Chapter 68: 068 The thoughtful Tang Qian_1
"There’s a new A-Rank Healing Card available, and it’s a rabbit, no less. Not bad, it quite fits our style. Should we buy one to test its effectiveness?"
Within the Holy Beast Association, A-Level coach Song Xuechun was discussing with a nearby A-Level Spirit Card Master.
Recently, the Holy Beast card deck had released a new A-Rank Card Set, but Healing Cards were particularly challenging to craft. The Card Makers lacked inspiration. When Song Xuechun received news of the new card, she glanced at it and thought it was interesting—especially since it was a Healing Card—so she was tempted to purchase it.
If it’s publicly listed for sale, it means the Card Maker definitely wants to sell it.
The Spirit Card Master took a look and said, "Healing Cards are indeed good, but the healing ability of an animal card..."
He frowned. "It’s a rabbit, but is a rabbit-themed Healing Card reliable?"
It wasn’t surprising that the Spirit Card Master had such doubts, as cards usually needed to conform to certain real-world characteristics. For instance, Healing Cards were mostly associated with plant cards, in line with the properties of natural herbs. To create a Healing Card out of a rabbit was a bold idea. The fact that it was made showed it had merit, but its effectiveness remained uncertain.
The price of an A-Rank Card wasn’t a problem for such a large association, but they weren’t suckers either; it’s not like they bought every card on the market to try out. Moreover, this was a new card. What if the Card Maker demanded an exorbitant price?
Song Xuechun spread her hands. "Do you have a better idea?" The Spirit Card Master thought for a moment and stepped forward to look at the information on this Healing Card.
Tang Qian pursed her lips.
As an A-Level coach from Mount Flower, her presence here was somewhat surprising. Upon hearing Song Xuechun’s words, her gaze shifted to the Jade Rabbit Pestle Medicine Card.
A thought struck her.
She always had a good memory and a keen mind. Now, looking at this card named Jade Rabbit Pestle Medicine, she felt an odd sense of familiarity.
This style...
In a flash, Tang Qian thought of the Rabbit Demon Card.
She could scarcely believe it.
Card Makers have different ideas, and the cards they create can be as distinct as various painting techniques and styles. This Jade Rabbit Card was exquisitely designed, and its style was too similar to that Dual-Change Card Set.
But that’s impossible.
Wen Jiang is still just a B-Level Spirit Card Master!
She had been busy running around for new cards, which was why she had come to the Holy Beast Association, with whom she had a good relationship, to ask for help. Although Wen Jiang had become famous for winning the championship, attracting the management’s attention, Tang Qian, an A-Level coach, had no direct connection with Wen Jiang and hadn’t paid much attention to information about her.
Now, looking at the card, Tang Qian’s heart began to thump wildly. "Who is the maker of this card?"
Song Xuechun turned to look at her. "Anonymous."
Anonymous, Tang Qian thought. She remembered that Wen Jiang was also anonymous. It seemed Wen Jiang had no intention of revealing that she was the Card Maker of the Dual-Change Card Set. To this day, many people were seeking information about her, but since Wen Jiang didn’t wish to be exposed, Tang Qian naturally wouldn’t pry.
Only a few people from the Mount Flower Association knew Wen Jiang was the Card Maker of the Rabbit Demon Card Set. Once the management learned that Wen Jiang was unwilling to create cards for the association, they didn’t press the issue any further.
She also stepped forward, joining Song Xuechun, her gaze fixated intently on the card’s surface.
Song Xuechun smiled upon seeing this and asked, "So, you like this card? The artwork is indeed exquisite, but isn’t a Healing Card of little use to your association?"
After all, Tang Qian was here to see if she could get a chance to acquire a new card set. Associations could sell card sets to one another—not their signature cards, of course, but some that could enable other associations to develop more strategies. Associations with good relationships would engage in such transactions.
"Huh, the background of this card is really interesting."
The Spirit Card Master said with interest as he flipped through the card, "The Yunxia Ancient Gods Era?"
He looked up at Song Xuechun and the others. "This Card Maker sure talks big."
Song Xuechun was also a bit surprised. "Yunxia’s divine culture?"
She shook her head. "This Card Maker is a bit too arrogant."
Yunxia’s divine culture had always been a thorny issue. Records were fragmented, making it impossible to obtain more information or verify the pantheon. This was also why Yunxia had always been weaker than the other two Empires in international card competitions. Numerous historians had tried and failed to piece together the complete evolutionary history of Yunxia. Yet, here was an A-Level Card Maker daring to make such claims in the card’s background.
The Spirit Card Master shook his head. "I’m done. The background seems like nonsense, just a bunch of rambling—with Changer and Hou Yi, and then ten suns—it’s all over the place. The inspiration for the card’s artwork seems to come from only the last sentence of the background. This completely defies the norm for card backgrounds, which should at least explain why this card is a Healing Card and its special traits. There’s no such introduction at all. It’s a miracle she was able to produce this card."
Song Xuechun pinched her chin. "Actually, the story they made up is quite interesting. Why not contact her and buy it to take a look? The background isn’t important; what matters is whether the card is useful."
The Spirit Card Master said, "You’re the coach; you make the decision."
Tang Qian suddenly said, "I’m going to head back first."
Song Xuechun exclaimed in surprise, "Weren’t you going to talk to me about the card set?"
Tang Qian managed a slight smile. "Something suddenly came up. We can set another time to talk about the card set."
She and Song Xuechun had a good relationship, so saying this wouldn’t make Song Xuechun angry.
Song Xuechun nodded. "Okay, if you really need it, I’ll try to talk to the higher-ups."
Her good relationship with Tang Qian was one thing, but discussing new card sets was beyond Song Xuechun’s authority to decide.
Tang Qian left the Holy Beast Association in a hurry.
Song Xuechun watched Tang Qian’s hurried departure, deep in thought. Her gaze shifted and landed on the Jade Rabbit Pestle Medicine Card.
Their conversation had been going well, but Tang Qian’s expression changed when she saw the card.
Could it be that she knows who the Card Maker is? Or is it for some other reason?
Regardless of Song Xuechun’s guesses, Tang Qian’s heartbeat quickened as she left the Holy Beast Association.
As a woman, her intuition was exceptionally accurate; she didn’t believe in coincidences. The card’s style, overly reminiscent of the Rabbit Demon Card, coupled with an equally anonymous Spirit Card Master and a card whose meaning was completely elusive—all of it made her think of Wen Jiang.
This is an A-Rank Card!
But Wen Jiang is only B-Level!
Or could it be that the one who created the Rabbit Demon Card wasn’t Wen Jiang, but someone else?
Regardless, Tang Qian decided to shift her focus back to Wen Jiang to verify her suspicions.
She took a deep breath and called the company to inquire about Wen Jiang’s whereabouts. From Wen Jiang’s agent, Tang Qian learned that Wen Jiang hadn’t been to the company since the competition. She stayed home training alone and generally didn’t interact with other company members. Her agent also found it difficult to manage her.
Having obtained Wen Jiang’s current address, Tang Qian decided to pay her a visit.