Beast Taming: the More the Better

Chapter 21 - 21: Qin Xiaoxue Deceived? Cultivation Successful!

Beast Master Association Headquarters.

It was still the same office. Only this time, there were several more people inside.

Qin Xiaoxue, who had rushed back from the suburbs, pushed open the door. Her eyebrows quickly arched slightly as she surveyed the room. Besides her grandfather, there were two other individuals—familiar, yet she didnʼt know them well.

”Xiao Xue is back.” Qin Erlong smiled and stood up. Qin Xiaoxue nodded, her expression indifferent and cold as she glanced at the other two people present.

One was a balding old man who appeared to be around the same age as Qin Erlong. The other was a man in his thirties with an eager-to-please smile. It was this man who spoke up as Qin Xiaoxue sat down, his tone respectful.

”Miss Qin, I am truly sorry. Regarding the incident last time, I, Sun Chaoju, representing the Wolf Den Cultivation Base, apologize to you. Iʼve brought your cultivation fee. Furthermore, if you wouldnʼt mind, Wolf Den is prepared to offer Miss Qin a second, complimentary attempt at cultivating ʼAccelerated Spellcasting.ʼ”

Qin Xiaoxue frowned slightly and looked towards Qin Erlong.

The old man—her grandfather—hurriedly waved his hand. ”This wasnʼt my idea. Old Liu heard about the incident and called Sun Chaoju over. Knowing youʼd be here soon, he rushed him over.”

The balding old man also smiled and said, ”Xiao Xue, this oneʼs on me. Last time, your grandfather didnʼt specify who required the cultivation, and you didnʼt mention me or your grandfather when you visited. Itʼs understandable that Xiao Sun might have made an oversight! But rest assured, this time Iʼll personally guarantee it. There definitely wonʼt be any problems, if...”

Cutting off the balding old man with an impatient glance, Qin Xiaoxue turned to her grandfather. ”The matter I asked you about on the phone, is there any news?”

The balding old man looked embarrassed but said no more.

Qin Erlong coughed lightly. ”Correct. Itʼs Dong Muyun, the chairman of Tianyun Group. Her background is quite formidable. Why are you asking about her?”

Qin Xiaoxueʼs eyebrows knitted together, but she didnʼt answer her grandfather.

The Tianyun Group? Theyʼre influential not just in Linzhou City, but throughout Jianghai Province, even across the Dragon Nation. A personage of such status... what involvement could she have with that brat?

Though Qin Xiaoxue often seemed unreserved, the environment she had grown up in was an undeniable factor. However, with others present, it wasnʼt appropriate for her to press further.

Frowning, she looked at Sun Chaoju, who was still wearing that fawning smile, and said impatiently, ”Keep your money. It was clearly stated in the contract we signed, and Iʼm not short of that amount. As for continuing cultivation at your facility? Letʼs forget it. Iʼve found a cultivation base to cultivate my Woodhead, so thereʼs no need for you to trouble yourselves.”

The balding old man quickly interjected with a laugh, ”Xiao Xue, are you referring to the Heart of Wood Cultivation Base on the outskirts of the city? Your grandfather mentioned it to us. Indeed, that cultivation base has been around for a long time and, in its early days, did cultivate under the banner of ʼHeart of Woods.ʼ However, over decades, only a few successful cases have emerged, and those were cubs already under contract. They have never actually succeeded in cultivating ʼHeart of Woods.ʼ Xiao Xue, donʼt let some charlatans deceive you!”

Qin Xiaoxue first glared at her grandfather, then looked at the beaming, bald old man and frowned slightly. ”Do I look like someone who is easily fooled?”

The old manʼs smile froze, his expression turning awkward again.

Qin Erlong then chimed in, ”Xiao Xue, how can you speak to your Grandpa Liu like that? Isnʼt Grandpa Liu just looking out for you?”

Looking out for me? Ultimately, itʼs all because of my status.

Thinking of this, Qin Xiaoxue felt a wave of revulsion. Dealing with these businesspeople and bigwigs, who treated Pet Beast cultivation purely as a business transaction and a networking opportunity, was truly tedious.

If she could, Qin Xiaoxue found herself actually missing the scent of wolf dung on Su Ping—pungent, yes, but somehow comforting. At least, that boy seemed to genuinely enjoy and feel passionately about Pet Beast cultivation.

Besides, how could she not know if she was being deceived? Not to mention, seeing the several pounds Woodhead had gained over the past few days was evidence enough; she estimated that the kid must have also spent quite a bit on food costs. The contract was clear: if the cultivation failed, all the materials for ʼHeart of Woodsʼ and the cultivation fee wouldnʼt cost her a single cent. What could she possibly be cheated out of?

It was this man before her, actually. If he hadnʼt learned her identity, her three million cultivation fee would have been truly swindled by this scoundrel.

However, she didnʼt feel the need to explain anything to them. After all, Su Ping hadnʼt finished the cultivation yet, and her Woodhead hadnʼt learned ʼHeart of Woods,ʼ so she naturally had no concrete proof to offer.

But her silence seemed to embolden the two men. Sun Chaoju quickly added, ”Yes, Miss Qin, Iʼve looked into it as well. The previous owner of the Heart of Wood Cultivation Base left Linzhou. Now, itʼs just run by a young kid who recently graduated. A kid fresh out of school, what could he possibly know? He probably doesnʼt even understand the basics of cultivation.”

Qin Xiaoxueʼs brow furrowed again. ”I also graduated only a few years ago. Mr. Sun, you seem to be underestimating people.”

Sun Chaojuʼs face was a mask of fawning flattery. ”How could Miss Qin be compared to ordinary people? Youʼre a top student from Magic Capital Academy and President Qinʼs granddaughter...”

”Exactly, Xiao Xue,” Old Liu interjected. ”If anyone can cultivate ʼHeart of Woodsʼ in a Forest Wolf, then, setting other considerations aside, if they have more than a thirty percent chance of success, I will personally issue them a Junior Breeder certificate. If itʼs over fifty percent, Iʼll personally grant them an Intermediate Breeder certificate. And if the success rate is even higher, then, believe me, theyʼll definitely be a prime candidate to represent Linzhou at the next Breederʼs Conference...”

”Alright, if thereʼs nothing else, Iʼll be leaving first. As for the matter I asked you about on the phone, tell me when you find something out.”

Signaling her grandfather, Qin Xiaoxue decisively cut off the others and stood up impatiently. However, at that very moment, a clear chime sounded. It wasnʼt a call, but a text message notification on her phone. Few people had her private number, so anyone messaging her was undoubtedly someone she knew well. Yet, as Qin Xiaoxue pulled out her phone, she froze, a flicker of surprise on her face.

”Whatʼs wrong, Xiao Xue?”

Seeing his granddaughter suddenly stop, Qin Erlong felt a twinge of helplessness. His granddaughter excelled in every aspect—talent, intellect, and appearance were all top-tier. Her only flaw was her fiery temper and her bluntness, often disregarding othersʼ feelings. In short, she had little interest in, or perhaps disdain for, navigating social complexities. Just like her grandmother.

But in response to Qin Erlongʼs question, Qin Xiaoxueʼs expression became incredibly complex and peculiar. She glanced at President Liu of the Breeder Association and Sun Chaoju from the Wolf Den Cultivation Base—who was supposedly a certified Intermediate Breeder—then said, somewhat incredulously, ”Su Ping said that Woodheadʼs training and cultivation are complete and successful. He asked me to come and take a look.”

As soon as she spoke, silence fell upon the entire office.

”Thatʼs impossible!”