57: Chapter 57 Xiao Sinian and Xiao Bai's First Meeting

Qi Yin could not be bothered to count, so she asked it directly.

"How many crystal cores are here?"

Xiao Bai thought for a moment, "Including those under the water, there are probably around three thousand."

Qi Yin knew there were a lot, but she had not expected this many!

These crystal cores were all the result of Xiao Bai's battle, so she was generous and gave half to the little glutton.

Xiao Bai let out a "wow" and dove right in, the crystal cores making crackling sounds in its mouth.

Before long, Qi Yin felt that her Xiao Bai had grown another size larger.

It must be the energy from the crystal cores.

She was genuinely envious of this absorption ability.

She only hoped that Wang Tianyu would quickly master the trick to purifying crystal cores, otherwise, having to use twenty crystal cores to purify just one in the Doomsday Mall was too much of a rip-off.

However, she could save the second-level crystal cores she obtained today and accumulate more to use for leveling up.

Full and satisfied, Xiao Bai let out a burp and lay down beside Qi Yin to rest.

The clumps of stains on its body looked incredibly filthy, and she really could not stand it anymore.

Fortunately, the spiritual spring water was something that belonged to the space itself, so it did not take much effort to mobilize it.

"Get up and wash yourself clean."

Under the duress of its master's authority, Xiao Bai could only reluctantly take a quick battle bath.

Once finished, it shook itself vigorously, mischievously spraying water all over Qi Yin.

Since it was her own pet, Qi Yin turned a blind eye and pretended not to notice.

A few minutes later, Qi Yin was satisfied.

Xiao Bai was once again that clean little tiger cub.

Its big head was now too large to be held with both hands, and Qi Yin reached out to rub the "King" character on its forehead, her tired heart feeling a sense of softness.

The matter was resolved, so it should go back and rest.

"Go back, Xiao Bai, it is not safe outside."

Xiao Bai's sleepy head immediately lifted up, and it roared in dissatisfaction.

Then, it shook its big head like a rattle-drum, strongly resisting her suggestion.

"I do not want to go back, Master. It is fun outside, and I want to help Master fight and protect Master."

It even used its paws to rake the scattered crystal core remains on the ground, pushing them to Qi Yin's feet.

Its eyes were wet and glistening, as if it were begging.

Seeing it like this, Qi Yin really could not resist such a cute creature.

She felt a bit helpless, yet also a bit amused.

But then again, if it had not been for Xiao Bai's appearance just now, she would probably still be hiding in the space, not daring to come out.

Moreover, Xiao Bai's combat power far exceeded her expectations; with it by her side, her sense of safety was maximized.

"Alright, then you can follow me, but you are not allowed to run around."

Qi Yin sighed, compromising with the cute creature.

Xiao Bai let out a happy howl and, just like a kitten, licked her palm, which felt ticklish.

"And one more thing, from now on, you are not allowed to eat zombie heads, and you can only eat crystal cores that I have washed clean, do you understand?"

Qi Yin recalled the intense scene from earlier and felt utterly disgusted.

Although Xiao Bai did not understand why, as long as it was what Qi Yin said, it agreed.

Just as the human and the tiger were having their brief interaction, rapid and heavy footsteps suddenly came from behind the window.

Her Spiritual power perceived red light spots; it was an Ability User.

Someone was coming, and they were very fast.

Xiao Bai instantly became alert, leaping up from the ground, its white fur bristling all over.

It crouched its body low, its pupils turning into slits, and it bared its sharp fangs.

It instinctively shielded Qi Yin behind it.

Qi Yin also forced herself to stand up, gripping the dragon-patterned tang saber in her hand, her eyes fixed on the window.

She was unsure whether the person coming was a friend or a foe.

The next moment, a figure vaulted inside, accompanied by the sound of water.

Seeing who it was, Qi Yin let out a long sigh of relief.

It was Xiao Sinian.

Then, at this moment, Professor Zhou Zhiheng and the others should have reached a safe place.

Xiao Sinian's breathing was rapid, and his eyes were filled with worry; it was clear that he had not had a chance to rest at all on the way.

When he saw the scene in the hospital clearly, he did not know what to say.

The scene he had imagined—of Qi Yin fighting in a bloody battle and being in imminent danger—did not occur.

Instead, the ground was littered with the remains of Mutated Zombies and soaked in black blood, signaling that they had just experienced a terrifying slaughter.

And Qi Yin was standing there perfectly fine, with only some damage to her clothes, and no bloodstains to be seen.

But standing beside her was actually a huge white tiger emitting a fierce aura?

This white tiger did not look friendly; it was baring its fangs at him as if it were about to pounce at any moment.

It had clearly mistaken him for an enemy.

"Qi Yin, look out!"

Xiao Sinian instinctively took this white tiger for some kind of mutated animal, his body reacting before his reason could, and piercing lightning gathered as he prepared to blast it at Xiao Bai.

Sensing the intense hostility and the threat of the Supernatural Ability, Xiao Bai's roar became even more violent, its hind legs stepping back as it prepared to strike a fatal blow at any moment.

Qi Yin was bewildered by this scene and quickly raised her hand.

"Stop, stop, what are you doing!"

Her cold, clear voice timely extinguished the flames of war, bringing the tense standoff between the man and the tiger to a halt.

She reached out and gently stroked Xiao Bai's bristling fur.

"Good Xiao Bai, quiet, they are on our side."

Xiao Sinian, who had been preparing to attack, froze in his tracks, the purple arcs of electricity in his palm dissipating, his face filled with extreme astonishment.

Qi Yin soothed Xiao Bai and saw this complex expression on his face for the first time, which was quite amazing.

Xiao Bai obediently retreated behind her, pressing closely against her.

"Let me introduce you, my partner, Xiao Bai."

Qi Yin gave a simple explanation, not mentioning Xiao Bai's origins, and just patted its honest, big head.

Xiao Sinian suppressed the raging waves in his heart, looked around, and spoke with difficulty.

"These, did you take care of all of these?"

If that were really the case, then Qi Yin's strength was simply too terrifying.

Qi Yin did not take the credit, instead pointing to the Mutated Zombie remains on the ground.

"Most of the credit goes to Xiao Bai; I just happened to get lucky and take out the leader."

Lucky?

Xiao Sinian looked at Qi Yin's pale complexion and the torn strips of cloth on her body, knowing in his heart that what she called luck was definitely extremely perilous.

This half-grown tiger—he could not tell if it was a mutated creature—was it really this strong?

"I am sorry, the situation was special this time. Next time, I will not let you be alone again."

Qi Yin was momentarily stunned; was Xiao Sinian feeling guilty?

However, what was there to be guilty about?

He had a mission, and Zhou Zhiheng was truly important. To someone like Xiao Sinian, national righteousness was likely more important than a friend.

Qi Yin did not speak, but Xiao Bai, who was behind her, tilted its head and looked at Xiao Sinian.

Xiao Sinian could not help but find it slightly amusing; what was this big tiger curious about?

Noticing the movement between the two, Qi Yin waved her hand, "I am fine, am I not still alive?"

Xiao Sinian smiled bitterly, but he was afraid.

"As long as you are fine."

Qi Yin did not know what to say for a moment; why did it feel like Xiao Sinian was even more unhappy that she was fine?

"Oh, you were able to come back, I have received your good intentions."

After a pause, her gaze turned to the Second-level Mutated Zombie that had been shattered into ice shards, and her beautiful brows furrowed slightly again.

"However, compared to that, I am more curious: why would this Second-level Mutated Zombie appear here?"

"And, it seems like it could summon, or perhaps control, so many Mutated Zombies?"