Chapter 236: Why Are You Following Me?
Chapter 236: Why Are You Following Me?
Calling the police was definitely out of the question. If she went to the police station, the security cameras would reveal Aquariana's existence.
Even if the surrounding security cameras happened to be broken or hadn't captured anything, and she hadn't been harmed in any way, such stalking usually didn't constitute a criminal offense.
Even if the police determined the situation to be serious, the most severe punishment would be a fine and a few days in detention. After that, she would have to be on guard every day, fearing that this person might try something again.
Qiao Sang thought for a moment, then picked up her mobile phone and sent her location to Xu Jia, along with a message:
[Can you help me?]
Xu Jia replied instantly: [I'm in class right now!]
Qiao Sang typed quickly: [You can bring your phone to school?]
Messages started coming in one after another.
Xu Jia: [Our school isn't as strict as yours. Lots of students secretly bring their phones.]
Xu Jia: [Wait, isn't it class time now? You're actually using your phone!]
Xu Jia: [I get it! You need the Phantom Water Sprite to attend class for you, right?]
Xu Jia: [Just saying, skipping class on the third day of school isn't a great idea.]
Xu Jia: [I've been there. Trust me, the worst thing in school is being remembered by the teachers. Once they remember you, you'll be the first one they call on, the one who gets the death stare, and the one they randomly test. You'll be going through that every day.]
Qiao Sang felt a bit choked by the last message and took a moment to gather her thoughts before typing:
[I'm not skipping class; I'm asking for leave. The favor I need isn't for the Phantom Water Sprite to attend class for me. I can pay you for it.]
Xu Jia replied quickly: [Talking about money is a bit formal, isn't it? Wait, I'll send the Phantom Water Sprite over right now.]
After contacting Xu Jia, Qiao Sang opened her contacts and dialed the Vice Principal's mobile phone number.
"What is it?" the Vice Principal's voice came through the speaker.
"Vice Principal, I don't have my homeroom teacher's contact information. Could you help me ask for a day off?" Qiao Sang said.
"Sure, but what's your reason for the leave?" Liu Yao asked.
"I woke up this morning feeling unwell, and I think I have a fever. I want to rest at home", Qiao Sang provided a reasonable and practical excuse.
"Fever? Where are your family members? You should go to the hospital right now", Liu Yao frowned.
"I'll be fine. I'll rest at home first, and if I still feel unwell this afternoon, I'll go to the hospital", Qiao Sang said, feigning weakness.
At that moment, a middle-aged man carrying a briefcase happened to walk by. He glanced at Li Songhai lying on the ground and the two unconscious familiars, and kindly asked, "Little girl, do you need any help?"
Qiao Sang quickly covered the phone's speaker and shook her head, mouthing a refusal.
After the passerby left, Qiao Sang put the phone back to her ear and continued in a weak voice, "I'll leave it to you to arrange the leave, then."
Liu Yao, whose hearing had been enhanced by the familiar's feedback, remained silent for a moment. However, she didn't expose Qiao Sang and maintained her usual calm tone, "Get plenty of rest. By the way, if the Principal asks you to switch to the Junior Year group for the National Campus Beastmaster League, remember to refuse. We need to play it safe. With your skills, winning the Provincial First Place in the Senior Year group isn't a problem."
Liu Yao paused, then continued, "If you have the chance to advance to the national finals through the regional tournament, your academic scores won't matter anymore."
Qiao Sang replied solemnly, "I understand."
After hanging up the call, under Fangy's Psychic Power, Li Songhai and his two familiars were moved to a nearby alley.
Half an hour later, Xu Jia sent a message: [The Phantom Water Sprite has arrived at your location.]
Qiao Sang went outside and indeed saw a Phantom Water Sprite standing by the roadside, looking around with a puzzled expression and a small navigation device hanging from its neck.
"Over here!" Qiao Sang waved.
"Huanhuan!"
The Phantom Water Sprite turned at the sound of the voice, its eyes lighting up as it clearly recognized Qiao Sang.
Li Songhai opened his eyes and saw a Ghost-type Companion Beast stretching its tongue toward his face.
"Ahhh!!"
Seeing the tongue about to lick his face, Li Songhai screamed and tried to back away using his hands and feet. However, he realized his hands were tied.
Desperately, he wriggled backward on his bottom.
Seeing that he was awake, the Treasure Seeker floated back to its Beastmaster's side.
Only then did Li Songhai realize he was in a small alley, the same one he had spent the entire night in, almost becoming anemic.
"You're awake."
"Ahhh!!" Li Songhai jumped at the sound of the voice and screamed again.
He hadn't slept well and was in a state of mental weakness. Opening his eyes to see a Ghost-type Companion Beast so close, followed by the realization that his hands were tied and he was in the alley that had given him such a traumatic experience, any sudden movement made him jumpy.
Following the voice, Li Songhai saw a delicate-looking girl standing in the shadows, smiling kindly at him.
Next to her stood the Psychic Pet he couldn't name and the Ghost-type Companion Beast that had just scared him.
"What do you want?" Li Songhai asked, regaining his composure.
Recognizing the girl as the resident of room 1075, he wasn't as panicked. What could a minor girl possibly do?
Qiao Sang smiled but didn't answer his question. Instead, she squatted down and untied the shoelaces binding his hands, saying, "Summon your familiar back."
Summon it back?
Li Songhai was momentarily confused.
Had Steelclaw and Rain Swift been discovered?
Right, Steelclaw and Rain Swift were still outside. Why were his hands tied, and why was he brought here?
"If you don't summon it back, don't blame me", Qiao Sang warned.
"Ya!"
"Kekekeke"
Fangy and Treasure Seeker put on menacing expressions, ready to pounce at any moment.
"I will, I will!"
Li Songhai said, but his hands didn't move. Instead, he tried to sense the location of Steelclaw and Rain Swift in his brain domain.
Then he seemed to sense something, his head turning stiffly to look down the alley on the left, his eyes wide with shock, as if he were a statue.
"I'll count to three."
Before Qiao Sang could start counting, Li Songhai shuddered and hurriedly summoned his familiar back.
"I've summoned it back!" Li Songhai said, his voice trembling.
He couldn't believe that upon Awakening, Steelclaw and Rain Swift had both passed out.
Suddenly, Qiao Sang's image became both terrifying and mysterious.
Looking at the girl's smile, it was clear it was not kind, but rather sinister.
Qiao Sang retied his hands.
Li Songhai didn't struggle. In his Beastmaster Codex, only the weak Mucosnail was still conscious, and even Steelclaw had fallen. He had no hope that Mucosnail could save him.
"Why were you following me?" Qiao Sang got to the point.
(End of Chapter)
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