Chapter 55: Luo Ning Requests an Audience

Su Zhenglong rubbed his aching head and let out a sigh.

"This should be a habit formed since childhood, a psychological issue."

"As elders, we should work harder to help him and establish a correct direction for his life."

To this end, Mei Xiaofang also made up her mind that she must ensure Sikong Jing would no longer speak without thinking.

"A-Jing definitely comes from a prestigious family. This exile must have been a huge blow to him. He probably feels that this place is too small and hopes to regain the prestige he once had, to earn our praise."

"Let's take it slow. I believe he will get better and better."

Following Su Zhenglong's words, Mei Xiaofang also felt that she had gone too far before and shouldn't have exposed him so harshly on the spot.

"So what do we do next? How should we deal with Su Xuefeng's reproaches?" Mei Xiaofang asked again.

A strange light flashed in Su Zhenglong's eyes as he said coldly, "With the help of Yue Xian, I have recovered a lot. At least for now, there are no major issues, and I have the standing to negotiate."

Mentioning Su Yuexian, Mei Xiaofang's face dimmed again, and she nodded heavily.

At night, the family of four sat down for dinner.

"A-Jing, eat quickly. You can only make progress if you eat."

As soon as they sat down, Mei Xiaofang immediately placed food in Sikong Jing's bowl, saying with a beaming smile, "Our whole family will be relying on you from now on."

Sikong Jing looked bewildered and panicked. What was going on?

Before he could figure it out, Su Zhenglong placed another piece of meat in his bowl and smiled, "Your martial talent is excellent. It doesn't matter that you didn't work hard before; what matters is that you can find courage through shame now."

*What shame am I supposed to know? I worked hard before too.*

However, in Su Zhenglong's view, the fact that Sikong Jing could defeat Su Shan meant he was a person of extraordinary talent. Even if he had obtained a treasure, it wouldn't have been so easy to win against a higher realm.

If such talent was still stuck in the Bright Realm, it must have been because he was too unruly in the past.

Now that he had been hit by the blow of exile, he would finally realize the importance of cultivation.

"That's right. Perhaps you will soon become the new prodigy of Yunye City. Your father-in-law and I both think highly of you."

Mei Xiaofang added another piece of food, trying her best to correct his habit of being stubborn and mouthy.

Sikong Jing stared with wide eyes and said with a straight face, "I understand. I will work hard. Thank you, Father-in-law and Mother-in-law."

Although he didn't understand the situation, Sikong Jing felt an indescribable warmth; the feeling of being cared for was truly wonderful.

A grown man, his eyes grew moist at the corners.

Su Yuexi smiled sweetly beside him; although life was still hard, she was very happy.

*Knock, knock, knock...*

Suddenly, a soft knocking sounded at the door, followed by a woman's voice from outside: "Excuse me, is Grandfather Su Zhenglong in?"

Immediately, a look of vigilance flashed in Su Zhenglong's eyes.

Currently, within the Su family and Yunye City, they were almost isolated. Who would be coming to find them now?

Mei Xiaofang ran to the door and asked without opening it, "Who are you?"

"I am from the Luoshui Jade House in Yunzhou City. I am here on the orders of Eldest Miss Luo Ning to see Grandfather Su," the female voice replied from outside.

Hearing this, Mei Xiaofang told her to wait and ran back to the hall to explain.

When Su Zhenglong heard it was the Luoshui Jade House, his brows furrowed. He had heard of them, but he had no connection with them whatsoever.

And to be sent by the Eldest Miss of the Luoshui Jade House made it even stranger.

Suddenly, Sikong Jing stood up and said, "Father-in-law, the Luoshui Jade House is here to find me."

"Huh?" Su Zhenglong was stunned.

Mei Xiaofang couldn't help but say crossly, "Nonsense! Why would the Luoshui Jade House look for you? You aren't even from Yunzhou City."

Sikong Jing replied, "Luo Ning is probably here to thank me. I'll go see."

Seeing that he actually went out, Mei Xiaofang felt a bit aggrieved. "Husband, look at this boy starting again. Thank him? What kind of status does Eldest Miss Luo Ning have? Why on earth would she thank him?"

"Patience. We must have patience with A-Jing," Su Zhenglong said, feeling somewhat speechless, only able to offer consolation.

As they spoke, they hurried out of the hall, only to hear the woman's voice from outside: "Young Master Sikong, our Eldest Miss Luo has specifically come this time to thank you, and she also has a favor to ask."

As the voice fell, Su Zhenglong and his wife looked at each other, dumbfounded.

"I wonder if Young Master Sikong could make the trip? Eldest Miss Luo is waiting for you at the Zuixian Pavilion."

The person outside was indeed Luo Ning's maid, asking softly.

Sikong Jing frowned slightly. He and Luo Ning had only met by chance, and their transaction was already complete.

However, he thought about the matter of forcing his way out of the city; it was because of Luo Ning that he had the subsequent transaction with Chou Ye, so he did owe her a favor.

Moreover, Luo Ning might be able to get... what he wanted next.

"Alright, please wait a moment."

After saying this, Sikong Jing turned back to Su Zhenglong and his wife and explained, "Father-in-law, Luo Ning is the person who bought the Jadeite Feather Hairpin. I'll be back soon."

The two opened their mouths, instinctively nodding.

Only after Sikong Jing left did Mei Xiaofang ask, "Wasn't the Jadeite Feather Hairpin gotten back for free? Why would she thank him?"

Su Zhenglong was completely lost and had no idea.

"Mother, I've told you eight hundred times! The Jadeite Feather Hairpin wasn't gotten back for free. The money taken from the Hengyu Pawnshop was all used to buy the hairpin back!" Su Yuexi couldn't help but cry out in a high-pitched, sulky voice.

Even so, there was no need for Luo Ning to thank him, was there?

...

Zuixian Pavilion.

Sikong Jing looked at the tranquil and ethereal Luo Ning sitting in the private room, sat down, and asked, "Eldest Miss Luo, may I ask what brings you here?"

He got straight to the point.

Previously, the Jadeite Feather Hairpin was a transaction; in his eyes, Luo Ning was still just a business partner.

Luo Ning's eyebrows arched slightly as she replied softly, "Shouldn't Young Master Sikong first thank me for helping you settle the matter of forcing your way out of the city?"

As she spoke, her beautiful eyes narrowed into a slit.

Their last meeting at the post station had been a hurried parting; this was the first time she was observing Sikong Jing properly. In her heart, she secretly compared him to the young masters and geniuses she had seen, but none could compare.

It wasn't that Sikong Jing possessed an exceptionally noble temperament, but rather an aura that she couldn't quite define.

It was as if, by simply sitting there, he was as towering and heavy as a mountain.

Sikong Jing sat with a straight back and replied, "It was merely a matter of mutual benefit. You also had to settle things with the Leiying Merchant House. Of course, that did save me a great deal of trouble. I should thank Eldest Miss Luo."

Such casual words caused Luo Ning's eyebrows to rise further.

But she poured a cup of wine gently before saying, "Since Young Master Sikong is a man of direct speech, I won't hide it either."

"Lei Shuang is dead. Although the kidnapping by the Fierce Beast Bandit Group serves as an excuse, the Leiying Merchant House is still suspicious."

"They want to meet the person who saved me—which is you."

Sikong Jing gazed at Luo Ning. Killing Lei Shuang was his way of avoiding the trouble of retaliation, yet now she was bringing trouble to him.

"Over the past few days, we have been in continuous negotiations with the Leiying Merchant House."

"In the end, it was decided that a hunting duel will take place in the Ruyun Mountains outside Yunye City. The target is the Qianyue Leopard within the Ruyun Mountains."

A sharp light flashed in his eyes. He knew very well that an adult Qianyue Leopard was a peak Dark Realm demon beast.

At this moment, Luo Ning continued to explain, "According to the Leiying Merchant House, they will only believe you saved me from the hands of the Fierce Beast Bandit Group if you defeat them."

(End of Chapter)