Chapter 50: Schemes

By the time Lin Jin returned to the Beast Appraisal Association, Zhao Ying and Lu Xiaoyun were done coming up with theories and ideas regarding Lu Ba’s evolution.

This was the ‘homework’ Lin Jin had left for them.

After reading it through, Lin Jin nodded in approval. It was clearly better than before. At least they have begun moving in the right direction despite still being mildly conservative, especially Zhao Ying. Her basic knowledge was solid but she lacked the courage to think outside the box. Lu Xiaoyun was better in this aspect but her ideas were sometimes a little far-fetched.

“I consider this an improvement. I’ll give you girls an evolution theory and method for Lu Ba. Have a look at it and I think it’ll be helpful as a frame of reference.”

Having said that, Lin Jin completed the evaluation report he written partially earlier, placed his seal, and then handed it to the girls.

These girls have been cracking their heads all morning, writing down whatever was reasonable and unreasonable. But when they read Lin Jin’s evolution method, both girls were stunned to the core.

Comparisons were nothing but odious.

Appraiser Lin’s theory was a novel idea, but it wasn’t that far-fetched at all. It was firmly supported by strong basic knowledge. Every procedure, every possibility, even the usage of pills, spirit stones, and skills to stimulate the pet beast into showing signs of evolution were written down meticulously in detail. This method could withstand deliberation. This evaluation report could even be used as an educational textbook.

“I didn’t know we could do that!”

“Appraiser Lin actually has such profound knowledge in yin yang and the powers of the five elements. This concept has never been heard of.”

“And who knew that medicinal knowledge would be this important? No wonder medicinal theory was a compulsory subject when we were studying in beast appraisal school. It’s a pity that I didn’t study it properly back then.”

Zhao Ying and Lu Xiaoyun began immersing themselves in research, unable to shift their attention away.

The sight of two remarkable beauties focused on the study material that he himself had provided was a pleasant view for Lin Jin.

Suddenly, someone from outside called out, “This is Appraiser Lin’s place, isn’t it?”

A man dressed as a construction worker came in with a pet beast in tow. He was holding Lin Jin’s consultation token, evidently here for a consultation.

“Finally, business!” Lin Jin immediately sat down to serve the customer.

News of Lin Jin successfully treating a construction worker’s old bull earlier, saving its life, had spread like wildfire among the local community of construction workers. People like them who did hard labor were average folks who couldn’t afford to consult other beast appraisers. Even if they did, they had to queue up. Once they found out that Appraiser Lin wasn’t as terrible as the rumors set him out to be, those who required appraisal services or treatment consultations came immediately to seek his services.

This man was his first customer of the day.

Consequently, a couple of other workers arrived with Lin Jin’s consultation token, making the once quiet consultation hall lively all of a sudden. Lin Jin who had been bored earlier was now swarmed with work.

Some of the passers-by got curious. After all, due to deliberate defamation, Lin Jin’s ‘notorious reputation’ was now widely known information. To put it bluntly, even some of the folks who had never gone to the Beast Appraisal Association knew of this ‘useless beast appraiser’ who was undeserving of his title. Some people even took him as a laughing stock.

So naturally, these people would be curious as to why Lin Jin, whom nobody had cared to pay attention to, was suddenly receiving so many customers.

By asking around, they finally knew the reason.

It wasn’t only the construction workers who helped Lin Jin clear up the misunderstanding. The customers who were at Symphony Restaurant to witness Lin Jin tasting the dishes too said that Lin Jin was genuinely skilled. In addition, there were also the people from yesterday who have been approached shamelessly by Lin Jin to help treat their pet beasts. The effects were miraculously positive. With the testimonies from these customers, in an instant, Lin Jin became a hot topic around town. Although the number of people requesting his services didn’t increase, the number of onlookers did.

When someone left after having their pet beast evaluated, the people outside would swarm over him to ask questions.

Standing among this crowd was a chubby silhouette. There were wave patterns belonging to an apprentice on the man’s beast appraiser robes. He had been loitering outside Lin Jin’s consultation hall for quite some time before finally entering after the crowd had dispersed.

Lin Jin was feeling ecstatic today.

Although his consultation tokens weren’t as highly sought after as Wang Ji’s or Gao Jiang’s, business was at least better than before. It was even better than some of the more accomplished apprentices like Jia Qian and Zhang He who also accepted consultations.

This was a massive improvement.

“That’s the way. We have to walk one step at a time, eat one bite at a time. There’s no need to rush. Eventually, they will all know of my capabilities.” Lin Jin was quite pleased with himself.

During this time, the chubby apprentice entered.

“Greeting, Appraiser Lin!” the guy immediately bowed in salutation upon seeing Lin Jin, displaying great sincerity.

“Who are you?” Lin Jin could tell that he was one of the association’s apprentice. However, there were too many apprentices in this association that it was impossible for him to knew every single one of them.

The chubby man wore a beaming smile as he said, “Appraiser Lin, my name is Han Dong and I’m new to the association. I heard that Appraiser Lin is highly skilled and has a noble character so I would like to be affiliated with you and learn about the trade under your guidance.”

Lin Jin was delighted.

As an official beast appraiser, the number of apprentices affiliated with him was also an important indicator of his abilities and performance. Previously, he had been all alone. Zhang He ‘betrayed’ him and the handful of apprentices he had under his wing left him as well. Although this was his predecessor’s fault, to Lin Jin, this was bad news as well.

After that, due to his capabilities, Zhao Ying and Lu Xiaoyun proactively sought to become affiliated with him. But that was because they were persuaded by Lin Jin’s unique skills. Han Dong was the first person who reached out to Lin Jin without concerns about his skillset.

“Great, great, let’s get the paperwork done!” Lin Jin was very amiable to Han Dong.

Han Dong was instead dumbstruck. “Uhm, that’s it? Appraiser Lin, don’t you need to test my skills?”

Within the association, great figures like Chief Wang Ji and Appraiser Gao Jiang were tremendously strict when it came to accepting pupils. Not only were they required to have a reservation in advance, but they were also required to go through several rounds of tests.

These tests include their knowledge in various subjects like beast differentiation, basic comprehension of beasts, the five elements, and also in medicine. After all, there were too many apprentices in the association and not everyone could be affiliated with an official beast appraiser to learn from them. This position had to be obtained through intense competition.

Lin Jin waved his hand. “There’s no such need. If you knew everything, would you still seek my guidance? Since you’re here, I don’t care how much you have left to learn.”

That was an open-minded answer and it displayed Lin Jin’s confidence in his abilities as a teacher.

Of course, his confidence stemmed from possessing the Museum of Deadly Beasts.

With the museum, forget apprentices, Lin Jin was worthy of educating even that old man, Wang Ji.

Han Dong had prepared quite a few things in advance. After all, he came with a reason. He had also figured out a way to remove Lin Jin’s suspicions of him but it was surprising how smooth he was progressing. Besides asking his name, Lin Jin didn’t ask anything else.

‘Hmph, it’s like everyone said, Lin Jin is unskilled and sloppy. Today, I have witnessed it with my own eyes. To be this indifferent to a student’s skills is a huge taboo. Doesn’t he know that in every month’s assessment, his student’s score is directly related to his performance score?’ Han Dong mused. He would of course never say this out loud.

Because he was the ‘spy’ sent here by Dong He.

For him to proactively seek to be affiliated with Lin Jin was Dong He’s arrangement so Han Dong could keep Lin Jin under his watchful eyes. Moreover, Han Dong was aware that Lin Jin would soon have his official beast appraiser certification revoked if things went smoothly. In no time, Lin Jin would be kicked out of the association.

Han Dong only had to make sure nothing goes awry during this time.

Once his task was completed, Dong He had promised him an opportunity to put his name up to offer consultation services. For an apprentice, this was an incredibly vital stage, explaining why Han Dong was here.