Yun Jin was already slipping the grass ring onto Ye Danxia's finger with cheerful enthusiasm."Junior Sister Ye, since you're so grateful to our Yun family, you'd better take good care of this ring. Don't lose it," she said with a bright smile. "Otherwise, I might start to question why you really came here today."
Ye Danxia stared at the crude ring woven from grass. Her lips twitched uncontrollably.
"She expected me to wear this?! It's so ugly!"
"Xiao Jin, what I meant was..." Ye Danxia tried once more to explain.
"Oh, you mean one ring isn't enough? You want one for every finger?" Yun Jin beamed. "I'll happily make more!"
"No need!" Ye Danxia hastily cut her off. "One is plenty!"
"Oh." Yun Jin sighed, feigning disappointment.
Ye Danxia's expression grew darker by the moment. She had a reputation for being kind and magnanimous to uphold. If she forcibly took Yun Jin's ring, others might criticize her.
But she needed that ring. She just couldn't afford to break character.
Casting a pitiful look at the senior brothers who'd accompanied her, Ye Danxia played her next card. The moment her teary eyes landed on them, the group of senior brothers immediately felt their blood boiling.
"Yun Jin, is it?" The man with the highest cultivation among them stepped forward, his tone arrogant. "My junior sister wants the ring on your finger. Hand it over now and stop playing games, unless you're begging to suffer the consequences!"
"Senior Brother Chen, please don't say it like that," Ye Danxia interjected hurriedly. "I may have offered her a rare Biling Pill in exchange, but if Xiao Jin can't bear to part with the ring, then… so be it."
"She already took the pill!" Chen sneered. "She doesn't get to refuse!"
Si Wanning stepped forward, her expression icy. "Trying to rob us now? Fine. Let's see if you can take it from me."
Chen stiffened.
Among their group, he was indeed the strongest—at the peak of the Tenth Qi Condensation Layer. They'd followed Ye Danxia today partly to curry favor with her. After all, someone with a Heavenly Spirit Root was destined for greatness.
But as for Si Wanning...
She had already formed her Golden Core, and by now was likely just a step away from Nascent Soul. How could he possibly fight her?
Yet, he couldn't back down now. Not when Ye Danxia was watching.
Gritting his teeth, he bluffed: "Senior Sister Si, you're at Golden Core. I'm just Qi Refining. If you attack me, it's bullying!"
Si Wanning smirked. "Oh? Then consider me a bully today."
The Tianjian Peak might have declined—
But it wasn't so weak that a few Qi Refining ants could trample over them!
As Si Wanning moved to strike, Chen and his lackeys paled. If she really attacked, they were doomed.
But just then, Yun Jin's lazy voice drifted over. "Second Senior Sister, why use a blade to kill a chicken? They're just a few Qi Refining cultivators. Why should you trouble yourself?"
Si Wanning blinked.
Yun Jin stepped forward, her face devoid of expression as she stared straight at Chen."You want my ring, is that right? Fine. Then let's settle it on the martial platform. If you win, I'll personally hand you the ring. If you lose… I'll take three Foundation Establishment Pills."
In this cultivation realm, Foundation Establishment techniques were scarce. To break into the Foundation Stage, cultivators had to rely on pills. Those with good aptitude might succeed with one. Those with poor roots might need ten or more and still fail.
This Chen fellow was already at the peak of Qi Refining. Foundation Pills were something he would definitely need.
As for Yun Jin, she was just about to reach that stage too.
So—It was only right for him to hand them over.
Chen stared at her for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing. "You? Fight me? Are you serious?"
He'd been training for three years and was on the verge of Foundation Establishment.
Yun Jin?
From what Ye Danxia said, she'd only joined the sect three days ago—and had a trash Five Spirit Root!
"Was this idiot begging to lose?!"
"Senior Brother Chen," Ye Danxia said softly, "Three Foundation Pills is a bit steep. Maybe we should just let it go..."
Chen immediately puffed up his chest. "Junior Sister Ye, don't worry. For you, even if I had to wager my life, I'd do it gladly. And besides, there's no way I'll lose this duel. I'll personally get that ring for you!"
Ye Danxia rewarded him with a sweet smile.
Inflated with pride, Chen glared at Yun Jin. "You want a fight? Fine. But we're drafting a binding contract—witnessed by the Sect's Law Enforcement Hall!"
Contracts sealed by the Hall were unbreakable. Violators faced forced compliance.
Yun Jin smiled. "Exactly what I was thinking."
Ye Danxia's eyes gleamed, though she pretended to fret. "Xiao Jin, don't be reckless. Senior Brother Chen is very strong."
"Oh. Then I won't fight." Yun Jin shrugged.
She quickly abandoned the act. "But I think... you might still be able to challenge him."
Yun Jin's lips curled into a knowing smirk.
For a split second—
Ye Danxia felt exposed, as if all her schemes had been laid bare.
She barely kept her mask from slipping.
Luckily, Yun Jin didn't press her. Instead, she turned to Chen. "Let's make it tomorrow. No point dragging it out."
Chen scoffed. "I couldn't agree more."
"You're such a good person." Yun Jin sighed, genuinely touched.
She'd been wondering where to scrounge up Foundation Pills—
And here he was, delivering them on a silver platter!
What a saint!
Chen didn't quite understand the deeper meaning behind her words. He simply scoffed, pulling out a silver contract scroll on the spot. The two of them wrote down the terms of their wager. With a flash of silver light, the contract was sealed.
Ye Danxia finally let out a breath of relief.
"Good. Yun Jin was as stupid as ever. By tomorrow, the ring would be hers."
The group left as quickly as they'd come.
Up in a tree by the roadside, a shadowy figure watched silently. Yu Songnian narrowed his eyes, expression dark.
These fools dared to bully his junior sister?
With the eldest senior brother absent, he would have to step in. A handful of powder materialized in his palm. With a flick, it scattered—landing on everyone except Chen.
Chen was Yun Jin's prey.
She would deal with him herself.
But…
Was she truly confident?
For the first time in years, a trace of worry flickered across Yu Songnian's usually expressionless face.