"Does the quest description not explicitly ask for Xien Stone?" Bai Xifeng countered, her tone innocent yet pointed.

"It does, indeed. However, why did you not bring back the refined ore directly from the mine itself, as is the standard procedure?" Yi Shanyuan pressed further, his eyes narrowing as he tried to discern the motive behind her unusual delivery.

"Well, I certainly intended to do exactly that. However, as I approached the area, I sensed an ominous shift in the atmosphere, a heavy, prickly feeling that something terrible was about to happen. Trusting my gut, I chose not to set foot inside the cave." Bai Xifeng explained in a calm, steady voice that betrayed no hint of deception. "I decided to take a rest nearby instead. Shortly after that, word reached me that a disaster had struck and the entire cave system had vanished into the earth. If I had not trusted my basic instincts, I might have perished right alongside that mine."

Yi Shanyuan and his colleague, Jia Zixin, exchanged a long, meaningful glance. They were well aware of the recent geological disturbances, yet hearing it from a survivor made the hairs on their necks stand up.

"Even so, if you did not enter the cave, why go through the trouble of bringing these specific corpses back to the academy?" Jia Zixin inquired, gesturing to the massive, armoured beasts.

"Well, I noticed their thick hides were naturally armoured with high-purity Xien Stone. Since the mine was gone, I figured I could sell them to the market. I assumed that any craftsman with a keen eye would recognise their inherent value." Bai Xifeng said, her lips curling into a slight, knowing grin.

Yi Shanyuan and Jia Zixin stepped closer, performing a more rigorous inspection of the Stone-Clad Wolves’ bodies. It was undeniable. This was top-tier Xien Stone. With the Xien Stone Cave having disappeared, the academy was facing a desperate shortage. They had no idea where to find another source, and they would need to locate a new supplier immediately to maintain their forging quotas.

"Tell me... Student Bai... Do you happen to have any more of these Stone-Clad Wolves in your possession?" Yi Shanyuan asked, his voice noticeably tinged with a sudden spark of hope.

Bai Xifeng’s smile widened immediately, sensing that she now held all the cards. "As a matter of fact, I do."

"Exactly how many more do you have stored away?" Yi Shanyuan asked again, his breath hitching slightly.

"Two hundred." Bai Xifeng stated plainly, her voice as casual as if she were discussing the number of common pebbles in a garden.

Yi Shanyuan, Jia Zixin, and the nearby staff member were all visibly shaken by the sheer, staggering magnitude of that number. To hunt down and haul away two hundred of such beasts was a feat bordering on the impossible for a single student.

"Are you telling us the absolute, unvarnished truth?" Jia Zixin asked, his voice hushed and strained as he sought final confirmation.

"Why would you even ask me a question like that? Do I look like the type of person who would bother wasting my energy lying to you right now?" Bai Xifeng asked, rolling her eyes in clear exasperation at their disbelief.

"Are you truly telling us that you defeated two hundred Stone-Clad Wolves on your own?" Yi Shanyuan asked, his mind reeling at the tactical implications.

Bai Xifeng did not say anything in response. She only offered a mysterious, cat-like smile that left her methods entirely to their imagination. Yi Shanyuan and Jia Zixin immediately understood the silent signal. This student had secrets she did not wish to share, and it would be unwise to pester her further.

"We want those two hundred Stone-Clad Wolves. All of them." Jia Zixin said quickly, eager to secure the materials before she took them elsewhere.

Bai Xifeng’s grin grew even wider, looking very much like a merchant who had just closed a golden deal. "Great. In that case, let’s discuss the price."

"Huh?" Jia Zixin and Yi Shanyuan were momentarily stunned into silence when they heard that blunt statement.

"What? Do you honestly expect me to just give these things away for free? I worked incredibly hard collecting them in a dangerous zone, and as you noted, the amount is not small at all." Bai Xifeng remarked, crossing her arms.

Yi Shanyuan coughed several times, clearing his throat awkwardly as a flush of embarrassment hit his face. It was his mistake. He had been so caught up in the windfall of materials that he had forgotten he was dealing with a student who clearly knew her own worth.

"Yes... of course... You are quite right. Let’s discuss the proper pricing." Yi Shanyuan conceded.

Seeing the direction the conversation was headed, the staff member quietly slipped out of the room. This negotiation involved sums of points and gold that were already far beyond her administrative scope. It was better to leave the two senior teachers to handle the stubborn girl themselves.

"So, Student Bai, what kind of compensation are you looking for?" Yi Shanyuan asked, adopting a more professional tone.

"First, let’s settle the official quest. According to the original description, I was to obtain twenty points for every bag of Xien Stones. By my estimate, two Stone-Clad Wolves produce the equivalent of one bag of processed stone. Therefore, for the initial four I presented, I should receive forty points." Bai Xifeng explained, her mind working through the math with sharp precision.

"Yes, indeed. That matches the logic of the quest perfectly." Jia Zixin nodded in agreement, impressed by her fairness.

"So, as for the first one hundred Stone-Clad Wolves, let’s use that same calculation. That means I should receive exactly one thousand points for that half of the haul." Bai Xifeng stated calmly.

***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. Thank you, from your shameless author, ZerahNeko*