CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 30: HUMAN TRAFFICKERS (PART 1)

Lao Guan’s shop was affiliated with the Merchant Guild, which gave it significant authority. It didn’t take long for him to help Li Xing register the Battle Pet Spirit Plant.

With a ding, an electronic card with the full image of the Big-mouth Flower was sent to Li Xing’s light brain. Now, the Big-mouth Flower had a Qianyuan ID.

"Uncle Guan, I’m out of star coins. Can I trade something for the cost of the flowerpot?"

"No need, you can go home. I’ll ask your dad for this money."

"No, Uncle Li’s salary hasn’t been paid this month, and there’s no extra money at home. I don’t want to trouble him. Besides, I have things to sell that are enough. Take a look—"

Bam, a row of Star Beast corpses appeared on the table, along with a bag of Crystal Stones.

The Star Beasts varied in size, and except for a hole in their foreheads, their shiny fur was undamaged. Just selling the pelts would fetch a lot of money.

Lao Guan opened the bag containing the Crystal Stones, and exclaimed—

More than thirty mid-level Crystal Stones! Without counting the Star Beasts’ pelts, bones, and teeth, just these Crystal Stones were worth over ten thousand star coins, enough to pay for the flowerpot.

"Uncle Guan, I’m not selling the Star Beast meat. Please buy the other parts, and we’ll settle the dismantling fees separately." Li Xing, feeling lazy to skin and debone each Star Beast, simply asked Lao Guan to find someone to do it.

"This, this—did you hunt these?"

Lao Guan had just had a drink with Li Yi two days ago and knew he had changed jobs to a school, recently busy with work handover, so he had no time to go to the forest.

Besides, Lao Guan was very familiar with Li Yi’s hunting style; the pelts he brought back were rarely intact.

But if Li Xing hunted these, it was too astonishing! How many students at a basic school could face off against mid-level Star Beasts? This kid hunted so many—what a talent!

Facing Lao Guan’s doubts, Li Xing nodded, then put a finger to her lips: "Uncle Li doesn’t allow me to go deep into the Star Beast Forest. I sneaked in. I’m only telling you, Uncle Guan, so you have to keep it a secret for me."

Lao Guan looked at Li Xing, then at the Crystal Stones, feeling sour. Did Li Yi’s family grave get struck by lightning? He’s so lucky to have found such a gem! So sensible and capable!

But this kid trusted him with a secret that she didn’t even tell Li Yi, giving Lao Guan the illusion of being special—in the child’s heart, his position surpassed Li Yi—so he immediately pounded his chest and assured her:

"Don’t worry! Uncle Guan won’t say a word! But Xiao Xing, don’t go too far. The deeper into the Star Beast Forest, the higher the Star Beasts’ levels. You’re still young, and your combat power isn’t strong..."

The more Lao Guan spoke, the more he felt insincere. For someone who could kill so many mid-level Star Beasts, how could her combat power not be strong? She could surpass him many times over!

"Anyway, be careful. If you ever encounter danger, send me a message, and I’ll find someone to rescue you!"

"Okay, thank you, Uncle Guan—!"

Lao Guan quickly settled the bill. After deducting the cost of the flowerpot and dismantling the Star Beasts, Li Xing still made four thousand star coins.

Seeing there was still time, Li Xing strolled along the commercial street, with the floating Big-mouth Flower following her. The duo—one beautiful, the other ugly—caught the attention of passing pedestrians.

After walking two streets and buying a tent, sleeping bag, and seasonings for outdoor use, Li Xing exchanged some low-level Crystal Stones at different shops and prepared to leave.

As she walked towards the secluded area at the edge of the commercial district, the Big-mouth Flower’s voice rang in her mind: "Master, three suspicious guys have been following us."

Li Xing replied with "Mm," having already noticed the tail behind her. She intentionally walked here for that reason.

Li Xing’s figure flashed into the alleyway and disappeared, the trackers couldn’t care less about subtlety, sprinting into the alley, only to find themselves face-to-face with the waiting Li Xing, their expressions momentarily embarrassed.

Li Xing smiled innocently, "Why are you following me, gentlemen?"

There were three people tailing Li Xing, led by a young man with triangular eyes, followed by one with a scarred face and another with a tattooed arm.

Triangular Eyes smirked, "Little sister, you misunderstand. We just happened to be going the same way, not following you."

"Same way? This is a dead-end alley. I accidentally took a wrong turn, what about you? Did you also take a wrong turn?"

Triangular Eyes paused and looked around, at the alley’s end was a wall, and the few shops on either side were closed with rental signs posted, evidently, this alley was seldom visited.

"Ah, how did we end up in a dead-end? That’s unfortunate!" Triangular Eyes began to act: "Little sister, to be honest, we’re from out of town and unfamiliar with Datang City."

The Tattooed Arm chimed in, "Right, right, we’re staying at the Red Mushroom Inn. We heard Datang City’s commercial street was nice, so we came to check it out, but got lost. Can you show us the way?"

Li Xing tilted her head: "Red Mushroom Inn? Never heard of it!"

Scar Face said, "How can that be, Red Mushroom is the largest inn around here, all the locals know it."

"I’m not really a local, only been here a year. Not too familiar with Datang City."

Triangular Eyes and Scar Face exchanged glances, reading excitement in each other’s eyes. A six or seven-year-old child, tantamount to a perfect target!

"Even if you’ve only been here a year, you’re more familiar than us newcomers. Little sister, how about helping us get out of this commercial street, and we’ll pay you."

Scar Face: "Yes, we’ll give you fifty star coins."

Li Xing pouted, "My pocket money is more than fifty star coins."

"Then how about a hundred!"

Li Xing remained unmoved: "Just use your light brain to call a taxi; it can take you directly to the Red Mushroom place."

"Calling a taxi would cost at least two or three hundred. We don’t have much money, so it’s best to save, and figure our way back. Little sister, please help!"

Li Xing shook her head: "Uncle Li said that adults asking children for help are never good people and that I should stay away."

Hearing Li Xing’s words, Triangular Eyes realized that convincing her to leave with them was impossible. He immediately showed a vicious look and sinisterly sneered, taking out an energy gun and pointing it at Li Xing:

"Little one, don’t give me a hard time. Obediently follow us, or I’ll shoot you!"

Since Energy Stone is extracted from Crystal Stone, which originates from Star Beasts, an energy gun against Star Beasts is akin to a tickle. Hence, proud and powerful Elemental Spirits on Qianyuan Continent disdain using energy guns. Only ordinary people or low-level Elementals resort to using energy guns to frighten others.

Li Xing sneered disdainfully, "Oh, so you’ve stopped pretending? Are human traffickers these days so lacking in patience?"

Finally realizing that Li Xing had seen through them, Triangular Eyes fuming with rage said, "You brat, daring to mock us. I’ll kill you!" Then he aimed at Li Xing’s leg and pulled the trigger.

Li Xing moved faster, flicking a stone with her toe that struck Triangular Eyes’ shoulder, rendering his entire arm numb, causing the energy gun to fall to the ground.

Biting his teeth, Triangular Eyes pulled out a three-foot whip and with a weird cry, lashed towards Li Xing’s head.

Li Xing ducked, nimbly dodging the whip, shifted her weight to her left foot, and lashed out with her right leg, kicking Triangular Eyes on the shin.

With a "crack" sound, Triangular Eyes let out a scream like a slaughtered pig: "Ahhh—! My leg!"

Triangular Eyes’ calf snapped two-thirds down, twisting grotesquely. Li Xing subdued Triangular Eyes in just two moves, the change happening too quickly for Scar Face and Tattooed Arm to react, standing there dumbfounded, infuriating Triangular Eyes to a rage-filled shout:

"You two idiots still standing there? She’s an Elemental Spirit! Get your weapons now!"

Scar Face and Tattooed Arm charged at Li Xing, but unsurprisingly were both knocked to the ground by her.

All three couldn’t comprehend why this delicate and cute girl was so strong! Her punches and kicks landed on them more painfully than getting hit by a Thorn Bull. Wouldn’t they have internal injuries?