Chapter 367 - 337: Meeting an Old Friend, Now a Foe

Chapter 367: Chapter 337: Meeting an Old Friend, Now a Foe

After chatting with Lou Limin for a while, Li Qian explained his situation.

If he returned now, he could still make it back in time for his morning classes.

Lou Limin heard his request and agreed without hesitation.

He even offered to arrange a car to take him back to Shazhou City.

Li Qian had a rough idea of why Lou Limin was being so proactive.

However, he didn’t accept the favor, unhesitatingly turning down the kind offer.

"That’s not necessary. The situation here is still unclear, and you’re short on manpower. I can get back on my own," Li Qian said, quickly waving his hand.

These were his true thoughts at that moment.

The situation in Zhenxi Town had not yet completely stabilized.

There was no need to pull people away just to escort him back to Shazhou City at a time like this.

Hearing Li Qian’s words, Lou Limin thought for a moment and didn’t insist further.

He ordered one of his Security Officers to make an exception for Li Qian, allowing him to leave.

Li Qian left through the exit. He had only taken a few steps before sending a message to Dakoli and Ding Ganmao.

In the message, he explained that he’d run into trouble during the night but had luckily encountered officers from the Public Security Bureau and was now on his way back to Shazhou City.

Li Qian glanced at his device; he hadn’t received an immediate reply.

But that was to be expected.

It was only natural they wouldn’t have the presence of mind to check their messages at a time like this.

After a moment’s thought, Li Qian shook his head helplessly.

There was nothing he could do; he simply couldn’t look out for Dakoli and Ding Ganmao.

Zhenxi Town was still under lockdown. He could only get out because Director Lou had personally done him a favor and made an exception. As for the other seven people, he really didn’t know how he would even begin to ask.

Besides, at this hour, before the sun had even risen, Li Qian couldn’t guarantee that Dakoli and the others would even want to leave right now.

After leaving Zhenxi Town, Li Qian didn’t waste any time.

He directly summoned the Cyan-Scaled Flood Dragon Qizai and leaped onto its back.

With a single thought, he gave the command. Qizai immediately followed his orders and flew toward Shazhou City.

Zhenxi Town wasn’t far from Shazhou City. By Flying, it wouldn’t take long to arrive.

If it were daytime, flying like this would be a bit too conspicuous, like parading ostentatiously through the streets.

However, since the sky was still dark, it added a measure of stealth to their journey.

Unlike other Special Level Cities, Shazhou City did not prohibit Flying.

Unfortunately, because Li Qian’s Qizai was not registered with the Beastmaster Association, it was not allowed to fly over the city.

Li Qian planned to have Qizai land in the suburbs, and then he would walk into Shazhou City.

If everything went smoothly, he would be back at Shazhou Beast Taming University in just over an hour.

Just as Li Qian’s mind began to wander, a jet-black Energy Ball suddenly shot toward them.

"Watch out!" Li Qian reacted instantly. His heart jolted, and in that same moment, he warned Qizai through their Soul Contract.

Qizai and Li Qian’s minds were connected; it trusted him unconditionally.

The moment it received the warning, it reflexively swerved its body to the right.

This maneuver allowed it and Li Qian to narrowly avoid the sudden attack.

"Who are you?" Li Qian immediately looked in the direction the attack had come from. A figure was standing there silently, though he hadn’t been there a moment ago.

The figure wore a mask with holes only for the facial features.

He spoke, his voice brazen. "Who am I? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Old classmate, I can’t believe you’ve forgotten me so quickly."

Hearing that familiar and somewhat sinister voice, Li Qian fell into thought. A moment later, a name came to mind, and he spoke with considerable surprise, "You’re... Sun Shouhe?"

He said a name, a familiar one. The other party remained silent, seemingly confirming his identity by default.

Li Qian’s brow furrowed in confusion. He continued, asking, "Why are you here?"

Sun Shouhe removed the mask from his face and let out a mocking laugh. "Why am I here?"

He stared intently at Li Qian and spoke again, his voice dripping with venom. "If it weren’t for you, why else would I be here?"

"Why else would I have enrolled in this godforsaken Western Beast Taming University!"

As he spoke, Li Qian glanced to the side. He could clearly see a wolf-like Pet Beast had appeared behind Sun Shouhe.

This wolf-like Pet Beast was jet-black and enormous, easily as large as a full-grown ox.

Its most prominent feature was... a vertical eye in the middle of its forehead.

It was this vertical eye that allowed Li Qian to immediately identify it—a Three-eyed Ghost Wolf Beast.

Looking at his Energy Detection Watch, Li Qian discovered that this Three-eyed Ghost Wolf Beast’s Level had actually reached Commander Fourth Rank.

Such a Power Level was truly shocking to Li Qian.

To have such an exaggerated increase in power in just a few short months, Li Qian knew Sun Shouhe must have had some sort of fortuitous encounter.

Although surprised by Sun Shouhe’s current strength, Li Qian wasn’t the least bit afraid. He shrugged, a nonchalant expression on his face. "Uh, you enrolling in Western Beast Taming University doesn’t seem to have a damn thing to do with me, does it?"

Ignoring the disdain in Sun Shouhe’s tone, Li Qian spoke earnestly, correcting his statement. "Also, Western Beast Taming University is actually pretty good. It’s not so bad you could call it a godforsaken place."

Finally, he added, "Where I’m from, it’s probably no worse than Yunlan Beast Taming University."

"Cut the crap..." Sun Shouhe’s gaze was cold as he glared fiercely at Li Qian. "I’ve been lying in wait outside Zhenxi Town for so long. I was starting to think it was hopeless, but I never expected to get a golden opportunity like this. You actually dared to come out alone."

Sun Shouhe’s voice was rather unhinged, and Li Qian couldn’t quite understand him.

He was now filled with a vicious aura from head to toe.

Seeing this, Li Qian couldn’t help but ask, "Sun Shouhe, I know we didn’t get along in high school, but it shouldn’t have reached the point of a life-or-death feud, right?"

Li Qian’s words seemed to open Pandora’s box. Upon hearing them, Sun Shouhe’s face twisted in rage.

He looked at Li Qian and spat resentfully, "I just can’t stand you! I hate you! And why the hell do Tu Jiaojiao and Li Lanying both flock to you!"

’Women... they really are trouble...’ Li Qian’s mouth twitched as he heard the man’s crazed words.

He never expected that this guy’s reasons for ambushing him would include something like this.

Without pausing, facing Li Qian’s astonished gaze, Sun Shouhe continued, his tone as sharp as a knife, "And, most importantly, you dared to ruin the Divine Envoy’s plan!"

"You joined the Black Divine Teachings?" The moment Sun Shouhe’s voice fell, Li Qian reacted, understanding the implication behind his words.