Dan Feng: You Clearly Didn't Throw Enough Money at Him

Jing Yuan held his Jade Abacus, with no intention of replying.

In a flash of inspiration, Yingxing gave Jing Yuan a thumbs-up.

"Not bad, Jing Yuan. You actually sent the guide to Jingliu."

A cool female voice suddenly rang out.

"What guide?"

After exchanging dozens of moves, Jingliu and Dan Feng had finally settled their duel.

For one thing, the High Elder had failed to defeat the Sword Champion.

For another, the Alchemy Commission had been frantically messaging Dan Feng. His Jade Abacus kept vibrating, ruining both their moods.

Jingliu had only just walked over when she heard Yingxing mention her name, and immediately asked about it.

Well, well. Jingliu's actions even matched the guide's advice to "throw Strale at him"!

Dan Feng hastily glanced at his Jade Abacus, ignored his subordinates' messages, and chimed in, "The guide Yingxing, Jing Yuan, and I put together."

Jingliu shook her head. "I haven't received any guide."

Dan Feng and Yingxing, who felt they had put considerable thought into it, were displeased. Both glared at Jing Yuan.

Jing Yuan grumbled inwardly. Don't you two realize what nonsense you wrote? If you're so brave, send it to Master yourselves!

He got angry, accomplished nothing with his anger, and decided to distance himself from the guide. Swallowing his frustration, he said, "It was all Dan Feng and Yingxing's idea."

After listening for a while, Jingliu still had no idea what they were talking about. She narrowed her eyes impatiently. "So what is it?"

Jing Yuan and Dan Feng looked at the sky and the ground-anywhere but at Jingliu.

In the end, Yingxing couldn't hold back. He stepped forward to take the lead. "A guide that'll get us invited to your wedding feast."

Jingliu: "..."

She fell silent for a moment, then raised a hand to her forehead. "Where's the guide?"

The aloof Sword Champion had completely abandoned the resistance she had shown at the milk tea shop. Her expression was utterly natural. Not only did she not dispute Yingxing's talk of a "wedding feast," she actually asked for the guide.

All three froze on the spot.

Jingliu acted as though this were so perfectly normal that it made the three of them seem like the ones making a fuss over nothing.

Jing Yuan's eyes widened in disbelief. Under the other three's insistent stares, he had no choice but to dutifully open his Jade Abacus and send Jingliu the guide.

This time, Dan Feng was willing to lower his gaze to Jingliu.

Only natural, he thought.

That face, that name-what Xianzhou native could refuse?

If that person's subordinates saw that person enjoying such a leisurely life, they'd be ecstatic.

As that thought crossed his mind, Dan Feng swiftly pulled himself out of those emotions.

Xianyu wasn't that person.

They were different.

He couldn't keep confusing them.

The High Elder pressed his lips together tightly and leaned closer alongside Yingxing.

Relying on the romantic expertise they had crammed into their heads the night before, the two took turns imparting their wisdom, sounding every bit like masters of the subject.

Jing Yuan: "..."

Could you two be any more ridiculous?

Watching the scene before him, Jing Yuan recalled his days at the Academy.

This was exactly how the second-worst student at the Academy had taught the worst.

That solemn certainty, those utterly confident expressions-they could have been cast from the same mold!

Yingxing declared confidently, "Throwing Strale at him will definitely work!"

Jingliu thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I transferred him some money, but he didn't seem particularly happy."

Dan Feng remained completely unruffled. As the wealthiest dragon among the five, he promptly concluded:

"You definitely didn't throw enough at him."

Thoughts churned through Jing Yuan's mind. He closed his eyes briefly to rein in his emotions, then cut in:

"Throwing money at him absolutely won't work! No man with any self-respect would accept it!"

Dan Feng scoffed, looking at Jing Yuan as though he were an ignorant child.

The High Elder sighed and shook his head. "What would a twenty-year-old youngster know? Ask Yingxing if you don't believe me. See whether he'd accept it if someone threw an eight-figure sum of Strale at him-"

Why ask Yingxing...? Jing Yuan thought. He's a stubborn fool who'd pay out of his own pocket just to forge things. Of course he'd accept!

Jingliu raised her eyes and asked Yingxing, "If someone threw money at you..."

The moment Yingxing heard that, he recalled the days when he had paid out of his own pocket to use materials ahead of schedule. He nodded vigorously in agreement.

"You're saying they'd throw eight figures at me? Forget dating them. I'd even be their son..."

The Artisanship Commission's Master Forger knew when to bend and when to stand tall.

Dignity? How much was dignity worth? Could it get him rare materials?

All he had to do was say a few words. He'd lose nothing and gain an eight-figure sum of Strale for free.

Yingxing looked at Jing Yuan with deep regret, patted his shoulder, and shook his head. "Jing Yuan, you're still too young..."

The extravagantly wealthy Dan Feng delivered the final verdict. "If he refuses to accept it, that just means you haven't thrown enough at him."

Jingliu nodded thoughtfully.

Jing Yuan: "..."

Master, please don't look like you're seriously considering this proposal!

Utterly helpless, he lowered his head and began typing on his Jade Abacus.

I'd better give Xianyu a warning first...

[Luofu Cloud Knight Lieutenant - Jing Yuan: If someone threw Strale at you, would you be unhappy?]

[Xianyu: Something that good could actually happen?]

Jing Yuan knew perfectly well that Xianyu was only saying that. If someone really threw money at him, he would return every last bit.

Even when Xianyu learned that someone had feelings for him, his first instinct was to put distance between them.

Jing Yuan carefully considered the information Xianyu had volunteered, and suddenly understood everything.

That's Master for you.

First transfer money, then invite him to a meal.

If someone treats you to a meal, you have to return the favor, right? Keep treating each other, and won't you naturally grow closer?

Jing Yuan felt that his understanding of his master had been a little off.

Who said she didn't know how? She was practically an expert.

Just as Jing Yuan was marveling at his master's tactics, she spoke.

"When I return from the next campaign, I'll mail the Abominations of Abundance to his home."

Jing Yuan: "..."

Master, could you please stop sending him Abominations of Abundance all the time!

He knew that Xianyu was different from Xianzhou natives. No matter which Aeon it was, Xianyu felt no reverence whatsoever.

Abominations of Abundance were even less of a concern.

That might work on a Xianzhou native, but it was completely useless on Xianyu.

Yet Jing Yuan couldn't say that outright.

After all, his master had finally met someone she liked. If he spoke up... the thoughts of these staunch Xianzhou natives might spiral uncontrollably in another direction.

For instance, whether Xianyu's allegiance was questionable, or whether he might be a traitor who had defected to the Plagues Author...

He had known Xianyu for years and had tested him before. Both knew it, and Xianyu didn't mind at all, letting him probe as he pleased.

Although they had never discussed it openly, Jing Yuan was certain Xianyu had nothing to do with the Plagues Author.

But while he understood Xianyu, the others didn't.

Jing Yuan could only stay silent and watch the three supposed geniuses let their imaginations run wild.

By the time he came back to his senses, their discussion had progressed from "throwing Strale at him" to "stuffing Strale into severed Abomination limbs" to give him a double surprise.

Jing Yuan kept waiting. Once the three finished talking, he questioned Jingliu in a plaintive voice:

"I hear the Sword Champion's disciple gets Strale..."

Jingliu's icy expression almost cracked.

Jing Yuan continued, "It's been so many years, and your disciple hasn't seen any. Master, do you have any idea why?"

Jingliu opened her Jade Abacus irritably. A moment later, Jing Yuan received a transfer.

Jing Yuan gleefully checked it, then lowered the device with a face full of resentment.

Jingliu folded her arms and said mildly, "I've transferred it. Go buy yourself some Fleece Lamb Milk."

Master, you're playing favorites so badly, qwq, Jing Yuan thought.

The Strale she had given Xianyu was enough to buy over a hundred bottles, while the money for her own disciple was only enough for one.

Dan Feng, who had been engrossed in offering advice to his friend, finally had the attention to spare for tidying his appearance. He smoothed his sleeves, which had been rumpled during the fight, and asked Jingliu:

"When will we get to attend your wedding feast?"

Jingliu felt deeply helpless.

Her friends' eager, unsolicited help had genuinely moved her.

But alongside that gratitude, their obvious enjoyment of the spectacle left her feeling rather helpless.

"A wedding feast? You're getting far too impatient." She sighed. "Let's let things take their course."