The beauty in the white dress didn’t speak immediately, but she turned towards the door as if sensing something. Her jade-like face lit with a trace of surprise, and a complicated emotion flashed briefly in her misty eyes.
The man in white beside her noticed her reaction and followed her gaze, spotting Rong Yu standing at the entrance. His lips curled into a smile, though a glint of coldness lingered in his eyes.
“Well, isn’t this a surprise?” the man thought, his smile deepening. “Enemies truly do meet on narrow roads.”
Rong Yu’s own thoughts turned bitter.
“Tsk, so we meet again, you manipulative schemer,” he mused, his lips twitching with a mix of disdain and irony. “You really are as beautiful as a goddess. Even the legendary beauties of my past life pale in comparison to you. No wonder my predecessor was so captivated. Too bad that allure hides a rotten core.”
The woman’s name was Liu Qinghui, and her story was one that had deeply scarred Rong Yu’s predecessor.
Born to a small vassal family under the Ning clan, Liu Qinghui was a childhood friend of Rong Yu. Their fathers had been close friends, and the two families often visited each other. When Rong Yu was just ten years old, their fathers had even arranged a marriage between him and Liu Qinghui.
But as fate would have it, Rong Yu’s incomplete thunder spiritual root shattered his potential, while Liu Qinghui’s prodigious talent in alchemy blossomed. Recognized as a genius, she quickly became one of the Ning family’s official alchemists.
When this disparity became apparent, Liu Qinghui’s father wasted no time tearing up the engagement. Rong Yu’s father, furious and humiliated, had spat blood upon receiving the news, but there was nothing he could do. The family’s focus on Liu Qinghui’s alchemical talent left them no room to care about Rong Yu’s lineage.
The betrayal devastated Rong Yu’s predecessor. His health suffered, and when he recovered, he became obsessed with mastering alchemy, hoping to prove himself worthy. It was all for her—a futile attempt to regain her attention.
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Now, standing before Liu Qinghui, Rong Yu could feel the echoes of his predecessor’s humiliation. Narrowing his eyes, he silently vowed, Don’t worry, old friend. I’ll repay this disgrace a hundredfold.
The man in white, Ning Ruiming, broke the silence with a sly smile.
“Rong Yu,” he called out mockingly, his voice dripping with condescension. “We meet again. Didn’t expect to see you so soon after… well, you know.”
Rong Yu raised an eyebrow but didn’t reply immediately. He recognized Ning Ruiming instantly. A member of one of the eight direct branches of the Ning family, Ruiming was the son of the tenth elder. His branch had risen to prominence in recent years, largely at the expense of Rong Yu’s family.
The rivalry between their lineages stretched back generations. When Rong Yu’s ancestor had become a foundation-building cultivator, it had crushed Ruiming’s branch underfoot. But the tables had since turned, with Ruiming’s father defeating Rong Yu’s father in the last lineage competition to secure a coveted direct branch position.
Now, Ruiming was a rising star in the Ning family, a first-class intermediate alchemist with aspirations of becoming the chief alchemist. To him, mocking Rong Yu was a pastime.
Rong Yu met his gaze calmly, suppressing the anger that simmered beneath the surface. Without a word, he turned and walked straight to the counter, where he began negotiating with the shop clerk.
His actions were deliberate, as if Ning Ruiming’s presence was of no importance.
The hall grew quiet as Rong Yu concluded his purchase: fourteen sets of spiritual materials for Qi-Boosting Pills, costing him 140 spirit stones, along with twenty Bigu Pills for sustenance.
Tucking the items into his storage pouch, he left without sparing Ning Ruiming or Liu Qinghui a glance.
Liu Qinghui watched him go, her eyes clouded with doubt. Something about Rong Yu seemed different—calmer, more resolute.
Ning Ruiming, however, wasn’t as introspective. Frowning slightly, he muttered, “Rong Yu just bought spiritual materials for Qi-Boosting Pills. It seems he still hasn’t given up. But no matter how many times he tries, he’ll fail. He doesn’t have the time to accomplish anything before his bet with the Fifth Elder takes effect.”
Liu Qinghui’s soft voice broke through his thoughts. “That’s not certain. There’s still a month left. Who knows? Maybe there will be a miracle.”
Ruiming glanced at her, his eyes narrowing slightly. Though her tone was neutral, he detected a faint trace of something—concern, perhaps? He quickly dismissed the notion, his lips curling into a sneer.
“Miracles are rare, Qinghui,” he said, though his expression turned calculating. “But… you’re right. Anything’s possible.”
He turned back to her, his smile returning to its usual practiced charm. “Let’s head to Tianshui Market. We don’t want to keep you waiting for your moon orchids, do we?”
Liu Qinghui hesitated for a moment before nodding. With that, the pair left the shop, leaving behind the whispers of curious onlookers.