Chapter 299: Chapter 299: Charging the City Gate

Long Hao, who had been tossing and turning, unable to sleep, drifted off before he knew it.

That night, everyone living nearby heard the unique sound.

For the first time in a long while, the Beastmen in the area felt an irresistible wave of drowsiness.

Although Jiang Qin hadn’t soundproofed the room, she kept her Spiritual Body’s calming effect under control. The little rabbit stayed within the quilt on the bed, dutifully guarding the Black Dragon without running amok.

Even so, some of the Calming Power still escaped, which was why the Beastmen in the vicinity felt their minds were unusually relaxed that night.

The one who benefited most of all was the green-haired man with a buzz cut waiting beneath their window.

It wasn’t exactly convenient here, so Jiang Qin didn’t play for very long.

She stopped after just one piece.

…

The next day at dawn, she tucked Long Hao away, took Bai Ruo with her, and prepared to leave the city.

But a tail constantly followed them. Scolding didn’t work, and mentioning a fight only made him more excited.

That’s right—it was the green-haired honey badger. His real name was Qing Luo.

Jiang Qin suspected it was an alias he used on the streets, but that was none of her business.

However, while entering the city had been easy, leaving wasn’t so simple.

In addition to a body search, they had to pay a fee of 1,000 Star Coins per person.

Jiang Qin asked calmly, “Excuse me, what is this fee for?”

“It’s the fee for Baofeng City’s protection, of course. Without our city, you’d be sleeping in the wilds, wouldn’t you?

By nightfall, the Alien Beasts would have torn you to shreds long ago.

So, Baofeng City protected you, correct? Is a person’s life not worth a thousand Star Coins?

Of course, if you don’t have that many Star Coins at the moment, you can always choose to earn enough in the city before you leave.”

’So Baofeng City doesn’t rob you, it just demands payment outright.’

“And what’s the reason for the body search?”

The guard explained nonchalantly, “Oh, that’s because we’re afraid some people who enter are thieves. What if they steal from the city’s residents and then try to skip town?”

Jiang Qin took a deep breath and chose to turn back into the city for now.

Seeing this, Qing Luo, who had been tailing them, smugly approached. “Heh heh, don’t you have enough Star Coins to get out?

“Beg me. I’ve got Star Coins—more than I can spend.”

“Don’t you find their body search rule insulting?”

Jiang Qin didn’t understand why this ill-tempered honey badger was so nonchalant about the search. ’Doesn’t he care about privacy at all?’

But Qing Luo genuinely saw no issue with it. He was already used to it.

He asked in surprise, “You don’t carry all your valuables on you, do you?”

Jiang Qin was speechless. ’I’m not carrying valuables, I’m carrying a dragon! Besides, I’m a female. How can I just let them search me?’

Compared to that, the thousand-Star Coin fee seemed trivial.

’But then again,’ she thought, ’the White Tiger wasn’t stopped when it left the city alone last night.’ She made a decision: she wasn’t paying the thousand Star Coins.

But… this honey badger tailing her was a major hindrance.

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Qin called Bai Ruo over, whispered a few words in her ear, and handed her the harmonica.

Although Bai Ruo was a little scared, the thought that Jiang Qin hadn’t made things difficult for her on their journey—and hadn’t even expected her to offer herself—instantly gave her Courage.

“S-Sir, didn’t you want to know who played that music? If you do, come with me.”

Qing Luo grinned at her words. “Heh, I knew it. There’s no way a sound that beautiful came from that little brat.”

He obediently followed Bai Ruo to a corner.

Jiang Qin quickly materialized Xing Shi, the Flying Monkey, and then the White Tiger.

She then had the Flying Monkey grab her with its left arm and snatch Bai Ruo with its right, while the White Tiger charged straight for the city gate to attack the guards!

“Quick! Call the Law Enforcement Team! Someone’s forcing the gate!”

But by the time the guards finished calling for help, Jiang Qin’s group was already far from the gate.

The Beastmen assigned to gate duty couldn’t have been very strong, so they stood no chance of stopping Jiang Qin’s forceful breakout.

All they could do was issue a wanted notice after the fact—and a cheap one at that, not wanting to offer a large reward.

***

Qing Luo, who had ended up outside with them, was now chasing after the Flying Monkey—one flying through the air, the other running on the ground.

He shouted up at Jiang Qin, “You’ve got some nerve, brat! Forcing the gate just to save a few Star Coins! But fine, you broke out, so why’d you have to snatch that female?”

Long Hao, who had been asleep since last night, finally woke up. The first thing he saw was a monkey holding his Qinqin. That was bad enough, but it was also holding that mouse female! He was about to explode with rage.

At that moment, even the persistent pest of a honey badger wasn’t as detestable as the monkey.

“Qinqin, you can’t marry this monkey! He’s holding another female right in front of you!”

The Flying Monkey, subject of the accusation, remained impassive and continued its flight dutifully.

Bai Ruo, however, was both awkward and terrified.

She didn’t understand why Lord Yan, a male, would be married to Lord Flying Monkey. She was terrified that Lord Yan would misunderstand and think she was trying to steal his partner, which made her appear exceptionally panicked.

Trembling, she tried to explain, “Lord Yan… I—I’m not…”

Bai Ruo didn’t know how to explain, since she was, in fact, being held by Lord Flying Monkey…

Jiang Qin pinched Long Hao’s draconic mouth shut. “Alright, that’s enough. You go back to sleep. Be good.”

“Mmph… mmph…” Forcibly silenced, Long Hao subconsciously stuck out his tongue and licked Jiang Qin’s palm.

Jiang Qin’s hand flinched, and she almost threw him.

Seeing they were now far from Baofeng City, she quickly had Xing Shi stop.

She then sent the Flying Monkey to give Qing Luo a beating and tried to have it carry him far away before dropping him.

After all, it seemed he had really latched onto them for good.

Unfortunately, restraining him didn’t seem easy for the Flying Monkey.

Jiang Qin had no choice but to give up and resign herself to her new shadow.

Seeing the Flying Monkey fly off again without a word, and with the White Tiger having vanished after leaving the city, Qing Luo found it all very strange.

“Hey, brat, what are your two companions so busy with? Why are they always coming and going in such a rush?”

Coincidentally, that was a question Long Hao also wanted answered.

’Those two had better have a damn good reason,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, I’ll never forgive them for abandoning Qinqin.’

’They might always show up just in time, but that doesn’t erase the fact that they’re irresponsible.’

Jiang Qin said nonchalantly, “They have social anxiety. They prefer following from the shadows and don’t like interacting with people.”

Long Hao, who was under orders to stay quiet, wanted to scoff. ’Heh, socially anxious? Socially anxious and still hitting on other females? That’s some social anxiety, all right.’

’Excuses. They’re definitely just excuses.’

Long Hao stewed, feeling sour, angry, and resentful.

’It’s a good thing I don’t have long to live,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, I’d have to personally teach them what it means to be a proper partner.’

“Qing Luo, do you know where I can find an Advanced Healing Potion?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep