Chapter 93: Chapter 91: The Past, Almost Died
On the third floor of the Jadeite Pavilion, the entire space suddenly fell silent.
What did one hundred thousand Primordial Stones represent?
An ordinary Innate Realm expert had a net worth of around ten thousand Primordial Stones.
One hundred thousand Primordial Stones was a sum only the clan leaders of second-tier families could produce.
Even the fortune of a figure like Patriarch Ning was definitely no more than one hundred thousand Primordial Stones.
What’s more, Ning Jiang had just produced one hundred thousand Primordial Stones with a placid expression, as if it were as simple and trivial as eating or drinking.
It was as if one hundred thousand Primordial Stones were merely a drop in the bucket to him.
’What kind of incredible luck did this kid stumble upon? How does he have so many Primordial Stones!’ Ning Ding was both green with envy and seething with jealousy.
He wasn’t the only one. Even Ning Feng couldn’t help but clench his fists, his breathing growing heavy.
For a Martial Artist, Primordial Stones were an extremely important—an indispensable—resource.
’One hundred thousand Primordial Stones, and he’s using them to buy jewelry? If I had them...’
Ning Feng was deeply resentful. If those one hundred thousand Primordial Stones were in his hands, he could purchase Treasure Artifacts, Elixirs, Cultivation Techniques, and Martial Techniques to further enhance his own strength.
For example, he desperately wanted an Upper Grade Treasure Artifact.
But an Upper Grade Treasure Artifact cost tens of thousands of Primordial Stones, a price he currently couldn’t afford.
Yet Ning Jiang actually had one hundred thousand Primordial Stones and was using them to buy jewelry. In his eyes, such an act was nothing short of squandering a fortune.
"Are you insane, spending one hundred thousand Primordial Stones on jewelry?" Ning Feng couldn’t help but blurt out.
"What I do with my Primordial Stones is none of your business." Ning Jiang’s single sentence made Ning Feng’s face turn ashen.
Ning Shan’s beautiful eyes were wide with shock, which then turned to envy for Ning Yu’an. After all, Ning Jiang was buying all this jewelry for her.
’If we hadn’t grown distant, maybe he would have bought things for me, too...’ Ning Shan sighed internally. ’What’s past is past.’
She shook her head, forcing herself not to dwell on it. ’So what if Ning Jiang has a lot of Primordial Stones? He’s still far from being a match for that person from the Song Family. In the end, what matters most for a Martial Artist is strength and background.’
"Who knows what dirty tricks they used to get so many Primordial Stones. Maybe Ning Yu’an sold herself to some top-level expert, trading her body for them," Zhang Tong said snidely from the side.
Using one’s beauty to curry favor with the rich and powerful was hardly uncommon; she herself had seen it many times.
’In fact, if the other party had enough Primordial Stones, I wouldn’t mind sacrificing myself a little and making a physical transaction.’
Ning Yu’an’s face darkened. Zhang Tong’s words were a blatant insult, a slander against her purity.
If word of this got out, who knew what others would think of her.
For a woman, her innocence was more important than her life or fortune.
"Zhang Tong, you seem to really like this pair of bracelets. I’ll buy them for you."
Ning Jiang said suddenly, his tone amicable and devoid of any hostility. "You and Sister An used to be friends. That bond still exists. There’s no need to say such nasty things."
"Buy them for me?"
Zhang Tong was stunned. Her gaze fell upon the pair of cyan bracelets. She had taken a liking to them the moment she walked in, but the price of five thousand Primordial Stones had been daunting.
"That’s right. As long as you apologize to Sister An." A cold glint flashed in the depths of Ning Jiang’s eyes.
"This..."
Zhang Tong hesitated for a long time, but in the end, she couldn’t resist the temptation of the bracelets. She turned to Ning Yu’an and said, "I was wrong just now. I shouldn’t have said those things. I’m sorry."
"Is that good enough?" Zhang Tong asked, looking at Ning Jiang.
"It is." Ning Jiang bought the bracelets with a deadpan expression.
Just as Zhang Tong reached out with a joyful expression to take them, Ning Jiang’s palm trembled slightly.
CRACK.
Before Zhang Tong’s shocked eyes, the Jade Bracelet shattered, turning to dust.
"A mere pair of bracelets worth five thousand Primordial Stones was enough to make you bow your head and admit you’re wrong, even to make you abandon your dignity. Zhang Tong, you truly are pathetically cheap."
Ning Jiang’s calm words pierced Zhang Tong’s heart like an awl.
The color drained from Zhang Tong’s face.
"I would rather destroy these bracelets than give them to you. Remember this: if you dare to insult Sister An again, I won’t just kill you—I’ll make your entire Zhang Family die with you! Get out!"
With Ning Jiang’s explosive roar, Zhang Tong stumbled back three steps, feeling a terrifying pressure bearing down on her from him.
It lasted only for an instant, but in that moment, she felt as if she couldn’t breathe. Her body went stiff, and it was as though she was about to die.
The once calm and nonchalant Ning Jiang, upon revealing his edge, seemed to have transformed into Yama, the Sovereign of life and death, who held absolute power and could decide a person’s fate with a single word.
Zhang Tong’s face was pale. Not daring to say another word, she hastily fled the area.
"Little brother, there’s no need to get angry over someone like that. Let’s go, too."
Always considerate, Ning Yu’an found herself comforting Ning Jiang instead.
"Let’s go. We’re heading to the gathering." After the two had left, Ning Feng and the others departed as well.
「On Crescent Lake, under the evening sun.」
A small, black-canopied boat drifted slowly across the water.
There were quite a few small boats on the vast lake, most of them carrying young couples.
Crescent Lake was a perfect rendezvous spot for young lovers. Countless couples had pledged their lives to each other here, vowing to stay together forever.
"Little brother, you bought over a dozen pieces of jewelry in one go. How could I possibly wear so many?" Ning Yu’an stood at the bow of the boat, her tone feigning complaint, but her heart was filled with joy.
’My little brother has really grown up,’ she thought. ’He even knows to buy me gifts now.’
"You can rotate through the extra ones later, Sister An. You women should always have some extra jewelry to switch between. Here, Sister An, let me put this on for you."
Ning Jiang held the Heart of the Crescent Moon. It was a necklace with a chain made of fine crystal and a pendant in the shape of a bright yellow crescent, reminiscent of Crescent Lake itself.
The crescent moon emitted a faint, moonlight-like glow. It was sparkling and clear, obviously of considerable value.
Ning Jiang stood behind Ning Yu’an, fastening the chain. The warmth of his breath on her flawless, snow-white neck made her heart suddenly beat a little faster, and a blush rose on her beautiful face.
"And the hairpin."
The hairpin was made of white jade, brilliant and translucent. Faint traces of milky white could be seen within the jade, making it look even more delicate. Several tassels hung from it, chiming crisply as they swayed in the wind.
Last was a pair of Jade Bracelets. They were a solid purple color, without the slightest impurity, and they emitted a hazy violet light that perfectly matched Ning Yu’an’s purple dress.
This pair of bracelets was three times more expensive than the ones Zhang Tong had coveted.
"There."
After she had put everything on, Ning Jiang gazed at the elegant woman before him. Her face was slightly flushed, her expression shy. Her already flawless beauty was enhanced by the jewelry, making her all the more captivating.
"Am I pretty?" Seeing Ning Jiang staring at her, Ning Yu’an couldn’t help but ask.
"Sister An has always been beautiful," Ning Jiang said with a smile, speaking the simple truth.
"You’re getting better and better with your words, little brother." Ning Yu’an’s face grew even redder.
"Sister An, do you remember how we used to come here to play all the time?" Ning Jiang recalled the past. Those had been happy times.
"Of course, I remember. How could I ever forget?" Ning Yu’an said, then something else occurred to her. "And that other person."
The image of a silent, reticent girl with a full head of silver hair surfaced in her mind...
"You never liked her, Sister An," Ning Jiang said with a faint smile.
"Hmph. Of course I don’t like her. You almost died back then because of her," Ning Yu’an snorted, her voice full of displeasure at the memory.
"That’s all in the past. It’s been six years since I last saw her. Who knows, maybe she’ll come back this year," Ning Jiang’s voice drifted faintly across the lake’s surface.
The water rippled as the small boat continued its slow advance.
In the center of Crescent Lake, on a small island, a gathering was underway.
