An Chen slept soundly all night and went to school as usual the next morning.
At the school gate, An Chen saw Ye Xinning with dark circles under her eyes.
“You didn’t sleep?”
“………”
Ye Xinning didn’t answer.
“Aren’t you afraid Cultivation will expose you? By the way, Kunpeng hasn’t found you yet, right?”
Ye Xinning had a master like Hong Shan, so her aura was completely concealed. She hadn’t been exposed on Earth, and she was even safer in Nine Heavens. Therefore, Kunpeng probably still didn’t know she was a Transcendent.
“Kunpeng can’t find me. Old man Hong Shan is still very capable.” Ye Xinning yawned, “As for the commotion caused by Cultivation… I’m not absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, but Spirit Stones. Old man Hong Shan can still conceal this small disturbance.”
The density of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi contained within Spirit Stones is much higher than that in the air. This is true in Nine Heavens, and even more so on Earth, where the difference is like heaven and earth.
An Chen clicked his tongue.
“You’re quite wealthy.”
“I borrowed them from my master. When I finish Cultivation, I’ll slowly repay him.”
Although Hong Shan said that these were what a master should provide, Ye Xinning insisted on keeping a record, temporarily converting her draft notebook into an accounting ledger, and meticulously noting down all the Cultivation resources Hong Shan gave her.
When Hong Shan heard Ye Xinning say this, he actually felt a headache coming on.
Ye Xinning doing this just showed that their relationship wasn't good enough, didn't it?
He had originally thought that by taking this little guy as his disciple and hearing her call him master, it would deepen their relationship, and at least someone would help look after him when he got old.
Others raised children to support them in old age; he had no children, so he could only raise a disciple.
But Ye Xinning insisted on settling everything clearly with him. Her doing so was like she intended to leave once she had repaid everything.
He, as a master, truly became just a 'cheap' master who only imparted the Dao of Cultivation.
Moreover, he was going to send Ye Xinning to Nine Heavens Academy in the future, and the teachers of Nine Heavens Academy would be the ones to teach her the Dao of Cultivation!
“He’s your master, isn’t it natural for him to give you Cultivation resources? He gives them to you, and you just take them and Cultivate, isn’t that good?”
At this moment, even An Chen began to speak up for Hong Shan.
He truly felt that Ye Xinning was a bit too sensitive, to the point of needing to record such things.
His earlier remark, “You’re quite wealthy,” was nothing more than a tease.
Although An Chen didn't like owing others, he certainly wasn't to Ye Xinning's extent.
“No, I can’t owe anyone…”
“Then the candy I gave you before, do you have to return that too?”
Ye Xinning suddenly choked, then her cheeks flushed slightly, and her speech quickened a bit.
“I can return it… No, no, I appreciate your kindness… That’s not right either!”
Watching Ye Xinning’s incoherent appearance, An Chen smiled slightly.
“You take my candy, no need to return it. This is because we have a good relationship, we are friends. The giving of such things is very normal between friends, isn’t it?”
“Right.”
Ye Xinning nodded.
“If even such things need to be accounted for, does that not mean our relationship isn’t good enough?”
Ye Xinning nodded again.
“Then you and Hong Shan have a master-disciple relationship, and the master-disciple relationship is also very good, isn’t it?”
“Probably.”
Ye Xinning thought for a moment. Hong Shan was indeed very good to her and took care of her in many ways. She was very grateful, but she wasn't sure if her good feelings for Hong Shan were merely disguised gratitude.
“Then him giving you Cultivation resources and nurturing your growth, isn’t that a very normal thing? These Spirit Stones, to him, are actually just like a piece of candy to me, there’s no difference. If you’re going to be so meticulous with him over such a small thing, he’ll be sad, won’t he?”
Ye Xinning lowered her head thoughtfully, then slowly nodded.
“It seems so…”
The two walked into the school and slowly went upstairs. As they entered the corridor leading to their classroom, An Chen noticed someone following behind him.
“Hey!”
Sun He jumped up from behind, trying to slap An Chen’s shoulder, but An Chen spun around and stepped aside, dodging Sun He’s “attack.”
He didn’t know if it was a unique behavior of Second Middle School, but it was what the students there loved to do most.
Many people hadn’t fully woken up early in the morning and were drowsy. A sudden surprise from behind could instantly wake someone up.
An Chen had been caught by Sun He like this a few times before.
“No way, how are you so fast?!”
Sun He withdrew his hand, laughing.
“My reactions have always been quick… Rather, you, why are you so energetic this morning?”
Sun He first glanced at Ye Xinning beside An Chen, then looked at An Chen, raising an eyebrow.
“Guess?”
An Chen smiled and continued walking towards the classroom door.
“I won’t guess. Don’t I know your personality? You have such a strong desire to share… You can’t wait to tell me. If I don’t do anything, you’ll come tell me in a bit.”
Sun He scratched his head behind him.
“How do you guess everything?”
The three walked into the classroom. An Chen and Ye Xinning sat down at their desks, while Sun He stood in front of An Chen’s desk, quietly taking out a small paper packet from his pocket.
“The reason I’m so energetic is because of this.”
Sun He slowly opened the paper packet, revealing the powder inside. Sun He even leaned in to smell it, then showed a look of satisfaction.
An Chen raised an eyebrow.
“Sun He, I advise you to be kind. If you get involved with bad things, it’s best to turn yourself in quickly.”
Actually, he knew what it was. Wasn’t it just the Qingxin Grass Leaf he sold to Sun Zhijun, ground into powder?
As for its effects, he naturally understood them.
Ye Xinning, sitting next to him, also twitched the corner of her mouth.
So, this thing ended up back in An Chen’s hands?
“This isn’t some drug! This is…”
Sun He suddenly lowered his voice.
“You know about Nine Heavens, right? This is powder made from a starting herb from over there. When you light it, it’s like lighting incense powder, it burns slowly. After smelling this incense, it’s incredibly refreshing! I feel like my brain works so much better!”
“A drug from Nine Heavens?”
“No! This thing isn’t addictive, and it won’t harm your body. This is something my dad bought at a high price from a Transcendent. I heard he’s already connected with some big figures, and after they saw this thing, they said they wanted as much as they could get! But my dad still left some for me, saying it’s good for my studies!”
So, Sun Zhijun had already found a buyer?
His speed was quite fast.
However, this also just proved that An Chen hadn’t found the wrong person. With Sun Zhijun having a sales channel, the demand would only increase. And not just Qingxin Grass Leaf, he could also sell other rare herbs and Spirit Pills from Nine Heavens to Sun Zhijun.