Chapter 87: Maple City’s Flower Festival
After feeding the shadow wolf some pills one more time, Lin Jin left it alone. What it needed now was a quiet environment to rest and recover its strength.
Having complete this treatment, Lin Jin now reached a higher level of understanding about the pulse-seeking technique.
But again, although there were many beast appraisal methods available in the museum, it even rewards an acupuncture technique, no matter how amazing the knowledge was, the learner had to keep utilizing them.
Only by practicing and polis.h.i.+ng could one truly digest and master these abilities.
This was an indisputable fact.
Next, Lin Jin planned to head to the a.s.sociation to take a look around.
He had no other reason than to see if the people there were still gossiping about him.
They certainly would, but it wouldn’t be negative gossip anymore. It would just be of admiration and respect toward him.
Lin Jin didn’t want to miss this opportunity to indulge himself. Back then, all he received was scorn. Now that he could finally s.h.i.+ne after so much struggling, why shouldn’t he go? He had to go back to the a.s.sociation. Just taking a stroll around would be worth it.
However, before he could leave home, Zu Can stopped him.
“Brother Lin, you were amazing today!” Despite being the young master of a prominent family, Zu Can didn’t try to put on airs. Also, he got along especially well with Lin Jin so the two men were now close friends. Otherwise, Zu Can wouldn’t have dragged his father along this morning to cheer Lin Jin on.
More importantly, his dad had initially been annoyed by this, but on their way home just now, he advised Zu Can gravely that he had to maintain a good relations.h.i.+p with Lin Jin.
Even Zu Tianhong took note of how incredible and limitless Lin Jin’s potential was. Those who didn’t try to get acquainted with a promising figure like Lin Jin at this stage must have a few screws loose in their heads.
“Brother Zu, you’re here! Come, come, follow me to the a.s.sociation.” Lin Jin received him ardently. Since Zu Can had brought people along to support him, Lin Jin decided he would keep this fella around as a friend.
“I’ll pa.s.s!” Zu Can immediately waved his hand. “I’m here for something important, Brother Lin. Come, come, come with me instead.”
Having said that, he forcefully pulled Lin Jin onto another path that obviously didn’t lead to the Beast Appraisal a.s.sociation.
During their journey, Lin Jin got to know from Zu Can that they were heading to an event called ‘Maple Flower Festival’.
“I’m not interested!” Lin Jin insisted that he didn’t want to go. It was better to go back to the a.s.sociation and act all high and mighty.
Zu Can quickly pulled him back. “Brother Lin, this Maple Flower Event isn’t open to just anyone. There are many who wish to attend but don’t have the opportunity to do so. Those who can partic.i.p.ate are only dignitaries of Maple City and those with high social statuses.”
“Moreover, we’re not really there to view the flowers. I’m not interested in that either. The main attraction is there will be a pet beast auction during the event. You know my family. We have many people at home so we need many pet beasts. We are looking to procure some pet beasts with potential, and that got me thinking, no one is better than Brother Lin when it comes to evaluating beasts. That’s why I’m shamelessly begging you. We’re friends so you can’t possibly turn down this request of mine, right?”
Zu Can feared that Lin Jin wouldn’t go. Upon hearing that there was going to be a pet beast auction, Lin Jin finally wavered.
There was no other reason than there being rare beasts available, no doubt. If he could record them all into the Museum of Deadly Beasts, Lin Jin would be one step closer to obtaining part two of the Beast Energy Formation.
“Precisely because we’re friends, I’ll help you out,” Lin Jin replied generously.
Zu Can was ecstatic. With him leading the way, they soon arrived at a s.p.a.cious street with high red brick walls on the opposite. The place looked rather distinguished.
“This is Spring Garden, a territory of the Friar a.s.sociation. It’s usually not open to the public and only during spring and fall of each year would it open twice. This time, it’s open for the fall flower-viewing event,” Zu Can elaborated to Lin Jin.
More people continued to show up at Spring Garden’s gates. Most of the patrons came in horse carriages while the others rode on their pet beasts. They were dressed n.o.bly and didn’t seem like average folk.
Lin Jin remembered Lu Yunhe being part of the Friar a.s.sociation. The latter was even rumored to be an exceptional figure among the younger generation of friars.
Lin Jin wondered if he would run into Lu Yunhe here.
Upon arriving at the gates, the guards welcomed Zu Can with smiles on their faces. After all, Zu Can was the Zu family’s young master, possessing extraordinary status. However, at the sight of Lin Jin next to him, they signaled for him to halt.
“Young Master Zu, does he have an invitation for the event?” the guard inquired.
Lin Jin was dressed modestly and didn’t look like a dignitary.
Zu Can’s reply came quick. “This is Appraiser Lin of the Beast Appraisal a.s.sociation. He’s also a friend of mine.”
The guard shook his head and said, “Young Master Zu, please don’t make things hard for me. You’re aware of the event’s rules that no one can enter the premises without an invitation.”
‘There’s even a rule like this?’
Lin Jin was stunned. After a glance at Zu Can embarra.s.sed face, he could tell that Zu Can had acted too carelessly. The latter probably never considered this possibility and a.s.sumed that his ident.i.ty as the Zu family’s young master would allow him to bring a friend along.
However, rules were rules. Since he couldn’t enter, so be it. It was nothing.
Feeling he was being disrespected, Zu Can was about to roll up his sleeves to lecture the guards. Before he could do so, Lin Jin dragged him to the side.
“Brother Zu, don’t make things hard for him. I really don’t have an invitation so I’m afraid I’m not going in with you.” To Lin Jin, it was an insignificant matter so there was no need to cause a scene.
Finally, he could return to the Beast Appraisal a.s.sociation for a stroll.
Although Zu Can felt aggrieved and embarra.s.sed since Lin Jin had put it this way, what else could he say? Also, Lin Jin’s grip was too powerful that he couldn’t break free.
“Brother Lin, it’s my fault for not clarifying my situation with the host. I thought…” There was a hint of guilt in Zu Can’s voice when he spoke.
Lin Jin waved at him with a smile, obviously not taking it heart.
He was planning to leave when all of a sudden, the high-pitched voice of a woman called out, “You have the nerve to show up at the Maple Flower Event without an invitation? How embarra.s.sing. Lin Jin, you’re just as terrible as always.”
Huh?
Turning around, Lin Jin saw an extravagantly dressed woman descending from a horse carriage. Following behind her was a large maned jackal.
Yet, when this supposedly domineering maned jackal saw Xiao Huo who was behind Lin Jin, it shrunk back without daring to step forward like a mouse meeting a cat.
Of course, this annoyed the woman and she mumbled “trash” under her breath.
It took Lin Jin some hard thinking to recall who this woman was. If he remembered correctly, her name was Chen Yuanyuan. Lin Jin’s predecessor used to be engaged to the young miss of the Chen Medicine Hall. He had seen her at Chen Medicine Hall several days ago and she gave Lin Jin the impression of being an unruly and unreasonable bimbo.
In fact, Lin Jin didn’t know this woman. Since she had called off the engagement with his predecessor, they should have gone their separate ways. Why did she have to deliberately ridicule and belittle him whenever they crossed paths?
What a weird person.
Had his predecessor perhaps slept with her?
Lin Jin quickly dug through his memories.
Nope.
Then what did this lady want from him?
A frown appeared on Zu Can’s face at once. “Chen Yuanyuan, you’re a young lady of a prominent family who’s been educated and taught good etiquette. How could you be so rude?”
He wasn’t aware of Chen Yuanyuan and Lin Jin’s past.
After a glance at Zu Can, Chen Yuanyuan held herself back a tad, but she continued making snarky remarks, “Zu Can, you’re the young master of the Zu family and I can’t afford to offend the Zu family. But I find it odd how the Zu family’s young master doesn’t filter out his friends and would just simply call any trash his brother. What a joke!”
It seemed like she really hated Lin Jin.