Chapter 537

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Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

Liu Mingyuan and Lin Xiaoman stood together, while opposite them were Shen Jinghan, Su Yanzhi, and the others.

Clearly the distance was so close, yet between them it seemed as if an invisible chasm lay.

No matter what identities the two had before, now there was only one: cultivator.

Regarding this, none were more discomposed than Shen Jinghan and Su Yanzhi.

Previously, let alone a child born into a dirt-poor family like Lin Xiaoman, even a wealthy merchant's son like Liu Mingyuan they looked down upon, even despising them from the bottom of their hearts.

Yet now, the radiance emitted by Lin Xiaoman alone made them dare not look directly at her.

"Such origin, such family, could actually produce a spiritual root?"

"Now, how should we treat these two?"

"Giving charcoal in the snow is far more important than adding flowers to brocade!"

Zhao Hu's gaze shifted back and forth between Liu Mingyuan and Lin Xiaoman, finally seeming to confirm something, locking his eyes entirely on the frail figure.

The others also had various fanciful ideas.

Xu Zhangqing took out two spirit talismans that could both sense and protect, handing one to each of the two beside him, and instructed: "You will soon be picked up by the immortal sect's people; cherish the last moments with your families."

The words had barely fallen when Liu Mingyuan had already eagerly stuffed the spirit talisman into his bosom.

Lin Xiaoman still stood frozen in place until the spirit talisman emitted a cool breath that seeped through her rough palm into flesh and blood, only then letting her believe this was not an illusion.

Yesterday she was still worrying over her mother's medicine money with knitted brows; never expected that today she would become a cultivator holding a spirit talisman.

As for Xu Zhangqing and the other two, after testing the spiritual roots and filling the roster they left directly, leaving behind eight boys and girls with varied expressions.

At this moment, a clear voice rang out: "Miss Lin!"

Lin Xiaoman blanked for a moment, then raised her head and saw Shen Jinghan and Su Yanzhi already standing side by side before her, even wearing ingratiating smiles on their faces.

These two noble scions were known to everyone in Fengrao Commandery.

Last month a new Zhenbao Pavilion opened on East Street; Shen Jinghan took a fancy to a thousand-year jade hairpin inside, and to prevent the good thing from slipping through his fingers he bought the entire shop without a second word.

In the end, aside from that jade hairpin pinned in his topknot, all the rest were bestowed upon his servants.

There was also Su Yanzhi; a few days ago the Calligraphy and Painting Studio in South City acquired several ancient paintings from the previous dynasty. Upon hearing the news he cleared the place out on the spot, not even haggling, merely tossing down the line "This money is enough to buy ten shops," then departing carefreely.

At that time, if the two saw such destitute youths by the roadside, they wouldn't even have the thought of stopping, only feeling it unlucky.

Yet now their attitudes, gazes, even their tones had undergone a heaven-and-earth reversal.

Shen Jinghan's tone carried a few parts gentleness: "Miss Lin, I heard you live in the shanty town of South City; the environment there is truly crude, so I've had people buy the three adjacent estates; then you and your mother can live more quietly and comfortably."

He spoke these words lightly, as if what he bought were not three estates but ordinary roadside snacks.

However, Lin Xiaoman listened and frightedly retreated half a step, her hand clutching the spirit talisman unconsciously tightening.

She simply could not connect the gentle-toned youth before her with that noble scion who would casually spend thousands of gold to buy a shop.

Especially those three estates she passed every day; each was more than ten times larger than her family's thatched hut, yet he said buy and bought.

Su Yanzhi followed close behind, his smile even more genial: "Miss Lin, since you are now connected to the immortal path, you will inevitably need spirit plants; I've already had the premium spirit plant garden in West City transferred to your name.

There are experienced old farmers there who can help you manage it properly hereafter."

He too spoke lightly, as if these things were not worth mentioning.

But Lin Xiaoman's throat seemed blocked; for a long while she could not utter a word.

She recalled previously glimpsing Su Yanzhi's pomp from afar; at that time he felt even glancing at the poor was superfluous, as if it would stain him with bad luck, yet now he gifted her a spirit plant garden of considerable value.

This disparity was too enormous, making Lin Xiaoman's whole body ill at ease; she hurriedly waved her hands: "I... I cannot accept... these are too precious."

Shen Jinghan bowed slightly, his posture placed extremely low: "A trifling property is not worth mentioning; if you enter the immortal sect hereafter and gain an immortal master's regard, that will be my Shen Mansion's fortune."

In his heart he calculated shrewdly.

Three estates exchanged for a karmic debt of immortal fate — this deal is a sure profit; compared to the Zhenbao Pavilion jade ornaments he once bought on a whim, it is profitable by more than a hundredfold.

Su Yanzhi hurriedly chimed in agreement: "Precisely!

Spirit plants are needed for cultivation; gifting them to you could not be more appropriate.

Hereafter if you have need of the Su Family, just give the order."

At this moment he only regretted not having spoken before Shen Jinghan.

Just as they spoke, Gu Chengyu squeezed in, holding a neat stack of banknotes: "Miss Lin, this is five thousand taels; take it for emergencies first!"

The surrounding people watched dumbstruck.

Chen Nian and Fang Xiaosheng stood far off, their eyes full of envy and helplessness.

And Zhao Hu stood outside the crowd for a long time, watching Lin Xiaoman surrounded in the middle by the noble scions, then touched the old calluses on his palm worn from martial training, and suddenly slammed his own thigh hard.

He recalled the foolish words he had just mocked Shen Jinghan with.

He recalled his father's sigh: "Without a spiritual root one can only be manipulated by noble families."

Even more he recalled the icy gaze Shen Jinghan had given him just now.

With no hope of cultivation, and having offended a noble scion like Shen Jinghan, hereafter in Fengrao Commandery he would likely not even have a place to stand.

But Lin Xiaoman was different; she was the one the immortal sect favored, an existence even Shen Jinghan had to curry favor with.

Only by following her could there be a way to survive.

After Lin Xiaoman finally struggled free from the several people's "gifts," Zhao Hu suddenly rushed forward, blocking her path.

This man was stout and sturdy, startling Lin Xiaoman: "Y-you... what do you want to do?"

Zhao Hu smiled awkwardly, his voice carrying a few parts constraint: "Im-Immortal Master Lin, I want to serve as a guard for your household!"

Lin Xiaoman froze: "Guards?"

Zhao Hu hurriedly explained: "Once you go to the immortal sect, the family's industry can only be left to your mother; if no one guards it, sooner or later it will be targeted by ill-intentioned people."

This made Lin Xiaoman frown: "But..."

Suddenly, Zhao Hu knelt on the ground with a thud, kowtowing heavily with his forehead while saying through tears: "I offended Young Master Shen, I have no spiritual root and no backing; if I cannot rely on you, my whole family cannot survive in Fengrao Commandery!"

Two days later, Wang Han returned on time.

Returning at the same time were account books from several other commanderies.

Xu Zhangqing held them in his hand, swept his divine sense inside, immediately raised an eyebrow, and lightly tapped the account book with his fingertip: "Interesting, they are actually all normal prices and contents?"

Wang Han smiled bitterly: "Thirty years, a full thirty years of accumulated reputation, wealth, status, and position—I have lost them all!"