Chapter 52
Chapter 52: Elder Version Qian Qi—Li Hong Sheng, Defeated!
With an ordinary student, Li Hong Sheng could have flexed his “director” status and leaned hard. But the principal had warned him again and again—don’t threaten Qian Qi—so even now he hesitated. How did you get someone like her to lower a price?
“Classmate,” he began, taking the softer road. “I’ll be straightforward. Ten million is too much for me.”
He tipped his hand. “I’m currently the director of the Magic Plant Research Institute. I don’t know if you understand this, but society looks down on magic plants. People think they’re useless, even harmful. That prejudice keeps us in constant financial trouble. Keeping the institute running is… difficult.”
He sighed, the kind that carried years of defeat. “But I’ve always believed magic plants can benefit humanity. We simply haven’t found the right path yet.”
Then he added, trying to land a moral hook. “Even if they’re not useful for humans, being useful for contract beasts would still be worth it. If contract beasts grow stronger, dealing with magic beasts becomes easier, and the world becomes safer.”
He watched her closely. “You chose the magic plant major. You must believe that too, right?”
Qian Qi considered for two seconds, then said with full sincerity, “No. I’m just poor, so I could only pick the magic plant major.”
Li Hong Sheng blanked. “…What?”
“If I could transfer for free to the Magic Beast Department or the Beast-Taming Department,” Qian Qi continued, shooting the principal a pointed look, “there’s a decent chance I’d be making magic beasts and contract beasts work for me right now.”
The principal’s face hardened. “Like hell.”
Seeing that his heartfelt speech slid off her like water off wax, Li Hong Sheng slapped the table and switched tactics.
“Can’t you make it cheaper? Ten million is outrageous! And who says your method even works? What if you sell me nonsense?”
He’d been in business long enough to know how to bluff. He refused to believe he couldn’t out-haggle a student.
Unfortunately for him, he’d kicked an iron plate.
Qian Qi picked at her ear, bored. “Buy it or don’t.”
Then she stood. “If you’re not buying, I’m leaving.”
Li Hong Sheng’s lungs seized.
No. You can’t leave. I still have an entire arsenal of bargaining tricks—
Qian Qi waved casually. “Come back when you have ten million. Don’t worry—I’ll hold it for you. I won’t sell it to anyone else.”
She turned to go. “Nothing else? Great. Hope you have a happy day.”
And just like that, she walked out.
Li Hong Sheng froze in place, then spun on the principal, pointing at the door like it had personally betrayed him. “Little Zheng! What is wrong with that brat? Why won’t anything get through? Does he know that with one sentence, I can make him unable to stay at Magic Plant College?”
The principal pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s a girl.”
Li Hong Sheng blinked. “…A girl?”
He’d never seen a girl with such a rough, street-punk vibe. That scruffy little face smiled like it was bulletproof. She didn’t care about him or the principal at all.
“Don’t treat her like a normal student,” the principal said.
He opened a drawer, pulled out a small box, and popped the lid. Inside sat a Defense Fruit.
Li Hong Sheng glanced at it, unimpressed. “Chocolate beans?”
The principal’s jaw clenched. “That is a magic plant fruit.”
Li Hong Sheng frowned, then picked it up and studied it more carefully. “What kind of magic plant produces this? I’ve never seen it.”
“That’s not the shocking part.” The principal’s voice dropped. “You can eat it directly. No side effects.”
Li Hong Sheng jerked his head up. “Directly? You mean awakeners can take it? Or ordinary people?”
Then he caught the name again. “Defense Fruit? What does that even mean?”
“Swallow it, and for ten minutes, you become immune to all damage from D-rank magic beasts,” the principal said. “Physical. Elemental. The only thing it can’t block is mental-type attacks—I tested that yesterday.”
Li Hong Sheng’s fingers tightened around the fruit as if it might leap away.
Immune to D-rank damage?
What kind of miracle was this?
“Little Zheng,” he said hoarsely, eyes burning, “don’t play with me. Is that real?”
“It’s real.” The principal tapped the projector, and the match video recorded by students appeared. “Qian Qi held a demonstration match. You can see for yourself—no cheating.”
Li Hong Sheng leaned in, staring at the screen. When the iron bear beast smashed both arms down on Qian Qi and she didn’t even flinch, he shot upright.
“A juvenile iron bear beast is quasi D-rank—strength type, earth-element user.” His voice shook. “And she wasn’t hurt at all?”
The Defense Fruit… actually worked.
For all his faith in magic plant research, he’d never dared imagine a fruit this practical, this brutal in its usefulness.
He swallowed, then looked back at the principal with careful hope. “This Defense Fruit… could I take it back and study it?”
“Sure,” the principal said brightly.
Li Hong Sheng’s relief lasted exactly half a second.
“153,000. Pay up.”
Li Hong Sheng choked. “…What?”
The principal smiled. “Pay.”
“Little Zheng!” Li Hong Sheng cried. “Don’t do this! I’m trying to borrow money from you for the Fire Qilin Lotus planting method!”
The principal blinked. “…From me?”
“Now you see how valuable magic plants can be!” Li Hong Sheng snapped back into salesman mode. “Once I grow these Defense Fruits, money will pour in. I won’t be like before—I’ll pay you back, I swear!”
The principal stared at him in silence, clearly thinking: I do not believe you can grow a damn houseplant.
“If you’re still worried, I’ll give you profit share!” Li Hong Sheng pressed, leaning closer like he was recruiting a partner in crime. “Help me convince Qian Qi to share the planting method for Defense Fruit. I’m telling you—this girl absolutely knows how to grow it!”
The principal’s mouth twitched.
So that was it. He’d wondered why he’d tolerated Qian Qi’s nonsense for so long, even after getting scammed. Turns out he’d been lured in by the prospect of an even older, even thriftier version of her.
Still…
Defense Fruit. Fire Qilin Fruit. The value was obscene.
The principal leaned in, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Actually… she also has…”