Chapter 61: Loyalty
Everyone was startled when Han Dong suddenly knelt down and prostrated before Lin Jin.
Zhao Ying and Lu Xiaoyun were oblivious to Han Dong’s identity as a ‘spy’, and Lin Jin had no intention of telling them about it either. The girls went over and said, “Han Dong, just tell us if you have any problems. We’re all classmates. Even if it’s something Master Lin can’t help with, we wouldn’t just let you suffer on your own.”
Evidently, the girls assumed that Han Dong got into some sort of trouble.
But when Han Dong told them the reason why he was on the ground, they finally understood what he meant.
It was because of his pet beast.
“If this is the case, there’s no need to worry at all. If it were anything else, Master Lin might not be able to help, but when it comes to pet beasts, he’ll come up with a solution no matter what the issue is.”
After witnessing how many creatures Lin Jin had appraised and treated, the girls practically worshiped him now.
Lin Jin suddenly put on a stern expression and said, “How many times have I told you all not to be conceited just because you’ve gained some skills? Moreover, there’s no hundred percent when it comes to evaluating and treating beasts.”
Now this was an appearance befitting of an educator.
However, in Lin Jin’s heart, he added, ‘Except me of course.’
And it was true. Because with the Museum of Deadly Beasts, Lin Jin’s success rate was a hundred percent.
Lin Jin glanced at Han Dong. Despite the smile he was wearing, he still possessed self-esteem. Since he was willing to kneel and beg for the sake of his pet beast, it proved how much he treasured his relationships.
“Get up, Han Dong. Remember, a man’s honor is as valuable as gold. You can kneel to God, to your parents, but other than that, there is no one else worth kneeling to,” Lin Jin lectured before extending a hand to touch Han Dong’s pet beast.
Upon hearing this, Han Dong shuddered.
After hearing what he said, even if Appraiser Lin couldn’t save his pet beast, Han Dong would be forever loyal to him. Because no one had ever held him in such high regard and thought he was a man worthy of basic respect.
“Rank 1 pet beast. Crusty horned pig. Earth attribute.”
“Status, poisoned. Internal organs are damaged and the remaining venom in its body is clogging the veins. The ten treatment methods are…”
“The seven evolution methods are…”
As Lin Jin was focused on studying the creature’s details in the museum, Han Dong felt uneasy. The memory of how even Elder Nan couldn’t rescue his pet beast was vivid in Han Dong’s mind.
But he dared not ask about it. He could only stand aside and wait anxiously. He was terrified of hearing the words, ‘cannot be saved’.
After all, it had been more than a year since his pet beast got injured. With an old illness such as this, even Master Lin might not be able to help.
Just as his mind began to wander, Lin Jin stood up and said, “And here I thought how grave the situation might be. Turns out there are some internal organ damage and a couple of clogged-up veins. This will be easy.”
Han Dong had yet to regain his senses.
Activating the powers gained from his blood contract, after shifting his spirit energy, Lin Jin took out some needles and pierced them into more than ten acupoints on the boar’s body. The angle and force needed were just right.
Then, he lifted a finger and pressed it onto the boar’s stomach.
There was a loud squeak and the boar proceeded to cough out a mouthful of ink-dark blood.
Han Dong jumped in shock. But after coughing out that blackish blood, the boar clearly seemed much more energetic than before.
“Done!”
Lin Jin retrieved his needles like he had just done something insignificant.
That was it?
From Han Dong’s perspective, it seemed like Lin Jin meant to say that his boar’s stubborn illness was cured completely.
“Han Dong, you’re an apprentice beast appraiser as well. Tell me, how should one verify the effectiveness of a treatment?” Lin Jin decided to use this chance to test him.
Han Dong pondered a bit before answering in a serious manner, “Master Lin, the venom in my pet beasts’ body was damaging his organs. The most troublesome part was when it got into the veins. To test the effectiveness of the treatment, I only need to use Energy Explosion to find out.”
Han Dong’s knowledge of the basics was indeed quite solid.
There were a few basic skills to control pet beasts and ‘Energy Explosion’ was one of them. It was a weaker version of the skill ‘Rampage’, and even apprentice beast appraisers could master this beginner-level skill.
Energy Explosion allowed the user to channel their spirit energy into their pet beast’s body, to let it course through the acupoints so as to increase the pet beast’s strength and potency.
However, because his pet beast was ill, Han Dong couldn’t use Energy Explosion on it. But now, if he was to test the effectiveness of the treatment, Energy Explosion was the most suitable skill.
Lin Jin nodded and said, “Give it a shot.”
Feeling excited, Han Dong immediately took out a beast talisman to cast the Energy Explosion spell.
The beast talisman went up in flames to convert into spiritual energy. Once it was injected into the boar’s body, domineering energy exploded from the latter’s body, blowing away the dust around its feet and swaying the humans’ sleeves.
“He’s really cured!” Han Dong could finally affirm that, with just a few tricks performed by Appraiser Lin, the illness that had been troubling his pet beast for more than a year was cured.
Han Dong had anticipated this result, and now, he was more resolute than ever to become Appraiser Lin’s loyal follower. Even if it meant stooping to the level of becoming a servant.
“I’d like to help your pet beast evolve, but it has just recovered from an illness. Its veins are still in an unstable condition, forcing it to evolve might do more harm than good so let’s wait for a few more days.”
Having said that, Lin Jin glanced around at the messy yard. With an apologetic expression, he said, “Since we’re here as guests, it would be quite inappropriate to leave such a mess at Masterchef Liao’s place. Come, let’s clean this place up together.”
“Alright!”
“Master Lin, let us do it. Please get some rest!”
The three apprentices got to work with great enthusiasm. Especially Han Dong who seemed to have been injected with a burst of vigor. He was just too happy today. Not only was he not chased away after coming clean with Master Lin, but Master Lin even used his extraordinary skills to treat his pet beast.
Han Dong couldn’t even repay his kindness. He had decided that from now on, no matter what Master Lin ordered him to do, Han Dong would do it without hesitation.
Once they were done tidying up Masterchef Liao’s yard, Lin Jin and his students took their leave.
Lin Jin had the apprentices return to the association while he brought Goldy and the sapphire turtle home. He had no other choice. His consultation hall in the association had been shut down so even if Lin Jin went back there, there was no place for him. He could only let the pet beasts settle down at his home for now.
Fortunately, the construction workers had worked overtime, day and night to speed up the renovation of his house so it was almost done by now. When he got home, the roof was done, and with a little tidying up, Lin Jin could reside in it.
Once he paid the remaining sum of the renovation, Lin Jin finally had a place to stay.
Goldy was now at Rank 3 but it was just as aloof as ever. Lin Jin couldn’t be bothered by his quirky personality. Goldy knew his limits and would never cause him trouble anyway.
He would place the sapphire turtle in the yard while Xiao Huo would follow him around.
Although his hall was shut down, Lin Jin still had to return to the association because he was still a member there. Also, since he was planning to take the beast appraiser’s promotion exam, he had to go back and register himself.
By the time he returned to the association, everyone around was looking at him differently.
The reason was simple. The closure of one’s consultation hall was a major issue for a beast appraiser. In the past tens of years here in Maple City’s Beast Appraisal Association, not once had such a thing happened before.
Lin Jin was the first to break the streak.
However, he couldn’t be bothered with the gossip and how people were pointing fingers at him. He was free from constraints and didn’t have to sit in his consultation hall so Lin Jin was enjoying his newly-gained freedom. Lin Jin could go wherever he wanted so long as he remained in the association’s vicinity.
With Xiao Huo in tow, Lin Jin headed straight for the association’s management office. If he wanted to register for the appraiser’s promotion exam, he had to do it here.
The association’s management office. While it was called a ‘management office’, in actual fact, it was only responsible for taking care of the apprentices’ registrations, promotion exam verifications, and promotion exams for certified beast appraisers. Hence, barely anyone came over on regular days.
This explained why the place was as quiet as a library.
Unlike the lively association that was bustling with life no matter the time of day, the management office not too far away was tranquil. Trees were planted all around a small wooden tower, and surrounding this tiny forest were three rooms, forming a rectangle shape with the tower. The bricks covering the yard was clean without a speck of dust. Placed right in the middle was an incense burner about ten feet tall. The incense sticks were like bamboo, standing tall without swaying with the wind as they pointed straight at the sky.