Chapter 76

Chapter 76

Xu Qiao couldn't afford to give away a large gold ball with a diameter of one meter.

The lotus flower flicked the small gold ball in front of it with one of its leaves.

Xu Qiao's points were only sufficient this year to afford a thin gold necklace a few grams in weight. Yet this bird had the nerve to ask for a gold ball a meter in diameter?

The fire dragon circled around the gold ball before realizing it had been tricked, managing to stabilize itself by controlling the wind just in time.

Xu Qiao lectured the lotus flower, "Don't be so rude. It just has an incredibly wealthy owner, so it thinks gifts like this are normal."

Qinchi laughed. "My fault. I've never had many friends, so it doesn't really understand the value of gifts."

Xu Qiao: "......When's your birthday? Next time, the three of us teammates will each get you a gift, including Xiaoyang."

Qinchi: "No need to be so polite. I'm past the age of looking forward to gifts."

Xu Qiao: "You don't have to look forward to it. We insist on giving, so spill it."

She had seen his identification information on the rental contract, but she was too focused on his birth year to notice the month and day.

Qinchi could only say, "February 17th. What about you?"

Xu Qiao, head down in her meal: "I'm not telling you. What if you give me a gift first, and then mine wouldn't compare?"

Qinchi: "I can give something not expensive. It's the thought that counts."

Xu Qiao: "Just eat. Don't fall behind Xiaoyang and the others."

At 6:30 in the evening, the two stood once again outside the glass wall of Zhou Cheng's lab. Sun Fushan had already gone home.

When the three military academy students arrived, Lv Chun came over upon hearing the news, accompanied by Shen Jie, an A-class Healer whose spirit creature was bamboo.

After preparations were made, this time, Shen Jie also entered the lab with Lu Yang and the others.

No one knew exactly how much of Zhou Cheng's pre-transformation memories the wolverine had inherited. However, it clearly retained memories of recent events and people. When Shen Jie's figure entered its view, the previously cautious wolverine suddenly rushed forward, intending to attack Shen Jie.

Lu Yang, Bao Wei, and Wei Pingye skillfully restrained the wolverine, but when Lu Yang threw the fresh apple Xu Qiao had just handed him, the wolverine knocked the apple away again.

Professor Lv shook her head regretfully and said to Xu Qiao, "Its wariness of the outside world is too strong. At this rate, who knows how long it will take for it to accept Shen Jie."

Inside the water wall, the wolverine no longer "cooperated" by listening to the three military academy students. Instead, it kept its fierce gaze fixed on Shen Jie.

Lu Yang: "This is Doctor Shen. The bamboo is Doctor Shen's spirit creature. The fragrance of bamboo leaves is really nice, don't you think? Do you know how many points Doctor Shen charges per consultation? Enough for a year's worth of apples for you. Yet Doctor Shen is treating you for free, 24 hours a day. Bao Wei even wishes he could move over here to stay with you overnight, studying while you sleep."

Bao Wei: "Yeah, I'm not as good at those liberal arts courses. If I don't cram, I'll fail the midterms."

Wei Pingye consoled the wolverine: "No need to worry. The class advisor said this counts as a special case. Once you recover, they'll arrange a makeup exam for you."

Bao Wei: "......Will that backfire?"

Shen Jie, listening with a kind smile, shared some amusing stories from his own time taking exams at the military academy.

Ignoring the wolverine's hostility, the experiment continued for an hour as planned.

After the four came out, Xu Qiao asked Professor Lv, "Professor Lv, can you arrange for me to go in? I want to see if it still remembers me."

Professor Lv's current goal was to gain the wolverine's acceptance. Only if the wolverine was willing to communicate could real psychological treatment begin. Psychological treatment tested the healer's ability to earn the wolverine's trust, not their ability level.

Since Xu Qiao wasn't afraid of the wolverine, Professor Lv wanted to see if there might be an unexpected breakthrough with her. After a moment's thought, she agreed: "Be careful."

Qinchi stayed outside, while Lu Yang and the others accompanied Xu Qiao in.

Having been disturbed twice in one evening, the wolverine grew even more agitated. It now glared at Xu Qiao the same way it had glared at Shen Jie earlier.

Xu Qiao sat cross-legged on the ground like Lu Yang and the others, pinching a lotus petal between her fingers. She smiled and waved it at the wolverine: "Do you still recognize my petal?"

The wolverine bared its teeth.

Xu Qiao let go of the petal, and eleven petals appeared one after another, flying toward the edge of the water wall.

Lu Yang gritted his teeth: "My sister's lotus is the best. You're the only one who attacked it with foul liquid. It's only willing to see you out of respect for Zhou Cheng. If you offend it again, you won't get to see it next time."

The wolverine's raised paw hovered in the air for a moment before it put it back down.

The lotus was still wary of the wolverine, cautiously hovering outside the water wall before entering. The eleven petals formed a circle slightly smaller than the wolverine's head, at the same height as the wolverine's nose.

One petal tried to convey a message to the wolverine: "Xu Qiao has been worried about you these past few days. She's never been this concerned about any patient before."

The wolverine glanced at Xu Qiao.

The petal: "I now have ninety-nine petals, but it's not convenient to show you the whole flower yet."

The wolverine's gaze seemed to follow the circle of petals.

The petal: "Take a sniff. Am I even more fragrant now?"

The wolverine sniffed.

The petal: "When you attacked me with foul liquid last time, was it because you didn't like my fragrance?"

The wolverine glanced at the surrounding bamboo forest, which also emitted a fragrance, before suddenly slapping at the petals.

Xu Qiao quickly retracted all the petals. She could see that the wolverine remembered her, but the memory wasn't enough for it to cooperate with the lotus flower's attempt at comfort.

As an animal that used foul liquid to ward off enemies, it would naturally be wary of various sudden fragrances around it.

"Although you're still fierce, what can I do? I like you. I still have an apple here, do you want it?"

As if nothing had just happened, Xu Qiao took out an apple from her bag and looked at the wolverine. "It was just picked from the tree last month. It's from my own apple tree. Bao Wei said it's sweeter than the ones bought outside, and I actually think so too."

The wolverine stared at the apple.

Xu Qiao tossed it over.

The wolverine jumped up and caught it in its mouth.

Lv Chun decided that starting tomorrow, Shen Jie would interact with the wolverine once in the morning and once in the afternoon, while Xu Qiao would take care of it in the evening.

After leaving the lab, Qin Chi accompanied Xu Qiao to meet Meng Li.

There were some things that were not convenient to communicate through the wrist device. Tonight, Xu Qiao explained to Meng Li the reason why Sun Fushan's level was made public, including her own upgrade.

Meng Li remained as cold and rational as ever, not even bothering to waste time congratulating her, only focusing on the key point. "Are you going to make it public?"

Xu Qiao: "Yes, I want to participate in Zhou Cheng's treatment. It's more convenient to strive for some experimental resources as a Class A."

Meng Li: "Then I'll go with you for the test."

Xu Qiao: "But there will be a lot of hidden dangers after it's made public. I'm confident I can get official protection, but you..."

Meng Li: "I don't need protection. It's agreed. I'll stay with you in the team unless you reject me first."

The four members of the team, Sun Fushan had made his Class B public, Xu Qiao had made her Class A public, and Qin Chi would certainly follow Xu Qiao's lead. So even if she didn't make it public, continuing to follow them into B-level danger zones for missions would still arouse suspicion.

Rather than wasting energy on hiding, it's better to stay openly in the team.

Xu Qiao's eyes warmed up, and she reached out to Meng Li. "Alright, let's be teammates for life."

Meng Li shook her hand without showing any extra emotion and asked, "When are we going for the test?"

Xu Qiao: "Tomorrow morning? There seems to be a service where people queue up. I'll contact them to confirm the exact time and send it to you, trying not to delay work."

Meng Li: "I'll handle it. You still have to hurry back."

Xu Qiao smiled. "Okay, we'll be on our way then."

Meng Li was very quick. Just ten minutes after Qin Chi started driving, she sent the time. Meet at the Mercenary Association in the west district at 6:30 tomorrow morning.

Meng Li: "Confirm, can Qin Chi control his spirit body?"

Xu Qiao laughed and turned to ask Qin Chi.

Qin Chi: "My mercenary license is a fake. I won't participate in this kind of official test."

Xu Qiao: "..."

Qin Chi asked them for the test time and said, "Shall we leave at 6 a.m. tomorrow?"

Xu Qiao: "You're sending me? No need. You're not testing."

Qin Chi: "I'm worried you'll be surrounded by thousands of ability users and won't be able to get out."

Xu Qiao laughed and looked out the window.

The next day, Qin Chi accompanied Xu Qiao to the Mercenary Association. Meng Li was already standing in a forward position in a line. One hundred points for a spot, and since Qin Chi wasn't testing, she bought two spots.

Xu Qiao joined the line, with Qin Chi standing next to her.

There were four testing devices, and each test was announced, adding "level unchanged" compared to when the spirit body awakened.

Xu Qiao observed silently and noticed that those who had been tested before her all looked disappointed. Those with bad tempers were cursing, suspecting that Sun Fushan had mutated and the Sun family had come up with this method to divert attention.

There had already been negative voices on the forum yesterday. However, Lv Chun had long reminded everyone that the upgrade of the spirit body was a low-probability event. Moreover, the Sun family had a good reputation. Additionally, only a small portion had been tested, and the majority who hadn't been retested still held hope. Therefore, the discussion still centered on the spirit body test, and private fights triggered by "mutation" continued to decrease.

Finally, it was Meng Li's turn.

Shortly after she went in, the testing device began to announce:

"Name: Meng Li"

"Spiritual Beast: Scorpion"

"Abilities: Fire Element, Grade B. Wind Element, Grade B. Poison Element, Grade B"

"Fire and Poison Elements upgraded from C to B, new Wind Element added."

The unusual announcement instantly attracted the attention of nearby ability users. Excitement spread along the line like a tidal wave. By the time Meng Li came out, people from behind had already run over to watch this special genius who, like Sun Fushan, had been lucky.

Xu Qiao became nervous but then saw that Meng Li remained cold and composed, and Qin Chi was calm and gentle. One was more composed than the other.

So she also calmly walked into the testing device.

The testing device announced again:

"Name: Xu Qiao"

"Spiritual Beast: Lotus Flower"

"Main Ability: Wood Element • Healing, Grade: A"

"Secondary Ability: Water Element • Combat, Grade: B"

"Wood Element upgraded from C to A, Water Element from D to B."

The ability users who had been buzzing about Meng Li and Qin Chi erupted in excitement. A healer, and one who had risen two levels from Grade C to a newly promoted Class A healer. If she continued to upgrade like this, wouldn't she eventually become a Class S healer?

The people, who had been surrounding them like an iron bucket, immediately dropped Meng Li and stretched their necks to look towards the detector.

The detector lifted its metal door, and the wide-eyed crowd saw only a large pink-and-white lotus flower, completely hiding the face of the Class A Healer.

Xu Qiao hadn't planned for this, but the lotus refused to go back. Since it liked to show off, Xu Qiao simply gave it all the spotlight!

The crowd was dense, and just as Qinchi was about to control the wind to take away two of his younger teammates, Meng Li suddenly released her spirit body.

The dark red fire scorpion, five meters long, successfully scared away a large circle of people as soon as it appeared.

Meng Li pulled Xu Qiao and jumped onto the back of the fire scorpion. Once they were seated securely, she politely invited Qinchi, "Want to join us?"

Qinchi: “…No, thank you. You go ahead.”

Meng Li nodded, patted the hard shell of the fire scorpion, and it flew into the air with the two of them, soaring over a sea of people looking up in astonishment.

Qinchi's expression had returned to normal, except for the fire dragon that was raging in his mind.