Beneath the ginkgo tree in the corner, Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi stood facing each other.
People craned their necks to look over. Against the vibrant summer greenery surrounding them, their white robes stood out like splashes of red in a snow-covered landscape, brilliantly eye-catching.
The members of the Jade Clarity Sect sat in their chairs, stern-faced as they tested new disciples' spiritual roots while quietly gossiping.
"Did you hear that? Senior Brother Shen has a fiancée!"
"I'm truly shocked. Wasn't Senior Brother Shen brought to the Jade Clarity Sect by Peak Lord Gu when he was six and taken as his personal disciple? All of Senior Brother Shen's family died in that evil demon attack, so how could a fiancée suddenly appear?"
"It must be a marriage arranged by their parents when they were children."
"What a pity. That girl is quite pretty, but Senior Brother Shen will definitely refuse."
"..."
Here, away from the crowd.
Shen Jizhi lowered his eyes, reading the marriage contract word by word, his thick eyelashes casting small shadows.
Jian Huan looked up at him expectantly.
After a moment, Shen Jizhi folded the marriage contract back along its creases and looked at Jian Huan. "Where is your grandfather?"
When the two families arranged the engagement, he was only three years old and couldn't remember much, including this marriage arrangement.
But hearing Jian Huan mention it, the memory of the grandfather who gave him candy slowly emerged from the depths of his mind.
Jian Huan kicked at small stones with her shoe. "Grandfather passed away three months ago."
Shen Jizhi pressed his lips together, his gaze shifting from her to the long line of people waiting outside.
Due to his absence, that queue hadn't moved for a long time.
He withdrew his gaze, suppressing his irritation, and spoke directly: "Miss Jian, regarding this marriage arrangement, I am devoted to pursuing the Dao, and I'm afraid I cannot comply."
Jian Huan held her breath slightly. "So?"
Shen Jizhi: "What would you have me do to agree to cancel this engagement?"
Not bad, straight to the point.
Since he wasn't beating around the bush, she would be direct as well.
"One hundred thousand spirit stones." Jian Huan held up ten fingers. "As long as you provide one hundred thousand spirit stones, we can void this marriage. How about it?"
"..."
Shen Jizhi's expression notably cooled, his brown eyes gleaming with a dark light as he stared unblinkingly at Jian Huan.
Jian Huan felt uncomfortable under his gaze.
What's wrong? Was the price not right?
But this was the price he himself had proposed in the book, and she hadn't increased it at all.
Shen Jizhi closed his eyes briefly: "Does Miss Jian have no other requests of me?"
Jian Huan thought for a moment and shook her head: "No."
Her biggest problem right now was lacking money. With money, everything would fall into place.
Shen Jizhi confirmed: "This is Miss Jian's only condition?"
Jian Huan didn't hesitate: "Yes."
Hearing this, Shen Jizhi lowered his eyes and said nothing more.
Jian Huan didn't disturb him either. One hundred thousand spirit stones wasn't a small sum; he needed time to consider it.
She looked around idly, even having the leisure to bend down and pick up a green ginkgo leaf.
After a while, Shen Jizhi closed his eyes lightly, then opened them again, seeming to have made a decision. His tone was stiff: "Then the engagement stays."
Jian Huan froze, the ginkgo leaf slipping from between her fingers, spinning in the air before trembling back to the ground.
She could barely find her voice: "What... what did you just say??"
Shen Jizhi looked at her: "The engagement stays. Miss Jian can tell me whenever she wants to hold the wedding."
He bid farewell: "I have matters to attend to. I'm leaving."
Jian Huan's eye twitched, and she quickly blocked his path: "Hey, wait—"
She was extremely shocked and utterly incredulous.
What was going on? In the book, hadn't he insisted on breaking off the engagement even if it meant death?
Where had things gone wrong?
Jian Huan's mind raced.
Of course—Jiang Qiaoqiao hadn't joined the Jade Clarity Sect yet; she would enter on the very last day.
So right now, Shen Jizhi hadn't met the female protagonist, his desire to break off the engagement wasn't as strong, and naturally, he wouldn't be willing to pay one hundred thousand spirit stones.
Jian Huan closed her eyes briefly and said in resignation: "Then how many spirit stones do you think is appropriate?"
If one hundred thousand wasn't possible, ninety thousand would do, eighty thousand wasn't bad, seventy thousand would be a win, sixty thousand was barely acceptable, fifty thousand—
Fifty thousand was the bottom line, absolutely couldn't go lower than fifty thousand!
Shen Jizhi glanced at her and took out a pouch from his robes.
Jian Huan's eyes lit up at the sight, watching him intently.
She knew about this!
The Mustard Seed Pouch that every protagonist in cultivation novels carried, capable of holding countless items.
Shen Jizhi's spirit stones must all be stored inside, and thinking of this made her excited.
But a moment later, Jian Huan fell into a long silence as she stared at the three lonely spirit stones in Shen Jizhi's palm.
He stated the situation with an expressionless face: "This is all I have."
Jian Huan's eyes widened in disbelief: "...You have such a big Mustard Seed Pouch and it only holds three spirit stones?"
Shen Jizhi looked at her strangely: "This isn't a Mustard Seed Pouch."
"..."
Realizing something, Jian Huan asked weakly: "So it's just a regular pouch?"
Shen Jizhi: "Mm."
Jian Huan: "..."
"Sister Apprentice Jiang Qiaoqiao" used a flashback narrative technique, starting from three years later.
The novel began with Jiang Qiaoqiao's gradual disappointment and disillusionment with Shen Jizhi, but never mentioned how poor Shen Jizhi was three years ago, which led to Jian Huan's mistaken assumption.
Shen Jizhi: "Three spirit stones..."
Jian Huan knew what he wanted to say and cut him off directly: "Absolutely not."
Shen Jizhi: "Oh."
Jian Huan took a deep breath to calm herself.
Who was she? She was Jian Huan, who had endured transmigrating just after finally struggling to buy her own house, suddenly finding herself back to square one. This was nothing in comparison.
Shen Jizhi was at least a potential investment. If he couldn't produce one hundred thousand spirit stones now, he could in the future.
It was like holding a lottery ticket with a delayed redemption date.
Jian Huan held up three fingers to him: "I'll give you three years. If you can gather one hundred thousand spirit stones within three years, we can cancel the engagement at any time."
Shen Jizhi made a sound of agreement, saying indifferently: "Then I'm going back."
He had no interest in marriage, but as for one hundred thousand spirit stones, who knew when he could gather that much.
Whatever then, let it be as she says.
Jian Huan stopped him again, asking tentatively: "You live on Thunder Sword Peak, right?"
The book mentioned that Shen Jizhi was the personal disciple of Thunder Sword Peak's master.
She had just learned from Gong Feihong that inner disciples and personal disciples didn't have to pay for lodging.
Shen Jizhi looked at her quietly: "You seem to know quite a bit about me."
Jian Huan casually made up an excuse: "I asked about you in Approaching Immortal City."
Shen Jizhi: "Is that so."
Jian Huan circled back: "So you live on Thunder Sword Peak, right?"
Shen Jizhi: "Wrong, I don't live on Thunder Sword Peak."
Jian Huan was surprised: "Then where do you live?"
Shen Jizhi clearly didn't want to answer: "...What do you want?"
Jian Huan: "Nothing much, just that I don't have a place to stay. Can I stay with you?"
Shen Jizhi was silent for a long time. He glanced at the pack she carried on her back, thought of the life-saving grace of the Jian family, and resignedly nodded, then remembered something and added: "One spirit stone for five days, deducted from the hundred thousand."
Jian Huan's mouth twitched: "...Fine."
After reaching an agreement, they went their separate ways.
Jian Huan returned to find Gong Feihong, smiling brightly: "Brother Feihong, is your offer to lend money still valid?"
...
In the end, Jian Huan wrote an IOU to Gong Feihong and borrowed three thousand one hundred spirit stones.
While putting away the IOU, Gong Feihong asked: "Are you sure you don't want to borrow more?"
Jian Huan shook her head: "No need."
Gong Feihong sighed, seeming rather disappointed.
The Gong family was wealthy, and they had countless people coming to borrow money.
Some people tried to borrow as much as possible, while others borrowed as little as they could.
His parents had said that the latter type could be lent more, as nine out of ten would achieve great success in the future. It was better to have them owe the Gong family favors for future relations, ensuring the family's continued prosperity.
Gong Feihong asked curiously: "Where will you stay?"
Jian Huan pointed to Shen Jizhi, who was expressionlessly having people place their hands on the spirit stone testing device: "With him."
Even the worst ten-person dormitory in the Jade Clarity Sect cost five hundred spirit stones a year, so of course Shen Jizhi's rate of one spirit stone for five days was a better deal.
Gong Feihong looked at Shen Jizhi, his expression somewhat embarrassed.
He had just learned that Jian Huan already had a fiancé, and it was his future senior brother at that.
So it seemed he had misunderstood Jian Huan's apparent affection for him.
Feeling awkward, Gong Feihong didn't say much more before hurriedly following the other senior brothers through the sect gates.
Jian Huan stayed behind waiting for Shen Jizhi.
As it turned out, she waited for quite a while.
Shen Jizhi had the longest line of people in front of him. While others had finished, he still had half of his queue remaining.
Earlier, when discussing marriage under the tree, she could clearly sense Shen Jizhi's impatience, his constant desire to leave.
Yet now, despite the crowd, Shen Jizhi showed remarkable patience.
Everything became clear to Jian Huan when she watched Shen Jizhi collect his payment.
The white-robed female cultivator was Bai Ying, the sect leader's personal disciple, who was in charge of this recruitment event.
Shen Jizhi said, "I tested three hundred people today."
Bai Ying took out thirty spirit stones from her Mustard Seed Pouch: "Thank you for your hard work today, Senior Brother."
Shen Jizhi replied: "No need for formalities."
After putting away the spirit stones, he took Jian Huan, who had dozed off where she sat, back with him.
Jian Huan followed behind Shen Jizhi, constantly looking back.
She saw Senior Sister Bai Ying swiftly departing on her flying sword.
She hurried a few steps to catch up with the long-limbed man who took large strides: "Do we have to walk back?"
Shen Jizhi coolly countered: "What else?"
Jian Huan: "That senior sister flew away. Can't we fly too?"
Shen Jizhi: "I can't control a flying sword."
Jian Huan: "Then why did she call you senior brother and show you such respect?"
Shen Jizhi quickened his pace: "Because I joined the sect before her."
Jian Huan curiously pursued while trying to keep up: "What cultivation level is senior sister at?"
Shen Jizhi's expression showed growing impatience: "Golden Core."
Jian Huan: "What about you?"
Shen Jizhi: "Qi Refinement."
Jian Huan: "..."
In the book, Shen Jizhi had the Five Elements Root, the most difficult type to cultivate.
For those with Five Elements Root, the path from Qi Refinement to Golden Core was incredibly challenging. Over ninety percent of Five Elements Root cultivators remained at Qi Refinement their entire lives.
However, if a Five Elements Root cultivator managed to reach Golden Core, the path afterward became smooth sailing – famous for being bitter first but sweet later.
At the beginning of the book, Shen Jizhi was already a Golden Core cultivator, often defeating enemies above his level, a rising star among the Jade Clarity Sect's younger generation.
Unexpectedly, three years ago, he was still at Qi Refinement, not even able to control a flying sword.
The parts left blank in the novel now appeared to be plot holes.
-
It was already late when they arrived at Shen Jizhi's residence.
Over the course of the day, Shen Jizhi's image in Jian Huan's mind had completely transformed.
From the wealthy, powerful antagonist in the book to a poor cultivator still in his struggling phase.
So when she saw the simple wooden cabin, Jian Huan felt nothing unusual.
Shen Jizhi's cabin was a single room with only one bed.
But since Jian Huan had 'paid,' the bed was hers, while Shen Jizhi slept on the floor.
Though it was late and Jian Huan was exhausted from the day, she couldn't fall asleep in bed.
She was starving, her stomach completely empty, feeling weightless. If she could take out her stomach and throw it out the window, it would float away in the wind.
Jian Huan endured for a while but finally couldn't bear it anymore.
She changed from lying down to prone position, leaning over to push the person sleeping on the floor: "Hey, Shen Jizhi."
In the darkness, Shen Jizhi's voice came through, tinged with irritation: "Speak."
Jian Huan: "Do you have anything to eat?"
Shen Jizhi remained silent.
Jian Huan persisted in pushing him: "I'm too hungry to sleep. Can you think of something? You're familiar with this place – are there any fruit trees nearby?"
Even just picking some fruit to fill her stomach would be good.
Shen Jizhi turned to his side, skillfully avoiding Jian Huan's hand, and sat up: "This is Jade Clarity Sect territory."
Jian Huan replied, confused: "I know?"
"All spirit plants in Jade Clarity Sect territory have set prices. If you pick any, senior brothers and sisters will soon come to collect payment."
Jian Huan: "...!"
How stingy could this Jade Clarity Sect be.
...
For a moment, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Both remained silent.
Jian Huan sighed softly, preparing to endure her empty stomach for the night.
Just as she was about to lie back down, the candle in the room suddenly lit up.
In the dim candlelight, Shen Jizhi lowered his head, his expression unreadable.
After hesitating for a while, he reluctantly took out a jade bottle from his robes.
He removed the wooden stopper and, after some time, poured out a green Fasting Pill.
This was the cheapest type of Fasting Pill, costing two spirit stones each.
Shen Jizhi used his spiritual energy to form a sword and split the Fasting Pill in half.
He tossed the other half to Jian Huan: "One spirit stone."
Jian Huan was overjoyed and made an 'OK' gesture: "No problem, thank you."
Just as she was about to put the Fasting Pill in her mouth, she caught sight of Shen Jizhi splitting his remaining half into three pieces.
He carefully put two pieces back in the jade bottle and ate one small piece himself.
Jian Huan: "..."
Jian Huan called out to him: "Shen Jizhi."
Shen Jizhi responded with displeasure: "What now?"
Jian Huan tossed the Fasting Pill back to him: "Please help me split this into three pieces too, thank you."
She also wanted to save some for tomorrow.
Shen Jizhi: "..."
