Volume One, Chapter 10: Foolishness—How Could You Fall Out with Young Master Jiang?

Amid the tense atmosphere, Gu Lan approached and said, “Jingyue, do you have a team yet? If not, let’s team up!” Han Jingyue thought for a moment and nodded.

Gong Huimin sighed, “Since you two are teaming up, I’ll find someone else.”

Han Jingyue hurriedly said, “Huimin, it’s really okay!”

“I’m fine, but I’m not interested in watching you two lovebirds all day,” Gong Huimin said with a smile and ran off.

Gu Lan was quite pleased with her tact. After she left, he lowered his voice and asked Han Jingyue, “How are you planning to get to Wansen Mountain tomorrow?”

Han Jingyue was troubled by that as well. In the past, such matters didn’t concern her; Jiang Heng would have arranged everything properly. But now that Jiang Heng was ignoring her, she had to figure it out on her own. If she had spirit stones, she could hire a flying spirit beast, which would take only two hours to get there easily.

However, hiring a spirit beast was expensive. Even a one-way trip would cost at least three spirit stones, and her family would definitely not give her that money.

So the most cost-effective option was to use Spirit Travel Talismans.

Gu Lan whispered, “I’ve saved up six Spirit Travel Talismans these days. But to get from here to Wansen Mountain, each person needs at least five. Maybe you could talk to Uncle Han about it...”

Han Jingyue nodded. “I know. I’ll talk to my father when I get back. Going to Wansen Mountain isn’t for nothing. If I collect some other spirit herbs, I can trade them for spirit stones too.”

Gu Lan, however, knew that the spirit herbs on Wansen Mountain weren’t just freely available. It was the property of the Xuan Yuan Sect, which only opened peripheral areas periodically for apprentices to undergo trials. It wasn’t unclaimed land.

But now was not the time to dampen her spirits. He would hold back for now and advise her later.

To save the talismans, the two of them walked home.

After several dozen miles, Han Jingyue felt like her legs were about to break. At that moment, she missed Jiang Heng’s Qingling Crane.

If she had the chance to ride it again, she definitely wouldn’t mind the feathers poking her back, nor would she complain about the strong, cold wind.

At the village entrance, Gu Lan parted ways with her. If the Han family saw them together, they would surely make a fuss again.

From the Han family’s perspective, if it weren’t for that troublesome young man causing trouble, how could their daughter have fallen out with Young Master Jiang?

Han Jingyue entered the house, and Mrs. Han still looked outside with some dissatisfaction, but Jiang Heng was nowhere to be seen.

Han Jingyue knew what she was looking for and felt uneasy.

Mrs. Han scolded, “What’s with that look? If you had put in some effort, Young Master Jiang would still be at your beck and call. It’s your inability that couldn’t keep a man.”

Han Jingyue sighed, “Mother, please give me some money! The trial is tomorrow, and I don’t even have travel expenses.”

“Hmph, if you hadn’t acted up, would Young Master Jiang have turned against you? If he hadn’t, would we even have to worry about this?” Mrs. Han grew angrier by the minute.

“I think you should give up on alchemy. You’re not going to learn it properly anyway. You might as well find someone to marry quickly,” she nagged on.

Marry? Gu Lan would be a fine choice. Aren’t you the ones dissatisfied? Han Jingyue thought sulkily.

After much talk, Mrs. Han still didn’t say whether she would give money. Han Jingyue grew anxious. “Mother, it’s just one spirit stone! Why make such a fuss? All the things I gave you before would fetch way more than that if sold.”

“Hey!” Mrs. Han glared, hands on hips. “Are you trying to settle accounts with me? I carried you for ten months and gave birth to you. You owe me. Forget those things — even if it were ten or a hundred times more, you could never repay my kindness.”

Han Jingyue lost her temper. “Yes, I owe you. But did you ask me if I wanted to be born? We’re both children, so why does he have everything, and I have nothing?”

“Why do you compare yourself to your brother!” Mrs. Han shouted fiercely. “You’re a burden. No matter how much money we spend on you, you’ll end up someone else’s wife. You’re just unlucky not to be born into a wealthy family!”

“I...” Han Jingyue burst into tears.

“Enough!” Mr. Han’s stern voice cut in. “Why all the noise? Are you trying to embarrass yourselves in front of the neighbors? Just give her the money.”

“Why should I? You only earn a few spirit stones a month and yet want to spend so much?” Mrs. Han turned to complain to him.

“Are you stupid?” Mr. Han snapped. “We’ve already spent so much. If we don’t spend now, won’t all the previous money be wasted?”

“Besides, if you don’t let her study, what suitable family would she find in the village? If she hadn’t been sent to the Research Institute, could she have met Young Master Jiang?”

His words hit Mrs. Han’s heart. Indeed! The same daughter — if sent to school, she could meet the Jiang family’s young master; if not, she’d only marry a farmer. Studying was better!

But could she meet someone like Young Master Jiang again at the academy?

Better not think about that now. If she saw him every day, maybe one day he’d change his mind. If she didn’t go, there would be no chance.

“Fine, I’ll give you the money,” Mrs. Han said sternly. “But you have to swear to stay away from that rotten Gu family brat. No flirting with him. And if there’s a chance, spend more time with Young Master Jiang. Maybe he’ll forgive you and come back to you.”

Han Jingyue didn’t want to swear, but without doing so, there would be no money. So she reluctantly raised her hand. “Heaven and Earth as my witnesses, I, Han Jingyue...”

After she swore, Mrs. Han took out a spirit stone and handed it to her. “Don’t waste it!”

“Mother, please give me some spirit pearls too. I’ll need food and drink when I’m out,” Han Jingyue asked again.

“Don’t even think about it!” Mrs. Han snapped. “I’ll pack you some pancakes tomorrow. It’s only three days. You can manage without spending money!”

Han Jingyue bit her lip, thinking it was enough just to get some money. No need to expect more.

The next day, when she met Gu Lan again, she could finally walk with him openly and proudly.

After Jiang Heng finished breakfast, Uncle Luo smiled and said, “How about I go with you and bring Little White back?”

“No need!” Jiang Heng wiped his mouth. “Everyone else is walking. If I ride Little White, it’d be too conspicuous. Not good for blending in.”

Uncle Luo chuckled.

He took out a stack of talisman papers and handed them to Jiang Heng.

Jiang Heng accepted without hesitation. Uncle Luo was an expert talisman artist. If not limited by cultivation, he could draw talismans far beyond the third grade.

“Thank you, Uncle Luo!”