Ning Xiang, Cruelly Exploited

But she had to give Su Lang a present?

Boohoo, did she look like someone that generous?

"Damn system, why don't you conjure up another ugly parrot? I'll give it to Eldest Senior Brother."

System: [Taking shortcuts is inadvisable. Please correct your attitude, esteemed host.]

Ning Xiang: "..."

She scanned her Spirit Bracelet and immediately spotted the Jade Flute she had acquired a few days ago.

Excellent. I choose you!

"Eldest Senior Brother, this is my cherished flute. Since you're so accomplished with musical instruments, I'm giving it to you."

System: [Hey! You need to show sincerity when giving presents!]

"Shut up! Don't you understand that a small gift can carry great affection?"

Su Lang accepted it. His long, slender fingers looked especially lovely against the emerald-green jade flute.

"Another day, I'll play a piece for you myself, Junior Sister."

A light breeze lifted his hair. The young man's features were as exquisite as a painting, his bearing composed and refined.

Ning Xiang nodded with a smile. "There's no hurry. It's a long journey to the Purple Tenuity Domain. You'll have plenty of time to play for me, Eldest Senior Brother."

"You're going too?" Su Lang was quite surprised.

Ning Xiang said, "Master has already agreed. I'm heading back now, Eldest Senior Brother. You can see me off here." With that, she waved to Su Lang and ran into Lingling Cottage. When she turned around, he was still waiting where he stood.

Su Lang watched Ning Xiang close the courtyard gate. He lingered a little longer before leaving.

Over the next few days, Ning Xiang's days were very full. She practiced swordsmanship in the morning, then listened to Lu Qingchen's lessons. In the afternoon, Lu Qingchen kept her in Chengfeng Courtyard to do this and that...

To be more specific, she refined pills, organized his bookshelves, and fed four stupid birds...

In the evening, she still had to teach Su Lang to draw talismans. She was certainly busy.

Senior Brother Pin came to lie in wait at Lingling Cottage several times. Only on his seventh attempt did he finally catch her.

"Junior Sister, could you ask Uncle-Master Lu to take me along to the Purple Tenuity Domain?"

"Huh? What do you want to go to the Purple Tenuity Domain for?"

Pin Jiji rested his hand on his sword hilt, his expression brimming with righteous resolve, as though no one but him could shoulder this duty. "To subdue demons and capture monsters, of course! To eradicate evil and punish the wicked!"

"Tell the truth."

"Fine. I'm too bored in the Profound Heaven Sect. I want to get out and explore."

"The Tianyuan Continent, the Twelve Islands of the Eastern Sea, the Hundred-Flower Continent in the south, the Ten Northern Continents-aren't those enough for you to explore? What's so fun about the Demon Domain? No scenery, no heavenly treasures, not even any handsome men. If you really have nothing to do, you can go train in the Eastern Sea. The islands there are full of bizarre wonders and strange marvels. I went there with Dad and Mom fifteen years ago. The extraordinary sights beneath the sea were truly unforgettable."

Come to think of it, Yu Tingchao had only been two years old during that trip to the Eastern Sea. He had been chubby, like a little dumpling, fluffy and soft. Ning Xiang had adored him so much that she held him and kissed him several times. Who knew why he had grown so crooked afterward?

Senior Brother Pin said gloomily, "Just take me with you. I'm a core formation middle stage cultivator. Surely I won't hold you back? Besides, Master will be arriving in the Demon Domain soon. I haven't seen him in so long..."

Ning Xiang thought, You have the nerve to bring that up? Who was that core formation middle stage cultivator in the original novel who got instantly killed by Jiang Miaomiao, who was only at the foundation establishment middle stage?

Senior Brother Pin was still muttering when Wen Maimai's clear voice rang out. "Senior Brother Pin, why do you pester Sister Xiangxiang whenever you get the chance? If Senior Brother Su sees you, he'll get the wrong idea about her!"

Then the little girl earnestly advised Ning Xiang, "Senior Sister, I won't stop you from being with anyone. It's just..."

Just what? The little girl didn't finish. Instead, she gave Pin Jiji a meaningful look filled with utter disdain.

Pin Jiji: Wait, what exactly is that look supposed to mean?

Ning Xiang strongly disapproved of Wen Maimai. "You're really not showing enough unity and affection toward your fellow disciples."

The latter humbly accepted the criticism.

"How could you think that of me, your senior sister? Is my taste really that bad?"

Wen Maimai: "..."

Senior Brother Pin flew into a rage. Did they really think he couldn't hear what they were implying?

The two nearly started arguing in Lingling Cottage. Their shouting gave Ning Xiang a headache, so she chased them both out. Opening her Communication Talisman, she finally received two pieces of good news.

First, with a grand wave of his hand, her eldest brother had given her all the proceeds from Bai Yueguang's post. He even generously told her to ask for more if she ran short.

Second, Ning Xiang's second brother, who had been in secluded cultivation for three years, announced that he would soon emerge and accompany her to the Demon Domain.

As a result, Ning Xiang could now stand tall and feel confident even in front of Lu Qingchen.

Hmph, hmph. I'm a little rich lady now. You bastard, Iceberg Lu, if you keep squeezing me dry, I'll quit school and keep a few pretty boys. Wouldn't that be a more comfortable life than this?

Ning Xiang listlessly organized the books, silently grumbling.

Lu Qingchen looked up at her and suddenly deigned to speak. "Ning Xiang."

"What are your instructions, Master?" Ning Xiang hastily asked with respect.

"You previously promised to give your master seventy percent of your earnings. Where are the spirit stones?"

Ning Xiang put on a miserable act. "Master, surely you know that ever since Bai Yueguang's fan fiction became popular, my books have stopped selling. I haven't received any payment from President Gao in ages."

In reality-

Hahaha, Iceberg Lu would never guess that Bai Yueguang's wildly popular fan fiction also boosted my book sales. My income has multiplied several times over! Add in the income from Heaven-Question, and even if I started lying around squandering spirit stones right now, it would take decades to spend them all!

Ning Xiang inwardly rejoiced and cast a sidelong glance at Lu Qingchen.

I wonder if all my spirit stones would be enough to keep Iceberg Lu? Ugh, Ning Xiang, have you gone mad? Iceberg Lu has such a foul, stubborn temper. Why would you keep him? Aren't the fresh-faced young men of the Luo River Sect much more appealing?!

Before her inner drama had finished playing out, Lu Qingchen's figure, tall and straight as an ancient pine, cast its shadow over her entire body.

Ning Xiang tilted up her little head and blinked at him. "What do you want to do, Master?"

Lu Qingchen held out his hand. "Don't think your master doesn't know. Your books have sold another three hundred thousand copies over the past few days. Surely your master deserves a share of the proceeds?"

Boohoo, I wrote the books, and President Gao handled the printing and sales. You didn't lift a finger! What gives you the right to demand a share?

Ning Xiang felt deeply aggrieved. She even cursed Lu Qingchen in a dozen different ways in her mind before timidly holding out her bag of spirit stones.

Although these spirit stones were merely a single hair off nine oxen compared to everything she owned, Ning Xiang still couldn't bear to give away her precious money.

Lu Qingchen tugged the bag of spirit stones from her hand. Ning Xiang whimpered and tightened her grip.

Lu Qingchen kept his gaze fixed on her face and patted her head. "Your master will gladly accept his good disciple's filial offering." With that, he slowly pulled the bag free, lightly tossed it into the air, and caught it again.

Ning Xiang's heart bled.

Everyone said never to flaunt your wealth, but she clearly hadn't. How had Lu Qingchen set his sights on it anyway?

Ning Xiang was thoroughly depressed.

Fine, fine. I'll just consider it paying to keep Iceberg Lu. I need to look at him a few more times to get my money's worth!

Holding a volume of scripture, Lu Qingchen unconsciously straightened his already upright back.

Ning Xiang watched him for a long while. Drowsiness gradually crept over her, and she fell asleep slumped over the desk.

She rested her head on a book, which pressed red marks into her face. Perhaps the position was terribly uncomfortable, for she kept frowning even in her sleep.

Lu Qingchen watched for a while, then walked over and gently shifted Ning Xiang's head, letting her rest against his chest.

"Iceberg Lu, you big meanie!" Ning Xiang mumbled, sounding deeply indignant.

Lu Qingchen thought she might be waking up. When she made no further sound for a long while, he scooped her up into his arms...