"What the heck is going on here!"
Principal Yang looked utterly exhausted as he glanced at a large group of hermits pouring out of the mountains. He called Fat Cat, asking him to inform Master Fuli to come over and handle the situation.
Before they arrived, they probably had already investigated the nature of Xinxing Agricultural Science College.
If cultivators wish to practice in peace or purchase rare treasures, they need to spend money. Not everyone in the circle of hermit sects is wealthy, but a considerable number of them are indeed quite rich.
To have a chance to meet Master Fuli, the cultivators donated nearly ten million to the college's successful transformation center and entered the school through investment attraction channels. Upon arrival, they immediately cornered Principal Yang against the wall of the security department.
A group of elderly people, whose IDs showed they were seventy or eighty years old, surrounded Principal Yang, insisting on becoming cleaners, security guards, or cooks in the canteen, or at the very least, water deliverers.
Principal Yang was practically dumbfounded.
Indeed, Master Fuli's status as an Imperial Guard might be a taboo for cultivators.
But that was the Fox Immortal we're talking about. Not showing respect would be more than a taboo; it's practically asking for divine retribution!
"Old Yang? Are you organizing a seniors' gathering?"
A black Navigator drove into the campus from outside, and Wang Qiqi, sitting in the driver's seat, rolled down the window to look at the group of elderly men squatting on the playground, asking Principal Yang with a hint of surprise.
"Principal!"
Leopard Head squeezed out from the back seat, looked at Principal Yang, and gave a "meow" as a greeting.
"Wang Qi?"
Seeing Wang Qiqi's arrival, Principal Yang couldn't help but ask curiously, "What brings you to the school?"
Even though Wang Qiqi graduated from Xinxing Agricultural Science College, her connection with this research-oriented college was limited. In fact, every time she came to the school, it usually signaled trouble.
"Nothing serious, just received a task notification after coming back from Da Xing'an Ridge. It says Master Fuli found something extraordinary in the fields, so I'm here to understand the situation."
Wang Qiqi explained her purpose. She had just returned to Chang'an from the Northern area at dawn and hadn't even finished her attendance records before receiving a notice from the dispatch center asking her to visit Xinxing Agricultural Science College to investigate the situation with the Ant Queen.
"I see..."
Principal Yang nodded slightly, refraining from asking more, and instead looked at the group of elderly men, saying to Wang Qiqi, "That works out well. These old fellows are also here to see Master Fuli. We can wait here together until he arrives."
"Them?"
Wang Qiqi took off her sunglasses, eyes scanning the crowd of elderly at the gathering with surprise.
"Oh, it's you, old crooks!" Although Wang Qiqi didn't recognize most of the crowd, there were two people she was quite familiar with.
One was Liu Lingyu's father, Liu Qunqing, and the other was the expert from Mountain Viewing Pavilion.
The former enjoyed playing rotation mahjong, which involved no fixed players and usually comprised people waiting to pick up their children from school, who would play a couple of rounds, or people buying groceries and squeezing in a few rounds before heading home to cook.
Liu Qunqing didn't gamble big, just a dime or two, but he spent extended hours playing, and his addiction was so intense that the mahjong parlor owner often worried he might suddenly drop dead and would proactively call the police.
The expert from Mountain Viewing Pavilion sold thunderstruck wood in an online shop, priced at 188 or 288 each, shipping six thousand pieces a month.
Later, he was reported for selling counterfeit goods. He didn't end up in prison but received a hefty fine, relinquishing the illegal profits from counterfeit sales. His thunderstruck wood sales volume matched the annual output of Mount Longhu.
Under the heavens, ten stones of thunderstruck wood exist, and the expert alone possesses twelve buckets, with Lei Yun owing him two buckets' worth of thunderstruck wood.
Due to violations involving cultivators, Wang Qiqi personally went to the public security bureau to reason with them.
"......"
Named Liu Qunqing and the expert glanced around evasively, responding with awkward expressions.
"Hm?"
The vibrant young rich woman and the handsome middle-aged man meeting made the handsome man feel awkward and somewhat uncomfortable. Liu Lingyu stared at her father, her gaze scrutinizing.
"Don't glare too hard, and don't speak; the girl opposite is the terrifying Leopard Head with eyes as fierce as a hawk..." Liu Qunqing averted his gaze, tugged at his daughter's sleeve, gesturing her to avoid looking at Wang Qiqi any longer lest she invites disaster into her heart.
Once upon a time, Liu Qunqing was very ambitious and aspired to rise to a high position in the Dao Alliance, aiming to manage the loose Dao Alliance into a listed company and make it big.
Until he encountered the law enforcement from the Security Bureau.
His dreams faded, replaced with images of beastmen leaping dozens of meters high and shattering boulders with single kicks, while task forces advanced wielding rotary grenade launchers.
With the advent of genome editing and grenade launchers, why bother with traditional martial arts anymore? Just tell that to my automatic grenade launcher sniper!
Twenty years of hard practice weren't worth a jab in the leg, and the frustration and depression were unspeakably intense.
"Meow meow meow—"
A khaki panda rode an old second-hand electric scooter across the campus, with a white fox sitting atop its head as it headed toward the playground.
Fat Cat greeted Leopard Head, parked the scooter beside a flowerbed, and, poking out a claw, lowered the kickstand before sitting down on the ground.
"Coo—"
Ansheng cooed at Wang Qiqi, and Leopard Head translated for her, "Master Fuli said there are too many people here talking. Let's go straight to the fields."
"Fox Immortal Lord!"
A small elderly expert in the crowd poked his head out, looking eagerly at Master Fuli, waving, "We've come to present offerings to the Fox Immortal Lord. The incense is made of real sandalwood!"
"......"
Master Fuli glanced at the old expert, a visible hint of black lines forming on his cheeks, and plainly stated:
"Please, could you guys embrace some historical materialism? Why are you still engaging in feudal superstitions all day long?"
"Burning sandalwood incense for me does nothing except increase the PM2.5 concentration in my villa, forcing me to order an air purifier through a local delivery to my home. It's utterly pointless."
"I don't have time to deal with you now; we're busy handling a big case regarding significant mythical beasts of Xia Country and sacred creatures of the world. I'll discuss endorsement fees with you when I have time later!"
Speaking in a tender, juvenile voice, Master Fuli uttered language remarkably grounded and everyday.
Hearing this, the hermits from the Qinling Mountain Range stood frozen on the playground, feeling an eerie disarray in the wind.
Master Fuli jumped onto the hood, flipping into the passenger seat of the Navigator that Wang Qiqi drove.
The 5.6-meter long, 2.0-meter wide black beast left the scene with everyone watching, stunned.
In the crowd, Liu Lingyu was the most dumbfounded, unable to believe the determined and decisive Fox Immortal was the little fox she had seen at the sect's gate yesterday.
"I told you, Master Fuli doesn't like being disturbed, but you wouldn't believe me, insisting on calling him the kind and merciful auspicious beast..."
"He hasn't grabbed you by the collar and demanded you to scan a QR code for fifty thousand, only because he sees you as penniless," Principal Yang quipped sarcastically.
Master Fuli is indeed approachable.
Yet, Master Fuli is approachable provided you invite him to combat evil and malevolent beasts. Rarely among spirit beasts, he embodies a fierce aversion toward injustice, often wordlessly kicking down injustices on sight.
If you aren't gaining reputation with him, although not overwhelmed with tasks, he's still busy statewide; there's no way he can sit down to entertain you...
"Cough, cough... Regarding endorsement fees, you can report to me about those. I'll approach the master for you."
Fat Cat raised a paw high, "meowing" at the crowd, willing to assist them.