Chapter 397: Chapter 397

Xu Jinghong’s premonition was spot on.

At least the magic beasts’ corpse parts were dead when they were brought back, but the magic plants... sometimes were brought back alive.

Considering Xu Jinghong was a bit fragile, without an A-level Defense Armor, Qian Qi only brought back D-level Magic Plants. Some magic plants, after being uprooted, were still lively, with roots, stems, and leaves all bouncing around.

This made dealing with them an unavoidable "few slaps" for Xu Jinghong.

After two days, his whole body was beaten red, his clothes tattered, exposing his fair and delicate skin, making him look like a delicate maiden bullied by a bandit chief, causing the people around, both men and women, to glance awkwardly.

Xu Jinghong could endure all this, but the one thing he couldn’t stand was that every time he finished cooking, Qian Qi would crouch in the shadowed corner under a certain tree, sometimes mumbling to Moyu, sometimes to the air, and occasionally turning his ghastly gaze to his own torn clothes with a sinister smile.

Every time this happened, Xu Jinghong would silently hug himself, looking skyward with grief and pleading:

Please, let this instance hurry up and end!

He wanted to stay far, far away from this psychotic pervert! Never to meet again in eternity!

Not far off, Xi Pingzhe, who was jotting notes in his little book, blinked, looking first at the tree-squatting Qian Qi, who laughed like a bandit chief, then at Xu Jinghong, who was as delicate as a bullied pear blossom, slightly tilting his head and cowlick.

His master has been getting quite close to Xu Jinghong lately...

It looks like their relationship is even better than his with his master, and seeing how "openly" his master smiles, could it be...

Time slowly passed, yet still no sign of the Sikong family’s troops entering the instance, Yan Shuiyue and others dared not run around randomly, still staying in place. Occasionally, when a magic beast passed by, it was dealt with by Yan Shuiyue’s contracted Ice Crystal Antelope and Sheng Qing.

Until one night, Qian Qi, through secret maneuvers, arranged for himself and Xu Jinghong to watch over the night together.

The campfire flickered lightly, warming the whole body. Xu Jinghong was intently poking at the burning wood when Qian Qi sneakily leaned over with a beguiling voice, "Little Hong, do you want to become an A-level Awakener?"

Xu Jinghong scooted a bit to the side with slight disdain, then retorted, "What nonsense are you asking, is there anyone in this world who doesn’t want to be an A-level Awakener?"

"I can make you an A-level Awakener," Qian Qi leaned closer again, lowering his voice to prevent anyone else from hearing, "How about I give you the boss of this instance?"

Xu Jinghong was shocked, but once he reacted, he was both amused and annoyed, "Are you kidding me? Give me a boss? Why?"

"I just hope, in this world, there’s not one less five-star chef," Qian Qi said with a straight face that disguised any true intentions, "If one day a Magic Beast Tide erupts, and you get squashed by a giant magic beast, I’ll be heartbroken to death."

Xu Jinghong instantly wore the expression of a baffled grandpa looking at a smartphone: ...you’re really worrying a lot.

Seeing Xu Jinghong’s expression, Qian Qi added more pressure, "Don’t you want to become an A-level Awakener to protect your younger siblings?"

"But your reason is too ridiculous." Xu Jinghong couldn’t trust Qian Qi, especially after the past few days when Qian Qi kept giving him creepy smiles. He was genuinely afraid Qian Qi had some ill intent.

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Xu Jinghong glanced at his own exposed, flawless, defined eight-pack beneath the tattered clothes, touched his handsome, rakish face that rivaled Leng Yuntian’s, and remembered how Qian Qi had twice princess-carried him, prompting him to immediately clutch himself tightly, quickly retreating a dozen steps.

He would not succumb to vile coercion! Beastly woman!

Qian Qi couldn’t understand why Xu Jinghong suddenly panicked and retreated; she ghosted over swiftly, not waking anyone, "Why are you running away, I’m just purely trying to sponsor you."

Back at the military camp, when she browsed the student list printed by the principal, she noticed Xu Jinghong’s spiritual power level was already S-class, meaning he could easily contract an A-level Magical Beast.

An S-class spiritual power level, C-level in Fire Element, and capable of making Magic Spirit Rice; as long as he can advance fire element to A-level, there’s no doubt he’s a promising candidate to be the cook at her factory. She couldn’t let him be overlooked!

As the factory director, she was obliged to hire a good chef for her employees!

Off to the side, Xu Jinghong eyed her suspiciously.

The reason, could it truly be so simple?

Xu Jinghong had received sponsorship before, and that person also said they asked for nothing in return, just wished for him and his siblings to grow up healthy. Moreover, Qian Qi’s reputation at the school was indeed good, practically holding up both the Magic Plant Academy and the Beast Taming Academy, and these two academies, in turn, invisibly gave back to her.

To call her a philanthropist and investor wouldn’t be wrong.

Perhaps Qian Qi genuinely was a pure-hearted person, with no ill intentions; wasn’t she the one who dragged a turtle shell to save them in the Yanjiao Dungeon back then?

An A-level boss...if he accepted, he could become an A-level Awakener and truly have the ability to protect his younger siblings.

Just when Xu Jinghong was getting eager, he heard Qian Qi chuckle, "But, I hope that when I need it, you can cook for me~"

Xu Jinghong was immediately aghast; he could hear Qian Qi’s underlying meaning. Afraid that whenever she entered an instance in the future, she would bring him along to cook for her!

Cooking for her for a lifetime, how’s that different from selling himself and promising himself to her?!

A mere boss of an A-level instance—

Xu Jinghong clenched his fists, deeply conflicted; on one side was personal freedom, on the other was becoming powerful. No matter what he chose, the other option seemed more precious. He pursed his lips tightly, staring intently at Qian Qi, who was very patient, watching him and waiting for an answer.

The campfire flickered slightly, casting small orange-red sparks; their pair of dark eyes "gazing affectionately" at each other , a trace of "ambiguity" quietly flowing through the night, the surroundings strangely quiet, as if purposefully leaving the two alone.

Just as Xu Jinghong’s throat shifted, ready to accept this lifetime proposal, a pale ghostly face slowly slipped between them, the flickering fire reflecting, a voice as deep and eerie as a water ghost whispering, "Master... what are you doing..."

Both Qian Qi and Xu Jinghong were startled.

"What the hell!" Qian Qi almost sprang up, nearly slapping the intruder.

Xi Pingzhe stared at her wistfully, his suspicious glance shifting between them, "Master, are you two in love?"

"What nonsense?" Qian Qi said, exasperated, "We’re having a serious talk!"

Xi Pingzhe looked at her, then at Xu Jinghong, seeing both with expressions of disdain and annoyed glances, he nodded, "Then you guys carry on, I’ll keep you company."

With that, he cast a wary and guarded look at Xu Jinghong.

Even though Xu Jinghong’s cooking was delicious, he didn’t deserve a strong master like his! Just as Qian Qi didn’t deserve Sister Sheng Qing’s strength before!

He, Xi Pingzhe, swore to defend a match of strength with strength to the death!

Qian Qi cast him a glance, somewhat understanding his stubbornness, so she didn’t mind too much and continued speaking to Xu Jinghong, "If you agree, we’ll set off tomorrow to fight the boss."

Xu Jinghong nodded gracefully, "Alright, it’s agreed, after defeating the boss, I’ll cook for you, only for you."

If she intends for him to do anything less than decent, she should dream on!

And to the side, hearing their conversation, Xi Pingzhe’s doe eyes widened in shock.

The surnamed Xu dared to confess passionately before his eyes, saying he’d cook solely for the master?!

Shameless! Utterly shameless!