Chapter 161: Chapter 161: You Get What You Pay For
Qin Mao and the others’ expressions gradually cracked, their molars nearly shattered from being clenched.
Awakeners like them at the C-level usually seek out C-level female awakeners for a balanced romantic relationship, but with so many competing for so few choices, even B-level and D-level awakeners fight for the same women, leaving many C-level pure-hearted men single.
This kid entered the C-level dungeon at Mermaid Swamp, worked so hard to prepare a bouquet, probably has an exceptional girlfriend, maybe even a Beast Master.
How infuriating!
This kid, who looks like a skinny dog, why does he get to have such a great dual awakening talent and a girlfriend!!!
Qian Qi was completely unaware that those before her had imagined her as having a Beast Master girlfriend. She said to them, "The petals of the Heavenly God Lotus, when eaten by beasts, can easily cause mental disorder. They can be made into bait for C-level Magic Beasts."
After speaking, she lightly squeezed a protruding lump at the stamen of the Heavenly God Lotus, squeezed out the seeds, and tossed them all into the swamp.
The Heavenly God Lotus, a magic plant, can only survive in swamps, but its self-growth capacity is rather strong. Once the stalk grows above the water surface, it emits a fragrance that attracts beasts to the swamp to become fertilizer, thereby propagating more Heavenly God Lotus plants.
She scattered the seeds back so she could gather more Heavenly God Lotus from the Gu Yun Mountain Dungeon when needed.
After bidding farewell to Qin Mao and the others, Qian Qi held the bouquet and headed towards the dungeon exit.
"Today’s task is complete. Since I’ve come to Sea City, I’ll stay for two more days, buy some specialties, and then return." Qian Qi walked along a fairly open path on the plain, chatting with the system.
There are many C-level Magic Beasts here, most of them giant beasts, but when they glimpsed Qian Qi, they ignored her as if she were an ant, showing no intent to attack.
Qian Qi had done her homework before coming. Unlike other instances, the giant C-level Magic Beasts in the Gu Yun Mountain Dungeon are safer than the D-level and E-level ones, because tiny humans are like small birds on their horns, not even enough to fill the gaps in their teeth, so naturally, they don’t bother to attack.
Of course, there are those Magic Beasts with mischievous natures who like to toy with little birds caught under their paws.
[It’s the Cloud-maned Wave Horse.]
As Qian Qi was walking, the system suddenly spoke, directing her to the left.
Qian Qi turned her head and saw, off in the distance on a small hill to the left, several huge, pure white horse-shaped Magic Beasts trotting across the grassland. Their thick, white manes billowed and soared like drifting clouds, shining in the light, making it hard to look away.
Their hooves were wrapped in several pieces of shimmering light blue scale armor, as if flying horses stepping on rippling waves, making Qian Qi exclaim, "How beautiful they are..."
[Yes, C-level Cloud-maned Wave Horse, a single hoof can crush 100 bare Qian Qis~＾v＾]
Qian Qi: ...
What do you mean by bare Qian Qi? It’s a Qian Qi without defense armor!
[Want to ride?] the system tempted, [Just 20 bucks, and I can put you on top of them~]
"No way," Qian Qi replied coolly, "C-level Magic Beasts, isn’t riding them a death wish?"
[Nope, trust me, Qian Qi!] the system chirped, [They are herbivorous Magic Beasts, they won’t attack humans!]
"Really?" Qian Qi was doubtful.
System: [Trust me trust me trust me!]
Seeing the system being so affirmative, Qian Qi couldn’t resist her curiosity and finally agreed, "Alright then..."
She fed the system 20 bucks and laid onto its panel.
The system carried Qian Qi above the leader of the Cloud-maned Wave Horses. The nearby tall Cloud-maned Wave Horses glanced at the tiny Qian Qi, didn’t sense any energy from her, and lazily turned away, following the lead horse onwards.
[See, they’re not bothered by you.]
The system dangled Qian Qi closer to the top of the leading Cloud-maned Wave Horse until Qian Qi could freely drop onto the horse’s body...
The system’s panel blinked and suddenly vanished.
Suddenly without support, Qian Qi: ???
Qian Qi fell directly from the air, landing on the leader horse, which was startled, jerked its body sharply, neighed, and charged forward.
Its neighing frightened the dozen Cloud-maned Wave Horses behind it, which all began to gallop. Qian Qi couldn’t ride and slipped off the slick back of the lead horse!
She frantically grabbed at the horse’s mane but found the Cloud-maned Wave Horse’s hair incredibly smooth, even with the friction-treated gloves of the defense armor, she could only watch the mane slip through her fingers as she rolled to the ground.
Unfortunately, a nearby runaway Cloud-maned Wave Horse kicked a hind leg, sending Qian Qi "whoosh" through the air in a bright, beautiful arc.
Qian Qi: ???
The system unleashed merciless laughter: [Hahahahahahaha—]
Enraged, Qian Qi grabbed the system panel and started chewing it out, "Damn you, you jerk, you tricked me!!!"
[Whoa! Don’t bite me!] the system panel struggled, [Didn’t you know nothing good comes cheap? You’re the one who fell for it, what does it have to do with me!]
Qian Qi: ???
Saying nothing comes cheap, she’s about to show it what being a bad dog means when you have a good master!
Qian Qi was about to find a beast’s dung hole to bury the system when she suddenly heard voices not far away and turned to see two awakeners coming up the other side of the hill, talking and laughing. Qian Qi could faintly hear their conversation.
"This business really makes money, just wandering around every day can earn a million without risking killing beasts, hehehe..."
"Yeah, the employer even ruled out a lot of similar-looking magic plants, so even if we waste time wandering, we can say we couldn’t find it."
"Don’t know what this thing called Magic God Grass is for, to make someone pay this much just to find a trace."
"Heard someone searched for it before, but later there was no news. Isn’t it said that Magic God Grass is a C-level Magic Plant? Could it be that they died after finding it?"
"Who knows, let’s not be stupid, just look around casually, oh stop talking, there’s someone."
Seeing Qian Qi ahead, the two immediately ended their chat and walked away ignoring her.
"Magic God Grass..." Qian Qi turned to look at their backs, rubbing her chin, "Are these two Sikong Wang’s hires looking for Magic God Grass?"
No wonder Sikong Wang used to come often to ask her to identify magic plants, but there’s been no news for the last two weeks; turns out he hired two loafers.
Qian Qi’s little eyes flickered.
When she turned back, ears wiggling from wanting to bury the system in a dung hole, the girl dramatically raised her brows, rubbed mischievously beside her cheek, "System Lord, you heard, people wander around casually daily, even if they don’t find Magic God Grass, they earn a million, aren’t you tempted?"
System, warily: [What do you want to say?]
"Why don’t we just ask Wangwang for money, then go find Magic God Grass..." Qian Qi drooled with greed, "Then I’ll give you a ninth. Why let this money fall into outsider’s pockets~"
System: ...
Your scheme sounds pretty clever, huh?
But... [It’s not that I don’t want to earn this money, it’s just too risky, with a danger of dying, why else would I...]
As the system was speaking, Qian Qi straightforwardly "Oh" in response, "Then forget it."
System: ... Aren’t you giving up a bit too quickly!
Almost forgot, she sticks to the motto "first secure life, then spend money".