Museum of Deadly Beasts Chapter 5: Beast Appraisal At The Countryside

Throughout their journey, Lin Jin carried his blood kindred beast, Xiao Huo. He requested Zhao Ying’s assistance in diagnosing Xiao Huo’s condition. The girl could only ascertain that the beast was suffering from hunger and inquired why he had not fed his pet.

Lin Jin understood his predicament. It wasn't a matter of unwillingness to feed Xiao Huo, but an inability to do so, as the pet refused to eat.

The most probable cause was that Xiao Huo had sustained an injury.

However, Lin Jin had no recollection of how his pet beast was harmed, nor was it documented in his acquired memories. But this was not a cause for concern. With the museum at his disposal, he had access to numerous treatment methods, and one of them was bound to be effective in healing his pet beast.

As Lin Jin was out of funds, he arranged to borrow some from Zhao Ying upon their arrival at Everlasting Town to procure medicinal ingredients.

***

The Beast Appraisal Association in Maple City buzzed with talk.

“Have you heard? Appraiser Lin and Zhang He engaged in a public beast evaluation duel…”

“Lin Jin? Does he still possess the audacity to be so conspicuous now?”

“Indeed? Any guesses on who emerged victorious.”

“Lin Jin holds the rank of a level one beast appraiser, yet many consider him a fraud. If he were pitted against other apprentices, victory would undoubtedly be his. After all, a diminishing camel still possesses more strength than a horse, but Zhang He is no ordinary apprentice. He ranks among the top three apprentices, and in the most recent assessment, all of the top three apprentices surpassed Lin Jin in scores. Furthermore, the chief is personally mentoring Zhang He, diligently honing his skills. His current capabilities must significantly exceed Lin Jin’s, and if he lacked confidence, why would he agree to a competition with Lin Jin? Therefore, my estimation is that Zhang He won.”

“Incorrect. It was Lin Jin who claimed victory... Allow me to elaborate, the entire process was quite gripping...”

“What? Zhang He actually discovered the beast’s latent bloodline? This is monumental. But how did he still manage to lose?

“Is this account accurate? To think Lin Jin could discern the attribute of the hidden bloodline. Isn’t that extraordinarily peculiar?”

“He must have relied solely on luck. I heard he obtained his certification due to a stroke of fortune. He was tested on the exact material he had studied; otherwise, he would have remained uncertified even after a decade.”

News of the private duel between Lin Jin and Zhang He spread like wildfire, becoming the predominant topic of conversation throughout the town.

“Did Zhang He truly fall to Lin Jin?” Within a lavish tea house, an elegant and beautiful woman, accompanied by her pet beast—a colossal, ten-foot-long ivory python as thick as a human waist—furrowed her brow. The python emitted a hiss, echoing its owner’s evident displeasure.

Opposite them sat her subordinate, an informant meticulously hired for his services.

“Yes, I have confirmed it!” The woman dismissed her subordinate with a wave of her hand. Subsequently, she assumed a posture of relaxed yet captivating elegance, a charm uniquely her own. Her voluptuous physique moved with the sinuous grace of a serpent, mirroring her pet.

Jia Qian, an apprentice beast appraiser affiliated with Maple City’s Beast Appraisal Association, had secured the top position in the association's assessment, her score significantly outperforming Lin Jin's.

Her reputation and talent eclipsed Lin Jin’s, elevating her status to par with that of a certified beast appraiser. It was widely believed that her skills and expertise in beast appraisal could readily overcome the infamous Lin Jin.

“Lin Jin, oh, Lin Jin, I am intimately aware of your true capabilities. We were classmates once. Had I not been struck by illness and been compelled to withdraw before the examination, would you have possessed such a substantial advantage?”

Recalling her past, Jia Qian’s teeth clenched in frustration.

She harbored a deep-seated animosity towards Lin Jin.

In that same year, she had participated in the very same examination as Lin Jin. Unfortunately, due to health complications, she was forced to withdraw. Coincidentally, several other candidates also encountered unforeseen difficulties, inadvertently granting Lin Jin an overwhelming advantage.

This was the genesis of the rumors surrounding Lin Jin's questionable reputation.

Strangely, Jia Qian seemed to have dwelled on this incident for the subsequent two examinations, which detrimentally affected her performance, leading to her failure on both occasions. It was akin to an individual who had missed their singular opportunity to reach the pinnacle, their only remaining path being a descent back to where they began.

And Jia Qian was indeed on a downward trajectory.

Refusing to engage in self-reflection, she instead placed the blame squarely on Lin Jin.

Now, achieving the status of a certified beast appraiser had become her consuming ambition. The most expeditious route to this goal involved securing a recommendation from the local branch. With such a recommendation, she could leverage her most recent examination result, which was a mere mark shy of the requirement, to be granted an exception and officially become a beast appraiser.

However, obtaining this crucial recommendation was contingent upon a specific prerequisite.

A recommendation could only be granted if a vacancy arose within the association for official beast appraisers. Chief Wang Ji offered her unwavering support; therefore, her immediate objective was to either oust Lin Jin or devise a scheme to cause him to falter, thereby leading to the revocation of his credentials. This, she believed, was the key that would unlock the gates to her success.

Within Maple City’s Association, there were only two esteemed positions for official beast appraisers. The other individual holding such a title was Gao Jiang, the esteemed young master hailing from one of Maple City’s most influential families, the Gao family. The Gao family’s influence ran deep within the city's fabric, possessing immense power. Even the esteemed Chief Wang Ji adopted a respectful demeanor when interacting with the Gao family's patriarch. Consequently, individuals like Lin Jin, who lacked any influential backing or established foundation, inevitably became convenient targets for Jia Qian and Wang Ji. He also represented a significant obstacle to Jia Qian’s aspirations for advancement.

“Do not be alarmed. Relying solely on luck for beast evaluations is a practice that cannot endure. The recent incident involving an evaluation has already captured the attention of the association’s higher-ups. Within a fortnight, officials will dispatch inspectors, and Lin Jin’s certification will undoubtedly be revoked. Thus, I only need to patiently wait for another two weeks. Lin Jin has also been assigned to Everlasting Town for beast evaluations, a task that yields no rewards. It consumes merely half a day, and if they evaluate too few beasts, the populace will surely be disappointed. Should they evaluate too many… Hmph! Regardless of his skill, with only two appraisers, and one being an inexperienced young girl, how many beasts can they possibly assess before succumbing to exhaustion? They will inevitably provoke the citizens’ dissatisfaction. This unfortunate event, piling upon existing troubles, will ensure Lin Jin’s career is beyond redemption. Tsk tsk, when it comes to tormenting individuals, Chief Wang Ji’s methods are truly unparalleled.”

***

The task of evaluating beasts in the countryside proved to be both arduous and uninspiring. Even the apprentices were reluctant to undertake such duties, primarily because the remuneration was meager and the work excessively draining.

As a certified level one beast appraiser, Lin Jin should have been exempt from such assignments. However, in Chief Wang Ji’s persistent efforts to undermine him, the man deliberately relegated all undesirable tasks his way.

As she contemplated the endless line of people before her, Zhao Ying felt a disquieting shiver run down her spine.

Their assignment was to perform beast evaluations on the streets of Everlasting Town, a location already teeming with eager citizens. The Beast Appraisal Association had organized this event, charging a mere ten copper coins for each appraisal. Consequently, such occasions invariably drew a multitude of individuals seeking to have their beasts assessed. Typically, at least six or seven apprentices would assist, but this time, only the two of them were present. Forget completing the task within half a day; they might not even finish if they worked well into the night.

“Appraiser Lin, have you… have you perhaps offended Chief Wang Ji before?” Zhao Ying couldn’t contain her burgeoning curiosity and inquired in a hushed tone.

Lin Jin responded with a shake of his head.

From his recollection, his predecessor had maintained a high degree of respect for Wang Ji and harbored no ill will towards him.

Nevertheless, the queue stretching before him presented a truly daunting spectacle.

Desperate citizens, either leading, holding, carrying, or dragging their caged companions, waited with unwavering patience to receive an appraisal report. A single glance revealed a scene of dense crowds, a cacophony of excited chatter punctuated by the discordant roars of beasts, creating an overwhelming din.

Since he was present, Lin Jin resolved to make the best of the situation.

Lin Jin did not overthink the matter. Even if he possessed limited knowledge in beast evaluation, with the invaluable asset of the Museum of Deadly Beasts at his disposal, this task should prove relatively straightforward.

Utilizing the funds he had recently borrowed, he meticulously studied the treatment methods for Xiao Huo documented within the Museum of Deadly Beasts. He selected a feasible prescription, procured the necessary medicinal ingredients, and skillfully concocted a pill from them.

Although Xiao Huo was not a particularly impressive pet beast, the small creature shared a blood contract with Lin Jin, compelling him to ensure its well-being.

The art of pelletization, or pill formation, was a fundamental skill for beast appraisers, but regrettably, Lin Jin lacked proficiency in this area. Fortunately, Zhao Ying’s presence allowed him to unabashedly request her assistance in crafting the pill while he focused on the beast appraisals.

His appraisal technique was remarkably distinctive. He neither issued beast talismans nor inscribed seals. He simply placed his hand upon the beast's head before commencing to pen his assessment.

Such remarkable speed was almost supernatural.