A Trade with Fate

"Among the myriad Soul Beast races in this world, those whose numbers are naturally scarce must have something exceptional about them."

As she spoke, Ning Tian cautiously stole a glance at Ning Huan.

Only after confirming he wasn't angry over her slip of the tongue did she secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

Then she continued:

"Dark Gold Dragon-Claw Bears, Emerald Swans, and pure-blooded dragons are all like that."

"And the Jiao Maiden, one of the rarest races of all, naturally has a special innate ability."

"And it has to do with fate."

"What?!"

Ning Huan, who had been playing with Cang Lan, froze on the spot, his face full of disbelief.

He knew the child was special, but he'd never imagined she was this special!

Fate...

An attribute almost no one on the continent had ever witnessed firsthand, existing only in legends.

And yet he'd obtained it just like that?

As if sensing her Contract holder's confusion, Cang Lan swished her dragon tail gently in the pool.

In the blink of an eye, she swam over to Ning Huan and met his gaze, a hint of worry in her eyes.

Looking into those sky-blue, vertical pupils, Ning Huan drew a deep breath.

Then he turned to Ning Tian, his expression unreadable.

"Ning Tian, sorry for the trouble, but could you explain in detail?"

"Mm."

Ning Tian wouldn't turn down a chance to improve their relationship.

"Actually, defining it as 'fate' is surely an exaggeration."

"After all, generations of scholars have studied the Jiao Maiden, and most believe her ability is closer to a degree of 'blessing' and 'wish granting.'"

"Simply put, she achieves a predetermined result by 'reasonable' means within the sequence of time."

"Even so, people across the world still coveted the Jiao Maiden, going to any lengths to hunt her down."

Ning Huan showed no change in expression, as though he'd expected this.

The word fate carried far too much weight; no ordinary being could bear it.

Even the Emperor Auspicious Beast, which gathered the fortune of every Soul Beast in Star Dou, could probably only catch occasional, fragmented glimpses of the future.

It locks in the result, then guides the cause... There has to be a price!

"Then what about the records in the history books?"

After grasping the key point, Ning Huan raised another very important question.

"In truth, in the past ten thousand years, no Soul Master has ever left behind reliable evidence for others to study."

"That's because a Jiao Maiden can either use her ability or be hunted for her Soul Ring, but not both."

"The few written accounts are just the testimonies of those who benefited from her."

As she finished speaking, Ning Tian took a book with a somewhat yellowed cover from her Soul Tool.

She quickly flipped to a page and handed it to Ning Huan.

"Take a look. The sect's records are all here."

"Thanks."

Ning Huan thanked her, took the book, and called back the reluctant Cang Lan and the pool.

Too many eyes and ears made it hard to keep a secret.

Though the training ground belonged to Ning Tian personally, there was no guarantee that some dimwit wouldn't suddenly barge in.

Earlier, he hadn't known Cang Lan's background, so the accidental exposure was understandable.

Now that he did, he had to be more careful.

Seeing this, Ning Tian immediately guessed what he was thinking.

A glint flashed in her eyes, and she promised without hesitation:

"Don't worry, Ning Huan. No fourth person will learn of Cang Lan's existence—not even my father or the three elders."

Before Ning Huan could respond, she turned to Wu Feng beside her, her tone suddenly stern.

"And you too, Feng Mei. Keep Ning Huan's secret buried in your gut!"

"Otherwise, don't expect to keep being my guardian!"

Wu Feng, who had been standing around doing nothing, instantly snapped to attention, not daring to hesitate.

"Yes! Wu Feng saw nothing! Wu Feng remembers nothing!"

She couldn't help it. She knew her young mistress too well!

Ning Tian was a woman who meant what she said!

If Wu Feng let the secret slip, Ning Tian might not even spare a thought for their years of friendship.

For a lesbian like her, that would be the end of the world.

Satisfied with the answer, Ning Tian nodded, then turned back to Ning Huan.

"Go ahead, Ning Huan."

"Quite the guts for someone so young."

Ning Huan shook his head with an amused smile. He felt a little more at ease.

So what if her status was high?

Without enough strength, she still couldn't live freely...

The wait passed in a flash.

There were only two or three pages of records; a quick look was all it took.

"One use in a lifetime, and using it means death... They really were a lucky bunch."

Ning Huan gently closed the book, his sigh tinged with melancholy.

According to the book, six humans had received the Jiao Maiden's blessing in the past ten thousand years.

Commoners, Soul Masters, nobles...

Whatever their background or strength,

without exception, they all reached the pinnacle of their respective groups.

A family that had been poor for generations somehow became wealthy landowners.

An ordinary Soul Master suddenly encountered one opportunity after another, reversed their fate, and reached the rank of Titled Douluo.

A seemingly unbreakable class barrier had been shattered by an ability straight out of a tall tale.

No wonder so many powers had fought over the rumors.

"Uncle Ning must have planned to use Cang Lan to escape the predicament he was in back then..."

"That's right."

Ning Tian answered instinctively:

"Unfortunately, he got nothing in the end."

"No. Even if he'd been lucky enough to get Cang Lan, he still wouldn't have achieved what he wished for!"

"Why not?"

"Because... he couldn't afford the price."

Ning Huan opened the book again, took out a pen, and casually marked a few places before returning it to Ning Tian.

"Remember this: every gift fate gives has already had its price marked in secret."

His cryptic words left the girl flustered.

Her gaze quickly swept over the circled passages, and a chill ran down her spine.

Rivals coming after them over conflicting interests...

Trying to climb higher, only to die in a secret realm...

Rising into the nobility, only to be devoured by other nobles...

Six ordinary yet tragic deaths appeared before her, one after another.

There was no doubt: they described the final fates of those "lucky ones."

The part that people blinded by profit instinctively ignored.

"Do you understand now?"

The sudden question brought Ning Tian back to her senses.

When she came to, she realized that cold sweat had soaked her back.

"Mm... Just like their wishes coming true, their deaths were also far too 'reasonable.'"

"Not bad. You're better than your father, at least you're not fooling yourself."

Ning Tian: "..."

Wasn't it a little inappropriate to criticize my father in front of me?

Ning Huan didn't care, and continued talking to himself.

"Cang Lan's ability seems like a 'blessing' from fate, but it's more like a 'trade' with fate."

"She can make your dreams come true for no apparent reason."

"She can also send you crashing to rock bottom the moment you can't pay the price."

"People don't know that?"

"No! Quite the opposite. They know perfectly well!"

"But what does knowing matter in the face of enormous profits?"

"Even a great man like your father still pinned his hopes on it."

At those words, Ning Tian lost all desire to argue.

She sat down with a dull thump, staring blankly into space, leaving Wu Feng in a panic.

Heh... Maybe I went too far. Looks like I scared the girl.

Ning Huan glanced at the girl whose idol had just crumbled, pursed his lips, and thought to himself.

Still, a Fate Trade...

Who knew silly little Cang Lan had this kind of ability...

Seems like it could have some unexpected effects when used on certain people...