Chapter 44 Do you also want to be so clear about things with me?

"Hmm, not bad. Compared to before, its condition is indeed much better. Its health value has increased from eleven to twenty. The values ​​of its heart, dragon scales and horns have also increased a lot. The dragon horns that were not very noticeable before have now grown a small bump."

As Li Chonghua spoke, he handed the data he had already measured to Qiao Mei and looked at the two small, ice-blue protrusions the size of red beans on Ao Cang's dragon head.

Even if he hadn't said anything, Qiao Mei wouldn't have noticed that Ao Cang also had dragon horns in his little black dragon form, but they were so subtle before that she hadn't noticed them at all.

She glanced at the two small bumps, then turned to look at the projected image reflected by Li Chonghua's computer bracelet—

Name: Little Black Dragon

Health value: 20

Health status of various organs - Dragon scales (30), heart (11), dragon horns (13).

After discovering that there had indeed been a slight increase compared to before, Qiao Mei breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Li Chonghua, who was fiddling with some kind of medicine again, and asked him, "What about the dragon tendon that he broke off before? How is the recovery going?"

She wasn't a dragon, so she didn't know what kind of pain a dragon would experience if its tendons were broken. But she figured it was similar to a broken human spine, even though Ao Cang had never shown her any signs of physical pain.

Li Chonghua handed the mixed cement-gray liquid to Qiao Mei and replied, "I was just about to tell you about this. His tendons are different from the other parts. It seems that they can't be restored through offerings or other methods. They're in the same bad condition as the last checkup, so I kept an eye on them and decided to start here first."

"The energy I detected last time when you helped the little black dragon recover from its injuries through offerings was somewhat similar to the energy fluctuations contained in this star stone, but there were also some slight differences. In addition, this star stone is very difficult to buy on the market, so I didn't prepare a large quantity here. I can only let it try it out first."

Qiao Mei looked at the cup of medicine, whose color was rather indescribable, felt sorry for Ao Cang's taste buds for a second, and then brought it to his lips.

As she watched him slowly drink it, she asked Li Chonghua what the name of this star stone was and how much it cost, so she could pay him later.

Starstones are similar to the ordinary stones that Qiao Mei knew about in modern times, which are found all over the mountains and fields. According to the interstellar encyclopedia, they fell from outer space into various planets.

However, compared to ordinary stones, they contain energies with different effects, and their prices vary from high to low.

As Qiao Mei spoke, she opened her account and checked her balance. Adding the 5,000 Star Coins she had just received from the bounty Q&A section of the Star Mech website that morning, she only had 13,000 Star Coins left.

I don't know if there will be enough to buy.

Li Chonghua knew about Qiao Mei and Xu Hui's situations. Seeing that she went to check the computer bracelet after asking her questions, he guessed she was looking at the money. The look of heartache in his eyes rose and then fell.

He thought that if he were Qiao Mei's father, he would never let his precious daughter be in such a predicament.

But there are no "what ifs".

Li Chonghua composed himself and told Qiao Mei that the star stone's serial number was QC520. He also said that she didn't need to pay for it; it was just an observation fee he was paying to Ao Cang to research a cure for the abandoned holy beasts.

"After all, if it were someone else, they certainly wouldn't be so cooperative as to let me conduct such examinations and experiments on my familiars for free."

Qiao Mei was short of money right now. She checked and found that even a small piece of this kind of star stone cost 50,000 interstellar coins. With her pockets empty, she could only accept Li Chonghua's kindness for now, but she secretly remembered this matter and thought about repaying him in another way later.

After drinking the medicine, Ao Cang kept staring at Qiao Mei. He noticed that although she appeared to agree to Li Chonghua's request, her red eyes were secretly darting around, as if she had other plans.

He couldn't help but recall the glimpse of the past he had once glimpsed from her.

His broken dragon tendons did indeed show some improvement thanks to the medicine given to him by Li Chonghua. After Li Chonghua finished examining his dragon body, he asked Qiao Mei as they walked back to their new home, "Do you keep such clear distinctions between yourself and everyone?"

Qiao Mei activated the autopilot mode of the aircraft. When she heard Ao Cang's question, she didn't understand what he meant at first. After a moment of stunned silence, she recalled what had happened at the Sacred Beast Treatment Center and realized what was going on.

He nodded and said softly, "Probably. Because of some experiences, I've become less fond of owing others anything."

Money, feelings, and people.

In her previous life, she inevitably suffered a lot of unnecessary hardships. Although she had gotten used to those hardships, she did not want to experience them a second time.

Looking at the girl's perfect jawline, Ao Cang moved his dragon head away from her and continued to ask, "And what about me? Do you want to be so particular with me too?"

After these questions were asked, not only was Qiao Mei stunned, but Ao Cang himself was also a little confused.

Because so far, it seems that he owes Qiao Mei more, so it's a bit funny to ask him this suddenly.

Qiao Mei looked at the little black dragon whose golden eyes were filled with frustration. Although she didn't know why he asked that question, she still gave an honest answer.

"In no mood."

To her, he was incomparable to any other people, things, or objects.

She had initially only investigated and tried to get close to him with the intention of repaying a favor, but later she realized that it was impossible to do so.

Ao Cang wasn't stupid. He had sensed the strong goodwill and closeness that Qiao Mei exuded from the very beginning of their meeting, so getting this answer wasn't particularly surprising. But he still wanted to ask why.

Qiao Mei smiled, her red eyes crinkling, and rubbed her cheek against his dragon head: "I can't tell you now, wait until later."

If she still has that chance.

The girl's eyes dimmed for a moment, but she quickly composed herself and turned to open her personal computer bracelet, intending to send a message to Xu Hui to tell her about Ao Cangxin's test results.

But before she could see the result, she noticed her email was lit up.

Upon opening the message, I found that the sender was "[Unhealthy Liver, Unrenamed Mecha]" and the item I received was a voucher that allowed me to get the Flying Ape Mecha at full price.

The official price of a Flying Ape Mech is 200,000 Star Coins, which is no small amount. [I won't change my name if I don't have a good liver] and she are just ordinary online friends, not at all at the level of being able to give such an expensive gift.

Qiao Mei frowned and thought for a while before opening the chat box to ask about it, wanting to see what the other party's requirements were.

[If your liver isn't healthy, you won't change the name of your mech]: I do have my own selfish reasons. I see that you, Rose, are very good at modifying mechs and finding problems with them. You're probably just using a friend's no-star account as a disguise, right? My mech was just built, and I haven't figured out how to advertise it yet, so I thought I might be able to ask you for help.

Qiao Mei: Sigh, when will we stop being poor? (Looks up to the sky and lets out a long howl)

One side: Impossible! With that four-legged money-devouring beast, Little Black Dragon, around, you'd better work like a poor man!