NOVPUBChapter 409 -54: Acceptance
鈥淥h, that鈥檚 right,鈥 Sun Lingtong continued to remind.
鈥淒on鈥檛 forget about the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat. If you ever want to negotiate and purchase this heirloom treasure, the price鈥 I can hardly dare to think about it.鈥
Sun Lingtong suggested, 鈥淥therwise, let鈥檚 make a move together and turn Ten Thousand Medicine Sect upside down!鈥
鈥淧luck all their medicinal herbs, sell them on a grand scale, and we鈥檒l definitely make a large sum of money.鈥
鈥淭hen find an opportunity to steal the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat and that will settle everything!鈥
Ning Jiufan shook his head and remained silent.
...
Sun Lingtong said, 鈥淩elying on the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon, we still have a very good chance.鈥
鈥淩ight, I鈥檒l take action myself. You, Little Zhuo, should be active elsewhere at that time, fabricating an alibi.鈥
鈥淵ou still need your reputation.鈥
Ning Jiufan shook his head and sighed, 鈥淏ig Brother, let鈥檚 talk about this later. Let鈥檚 wait for our family elder to come over first.鈥
Yesterday, he had already received the letter sent by Ning Jiufan before he set out.
The letter, passed on through post stations, arrived at Ten Thousand Medicine Valley even faster than Ning Jiufan himself.
潡堭潣凁潣潡?co
Several days later.
At Little Struggle Peak, in the Martial Arts Arena.
Ning Jiufan鈥檚 sparring session with Hanzhou had ended.
Drenched in sweat, Ning Jiufan stared at Hanzhou, his gaze slightly blank.
The thought occurred to him鈥攚hat if he treated Hanzhou as a treasure material for making mechanisms, how much cost could he save?
鈥淚 truly am horribly poor,鈥 Ning Jiufan chuckled to himself, shaking his head to dismiss this ridiculous idea.
鈥淗uman life is precious! To use Hanzhou in such a way would indeed be a huge waste.鈥
Since the last reminder from Sun Lingtong, he had been feeling the financial pressures lately, pondering what he could do to make a large sum of money. 𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝙤𝒎
Exhausted, Hanzhou asked with curious and some kind of expectant tone, 鈥淒aoist Fellow Ning Jiufan, the day of Little Struggle is approaching, who do you plan to challenge this time?鈥
Ning Jiufan shook his head, 鈥淚n the short term, I plan to consolidate a bit. To me, the only ones worth challenging now are Zheng Xingchen and Lai Wuying.鈥
Hanzhou nodded.
He had sparred with Ning Jiufan several times, gaining a fuller understanding of the latter鈥檚 combat strength.
Despite Ning Jiufan鈥檚 mere early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation level, his combat strength was quite formidable thanks to his Mechanical Fist and Feet, definitely first-rate among those at Little Struggle Peak.
Chang Yan, Hua Guzi, and Ning Jiufan were already acknowledged to be in a class of their own.
And subtly above this class were only two individuals, whose past achievements left the others far behind. Zheng and Lai, even when fighting against Chang Yan, Hua Guzi, Luo Xiao, and others, were seldom defeated.
The two left the Martial Arts Arena and walked side by side.
Passers-by who saw them would all actively salute and greet them.
Whether it was Ning Jiufan or Hanzhou, both were well-known figures within Little Struggle Peak.
Hanzhou鈥檚 strength was remarkable. The low ranking of his Cave Mansion was mainly for two reasons:
One was that he cultivated the Suffering Scripture, which required him to endure hardship. Even without hardships, he had to deliberately seek them out to maintain the Bitter Cold True Intent in his Upper Dantian.
The other was so he could easily challenge other Cave Mansions from below and then deliberately 鈥渓ose鈥 to others, earning related profits.
The Suffering Scripture was one of the cultivation techniques Ning Jiufan knew of that required the least resources.
Even so, Hanzhou still had to work hard to earn Spirit Stones and the like, to facilitate the accumulation of mana and maintain his cultivation.
After all, cultivation is nothing but converting the material and energy of the outside world into one鈥檚 own strength through certain methods and cultivation techniques.
As for Ning Jiufan, his renown had now spread throughout the whole Ten Thousand Medicine Valley.
His fight with Hua Guzi had completely displayed his combat ability, silencing the doubters.
With his combat ability recognized, Ning Jiufan鈥檚 life became much more peaceful, with no more public opinion targeted at him.
Ning Jiufan understood in his heart: apart from his own display of strength, the eldest brother of Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, Linghu Jiu, must have also made a move, causing his junior brothers to restrain themselves and stop troubling Ning Jiufan.
The only downside was鈥
鈥淵oung Master Ning Jiufan, we meet again by chance!鈥 Around the corner, Hua Guzi rushed out like a blaze of fire.
Ning Jiufan and Hanzhou were taken aback.
鈥淏y chance?鈥 Ning Jiufan鈥檚 mouth twitched, 鈥淎 chance meeting three times a day鈥 Daoist Fellow Hua, I鈥檝e already made it clear to you, there鈥檚 no need for your apologies or your dumplings.鈥
Ning Jiufan sighed, feeling utterly helpless.
As for Hanzhou, he marveled in his heart that such a scene was actually taking place right before his eyes!
A few days ago, Hua Guzi came to apologize and brought Spirit Food Dumplings, which Ning Jiufan rejected on the spot.
Hanzhou had thought Hua Guzi would make a scene.
Instead, the next day, she came to apologize again, bringing a different set of dumplings, which was quite surprising to Hanzhou.
What surprised him even more was that Ning Jiufan still refused, avoiding her as much as possible.
Hanzhou privately advised Ning Jiufan to drop his guard a little, after all, Hua Guzi was a formidable fighter who had already apologized, there was no need to turn a potential friend into an enemy.
Instead, Ning Jiufan just told him, 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 understand.鈥
What followed shook Hanzhou鈥檚 understanding of the world profoundly.
No matter how much Ning Jiufan refused, Hua Guzi did not get upset but licked her face and continued to apologize incessantly. From once a day before, now it was three times a day, with increased intensity!
The colder Ning Jiufan was towards her, the more energetic she became, her attitude towards Ning Jiufan becoming almost ingratiating!
鈥淚s this really necessary?!鈥 Hanzhou always thought that even if Hua Guzi lost to Ning Jiufan, she was still considered in the same league on Little Struggle Peak, a high-level Foundation Establishment expert.
But she lost all the bearing of an expert and was like a dog.
Of course, she remained the same to others. It was only when facing Ning Jiufan that her attitude abruptly changed, becoming extremely humble and ingratiating.
After much puzzlement, Hanzhou finally turned his gaze to Ning Jiufan鈥檚 face.
He had an epiphany.
鈥淗as Hua Guzi reached the point where her heart is overflowing with spring feelings?鈥
This was the only answer that could somewhat ease Hanzhou鈥檚 bewilderment.
鈥淵oung Master Ning Jiufan obviously sees Hua Guzi鈥檚 feelings and doesn鈥檛 want to lead her on, so he keeps refusing her coldly.鈥
Ning Zhuo鈥檚 peculiar behavior suddenly had an explanation.
鈥淗ow did I not think of that?鈥
鈥淟ooking back, Young Master Ning Zhuo鈥檚 reaction was quite spirit sensitive. That very day, he noticed something was off and was utterly indifferent towards Hua Guzi.鈥
Hanzhou secretly admired Ning Zhuo. If it were him, he most definitely would not have noticed the shift in Hua Guzi鈥檚 mindset.
鈥淎s expected of a son carefully cultivated by a cultivator family.鈥
鈥淧resumably, such pursuits by women are something Young Master Ning Zhuo has encountered many times. Hence, Hua Guzi鈥檚 behavior immediately triggered his response.鈥
鈥淲hen comparing people with each other, it really is鈥︹€
Hanzhou looked at Ning Zhuo, then surveyed himself, shaking his head incessantly, his heart a mix of emotions.
鈥淵oung Master Ning Zhuo, this is my meticulously cultivated gold-plated phoenix tail flower. I earnestly pray that you will accept it, please!鈥 Hua Guzi鈥檚 eyes widened as she stared intently at Ning Zhuo, her face full of longing and hope.
Her pitiable look, as if she were about to burst into tears the next moment, made Hanzhou, a cultivator who practiced Buddhist scriptures, reluctant to refuse.
But Ning Zhuo still rejected her mercilessly.
鈥淗ow many times have I said that I need your apology? I bid you farewell, Daoist Fellow Hua.鈥
Ning Zhuo walked past Hua Guzi, continuing on his way.
鈥淵oung Master Ning Zhuo!鈥 Behind him, Hua Guzi turned around, calling out sadly, her tears rolling down, stirring a sense of desolation in the hearts of those who witnessed it.
Ning Zhuo walked even faster, all because through Life Hanging Thread, he sensed a strong excitement and joy in the depths of Hua Guzi鈥檚 heart.
Yuanlai Mountain.
Lin Shanshan stared at the intelligence in her hands, her expression ugly: 鈥淲hat鈥檚 with this Hua Guzi?鈥
鈥淓ver since she was defeated by Young Master Ning Zhuo, she has been clinging to him, with absolutely no regard for her dignity!鈥
Lin Shanshan clenched her teeth in anger.
The good news of Ning Zhuo鈥檚 victory over Hua Guzi had pleased her for not even a few days before she received such an intelligence report.
鈥淵oung Master Ning Zhuo rejected her again?鈥
鈥淚鈥檓 so glad he did!鈥
鈥淵oung Master Ning Zhuo, with such insight, naturally knows of your sinister intentions, how could he be easily deceived by you?鈥
Lin Shanshan鈥檚 gaze was cold.
Her personal maid, Xiaoju, stretched out her hand fearfully and waved it in front of Lin Shanshan: 鈥淢iss, please come to your senses, don鈥檛 look at me like that, I鈥檓 Xiaoju, Xiaoju, not Hua Guzi.鈥
Lin Shanshan was startled, then came to her senses and hastily apologized to Xiaoju.
Little Struggle Peak.
Ning Zhuo鈥檚 cave mansion.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 with this Hua Guzi?鈥 Sitting cross-legged on a cushion, Ning Zhuo also felt troubled.
He had not expected that a direct cold refusal not only failed to deter Hua Guzi, but instead made her even more excited and persistent.
鈥淏oss, what should we do under these circumstances?鈥 It was the first time Ning Zhuo had encountered such a person and, unwilling to harm her lightly, he sought Sun Lingtong鈥檚 opinion first.
Sun Lingtong laughed heartily from within the Mechanical Dragon.
It was just too amusing.
As Ning Zhuo aged, Sun Lingtong saw fewer instances of him being put in a spot.
Sun Lingtong really wanted to see more, so he held back his laughter and pretended to be serious: 鈥淟ittle Zhuo, in fact, Hua Guzi is a pitiable person.鈥
Ning Zhuo: 鈥?鈥
Sun Lingtong continued, 鈥淒o you think her temperament is normal?鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 a twisted temperament, indicating that she suffered more and more terrible traumas in her childhood.鈥
Ning Zhuo was silent for a while: 鈥淗earing you put it like that, I now feel differently about Hua Guzi.鈥
Sun Lingtong struck his palm with a fist: 鈥淪o, you should take action to save her.鈥
Ning Zhuo: 鈥淎h?鈥
Sun Lingtong added, 鈥淪uch a temperament makes it easy for her to become extreme. If you keep rejecting her like this, what if one day she becomes desperate and seeks her own death?鈥
Ning Zhuo still had his own ideas: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 unlikely, right? Every time I reject her, she seems secretly pleased.鈥
Sun Lingtong shook his head: 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 be certain with such people.鈥
鈥淛ust fear that from love she may come to hate, and if she can鈥檛 have you, she might seek to destroy you!鈥
Ning Zhuo frowned and sneered: 鈥淭he only reason I haven鈥檛 made a move on her is that I鈥檓 concerned about the rules here and value my reputation. If in the future she鈥︹€
鈥淣o, no, no,鈥 Sun Lingtong interrupted, 鈥淟ittle Zhuo, you鈥檝e misunderstood me.鈥
鈥淲hat I mean is, instead of letting her potentially come to hate you out of love, it鈥檇 be better for you to preemptively make your move and win her over.鈥
鈥淗er temperament is usually cultivated into that of a death soldier.鈥
鈥淭his is a crazy blade that needs to be carefully used. If handled poorly, it can harm oneself.鈥
Ning Zhuo shook his head repeatedly: 鈥淪he鈥檚 too crazy, to think that there are such people in this world! Alas, I actually don鈥檛 want to have any interaction with her.鈥
Sun Lingtong: 鈥淚f you truly leave her be, it鈥檚 very dangerous. Even if she doesn鈥檛 go after you, what about the branch family you鈥檙e creating? What then?鈥
鈥淕iven her current attitude towards you, tell me, when we leave, won鈥檛 she go looking for you in the Fire Persimmon Immortal City?鈥
Ning Zhuo鈥檚 frown deepened.
鈥淏oss, you鈥檙e right. But I have a premonition that if I agree and partially accept Hua Guzi, it will likely not end well.鈥
At that moment, a flying message arrived.
Upon unfolding it, it was a note from Hua Guzi.
Ning Zhuo鈥檚 complexion went slightly pale with a tinge of panic in his voice: 鈥淏oss, what do I do? Now she鈥檚 coming directly to my cave mansion!鈥
Sun Lingtong scanned the letter with his divine sense: 鈥淟ittle Zhuo, don鈥檛 panic. Look carefully at the content of the letter, Hua Guzi is actually offering to apologize with the cultivation methods of seven exotic flowers.鈥
鈥淭his is good stuff. If you give it to the family for use and it can scale up to become a business in the future, wouldn鈥檛 our resources for cultivation be guaranteed?鈥
鈥淭hese are priceless treasures.鈥
Ning Zhuo took a careful look, and indeed it was as such.
He fell into a brief silence.
A moment later, he let Hua Guzi into his cave mansion.
