Lin Jin had already given Ye Yuzhou an evolution method long ago so he could be excluded from the priority list. Huangfu Ming’s pet beast was Rank 3 and based on Lin Jin’s current level, appraising the creature was fairly easy.
The same went for the other mentors’ pet beasts.
The mansion Shi Wenjun mentioned was certainly close by and its location was strategic.
The alley toward the mansion was quiet and paved with blue bricks of good quality. Outside the wooden double doors was a small, but exquisitely carved beast statue. Inside, the courtyard was surprisingly spacious and paved with the same blue bricks they saw outside. There was a green tiger statue on the yard’s wall and one of the beast pens was situated right ahead, looking just as spotless.
Lin Jin fell in love with this place immediately.
It was a quiet place, and it was much cleaner than his old place. After all, this courtyard had no such tiles. Every time it rained, the place would turn into a marsh.
As they strolled deeper into the courtyard, they passed through a gate into the interior courtyard. Lining both sides were individual buildings, which were fully furnished. The cherry on top was the large hall at the end of the courtyard.
“This is a great mansion,” Ye Yuzhou praised. He already learned from their journey that it was Shi Wenjun who prepared this residence for Lin Jin. He wasn’t just trying to lick their boots. He was genuinely impressed by this place.
The others nodded in agreement.
Particularly, Luo Beihe. Her eyes were sparkling as she surveyed the mansion. She was probably as fond of this place as Lin Jin himself, maybe more.
“Lady Shi, how much does this mansion cost?” Luo Beihe asked, probably wanting to know the market price.
Shi Wenjun smiled and stole a glance at Lin Jin before saying, “I’m selling this mansion to Chief Lin for three thousand silvers.”
“Three thousand…” Luo Beihe’s eyes widened but before she could say anything else, she was swiftly tugged back by Mr. Yi.
Annoyed, she turned back to cast Mr. Yi an indignant glance. The latter quickly whispered something to her before an expression appeared on Luo Beihe’s face as if she had realized something. Then, she muttered under her breath, “Why is it always others who get such perks?”
The others obviously knew what was going on so they just laughed inwardly. Lin Jin noticed this as well but he didn’t say anything.
Shi Wenjun only lowered the price as far as she could to maintain a good relationship with him, and to repay the debt their family owed him.
And Lin Jin was aware of this.
At first, he hadn’t been willing to accept the mansion, but it was better than he had expected. That old tree in the courtyard was aesthetically pleasing too. Lin Jin loved everything in there.
Since that was the case, why reject the offer?
If he genuinely felt bad about taking it, he just had to evolve a few of their pet beasts or give them a few more prescriptions.
Lin Jin used these excuses to convince himself into accepting the offer.
This would be it.
And Lin Jin planned to move in today.
The sooner he moved here, the better. He felt bad that Shang’er and Little Five had to put up with the cramped living conditions and thought that they would be much more pleased with this new place.
Subsequently, Lin Jin toured the entire mansion with great interest. The more he looked at it, the more he liked the place.
Luo Beihe whispered to Huangfu Ming in one corner, “Mr. Huangfu, say, Lin Jin actually accepts this mansion. Just the furniture in this place costs more than three thousand silvers, won’t he feel bad for low-balling the hell out of Lady Shi?”
Huangfu Ming was a righteous man. Although he acknowledged Lin Jin’s skill and status, he was of the opinion of accepting that which one was only entitled to. He could tell that the mansion should be worth at least twenty thousand silvers so for Lin Jin to buy it at the price of three thousand made it a pretty unfair deal. Ye Yuzhou did mention it was Lin Jin who helped the Shi family overcome a troubled phase, so this was presumably their token of appreciation.
Still, taking advantage of others wasn’t befitting of a gentleman.
“Lin Jin is starting to get ahead of himself.” Huangfu Ming shook his head helplessly while Luo Beihe nodded in agreement.
Mr. Yi had no comment so he only flashed a helpless smile. Ye Yuzhou, however, frowned. “Mr. Huangfu, Miss Beihe, I know Lin Jin’s character well. Since he’s accepting the mansion, he’ll surely give the Shi family something even better in return. And I’ve told you all before, Lin Jin is no average man. Whether or not your pet beasts will be able to evolve would depend on him now.”
Ye Yuzhou had said something along those lines in the past but not as direct as he just did. He just wanted his good friends to know that Lin Jin wasn’t someone they should offend.
Because offending Lin Jin would mean offending the ‘Curator’.
Even the Emperor of Jade Dragon Kingdom dared not offend the ‘Curator’ so did they assume themselves to be more powerful than His Majesty?
Upon hearing Ye Yuzhou’s comment, Huangfu Ming and Luo Beihe said no more.
Meanwhile, Lin Jin was done touring the mansion. He felt exceptionally pleased with it. Still, he acknowledged that this mansion must be worth a fortune.
He looked at Shi Wenjun and the latter smiled. “Chief Lin, please don’t think too much of it. I just really want to repay your kindness.”
“Alright, you can stop there. I love this mansion but I can’t just accept something so valuable.” Lin Jin shifted his focus to Shi Wenjun’s white deer.
Lin Jin knew that Shi Wenjun’s pet beast was named Bai’er. He also knew that it was only Rank 2 possessing only an average bloodline. The white deer wasn’t exactly a unique rare beast.
Back when Lin Jin’s skills weren’t that phenomenal yet, it wouldn’t have taken much effort for him to evolve this deer. Now, he could do it even more effortlessly.
Lin Jin caressed the deer’s head and said, “Your bloodline and potential are only average so even if your owner gives you miracle supplements, it’ll take you three years to evolve into Rank 3. But after that, Rank 3 will be your limit. You’re in luck because I’ll help you evolve into Rank 3 today and in one month, I promise to raise you to Rank 4 to repay your owner’s kindness for gifting me this mansion.”
Lin Jin didn’t try to hide his voice. Shi Wenjun could hear it. Ye Yuzhou, Huangfu Ming, Luo Beihe, and the others heard it clearly too.
Different opinions sprouted from Lin Jin’s statement.
Ye Yuzhou obviously didn’t doubt Lin Jin. He would if someone else had declared it, but if that person was Lin Jin, it was as solid as fact.
Looks like a Rank 4 pet beast will be introduced to the Shi family in one month.
This wasn’t something that could be measured by monetary value. A Rank 4 pet beast was an intermediate nation’s guardian so forget ten thousand silvers, even a hundred thousand silvers was worth owning one.
Shi Wenjun’s eyes widened like saucers.
She had considered the possibility that Lin Jin might help her pet beast evolve but to think it would be up to Rank 4. It was like begging for ten silvers but receiving ten thousand instead.
The beggar was about to turn into a rich man overnight.
And that was how Shi Wenjun’s felt about it. She also seemed rather anxious because she knew full well what a Rank 4 pet beast implied.
