Shen Jinwen had given Xu Zhi a Tang Sword, and Xu Zhi had yet to pay her anything in return. Now, Xiao Zhen needed high-level Attribute Cores more than Basic Cores, while Xu Zhi had plenty of [Winter] Basic Cores on hand. She took out ten as payment for the Tang Sword and tuition for Shen Jinwen's careful instruction in swordsmanship.
"Isn't this a bit too much?" Shen Jinwen, her hair tied in a high ponytail, hesitated as she held the ten cores Xu Zhi had given her.
Xu Zhi smiled and reassured her, "It's nothing. I still need you to grow stronger so you can help me collect rent. If other Transcendents surpass you, that'll be trouble for me too. After all, you're the only one I trust."
Shen Jinwen understood what she meant. These cores also included part of her compensation as Xu Zhi's employee. Come to think of it, whether as a "boss" or a companion, Xu Zhi had never been stingy. She was actually quite generous. Still, Shen Jinwen hesitated over Xu Zhi casually handing her ten cores, probably because Xu Zhi's generosity always required repayment.
Subconsciously, Shen Jinwen began wondering what she had done lately to satisfy Xu Zhi enough to deserve such generosity.
But Xu Zhi had indeed given her a gift she could not refuse. For a Transcendent like her, someone accustomed to acting alone, ten cores were an extremely valuable fortune at present.
"I understand." Shen Jinwen accepted the cores and gave only that simple reply, but Xu Zhi knew she had taken it to heart.
She had already begun to understand Shen Jinwen's personality. She would not make a pile of pleasant promises, but every word she spoke carried weight—especially her promises.
Afterward, Shen Jinwen carefully taught Xu Zhi how to