Wang Yunchong saw that Ning Xiaochuan seemed to be in deep contemplation, and thought that Ning Xiaochuan must be considering how to punish him. Therefore, he began to plead. "Brother Ning Xiaochuan, we're actually the same. In Marquis Jiange's Residence, you're called Sicken Ning and constantly humiliated. I'm not that much better off myself. People call me Wang Yunchong to my face, but behind my back, they call me Wang-dangler. In truth, I'm a very well-behaved person!"
"If you're so well-behaved, why were you at a brothel?"
Ning Xiaochuan laughed, stood up, and walked out, leaving Wang Yunchong kneeling alone on the ground.
Ning Xiaochuan was not an unreasonably unforgiving person. Small fry like Wang Yunchong was nothing more than chess pieces used by someone else. If Ning Xiaochuan really were to break his legs or cut off his tongue, this whole matter would surely blow up.
Blowing things up would not benefit Ning Xiaochuan in any way.
Wang Yunchong felt completely drained. He only stood up after quite some time, knowing that Ning Xiaochuan had, more or less, decided to spare him. Currently, Wang Yunchong felt like he was being given a second chance at life.
"You really deserved it this time. Thanks to you, I was nearly a goner too," Wang Shi said despondently.
With a sullen scowl, Wang Yunchong said, "Third Brother, I don't even know how Ning Xiaochuan suddenly became a Heart-nourishing Master. Three days ago, he was still an invalid."
Wang Shi said, "There's something else I have to tell you. Ning Han is really dead. It happened yesterday. He was killed by the Bloodthirsty Devil Sect."
Initially, Wang Yunchong had heaved a sigh of relief, but after hearing what Wang Shi said, he was so shocked that he fell on his butt. "The…Bloodthirsty… Devil… Sect."
Wang Shi was not a Good-for-nothing Descendant, but a whiz from Marquis Tianxiang's Residence, so he was meticulous in his actions. "I've read Ning Xiaochuan's file. When his mother was alive, she was from the Devil Sect. Moreover, she held an extremely high position among them."
Wang Yunchong was so frightened that his face turned white. "Which… Which means that Ning Xiaochuan prompted the members of the Devil Sect to kill Ning Han? Third Brother, Third Brother, you must save me. The Devilish People from the Bloodthirsty Devil Sect eat people alive and suck their blood. I don't want to be eaten alive by them!"
"Sigh! Don't you regret your past behavior now? I can't save you. The only one who can save you is Ning Xiaochuan. Even if he doesn't target you, the people from the Devil Sect will surely take your life," Wang Shi said.
Wang Yunchong said, "I've got it, I've got it. Ning Xiaochuan is especially fond of a third-rate hostess from Guanyu Tower. I'll go now and buy her, then give her to him to make amends."
Wang Shi sighed, shaking his head. If Wang Yunchong were not his brother, he would not have bothered getting involved in this mess. Wang Shi stopped Wang Yunchong and reminded him again, "I've asked around Jinpeng Heart-nourishing Hall – Wang Yunchong is indeed a Heart-nourishing Master. This means that he's been concealing his Cultivation, which is very likely a move orchestrated by the Bloodthirsty Devil Sect. Therefore, you'd better not reveal a single word about this matter regarding Ning Xiaochuan. This isn't something we can get involved in. It's best to act as if we don't know anything. Perhaps then we may still survive."
"I'll keep my lips sealed and won't breathe a single word." Wang Yunchong's legs were trembling. He felt that provoking Ning Xiaochuan was the stupidest thing he had ever done in his life.
…
The number one King's Residence in the Yulan Empire, King Jinpeng's Residence.
King Jinpeng's Residence was massive and stylish. The ambulatory was paved with foot-wide precious stones. Gold pillars, so wide one could wrap one's arms around them, propped up the magnificent palace buildings. It was as lavish and expensive as the Imperial Palace.
Attendant Hua was currently at King Jinpeng's Residence, reporting the news about Ning Xiaochuan to Yu Qianqian.
Yu Qianqian wore a green, gauzy gown embroidered with golden silk, paired with a long skirt as white as the moon. Her figure was as slim as the crescent moon, and her skin as delicate as jade. Although she was still a very young girl, her round, smooth face could launch a thousand ships, and was the envy of every woman in the world!
She had a demeanor that was unique to the princesses who lived in Nobles' mansions. The girls of common houses might be gorgeous as well, but they would not have such a noble, elegant manner like hers.
"In one night, he refined ten stalks of Heart-nourishing Herb, producing four drops of Heart-nourishing Liquid from each stalk. It's inconceivable, utterly inconceivable. He's an exceptional prodigy amongst the cultivating Heart-nourishing Masters! His Combat Atrium is sure to be an abnormal type. Ordinary people can't possibly reach this level of achievement." Yu Qianqian's shining eyes were filled with astonishment.
Her Combat Atrium was an abnormal type as well, known as the Lotus Atrium. Her heart was shaped like a jade lotus, exuding the perfume of the lotus flower. Her skin was even fairer than the lotus flower. She was sparkling and exquisite, and the fragrance was her shroud.
She was also a genius who was a cultivating Heart-nourishing Master. Nonetheless, each day she could only refine six stalks of Heart-nourishing Herb. She was still a long way from reaching Ning Xiaochuan's terrifying level.
Attendant Hua said, "He is rather impressive indeed, and his future achievements are unlimited. It's just that…"
Yu Qianqian asked, "Just that, what?"
Attendant Hua bowed in salutation towards Yu Qianqian. "I've looked into his past. He's a fourth-generation descendant of Marquis Jiange's Residence. Because he was born with an affliction, he can't cultivate Combat Qi and is known to others as Sicken Ning. Thus, he has no status in Marquis Jiange's Residence. However, based on what I've seen of him, he's not much of an invalid. He's basically an exceptional prodigy. What's the secret here?"
Yu Qianqian's eyes brightened slightly. "So it's him. I was thinking that his name seemed familiar for some reason."
"Princess, you know him?" Attendant Hua asked.
Yu Qianqian shook her head. "I don't. I've only heard his name uttered by many geniuses from the Nobles' mansions. I heard that he's the son of a peerless luminary at Marquis Jiange's Residence, but he did not live up to his father's name. He was born sick and thus became the laughingstock of the Nobles' descendants. That's why his name is so familiar."
Attendant Hua nodded. "Ning Xiaochuan's father was more than just a peerless luminary. Ten years ago, he was a character who took the entire Yulan Dynasty by storm. He was invincible among his contemporaries. Even the Cloud Marquis, Yue Wuyang, who was known as the youngest Martial Supreme, suffered four defeats at his hands. Unfortunately, an incident happened ten years ago, and Ning Xiaochuan's father and mother died in the Ning Ancestral Temple."
"What happened?" Yu Qianqian asked curiously.
Attendant Hua shook his head. "The whole thing was rather earth-shattering at that time. Even half of the Six Devil Supremes from the Devil Sect came to the Imperial City. Nonetheless, only the Elders at Marquis Jiange's Residence know exactly what happened, and they have never revealed a single detail to the outside world. Ten years passed, and the matter gradually faded from people's minds."
"How interesting. The father was a peerless luminary, the son is an exceptional prodigy. Marquis Jiange's Residence is truly bursting with talent. If my guess isn't wrong, Ning Xiaochuan's nickname, Sicken Ning, is merely Marquis Jiange's Residence's way of covering things up. In truth, he's a true luminary as well," Yu Qianqian said.
Attendant Hua nodded. "I think so too. After all, if an exceptional genius like Ning Xiaochuan is exposed to the world, there's sure to be someone who won't let him live. Marquis Jiange's Residence is doing this to protect him. Your Highness, what should we do then?"
Yu Qianqian rested her chin on one hand, blinking her long lashes. "Since he's an exceptional prodigy, naturally we mustn't let him fall into anyone else's hands. We'll keep this a secret as much as we can. Don't let the other two major Heart-nourishing Halls know about this. As for how we should treat him… promote him directly to the standard of a Mid-level Heart-nourishing Master!"
"Understood!"
Attendant Hua had wanted to report what happened with Wang Yunchong to Yu Qianqian as well, but after some reflection, it seemed too insignificant. There was no need to alarm Her Highness the Princess, so he respectfully took his leave.
Yu Qianqian's dainty fingers gently combed through her hair. She was even more curious about Ning Xiaochuan now. It was not just because of his background, but also his extraordinary talent and his nickname, Sicken Ning.
"Another interesting person has appeared. If I have time, I should visit Marquis Jiange's Residence to see him for myself." Yu Qianqian has such a thought.
Of course, this idea merely revolved in her mind for a moment. After that, she threw herself into more important matters.
From her point of view, Ning Xiaochuan was just a relatively special genius, and King Jinpeng's Residence had no shortage of geniuses!