Chapter 98: Chapter 96: Sinner of the Ning Family? You’ve Missed the Greatest Stroke of Fortune
The atmosphere in the room was heavy. Everyone was glaring at Ning Jiang, and even the old patriarch, Ning Shoujing, wore a grim expression.
Anyone walking into such an atmosphere would feel a heavy, oppressive weight.
Ning Jiang remained calm and composed, his tone casual. "What disgrace?"
Seeing his nonchalant demeanor, the anger in Ning Feng’s eyes flared. "It’s all your fault! You don’t know what’s good for you. You offended Song Mu’Er, and because of that, Song Ziwen kicked us out of the party. Tell me, isn’t this your fault!"
"What does that have to do with me?" Ning Jiang said coolly.
’Song Ziwen is clever. He probably found out that I’m not on good terms with Ning Feng and the others, so he kicked them out.’
’It’s understandable that he’d do that to get on my good side, but what does it have to do with me?’
’I never told Song Ziwen to do it!’
"What does it have to do with you?"
Ning Feng’s voice was laced with hatred. "Today, Song Ziwen approached me himself. He even called me Brother Ning, a sign of closeness. Do you know what that means? It means I had a chance to become his friend! But as soon as he asked for your name and heard we knew you, his face changed, and he threw us out of the party."
Ning Feng’s father, Ning Changhan, had a dark expression. ’The benefits of befriending a person like Song Ziwen would be immense.’
’If Ning Feng wants to become the Ning Family’s Clan Leader in the future, Song Ziwen’s help would save him a great deal of effort.’
"Ning Shan has always liked Song Ziwen. She dressed up today just to see him. I was planning to introduce them! With her beauty, she had a real shot at becoming a couple with him. But you... you ruined everything."
The more Ning Feng spoke, the angrier he became.
He was being clever with his words. Saying Ning Shan had a real chance with Song Ziwen was a complete fabrication, designed to make Ning Jiang’s supposed mistake seem worse.
Ning Shan clenched her delicate fists, her gaze turning icy. Her heart filled with anger toward Ning Jiang, with whom she had once been so close.
Ning Shan’s father, Ning Changming, gripped the armrest of his chair so hard it shattered into powder.
’That was Song Ziwen! The number one genius of the Song Family, the most prominent figure of Baiquan Town’s younger generation. With his talent, it was a given that he would one day lead the Song Family.’
’In the future, Song Ziwen was destined to become a titan who ruled over this part of Baiquan Town.’
’If Ning Shan could get together with Song Ziwen, her status would skyrocket. She’d become a noble lady envied by everyone in Baiquan Town.’
’And the Ning Family would reap enormous benefits from the connection.’
’But Ning Jiang had ruined it all.’
"And you, Ning Yu’an, you’re just shameless! Song Mu’Er had her eye on a necklace. I could have used that necklace to get on her good side and eventually win her over. But you wouldn’t even give me that much face—you just walked out! You made me offend Song Mu’Er and miss a golden opportunity."
Ning Feng gritted his teeth. He had liked Song Mu’Er for a long time, yet things had ended up in this state.
"You two bastards! You are the criminals of the Ning Family!"
Ning Changhan slammed his hand on the table, shot to his feet, and pointed at Ning Jiang and Ning Yu’an, cursing furiously.
"Criminals of the Ning Family"—this was a severe accusation.
Only those who had committed grave errors and heinous crimes would be branded with the word "criminal."
Yet, no one thought his words were out of line.
They all felt that what Ning Jiang and Ning Yu’an had done today had cost them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Such opportunities were rare and couldn’t be sought out.
"Sigh."
Ning Shoujing sighed, speechless.
He was old and shrewd; he understood perfectly well how valuable a connection with Song Ziwen would be. It was truly a shame to have missed out on connecting with such an important person.
Ning Yu’an’s face was as cold as ice. The accusations being thrown around today were completely baseless.
’If you’re determined to find fault, you’ll never lack for an excuse.’
"Song Ziwen wanted nothing to do with you, so now you’re blaming my brother and me for it? Have you no shame?"
Facing what felt like the condemnation of the entire room, Ning Yu’an said furiously.
"Ning Yu’an, how dare you speak to your elders that way? Have you no upbringing!" Ning Changhan snapped.
"An elder? You dare call yourself that? You were Qin Lie’s dog, trying to force me to marry him! You stood by and watched as Qin Lie injured my brother! Did you act like my elder then?"
A sharp pain stabbed at Ning Yu’an’s heart as she brought this up.
"I was doing it for your own good," Ning Changhan said, his face darkening as he assumed an air of self-righteousness.
"For my own good? What a noble-sounding excuse. You were only thinking of your own benefit, so you sacrificed my happiness without a second thought. I’m your niece, yet you could be so heartless. How dare someone like you claim to have my best interests at heart? You’re a complete hypocrite."
Ning Yu’an’s words were sharp. These so-called relatives made her heart grow cold.
"Shut up, Ning Yu’an! If you dare disrespect my father again, I’ll teach you a lesson myself!" Ning Feng roared, unleashing the aura of his Innate Realm cultivation.
"Sister An, don’t waste your breath on them."
Ning Jiang’s eyes were calm, but a cold, sharp glint flickered in their depths. "They’re just a bunch of petty social climbers. How could they understand that to forge good steel, the blacksmith must be strong? They only think about clinging to the powerful, never realizing that if you become strong enough, others will come clinging to you."
"Deep mountain gorges are where Flood Dragons are often found; tall phoenix trees are where Phoenixes come to roost!"
The principle was simple: the strong never lack for followers. Rather than clinging to others, it was better to become strong and have others cling to you.
"Arrogant," Ning Feng sneered. "What right do you have to say that? You think you’re stronger than Song Ziwen? Then how come no one’s clinging to you?"
The patriarch, Ning Shoujing, shook his head as well. ’Becoming one of the strong is hardly so easy. The Ning Family has existed for four generations, yet we’re still just a minor, third-rate family.’
’For a sixteen-year-old boy to say such things was the height of youthful arrogance.’
Only Ning Yu’an knew the truth. ’These people have no idea what Ning Jiang is capable of.’
’The line of people wanting to get on Ning Jiang’s good side would be endless. What was Song Ziwen in comparison? Wasn’t he just another person trying desperately to please him?’
"Ning Jiang, Ning Yu’an, don’t say we aren’t giving you a chance," Ning Feng said, his tone turning righteous. "You’ve both made a terrible mistake and deserve to be punished. But since we’re all family, we can be magnanimous and let you off with a light disciplinary action."
"You two spent a hundred thousand Primordial Stones on jewelry at Jadeite Pavilion. You must have stumbled upon a great fortune and acquired a large sum of Primordial Stones. Hand them over as your apology."
’Since Ning Jiang could spend a hundred thousand Primordial Stones without batting an eye, he must have plenty more on him.’
"So, you called Sister An and me criminals just to get your hands on my Primordial Stones," Ning Jiang said with a cold laugh. "Fine. It’s true, I have a lot more Primordial Stones on me. Over a million!"
"What?"
Hearing this, all of them were stunned.
’A million Primordial Stones! The entire Ning Family’s assets combined didn’t amount to that much. How could Ning Jiang be so rich!’
"You have to compensate each of us with at least thirty thousand Primordial Stones... no, fifty thousand!" Ning Ding’s breathing grew ragged.
An Ordinary Innate Realm expert typically only had a net worth of ten thousand Primordial Stones.
Many would turn on their friends for a thousand Primordial Stones; ten thousand was enough to drive people to murder.
"No! You’ll hand over every last Primordial Stone you have. Don’t leave a single one behind." Ning Feng was even greedier, making an outrageous demand and intending to leave Ning Jiang with nothing.
"That’s right. Hand them over," Ning Changhan said sharply.
"Hurry up," Ning Changming barked.
The group of them already seemed to consider Ning Jiang’s Primordial Stones their own property, their tone demanding and aggressive.
"Grandfather." Ning Yu’an looked to Ning Shoujing, her heart growing colder than ever at the behavior of these elders.
Ning Shoujing was silent for a moment before sighing. "An Girl, since you have so many Primordial Stones, you should share some. As your grandfather, I’ll make the decision: you two children can keep a tenth. The rest will be divided among your cousins. By sharing resources and standing united, all of you can improve your strength together."
Ning Yu’an said no more.
’Share resources? These Primordial Stones all belong to Ning Jiang. What right do they have to make him hand them over?’
’If they’re so capable, they should go earn it themselves!’
"Heh heh heh heh..."
Staring at their greedy, fervent eyes, Ning Jiang laughed, but his laughter was like a cold winter wind that made everyone uneasy. "I would sooner give my Primordial Stones to a dog than give a single one to any of you!"
"What did you say?"
No one expected Ning Jiang to say something so vicious.
"You arrogant brat, you’re constantly spouting insolence. Today, I have no choice but to teach you a lesson."
Ning Feng stepped forward, putting on an air of righteous indignation. "Admit your mistake and hand over the Primordial Stones now. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being merciless."
"Insignificant as an ant."
Ning Jiang was perfectly composed, his voice dripping with contempt. "If you can withstand a single strike from my finger, what would it matter if I gave you all my Primordial Stones?"
"You’re courting death."
Ning Feng flew into a rage. "You, a mere Postnatal Realm cultivator, dare to spout such nonsense? Watch me put you on the ground in a single move!"
He charged forward, appearing before Ning Jiang in a single stride.
SWISH!
He wielded a great axe, bringing it down in a ferocious diagonal chop. The massive blade cut through the air, creating a sharp sonic boom.
The strike was so heavy and powerful, it could split a block of iron in two, let alone a person.
"So strong! He’s an Innate Realm expert, after all."
Ning Shan and the others gasped in amazement. No one from the Ning Family’s younger generation could have possibly withstood such a blow.
’And based on what they knew of Ning Jiang’s strength, there was no way he could be a match for this.’
"One finger strike? Let’s see how you make a fool of yourself," Ning Ding sneered.
Ning Jiang didn’t retreat an inch. He slowly extended his fair, slender hand. The movement was silent, as gentle as a spring breeze or a soft rain.
Then, under everyone’s horrified gazes, he bent his middle finger back and flicked it gently against the sharp edge of the axe.
Everyone thought he had gone mad.
Trying to block an axe with a finger was like trying to smash a rock with an egg.
BANG!
But when that finger flicked out and slammed against the axe blade, every single jaw in the room dropped.
The axe had come fast, but it flew back even faster.
Ning Feng felt as if his axe had been struck by a meteor. An irresistible Power surged through it, a force he couldn’t possibly hold against. The webbing of his hands split open on the spot.
The axe flew backward, slamming hard into his chest.
*Pfft.*
Ning Feng spat out a mouthful of blood as his body was sent flying. Several of his ribs shattered on impact.
*Hiss!*
Ning Shan and the others gasped, their eyes wide with horror.
"Sigh... The annual assembly is tomorrow."
At this, Ning Yu’an sighed. Her gaze was complex, a mixture of pity and scorn for these pathetic, ignorant people. "Wait until tomorrow. Then you’ll understand just how foolish you’ve all been tonight. Ning Shan, you want to marry Song Ziwen. Ning Feng, you want to marry Song Mu’Er. In truth, my brother could have made all of that happen with a single word."
"But you didn’t understand."
"You threw away your chance with my brother."
"You threw away... the greatest opportunity of your lives!"
With that, Ning Yu’an took Ning Jiang’s hand, turned, and walked away.
