Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Scheming Comrade Qian

Two days earlier, when Li Shu Yun came to see her, she had asked the System: “System, you actually have lots of potion recipes, right?” [Yes. Tons, as long as you can pay.]

Remembering that, Qian Qi trembled with excitement, first at her shoulders, then her upper body, and finally from head to toe. Even her legs shook so hard the whole dining table bounced, making the bowls go clink-clink like a magnitude 6 quake.

Li Hong Sheng stared at the “terrifying” aura rolling off Qian Qi and swallowed. [She won’t really hit an old man like me, will she?] He had a Plan B ready. If Qian Qi tried to beat him, he would flop on the floor and play the victim.

The Principal wiped his face and said: “See, I told you not to threaten her. She’s scary.”

Qian Qi looked at the upright Principal and Li Hong Sheng, lowered her hands, and said with a kind smile: “Old sir, don’t be afraid.” Sadly, her face control still needed work, which only made her look fiercer.

She tapped the table to steady the wobble and added: “About the money, I can lower the price, but I need something else to make up for it,” then said: “Eight million, plus an Unrestricted Access Pass to the Magiplant Research Institute.”

She had checked already. The Institute was closed to the public, and it stored many high grade Magiplants and seeds that were vital for advanced potions. The school only had E grade and D grade seeds, nowhere near enough for her, so she needed the privilege to enter the Institute often. Only then could she safely analyze high grade Magiplants with her Analysis Skill.

Folding her hands on the table, she curved her lips and asked: “That price is cheap enough, right?”

Seeing Qian Qi willing to compromise, Li Hong Sheng quietly breathed out and weighed her terms. Letting Qian Qi visit the Institute was not a bad idea. She might be a planting genius, and more contact with advanced Magiplants would help the whole field. But eight million…

He gritted his teeth and bargained: “Six million, plus the pass.”

Qian Qi gave a cold snort and raised the price: “Seven million, the pass, and three Grade B Magiplant Seeds.”

Li Hong Sheng froze. Three B grade seeds? Why not just rob him? The Institute only had 22 B grade seeds total, and he had begged people to sneak those out at great risk.

He clenched his fists and forced out: “Five million, the pass, and one B grade seed.” That was his limit.

Qian Qi pointed her hands like finger guns, winked playfully, and said: “Ah ha, I’m teasing you. Six million and the pass will do.”

Qian Qi truly was teasing. What would she even do with B grade seeds? Grow a B grade Magiplant and let it kill a delicate, helpless flower girl like her? [Heh heh heh,] she laughed inside as she picked up her chopsticks and dug in.

Honestly, she could have given it to Old Master Li for free. Keeping the Institute running smoothly would help her too. She just hadn’t expected Old Master Li to be so generous and pay her six million. She had no choice but to accept with tears in her eyes. [Sniff, this meal is amazing. May I meet more big spenders like this in the future.]

Scheming Comrade Qian accepted six million and a feast, her eyes bright with moved, grateful tears.

Back at school, after the money arrived, Qian Qi packaged the cultivation method for Fire Qilin Lotus and sent it to Li Hong Sheng’s Light Brain. It was a set of documents she had organized earlier, including reports like “Fertilizer Analysis for Growing Fire Qilin Lotus,” “Symptoms and Causes of Fire Qilin Lotus Diseases,” and “Prevention and Treatment in Fire Qilin Lotus Cultivation.” It was thorough.

As he read the clear, rigorous reports, Li Hong Sheng clicked his tongue in secret. The Magiplant Department did not usually demand farm-college-level rigor, yet Qian Qi’s reports even used professional agronomy terms and precise figures. There were also several videos showing key growth stages of the Fire Qilin Lotus, making everything easy to confirm.

Looks can be deceiving. His opinion of Qian Qi finally improved, and he opened his mouth and asked: “Classmate Qian Qi, about the Hemostasis Potion and the Defense Fruit…”

Before he could finish, Qian Qi covered her ears, stuffed the money into her pockets, and sprinted off, calling back: “Wishing the old sir lots of money soon. Come buy my potions when your wallet is nice and full.”

Li Hong Sheng stared and sputtered: “… #%*@…” So much for a better impression. What a slippery, money-loving little monkey.

One day later, Qian Qi received a delivery. Inside was a Special Guest Pass for the Magiplant Research Institute. She tossed it into her closet. There was no hurry to visit yet. First, she needed to build a warm and cozy master and servant bond with the Magibeasts.

On the second floor of the Magibeast storage room, Qian Qi leaned on the top of her mop handle and stared at the fierce, muscular Flame Hounds with an expression of love and obsession. In a pinched, eunuch-like voice she said: “Oh, my lovely, charming doggies, did you miss me after just one day?”

At the sound, the Flame Hounds’ pupils trembled. All of them stepped back together and sat down. If she was going to scoop poop, fine, but could she stop going after their poor, tender behinds?

Awakener Liu Wang Da, filling in for Old Master Li to help Qian Qi intimidate the Magibeasts, looked at the neatly sitting Flame Hounds and said in surprise: “They’re too quiet today.”

Qian Qi brightened and said: “That must be because you’re amazing. The scary aura of a true expert shook them the moment you came in, so they don’t dare move. Brother Liu, I want to become a strong person like you one day.”

“Maybe,” Liu Wang Da said, pleased by the praise and much less annoyed by this sudden assignment. He tossed her an Electronic Controller and explained: “See the collars on their necks? The Control Collar uses a special current. If they try to attack you, punish them. Once they build a reflex when they see the controller in your hand, you can feed and clean them by yourself.”

Qian Qi looked down at the controller and asked: “Why is there only one button?” The device fit in her palm, with just a single red button. When her thumb brushed it, she clearly saw resistance and fear in the Flame Hounds’ eyes.