake Country had no choice but to agree to their request. He had also dispatched envoys to ‘make peace’ with Jade Dragon Kingdom.
How aggrieving.
But they had no choice.
Fear was the main factor at play here. The Snake Country could call over all eight of their Rank 4 pet beasts and in combination with their armed forces, they could drive the intruders away…
But what would happen after that?
These people were unpredictable and could roam anywhere they wanted. The same couldn’t be said for Snake Country, who was here to stay. They couldn’t possibly be on guard all the time either.
Moreover, Jade Dragon Kingdom was also an intermediate country with seven Rank 4 pet beasts to guard their nation. If these villainous experts were to work together with the Jade Dragon Kingdom, the latter only had to send about three or four Rank 4 pet beasts and Snake Country would fall into peril.
With consideration for the bigger picture, the king of Snake Country’s choice was obvious, but that would leave the state preceptor aggrieved.
After all, it was his son who died.
Not to mention how highly valued the boy was in their country.
Ruzero couldn’t understand why villainous experts from both the West and South Continents would come rushing all the way here to help the mediocre Jade Dragon Kingdom.
After dispatching his men to investigate, a villainous community’s newspaper ended up being placed before him.
“Curator!”
Ruzero gritted his teeth at the sight of this name.
Though he had no idea who this person was, it was clear that this Curator could summon powerful villainous experts like Black Crow and Madam Ghost Child over to threaten Snake Country.
It wasn’t Ruzero’s intention to actually wage war against the Jade Dragon Kingdom. He was only trying to use this as a threat to force the Jade Dragon Kingdom into handing him his son’s murderer.
Ruzero suddenly remembered something.
Could that mysterious masked man on Mount Zoroku be this ‘Curator’?
“Curator, huh? Hmph! I don’t care who you are. I, Ruzero, will never forgive you!” In that moment, Ruzero swore to avenge his son.