Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Plundering Rong Shu’s Luck

Seeing Rong Shu so delighted over a mere storage pouch, Qin Yuan felt a stir in his chest, and just as he was about to speak, his right arm suddenly sank.

Yu Ruan Ruan tugged Qin Yuan’s arm, her voice soft and sweet: “Third Senior Brother, what about the spirit beast you said you would find for me?”

Qin Yuan’s nascent thought scattered, and he turned to her with an indulgent smile: “Don’t worry, your senior brother hasn’t forgotten. I’ve already asked around; Glorious Treasures Pavilion is holding an event today and will be selling some rare Spirit Beast Eggs and spirit beasts.”

Yu Ruan Ruan’s eyes lit up: “Really? Then let’s hurry over!”

He answered with a nod: “Alright.”

Since the two of them had already decided, Rong Shu said nothing. She was curious about Glorious Treasures Pavilion as well and figured she might as well broaden her horizons.

Moments later, the three arrived at the doors of Glorious Treasures Pavilion. Because of the ongoing event, the entrance thronged with people coming and going, creating a lively bustle. On either side of the doorway the Pavilion had deliberately arranged several spirit beasts, some imposing and domineering, others adorably cute, to catch the eye and draw in visitors.

Yu Ruan Ruan exclaimed in wonder: “Wow, so many people, and so many spirit beasts.”

Seeing how happy she was, Qin Yuan felt he had made the right choice in bringing her to Glorious Treasures Pavilion and thought, this being Ruan Ruan’s first spirit beast, he must pick one with excellent looks and quality for her.

She beamed: “Alright, Third Senior Brother.”

Unable to conceal her excitement, Yu Ruan Ruan eagerly asked inwardly: [System, where is Rong Shu’s opportunity this time?]

After a few seconds, the System replied to her: [Go inside, head left, the twenty-third exhibit.]

Yu Ruan Ruan deliberately took the lead, guiding Qin Yuan as they headed toward Exhibit Twenty-Three.

[That’s the one.]

Her gaze fell upon a small cage labeled with the number tag “23.” Inside was a pocket-sized little snake, no thicker than a finger, occasionally flicking its tongue.

Qin Yuan, who had been watching Yu Ruan Ruan closely, noticed her sight fixed on the little snake and looked over as well. In the next instant his expression turned solemn; after several careful looks, heat suddenly flared in his eyes: “This is… a king-beast Golden Threaded Jade Scaled Snake youngling?”

“Really, Senior Brother?” Yu Ruan Ruan covered her small mouth in feigned surprise.

Qin Yuan nodded at once: “Junior Sister, this is a king-beast youngling. If we raise it to adulthood, its combat power will at least rival that of a Golden Core cultivator. Do you want this one?”

If he had not been unable to form another contract at the moment, and if he did not genuinely dote on Yu Ruan Ruan, Qin Yuan would already have claimed the king-beast youngling for himself.

Naturally, Yu Ruan Ruan agreed with delight: “Senior Brother, it’s so beautiful. I felt fond of this little fellow at first sight.”

Qin Yuan smiled indulgently: “Ruan Ruan has such good taste. Only a king-beast youngling is worthy of being our Ruan Ruan’s first Contract Beast.”

It seemed the staff of Glorious Treasures Pavilion had overlooked something, mislabeling a king-beast youngling worth two hundred thousand Spirit Stones at a price of just twenty thousand.

Qin Yuan sighed inwardly that Ruan Ruan’s luck was as good as ever.

Just then, the corner of his eye caught Rong Shu standing to the side; the warmth in his gaze cooled, and with a touch of probing he asked: “This king-beast youngling is for Ruan Ruan. Junior Sister, you have no objection, do you?”

Rong Shu started, then asked in puzzlement: “Third Senior Brother, weren’t you buying a spirit beast for Senior Sister Yu?”

At that, Qin Yuan slowly drew out a smile, the light in his eyes dimming and brightening in turn so no one could see what he was truly thinking: “It was your senior brother speaking out of turn.”

Whether she was truly naive or only pretending not to understand, Qin Yuan was satisfied with Rong Shu’s sense of propriety. He had originally been displeased when his master suddenly took on another junior sister. The master had promised not to accept any more disciples. Ruan Ruan was to remain his eternal little junior sister. Yet after he went out for a short trip and returned, there was another junior sister. Toward this Rong Shu, who had claimed the identity that should have belonged to Ruan Ruan, Qin Yuan harbored a certain prejudice and hostility. Still, so long as Rong Shu behaved, Limitless Peak was large enough to keep one more idler fed.

Qin Yuan immediately summoned a staff member of Glorious Treasures Pavilion and, on the spot, paid twenty thousand Spirit Stones to buy the king-beast youngling for Yu Ruan Ruan. Under his guidance, Yu Ruan Ruan formed a contract with the Golden Threaded Jade Scaled Snake.

Feeling the addition of a strand of Contract Power at her heart, Yu Ruan Ruan felt unspeakably elated, and her gaze could not help straying toward Rong Shu. This had been Rong Shu’s chance, yet it now belonged to her. Looking at Rong Shu, who was completely unaware, Yu Ruan Ruan felt an inexplicable sense of lofty pity.

As for the Rong Shu being “pitied,” she was at that moment studying the little snake coiled in Yu Ruan Ruan’s palm. Its whole body was slippery-slick, and it kept flicking its tongue.

Hmm…

Rong Shu quietly took half a step back. She kept her distance from cold and slippery things. If she liked any sort of beast, it would be the kind with fur, especially the soft, fluffy kind, best if she could hug it to sleep.

She looked at the delighted Yu Ruan Ruan and felt genuine admiration. No wonder she was Senior Sister Yu.

Yu Ruan Ruan was carefully tucking the Golden Threaded Jade Scaled Snake into a Beast Taming Pouch when a voice rang in her mind, shocked and doubtful: [How is that possible?!]

It was the System. Yu Ruan Ruan asked in confusion: [What’s wrong?]

The System’s cold, emotionless voice sounded: [Rong Shu’s luck has not been reduced.]

[Are you sure? Isn’t the Golden Threaded Jade Scaled Snake her opportunity?] Yu Ruan Ruan could not understand.

This time, the System did not answer.

Yu Ruan Ruan’s heart sank a little, and the joy she had felt at obtaining the Golden Threaded Jade Scaled Snake faded slightly. She glanced back at Rong Shu, discovering that the girl’s attention was no longer on her but instead roving curiously over the other spirit beasts around them. At once Yu Ruan Ruan felt as if she had punched a ball of cotton, stifled and uncomfortable.

[Impossible. This is a king-beast youngling. There is no way Rong Shu isn’t even a little envious. She must be forcing herself to act indifferent. She has to be.]

She tried again, unwilling to give up: “Junior Sister, don’t be upset. You will have a spirit beast in the future too; it’s just that your cultivation is still shallow right now, so it wouldn’t be suitable for you to form a contract.”

“Alright, Senior Sister, I understand what you mean. I’ll work hard at cultivation.” Rong Shu nodded, without the tiniest hint of resentment on her face and even looking moved. Senior Sister Yu was so considerate. She truly did not need this cold, slippery kind of spirit beast. She was afraid that, cowardly as she was, she might accidentally squeeze it, chop it, jab it, stomp it, or stab it to death.

Yu Ruan Ruan and the little snake froze at the same time. Yu Ruan Ruan could not accept it in her heart: she must be doing this on purpose, pretending not to care.

Golden Threaded Jade Scaled Snake: [Why do I feel a chill all over…]