Mu Jiahe looked at Xiao Xun, who was acting like a miser, "Enough of that, what happened next?"
Xiao Xun put away the items in his bag, "Then I went to the river to catch fish. Just as I finished grilling them, that 'freak' with a human upper body and a horse's lower body came rushing over."
Mu Jiahe covered his head and interrupted him, "Don't say things like 'freak' when we're outside. The Centaur tribe is quite famous and a large combat race across the entire continent. They are all cavalry, and no country wants to offend them."
Xiao Xun said 'oh' with a much smaller tone, "Then he told us that someone had provoked a magical beast, yes, it was that Carl from today. Then those scoundrels turned and ran, faster than rabbits. I can't use magic, and I'm not as fast as them, so I was chased by the magical beast."
Mu Jiahe looked disbelieving, "You actually survived from such a magical beast?"
Xiao Xun's eyes widened, "Survived? I directly unleashed the magic I had saved up that morning, transforming into a Troll Hunter, and scared that magical beast to death. I saw the sun was about to set, and that old man hosting the competition said we had to return before sunset, so I hurried back. As soon as I reached the main gate, that person flew back, pretending to have slain the magical beast."
After speaking, he shook his head disdainfully.
Suddenly, he remembered something, stood up, and rummaged through the cups on the table, "Huh? Where are my seeds?"
Then he looked at Mu Jiahe and extended his hand, saying, "Did you drink them? Compensate me!"
Mu Jiahe waved his hand, "What's so great about rock sugar?"
"Rock sugar? I showed this around and asked, but no one told me it was rock sugar. Oh! Right, you also said it was an open-book exam, and you gave me a broken iron axe. Even if I found that Immortal Tong tree, I wouldn't be able to chop it!"
Mu Jiahe loosened his clothes and lay down on the bed, "Be content! Giving you an iron axe was to save your face. If you had taken a different axe, you would have lost face."
Xiao Xun didn't understand, "How would I lose face?"
"With your strength, those two axes would be difficult to even lift, let alone chop through thorns. What if it causes a scene?"
Xiao Xun thought for a moment, "That can't be right! When I was grilling fish today, I specifically used that whirlwind axe to blow on the campfire. It didn't feel as heavy as you say!"
"Whirlwind Divine Axe?"
Xiao Xun nodded, "That's right. At first, he intended to trade that thing for my fish. I said I had no use for that axe, so he traded it for a ring."
"The axe you're talking about, is it entirely white and gold, with a black fan blade on the axe body, and a groove on the handle where you can place your fingers?"
Xiao Xun, hearing Mu Jiahe's accurate description, became even more certain that it was the one distributed that morning, "That's right, that one. I thought that kid was really clever to trade me something else. I'm not stupid."
Mu Jiahe started laughing, still shaking his body.
Xiao Xun looked at him, "Queen, why are you laughing so hard?"
Mu Jiahe stopped laughing, "You just don't know quality when you see it. I didn't issue that axe. Although the axe I issued had the same name, it's far inferior to this one. This axe is an unrestricted masterpiece, a true divine weapon, possibly worth more than all the items you have in that bag. It's like someone offering you a choice between a hundred and fifty, which one would you choose?"
Xiao Xun rolled up his sleeves, "Why, of course, I'd choose fifty!"
Mu Jiahe was about to use this as an excuse to mock him, but when she heard him choose fifty, her expression became stunned, "Your thought process… shouldn't you choose a hundred? Anyone would know a hundred is more than fifty."
Xiao Xun smiled proudly, "Of course, I know a hundred is more than fifty. But if you take the hundred, you only have that one hundred. If you take the fifty, people will keep coming with fifty and a hundred to test you."
Mu Jiahe was speechless. After a long while, she recovered, "Your logic is truly impressive. No wonder you became a top hacker. I'm truly impressed."
Xiao Xun waved his hand and stomped his foot, "Why are we talking about axes again? I'm talking about seeds. How can I pass the second round without seeds?"
"What seeds? Are you expecting rock sugar to bloom and bear fruit for you?"
Xiao Xun picked up the cup Mu Jiahe had just drunk from, "Even the chef in your kitchen said that thing is a seed, and it sprouts in a day, buds in two days, and blooms in three days. They even gave it a name, 'Ice Snow Enchantress'."
Mu Jiahe clapped her hands, "That's something to fool children, and you actually believed it. I already said it's an open-book exam. Anyone who brings flowers will be eliminated."
Xiao Xun understood, "So that's the test! But why did you go through all that trouble? Couldn't you have just given us rock sugar?"
"If we gave it directly, there would be too many variables, and there would always be clever people. Moreover, the media of various countries are paying close attention to this matter. If it's not made complicated, people will think we have something shady going on. This way, whatever we do will be justified."
Xiao Xun looked at Mu Jiahe, thinking: As expected of the Empress, I can't see through any of her moves.
Since Mu Jiahe hadn't had dinner, she immediately asked Xiao Xun to prepare something after they returned to their original world.
He made a sandwich and hot milk for Mu Jiahe, and fearing she wouldn't have enough, he fried two eggs.
After eating, Mu Jiahe asked for a bowl of instant noodles with a poached egg.
It seemed she was truly hungry. After eating these, she went to work in satisfaction.
However, this time she didn't go to the company but to attend a bidding conference. The bid documents were with Secretary Gao. When Xiao Xun drove to the bidding site, Secretary Gao was already waiting there.
After getting out of the car, Mu Jiahe instructed Xiao Xun, "You wait for me here. I'll leave once I win the bid. It shouldn't take too long. If you feel bored, you can walk around nearby, just don't go too far."
Xiao Xun told her, "I'll go report to the police station and be back."
When Xiao Xun drove to the police station, he happened to meet the police officer handling his case. "Starting tomorrow, you don't have to come anymore."
Xiao Xun was stunned, thinking they were going to lock him up again, and felt a wave of unease. Unexpectedly, the police officer looked at Xiao Xun's worried expression and said, "You haven't seen the news yet, have you? The prosecutor's office has withdrawn the charges against you, so you don't need to report anymore. You can apply for state compensation for the loss of your job and reputation. You'll receive written approval notice within seven working days at the earliest."
Xiao Xun bowed to the police officer in front of him and turned to leave.
As he left the police station, the air of freedom hit him, and he felt instantly refreshed.
Just as he was about to take out his phone to report this good news and see what was happening online, a call came in. It was a local number.
Xiao Xun answered, and a voice he least wanted to hear came through.
"Mr. Xiao, my friend. We've already handled your matter. Are you satisfied with the result? However, shouldn't you be hurrying up with our business? More than half the time has passed. Of course, I believe with your capabilities, it won't take long to hear good news from you. Mr. Xiao, don't disappoint your friends…"
After speaking, he hung up the phone without giving Xiao Xun a chance to reply.