#221 - Jealous? (4000 words, 2 in 1)

"Then I'll ask directly, did you come to the Heavenly Profound Gate to offer congratulations, or because you miss that Qin Qingwan?"

Wu Yanhan looked at Xu Ming seriously.

Being stared at by Wu Yanhan like this, Xu Ming shuddered all over.

Xu Ming had a feeling that if he didn't answer well, Wu Yanhan might just punch him.

Wu Yanhan's punch wasn't the kind of gentle tap on the chest.

Wu Yanhan's punch could very likely make you directly question your life.

"Qingwan is my friend, and she helped me a lot in the White Wallow Secret Realm. Qingwan was injured quite a bit because she helped me, so I have to come and see her, and see if there's anything I can do," Xu Ming said slowly.

"I didn't say anything, why are you explaining so much?" Wu Yanhan picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of tea, "Even if you came to see her because you missed her, that's none of my business, that's your freedom."

Although Wu Yanhan said so, in her heart, she was actually quite happy to hear Xu Ming's explanation.

Although this guy Xu Ming might be lying to her, at least he would explain.

As for whether it was true or false, she didn't want to investigate.

And Xu Ming, looking at Wu Yanhan's appearance, felt that Wu Yanhan was a little jealous.

But Xu Ming felt that he must be mistaken.

He stopped her and Mo Zhu'er's competition at that time, not helping either side, so it was possible for Wu Yanhan to be "jealous."

After all, he and she were "brothers" who had shared life and death, but he adopted a neutral approach, which would definitely make Wu Yanhan feel uncomfortable.

But Qingwan was his childhood sweetheart, and she didn't have any conflict of interest with Wu Yanhan, so Xu Ming couldn't figure out the possibility of Wu Yanhan being jealous.

"Could it be that Yanhan likes me?"

A bold idea popped up in Xu Ming's mind, and he looked at Wu Yanhan.

Wu Yanhan blinked her eyes and looked at Xu Ming, finding that Xu Ming's eyes were a little strange: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Xu Ming, on the other hand, took a sip of tea with some guilt: "Nothing."

"Inexplicable." Wu Yanhan stood up, "It's getting late, I'll leave first. Just tell me if you need anything. By the way, where are you going after participating in the Zixia Ceremony?"

Xu Ming shook his head: "I originally wanted to go to the Myriad Sword Sect, but the selection for the Rootless Secret Realm is about to begin, so I probably won't have time. After participating in the Zixia Ceremony, I'll have to return to Wudu."

Wu Yanhan nodded: "After my mission to the Heavenly Profound Gate, I will also return to Wudu to report back. Then you can go back with me."

"Have the troops of the Wu Kingdom come?" Xu Ming asked.

Wu Yanhan: "It's just a mission to the Heavenly Profound Gate, not to raze the Heavenly Profound Gate to the ground. Why would I bring troops here? But I have two thousand Dragon-Leopard Iron Cavalry following me. By the way, why are you asking this?"

"It's nothing, just asking casually. Okay, then let's go back together."

The reason why Xu Ming asked this was because he was afraid that he would encounter assassinations on the road, which would affect Wu Yanhan.

But with 2000 Dragon-Leopard Iron Cavalry following, he was relieved.

Although most of the Dragon-Leopard Iron Cavalry are in the Heroic Soul Realm and Martial Courage Realm, the spears and armor in the hands of each Dragon-Leopard Iron Cavalry are built with Mysterious Iron, and the Dragon-Leopard horses under their crotches have the bloodlines of Deer Shu, Flood Dragon, and Thunder Leopard, making them even more powerful.

In particular, the Dragon-Leopard Iron Cavalry can also form military formations, which is a great weapon.

As one of the three trump card armies of the Wu Kingdom, 2000 Dragon-Leopard Iron Cavalry, let alone Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, even Jade Purity Realm cultivators would have to be wary.

"Okay, then it's decided."

After getting Xu Ming's confirmation, Wu Yanhan didn't waste any more words and walked out of Xu Ming's courtyard.

After Wu Yanhan left, Shen Sheng, who had been playing with mud, ran to Xu Ming's side, then stretched out her hand and handed Xu Ming something made of mud.

"This little dog is sculpted quite well." Looking at the clay sculpture in Shen Sheng's hand, Xu Ming praised.

Shen Sheng shook her head: "Not... dog."

"Not a dog? What is it then?" Xu Ming examined it carefully.

Shen Sheng pointed at Xu Ming.

Xu Ming also pointed at himself: "You sculpted me?"

Shen Sheng nodded, then lowered her head in disappointment, touching the clay figure of Xu Ming in her hand.

Looking at the little girl's disappointed appearance, Xu Ming quickly changed his words: "Oh, I was just saying why I looked so familiar, it turns out you sculpted me. Thank you, I like it very much."

"Really?" Shen Sheng raised her little head.

"Really." Xu Ming took the clay figure, "I never lie to Shengsheng."

Shen Sheng's eyes curved, and her mood improved all of a sudden.

In fact, Shen Sheng's IQ is really not low, it's just that Shen Sheng can't speak very well.

When Wu Yanhan came to the courtyard, Shen Sheng had been playing by herself, not disturbing herself and Wu Yanhan, and only ran over after Wu Yanhan left.

"You're covered in mud from playing, go wash your hands." Xu Ming rubbed Shen Sheng's head.

"Mmm." Shen Sheng nodded obediently, ran to the water tank, tiptoed, scooped two ladles of water into the wooden basin, then squatted down and washed her little hands seriously.

After washing, Shen Sheng ran "da da da" to Xu Ming and stretched out her fair and delicate little hands towards Xu Ming.

"Mmm." Xu Ming nodded, turned his head, and was still thinking about the Three Stone Peak.

But after a while, Shen Sheng turned to face Xu Ming and stretched out her fair little hands towards Xu Ming again.

Looking at Shen Sheng's cute appearance, Xu Ming quickly understood what Shen Sheng wanted to do.

Xu Ming reached out and rubbed Shen Sheng's little head, and said with a smile: "Washed very clean."

"Hehe" Shen Sheng, like a little beast, happily rubbed her little head against Xu Ming's palm.

Looking at the little girl's obedient appearance, Xu Ming asked: "Shen Sheng, what do you think of that big sister just now?"

Shen Sheng thought about it seriously: "Pretty."

Xu Ming smiled: "She is very pretty, but what brother is asking is not what she looks like, but what do you think of her as a person?"

Shen Sheng bit her finger and thought about it seriously again: "Fierce."

Xu Ming was stunned, pinched Shen Sheng's little nose: "Yanhan is indeed quite fierce, but Yanhan only looks fierce, in fact, Yanhan is very gentle. You'll know when you get along with her for a long time."

"Oh woo."

Shen Sheng nodded and sat next to Xu Ming.

In fact, in Shen Sheng's opinion, it's none of her business what the beautiful big sister's personality is like, she just needs to stay by Xu Gege's side.

As night fell, an outer disciple brought dinner.

The dinner was packed in wooden boxes, which could be discarded directly after eating.

Five dishes and a soup, and the portions were very large.

The raw materials used for these dishes are all the flesh and blood of some magical beasts or spiritual vegetables irrigated with spiritual springs, all of which have very abundant spiritual power.

These dishes are placed outside, ordinary people simply can't afford to eat them, even those princes and generals can't possibly eat them every day.

However, those princes and generals don't need to eat them every day.

Most mortals are martial artists, and martial artists can't replenish much spiritual power. At most, it will make their bodies healthier, and it is also possible to over-supplement and cause other problems.

After dinner, it was basically dark.

Xu Ming took Shen Sheng to a small stream to take a bath. Of course, Xu Ming always had his back to Shen Sheng when she was bathing.

Xu Ming originally thought about whether to take Shen Sheng to the women's bathhouse, where the bath water was soaked with spiritual flowers and herbs, which was good for the body.

But Shen Sheng still has some magical beast characteristics, so it's not good if others see it.

After Shen Sheng finished bathing, she shouted "Awoo" to Xu Ming in the distance, and Xu Ming knew that Shen Sheng was done bathing.

Xu Ming took Shen Sheng back to the courtyard. At this time, a maid stood outside the courtyard gate.

Seeing Xu Ming return, the maid bowed: "Chenxiang from Lingzhi Peak, greetings, Young Master Xu."

Xu Ming nodded and returned the salute: "Miss Chenxiang is here for...?"

"The Sect Master asked me to come and send some things to Young Master Xu, which Senior Brother Xia promised to give to the Young Master when he was in the White Wallow Secret Realm before." Chenxiang smiled and took out a box from the storage ring.

"Oh, is that so? Please thank the Sect Master and Brother Xia for me. As expected, Brother Xia is a man of his word."

Xu Ming took the box.

"Young Master Xu is too polite. In addition, the Sect Master also asked me to tell the Young Master that if the Young Master needs anything, just ask, and the Sect Master will definitely satisfy the Young Master." Chenxiang said gently.

"Definitely, definitely, I won't be polite." Xu Ming smiled, not refusing the other party's kindness.

From Chenxiang's words, Xu Ming heard a hint of warning.

This female disciple did not represent Xia Donghua, but the Sect Master of the Heavenly Profound Gate.

This expresses another meaning - "I actually already know about you and my son. It is true that my son did something wrong. These things are my apology. However, I hope this matter ends here, and please give this old man some face."

Whether to give face or not will be discussed later, but in the Heavenly Profound Gate, even if you are pretending, you have to pretend to give the other party face.

"If the Young Master has nothing else, then that's all for now, Chenxiang will take her leave first."

"Miss, walk slowly."

Chenxiang bowed and retreated.

After Chenxiang left, Xu Ming took the box back to the courtyard.

Opening the box, a rich spiritual energy wafted out.

Inside, the box was divided into three layers. The first and second layers were neatly arranged with fifty high-grade spirit stones, while the third layer held five rank-one spirit fruits.

In the mortal world, the common currency is gold and silver.

However, in the cultivation world, while gold and silver still possess some purchasing power, the primary currency is spirit stones.

Spirit stones are divided into low, medium, and high grades, with a conversion ratio of one hundred to one between each grade.

That is, one high-grade spirit stone is equivalent to ten thousand low-grade spirit stones.

As for the exchange rate between spirit stones and mortal gold and silver, it's not so stable.

This mainly depends on the "international situation" and the strength of each dynasty.

If a mortal dynasty is relatively strong, then one low-grade spirit stone is worth about one copper coin.

If it's a smaller country, relatively weaker, one low-grade spirit stone can be worth two, or even ten copper coins.

Even when not exchanging for copper coins, the legal tender,

the exchange of spirit stones for silver and gold, these hard currencies, also depends on the relationship between the mortal and cultivation worlds.

If the mortal realm is stronger, with a greater influence on the cultivation world, then one high-grade spirit stone is equivalent to eight thousand taels of gold.

If the cultivation world almost completely overwhelms the mortal dynasty, then one high-grade spirit stone can even be worth more than ten thousand taels of gold.

The mortal and cultivation worlds are always in a state of strange equilibrium.

But regardless, the fifty high-grade spirit stones that Xu Ming demanded from Xia Donghua at the time were truly a huge request; Xia Donghua must have felt the pain.

And these five rank-one spirit fruits are also very precious, with one rank-one spirit fruit being worth about one high-grade spirit stone.

As for whether the Tianxuan Sect Master might have poisoned these spirit fruits...

That's impossible.

The higher the grade of spirit fruits, the purer they are.

If a poison were added to a rank-one spirit fruit, the spiritual energy would become turbid, not only would the color become muddy, but it might even rot.

But these five rank-one spirit fruits are intact, crystal clear, and obviously without any problems.

Shen Sheng Sheng placed both hands on the table, revealing half of her head, her big eyes blinking as she looked at the spirit fruits on the table, drool flowing from the corners of her mouth.

Looking at Shen Sheng Sheng's little gluttonous appearance, Xu Ming smiled: "Want to eat one?"

Shen Sheng Sheng nodded, then shook her head vigorously.

"It's okay, eat if you want."

Xu Ming picked a spirit fruit that looked like an apple for Shen Sheng Sheng. This spirit fruit was called a Water Dragon Fruit, very juicy, with a thin skin and pulp; you could even see the flesh inside through the skin.

Shen Sheng Sheng wanted to take it, but then withdrew her hand.

"No need to be polite with me, Sheng Sheng gave me a clay figure, I'll give Sheng Sheng a fruit," Xu Ming said with a smile.

Shen Sheng Sheng hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't resist her馋虫 (chán chóng: craving/gluttony) and took the spirit fruit, crunching and munching as she ate.

After finishing, Shen Sheng Sheng let out a satisfied burp, feeling her stomach was full.

Xu Ming had Shen Sheng Sheng sit on the table, and then personally helped her regulate the spiritual energy in her body.

Shen Sheng Sheng's realm was low, and the spiritual energy contained in a rank-one spirit fruit was too much, requiring slow digestion.

After half an hour, Shen Sheng Sheng fell backward. Xu Ming caught her, the little girl in his arms already asleep.

Xu Ming carried Shen Sheng Sheng to the bed and covered her with a blanket.

Just as Xu Ming was tucking Shen Sheng Sheng in, Xu Ming's hand froze for a moment: "It's not a good habit to come to other people's residences without knocking."

Behind Xu Ming, a girl in a black dress smiled charmingly: "If I knocked, how would I see Young Master Xu looking so gentle?"