Volume One, Chapter Two: Why Should I Pay for Your Things?

Han Jingyue’s tears flowed uncontrollably, and the hairpin in her hand felt as hot as burning embers, making her want nothing more than to throw it away immediately.

She looked at Jiang Heng with a plaintive expression, silently pleading for him to stop being childish and to pay up quickly so she could escape this embarrassing situation.

Gong Huimin grew anxious as well. “Jiang Heng, how can you act like this? If you hadn’t said this hairpin suited Jingyue, she wouldn’t have even dared to refine it. Just pay the money already.”

Jiang Heng raised an eyebrow, looking at her as if she were an idiot. “You’re strange. Just because I say it’s suitable, you have to buy it? Then, clerk, bring that Vermilion Bird Sword worth twelve hundred spirit stones over here. I think it suits this lady’s temperament even better!”

The shop had quite a few customers, and some had already gathered around earlier. Hearing Jiang Heng’s words, they burst into laughter.

But someone said, “Young man, if you want to win a lady’s heart, you have to be willing to spend. Just a couple dozen spirit stones, go ahead and pay for her.”

Jiang Heng sneered coldly. “Brother, you said it yourself! Just a mere twenty or thirty spirit stones? Then you pay for her.”

The man immediately shrank his neck and fell silent, retreating into the crowd.

Gong Huimin was baffled by what had suddenly caused Jiang Heng to turn against Han Jingyue. Normally, since she followed Jingyue around, although she didn’t gain much elsewhere, she had enjoyed quite a bit of good food and drink.

Otherwise, given her family background, she wouldn’t have been able to eat Spirit Valley meat at the Spirit Cultivation Pavilion. These delicacies were not only delicious but also offered slight enhancements to one’s cultivation.

Usually, Han Jingyue treated Jiang Heng with no ill will, so they could mediate from the sidelines and win his favor. To gain their help, Jiang Heng would occasionally give them small gifts.

So it was fine for Han Jingyue to throw a little tantrum, but she couldn’t afford to completely ignore Jiang Heng!

Faced with the current scene, Gong Huimin was at a loss and didn’t know what to do. Seeing Han Jingyue so distressed made her feel uncomfortable as well.

But she didn’t have that many spirit stones on her, so even if she wanted to help, she lacked the means. This matter had to be resolved by Jiang Heng.

“Jingyue!” she whispered, “Why don’t you just swallow your pride and smooth things over for today? Otherwise, with so many people watching the spectacle, it won’t do your reputation any good.”

Han Jingyue bit her red lips stubbornly. “No. It’s not my fault, so I won’t apologize.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, don’t be so stubborn now,” Gong Huimin said urgently, stamping her foot.

She leaned close to Jiang Heng and whispered, “I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but if you want to break Jingyue’s spirit, then congratulations—you’ve succeeded today. Just pay the money, will you?”

“Sorry! That’s none of my business!” Jiang Heng shrugged and started to walk out.

That was humiliating enough! Ha, this is just the beginning! We have a long road ahead.

Seeing him lift his leg to leave, even Han Jingyue couldn’t hold back any longer. “Jiang Heng, don’t go. Can you lend me some spirit stones? I’ll pay you back later.”

Jiang Heng chuckled. “Pay you back? How exactly do you plan on doing that?”

“I...” Han Jingyue gritted her teeth. “I’ll pawn my storage pouch to you.”

“Heh, if you don’t mention it, I’d have forgotten,” Jiang Heng laughed. “That storage pouch was a gift from me. You want to pawn something I gave you to get me to pay spirit stones? What kind of logic is that?”

“I, I...” Han Jingyue’s face flushed deep red. “Jiang Heng, I apologize. It was my attitude that was bad before. Don’t worry, it won’t happen again.”

As she spoke, she felt utterly humiliated, as if she had been violated in public. But what else could she do? She had been reckless, refining the hairpin before Jiang Heng paid.

Now, looking at the shimmering hairpin, all she felt was disgust and an overwhelming urge to smash it to pieces.

“No, just be yourself. There’s no need to sacrifice your dignity for me. I’m just a spoiled rich kid, unworthy of a proud and noble beauty like you,” Jiang Heng said, then turned and left.

The street outside was bustling with noise and activity. Looking at the familiar scene, Jiang Heng truly realized he had returned.

A second chance at life was wonderful! He took a deep breath. Even though the air was filled with dust and the strange smell of passing spirit beasts, it still felt incredibly marvelous.

Han Jingyue and Gong Huimin, seeing Jiang Heng leave, immediately tried to chase after him but were stopped by the clerk. “Want to leave? Pay up first!”

Han Jingyue burst into tears again. “I’ll return the hairpin. I really don’t have the money.”

“Hmph, this is a magical item. Each time it’s refined, it loses some of its effectiveness. If you don’t want it, fine, but who else can we sell it to later?” the clerk said with a sour tone.

“Then what do you suggest?” Gong Huimin couldn’t help but ask directly.

“Alright, I won’t make this difficult for you! You can sell the hairpin back to us as second-hand. I’ll give you 70% of its value. Then you just need to pay me ten more spirit stones,” the clerk proposed.

Before even stepping outside the shop, the hairpin’s value had dropped by ten spirit stones. Han Jingyue felt heartbroken and anxious.

“I, I don’t have ten spirit stones!” she lowered her head almost to her chest.

“If you go out shopping without a single spirit stone, are you just waiting for a man to pay for you?” the clerk rolled his eyes and said sourly.

Gong Huimin realized the situation couldn’t be smoothed over and quickly said to the clerk, “Don’t be so rude. I’ll go find some money and pay you back soon.”

With that, she rushed out of the shop and into the street to look for their fellow disciples.

Earlier, after their group of more than ten had finished eating, they had split up into smaller groups. Everyone tacitly left Han Jingyue and Jiang Heng together to give Jiang Heng an opportunity.

The first group Gong Huimin encountered outside was led by Gu Lan.

“Gu Lan, I’m so glad to see you! Do you have any spirit stones on you? Jingyue urgently needs some!” she said anxiously.

“What happened?” another smiled. “Isn’t Young Master Jiang here? How could Jingyue possibly be short of spirit stones?”

“Cough!” Gong Huimin stomped her foot in frustration. “That Jiang Heng has gone crazy and refuses to pay for Jingyue. She’s stuck in the shop and can’t leave. If any of you have spirit stones, please lend me some. Jingyue will pay you back later.”

Gu Lan didn’t hesitate. “Let’s go see!”

He only had seven spirit stones, quietly earned from selling low-grade talismans, and needed to save some for buying talisman paper and spirit liquid.

But right now, none of that mattered. Saving Jingyue was the priority.

The three hurried back to the Spirit Tool Pavilion and saw Jiang Heng standing on the steps with his hands behind his back, smiling at them.

“Oh! Reinforcements have arrived! Hurry inside,” Jiang Heng said, making way for them.

Gu Lan scowled. “Jiang Heng, didn’t you say you liked Jingyue? Then why do you let her suffer like this?”

“Isn’t this giving you a chance? Hurry up and be the hero who rescues the beauty!” Jiang Heng said with a grin.

“Nonsense. I only have fellow disciple feelings for Jingyue!” Gu Lan suddenly felt a bit guilty.