Astral Pet Store (WN)

Chapter 469 Away from Home

Half an hour later

Su Ping arrived at the Longjiang Base City.

He saw the familiar wall and the guards who wore familiar uniforms.

The uniforms used by the guards in each base city were different. Even though he was merely away for a few days, he was more than excited to be back.

“Who’s there? Register your identity.”

A device had picked up the signal that the Saber-toothed Bird was coming. There were already titled battle pet warriors heading to where the bird was going to pass to wait for their arrival.

They became aware that this was not a strike by wild beasts once they saw people sitting on the bird. As such, they shouted to the people to warn them.

The Saber-toothed Bird flew to where the titled battle pet warrior was. The Zhong Family elder was going to present their family crest; the Zhong Family was not one of the most famous families, unlike the four ancient families that were famous across the Subcontinent District. Even so, the Zhong Family’s information was recorded on all the base cities. It was just that the general public was not so familiar with them.

All of a sudden, another titled battle pet warrior stuttered, “Mr. Su?”

The Zhong Family elder was surprised and so was Zhong Lingtong. Back when she was in the Vice Chairman’s car, she had heard about the fact that Su Ping ran a store there. Still, that titled battle pet warrior had clearly recognized Su Ping.

It seemed that the titled battle pet warrior was afraid of Su Ping; it was fear, not respect.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Su. Sir, please forgive him, he’s kind of blind. This way please!”

The titled battle pet warrior bowed to Su Ping and immediately dragged his colleague away.

His colleague fell into a daze the moment he heard the name “Mr. Su.” He had never met Su Ping in person but he was more than familiar with the name. It would suffice to say that Su Ping was as vicious as a viper. Every titled battle pet warrior in the area had talked about this “Mr. Su.”

That young man right there was the Mr. Su that people had mentioned.

He was just as young as the rumors said!

As he remembered some of Mr. Su’s great deeds, the titled battle pet warrior turned ghastly pale and his legs trembled. He bowed at once and cold sweat was coursing down his cheeks.

He felt he had used up all of his luck that day.

The two titled battle pet warriors’ reaction stunned both the Zhong Family elder and Zhong Lingtong. They knew that Su Ping was both a titled battle pet warrior at the peak and a top trainer. And yet, those two were titled battle pet warriors. Did they have to be this afraid? They were acting as if Su Ping were at the legendary rank.

“Do you know me?” Su Ping asked the frightened titled battle pet warrior.

“Yes, of course…” The titled battle pet warrior smiled apologetically.

The general public might not know about what happened between Su Ping, the Star Organization and the Tang Family, but all the titled battle pet warriors were in the know. This Mr. Su was not a simple man. A legendary battle pet warrior was supporting him.

“I don’t think you were inspecting this frequently in the past, were you?” Su Ping asked the two titled battle pet warriors. He had left and then made his way back to the base city as an explorer before, but never had he seen such stringent inspections. That was just one Saber-toothed Bird. Even if it were a wild beast, one titled battle pet warrior would be enough to take care of it.

“Mr. Su, there has been a recent increase in wild beasts roaming around the base city. We’re just playing it safe, we apologize for having offended you,” one of the two answered. Su Ping remembered the beasts he had dealt with. Indeed, he wasn’t overthinking.

“Okay. Take care. I’m going to take off.” Su Ping then said to the Zhong Family elder, “Let’s hit the road.”

The Zhong Family elder came back to his senses and nodded. He still felt that the two titled battle pet warriors were unusually respectful to Su Ping.

The Saber-toothed Bird flew into the base city.

Su Ping provided directions and soon, they arrived at his store in the shantytown area.

After catching an overview of the base city, the Zhong Family elder exclaimed to himself, thinking that a tier-two base city indeed looked dilapidated.

The surprising thing was that Su Ping’s store was in that crappy place.

Is this the center of the base city?

Although full of questions, the Zhong Family elder didn’t dare ask any of them. He made the bird stop in mid air.

“You can go back. Do stay safe.”

Su Ping stood up and mobilized some astral powers to help Zhong Lingtong stand in the air.

The Zhong Family elder nodded. He watched as Su Ping and Zhong Lingtong landed right in front of the store before he turned around and flew away. “Sir, is this your store?”

Su Ping placed Zhong Lingtong on the ground. Feeling relaxed, she looked up at the building in front of her.

That was the most magnificent building on the street and it looked nothing like the rest of the buildings.

The sign says… Pixie Pet Store?

Pixie…

“Yup.”

Su Ping nodded. The door was open but few people were around, which was unexpected.

He could feel Tang Ruyan and Joanna were inside the store.

He walked up the stairs. He saw that Tang Ruyan was cultivating on the couch. There was a faint, green hue around her neck. She was practicing the Glass Bulwark, the unique Tang Family skill.

Tang Ruyan stopped upon hearing the noise. She saw Su Ping and soon after, Zhong Lingtong who was standing behind him. Tang Ruyan put her guard up after the initial moment of surprise. “No customers?” Su Ping asked.

“The spots are full already.” Tang Ruyan stood up and darted another glance at Zhong Lingtong. “And this is?” She tried to remain calm.

“My student,” Su Ping made the introductions, “She is my employee.”

Employee?

Zhong Lingtong could not believe it. She had been amazed by the pretty girl the moment she stepped inside. The detached temperament of the girl told Zhong Lingtong that she was not an ordinary girl.

Still, Su Ping said she was his employee?

Zhong Lingtong thought the girl was Su Ping’s granddaughter for a moment…

In her mind, Zhong Lingtong had always been thinking that Su Ping had to be as old as the other top trainers.

Naturally, Su Ping didn’t know what train of thought was running in his student’s mind. “How has the business been going? Is everything good?” he asked Tang Ruyan.

“Very good. The store is packed every day. The families in the Longjiang Base City must have become aware of the benefits of your store. The people that come to the store are all from those families. The other people cannot even get a spot in the line,” Tang Ruyan answered. She recalled them from the time the family heads and elders paid them a visit. Ever since she had given up on the idea of going back to the Tang Family and decided to stay in the Longjiang Base City, she had been working extra hard to ask around about those local families.

Su Ping raised his eyebrows. All from those families? That would make him the families’ designated trainer.

“Did they use some methods to drive away the other customers?” Su Ping asked. If those families dared to do such things, he would make sure that they could not bear the consequences.

“Well, they are buying the spots in the line and there are people that want to make this kind of money,” Tang Ruyan explained, “The spots are limited in your store. Many people now would stay in the line and then sell their place to others for money.”

Su Ping raised his eyebrows. So, scalpers?

Huh, what a good way of making money by not investing a thing.

“Well, I have to think of a way to manage that.” Su Ping thought of an idea soon. He could implement the rules the next day.

“I need to go home for a moment.”

Not planning to stay any longer in the store, he took Zhong Lingtong home first.

He had to tell his mother about his safe return first.

She was knitting a sweater at the time; Su Ping introduced Zhong Lingtong to her. Zhong Lingtong was going to study under him and live in the Longjiang Base City for a while; he could get to know her during this time. She might have to travel with him often in the future.

Li Qingru was more than happy to see that Su Ping was back. She put down the sweater and said that she was going to shop for groceries and cook them a fancy dinner.

Su Ping told his mother that casual dishes were fine. He was curious, since he had not seen Su Lingyue there so he asked about it.

“Didn’t you give your sister the admission letter from that academy? Well, they are starting a new semester and she has already left.” Li Qingru heaved a sigh. “Your sister has never gone on a long journey before. I’m worried about her but she insisted that she has to go. I couldn’t make her stay.”

Su Ping was surprised that Su Lingyue had already left for the academy.

“When did she leave?”

Su Ping remembered the beasts that were striking the trains.

“Two days.”

Su Ping was a bit relieved. Still, he was concerned. He asked for the train number to monitor it.

“Your sister left you a letter in your room. I didn’t read that, you know. You’re a big man now. If it’s all right with you, be sure to look after your sister. Don’t let others bully her,” Li Qingru said. She was still worried about Su Lingyue leaving the house alone.

Su Ping nodded.

Afterward, he contacted the mayor Xie Jinshui and told him the train number that Su Lingyue took and asked if there had been any accident reports.

Xie Jinshui was surprised to receive a call from Su Ping. Soon after, he had found out that everything was okay with that train and it had already reached its destination. Su Ping set his mind at ease. That was to say, Su Lingyue had arrived safely.

Vice Principal Han Yuxiang would look after her in the academy. She would be fine.