Chapter 2: Private Savings

Having had her nature ruthlessly suppressed by Luo Bi, Jiang Zhu laughed. She was already accustomed to Luo Bi’s upright character and her tendency to be straightforward in both speech and action: "You still don't believe me? I’m speaking from the heart, sister."

"Don't pull that on me. How many interstellar coins is 'loyalty and righteousness' worth per catty?" Luo Bi scoffed. "Don't try to put such ethereal, high-sounding labels on me. Be careful, or you might fool me into being a fool; I have no desire to be a person of 'loyalty and righteousness'."

She continued in a resentful tone: "Being loyal and righteous requires sacrifice. I’m the type of person who wouldn't even spare an eyelash for someone else; asking me to sacrifice is worse than asking me to die."

"You, really! That temper of yours." Jiang Zhu actually believed that Luo Bi was cold-blooded at times. She shook her head and began to worry about Luo Bi’s family: "In Hua Ran’s condition, a Grade 3 spirit medicine is all that’s needed to save his life. But Grade 3 spirit medicines are exorbitantly expensive. Even if the Third Legion has them, they wouldn't hand one over to a crippled man. It’s a pity." Hua Ran was an S-rank high-gene Thunder Flame Warrior, and just like that, he was ruined.

Jiang Zhu was genuinely regretful: "Without a Grade 3 spirit medicine, you can only use potions and low-grade spirit medicines to keep him alive. Even if you took out all your private savings, it would just be a drop in the bucket, and in the end, you still wouldn't be able to save him."

After talking for a long time, Jiang Zhu finally said: "You should keep those private savings of yours. Don't take them out; even if you do, it won't last more than a few days."

Even though Jiang Zhu admired Hua Ran, she prioritized reality. Spending money to prolong the life of someone who was already on the verge of death was too wasteful.

Luo Bi’s hands paused. She looked up at Jiang Zhu, wanting to say something but stopping herself. She wanted to tell Jiang Zhu that she had the ability to keep Hua Ran alive. At that moment, she almost blurted out the fact that she had awakened, but fortunately, her reason prevailed. The thought only existed for a few seconds before she immediately suppressed it, lowering her head to continue working.

Jiang Zhu was slow to react and did not notice Luo Bi’s abnormality.

Wu Yue, having dismissed a group of customers, came into the studio. After catching a snippet of the conversation, he interjected: "I heard from Jiang Zhu that you intend to take out your saved interstellar coins to buy Calming Powder? Hua Ran’s high genes are severely damaged; if you want to treat him, you must use spirit medicines to nourish him over a long period. Those few interstellar coins of yours won't be of much use. I advise you not to waste them."

He paused, then continued: "Hua Ran is your stepmother’s son. It’s not worth it to throw away your family’s foundation for him." He had said all he could; to say more would be crossing the line.

Luo Bi sighed: "I understand the logic, but my stepmother wasn't someone my father sought out; she was someone I found for my father. Since she and her son entered our home, it wouldn't be right to ignore them when trouble strikes, would it?"

"You..." Wu Yue was frustrated by her lack of resolve. "You usually seem quite smart, so why are you being so muddled now? If you spend all your family’s interstellar coins on Calming Powder, how will you live in the future? Are you going to drink the northwest wind?"

Luo Bi remained silent. Drinking the northwest wind wouldn't be necessary; with her awakened abilities, supporting the whole family wouldn't be a problem, and she could even save Hua Ran’s life. However, Luo Bi did not want others to know about her awakening. She had deliberately hidden it for so many years, and she didn't want to reveal it unless absolutely necessary.

Just as her mind was wandering, her terminal rang. She raised her wrist to look; it was her fiancé, Hua Chen, asking to meet her at the Xiangming Pavilion, a place frequented by Thunder Flame Warriors.

Luo Bi and Hua Chen were in an arranged marriage and rarely saw each other. After hanging up the communication, Luo Bi felt a bit puzzled; Hua Chen had never asked to meet her at this hour before.

Wu Yue was easygoing. Hearing that Hua Chen wanted to meet Luo Bi, he readily agreed: "Go quickly and come back soon."