Li Qian had left, taking a high-speed train out of Lingshui City. He hadn’t said goodbye to anyone besides his parents—not even Fatty An.

’That guy was probably still scheming at this very moment, trying to figure out how to worm his way into Shazhou Beast Taming University.’

After learning that both Li Lanying and Tu Jiaojiao were planning to apply to Shazhou Beast Taming University, he had become dead set on that school, determined to get in no matter what.

When Li Qian heard the news, he could only silently wish him luck. Even if he could have pulled some strings, he had no intention of doing so.

’In his view, the school that best suited Fatty An was actually Yunlan Beast Taming University in the neighboring Yunlan City.’

Besides, if Fatty An had been so desperate, trying to squeeze his way into Shazhou Beast Taming University for the sake of studying, seeking knowledge, or improving his strength, Li Qian might have helped him out a little.

But if it was just to chase girls, for some fleeting, illusory romance, then Li Qian was sorry, but he couldn’t help.

Of course, strictly speaking, it wasn’t as if he’d left without a word. Fatty An had actually known for a while that Li Qian was planning to travel.

"It’s just for summer vacation. It’s not like I’m moving away for good. Instead of wasting time nagging me, you should really be thinking about your own future!" On the high-speed train, Li Qian had taken a call from Fatty An. And just as he’d expected, after explaining his travel plans, he was met with a torrent of scorn from his friend.

But no matter how much he complained, Li Qian’s mind was made up. There was absolutely no way he was going to bring a hanger-on with him.

Li Qian hadn’t even planned on inviting a beautiful woman, so there was even less chance he’d bring along an otaku slob like Fatty An.

Holding the phone a little farther from his ear, he made an excuse to end the call. "Hello? Hello? I’m on the train, the signal’s bad. I’m hanging up now, we’ll talk later."

Without waiting for Fatty An’s reaction, Li Qian hung up, leaned back, found a more comfortable position, and closed his eyes to rest.

The high-speed train sped along, and before long, it arrived in Yunlan City. Since he hadn’t given any prior notice, there was of course no one there to pick him up.

Li Qian wasn’t bothered by this. From his last conversation with Mu Qianqian, he knew her public identity was that of a tour guide at the Yunwu Mountain Scenic Area, and that she spent most of her time there.

So, Li Qian decided to head directly to the Yunwu Mountain Scenic Area and have a look around. It would be great if he ran into Mu Qianqian, but if not, it wouldn’t be too late to call her.

After getting off the train, he hailed a cab and headed straight for the Yunwu Mountain Scenic Area. He arrived at his destination about an hour and a half later.

Even though it was nearly noon, the entrance to the scenic area was bustling and lively, with a constant stream of people coming and going.

Li Qian didn’t hesitate. He bought a ticket and walked right in. He wasn’t in a hurry, so he took his time strolling around, making his way into any crowd he spotted.

After weaving his way into the third crowd, Li Qian finally spotted a familiar figure within it.

It was none other than Mu Qianqian. She was wearing a small portable microphone and explaining the history of the Yunwu Mountain Scenic Area to the surrounding tourists.

She looked just as she had the first time he’d seen her—mature, enchanting, and dazzlingly beautiful. Precisely because of this, a large number of male tourists had gathered around her.

It was hard to tell if these male tourists were admiring the scenery or the "scenery." In any case, Li Qian noticed many of the female tourists shooting less-than-friendly looks at Mu Qianqian.

’Li Qian had a strong suspicion that this was a major reason why the Yunwu Mountain Scenic Area was able to attract such a constant, dense flow of tourists.’

From his brief forays into the crowds, Li Qian had discovered it wasn’t just Mu Qianqian. The guides at the other tour spots were also all young, beautiful women—though, of course, they were all a notch below Mu Qianqian.

Li Qian didn’t interrupt, simply following the crowd from one scenic spot to the next. He remained patient, listening intently.

In doing so, he even picked up on something unusual. For example, there was a Legend about an incredibly powerful Beast Master who had risen to prominence in the Yunwu Mountain Scenic Area, known as the "Rong Saint"!

’Although Li Qian didn’t know the history of the Mu Family, the name alone was enough for him to make an educated guess. This "Rong Saint" was likely an ancestor of the Mu Family.’

’He just wondered whether this "Rong Saint" was still alive or had already passed away.’ Thinking this, Li Qian shook his head and continued following the crowd forward.

Since he had been following for so long, and was an old acquaintance besides, Mu Qianqian had actually noticed him long ago. The two simply maintained a tacit understanding, neither of them speaking up to acknowledge the other.

"Alright, that’s all for the morning tour explanation. Please follow the directions of the scenic area staff and proceed to the dining areas in an orderly fashion." After a glance at her watch, Mu Qianqian clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention and made the announcement.

The tourists, likely finding her a feast for the eyes, probably didn’t feel hungry. However, it was now just past twelve o’clock. Even if they weren’t hungry, Mu Qianqian was, so they had no choice but to depart disappointedly.

"Little brother Li Qian, what brings you to my neck of the woods?" Once all the tourists had left, Mu Qianqian approached him with a radiant smile.

At her words, the corner of Li Qian’s mouth twitched. ’He couldn’t shake the feeling that her use of "little brother" was a bit flirtatious.’

’Knowing he would definitely be the one to lose if he got into a battle of wits with a woman this effortlessly sophisticated,’ Li Qian wisely chose to change the subject.

He smiled. "Weren’t you the one who told me to come visit Yunlan City when I had free time? Well, I just graduated, summer vacation’s here, and now I’m finally free."

He then spread his hands and gestured vaguely. "It’s getting late. So, are you not going to treat me to a meal?"

"If you want to eat, then follow me." Mu Qianqian chuckled and started walking, taking the lead.

A curious look on his face, Li Qian followed closely behind her. The farther they walked, the more his curiosity grew.

After about ten minutes, they arrived in front of a small wooden cabin. Looking at the structure, which he estimated was about the size of an outhouse, Li Qian’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

"Sister Qianqian, this is..." Li Qian asked, laughing awkwardly. A faint blush crept onto his face, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

"Why don’t you go in and see for yourself?" Mu Qianqian said in a half-joking tone, her smile widening as she looked at Li Qian’s uncomfortable expression.

’They say a guy needs to know how to protect himself when he’s out and about,’ he thought. Still, Li Qian trusted Mu Qianqian’s character, so despite a slight hesitation, he stepped into the small wooden cabin.