27: First meeting with Mo Han

Originally, getting from the school to the Monster Taming Alliance would take at least an hour and a half even by car, but by cutting through the Urban Village, it only took half an hour.

But when Xie Ning arrived at the Monster Taming Alliance, he was told that the heart fire stamen was out of stock.

Xie Ning stood in front of the counter, frowning as he asked, "When will you have stock?"

I apologize, sir. Currently, only the warehouse in the Imperial Capital has stock, and it will take about half a month to transport the heart fire stamen from the Imperial Capital," the salesperson at the counter replied with a slight bow.

"This... alright, then forget it." Xie Ning looked disappointed and left the Monster Taming Alliance.

In half a month, the College Entrance Examination would have already started, and it would be too late to evolve then.

Xie Ning left the Monster Taming Alliance, thought for a moment, and headed toward the Mo Family Cultivation Shop.

Although the Mo Family Cultivation Shop was not large, it was quite famous in Flower City.

This shop was responsible for the evolution, treatment, and sale of Demon Tamers Beast Materials, but what was unique was that they accepted Cultivation Tasks for Demon Tamers Beasts of any difficulty, and if they failed to complete them, they wouldn't charge a single penny.

Because of this, the Mo Family Cultivation Shop always had a good reputation, often dealing with various Hunter Groups or Rogue Demon Tamers. Some Materials that the Monster Taming Alliance didn't even have might be found there.

Moreover, Xie Ning could get a discount if he went... Inside the Mo Family Cultivation Shop.

Mo Han was looking solemnly at the Demon Tamers Beast lying on the counter; her tightly furrowed brow refused to relax.

This was a Demon Cat that a customer had left at her shop for treatment, but the Demon Tamers Beast's condition was terrible; despite being a Fire Attribute Demon Tamers Beast, its body was as cold as ice.

The kitten moved painfully on the platform, letting out soft whimpers, as faint wisps of cold air emerged from its eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

She had tried various methods, but she could only raise the temperature slightly, unable to bring it up to a normal level.

If this continued, the kitten would likely freeze to death.

Mo Han quickly scribbled on a piece of paper, summarizing another treatment plan. She laboriously moved an A-frame ladder, climbed up a few steps, stood at the top, and pulled open a drawer to retrieve medicinal herbs.

Just then, a flurry of hurried footsteps arrived, followed by a familiar cursing voice. The person who came was Li Zhi, who had previously evolved his Demon Tamers Beast in her shop. Standing next to him was a limping Middle-aged Man.

Li Zhi rushed into the shop with an aggressive Aura, went straight up to her, and kicked the ladder with his leg. The ladder became unstable, tilted, and Mo Han fell down with it, scattering the Materials she held all over the floor.

"Ugh... Li Zhi! What do you think you're doing?!" Mo Han clutched her hip bone, struggling to stand up from the floor, her small, thin body swaying slightly.

"I'm here to settle the score! Intermediate Cultivator? What a load of crap!" Li Zhi kicked the ladder hard again, pointing at Mo Han. "If you hadn't messed up the evolution, how could my Black Tiger have lost!"

Although Mo Han was hurt from the fall, she suppressed her emotions and dared not accuse him, only saying coldly, "I reminded you that the Demon Tamers Beast was not yet suitable for evolution..."

Before she finished, Li Zhi interrupted, "Don't give me excuses! The Demon Tamers Beast you cultivated lost, that's the fact!"

Mo Han glanced at Li Zhi, picked up the fallen ladder, and said expressionlessly, "A Demon Tamer like you is not welcome in my shop. Please leave!"

"Leave? This shop belongs to my family! What right do you have to tell me to leave? You're just a slave! You're just a money-making bitch raised by our Li Family, don't forget your status!"

Li Zhi's words were like a needle piercing Mo Han, causing her entire body to tremble. Her pretty face turned pale with anger, and her expression was frosty.

Taking several deep breaths, she suppressed the anger between her brows and looked at Li Zhi: "What do you want?"

Li Zhi looked at Mo Han, his greedy gaze undisguised, and swallowed hard. "If my father hadn't forbidden me from touching slaves, fearing it would tarnish my status, I would really want to enjoy myself."

"It sucks to look but not touch! In that case, I'll just have to beat you up!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a fist swung toward Mo Han.

Seeing this, Mo Han did not dodge. She knew today would not end peacefully, and this wasn't the first or second time she had been beaten.

Just endure a little longer. Soon, she would save enough money to buy her freedom.

By then, she would never have to be beaten again.

Thankfully, Little Yu isn't here... After waiting a few seconds, when the fist didn't land, Mo Han opened her eyes in confusion, only to see a figure standing in front of her.

This back, which wasn't particularly broad, made her stare in a daze.

The person who arrived was none other than Xie Ning.

Just as he arrived at the Mo Family Cultivation Shop, he saw the scene of Li Zhi about to hit someone. Without thinking too much, he stepped forward and stopped him.

"Bullying a Girl, you must be really skilled."

The cold remark sounded in Li Zhi's ear. When he saw the person blocking him, his rage flared up even more. He gritted his teeth and said, "It's you again, Xie Ning! I wondered how the Demon Tamers Beast she evolved couldn't beat yours. So that's it..."

"Watch your mouth. You're brainless, yet you blame others." Xie Ning ignored Li Zhi's struggling, gripped his wrist tightly, and looked at the slightly limping Middle-aged Man beside Li Zhi. "So Uncle Wang is here too. Is something going on?"

This Middle-aged Man was none other than Lame Uncle Wang from the Scooter Rental Place, but Xie Ning was curious how he and Li Zhi ended up walking together.

"Haha~ I just came to look around. I didn't expect Little Ning to know the Mo Family Girl too, that's great." Lame Uncle Wang chuckled, diverting the topic back to Xie Ning.

Xie Ning smiled and did not reply.

Li Zhi struggled hard for a while, his face turning red from strain, but he couldn't break free. He yelled in exasperation, "Let go of me immediately!"

"Why should I let you go? So you can continue hitting people?" Xie Ning countered.

"I won't hit her! Let go of me quickly!"

Lame Uncle Wang frowned and said, "Little Ning, this is the Young Master of the Madman Hunter Group. Please let him go. I guarantee he won't cause any more trouble."

"Oh, alright then."

Xie Ning released his hand. Just as he did, Li Zhi was exerting all his strength to pull back, and unable to control his momentum, he stumbled a few steps and fell to the ground.

"You bastard Xie, you..."

Lame Uncle Wang pulled Li Zhi up and whispered something in his ear. Then, Li Zhi glared at Xie Ning through gritted teeth before turning and leaving.

After the two left, Xie Ning turned around and asked the Girl, who bore some resemblance to Mo Yu, "Are you alright?"

"Ah, I—I'm fine. Thank you for earlier." Mo Han snapped back to reality and said somewhat shyly.

Xie Ning asked again, "You must be Mo Yu's older sister, right?"

"Yes, my name is Mo Han."

Xie Ning nodded, took out a bank card, and handed it to her. Seeing her confused look, he explained, "Hello, I'm Mo Yu's classmate. Last time, she and I accepted a Cultivation Task, and this is her share. She refused to take it then, so I'll trouble you to keep it for her now."

"Your name is Xie Ning, right? Little Yu mentioned you to me. Thank you for guiding Little Yu, but you don't need to give me this money. She probably didn't help much." Mo Han pushed the card away, politely refusing with a smile.

When she smiled, her eyes curved into crescent moons, giving people a very gentle and delicate feeling.

Xie Ning certainly wouldn't take the card back. He pushed it toward her again, and after a few exchanges, Mo Han finally accepted the card.

Seeing her accept it, Xie Ning smiled contentedly. It was then that he remembered the real reason he came, and he asked:

"Oh, right, do you sell heart fire stamen here?"