Meimei the Great Con Artist

Water Blue Star also had plants containing spiritual energy, but they were very rare.

Whenever any were found, the people from the Research Institute would take them away and treasure them as research specimens.

The Agricultural Sciences Academy had tried to cultivate plants like these artificially, but soon discovered that no method worked.

Every plant containing spiritual energy that reached the Auction House would fetch an astronomical price, even if it was just a tiny blade of grass.

Some could not even be bought with money.

And now, precious spirit fruit had simply been placed before them.

The spiritual energy inside made even Fu Nanshan feel very comfortable.

It was more concentrated than in any spirit fruit he had ever seen.

Qin Yan slowly walked over, holding Tuantuan with Meimei perched on her head, Jinbao and the little butterfly following behind her.

"What's wrong?"

Everyone looked so serious.

Had something terrible happened?

Qin Yan put on a solemn little face too and joined her grandfather and uncles.

Old Master Fu asked, "Meimei, where did you get this fruit?"

Meimei said, "The Cultivation Realm. I just got back from there."

Old Master Fu's voice instantly rose.

"The Cultivation Realm?!"

Was it the Cultivation Realm he knew about?!

This... this little mouse really did have quite a background.

Fu Nanshan's eyes flickered slightly too.

Meimei put its paws on its hips. "What are you so shocked about? Where else did you think all this spirit fruit came from?"

"But I can't go back. The points I had left were only enough for that one trip."

All three felt a little disappointed at that.

The Cultivation Realm! Who hadn't dreamed of flying on a sword?

"Oh, right. Don't throw away the seeds. Save them for the little one to plant."

Fu Yunting said, "What are you thinking? Plants containing spiritual energy can't be cultivated."

"Hmph, that's just you!"

It said proudly, "My little one can definitely grow them."

"You can't grow them because plants containing spiritual energy need to absorb spiritual energy as they grow. The spiritual energy in your world is too scattered, and it's mixed with nasty-smelling Weird Qi. Of course you can't cultivate them."

"But the little one is different. Just give them to her."

Qin Yan listened in bewilderment, her pretty eyes utterly clear.

The three men of the Fu Family all turned their gazes toward Qin Yan.

Although they did not understand why, they kept the seeds.

That evening, Qin Yan took a bath and got ready for bed early.

Fu Yunting and the others had moved all the things in her room into another room.

"Little one, put a Spirit Stone beside your pillow. That way, you can absorb energy even while you sleep."

Qin Yan obediently did as she was told.

Standing on the pillow, Meimei made itself a little nest and lay down.

"You're still a fragile little sapling. Otherwise, that Nightmare couldn't have hurt you before."

"You need to grow up quickly. You're the successor the Life Tree personally chose. Once your Purification ability becomes powerful, those Anomaly with bad intentions won't even be able to get near you."

The little one it was raising really was amazing.

"Woof!"

I can protect Master too.

Meimei rolled its eyes straight at Jinbao. "Oh, please. Your attacks are basically all physical. You can't do anything about mental attacks!"

Jinbao immediately grew dejected.

That rotten mouse!

"That butterfly can help, but it's too weak."

The Dreamweaving Butterfly fluttered its wings.

Meimei stood up, making grand claims with its tiny body.

"From now on, I'm your boss. We have to protect the little one together!"

"Staying by her side is good for you too. Follow me, and you'll grow stronger quickly."

"The little one will have the Life Tree's energy in the future. Wherever she is will be a grotto-heaven blessed land. Eating the things she grows will benefit you too."

Jinbao thought, That's all Master's doing. Why should I be your underling?

Can you beat me in a fight?

Meimei immediately jumped up onto the headboard.

"You don't know a damn thing!"

"Sure, you can fight, but you're not as smart as me!"

"I used to be a system. Do you know what a system is? I could travel between several worlds. The people I guided before were all overpowered protagonists, the kind who became big shots in their worlds!"

"Do you know why humans in this world became its masters even though their physical abilities are nowhere near those of the animals in the wild? Brains! It's all because they're smart!"

"I'm the smartest and most educated member of our team. Let me ask you, have you ever read a book? Have you ever gone to school?"

Jinbao reluctantly shook its head.

It was a dog, and one that had only recently formed from resentment at that.

Where was it supposed to go to school?

"What about you?"

With one paw on its hip, Meimei pointed at Tuantuan.

Tuantuan looked at it with clear, foolish eyes.

"Idiot. Forget I asked. Just look at that silly face. Anyone can tell you're not very bright."

Tuantuan: (?﹏?)

"And you definitely haven't gone to school either!"

This time, it was asking the Dreamweaving Butterfly.

The Dreamweaving Butterfly was bewildered too.

Qin Yan raised her little hand and shook her head.

"I haven't gone to school either."

Meimei immediately changed its tune. "There's no rush for you, little one. You're only three. You're still a baby. It's perfectly normal that you haven't gone to school."

Jinbao: ...

"Anyway, I'm the smartest. If I'm not the boss, who should be?"

"And with how close the little one and I are, we're the best friends in the whole world. Right, little one?"

Qin Yan was stroking Jinbao's fur with her fingers. At those words, she nodded.

"Hehe, see? That means I'm the boss, and none of you can object!"

Meimei was pleased with itself.

Seeing that Jinbao no longer argued, it secretly rejoiced.

So easy to fool.

"All right, meeting adjourned. Go to sleep."

"Little one, I missed you so much."

Meimei immediately pressed against Qin Yan's cheek and took a huge sniff.

It had liked Qin Yan from the very first moment it saw her.

Having traveled through so many worlds, it had seen far too many souls.

Not a single soul was prettier than its little one's!

And she had been so tiny and pitiful.

It had decided right then to raise this human child.

It was tired of guiding those overpowered protagonists anyway. It wanted to be a child-raising system!

Besides, it was nearly time for it to retire.

Although leaving its job had cost it a great many points and supplies, it did not regret it at all.

Now that it was back, it could see that the little one's soul was growing more and more beautiful.

She had been cared for so well that her appearance had become incredibly pretty too.

She looked exactly the way it had imagined its little one would.

Snuggles.

So comfy.

Qin Yan also turned slightly onto her side and leaned against the fluffy little hamster, closing her eyes and smiling happily.

Now she was the happiest baby of all.

If only Blind Granny were still here.

Qin Yan did not know that the happier she felt, the more alluring the energy radiating from her soul became.

Every living creature in the room felt it.

So comfortable~

The fish next door...

The next morning, after Qin Yan washed up, she was still a sweet, soft little grape-scented cake.

Meimei took such a big sniff of her that it grew a little dizzy, as though it were drunk.

Qin Yan used a little washcloth to wipe Meimei's fluffy little face and paws.

She wiped Tuantuan too.

And Jinbao too.

The little butterfly... never mind. She couldn't wipe this one.

"Meimei, I'll tie your fur into little tufts."

Meimei indulged her completely, like a foolish ruler bewitched by beauty, doing whatever the pretty baby wanted.