Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 89: Chapter 87: A Grand Gift, Not as Important as You

This had always been Ning Jiang’s personality—he was direct and disliked beating around the bush, as he found it a waste of time.

”Hehe, I think I’ll stick to calling you Young Master. It feels a bit more intimate.”

Yue Lianxi spoke in a sweet, coquettish tone. Her voice was enchanting, tinged with a faint languor that tugged at the heart like a playful kitten. ”From what I know of you, Young Master, you value loyalty and relationships. I have a favor to ask, and I wonder if you would be willing to grant it?”

”Speak.” Ning Jiang flicked his fingernail, producing a sharp twang, like a piece of steel vibrating through the air.

He always repaid his favors. Since he owed Yue Lianxi one, he naturally couldn’t refuse.

”Actually, I’ve taken a fancy to you, Young Master.”

Yue Lianxi suddenly gave a bewitching smile. Her eyes were captivating, like pools of water. She reached out a delicate hand to gently caress Ning Jiang’s cheek, her breath as fragrant as an orchid, her actions incredibly intimate. ”I want you to be my man, Young Master. I wonder... are you willing?”

Her voice lilting at the end, her tone was coquettish and utterly soul-stealing.

And the faint fragrance wafting from her body carried an unusual allure.

In such a scene, any other man would have felt his blood run hot, his mind lost to infatuation.

Even the most resolute of men would have felt their composure waver.

”Yue Lianxi, you are indeed beautiful. A true stunner,” Ning Jiang did not hold back his praise.

Yue Lianxi possessed a bewitching figure, and her every move exuded a myriad of charms.

This scene made him smile as he recalled undergoing tribulations in the past.

When Martial Artists reach a certain Realm, they must face a Celestial Tribulation. These tribulations vary, but among them is the Heart Demon Tribulation, which kills without a trace and is exceptionally terrifying.

This type of Heart Demon Tribulation doesn’t target the body, but rather a person’s desires.

Once the tribulation begins, countless peerless beauties will appear to tempt the Martial Artist.

If the Martial Artist cannot sever their lustful thoughts, eliminate their carnal desires, and see beauty as nothing, they will inevitably fall into depravity and die under the Celestial Tribulation.

Lust is a steel blade that scrapes to the bone; as the saying goes, a knife hangs over the head of desire.

Beneath a beautiful, thin layer of skin is nothing but a skeleton of white bones. Why covet it?

Lust is a pit of fire; those who fall in meet a tragic end.

The path of lust is not one to be entered lightly.

’How laughable that so many men in this world cannot escape that one word: ”lust.”?’

Of course, humans are humans, possessing all manner of emotions and desires. To sever all passions and desires is to become a rock.

Affection and desire are fundamentally different. Since ancient times, affection has encompassed the love between a man and a woman, as well as familial love.

As for pure desire, it only poisons the self.

The Yue Lianxi before him now was like one of the bewitching Witches from a Heart Demon Tribulation, aiming to stir a person’s desires. Anyone with a weak will would surely be seduced by her.

”Yue Lianxi, there’s no need for such games. They’re pointless. You’re a virgin, not some wanton woman. Are you trying to test if I’ll fall for you? Trying to test your own charm? In my eyes, even the most beautiful woman is nothing but withered bones, so it’s useless against me.”

Ning Jiang pulled Yue Lianxi’s hand away. His eyes were as still as autumn water, his face devoid of emotion. It was as if, in his heart, this bewitching woman who had captured the hearts of countless men in Luoyang City was merely a clay statue, not worthy of the slightest attention.

”You really are unromantic, Young Master.”

Yue Lianxi withdrew her hand. She had indeed intended to test Ning Jiang. Among all the men she had ever met, not one had been able to remain unmoved by her.

But Ning Jiang’s words just now made her understand. It wasn’t that her charm was lacking, but that Ning Jiang’s state of mind was extraordinary, to the point where he saw beauty as withered bones.

”Yue Lianxi, your zither music is quite good,” Ning Jiang changed the subject.

”To receive your praise is my honor, Young Master.”

Yue Lianxi raised a delicate eyebrow, her seductive eyes like silk. Her clothes clung to her sexy, graceful figure, and her entire being exuded a charming and delicate aura. She was truly a natural-born stunner.

”A pity. Others might not hear it, but I can. In your music, there is a kind of loneliness.” Ning Jiang paused before continuing slowly, ”The loneliness of missing home!”

”You!”

Yue Lianxi’s beautiful eyes widened. Her previous frivolous and carefree demeanor vanished, replaced by deep astonishment.

This was the first time someone had heard the true feelings in her heart through her music!

”I came here today because I owe you a favor, and I don’t like to waste words,” Ning Jiang said flatly. ”Speak. What is the real reason you asked me to come?”

Yue Lianxi was a smart woman. She knew that beating around the bush any further would likely annoy Ning Jiang.

She concealed the astonishment in her eyes and said, ”I invited you here today, Young Master, because I wish to give you a grand gift.”

”Oh?”

”Thanks to your hundredfold bet, my Yanyue Gambling House earned over ten million Primordial Stones. I am willing to give all ten million of those Primordial Stones to you, Young Master!”

The moment Yue Lianxi spoke, her audacity was staggering.

Ten million Primordial Stones. A sum that only a First-Class Noble House could produce.

Some second-tier families, for instance, would only have a total net worth of a few million Primordial Stones.

Over ten million Primordial Stones was a fortune that would tempt even an Innate Limit Strong Person.

”I can’t accept a reward for no reason. What do you want?” Even Ning Jiang was slightly surprised by such a grand gesture.

’This woman is truly remarkable.’

”I do indeed have a matter I need your help with, Young Master, but not right now. I want to wait until your strength has improved even further before asking for your assistance,” Yue Lianxi said seriously.

”In that case, the matter must be very troublesome.” Ning Jiang knew that for Yue Lianxi to be willing to part with ten million Primordial Stones, the matter was surely not simple. ”Aren’t you afraid I’ll take the Primordial Stones and go back on my word?”

”I trust you, Young Master,” Yue Lianxi said with a serious expression.

It was precisely because of her trust in Ning Jiang that she had offered the hundred-to-one odds in the first place.

”Of course, please rest assured, Young Master. I won’t make an unreasonable request. If the matter is too much, you are free to refuse,” Yue Lianxi added quickly, afraid Ning Jiang would say no.

”I accept.”

Ning Jiang said flatly. He didn’t care about the ten million Primordial Stones. The key was the favor he owed for the Bone Shaping Pill and the IOU.

It might have been a small favor, but in Ning Jiang’s eyes, favors were not categorized by size or value.

He would not forget those who had helped him.

”Thank you, Young Master.” Yue Lianxi finally let out a sigh of relief.

”It’s getting late. I’ll take my leave.”

...

「Five days passed in the blink of an eye. It was now the twentieth of the first month.」

For these five days, Ning Jiang had remained at the Bamboo Sea Manor.

And the Bamboo Sea Manor of today was a far cry from what it once was.

The manor had become the base for ”Kunlun.”

It wasn’t just the Sword Dao expert Xie Baichuan present anymore. The eight Alchemy Masters had also dispatched a group of Innate Realm experts to protect the place.

Ever since Ning Jiang made a name for himself at the annual gathering by killing the Ten Great with his sword, the flow of people near the Bamboo Sea Manor had increased significantly.

Some who hadn’t attended the annual gathering wanted to catch a glimpse of the legendary White Head Sword Sect.

However, Ning Jiang remained in seclusion and did not show his face at all.

In addition, on this day, the twentieth of the first month, the threshold of the Bamboo Sea Manor was nearly worn away by visitors.

This was because all the major powers of Luoyang City had come to offer their congratulations.

The establishment of Kunlun had been proceeding in secret, beneath the surface. But after Ning Jiang revealed his identity as the Lord of Kunlun at the annual gathering, Kunlun became public knowledge.

Afterward, Ning Jiang consulted with Du Wanqing and the others, and they decided to officially announce the establishment of Kunlun on the twentieth of the first month.

The union of eight Alchemy Masters was a massive force that would naturally attract immense attention.

The major powers of Luoyang City weren’t fools. They understood that from this day forward, Kunlun would be a new titan in Luoyang City. On the day of its founding, they all naturally came to offer congratulations and build good relations.

On this day, more than ninety percent of Luoyang City’s powers came to the Bamboo Sea Manor.

The arrivals were either Clan Leaders or family Elders, all of them powerful, influential, and wealthy.

”Even Liu Yuanlong, Wenhua City, and Luo Haisheng are here! This Ning Jiang really has a lot of pull!”

Everyone understood that figures like Wenhua City were here for Ning Jiang. The eight Alchemy Masters alone wouldn’t have been enough to make them condescend to visit.

”Hey, did you guys notice? I feel like the way Bai Yueru is looking at the White Head Sword Sect is a little strange. Don’t tell me Patriarch Bai has fallen for a teenager?”

”Shh, be careful.”

”Yue Lianxi is here too. It seems her relationship with the White Head Sword Sect is quite deep. I wonder if anything happened between the two of them after they left together that day?”

All of the most prominent figures in Luoyang City brought gifts to congratulate Kunlun on its establishment.

Among the major powers, the only ones who didn’t come were the Wang Family and the few second-tier families whose members were among the Ten Great that had been killed.

Zheng Zhiyuan was all smiles. As the steward of the Bamboo Sea Manor, he had spent the entire day receiving important figures, and every single one of them was exceedingly polite to him.

Ordinarily, this was something he wouldn’t even dare to dream of.

’An enlightened master! I’m truly following an enlightened master!’ Zheng Zhiyuan was ecstatic. He never imagined his rise to prominence would come so easily.

The banquet continued late into the evening before things finally quieted down.

「That night.」

The brother and sister were taking a slow walk through the bamboo forest.

”Little Brother, you’re the biggest celebrity in Luoyang City now. Everyone knows who you are. I don’t know how many big shots brought their daughters here for matchmaking today. Some girls are even willing to be your concubine. Hmph, be honest, are you thinking of having three wives and four concubines?”

Ning Yu’an teased. While she was happy for Ning Jiang’s achievements, she also felt a faint trace of jealousy.

Seeing so many important figures bring beautiful women to be matched with Ning Jiang all day had made her quite uncomfortable.

”Sister An, in my heart, all of them together aren’t even one-ten-thousandth as important as you.”

Ning Jiang gently took Ning Yu’an’s small hand. It was soft and delicate, making him not want to let go.

”Since when did you become such a sweet-talker?” Ning Yu’an’s pretty face flushed hot. Her heart fluttered in a panic, like a startled fawn, and even her earlobes couldn’t help but turn red.

She let Ning Jiang hold her hand, and the jealousy in her heart instantly vanished.

”Sister An, I know you’ve been worried about our adoptive parents. In a few days, let’s first go back to the Ning Family in Baiquan Town. After we settle things there, I’ll go with you to Golden Cauldron City to find them.”

A sharp, sword-like glint appeared in Ning Jiang’s eyes. ”The entire reason I established Kunlun was to have enough power to confront the Li Family. Sister An, you don’t need to worry. Even if the Li Family is a First-Class Noble House, I will make them bow their heads!”

”Mhm, I believe in you, Little Brother.” Ning Yu’an squeezed Ning Jiang’s hand.

”Baiquan Town, Ning Family... I’ll be back soon.”

Ning Jiang murmured softly, gazing into the night.

”To all of you who mocked me... I wonder, are you still doing well?!”