Chapter 72: Plucking a Plum Blossom for Whom p1
“But I really am worried about you.”
Ning Ruoque awkwardly cleared her throat.
She licked her lips dry and stared at her own reflection in the teacup.
The Medicine King doted on Yin Buran. If she knew that she had made Yin Buran cry, it would not be strange for her to do such a thing.
Chu Xuan asked with a gossipy tone, “How do you think you compare to those sword cultivators?”
Ning Ruoque looked up and said without thinking, “In terms of swordsmanship alone, few can defeat me.”
To be more specific, there were probably only one or two people.
She could perform nineteen types of sword flourishes and hundreds of different styles of sword forms. If Yin Buran wanted to see, she could perform for seven days and seven nights without repeating herself.
But when it came to other things, it was not certain. Putting aside her cultivation, there would be no sword cultivator more dull-witted than her in terms of temperament…
After Ning Ruoque finished her answer, she silently lowered her head, and her straight back suddenly slumped, looking dejected.
So if Yin Buran really chose another sword cultivator, there was nothing she could do.
She could only secretly protect Yin Buran and constantly monitor that sword cultivator to prevent the other from having any ill intentions.
Chu Xuan clicked her tongue a few times and slapped her on the back. “Look at your dejected look. Is there anything you can’t talk to Yin Buran about?”
“Go back and apologize to Yin Buran. Just talk it out, and it will be fine.”
Ning Ruoque did not want to talk to her about this at all, so she nonchalantly changed the subject.
“Chu Xuan, the demon race’s activities are becoming more and more frequent. The Medicine King wants to form an alliance with you and Si Mingyue. Also, I’m going to the ancient battlefield recently.”
Chu Xuan squinted and sized her up, directly skipping over the previous question and asking with a profound meaning, “You couldn’t be thinking of not taking Yin Buran, right?”
Ning Ruoque: “…”
She still remained silent, her gaze shifting to the tassels hanging on the curtain.
After a moment, she finally said in a low voice, “It’s too dangerous. I might not be able to guarantee her safety.”
Chu Xuan did not comment on this and just sat with her legs crossed, cracking melon seeds.
While looking at the auction items on the list, she said slowly, “You like to act alone very much.”
“Back then, you preferred to go and deal with demonic beasts on your own without a word. You would never say anything unless you were seriously injured, and you would take the initiative to cover the rear when you encountered danger.”
“This habit of yours,” she frowned and pressed her temple, “Hiss—why is my head starting to hurt?”
After a few breaths, she finally relaxed her brow and glanced at Ning Ruoque out of the corner of her eye.
Her tone suddenly became a little more serious.
“Perhaps to you, this is just a habit, but Yin Buran should be very worried about you. Not to mention her, even I don’t want you to take the risk alone.”
“Think about yourself too. Yin Buran saved you not to watch you get hurt.”
Ning Ruoque lowered her eyes and did not answer.
The golden bell rang three times, the restaurant’s main door closed, and the red curtains fell. A female cultivator walked gracefully onto the stage.
The auction had begun, and Chu Xuan and Ning Ruoque’s attention also returned to the display stand.
The first few items were just appetizers. The more precious the items, the later they would appear.
But when Ning Ruoque saw the collector’s edition of the Sword Venerable’s hanging scroll on the display stand, with her “autograph” on it, she was so embarrassed that she clenched her fists.
Seeing Ning Ruoque’s embarrassment, Chu Xuan laughed mercilessly.
“You know that a group of people from the Sword Pavilion worship your portrait every time there’s a sword testing conference.”
“Although the painting is indeed not bad, and it even has a formation that can calm the mind and focus the spirit, I’ll laugh at whoever buys this thing at a high price.”
As soon as her voice fell, she heard the auctioneer quote, “Private room Lan, nine thousand spirit stones!”
Chu Xuan almost spat out the tea in her mouth.
Nine thousand spirit stones! You could hire a formation master to draw several high-level mind-focusing formations!
She wiped her mouth. “Which nouveau riche is this? With this much effort to worship you, it’s better to practice the sword for a few more hours.”
Ning Ruoque deeply agreed.
She looked curiously in the direction of the private room Lan, but only saw a red curtain.
All the private rooms had special formations, and one could not see the faces of the people inside.
Chu Xuan also craned her neck to look for a while.
“I didn’t see a waiter serve tea to that private room. The people inside are probably participating with a projection device.”
Neither of them took this little interlude to heart.
As time went by, the auction items that were brought out became rarer and more precious, and even Chu Xuan had bid for two materials.
Ning Ruoque was not interested in these.
From time to time, she would scan the transmission talisman in her storage bag with her spiritual sense, just waiting for the Nebula Dark Gold to be auctioned, and then rush back to Azurefall Creek.
Until the third to last auction item appeared.
The auctioneer lifted the red cloth, and on the fox-fur soft cushion was a piece of ore, three feet long and one foot wide, as white as frost.
In the sunlight, the pattern of the ore was clear and extremely delicate, like a handful of fine snow.
Ning Ruoque’s gaze was immediately attracted to it, and she unconsciously sat up straight.
This was Heavy Snow Crystal!
The texture of the Heavy Snow Crystal was like crystal, but it was harder than most bronze and white iron.
The only problem was that it was too light and not suitable for forging swords, but in Ning Ruoque’s opinion, this had become its advantage.
Such a large piece of Heavy Snow Crystal was very rare, and it was just right to forge a light and easy-to-use short sword for Yin Buran!
She immediately said, “I want to bid for this.”
Chu Xuan stroked her chin and sized it up, and also nodded. “It’s indeed a good thing, but you don’t want the Nebula Dark Gold anymore?”
“…”
Both of them were things that if she missed once, she didn’t know how long she would have to wait. But the money Ning Ruoque could give was only enough for one of them.
If her luck was even worse, she would have to borrow some money from Chu Xuan.
Ning Ruoque frowned slightly.
A life-bound sword was like half of a sword cultivator’s body and was extremely important to her. Reforging her life-bound sword had also always been her goal.
But she looked at the snow-white ore, and for some reason, she thought of Yin Buran’s equally snow-white long hair.
A completely snow-white short sword should suit her very well. And Yin Buran did need some artifacts that could protect her.
She hesitated for a moment, listening to the bids outside, one higher than the other, and her heart seemed to be jumping back and forth.
The two words “forget it” were already on the tip of her tongue, and she only needed to open her mouth to say them.
She bit her lip.
Suddenly, she blurted out, “This one then. I want to use it to forge a short sword.”
Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow, pressed the bidding button, and teased her along the way.
“The sun is really rising from the west. But since you were able to give her your sword qi back then, it’s not strange for you to do such a thing now.”
Ning Ruoque stuffed a piece of mung bean cake into her mouth and pretended not to hear.
She had already started to think about the pattern on the scabbard.
Few people needed Heavy Snow Crystal, and Chu Xuan happened to hit the psychological price of her competitor and successfully bid for the item.
While the waiter was packing and sending the Heavy Snow Crystal over, the last auction item was also brought to the display stand.
The auctioneer used his spiritual energy to send his voice in all directions. “Everyone, please look. Today’s final auction item, Nebula Dark Gold!”
As the red cloth was lifted, the dark gold was bathed in the sight of everyone.
From a distance, it was dazzling, its light even brighter than the sun!
A clattering sound of a mechanism was heard, and the roof of the restaurant closed.
Without the sunlight, the light of the dark gold gradually dimmed, revealing its pitch-black body.
However, in the dim light, a complete, galaxy-like pattern appeared on the ore, like the starry sky on a summer night, making one gasp in amazement.
This was the unique pattern of Nebula Dark Gold.
After seeing the real thing, both the private rooms and the main hall began to raise their paddles to bid.
From the starting price of three million, it had been called up to six million, directly doubling.
Ning Ruoque stared at the piece of dark gold without blinking, as if she were looking at a soft and fluffy steamed bun.
Chu Xuan was chewing on a preserved fruit, smacked her lips a few times, and nonchalantly pressed the bidding button, quoting, “Six million five hundred thousand!”
This was already a very high price, at least more expensive than that piece of Heavy Snow Crystal.
Ning Ruoque was shocked. “You don’t have to—”
The latter waved her hand with a dashing air and directly interrupted her. “What’s our relationship? We’ve been through life and death together. This little bit of money can be considered a loan to you.”
Hearing that this was a loan to her, Ning Ruoque let out a soft breath and did not stop her.
Six million five hundred thousand was enough to make most people flinch.
But even if there were only a few scattered voices calling out, Chu Xuan carefully considered and raised the price, and still let the bidding soar to eight million.
A terrifying price that was enough for Ning Ruoque to sell herself for several hundred years.
A trace of despair even appeared in Ning Ruoque’s eyes.
She couldn’t even produce the one million she owed Yin Buran. How was she going to repay eight million?
She had really been blinded by the dark gold for a moment and couldn’t recognize her own limits.
Seeing that Ning Ruoque had the intention to retreat and was even starting to get restless, Chu Xuan let out a sneer.
“Look at your lack of promise. I dare to bet that this piece of dark gold is not necessarily more expensive than the bracelet you gave Yin Buran.”
The auctioneer continued to quote, “Eight million once.”
Ning Ruoque’s heart was also pounding.
Just as it was about to jump to her throat, the voice suddenly broke off.
After a moment’s pause, the auctioneer instead announced in a higher volume, “Private room Lan bids, nine hundred—!”
This was still just the first bid from the private room Lan.
The next moment, the number on the price tag jumped abruptly, and the auctioneer timely corrected himself, “Nine million two hundred thousand—”
However, the other was still raising the price, and the auctioneer’s mouth was open, but he couldn’t utter a single word for a long time.
Everyone present was silent.
Ning Ruoque could almost imagine a wealthy young lady, because she was in a bad mood, impatiently tapping the button to add money.
Those who could sit in a private room were either rich or had a status.
As long as the other could afford it and was not maliciously raising the price, no one dared to criticize this behavior.
After a few breaths, the auctioneer finally shouted, “Ten million!”
The whole audience was in an uproar.
Chu Xuan slapped her thigh hard, also shocked.
“Hey, no, who on earth is this?”
One had to know that although this piece of Nebula Dark Gold was rare and precious, it was only the size of a palm, far from enough to forge a long sword, and was only suitable for filling in defects.
And the price given by private room number one had already greatly exceeded its average price, and it was clear that they were determined to get it.
Ning Ruoque pressed down on Chu Xuan’s hand and shook her head. “No need.”
Since this piece of Nebula Dark Gold could not be bid for, she could just find some other materials.
She comforted herself, just taking it as if they were not fated. She even let out a small sigh of relief.
Hearing this, Chu Xuan no longer insisted and gave up the bidding.
No one else bid, and after the auctioneer counted down three times, the hammer fell.
“Ten million three times! Congratulations to the esteemed guest of the private room Lan for getting what you wished for!”
It was just that Ning Ruoque couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache.
She watched eagerly as the maid put the Nebula Dark Gold into a brocade box and carried it down.
When she looked down at her own Heavy Snow Crystal again, that bit of sadness had dissipated a little.
Before she could even warm the box, it was snatched away by Chu Xuan.
She rushed to the door with great fanfare and urged with an extremely fast speed, “Quick, quick, let’s find a furnace to refine this piece of Heavy Snow Crystal. It’s good for you to give it to Yin Buran.”
She had always been a person of great action, and the forging furnaces of the Forging Fire Sect were everywhere.
In less than half an hour, the two of them were standing in front of a scorching hot forging furnace.
Chu Xuan rolled up her sleeves, revealing her muscular, wheat-colored arms, summoned a hammer, and her whole person became excited.
“Tell me your thoughts?”
Ning Ruoque did not speak. She just showed her wrist and made a cut on the Sudden Rain sword.
Bright red blood gushed out and quickly soaked half of her sleeve.
However, she was as if she had no feeling and let the blood stain the Heavy Snow Crystal until her face turned pale before she stopped the bleeding.
Before Chu Xuan could comment, she summoned a fragment of her own life-bound sword.
Her finger pressed on the body of the sword, and with a crisp sound, the fragment broke.
Ning Ruoque had originally thought that she would be heartbroken when she broke the sword, but now that she had really done it, there was only a little bit of reluctance.
She threw this finger-joint-long fragment into the furnace as well.
No more. Any more and Yin Buran wouldn’t be able to lift it.
She wanted to forge a sword for Yin Buran, clean and flawless.
And then she would fuse her own blood essence and life-bound sword into it, making the blade incomparably sharp, seventy percent like herself.
Only in this way could she feel a little more at ease when she was not by Yin Buran’s side.
Chu Xuan did not say a single word of nonsense and very skillfully mobilized her spiritual energy to begin refining.
The Heavy Snow Crystal was like a pool of slowly melting snow. The impurities were continuously removed, and it turned a silvery white.
After being reshaped and then forged again, and after repeating this several times, the short sword began to take shape.
The hammer in Chu Xuan’s hand did not stop for a moment, and the iron slurry in the furnace bubbled.
So when the short sword came out of the furnace, the light of the Heavy Snow Crystal was all contained in the blade, turning into a single point of cold light.
It was like the moonlight, and even more like a foot of clear white snow, looking warm and harmless.
However, with a casual wave of Chu Xuan’s hand, the decorative stone lion was directly split in two, the break neat and smooth.
She curled up the corners of her mouth in satisfaction, threw the short sword to Ning Ruoque, and raised her chin. “How is it?”
Ning Ruoque’s fingertips stroked the body of the sword, and from it, she felt an aura similar to her own.
The short sword let out a clear hum, as if in response to her.
She nodded. “Very good.”
It was just that she didn’t know if Yin Buran would like it.
Outside, the sky was already bright.
After forging for a whole day and night, Chu Xuan stretched comfortably and hooked her arm around Ning Ruoque’s shoulder as if she had no bones.
“Wait a few days for the matter you asked me to do. We’ll meet at the ancient battlefield after the results are out.”
Ning Ruoque pushed her away with a blank expression and glanced at her sideways. “You’re going too?”
“Nonsense. I told you not to take the risk on your own. The demon race is probably already planning to assassinate you. Can you let people worry a little less?”
Chu Xuan said it as if it were a matter of course, and then directly punched Ning Ruoque’s shoulder.
She was not the kind of small cat with little strength like Yin Buran. This punch directly made Ning Ruoque take half a step back and frown.
When she looked up again, Chu Xuan had already turned around with a dashing air.
“I’m leaving. You should hurry up and coax Yin Buran. I don’t want to spend my energy being a mediator for you two.”
Ning Ruoque looked at the transmission talisman in her storage bag.
The patterns on the talisman were gray, and there was no reaction at all.
She sheathed the short sword, and she herself also flew in the direction of Azurefall Creek.
*
