A Wager

Chen Wei frowned tightly, then shook his head helplessly. The hesitation in his eyes gradually faded.

He had to admit that, for one brief moment, Chen Wei had truly wanted to throw his arms around the wealthy woman before him and ride her coattails straight to the pinnacle of a Beastmaster's career.

But Chen Wei still remembered his original dream.

He wanted to travel with Color Spirit, meet more adorable and interesting companions, and do thrilling things together—not remain confined to this tiny Water Mountain City.

Even though Chen Wei believed he could step through the gates of the King tier before turning thirty, he still did not want to gamble on that slim chance of failure.

Chen Wei looked intently at the mature, intellectual, elegant beauty before him and said with a smile, "It's a very tempting offer, but it seems I'm the only one who benefits from this investment, while you bear all the risk. Aren't you afraid of losing everything?"

"Take painting, for example: ten days to paint a river, five days to paint a stone. I trust my own eye. As for whether there will be losses, time will prove the answer for us, won't it?"

Liu Muning smiled faintly with complete confidence, her calm tone carrying an unquestionable certainty.

Chen Wei was slightly stunned upon hearing this. Being affirmed so firmly moved him somewhat. Perhaps that was Liu Muning's charm.

After his surprise passed, a rather unusual idea suddenly surfaced in his mind.

"Sister Muning, I'm very sorry," Chen Wei said sincerely.

"What?!"

Gu Yun's heart gave a violent leap, and an inward cry burst from her. Her breathing instantly became hurried as she stared at Chen Wei in shock, seemingly unable to believe that he could actually refuse President Liu's offer.

If Chen Wei accepted the Liu Family's sponsorship, he might not become a King-tier Beastmaster within the allotted time, but he would still have a considerable chance of reaching the Master tier.

Such figures were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns in Water Mountain City!

The dry die of drought while the flooded drown in water. If their positions were reversed, she would have wished with all her heart that Miss's investment target was herself.

Liu Muning's brows furrowed slightly. "Are the resources not enough? Besides Star Coins, I can add some Beastmaster resources as well."

"No, it's not a matter of resources. I'm just used to freedom. I don't want to join a family faction."

"How would joining a family faction mean losing your freedom? You only need to complete the corresponding tasks issued by the family. It's similar to the part-time job you have now." Her tone was puzzled.

Chen Wei fell silent for a while. This was a rare opportunity; perhaps he could give it a try.

He asked, "Sister Muning, do you take disciples?"

Ever since finishing his interview last time, Chen Wei had specifically looked up all the information he could find on Ragdoll Mall.

The Liu Family was a well-known Beastmaster family in Water Mountain City and a shareholder of Ragdoll Mall, though detailed information on its members was unknown.

However, traces of information about Liu Muning could still be found online.

Her past honors included: champion of the Water Mountain City Alchemy Competition and runner-up at the Hanyang Province Alchemy Convention.

Chen Wei had considered it before. Being able to place second at an alchemy convention within Hanyang Province showed that Liu Muning was at least an Advanced Alchemist.

And the minimum requirement for becoming an Advanced Alchemist was being able to independently refine fifth-tier pills.

As far as Chen Wei knew, even the president of the Water Mountain City Alchemist Association was merely an Advanced Alchemist.

Moreover, in terms of cultivation resources, fifth-tier pills were far more precious than level-five Beastmaster resources.

"A disciple?"

At his words, Liu Muning's brows drew together slightly. A rare trace of surprise appeared on her snowy fair little face as she seemed to sink into thought, murmuring to herself.

"Is that possible?" Chen Wei continued to ask tentatively.

Liu Muning then glanced at Chen Wei with a smiling gaze. "Of course... not! I don't have any plans to take disciples at the moment."

Liu Muning said, "I thought you were an honest child, but I didn't expect you to try and play tricks on me!"

At her words, the anticipation on Chen Wei's face immediately turned to disappointment. He coughed twice to hide his embarrassment.

Watching Chen Wei's expression go from sunny to overcast, Liu Muning smiled radiantly. "How about we each take a step back and make a bet?"

"What kind of bet?"

"Our mall will be holding the Ragdoll Cup in three months. If you win the championship, I'll accept you as my disciple. If you fail, then obediently accept the family's investment."

Chen Wei's heart immediately stirred. The Ragdoll Cup was only a small-scale competition, open solely to Beginner Beastmasters.

The champion's prize was the right to purchase a Titanium Crystal Ragdoll, along with a purchase discount. Of course, it could also be exchanged for cash.

The runner-up and third-place winner would receive one hundred thousand and fifty thousand Star Coins respectively.

Most of the Beginner Beastmasters who entered used juvenile-stage pet beasts. Only a small number of participants had pet beasts at the first tier or above.

Thinking of this, Chen Wei breathed a sigh of relief. If he could not even win a tiny Ragdoll Cup, then there would be no point in him continuing on this path.

Thus, he said with complete confidence, "Of course. I'll take the bet."

"Alright, then it's a deal."

Liu Muning smiled. The little rascal was still too young!

"President Liu, do you want to take Chen Wei as your disciple?"

Watching Chen Wei's already distant figure, Gu Yun could not help asking.

"How could that be? With my temperament, I'm not suited to teaching students!" Liu Muning looked out at the sky beyond the window, her tone particularly cheerful.

As if sensing her assistant's confusion, she smiled and said, "There can only be one champion in this year's Ragdoll Cup."

"An adult, low-tier second-order extraordinary pet can utterly crush any pet below the first order. His chances of winning are practically zero."

Gu Yun swallowed, blinking in confusion. Somewhat incredulous, she hesitated before asking, "Doesn't the Ragdoll Cup only allow junior Beastmasters to participate? And pets can't be over a year old. How could there be a Beastmaster with a second-order extraordinary pet?!"

"Who says a junior Beastmaster can't possess a second-order pet? For certain gifted geniuses, rules are meant to be broken."

"It's only been three short months. If he can defeat that little fellow, then what would be wrong with taking such a genius as my student?"

Narrowing her eyes slightly, Liu Muning slowly let out a breath. She then turned to look at Gu Yun, though her gaze brimmed with anticipation for Chen Wei.

Today's appraisal work had taken barely over an hour, and Chen Wei could clock off with honor. This part-time appraisal job really was easy.

The only pity was that Sister Muning had rejected him today, so he hadn't succeeded in becoming her student. Otherwise, he would have soared straight into the sky.

Sitting on the bus bound for the Beastmaster Association, Chen Wei stroked Color Spirit, which was coiled around his wrist, and thought regretfully.

Still, it was fine. He still had a chance to fight for it.

As a local of Water Mountain City, Chen Wei had watched the Ragdoll Cup many times. Even in its strongest edition, the champion had merely been a Beastmaster with a second-order pet.

If everyday training was the accumulation of a pet's potential, then battle was the fastest way for a pet to unlock that potential.

Chen Wei planned to take Color Spirit to the Beastmaster Association and see whether he could find an evenly matched opponent.

The Ragdoll Cup championship—he was determined to claim it!