Chapter 54
Chapter 54: The Scheming Comrade Little Qian
When Li Shu Yun came looking for her the day before yesterday, Qian Qi had already asked the System the real question.
“System,” she’d said, “you actually have a lot of magic potion formulas, don’t you?”
“Yes. Lots. As long as you can pay.”
Remembering it now, Qian Qi’s excitement started in her shoulders and spread like wildfire until her whole body shook.
Even her legs jittered, making the entire table wobble. Bowls and plates clinked together—ding, ding, ding—like the restaurant was riding out a minor quake.
Li Hong Sheng watched her, swallowing hard.
She wasn’t going to punch him, was she?
It was fine. He had Plan B. If she swung, he’d drop to the floor and fake an accident—
The principal wiped a hand down his face, looking utterly done with life. Told you. Don’t threaten her.
“Old man,” Qian Qi said, voice syrupy, “don’t be afraid.”
She lowered her hands and offered what was clearly meant to be a kind, gentle smile—except she hadn’t mastered expression control, so it came out looking like a demon wearing a grandma mask.
“Money, I can compromise on,” she said, tapping the tabletop until it steadied. “But you’ll have to make it up with something else.”
“Eight million,” she said, crisp as a contract, “and an unrestricted access pass to the Magic Plant Research Institute.”
She’d done her homework. The institute wasn’t open to outsiders, and its storage held high-level magic plants and high-level seeds—exactly what she needed to craft high-level magic potions.
The school only provided E-rank and D-rank seeds. They were nowhere near enough. If she wanted to keep leveling up, she needed frequent access to the institute so she could safely analyze advanced plants with her analysis technique.
She folded her hands on the table and smiled. “That’s cheap enough, right?”
Li Hong Sheng released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. If she was willing to budge, there was hope.
He weighed her condition quickly. Letting a planting genius visit the institute wasn’t a bad thing—if anything, it might help the entire field.
But eight million…
Li Hong Sheng gritted his teeth. “Six million. And the pass.”
Qian Qi’s smile didn’t move. “Seven million. The pass. And three B-rank magic plant seeds.”
Li Hong Sheng nearly died on the spot.
Three B-rank seeds? The institute had twenty-two in total, and he’d gotten them only by begging someone to risk their life and bring them out.
“Five million,” he snapped, fists clenched. “The pass. One B-rank seed.”
He was at his limit. One more push and his heart was going to file a complaint.
“Ah-ha.” Qian Qi lifted both hands like finger guns, grinning. “Kidding. Six million and the pass is fine.”
Li Hong Sheng stared. “…What?”
Qian Qi was absolutely kidding. What would she even do with a B-rank seed?
Grow a B-rank magic plant and have it murder her—this delicate, helpless, flower-season young beauty?
She cackled silently inside and picked up her chopsticks, digging into the feast with gleeful focus.
Honestly, she could’ve given Old Li the method for free. The Magic Plant Research Institute surviving would benefit her too.
But she hadn’t expected Old Li to be this generous—six million!
Well. She’d accept, reluctantly. With tears. Obviously.
The food tasted even better when someone else paid. If only she could meet more big spenders like this.
…
Back at school, Qian Qi took the money and sent the Fire Qilin Lotus planting method to Li Hong Sheng’s lightbrain.
It wasn’t some half-baked note. She’d compiled a whole document: fertilizer analysis for planting Fire Qilin Lotus, case characteristics and causes, prevention and control measures, and more. Thorough. Clean. Almost suspiciously professional.
Li Hong Sheng scrolled, stunned despite himself.
There were even videos—clear footage of several growth stages, undeniable proof she wasn’t bluffing.
Maybe you really couldn’t judge by appearances.
His opinion of Qian Qi finally, grudgingly, improved.
He looked up. “Qian Qi, classmate—about Hemostatic Magic Potion and Defense Fruit—”
Qian Qi instantly raised both hands and covered her ears. Then she tucked her money away and ran.
As she fled, she shouted over her shoulder, “Wish you get rich soon, old man! When your wallet’s fat, come buy my magic potions!”
Li Hong Sheng stood there, speechless.
Then he lost it.
Li Hong Sheng: #$%@…*#$%@…
His impression improved, my ass.
That slippery little money-grabbing monkey spirit.
A day later, a package arrived for Qian Qi. Inside was an official invitation: a special access pass to the Magic Plant Research Institute.
She tossed it into her wardrobe.
Going to the institute wasn’t urgent yet. Right now she had a different priority: building a wonderful, warm master-and-servant relationship with magic beasts.
Second floor, Magic Beast Storage Room.
Qian Qi leaned on the top of a mop handle and stared at the row after row of vicious, muscular blazing hounds.
A dreamy, infatuated look spread across her face.
“Oh, my cute, charming doggos,” she cooed, pitching her voice high and sing-song, like a court eunuch putting on a performance. “It’s been one whole day. Did you miss me?”
The blazing hounds’ pupils visibly quivered.
Every single one took a step back. Then, as if drilled, they sat down in a neat line.
Scooping poop was one thing. Could she stop talking like she was about to commit crimes?
Today, the awakener Liu Wang Da—filling in for Uncle Li to help Qian Qi intimidate the magic beasts—stared at the obedient lineup and felt his brain short-circuit.
What was going on?
Usually you had to punish these trained blazing hounds before they’d retreat and stop trying to bite. This was the first time they’d behaved the instant someone walked in.
“Strange,” Liu Wang Da said slowly. “They’re… way too quiet today.”
“That’s because you’re terrifying,” Qian Qi said immediately, sincere as a hymn. “The moment you walked in, your strong aura crushed them. They don’t dare move! Brother Liu, I’m going to become a strong one like you someday!”
Liu Wang Da’s mouth twitched. “…Maybe.”
His mood lifted anyway. He tossed her a small electronic controller and pointed toward the blazing hounds’ necks.
“See the collars? This device triggers a special electric current. If they try to attack you, press the button and punish them.”
“Once they see that controller in your hand and develop a conditioned reflex, you’ll be able to feed them and scoop poop alone.”
Qian Qi looked down.
The controller was about the size of her palm, with a single red button. When her thumb brushed over it, she could see the reaction immediately—resistance and fear flashing in the blazing hounds’ eyes.
“Why is there only one button?” she asked, genuinely curious.