Chapter 20

This trip into the primeval forest proved highly rewarding for Xiao Hai. Not only did he successfully break through the first level of the Dragon Spirit Pearl, but he also tamed a group of... Wolf soldiers and lion generals?

More importantly, he discovered a natural herbal garden among the bag lions.

By the time he emerged from the primeval forest, it was already the third day. He was filthy, looking like a wild man. Walking down the street, everyone avoided him, fearing he was a martial arts lunatic.

Xiao Qi didn't look much better.

The two of them quickly found a hotel. When they checked in, the hotel owner scrutinized Xiao Hai for a long time, fearing he was some runaway criminal. He examined Xiao Hai's ID card repeatedly, only giving him a room after confirming there were no issues.

Once inside the room, they hurriedly took a refreshing shower together, washing away all the dirt and odor.

After resting for a while, Xiao Hai practiced with the Dragon Spirit Pearl on the bed, then opened his travel bag and laid out the herbs he had collected from the natural herbal garden on the bed.

"This one is worth three thousand, this Polygonum multiflorum is at least ten thousand..." In Xiao Hai's eyes, the herbs had completely turned into stacks of cash.

A knock came from outside the door, and Xiao Hai, somewhat impatient, asked, "Who is it?"

"Police, open the door!"

Police? Xiao Hai was taken aback. Why would the police come here? Who did he offend?

When he opened the door, he was even more surprised to see a beautiful female police officer in her twenties.

She was 1.70 meters tall, with short hair, a small chin, and bright, beautiful eyes. At her age, she still had a touch of innocence, exuding charm, but her police uniform gave her an air of authority and vigor.

Uh... Xiao Hai had seen many police officers, but this was the first time he had encountered such a young and beautiful female police officer.

"Xiao Hai?" The female police officer held a freshly printed list of registered guests.

"Yes, that's me." Xiao Hai immediately guessed that the hotel owner, despite carefully checking his ID, still had his doubts.

"Please show me your ID." The female police officer entered the room, inspected it, and her gaze first fell on the herbs on the bed, then on Xiao Qi.

Xiao Qi, the dog, seeing a beautiful woman, approached and wagged his tail continuously.

Xiao Hai was about to fetch his ID but then thought, "Officer, could you please show me your credentials first?"

The female police officer hadn't expected such a request. Normally, just wearing the uniform was enough. She was an intern in this area, on duty with her mentor. Her mentor had gone to the bathroom due to a stomachache, so she had entered the hotel to check. The owner mentioned a strange guest who looked as if he had just come from somewhere.

This immediately caught the female police officer's attention.

According to regulations, she should have waited for her mentor, but she was naturally bold and didn't wait, instead knocking on the door of the strange guest.

At first glance, the female police officer had already put her guard down. The young guest in front of her looked no more than twenty, very sunny and energetic, not like a fugitive. However, when she asked him to show his ID, he asked her to show hers first.

The female police officer thought for a moment and decided to follow the rules, taking out her credentials.

Xiao Hai looked at them and saw that the female police officer's name was Yin Yuenuo, and she was still an intern. He had never doubted her identity; he just wanted to find an opportunity to learn her name since she was so beautiful.

After checking Yin Yuenuo's credentials, Xiao Hai took out his ID.

Yin Yuenuo verified the ID, found no issues, and returned it to Xiao Hai. "What do you do, and what is your purpose here?"

In a completely cold and official tone, Xiao Hai wasn't afraid. "I'm a student, about to start my first year of college. I came here on vacation and collected some herbs."

He pointed to the herbs on the bed, as if to prove his point.

"Herbs? Do you know about herbs?" Yin Yuenuo seemed skeptical. How could a first-year college student from the city know about herbs?

"Of course I do. Look at this Polygonum multiflorum, with its long roots and brown body, it's clearly wild." Xiao Hai boasted, "Although it doesn't have the legendary power to bring the dead back to life, it can treat blood deficiency, dizziness, premature graying of hair, weak knees, and other issues..."

Hearing the effects, Yin Yuenuo's face turned red.

A rookie, definitely a rookie, Xiao Hai thought, smirking.

"Did you dig these herbs yourself or steal them?" Suddenly, a stern voice came from the doorway.

A male police officer in his forties entered, and Yin Yuenuo quickly said, "Officer Zhao, you're here."

Officer Zhao nodded and sized up Xiao Hai. "Where did you get these herbs?"

Where did I get them? I risked my life to get them. Xiao Hai pursed his lips. "Officer, have you heard of any pharmacy being robbed? Which pharmacy has such good quality herbs? I dug them up in the Lakeyan Naxi primeval forest."

Officer Zhao and Yin Yuenuo both gasped. Dug up in the Lakeyan Naxi forest? It's currently infested with forest monsters; who would dare enter?

"You, you really entered the primeval forest? Didn't you encounter anything?" Yin Yuenuo asked, half-disbelieving.

"Really." Xiao Hai nodded. "I encountered things, of course. I defeated a black bear and a lion..."

"Be respectful!" Officer Zhao interrupted. "The police are asking you questions; don't talk nonsense!"

Xiao Hai felt extremely wronged. Every word he said was true. He really did defeat a black bear and a bag lion. Why wouldn't anyone believe him when he told the truth?

Officer Zhao didn't think Xiao Hai was a bad person. Why would a criminal use their real ID to register? However, the young man's flippant attitude annoyed him. Maybe that's how young people from big cities are?

"Officer, I really dug these herbs up from the primeval forest. If you don't believe me, you can check. If I really did something wrong, I wouldn't have anywhere to run, right?" Xiao Hai didn't bother to explain further. "I'm a first-year student at Xinan University in Xinan City. You can investigate."

Officer Zhao was already 90% convinced. Since the young man had revealed his school, it would be easy to verify. If he had really done something wrong, he wouldn't have a place to run. Perhaps the young man, not knowing the dangers, had ventured into the primeval forest and, by luck, not only avoided the forest monsters but also found some valuable herbs.

"Students, be careful when traveling." Officer Zhao, despite Xiao Hai's flippant attitude, was still kind-hearted. It wasn't a crime to be flippant, but if something happened to him, his parents would be heartbroken.

Officer Zhao looked at the herbs on the bed, as if he wanted to say something but changed his mind. "Don't go back to the primeval forest. It's very unsafe recently. When you're out, don't make your parents worry."

With that, he and Yin Yuenuo left.

These words truly touched Xiao Hai, but his parents were still missing.