Chapter 24: Jiang Wan in White Part 4

Soon, someone from the Spirit Abyss Pavilion delivered the Marrow Cleansing Pill. Jiang Wan accepted it and paid.

This transaction was now concluded. It had nothing more to do with the Spirit Abyss Pavilion.

Shen Sheng couldn’t help but ask, “Are we the fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered now?”

“That’s right. Once we leave, you’ll be a beautiful, lovely fat sheep.” Jiang Wan smiled faintly.

Looking at the smile on her face, Shen Sheng felt a subtle sense of wonder. Who wouldn’t love a Jiang Wan like this?

This was probably Anu’s gentle side.

After the Marrow Cleansing Pill, more Elixirs followed, but after such a gem, all the others paled in comparison.

Most people in the venue had little interest and frequently looked towards Shen Sheng.

Shen Sheng was just too weak, with almost no Spiritual Power. It was like an ordinary person had wandered into a world of supreme experts.

Jiang Wan wasn’t in a hurry to leave. She was waiting for other treasures. Shen Sheng asked, puzzled, “Do you need these things too?”

“I don’t need them. But you do. I don’t need these items, so every time I get some, I usually give them to Sang Xuan and the others.” Jiang Wan looked apologetic. “If I’d known you would come back, I would have saved them all for you.”

Shen Sheng gave a sheepish smile. “Did we know each other before?”

“No,” Jiang Wan denied again.

Shen Sheng was puzzled. “What you say doesn’t add up. Don’t you see that?”

“I don’t,” Jiang Wan pretended to be clueless.

You can never wake a person who’s pretending to be asleep.

After some waiting, the Spirit Abyss Pavilion brought out a short sword, similar to a dagger. The blade was forged from rare Ice Crystal, an extremely cold substance and very difficult to obtain. It could be considered a Divine Artifact.

Jiang Wan made another move. Highest bidder wins. That group of people again stared at them with predatory eyes.

Shen Sheng nervously leaned closer to Jiang Wan. “I think they want to eat us.”

“Remove the word ‘think’,” Jiang Wan lowered her head, fiddling with the short blade. Then, satisfied, she hung it at Shen Sheng’s waist.

Shen Sheng looked down. How was this different from a nouveau riche flaunting wealth?

It wasn’t just worrying about being targeted; it was practically screaming, “Look at me!”

Shen Sheng covered her face, failing to understand Jiang Wan’s seemingly reckless behavior. Yet Jiang Wan still didn’t seem ready to leave, continuing to wait for more treasures.

“Anu, shouldn’t we leave now?”

“No rush. The auction runs all night. If you’re tired, lean on me and sleep a while,” Jiang Wan murmured.

Having slept the whole day, Shen Sheng shook her head and continued waiting.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Sheng started to feel sleepy, while the person beside her remained motionless, as steady as Mount Tai.

When she woke up, the auction still hadn’t ended. Shen Sheng sat up and rubbed her neck. After a moment of silence, she saw the table before her was piled high like a mountain. She rubbed her eyes again. “Why did you buy so much?”

“All things in existence are part of cultivation. It’s always good to buy more nice things.”

“But, Anu, do you see how those people are looking at us?” Shen Sheng let out a dry, stiff laugh.

Jiang Wan propped her chin on her hand and gazed at her. “When you’re killing enemies on the battlefield, do you worry about a child ambushing you?”

“A child? I could flip one over with one hand. What’s there to fear?” Shen Sheng said righteously.

Jiang Wan nodded. “Then don’t worry about them.”

When the morning light streamed in, Jiang Wan finally rose to her feet and took the treasures piled on the table.

As soon as she stood, many people in the venue made a move. Shen Sheng keenly sensed their ill will. She warned Jiang Wan, “A lot of people are on the move.”

“Are they? We’re not afraid.” Jiang Wan carried the bundle in one hand, and with the other, she held Shen Sheng’s.

The Ice Crystal Dagger at Shen Sheng’s waist emitted a faint purple glow in the sunlight, extraordinarily beautiful.

Shen Sheng was enchanted by the purple luminescence. Unconsciously, Jiang Wan stopped. Shen Sheng looked up. Oh boy, over a dozen people were blocking the path ahead.

“See? This is what happens when you flaunt. We should have kept a low profile.”

Jiang Wan stuffed the bundle into her arms. “Before you flaunt, you must have the strength to back it up.”

Shen Sheng: “…” The logic seemed sound. If you brought a squad of fighters to flaunt your wealth, it wasn’t a problem.

There were many people on the path who glanced over, but seemed to find it commonplace and paid no attention.

Shen Sheng backed away. Jiang Wan stepped forward, a swirl of clear water gathering in her hands. Seeing this, the people opposite immediately turned tail and ran.

Jiang Wan frowned and called out to them, “Don’t you want the treasures anymore?”

“Clan Leader Jiang, our apologies…”

Before they could finish speaking, all ten-odd people had fled, leaving Jiang Wan, who’d been itching for a fight.

Jiang Wan sighed helplessly and turned back to Shen Sheng, telling her, “I’ve improved a lot.”

This statement was somewhat out of the blue, sounding more like a junior reporting to an elder. Shen Sheng failed to react at all.

Clearly, a fight was no longer happening. Jiang Wan took back the bundle, took the stunned Shen Sheng’s hand, and continued onward.

Inside the city, there were also places to eat. Cuisines from all over. Jiang Wan took Shen Sheng to a Tavern for a meal, ordering wine and food.

The Ice Crystal at Shen Sheng’s waist was dazzlingly conspicuous, attracting many people’s attention. Some tried to approach but were inexplicably repelled before they could get close.

After two or three such attempts, no one dared to come near anymore.

The two enjoyed a quiet meal. When Shen Sheng wanted to order some pastries for Buyan and Buyu, she opened her mouth but remembered they weren’t here. She stopped.

There was no Buyan and Buyu in this time.

They returned to Prajna City by noon. The seven Elders were sitting in front of the grand hall, watching their subordinates spar. When they caught sight of the two approaching, they rose to their feet.

“Clan Leader, Clan Leader…”

“Miss Shen, Miss Shen…”

Shen Sheng was surprised. How did they know her name?

Jiang Wan dismissed the subordinates. Instantly, the front of the hall was empty. Sunlight directly hit the Ice Crystal Dagger at Shen Sheng’s waist. Someone exclaimed, “An Ice Crystal Dagger.”

“So expensive. I can’t even afford one.” Sang Xuan stepped forward to examine it. Jiang Wan reminded her, “Are you looking at the Ice Crystal Dagger, or the girl’s waist?”

Sang Xuan immediately covered her eyes. “My apologies.”

The others laughed so hard they couldn’t straighten their backs. Shen Sheng laughed along.

After the joking settled, Fu Kong stepped forward and said, “Clan Leader, I hate to be a wet blanket, but a section of the South River water has become polluted.”

Everyone stopped laughing. Jiang Wan thrust the bundle into Shen Sheng’s hands. “I’ll be right back.”

With that, she led Fu Kong away from the front of the hall.

Shen Sheng carried the bundle and was led by a maidservant to the Clan Leader’s private hall. Just as she sat down, Sang Xuan arrived.

Shen Sheng knew what she was interested in. She handed over the dagger at her waist. “I know you’re interested in this.”

“Miss Shen, where did you come from?” Sang Xuan didn’t take the dagger.

“Nanqian,” Shen Sheng said. It was a nation that wouldn’t exist for another thousand years.

Sang Xuan said, “You seem to be a mortal, yet you obtained Demigod status after Forming a Contract with the Clan Leader?”

Shen Sheng nodded.

“But your bloodline is exceptionally pure. Have you died once before?” Sang Xuan asked bluntly. Only someone who had died once, whose blood had been necrotized and then replaced with the blood of South River Descendants, could be so pure.

Shen Sheng was confused. “No.”

Sang Xuan didn’t press further. She smiled and said, “Call me if you want to go out and play. I can protect you.”

Shen Sheng thanked her and seized the chance to ask about the Evil Devil.

“The Evil Devil…” Sang Xuan hesitated, but seeing Shen Sheng’s clear eyes, she decided not to hide anything and said directly, “The Evil Devil devours souls to cultivate. We don’t know its specific location, but we haven’t been able to find it.”

Shen Sheng asked, puzzled, “What is its origin?”

“We’re still not sure.”

“Could it share the same origin as you?” Shen Sheng deliberately hinted.

“Origin? You mean it’s also a god born from the South River?” Sang Xuan was a bit confused. “How could that be? You’re overthinking it.”

Shen Sheng didn’t dare speak rashly. She wasn’t clear on the details herself. According to ancient texts, the South River and the Evil Devil were somehow connected.

Sang Xuan withdrew. Alone, Shen Sheng fiddled with the treasures on the table.

Jiang Wan arrived at the riverbank to find the water already murky. Fu Kong said, “It suddenly turned murky. I fear a major disaster is about to happen.”

For tens of thousands of years, the river water had been impossibly clear, without fish, symbolizing a pure and holy heart.

Jiang Wan raised her hand. Water slowly flowed from her palm, gently pouring into the murky river water.

The river water cleared at a speed visible to the naked eye. Jiang Wan withdrew her hand, lowering it silently. She had known since she was little that a day like this would come. But with it right upon her, she still felt afraid.

After the water cleared, they didn’t linger and swiftly left the South River.

By the time they returned to Prajna City, it was already dark. Shen Sheng was sitting at the entrance, waiting. The Ice Crystal at her waist emitted a faint glow, enveloping her in its light.

The Shen Sheng before her was too young, her features immature. Though she had the look of a grown girl, she was far from the steady composure she would possess when they first met.