Beast Taming Begins with the Inner Circle of Pets

Chapter 148 Even Taking on Disciples Can Be a Battleground

Lin Ruochen didn't know exactly how Lin Manman sent the message to Meng Wenbin, so he naturally didn't understand the brief exchange between the master and disciple.

After realizing what had happened, Lin Manman could only give Meng Wenbin an awkward, ingratiating smile.

Meng Wenbin raised an eyebrow, a hint of smugness in his expression. "Tell me in detail."

Lin Manman behaved herself this time and didn't dare to play any tricks on him. Apart from concealing the fact that her brother's soul had mutated, she told him almost everything else.

Of course, the system's issues were misattributed to talent, since talent and ability can't be detected anyway.

"Where's that bottle of the Fountain of Life? Let me see it," Meng Wenbin said after frowning and thinking for a moment.

Lin Manman obediently took the item out of her spatial bracelet as instructed.

Meng Wenbin opened the bottle and immediately sensed the immense energy contained within the liquid; his eyes lit up instantly. "This is good stuff!"

"This shouldn't be completely pure life spring water, but it has been carefully blended and diluted with very precious ingredients."

"Your brother's ability to awaken a second profession may also be related to the other materials placed here."

"To find out the ingredients, we'll have to take it back and test it with professional equipment."

Upon hearing this, Lin Manman immediately showed a pained expression. Just one drop of this stuff was enough to help Xiao Qi advance from level two to level three. She couldn't bear to waste even a single drop of such a precious treasure!

Seeing her expression, Meng Wenbin knew what she was thinking and couldn't help but glare at her, "Look at you, so pathetic and petty."

Although he complained, he still returned the item to Lin Manman and didn't bring up the topic of taking it for testing again.

Actually, he was just saying it casually. Even if it is found that other materials were used, without the most important raw material, the Fountain of Life, it would be a waste to develop a formula.

The source of the Fountain of Life is the divine-level secret realm of the Central Continent, so it is completely controlled by the forces of the Central Continent. If he wants to get a drop, he will have to pay a considerable price.

Meng Wenbin looked at Lin Ruochen, "Your primary profession is a mage?"

"Yes, an ice elemental mage." Lin Ruochen answered respectfully as soon as Meng Wenbin asked him a question.

"Well, although your second profession is Beast Tamer, I don't recommend that you become my apprentice," Meng Wenbin said after a moment of contemplation.

Seeing that Meng Wenbin was unwilling to take on a disciple, Lin Manman frowned anxiously and wanted to persuade him, but was interrupted by his next words.

"You two siblings, one with a rare and far-reaching talent, and the other who breaks with convention, are bound to be envied. I'm afraid that once you arrive in the capital, I alone may not be able to fully protect you."

"The capital city is rife with powerful factions, and even a united clan can put up a fight against the alliance." Meng Wenbin sighed as he recalled the complex situation in the capital city.

"My suggestion is that once you arrive in the capital, I will introduce you to the person in charge at the Mage Tower. Whether she is willing to accept you or not depends on your performance."

Lin Ruochen glanced at Lin Manman, who nodded at him. He lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment.

Currently, her younger sister's abilities can benefit the Alliance's Spirit Beast Research Institute, and with Meng Wenbin protecting her, it's unlikely that many people will make things difficult for her.

But if you get involved yourself, it will only attract more attention.

If the brother and sister were to become disciples separately, it would not only distract those with ulterior motives but also allow them to receive more protection.

Lin Ruochen then respectfully replied, "Thank you, sir. I will follow your arrangements."

Meng Wenbin waved his hand, "No need to be so polite. Besides a few apprentices, I have no other family. Since I've taken your sister in, I'll naturally treat you like my own child."

"By the way, do you have any spare rooms? I'll stay here for the next few days. Once you've settled in, we'll go to the capital together."

Lin Manman initially wanted to agree, but then suddenly remembered that he still had work to finish.

"There are plenty of empty rooms, but teacher, didn't Uncle Xia Ming say that your work at the Jinling Alliance branch would take at least another two or three days to finish?"

Meng Wenbin gave her a speechless look. Wasn't he obviously trying to slack off? Did she genuinely not realize it, or was she asking on purpose?

Lin Manman was puzzled by his glare, but then she chuckled. "Oh, I see! You dumped everything on Third Senior Brother, didn't you?"

After saying that, he quickly added, "It's only right that his disciple serves him when needed!"

She knows she doesn't want to work!

He silently lit a candle in his heart for his poor third senior brother, Fu Mingyuan.

Meng Wenbin couldn't help but roll his eyes at her. "You know it, why do you have to explain it so clearly?"

However, Meng Wenbin staying was actually a good thing for her.

Meng Wenbin can provide excellent guidance on everything from the siblings' daily cultivation to the daily training of their spirit pets.

Moreover, it takes Meng Wenbin to handle the transfer procedures at the school.

When Lin Manman followed Meng Wenbin to the principal's office of Jinling Affiliated High School, Lin Minsheng gave the teacher and student a cold look.

"Oh dear, an old friend has arrived. Not only is there no tea, but why are you rolling your eyes?" For some reason, Meng Wenbin felt a bit smug whenever he saw Lin Minsheng.

"Ha, you have the nerve to ask me to serve you tea?"

"I told you I wanted to find a quiet place to retire, but you insisted on persuading me to come to Nanjing, saying that the mountains and rivers here are beautiful, the scenery is beautiful, and the people are outstanding. In the end, it turns out you were just trying to trick me into coming here to help you clean up your mess."

"I told you I didn't want to deal with trivial matters anymore, and you said you'd give me a quiet job where I could give lectures when I was bored, and it wouldn't matter if I didn't come. But after I came, whenever I didn't come to school, these teachers would act like they'd lost their mother, jumping around and yelling."

"I was thinking of taking on an apprentice to train and have some fun since I'm getting old, but you old geezer beat me to it."

"I've already shown you some restraint by not kicking you out; you still want tea??"

At first, when Meng Wenbin was being scolded, he touched his nose and was a little embarrassed. When he heard that Meng Wenbin wanted to take on apprentices but had been beaten to it by Meng Wenbin, he was a little dumbfounded.

He glanced at Lin Minsheng, then looked back at the guilty-looking Lin Manman.

"You said the apprentice you wanted to take on, it wouldn't be her, would it?" Meng Wenbin pointed at Lin Manman in surprise.

"What else? I like this girl. If you let me be your apprentice, we can still be friends. If not, then get lost."

Lin Manman felt embarrassed listening to this and wished she could shrink into a corner.

Mr. Lin Minsheng is too bold. Is he trying to steal someone's apprentice right in front of them?

If Meng Wenbin were to find out that she had actually considered joining another faction, I wonder if he would be so angry he'd die on the spot.

However, the expected anger did not materialize; instead, Meng Wenbin laughed heartily with a hint of smugness.

"That won't do. I can't give up my apprenticeship, and I still have to be friends with him."

"Otherwise, you should ask her first who she'd like to be her teacher." Meng Wenbin's gloating gaze fell on Lin Manman.

He didn't believe this little fox couldn't tell who was more convenient for her to raise the banner between him and Lin Minsheng, and who was more capable of protecting her.

Lin Manman was so embarrassed she felt her scalp tingle. Two masters vying for one disciple? Was this the legendary battleground? (Not really.)

Seeing that both of their eyes were on her, Lin Manman's strong will to survive made her rack her brains to find a way to save herself.

"Well... here's the situation. My older brother just woke up yesterday, but he's showing some unusual symptoms. We need to take him to the capital for a more thorough examination."

"We don't know how long I'll need to continue treatment in the capital. Therefore... Principal Lin, I'm truly sorry. Thank you so much for your favor, but I'm not fortunate enough to be your student."

There's no other way, bro, I'll have to use you as a shield.

As Lin Manman spoke, she lowered her head, looking as if she had spoken of something sad and did not want others to see her distress.

Actually, it was to cover up his embarrassment and guilt.

(End of this chapter)