NOVPUB
Chapter 395: Chapter 282 Strike
Hu Miao Town was less than 70 kilometers in a straight line to the urban area of Yuzhou City.
Traveling by Spirit Boat, it only took a few minutes to reach the airspace above the river dam.
Looking down at the familiar environment below, Jiang Ning covered the bungalow with his Divine Sense.
It was two in the afternoon, and Aunt Gu was still at work.
This gave Jiang Ning a great deal of convenience as he steered the invisible Spirit Boat, landing directly in the courtyard.
He then carried Xue Yuantong, pushed open the bedroom door, and laid her on the bed.
To prevent Xue Yuantong from waking up early and noticing the time discrepancy, Jiang Ning meticulously set up the Calming Array to ensure she slept more soundly.
Xue Yuantong slept close to the edge of the bed, taking up very little space. Jiang Ning sat cross-legged beside her, lit the "Soul Suppressing Fragrance," and quietly cultivated.
Faint smoke filled the room, the smoke beneficial to the spirit and harmless to Xue Yuantong.
Jiang Ning’s Divine Sense had stagnated for quite some time, as had his Qi Cultivation, still at the Eighth Layer.
His cultivation speed wasn’t slow, but because he was cultivating while engaging in worldly activities, time passed exceedingly slow.
Unlike in the Cultivation World, where there was no sense of the passing years and even the most ordinary Qi Refining cultivator could spend at least ten days to several months in seclusion during cultivation.
Whereas Jiang Ning, spending each day earnestly, certainly could not enter seclusion as he used to, or else those around him might think he was critically ill and take him to the hospital.
The bedroom was silent as Xue Yuantong slept soundly.
By around four, Jiang Ning found an opportunity to go outside and unlock the front door.
He remembered that his mountain bike was still parked in the city. However, since it was Saturday and there was no evening self-study, he was not in a hurry to retrieve it.
Then, Jiang Ning turned on the bedroom lamp and leaned back in the chair to read.
Not long after, a noise came from outside, signalling that Aunt Gu had returned from work.
After parking her electric scooter, Aunt Gu moved to the neighboring courtyard. She had seen the front door of the neighboring house open when she came back.
"Jiang Ning, is Tongtong in your room?" Aunt Gu called from outside.
Jiang Ning responded, "She’s on my bed."
"Oh, don’t let her sleep too long, or she won’t be able to sleep tonight," Aunt Gu advised, not thinking much of it since her daughter often played in Jiang Ning’s room and staying on his bed was quite normal.
She considered Jiang Ning a decisive person who knew what mattered.
Jiang Ning replied, "Mhm, she’s been in the car all day, I’ll call her soon."
Half an hour later, Xue Yuantong woke up.
She opened her eyes slightly, still somewhat groggy, and looking at Jiang Ning under the lamp, she asked:
"Jiang Ning, has the car arrived?"
"The car has left," Jiang Ning said.
"Ah? Then what do we do? Can’t we go home?" Xue Yuantong, clutching the blanket, was anxious.
If they couldn’t go home, what would she and Jiang Ning do at night? Sleep on the streets?
Or in the park?
Jiang Ning reassured, "No, we are already home."
Upon hearing this, Xue Yuantong was initially in disbelief. After rubbing her eyes and becoming more alert, she looked around and realized the room’s setup was very familiar.
Wasn’t this the room she usually stayed in?
"Jiang Ning, did I sleep all the way here?" Xue Yuantong exclaimed in disbelief.
"Yes, I carried you back."
Xue Yuantong was speechless...
It turned out she could sleep so soundly that she hadn’t woken up during the entire journey.
Xue Yuantong calmed herself for half a minute, and as her drowsy mind completely cleared, she realized for a long time she hadn’t had such a stress-free journey home.
Just thinking about it told her how challenging the journey from the town to the city could be.
All along the way, Jiang Ning had taken care of her... Xue Yuantong’s forehead tingled, her heart filled with warmth.
In a gentle tone, she asked, "Jiang Ning, are you tired?"
"Tired."
"Very tired? Let me massage you."
Jiang Ning joked, "Of course, it was quite strenuous carrying you today."
Xue Yuantong was silent for a moment: "Hmm, I should eat less from now on."
Her logic was simple: as long as she ate less, it would be much easier for Jiang Ning.
...
It was 7 o’clock in the evening.
The sky had darkened, and the large green wheat field in front of the bungalow took on an eerie tint.
The kitchen light was warm and soft.
Aunt Gu was busy in the kitchen while Jiang Ning and Xue Yuantong sat on small stools.
It was Saturday, and Class 8’s group chat was unusually active.
The group’s name had been changed to ’Class 8 Family’ by Huang Zhongfei.
Yu Wen said, "Did you guys hear? Class 11 is putting on a big dance performance, and all their girls are participating!"
Cui Yu scoffed, "Making a spectacle of themselves!"
How could Dong Qingfeng let Cui Yu mock the girls from the other class? He jumped at the chance to say:
"They are not making a spectacle of themselves!"
In the city center, Shen Qing’e had just finished dinner. She was watching TV on the couch, surrounded by her sister, brother-in-law, and her brother-in-law’s mother, who was also Jiang Ning’s aunt.
Shen Qing’e picked up her phone, looked at the messages in the group, and typed:
"Class 11 is impressive; don’t forget, during the military training at the start of school, Class 11 won a prize."
Yu Wen added, "Only Classes 1, 3, and 11 won prizes then."
Cui Yu fought back in the group, "What does boosting others’ class morale count for? Aren’t you guys from Class 8?"
Meng Gui cheered for his good brother, "Born a Class 8 person, die a Class 8 soul."
Song Sheng taunted, "Just don’t die in front of me. Die far away."
Song Sheng was very arrogant, often looking down on others, and many classmates did not like him.
Zhang Chi mockingly remarked, "Brother Sheng is truly experienced from his internship in the hospital, having seen life and death, truly a big shot!"
Zhang Chi, now the sports committee member, unafraid of anyone in the class without the burden of financial aid, said:
"Zhang Chi, are you looking for death?" Song Sheng.
"Do I want to die or live, what’s it to you?" Zhang Chi retorted boldly,
He dared challenge Qi Tianheng and even dared upset Yan Tianpeng, a bear of a man who was nearly 1.9 meters tall. Song Sheng’s so-called threats were nothing to him.
Song Sheng warned, "Just you wait."
Zhang Chi hit back playfully, "No, no, no, not as cool as my Brother Sheng."
