Page 22

After finishing her speech, she couldn't help but applaud herself wildly in her heart. This was the true spirit of Lei Feng—doing good deeds without leaving a name.

Even if the male lead would never understand her painstaking efforts, she was a successor of socialism, after all. Looking at his pitiful appearance, she would just treat him like raising a son.

After all, the male lead had it truly miserable in the early stages.

Pei Ji was stunned: "I don't need it."

"I told you to take it, so take it. I don't care for this piece of junk bea-- ouch!"

Before Ning Ning could finish her sentence, someone knocked her hard on the head.

When she opened her eyes again, the Jade Palace before her had vanished like smoke and clouds. The three of them had actually returned to Tian Xianzi's shabby little courtyard.

"What do you mean, a piece of junk bead? This is called the Yin Mountain Ghost Pearl. It condenses most of the Ghost Mother's lifelong cultivation and is considered a high-grade magical treasure."

Tian Xianzi smiled helplessly: "You girl, I originally wanted to praise your performance today, but how did you end up being so ignorant of quality? You deserve to be broke."

Ning Ning frowned and puffed out her cheeks.

Master, you are clearly the person least qualified to say that!

"I and your Uncle-Master Zhen Xiao saw everything that happened during the trip to Zhaixing Pavilion."

Tian Xianzi said: "Lin Xun's temperament is still a bit too soft; when sword qi is born from the heart, the Sword Intent inevitably lacks ferocity. Pei Ji is meticulous and possesses a natural Sword Bone; he is a born Sword Cultivator, it is just a pity that his intent to kill is too heavy. As for Ning Ning—girl, how did you spot the clues in Zhaixing Pavilion?"

Ning Ning rubbed her nose and spouted nonsense: "I sensed demonic energy underground, but the senior brothers and sisters who had been there said Zhaixing Pavilion didn't have a basement. Recalling the records about opportunities in the Futuo Secret Records, I guessed it was the Yinshan Ghost Mother."

Tian Xianzi laughed heartily: "Not bad! Bold and meticulous, and you even realized a variation of the Golden Snake Sword Technique. You were the best today."

As he spoke, his eyes crinkled, and he reached into his other sleeve: "I specially prepared a small gift for you as a reward. Your master doesn't have many good things here, so I hope Ning Ning won't mind—take this, and go eat whatever you want."

Ning Ning's eyes immediately lit up.

Anything she wanted to eat! That must be a huge sum of money! No, wait, maybe it wasn't money, but some kind of super high-level token that would change the color of the sky and earth the moment it was revealed, causing the cafeteria aunties to bow down and call it a masterpiece, surrendering at her feet!

Thank you, Master! Master is the best! There is true love and affection even among the poor!

Then, Ning Ning's smile froze on her face.

She saw Tian Xianzi chuckle, his right hand moving slightly as he pulled from his sleeve a pair of...

A pair of chopsticks.

Ning Ning: Pupils earthquake.

Take the chopsticks and go eat whatever you want.

Perfect logic, full marks. As expected of you, Master.

After delivering the chopsticks and offering a brief critique, Tian Xianzi was dragged away by his senior martial brother for a sword duel.

Lin Xun, crestfallen, returned to his room to contemplate his Sword Intent. Before long, only Ning Ning and Pei Ji remained in the courtyard.

Pei Ji intended to return the Yin Mountain Ghost Pearl to her.

He had never accepted anything from others, nor had anyone ever been willing to give him anything. Previously, Ning Ning had assumed it was a useless, broken bead, so tossing it to him was somewhat reasonable. But now that Tian Xianzi had revealed its true value, she was likely secretly regretting her earlier impulsiveness.

The youth in the black shirt furrowed his brows, speaking in a low, unnatural voice: "Senior Sister."

Why was he calling her?

Ning Ning turned around and saw Pei Ji's dark, gloomy phoenix eyes. Even though the shape of his eyes was inherently alluring, he had forcibly imbued them with a sinister chill, like a wolf silently watching her.

The male lead shouldn't like a spoiled and arrogant Senior Sister like her. For him to suddenly act like this, could it be...

Ning Ning quickly tucked the chopsticks in her hands against her chest. "W-why are you looking at me? Envious that I got the chopsticks? No way, not happening."

Just kidding. A villainous supporting character wouldn't be that generous. The male lead must be unhappy that she had gained the Master's favor, staring at a pair of chopsticks without end.

Hadn't she already given him the Yin Mountain Ghost Pearl?

Pei Ji: ...

He was clutching that priceless bead in his hand; how could she only see those wooden chopsticks?

However, Ning Ning didn't give him a chance to explain. She turned around and slipped away, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

"My god, the Yin Mountain Ghost Pearl—a treasure hundreds of years old—and she just gave it to you like that? I think this girl is either an idiot or she likes you."

Chengying gasped, drawing a heartfelt conclusion: "But how could a person be stupid to that extent? That wouldn't even seem human. So, she must like you." Pei Ji remained silent, lowering his eyes to look at the Yin Mountain Ghost Pearl in his palm.

The round bead, the size of a fingernail, was a vibrant, dripping green, radiating an inexplicable sense of seduction under the sunlight. Its emerald luster was dazzling and charming, as if it could leap straight into one's heart.

Ever since he could remember, he had lived amidst his mother's beatings and neglect.

The children nearby all knew he was the son of a Devilish Cultivator. Out of fear of the Devil Race, no one was willing to be friends with him; instead, they often gathered together to corner him and kick him.

This was the first time someone had been willing to give him a gift.

Especially such a precious item.

It was like a child who had never tasted candy suddenly receiving a sweet treat. Even if the candy was fragrant, for Pei Ji, who didn't know what sweetness was, the primary feeling was one of confusion and bewilderment.

He didn't understand why Ning Ning wanted to be good to him.

Especially... when he was in such a wretched state.

Chengying's chattering continued in his ear: "This girl is so great! She's pretty, kind-hearted, and goes out of her way to help you. If I were you, I would have already fallen for the fairy's skirts—hey, don't walk away! Pei Ji, where are you going?"

The fair-skinned youth with red lips and white teeth tucked the bead away, though a lingering gloom remained in the depths of his eyes: "Practice the sword."

Ning Ning spent a few days recuperating in the small courtyard before she received another task notification from the system.

[Ding-dong!]

[After the battle at Zhaixing Pavilion, you felt bored and idle. While planning to head to Qingxu Valley to clear your mind, you unexpectedly encounter Elder Wen Hemian of Xuanxu, who has lost all his cultivation.]