Chapter 42: Chapter 42 - 42 Simple and Honest Folk Customs of Qingzhou Cityl

Translator: 549690339

“Beast Master, we have a customer!”

Ziyun’s call reached Xu Ran’s mind through the Beast Taming Contract.

Even though he had always asked Ziyun to look after the store, this was the first time Ziyun encountered a customer while being alone there.

“He’s here!”

Xu Ran washed the food bowl and put it on the shelf in the corner of the preparation room. After responding, he hastened to return.

A customer came in!

“Gu Ling, look! This is the boss’ pet beast!” Su Xiaoxiao led a girl who appeared to be quite gentle up to Ziyun and chirped with a grin, “Little one, do you remember me?”

“Meow-”

Ziyun’s gaze slowly moved from Su Xiaoxiao’s face, focusing on the Flame Fox that she was cradling in her arms.

The moment the eyes of the two beasts who had once crossed paths met, it was as if an electric spark flashed in the air.

“It seems that it does remember.” Noticing the visual clash between Ziyun and her Flame Fox, Su Xiaoxiao chuckled.

“Xiaoxiao, is this shop really as good as you say?” The quiet girl took a look around, her gaze resting on the price menu, she couldn’t help but frown. “Whether it’s washing and protection or fosterage, the prices here are two to three times higher than other stores.”

“Trust me, Gu Ling, everything here is worth… wait a minute…” Su Xiaoxiao quickly turned to look at the price menu on the wall, her face showing surprise, “Oh! The boss’s shop finally offers foster care services!”

Seeing the significantly higher price for foster care services compared to other stores, the first thought that popped into Su Xiaoxiao’s mind was, “The boss must have a good reason for his prices being high.”

“It’s a pity that I don’t need to put my Little Flame in fosterage.” Su Xiaoxiao commented with slight regret, “I’m afraid there’s no way I can contribute to the boss’s business.”

She wished she could spend twenty-four hours a day with her adorable little fox!

No way could she foster it!

“You…” Gu Ling gazed at Su Xiaoxiao in astonishment, feeling that the best friend she had played with since childhood seemed a bit strange after not seeing her for several years.

Such high prices, and she actually feels regretful because she can’t foster?

Not to mention a three-tiered city like Qingzhou, even the leveled up second-tiered town doesn’t have foster shops with such outrageous prices!

“Just try later, and you’ll know.” Understanding why her best friend was surprised, Su Xiaoxiao revealed a mysterious smile as she excitedly hugged Gu Ling’s shoulder.

“By the way, since Gu Ling’s father has been reassigned to Qingzhou City, does it mean he won’t be reassigned again? Can we meet every day from now on?” “Yes!” Gu Ling smiled, “I’ve already applied for a transfer, so I may become your classmate in a few days.”

“That’s terrific.” Su Xiaoxiao’s joy deepened.

Her elders and Gu Ling’s had been lifelong friends, and the two of them of similar age had been playing together since they could remember. A few years ago, Gu Ling had moved to Xieyun City because of her father’s job, leading Su Xiaoxiao to cry for a long time.

Knowing that Gu Ling was returning to Qingzhou City, heaven only knows how happy she was.

After all the twists and turns, the two childhood friends could play together again.

Shortly after, though, she began to worry about her best friend, “Xieyun City is a second-level town, much bigger than Qingzhou City. Won’t coming back to Qingzhou City affect your future development?”

“There will be some impact, but not much.” Gu Ling smiled faintly, “My second beast hasn’t been contracted yet, but we’re already cultivating our bond.”

“The resources of a Beast Master are nothing more than beast resources and cultivation resources. The former is not an issue, and the latter, my dad is there, so it doesn’t matter.”

“That’s good.” Su Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at her friend with admiration, “I didn’t expect that Gu Ling’s father, after a few years of working in Xieyun City, had already…”

“Sorry to have kept you waiting.” Xu Ran entered the store from the back door, and was surprised when he saw Su Xiaoxiao, “And you are?”

“Ah! Boss, you’re here!” Su Xiaoxiao changed the topic gaily, “I have introduced a customer for you!”

“Ding ding ding ding-” she pulled Gu Ling forward, “This is my best friend Gu Ling. She wants her pet beast to experience a wash and protection service.”

“Oh right, my Little Flame also needs a wash and protection service.” Su Xiaoxiao added, then blinked at Xu Ran, hinting frantically for a discount.

Xu Ran ignored the frantically blinking Su Xiaoxiao, and as usual, scanned the Flame Fox.

[Race Name: Flame Fox]

Attribute: Fire Attribute

Growth Stage: Transcendent Stage

Body Type: Small

Maintenance Need: *****

Rating: We’ve found a hard-working Flame Fox, and it needs a reward from its host’s skillful hands!

As brazen as ever.

“Alright, it’s time for the maintenance,” Xu Ran paused, looking at Gu Ling on his side. “You can summon the Pet Beast you want to maintain now.”

A dark cloud appeared on Su Xiaoxiao’s face.

Was this boss pretending not to see her hints on purpose?

Dang it!

“Okay.”

Gu Ling, standing aside, had to laugh, “pfft”, at the sight of Su Xiaoxiao’s enraged failure, and a Hexagram Star Array started to shimmer behind him.

In the wild wind, a dragon-shaped Pet Beast, still young but already two meters tall, wearing black scales and with a protrusion behind its head, stepped out slowly.

Huh?

Xu Ran’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Perhaps because the Red-eyed Demon Dragon he saw that day also had black scales, he found this dragon-like pet beast somewhat familiar in its strangeness.

Race name: Dark Scale Dragon

Attribute: Dark Attribute

Growth Stage: Transcendent Stage

Body Type: Medium

Maintenance Need: *****

Rating: A proud guy from a big city, seems to look down on the host’s skills, quickly use your skillful hands to let it experience the pleasure of power!

A proud guy from a big city?

Xu Ran couldn’t help but take a closer look at the Dark Scale Dragon before him.

No wonder he had never seen such a pet beast in Qingzhou City before.

“So which of you wants to go first for the maintenance?”

“Me, me!” Knowing that her bestie was still a little hesitant, and Little Flame was also impatient, Su Xiaoxiao volunteered.

“Alright,” Xu Ran nodded and was about to add, “Then you…”

“Meow-”

Ziyun called out anxiously all of a sudden.

It had missed the encounter with the Flame Fox last time because it was asleep. It couldn’t miss it again this time.

Ziyun still vividly remembered the defeat from their previous spar.

The situation was different now. It had mastered more skills, and its strength had also significantly improved. It was time to redeem itself!

Xu Ran, surprised, turned to look at it. After confirming he understood its intention, he turned back to Su Xiaoxiao, “After the maintenance, my pet beast wants to have another spar with yours. Will you have the time?”

“Mew~”

Even before Su Xiaoxiao could respond, the Flame Fox had already raised its head.

Despite being the defeated party, it was ready to fight again!

“We can spar after the maintenance is done.” Seeing the Flame Fox willingly accept the challenge, Su Xiaoxiao was naturally not going to back down.

Gu Ling on the side was a bit dumbfounded.

How did it turn into a fight even before the maintenance had begun?

After being away for so many years, had Qingzhou City become this plain and simple?