Some Families Rejoice, Some Families Grieve

Wang Yunchong saw Ning Xiaochuan deep in thought, assuming he was contemplating how to punish him. He pleaded again, "Brother Ning Xiaochuan, we're actually the same kind of people. In the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion, you're known as 'Sickly Ning,' enduring endless humiliation. I'm not much better off; people call me Wang Yunchong to my face, but behind my back, they call me 'Wang **'. I'm actually a very decent person!"

"If you were decent, would you still go to the brothel?"

Ning Xiaochuan smiled, stood up, and walked out, leaving Wang Yunchong kneeling on the ground alone.

Ning Xiaochuan wasn't one to press his advantage. A small fry like Wang Yunchong was merely a pawn being used by others. If he really broke his legs and cut out his tongue, the matter would inevitably escalate.

And escalating the matter would do Ning Xiaochuan no good.

Wang Yunchong felt as though he had been completely drained of water. He didn't know how long it took before he finally stood up, realizing that Ning Xiaochuan had spared him. He felt a sense of relief, as if he had survived a disaster.

"This time, you really deserved it; you almost got me killed too," Wang Shi said grimly.

Wang Yunchong said with a mournful face, "Third Brother, I didn't know how Ning Xiaochuan suddenly became a Heart Nourisher. Just three days ago, he was clearly still a sickly weakling."

Wang Shi said, "There's another thing I need to tell you: Ning Han is really dead. It happened just yesterday, killed by the Blood Devouring Demon Sect."

Wang Yunchong had already breathed a sigh of relief, but after hearing Wang Shi's words, he was so frightened that he fell to the ground again, "Blood... Devouring... Demon... Sect."

Wang Shi wasn't just some playboy; he was a talented individual from the Celestial Elephant Marquis's Mansion, extremely meticulous in his actions. He said, "I've investigated Ning Xiaochuan's records. When his Mother was alive, she was a member of the Demonic Sect, and held a very high position within the Demonic Sect."

Wang Yunchong's face turned pale with fright, "You... you're saying that Ning Xiaochuan ordered people from the Demonic Sect to kill Ning Han? Third Brother, Third Brother, you must save me! The Demonkin of the Blood Devouring Demon Sect eat human flesh and drink human blood; I don't want to be eaten alive by them!"

"Alas! Why didn't you think of this earlier? I can't save you; only Ning Xiaochuan can. Even if he doesn't deal with you, those people from the Demonic Sect will definitely take your life," Wang Shi said.

Wang Yunchong said, "I understand, I understand. Ning Xiaochuan is very fond of a Silver-Ranked Music Courtesan at the Jade Viewing Pavilion. I'll buy that Silver-Ranked Music Courtesan and give her to him as an apology."

Wang Shi sighed and shook his head. If Wang Yunchong weren't his own younger brother, he wouldn't bother getting involved in this mess. He stopped Wang Yunchong and reminded him again, "I've already inquired with the people from the Golden Roc Heart Nourishing Hall. Ning Xiaochuan is indeed a Heart Nourisher, which means he has been hiding his cultivation all along. This is likely a chess piece laid out by the Blood Devouring Demon Sect. Therefore, you'd better not reveal a single word about Ning Xiaochuan's affairs to anyone. This is not something we can meddle in. It's best to pretend you know nothing, or you might save your life."

"I will absolutely keep my mouth shut; I wouldn't dare say a single word." Wang Yunchong's legs were trembling, feeling that provoking Ning Xiaochuan was the most foolish thing he had ever done in his life.

The number one Royal Mansion of the Yulan Empire, the Golden Roc Royal Mansion.

The Golden Roc Royal Mansion was magnificent and grand. Jade Stones, each a foot wide, paved the corridors, and golden pillars as thick as a person's embrace supported towering palace buildings, as luxurious and precious as the Imperial Palace itself.

Steward Hua was currently in the Golden Roc Royal Mansion, reporting Ning Xiaochuan's affairs to Yu Qianqian.

Yu Qianqian wore a Azure Silk Robe embroidered with golden patterns, paired with a moon-white long skirt. Her figure was as slender as a crescent moon, and her skin was as tender as Jade Stone. Although she was just a young girl, her stunningly beautiful oval face was enough to make women all over the world jealous! This was the aura that only a Princess Consort of a Royal Marquis's Mansion could possess. Women from ordinary families might also be beautiful, but they would never have her noble and elegant bearing.

"Refining ten stalks of Nourishing Heart Grass in one night, each yielding four drops of Heart Nourishing Elixir, is too incredible, too incredible. This is a Peerless Prodigy in cultivating as a Heart Nourisher! His Martial Heart Palace must be a Variant Heart Palace; ordinary people simply cannot reach this level." A look of amazement filled Yu Qianqian's Star Eyes.

Her Martial Heart Palace was also a Variant Heart Palace, known as the "Immortal Lotus Heart Palace." The shape of her heart was like a jade lotus flower, capable of emitting the fragrance of lotus, and her skin was even whiter and more translucent than a lotus flower, with a lingering fragrance around her body.

She was also a genius in cultivating as a Heart Nourisher, but she could only refine six stalks of Nourishing Heart Grass each day, far from reaching Ning Xiaochuan's terrifying level.

Steward Hua said, "This young man is indeed quite remarkable, and his future achievements are limitless. However..."

Yu Qianqian said, "However, what?"

Steward Hua bowed to Yu Qianqian and said, "This subordinate has investigated his background. He is the fourth-generation descendant of the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion. Because he was born with a hidden illness and could not cultivate Martial Dao Profound Qi, he was known as Sickly Ning, and had very little status in the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion. But through my contact with him, this young man is anything but a sickly weakling; he is simply a Peerless Prodigy. What exactly is the hidden story here?"

Yu Qianqian's eyes lit up slightly, "So it's him. I was wondering why his name sounded somewhat familiar."

"Does Princess Consort know him from before?" Steward Hua asked.

Yu Qianqian shook her head, "I don't know him. I've just heard his name mentioned by many geniuses from Royal Marquis's Mansions, saying that he is the son of a Peerless Heaven's Chosen from the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion, but like father, like dog; he was born sickly, a laughingstock among the Royal Marquis's sons, so I'm somewhat familiar with his name."

Steward Hua nodded and said, "Ning Xiaochuan's father was more than just a peerless Heaven's Chosen. Ten years ago, he was a figure who swept through the entire Yulan Empire, an invincible existence among his generation. Even 'Cloud Marquis' Yue Wuyang, who was known as the Youngest Martial Venerable, was defeated by him four times in four battles. Unfortunately, an incident occurred ten years ago, and Ning Xiaochuan's father and Mother both died in the Ning Family Ancestral Hall."

"What happened back then?" Yu Qianqian asked curiously.

Steward Hua shook his head and said, "This matter caused quite a stir at the time. Even half of the Six Paths Demon Sovereign of the Demonic Sect came to the Imperial City, but only the elders of the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion know the specifics of what happened. They have never revealed a single word to the outside world. Ten years have passed, and this matter has gradually been forgotten."

"Interesting, interesting. The father was a peerless Heaven's Chosen, and the son is a Peerless Prodigy. The Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion is truly full of talents. If I'm not mistaken, Ning Xiaochuan's nickname, 'Sickly Ning', is just a way for the Sword Pavilion Marquis to conceal the truth. In reality, he is a true Heaven's Chosen," Yu Qianqian said.

Steward Hua nodded and said, "This subordinate also thinks so. After all, if a Peerless Prodigy like Ning Xiaochuan were truly exposed, some people would definitely not allow him to grow. The Sword Pavilion Marquis is doing this to protect him. Princess Consort, what should we do?"

Yu Qianqian rested her chin on her hand, her long eyelashes blinking, and said, "Since he is a Peerless Prodigy, then we naturally cannot let him fall into the hands of others. We must keep this matter as confidential as possible and not let the other two major Heart Nourishing Halls know. As for his treatment...let's directly raise it to the standard of an Intermediate Heart Nourisher!"

"Understood!"

Steward Hua originally wanted to report Wang Yunchong's matter to Yu Qianqian, but after thinking about it, he felt that this matter was too small and there was no need to disturb the Princess Consort, so he respectfully retreated.

Yu Qianqian gently combed her long hair with her jade fingers, becoming even more curious about Ning Xiaochuan, not only about his background but also about his talent beyond ordinary people and the nickname "Sickly Ning."

Another interesting person has appeared. If there's time, I might as well personally visit him at the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion. Yu Qianqian thought to herself.

Of course, this thought only flashed through her mind, and then she devoted herself to other more important matters.

In her eyes, Ning Xiaochuan was just a relatively special genius. The Golden Roc Royal Mansion had no shortage of geniuses!