Chapter 119

Chapter 120: Are You Adults All Like This!

Si Kong Wang moved into the Orphanage. When Xiang Wen Yun heard that Qian Qi’s friend was coming, she was thrilled, but she still personally cleaned a room four doors down from Qian Qi’s and set it aside for him.

A large truck full of gifts rolled up to the Orphanage. The driver unloaded piles of new desks and chairs, plus a heap of new toys and fairy tale books, carrying them into the courtyard and the multipurpose room. The kids went wild with joy and followed the driver back and forth in a noisy line. Qian Ba also bounced around, his eyes bright with curiosity.

Only then did Si Kong Wang notice Qian Ba. At first he thought it was a rare white wolf, but on a closer look the fur was more silver than white. When his gaze met those icy blue wolf eyes, he understood at once that this was no ordinary wolf. He lowered his voice and asked with a new seriousness as he looked at Qian Ba: “That wolf cub, it’s a Magibeast, right?” Qian Qi glanced at Qian Ba and said: “Yeah.”

Si Kong Wang frowned, eyes down as he thought for a moment, then his face turned uncommonly stern as he told her: “I don’t know where you found a Magibeast cub, but you really shouldn’t bring it out in public.” He paused and added in pieces: “It’s easy to get targeted, since Magibeast cubs are young.” Qian Qi raised an eyebrow and said: “Young cubs are easier to make a Beast Contract with, right?” He blinked, then nodded in silence and said: “Yes.”

Among Beast Tamers, Magibeast cubs are extremely rare and very valuable. What he didn’t say out loud was that cubs like this are tangled with powers and profit chains best left alone. Ordinary people who get even a little involved tend to meet trouble. Qian Qi clicked her tongue and said: “This little guy is a Magibeast, but he can’t awaken any skill.” Si Kong Wang stared, more surprised: “There are Magibeasts that can’t awaken a skill?” Qian Qi looked at Qian Ba and nodded, a bit heavy: “This child is like me, unable to awaken at all.”

Qian Ba ran over after admiring the new stuff and caught Qian Qi’s pitying face: […] [What now, she’s not planning to ride me again, right?]

“This really is unusual,” Si Kong Wang said as he crouched to study Qian Ba. He couldn’t see anything special and admitted: “It’s my first time hearing about a Magibeast that can’t awaken.” A Magibeast like this really offered no profit.

“Alright, forget it, let’s go wrap dumplings,” Qian Qi said after checking the time. Si Kong Wang put away his curiosity and nodded.

In the cafeteria, Qian Qi wore a pink apron and wrapped meat dumplings. A circle of children crowded around to help, and the room felt warm and lively. Si Kong Wang had never made dumplings before. He held the wrapper like it might break and sat beside Qian Qi, clumsily pinching the folds.

A boy nearby kneaded dough and quickly shaped a few little white rabbits, then passed them to younger kids. Si Kong Wang’s attention was caught at once, and he tried to learn the rabbit trick from the boy. The boy was generous. As he demonstrated, he also whispered, fishing for news: “Big brother, are you a student at Awakener University too?” Si Kong Wang kept his focus on the dough in the boy’s hands and said: “Yes. I’m a third year.”

The boy sneaked a glance at busy Qian Qi, leaned close to Si Kong Wang’s ear, and asked in a small voice: “Is Qian Qi really good at making money?” Si Kong Wang thought about it. With her skills in cultivation and Beast Taming, she should be. He nodded and said: “Yeah, she’s very capable.” The boy’s mouth opened a little, not fully convinced, and he asked: “How capable? Can you give me a comparison?” Si Kong Wang considered and said: “About as capable as the dean of a research institute.” The boy kept going: “So how strong is a research institute dean?” Si Kong Wang went quiet, then asked back: “What do you think is the strongest?” The boy lit up and said: “Beast Tamers are the strongest! Fighting side by side with a Contract Beast is so cool, and they can protect the Orphanage! My dream is to be a Beast Tamer.”

“Then she’s the kind of person even Beast Tamers have to ask for help,” Si Kong Wang explained. The boy’s eyes widened as he demanded: “How do you know?” Si Kong Wang said calmly: “Because I’m a Beast Tamer.” The boy froze, then burst into rapid questions: “Do you have a Contract Beast too? What grade? What kind? Have you been inside a Dungeon?” Si Kong Wang answered with patience: “Yeah. I’ve been in Dungeons. My Contract Beast is a D grade Ghost Panther.”

“D grade Ghost Panther…” The boy jumped up and ran to Qian Qi, poking the blue Light Brain on her right wrist. It was Li Hai Sheng’s Light Brain. Qian Qi was busy wrapping dumplings, so when the boy asked for it, she just tugged it off and tossed it to him. Ever since he learned she had a second Light Brain, the boy kept finding reasons to borrow it for research. She hadn’t given it to him for good because she worried he might stumble into the wrong kind of content.

The boy ran back, searched for Ghost Panther info, and gasped: “Wow, this panther is so cool, it can go invisible!” Then, after noticing the panther’s slender build, he sneaked a look at Si Kong Wang. Si Kong Wang asked: “What is it?” The boy shifted and said: “Uh, nothing, it just seems like your Contract Beast has it kind of tough.” He tried to be polite but still asked, a bit roundabout: “Do you ride on your Ghost Panther?” He had seen how Qian Qi liked to ride on Qian Ba. Every time he watched the slim wolf struggle to lift her, his heart ached. He wondered if Beast Tamers also forced their Contract Beasts to carry them.

Si Kong Wang paused, seeming to catch the boy’s meaning. After a moment he turned and asked Qian Qi: “Qian Qi, this kid looks about the right age. Is he in first grade yet?” The boy sputtered inside: […] [Hey! You got mad, huh? I only asked. Why throw me into the fire? Are all you adults like this!]

Qian Qi studied the boy and finally said: “Now that you mention it, he really should be in school.” A few other kids seemed old enough for primary school too. The Orphanage did have teachers, but it couldn’t cover as much as a real school. If they could go to a regular primary school, then later attend a normal college to learn a trade and support themselves, it would be better than staying in the Orphanage.

The trouble was tuition. Qian Qi was flat broke. Si Kong Wang’s medical costs still had to wait until they found the Magi God Herb. If she wanted to send the kids to school, she needed to make money. She blew the flour off her hands and thought: [Alright then. Time to get some cash.]