Ning Shaohong: I'll Seek Justice for You

Ning Fa fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Xiao Yu should still be cultivating on Ningchang Island, right?"

The Ning Clan had a rule: any clansman newly found to possess a Spiritual Root could cultivate on Ningchang Island, the clan's ancestral grounds, for three years. The clan would provide all cultivation resources, and after three years, specific arrangements would be made depending on the circumstances.

"That's right. Xiao Yu hurried back to Ningchang Island after attending Xilin's funeral. Sigh..."

Recalling how Xiao Yu had wept at the funeral, tears falling like pear blossoms in the rain, Ning Zhengqian could not help but sigh.

Ning Fa remained silent, but inwardly made a decision.

Just then, Ning Zifeng seemed to recall something. Looking at Ning Fa, he hesitated before asking, "Xiao Fa, I remember that your body seemed to become rather strange that day. Five-Colored Spiritual Light suddenly flickered around you, then blasted me far away in an instant. Do you feel any discomfort anywhere now?"

Ning Fa's heart jolted. It seemed that something truly had changed in his body while he was unconscious.

But he could only act unconcerned. "Other than feeling a little weak, I'm fine. That day, it may have been my cultivation technique reacting on its own after I was attacked."

Ning Zifeng nodded without giving it much thought. Then he reminded his father, "Father, don't forget to notify Ninth Elder. After she visited Xiao Fa that day, she left behind a Sound Transmission Talisman."

Ning Zhengqian slapped his forehead and hurriedly took out a fiery-red Sound Transmission Talisman. Judging by its Spiritual Pressure, it was clearly a first-rank mid-grade Sound Transmission Talisman as well.

Ning Zhengqian quickly spoke a few words into the talisman. Then it transformed into a streak of firelight and vanished into the void.

Seeing Ning Fa's puzzled expression, Ning Zhengqian explained, "Not long after you fell unconscious, Ninth Elder came to visit you. After examining your body, she gave you a healing pill and said you were not seriously harmed, only that you needed time to recuperate. She also left this Sound Transmission Talisman, telling us to notify her once you woke up."

After saying this, excitement appeared on Ning Zhengqian's face. He was clearly delighted that Ning Fa had gained Ninth Elder's attention.

After all, the Ning Clan was such a large Foundation Establishment Family, yet it had only ten elders. Every one of them held immense authority within the clan.

Hearing this, a trace of warmth rose in Ning Fa's heart.

Afterward, Ning Fa chatted with them a little longer. He learned that during the time he had been unconscious, besides members of their branch of the family and Ninth Elder, Ning Zonglie and his maternal uncle's family had also come to visit him.

Apart from them, Wei Chengzong had personally visited as well and left behind several healing pills.

Ning Fa could not help wondering whether Wei Chengzong knew about Ning Ruiming's plot against him.

By his judgment, Wei Chengzong probably did not know. Most likely, Wei Chengzong believed Ning Ruiming merely wanted to delay his entry into Lingchang Island.

After all, openly plotting to harm a clan alchemist was a grave crime. Even Ning Ruiming surely would not let too many people know. If Wei Chengzong had known, then with his old fox temperament, he likely would not have dared involve himself in this matter. After all, Ninth Elder could be considered to be standing behind Ning Fa.

Yet among all those who had visited him, what surprised Ning Fa most was that Liu Qinghui had come as well.

Seeing that Ning Fa was still unconscious, she had not said much before leaving.

Ning Fa could not help but wonder about her intentions. Given how obvious his hostility toward her had become, was there any need for her to put on such a hypocritical act?

Or did she also know of Ning Ruiming's plot and want to see with her own eyes whether he was dead or alive?

Soon, Ning Zhengqian and Ning Zifeng left, telling Ning Fa to rest well. They also had Ning Fa's Paternal Uncle's Wife prepare some spiritual rice and spiritual vegetables to bring over.

Although Ning Fa greatly wanted to return home and investigate the abnormal changes in his body, he could feel that he truly was still weak, so he stayed.

Not long afterward, his eldest paternal aunt Ning Muchun and his fourth paternal uncle Ning Baiquan's family came one after another to visit Ning Fa.

Although Ning Fa had previously had unpleasant conflicts with Ning Muchun and the others, Ning Muchun and Meng Jinliang acted as if nothing had happened, asking after Ning Fa with warm concern.

Yet Ning Fa did not know whether it was merely his imagination, but he always felt that Meng Jinliang's gaze seemed somewhat evasive whenever he looked at him.

Ning Fa could not help growing suspicious.

With his keen mind, he could not help recalling that it had been Meng Jinliang and Ning Muchun who were fighting Ning Zhen'an at the time.

Yet Ning Zhen'an had attacked Ning Fa three times in succession, while Meng Jinliang had shown no reaction at all. That seemed rather suspicious.

After all, Meng Jinliang and Ning Zhen'an were cultivators of the same rank. Even if there was a gap in their strength, with help at hand, it should not have come to this.

Though Ning Fa thought this inwardly, he did not reveal it on his face. Without showing any abnormality, he thanked Ning Muchun and Meng Jinliang.

At sunset, Ninth Elder Ning Shaohong arrived.

She wore a lake-green ruqun dress, her graceful figure making her snow-white skin appear all the more radiant. She did not look at all like someone of Ning Fa's father's generation; rather, she looked more like a young woman in the bloom of youth.

Her cloudlike hair was casually pinned up with an ordinary-looking wooden hairpin. Her beautiful eyes seemed to hold autumn waters, and her entire person was exquisitely lovely and striking.

"Xiao Fa, how are you feeling now?"

Ning Shaohong looked at Ning Fa with clear, bright eyes and asked softly.

Ning Fa hurriedly replied, "Thank you for your concern, Ninth Elder. I feel that there is no serious problem now."

Ning Shaohong first carefully examined Ning Fa's complexion. Then she reached out, placed her fingers on his wrist, and checked him once more. Relieved, she said, "A blessing amid misfortune. Your Dantian was not injured. Although you have an Incomplete Lightning Spiritual Root, you still have hope of advancing in the future."

Ning Fa said gratefully, "I also have Ninth Elder to thank for bestowing the Azure Lotus Pill. Otherwise, I might not have awakened so quickly."

Ning Fa now knew that the pill Ning Shaohong had fed him that day was the Azure Lotus Pill, a first-rank high-grade healing pill. This type of pill was exceptionally precious, worth several hundred spirit stones—not inferior in value to a mid-grade Magic Artifact.

Ning Shaohong waved a hand. "Setting aside your father's connection, you are now also an alchemist of our clan and are important to the clan. This pill is nothing."

Afterward, Ning Shaohong chatted with Ning Fa for a few more moments. Then her gaze suddenly flickered, and she asked directly, "Do you think Ning Zhen'an deliberately attacked you?"

Ning Fa froze. Was this Ninth Elder really so direct?

The reason he had not voiced his suspicions was that he had no evidence. Empty words carried no weight, and would instead make things difficult for Ning Shaohong. He had not expected her to bring it up herself.

Ning Fa pondered for a moment and was just about to speak when Ning Shaohong looked out the window and said lightly, "Ning Zhen'an has no simple backing. Do not act rashly."

Ning Fa abruptly looked up at her. It seemed that this Ninth Elder had already noticed Ning Zhen'an had been instructed by someone else, and had perhaps even guessed it was Ning Ruiming.

After all, during his alchemist assessment, Ning Ruiming had disregarded her standing and forcibly obstructed him.

Coupled with the hostility between their two branches, it was something everyone within the Ning Clan knew.

Ning Shaohong's calm voice continued. "This time, I will not let you suffer injury for nothing. I will definitely seek justice for you. Whether Ning Zhen'an acted deliberately or not, I will make him pay the price. From now on, no one in the clan should dare deliberately harm you again. You need not worry about this matter any longer."

With that, Ning Shaohong turned and smiled at him. "For now, do not concern yourself with the alchemy work at Alchemy Hall. Focus on recovering in peace. There is no need to get up; I'll be leaving now."

After Ning Shaohong left, Ning Fa remained dazed for a while, his expression soon turning complicated.