Just as Qin Siyang was about to leave, footsteps sounded on the stairs.
"Tianxiong, about that connection between bluewater glass ore and Crystal Mine Thornsnakes I mentioned... Oh, it's Xiao Qin. I heard something upstairs and thought Tianxiong was back."
Qin Siyang turned to look. It was Professor Chang Tianxiang, wearing black-framed glasses.
When Chang Tianxiang saw Qin Siyang, warmth shone in his eyes. "Xiao Qin, you're back? Did you need Tianxiong for something?"
"Uh... Professor Big Chang, yes, I needed Professor Second Chang. He said before that if I had any spare disc carapaces from Blood Moon Spiders, I should give him a few for research. I came to deliver them today, but he wasn't here."
Qin Siyang quickly hid the melancholy in his eyes and returned to his usual cheerful self.
Chang Tianxiang nodded. "He suddenly decided early this morning to go outside the safe zone to find a kind of god material. He should be back soon. Don't worry. Since you're giving him something, he'll definitely come looking for you as soon as he returns. After all, we're heading to District 134 together this morning to prepare for the paper hearing."
"All right. I understand. Thank you, Professor Big Chang."
Chang Tianxiang smiled. "You're far too polite, child. I only passed along a message. What's there to thank me for? By the way, how are your preparations for the paper hearing coming along?"
"I haven't prepared anything yet, mainly because I don't understand the contents of those papers either. Do I need to do some last-minute cramming?"
"That would be very last-minute indeed. But it's all right. The papers' contents aren't the problem." Chang Tianxiang pushed up his black-framed glasses. "We professors can certainly explain everything in them. The main problem lies elsewhere."
Chang Tianxiang paused. "The