Chapter 22
Chapter 22: Don’t Wrongly Accuse Me
Zhao Ke Xin was shaking with rage. The things she’d said to Jiang Li Sheng in private—she never imagined Jiang Li Sheng would spit them out in front of everyone.
“You—” Zhao Ke Xin’s voice cracked. If this place weren’t full of people, she would have drawn her sword without hesitation… or worse.
Jiang Li Sheng kept her face blank. “If Senior Sister Zhao wants her face healed, then show some attitude. If not, keep it ruined. Either way, I’m not spending my spiritual power for free.”
Zhao Ke Xin’s blood and qi surged. She hated how tightly Jiang Li Sheng held the situation. She had no leverage, no way to force it—only the ugly truth: she needed Jiang Li Sheng.
Zhu Wen Yin studied Jiang Li Sheng with a new wariness. This girl looked soft, but she was stubborn to the bone. Even with two Hall Masters present, she didn’t bend.
Zhu Wen Yin thought of her own master—never truly generous. Tu lou hadn’t even hurt anyone, yet Jiang Li Sheng had still been compensated so richly. Why? Because she was Sect Master Yu’s personal disciple from Qing Xu Sect.
A useless person, and yet people treated her differently because of her backing.
Zhu Wen Yin tugged at Zhao Ke Xin’s sleeve. “Junior Sister. Your face matters.”
Zhao Ke Xin swallowed her fury and forced herself to bargain. “One hundred top-grade spirit stones. One bottle of Heavenly Fragrance Pills. One mid-tier artifact. Is that enough?”
Jiang Li Sheng shook her head. “Last time, Martial Uncle Jin compensated me when I wasn’t hurt—just frightened. This time, you want your face healed. That requires my spiritual power.”
Zhao Ke Xin’s fingers curled into fists. “Then tell me what you want.”
Jiang Li Sheng’s tone stayed even as she doubled the price and more. “Five hundred top-grade spirit stones. Two bottles of Heavenly Fragrance Pills. Two mid-tier artifacts.”
Zhao Ke Xin stared at her as if she’d been slapped. “You’re shameless. How is that different from robbery?”
“It’s different,” Jiang Li Sheng said calmly, “because you have a choice. If you don’t want to pay, then don’t heal your face. I won’t waste my spiritual power.”
Zhao Ke Xin ground her teeth until her jaw ached. “Fine. I agree.”
Jiang Li Sheng held out her hand.
Zhao Ke Xin yanked five hundred top-grade spirit stones and two mid-tier artifacts from her storage ring and shoved them over. Then she turned sharply to Si Shao and threw him spirit stones as well. “Junior Brother Si. Two bottles of Heavenly Fragrance Pills—from the Medical Hall.”
Si Shao, still half stunned, hurried to the medicine cabinet and returned with two bottles.
Zhao Ke Xin shoved everything into Jiang Li Sheng’s hands. “Satisfied now?”
Jiang Li Sheng glanced at the artifacts. “How do these work? You’ll need to erase your imprint.”
Zhao Ke Xin taught her through clenched teeth, then erased her imprint, humiliation burning on her face.
Only then did Jiang Li Sheng act. She gathered her spiritual power and let it spread across Zhao Ke Xin’s wound.
Ying Zong Yu rose and leaned closer, watching with undisguised interest. Jiang Li Sheng’s spiritual power was a pure icy blue, much like his own at first glance. But beneath it—faint as a shimmer—ran a pale rainbow undertone. Those subtle colors moved through the wound, knitting it closed inch by inch.
The healing wasn’t fast. It took the time of a full cup of tea.
At last, Jiang Li Sheng withdrew her hand, looking drained. “Done.”
Zhao Ke Xin grabbed a mirror and checked. Her skin was smooth again, as if the injury had never happened. She looked at Jiang Li Sheng’s pale face and sneered. “Such a small wound, and you’re already this weak. Useless.”
Jiang Li Sheng didn’t answer. She turned away, found a seat, then counted out twenty top-grade spirit stones from her new pile and handed them to Si Shao. “Senior Brother. Two bottles of spirit-replenishing pills.”
Si Shao blinked. “Two bottles…?”
“One bottle is ten,” Jiang Li Sheng said, matter-of-fact.
Si Shao brought the pills at once. As he handed them over, he introduced himself quickly, eager to be useful. “Junior Sister Jiang, my name is Si Shao. You can call me Senior Brother Si.”
Jiang Li Sheng nodded. “Senior Brother Si.”
Then, without hesitation, she poured out all twenty spirit-replenishing pills and swallowed them in one go.
Si Shao sucked in a breath. He had never seen anyone take spirit-replenishing pills like that.
Within moments, color returned to Jiang Li Sheng’s face.
Ying Zong Yu’s gaze stayed fixed on her. “Your spiritual power truly is special.” His tone shifted, musing aloud. “Cultivators with mixed spirit roots struggle on the great dao. That’s why the three sects prefer single heavenly roots or pure dual roots. Even triple roots are rarely accepted. Five roots are considered useless.” He paused, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “But your seven colors… is that seven roots? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
Jiang Li Sheng only nodded.
Ying Zong Yu finally turned to Zhou Zhen Yan. “So? What are you doing here?”
Zhou Zhen Yan blinked. “I saw your message to Martial Niece Jiang. I came with her to see what was happening.”
Ying Zong Yu’s face darkened. “Are you that idle? See what? Can you help with anything? Get out. I don’t entertain loiterers.”
Zhou Zhen Yan rubbed his nose. “Senior Brother Ying, I’m not asking you to entertain me.”
“Go,” Ying Zong Yu said, waving him off. Then he looked at Zhao Ke Xin. “And you—your face is healed. Why are you still here?”
Zhao Ke Xin stiffened and bowed quickly. “This disciple will leave at once.”
Si Shao cleared his throat and spoke carefully. “Senior Sister Zhao… the Beauty-Preserving Pill and the Heavenly Spirit Pill you took earlier. They didn’t work, but they still must be paid for. In total… five hundred top-grade spirit stones.”
Zhao Ke Xin’s eyes widened, then she remembered with a jolt. She pulled out another five hundred top-grade spirit stones from her storage ring. Even for her, spending over a thousand in a single morning made her face go tight.
Worse—it felt wasted.
She turned to An Ru Xu with forced softness. “Senior Brother An, weren’t you here to buy Heavenly Fragrance Pills? Hurry and buy them. Let’s go back together.”
An Ru Xu looked like he’d been waiting for an opening to flee. “Like Martial Uncle Zhou, I came to accompany Junior Sister Jiang.”
Zhao Ke Xin’s eyes reddened instantly. “Senior Brother An, you…”
An Ru Xu moved fast, cutting her off before she could say anything worse. “Instructor He is testing the disciples right now. You two junior sisters should hurry back. You might still catch half the lesson. Today’s class benefited both me and Junior Sister Jiang a great deal.”
It did. In a way he didn’t want to explain.
Zhao Ke Xin could only bite her lip, swallow the rest of her words, and leave with Zhu Wen Yin.
The moment they were gone, An Ru Xu hurried to Si Shao, paid spirit stones, and bought two bottles of Heavenly Fragrance Pills. Then he looked toward Jiang Li Sheng, as if wanting to say something.
Ying Zong Yu cut in mercilessly. “You two leave as well. She stays.”
An Ru Xu’s shoulders slumped. He could only look to Zhou Zhen Yan.
Zhou Zhen Yan sighed. He knew Ying Zong Yu wasn’t joking. Since he’d been driven out, staying would only make it worse. He gestured. “Come on. Let’s go.”
An Ru Xu gave a helpless cough. “My injury isn’t healed yet. I can’t fly a sword. I came here riding Junior Sister Jiang’s—Martial Uncle Zhou, you’ll have to carry me back.”
Zhou Zhen Yan nodded. “Fine.”
An Ru Xu turned back to Jiang Li Sheng, speaking quickly. “Junior Sister Jiang, we’re heading back first. Be careful when you return later.”
Jiang Li Sheng nodded. “Okay.”
They left on Zhou Zhen Yan’s sword. The Medical Hall, once crowded, emptied out until it felt almost quiet.
Ying Zong Yu watched Jiang Li Sheng, eyebrows raised, a teasing light in his eyes. “So. You just arrived at Kun Lun Sect, and you’re already falling for An Ru Xu? Did you really hit it off with that kid? Does your master know?”
Jiang Li Sheng stared at him, exhausted. She didn’t even know where to start.