96: Chapter 96? You're not stupid!

What does boss mean by this? My teeth are itching, so he wants me to eat the inner core? Is this inner core medicine? Will it work?

With a dubious attitude and gaze, Big Black hesitantly opened its mouth and swallowed the inner core in Qin Ding's hand, gulping it down without chewing.

As the inner core entered its stomach, Big Black's eyes immediately lit up, and it greedily licked its muzzle with its wolf tongue.

"Woof."

[Boss, this thing is quite potent. I felt it as soon as I ate it. My stomach is very full. Do you have more?]

"Yes, why wouldn't I? There's also the inner core of a Level 20 Golden Underworld Python. Let's talk about that after you've digested this Sha Jin Wolf inner core."

"I remember that for Spirit Beasts, eating inner cores raw takes a bit longer to digest, probably two or three days."

Big Black blinked, as if pondering Qin Ding's words, but in reality, it was a bit confused.

Two or three days? Why so long? When it drank cultivation fluid, it usually only took one night, just a matter of sleeping. Why would eating a single inner core take so long?

"Alright, just stay home these next few days. School starts in three days, I'm going to eat first."

Qin Ding patted Big Black's head, got up and went to the bathroom, then left the house under Big Black's gaze.

He walked to the opposite door, took out his key, and opened it.

"Oh? Xiao Ding is here?"

Zhao Min, who was sitting and eating noodles, saw Qin Ding arrive and immediately got up to serve him noodles from the kitchen. "Xiao Ding, what made you decide to come to Auntie's place for breakfast today?"

Qin Ding and Bai Muxue exchanged glances. After sitting down, he chuckled, "It's been a while since I had Aunt Zhao's noodles. I missed them, you know?"

However, the actual situation was quite the opposite. Qin Ding had stayed in the Spirit Realm for a long time, and after coming out, he appeared before Aunt Zhao to reassure her, as she hadn't seen him for days.

Aunt Zhao was his only elder left, and he didn't want this sole remaining elder to worry about him now that he was grown.

"Thank you, Aunt Zhao."

Qin Ding extended both hands to take the noodle bowl from Zhao Min and thanked her.

Zhao Min's response was a pair of gentle, loving eyes and a light stroke of Qin Ding's hair.

"Silly child, why are you saying thank you?"

"In a blink of an eye, the little child who used to follow me around in split pants has grown so big, and he's like the moon, beautiful."

Qin Ding slowly ate his noodles, listening quietly to Zhao Min's recollections along with Bai Muxue.

As for the moon Aunt Zhao mentioned, that was his mother Shen Yue's nickname.

As if thinking of something, the gentleness and kindness in Zhao Min's eyes faded considerably, replaced by a familiar and unyielding worry. She withdrew her hand from stroking Qin Ding.

She turned to look at Qin Ding and Bai Muxue.

"Mu Xue, Xiao Ding, your next semester starts in a few days. Two transferred students will be coming to Chang City then. Mom heard that one of them went missing, and the other one is said to be going to your No. 11 High School."

Clink.

The hand holding the noodles paused for a moment, the chopsticks clinking against the bowl. Qin Ding's expression changed for an instant, but it was extremely quick.

For a second-generation rich person like Cui Yan, schools like No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 High Schools, which are nominally affiliated with the City Lord, should be the best choices.

But she wants to come to No. 11 High School? Cui Yan? If it's just to complete a transaction, there's no need to do this. So what's her purpose?

Qin Ding, who habitually pondered the motives behind others' actions, felt confused for the first time, because Cui Yan's actions offered no discernible benefit; on the contrary, it was a choice that resulted in a loss of benefit.

Because she was a transferred student, not a local of Chang City.

Bai Muxue's eyebrows twitched. She thoughtfully glanced at Qin Ding, who was eating noodles somewhat distractedly. A sense of realization, as if seeing the answer, flickered in her slightly hazy eyes.

"That woman named Cui Yan chose No. 11 High School because of A-Ding. She wants to use A-Ding to make her transfer record look better."

"Or is it because of the events in the Spirit Realm that she developed some different feelings for my A-Ding?"

Humans influence beasts, and beasts influence humans. The Spirit Fox's mental attribute further enhanced Bai Muxue's already intelligent mind, allowing her to instantly grasp the core of the matter.

However, even so, Bai Muxue felt no anger or sense of crisis. She knew Qin Ding better than anyone.

His feelings were never something to be associated with transactions. If his emotions were defiled by a transaction, something would definitely go wrong.

"Aunt Zhao, how did you know about this? Did Chang City officials announce it?"

"Yes, these young people from good cities generally have high spirits. Don't get into conflicts with them then. We don't compare ourselves to them; we just live our own lives well."

Listening to Aunt Zhao's earnest advice, Qin Ding and Bai Muxue nodded repeatedly in assurance, though in reality, neither of them paid much attention.

"Alright, I'm off to work. You young people chat."

After finishing breakfast, Zhao Min's words were somewhat suggestive. Bai Muxue looked at Qin Ding upon hearing this, and when she saw Qin Ding thoughtfully rubbing his stomach, her eyes brightened slightly.

But the next second, the light in Bai Muxue's eyes dimmed, because Qin Ding got up and went to the kitchen.

He came back with another bowl of noodles.

"Ha, it's been a while since I had Aunt Zhao's noodles, I can't seem to stop. Mu Xue, are you full? There's still some in the pot."

Bai Muxue shook her head, "I'm full. I'm going to read now."

Under Qin Ding's puzzled gaze, Bai Muxue, after putting away her dishes, returned to her room. When Qin Ding looked away, he saw the Spirit Fox staring at him unmoving, not even blinking.

Observing the Spirit Fox's serious expression, Qin Ding couldn't help but laugh.

"Hmm? Little fox, why are you staring at me? I don't understand what you're saying."

The very next second after he spoke, Qin Ding's hand trembled in fright, almost knocking over the bowl.

[Qin Ding, you're a bit like Big Black Dog.]

Qin Ding: ???

"You, you can already use Mental Energy to talk to other creatures?"

Hmph!

The Spirit Fox haughtily turned its head, as if saying, 'Who are you looking down on?'

However, after secretly glancing at Bai Muxue's closed room door, a look of contemplation flashed in the Spirit Fox's eyes, as if it understood something.

[Hey, Qin Ding, don't you have anything you want to give to my A-Xue? She waited for you the whole day yesterday, shouldn't you show some appreciation?]

Qin Ding was a bit stunned at first hearing this.

Something... he really did!

A masterless Storage Ring appeared out of thin air in Qin Ding's palm. He glanced at the Spirit Fox, then tossed the Storage Ring towards it.

An invisible force caught the Storage Ring mid-air and controlled it to hover before the Spirit Fox's eyes.

The Spirit Fox first looked at the Storage Ring, then at the one Qin Ding wore on his hand. Its fox eyes gradually widened in surprise, and it felt a little embarrassed inside.

Huh? He's not like Big Black Dog? I thought he was as silly as Big Black Dog.