I Became the Alchemy Master by Picking Up Trash-Chapter 318: Extra Story (3)

A brightly colored tiger-shaped Star Beast lay sprawling, lazily sunbathing its belly on the grass. Its snake tail was coiled like a real python and lay on the tiger beast’s belly, absorbing the heat of the sun.

"What do you think of this one? Does it meet Principal Li’s requirements?"

The three were now just a dozen meters away from the Snake-tailed Tiger Beast, and Li Xing’s voice was not quiet, yet the beast seemed to have lost its sense of smell and hearing, completely oblivious to their presence, continuing to lie lazily on the ground, which was contrary to its usual alert nature.

Li Nianshen and Yang Qianfan gazed at the giant creature before them, undisguised excitement in their eyes. This one’s size far surpassed the one Li Xing captured back then!

"It’s perfect, really perfect!"

"Then let’s begin." As soon as Li Xing finished speaking, both the snake tail and tiger head simultaneously lifted, staring intently at the position where the three stood, their eyes gleaming with the same bloodthirsty chill.

The tiger beast rolled over and stood up, its broad tongue licking its nose, while the snake tail flicked its tongue, savoring the scent particles in the air. It was easy to deduce that these two two-footed creatures before it held abundant Primordial Spirit; consuming them would bring its promotion close at hand.

The tiger beast howled excitedly, targeting the taller Li Nianshen as its main quarry, while the snake tail menacingly fixed on Yang Qianfan, who had circled to the back, its tongue hissing.

Strangely, Li Xing just stood there in a clearing enjoying the show, but the Snake-tailed Tiger Beast seemed oblivious to her, showing no signs of aggression.

Soon, the two humans and the tiger were locked in combat. This Snake-tailed Tiger Beast was not low-level and was at its peak condition, defeating it would not be easy. But Li Nianshen and Yang Qianfan worked together seamlessly, with the powerful presence of Li Xing bolstering them, attacking without concern for their own safety.

This reckless fighting style, strong as the Snake-tailed Tiger Beast was, could not withstand, and finally fell in defeat.

Li Nianshen wiped his face, his countenance smeared with a mix of sweat and blood, distorting his handsome features. He sheathed his knife and rushed excitedly to the Snake-tailed Tiger Beast’s body, scrutinizing it carefully. But after a while, the fire in his eyes dimmed.

Yang Qianfan sheathed his weapon, limping over, and asked, "Is it dead?"

"Dead. But its appearance can’t compare to the one my sister fought."

The Snake-tailed Tiger Beast’s fur was nearly caked with blood, covered in wounds, almost obscuring its original color. The snake tail was severed in several places, and the snake head was cleanly cut off. If it weren’t for the scale patterns at the end of the tail, it would appear as just a regular tiger beast’s body.

If this kind of prey were put up for recovery in a shop, it wouldn’t fetch any price. If not for the Crystal Stone inside being decent in quality, Li Nianshen suspected Li Yi might not acknowledge it.

Li Nianshen stored the Snake-tailed Tiger Beast’s body in his space button, and with a heartache, caressed the large tear in his Ruoye vest, pulling Yang Qianfan along to bow before Li Xing.

"Thank you, Miss Predecessor, we’ve finally completed our mission, thanks to your help."

Even though there were no tall trees around to cast shade, Li Nianshen still couldn’t clearly see Li Xing’s face, only feeling her eyes shine as brightly as the stars in the sky.

"Where are you headed next?"

Yang Qianfan: "Since we’ve hunted the Snake-tailed Tiger Beast, we’re going back to the city."

Li Xing nodded: "May I join you?"

Li Nianshen and Yang Qianfan were overjoyed. They had run out of Healing Medicine and were worried about the scent of blood attracting Star Beasts, and having Li Xing accompany them was just perfect.

The three headed together towards Datang City, and Li Nianshen and Yang Qianfan thought they would encounter many Star Beasts attracted by the scent on the way. Much to their surprise, the journey was very safe. If it weren’t for the occasional roar of Star Beasts around them, they would’ve thought they were just taking a stroll in a garden.

Li Nianshen always felt that Li Xing seemed familiar, but he just couldn’t recall where he had seen her before.

"Miss Predecessor, have you been to Datang before?"

The blood-sucking vine dangling from the trees twisted like worms, creepily climbing towards Yang Qianfan. With a single dispassionate glance from Li Xing, the vines seemed to freeze in the air, then swiftly retracted into the dense canopy, making the entire tree shiver.

"I lived in Datang City for ten years."

Li Nianshen said with delight, "Then, Sister, you must have graduated from Datang Academy?" Li Xing didn’t seem much older than them, having lived there that long, she probably studied at Datang’s Basic Academy.

"Yes, when I studied there, the principal was Yang Zhou."

When Li Xing studied, it coincided with a change in the principalship, and after guiding Li Xing’s batch of students, Yang Zhou left Datang. Li Nianshen and Yang Qianfan quickly exchanged looks, the same thought in both their minds.

"Miss Predecessor, do you know Li Xing?"

Li Xing’s voice was filled with laughter: "Her? Of course, I know her."

Li Nianshen had grown up hearing stories of his sister from his parents, fostering an idolization of Li Xing in his heart. Unfortunately, having been born later, he never met Li Xing, only able to piece together her image through stories told by others.

With Ye Qingting, Cui Tianxiao, and Qi Ming accompanying her, Li Xing’s exploits in the reserves and her later rescue of Qianyuan became well-known to everyone.

Despite this, Li Nianshen still felt his sister’s image was incomplete, because he was missing those childhood stories. Li Xing, during that period, was closest to the Li Family.

Regrettably, their mother was still self-blaming for not getting to see her daughter one last time due to hospitalization from a premature birth, and their father rarely spoke of Li Xing to avoid upsetting their mother, which resulted in Li Nianshen knowing very little about her childhood. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

The predecessor sister before him was a classmate of Li Xing and surely knew many interesting anecdotes about her childhood, stories unlike those told by Brother Tang and Brother Ma that Li Nianshen could savor over a long time.

A few hours ago, Li Nianshen felt utterly unlucky, being punished to capture such a rare and fierce Star Beast due to a minor dispute. But now, he was full of joy. If he hadn’t gotten into trouble, how would he have the chance to meet his sister’s classmates?

Yang Qianfan was also a fanboy of Li Xing, having heard many stories from him recounted by Yang Zhou. Therefore, his enthusiasm for listening to stories was no less than Li Nianshen’s. He immediately exclaimed, "I heard from my dad, Sister Xing lost thirty-five points on her first practical training and came last in every test. Is it true?"

Li Xing: Er...

Li Nianshen: "Did my sister really get KO’d by Brother Tang Dou in one move? I don’t believe it, Brother Tang Dou must be boasting!"

Li Xing: Um...

"Can Sister Xing really eat four super-sized meals in one sitting?"

"Was my sister really so stingy that she’d haggle over a low-grade Crystal Stone?"

...

Though the questions from the brothers were quite pointed, Li Xing remained objective in her responses. With topics to discuss, time seemed to fly by, and Li Nianshen and Yang Qianfan hadn’t heard enough before finding themselves at the edge of the forest. Walking a bit further, they’d see the walls of Datang City.

Sensing someone emerging, Li Yi and Yang Zhou simultaneously looked towards the edge of the forest. The bright sunlight outlined their figures vividly, illuminating Li Xing’s face, which had shed all concealment.

Their earnest expressions cracked upon seeing Li Xing, both exclaiming in unison: "Li Xing?!"

Li Xing smiled broadly: "Uncle Li, Principal Yang, long time no see."

Li Nianshen, Yang Qianfan: (#ﾟДﾟ) o (ﾟДﾟ)っ!