Chapter 226: Talented Frog Killer Girl
Although it was regrettable that she was not the kind of ‘family heirloom’, and had even been raised by humans from childhood, being as human-like as anyone else with a fondness for meat and spicy peppers, utterly clueless about traditional elf culture.
But that pair of pointed ears was exceptionally atavistic, and her irises were an unnaturally natural emerald green. In short, her appearance was excellent, a ‘fake elf’ that could pass for the real thing.
If taken out as a secretary, she would be very prestigious. This was also one of her ‘selling points’.
However, with such good ‘physical attributes’, she had yet to be sold, and had instead fallen to being interviewed and signed by an unknown nobody like himself, which clearly indicated more serious flaws.
Could it really just be ‘autism and timidity’, that minor psychological disease? Enough to get her returned? Yuan Zhu didn’t quite believe it.
So he perked up and began questioning her seriously, trying to find her weaknesses (hidden dangers). At the very least, he could use this to haggle down her price.
In the subsequent one-on-one interrogative Q&A, Yuan Zhu gradually formed an initial impression of Nie Yin.
…
Rain Courtyard, as the only university in Running City with a massive campus area, was completely different from the purely academic universities in his memory of Earth back home.
Simple summary: A ‘nation within a nation’. Rain Courtyard possessed privileges equivalent to the city government, even faintly surpassing it. However, this ‘power’ was not used within Running City itself, but within the ‘academy interior’ and the Spirit Layers.
On top of that, Rain Courtyard was like multiple not-so-dominant ‘supernatural sects’, allied together for mutual warmth, internally sharing supernatural knowledge and technology. Like the ‘Five Mountains Sword Faction’ with their gates moved together, maintaining each sword faction’s independence while sharing basic martial arts and cultivation techniques, advancing and retreating together against oppression from major sects (Holy Church, Buddhism).
Additionally, Rain Courtyard was like the ‘core enterprise’ of a comprehensive conglomerate. Rooted in ‘supernatural knowledge’, it extended countless tentacles, meddling in every industry in Running City, wielding influence in all aspects. Hidden behind the scenes, it controlled numerous ‘supernatural enterprises’.
Such a Rain Courtyard had a voracious demand for ‘talent’. Besides regular ‘university students’, it also ran numerous institutions internally similar to ‘vocational high schools and technical colleges’.
And it collected large numbers of talented orphans from nearby cities and rural areas. Cultivating them from childhood, mass-producing hardworking and enduring ‘technical cattle and horses’.
Nie Yin was one such, receiving ‘vocational training’ from childhood, originally meant to become a high-quality technical cattle and horse.
But she truly had some talent, standing out from the bottom-tier vocational cattle and horses with her sharp insight, meticulousness, and precise operations, getting assigned to the Frog School for further upgrade education.
Attempting to evolve into the rarer and more precious ‘high-end cattle and horse’.
Probably due to the special ‘lowly cattle and horse rags-to-riches script’ plus her ‘fake elf’ appearance and overly young age, she didn’t fit in with the surrounding ‘students’.
Others were 18, excelling in character and academics after spending a fortune, finally managing to enroll. You were only 17 this year, already auditing the Frog School for 3 years. If you weren’t rejected, who would be?
Add in poverty, massive debts (academy gratitude loan), and being educated from childhood to be honest + obedient + submissive… which also made her personality stand out. Others were healthy, she was autistic; others were outgoing, she was cowardly… Her status was also a cut below, so over time, she entered the familiar cycle of ‘being bullied’.
…
After figuring out her background, Yuan Zhu discovered the first blind spot. Compared to the academy’s mass-produced ‘high-quality technical cattle and horses’, Nie Yin’s price was a notch higher.
Not the price of vocational high school or technical college, but the price of a ‘university student’!
Regular university students came and went freely, and could be hired directly. But Nie Yin was Rain Courtyard’s private property, so employing her cost more, somewhat like paying ‘bride price’ to the academy to make up for years of upbringing fees, plus continuously repaying the gratitude loan.
Additionally, compared to regular university students, Nie Yin had audited the Frog School for 3 years but only learned theoretical knowledge. Due to poverty, rejection, low status… and so on, she lacked practice. Many expensive experiments and operations, she had never tried.
Finally, some advantages: other regular university students could only be hired on equal terms, without too many harsh excessive demands. But Nie Yin was different; as academy private property, if Yuan Zhu offered a sufficient price, the academy was willing to sell her, and could accept some ‘excessive’ demands.
Tsk tsk… In that case, the autistic girl’s overall abilities were a bit lacking, and the price was high, but it wasn’t unacceptable.
Was this also why the senior student picked her for him?
Yuan Zhu: “In the Frog School normally, besides studying, what else have you done? Any specialties or talents that, after I employ you, can immediately generate returns.”
After a series of interrogative Q&As, Nie Yin gradually adapted to this communication style. Without lifting her head, she mechanically answered honestly: “My main job in the school is handling feeding, processing, and preparing ‘experimental grade frogs’ for the entire class. I contract all the ‘skinning, decapitation, internal organs cleaning’ work. Additionally, basic extraction of raw materials for body tempering fluid. And blending and drying of by-product frog skin… These can all generate revenue.”
Because she was not a ‘traditional paying student’, with no parents, no background, no deposit, and owing massive debts to the academy, she did the most basic repetitive labor daily to earn living expenses, charging her classmates service fees.
Yuan Zhu: “These can make money?”
Nie Yin answered with a bit of confidence: “Yes! Skinning experimental grade frogs inherently involves the Frog God’s sacrifice. The textbook calls it the skinning ritual. Frogs skinned by me transform from ordinary creatures into ‘quasi-supernatural materials’.”
“Explain why they are ‘quasi-supernatural materials’.”
Nie Yin: “Starting from complete skinning, decapitation, and internal organs removal, the ‘skinless frog’ only has ‘quasi-supernatural properties’ when on the lab bench, not exceeding 3 hours, or until complete death. Once out of range, over time, or dead, it fails and becomes an ordinary frog.”
Yuan Zhu: “What’s the principle behind this?”
“It’s hard to explain clearly to you, as it involves the Frog God. Just like the popular ‘rat head surveillance, information storage, projection playback’ on the market. Ordinary mice gaining these effects is closely tied to the Rat King deity.”
Yuan Zhu: “I get the gist, you do have some real skills. In the Frog School, any other talents?”
Nie Yin said coldly: “None. Occasionally assigned cleaning missions, but the main work is repeating these tasks. The academy has extremely high requirements and massive demand for ‘skinned frogs’.”
Speaking of skinning frogs, Yuan Zhu looked at Nie Yin, whose demeanor was no longer self-deprecating or timid, but calmly cold.
Inexplicably, he thought of ‘I’ve killed fish at Walmart for ten years, now my heart is as cold as the fish-killing knife’.
This girl had probably been killing frogs, skinning, and gutting in the Frog School since childhood… giving off total marketplace Frog Killer Girl vibes. Every day besides classes, all time spent in the laboratory ‘skinning for work’, living the corporate slave life at a young age, and still getting bullied.
“So besides ‘frog skinning’ normally, any other hobbies?”
Nie Yin said coldly: “Skinning isn’t a hobby, it’s a means of livelihood. In spare time, if I have any, I go to the library to read professional books. Also cleaning labs for other students or teachers, clearing pollution. If lucky, I can stay to observe experiments, gain knowledge, pick up some minor skills. But never had a chance to personally operate or try.”
Yuan Zhu: “Mainly because no money?”
“Not just money. My status is lower than regular students, unqualified for much equipment. Besides basic work like ‘skinning’, I’m using spare time to self-study engraving technique. I hope you can provide funding to help me master this skill. I’ll repay you with it.”
“Can you introduce it?”
“Sure, I can draw special tattoos on others’ skin according to their constitution and different patterns, granting supernatural powers. This technique can be applied to ordinary people, letting mortals grasp supernatural powers up to their limits. It can also be used on plain ‘skin’ to make equipment with scroll or talisman effects.”
Yuan Zhu instantly understood why she researched this: “Frog skin?”
“Mm!”
Frog Killer Girl half-working half-studying, treated as a cattle and horse tool, but with her own little ambitions. Unable to control her life, no funds for self-research, so starting from her daily work.
She skinned and took frogs for the whole class. The remaining ‘skin and internal organs’ became the most accessible materials.
So she arduously researched how to judge skin properties by skin. Separate the internal organs, mix with other materials, brew into pigments with ‘five elements effects’; then following texture flows, draw unique ‘tattoos’, infusing supernatural effects.
…
From Nie Yin’s introduction, Yuan Zhu quickly understood that this tattooing technique itself did not involve supernatural roots, purely a technical skill.
It required superhuman sharp perception and precise stable operation. Then analyzing ‘skin textures’ from vast experience to calculate hidden properties.
This craft was already close to palm reading and metaphysical analysis. Then came ‘pigment mixing’ involving supernatural knowledge, with these pigments using ‘five viscera sauce’ as medium, blending and balancing various polluted materials.
Finally, engraving ‘supernatural pigments’ into ‘skin’. Tailored to the material, the drawn tattoo patterns had both ‘symbolic’ meaning and ‘rune/array’ dual significance.
After hearing Nie Yin’s introduction, Yuan Zhu’s evaluation of her rose another level. If the Frog School was basic skills, then tattooing technique was a bonus.
This girl was buy-one-get-one-free, not so lame after all. He commented: “Though a niche obscure field, it’s indeed quite talented.”
He thought of the senior student, who was illegally researching ‘rogue immortal’ corpses in the School of Dangerous Botany. Herself without implanted ‘three flowers dao seed’, still maintaining mortal identity. Attending university purely to gain knowledge, accumulate lore and experience.
Simultaneously able to deeply research the Rogue Immortal System as a mortal, nurturing dao seeds to manufacture ‘rogue immortals’.
Meng Xiyue from neighboring Taixi University was similar, not even having a ‘seed’, yet carrying a skull server and going wild, already starting ‘insect system server networking’ in Insect City.
Both the type who themselves barely touched pollution, but had walked some distance in the pollution system. And could withdraw and switch industries to restart anytime.
Probably, that was the composure of ‘university students’?
In contrast, Yuan Zhu himself was completely different. Soul first bound to shadow pollution, only later realizing he needed to build his own supernatural system.
Or only by jumping into the holy light pollution quagmire, qualified to start cultivation from holy marks and seal casting, no chance for regret.
Since Nie Yin had no ‘pollution system’ in her body, Yuan Zhu couldn’t help asking curiously: “What’s your plan for future development? Which system do you want to cultivate?”
Frog Killer Girl shook her head: “Haven’t thought about it. I just want to perfect engraving technique, have capital to stand on my own, and pay off the academy’s debts. Then, based on my needs and strengths, find a suitable system.”
In Nie Yin’s view, top pollution roots had vast prospects but brutal internal competition with no chance to rise, joining meant becoming cannon fodder.
While garbage roots were everywhere, utterly without prospects. Thus, those qualified to attend university often had extremely high standards, not rushing to pick sides.
She was the same, holding the full basic knowledge of the Frog School; plus self-developed perfected tattooing technique. Finally find a boss to pay off her debts. Only then leisurely plan her life.
At this moment, she was at the final step. Yuan Zhu was interviewing her, and she was evaluating him.
The utterly clueless Candle, full of curiosity for this self-reliant Frog Killer Girl, enjoying the interviewer’s happiness: “I get why you’re not interested in the Frog School. But no interest in any of the supernatural inheritances that Rain Courtyard holds?”
Nie Yin lowered her head, thought, and decided to share some thoughts with Yuan Zhu. After all, he was the prospective boss, better gain his trust first.
“The academy’s supernatural schools aren’t suitable for me. I have some ideas about the Industrial God Kingdom, but the threshold is too high. So, I want to check out other ‘universities’.”
The Industrial God Kingdom’s minimum requirement was also a factory, and shaping a brand into godhood, backed by astronomical wealth.
Poor Frog Killer Girl achieving industrial legend? …Better wash up and sleep. Rest well, work hard skinning frogs, draw ‘frog skin tattoo stickers’, pay off school debts soon.
In Yuan Zhu’s view, since she hadn’t chosen a ‘supernatural system’, this was perfect for Anti-Law! Could focus on cultivating her, tempt her to work for him.
Yuan Zhu: “You came to see me, you should know I’m planning to employ you, right?”
Nie Yin nodded: “Mm, I’m prepared.”
Yuan Zhu hesitated: “How to put it? I’m not just employing you for part-time work and technical support. I want more! I need you deeply involved in my undertaking, you’ll contact many of my privacies and secrets.”
Hearing this, Nie Yin, head down avoiding Yuan’s gaze, had her small ears twitch slightly, revealing her restless heart.
She had long endured enough mindless grunt work; mentors always hid high-end paid teaching content, never showing it to ‘cattle and horse laborers’ like her.
Often before experiments started, she prepared equipment first, freshly killing frogs, skinning, decapitating, hands touching polluting materials. After finishing, she was cleared out.
After teachers finished imparting secret knowledge to paying students, she re-entered to clean up, handling various high-pollution, high-erosion ‘dangerous experiment bodies’, disinfecting and cleaning equipment.
Sometimes during dangerous operations in experiments, she had to take the hit. After completing, kicked out again, not allowed to observe secret teaching. Even so, she pieced together loads of unstructured ‘dangerous experiment operation tips’.
Now, though unclear what this ‘little boss’ was capable of?
But he indicated right away wanting some ‘illegal operations’, needing trusted ‘insiders’ to take hits for him… this promise made her heart race.
Wasn’t this the opportunity she lacked?
As for illegal, risks… Nie Yin didn’t care. Worst was if you were a plain honest frog farmer with no ambition, opening a garbage farming facility, low salary, wasting her youth.
As for illegal ‘orc human experiments’, unlicensed ‘magic potion development’, dangerous ‘Frog School experiments’, she wished for more. Normally not even qualified to observe, now finally her turn on stage!
I’m gonna go all out!
So Frog Killer Girl said weakly: “I’m willing!”
Why do you give off the vibe of marrying me?
Yuan Zhu shook his head: “No, I didn’t ask if you’re willing. I just want to say, I need secretive employees. I need you to earn my trust, not betray, report, or steal my research results! Surrender oath, get it?”
“Got it. I have a way!”
