Chapter 55: [Congratulations! You Have Won a Reward: Cultivation Points +99,999!]

When Qianwu heard the commotion and turned around, he saw Ji Huo and Xia Ningshang approaching. He was momentarily startled, then bowed respectfully.

“Boss.”

Ji Huo glanced at Swordpoint Manor, where the demonic energy was gradually dissipating, estimating that the young lady inside was nearly finished. He asked,

“How does it feel?”

“What do you mean, how does it feel?” Qianwu’s face showed a hint of confusion.

Ji Huo stared at him for two seconds, then shifted his gaze aside, meeting Xia Ningshang’s eyes. The two exchanged a silent understanding.

“Boss,” Qianwu hesitated briefly before lowering his voice, “I helped her without permission…”

Ji Huo waved his hand dismissively. “She harbors a blood feud, doesn’t she?”

Qianwu explained, “Her family once possessed a secret manual. The Assassin Hall, the Swordpoint Manor’s master, and Purple Lightning Peak joined forces and wiped out her entire clan. She only escaped by chance and obtained a shard of the Demon Spear, which spurred her quest for revenge.”

Xia Ningshang, enjoying the drama, asked curiously, “Swordpoint Manor and Purple Lightning Peak both sound like righteous sects. How did they end up collaborating with something as obviously evil as the Assassin Hall?”

Qianwu shot her a glance, but Ji Huo explained, “This is Miss Xia, there’s no need to hold back.”

At this, Xia Ningshang raised her brows and flashed Ji Huo a bright smile, her lips curling with mischief.

Qianwu finally explained, “The Assassin Hall secretly does business with Swordpoint Manor and Purple Lightning Peak. Together, they have destroyed many families in the martial world. Purple Lightning Peak even trains assassins for the Assassin Hall, trafficking people, forcing women into prostitution—Swordpoint Manor is just as guilty.”

Xia Ningshang’s mouth fell open in astonishment. “I never expected such so-called righteous sects to do these things.”

Ji Huo chuckled. “The martial world runs deep. Many illustrious sects have secrets they can’t show the world. Even if someone acts like a perfect gentleman on the surface, behind closed doors, they’re often up to no good.”

Xia Ningshang asked with interest, “Then, Master Ji, how do you judge if someone is truly a gentleman? What if, though he acts righteous, his heart is filled with criminal intent?”

Ji Huo brushed his sleeve, answering calmly, “Judge actions, not thoughts. No matter what he might think, if he can live his whole life with integrity and never commit evil, I’ll call him a true gentleman.”

Xia Ningshang nodded in agreement. “That is true.” Then she teased, “But since you write so many romance tales, Master Ji, how do you fit in?”

Hearing this, Qianwu’s mouth dropped open and he stared at Ji Huo, his mind in chaos. He’d heard some of those scandalous romance stories in teahouses—quite embarrassing, really. Could the boss have written those? He’d never heard anyone mention it. What pen name did the boss use? Maybe he could secretly look them up later.

Little Red Sugar probably knew. Yes, he could quietly ask her.

Ji Huo’s face flushed as he coughed. “That was back when I was poor, forced to make a living to support these brothers! Besides, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

Xia Ningshang snorted softly, her lips quirking upward. For some reason, seeing Ji Huo like this put her in an inexplicably good mood.

It felt wonderful.

Qianwu continued, “That woman… I don’t think her nature is bad. She’s made mistakes, yes, but all for revenge. That’s why I helped her, and I covered her tracks along the way.”

Ji Huo looked at this brother he’d raised himself. Qianwu still stood ramrod straight, eyes clear and determined, like a sword drawn from its sheath.

He remembered Qianwu was always steady, yet fiercely loyal—well respected in the Qian Kun Sect. But just helping someone because he saw their nature wasn’t bad—that wasn’t like Qianwu.

Suddenly, Ji Huo spoke. “If I recall, your entire family was wiped out before I found you, wasn’t it?”

Qianwu answered quietly, “Yes.”

Ji Huo nodded. That made sense.

He remembered when Qianwu had sought revenge, a bunch of brothers had loudly offered to help, nearly stumbling into disaster. Their target was supposed to be a sixth-rank fighter but turned out to be fifth-rank. His iron fists left everyone battered and miserable.

Fortunately, Little Red Sugar had secretly followed and finished off the fifth-rank enemy with her umbrella. Otherwise, none of them would have survived.

After that, Qianwu bought her plenty of treats and a month’s supply of candied hawthorns.

Those were the early days of the Qian Kun Sect, when everyone was poor. Qianwu picked up all sorts of odd jobs and bounties just to pay off debts—the hardest worker of them all.

Later, when the sect split into Heavenly Gang and Earth Fiends, Qianwu, perhaps feeling guilty for his earlier mistake, volunteered for the Heavenly Gang. Ji Huo would have put him there anyway, given his character.

The Earth Fiend group was full of lunatic assassins, arrogant schemers, and twisted crawlers…

Seeing Ji Huo silent, Qianwu hesitated for a moment and mumbled, “I didn’t help her because…”

Ji Huo smiled.

Xia Ningshang laughed as well.

“I really didn’t,” Qianwu insisted.

“Mm-hmm, I believe you,” Ji Huo replied perfunctorily.

Xia Ningshang waved her hand with a grin. “Alright, alright, we all know you didn’t help her just because she reminds you of yourself.”

“I…” Qianwu’s face flushed, and after stammering for a while, he lowered his voice, “I was just thinking, if not for meeting the boss, I’d have starved on the streets long ago. I might have ended up just as desperate as she was.”

In the sky, the demonic haze vanished completely, and the air was once again clear and bright.

Ji Huo squinted at Swordpoint Manor but faintly sensed a baleful, bloody aura still lingering above it. Yet to the naked eye, everything seemed normal—only he could tell something was different.

What was happening? Ji Huo was a bit puzzled but didn’t dwell on it. Perhaps he’d practiced too many techniques and some buffs overlapped, causing odd effects.

“What are you staring at?” Xia Ningshang leaned over from behind, her chin nearly touching Ji Huo’s shoulder as she curiously peered at Swordpoint Manor.

“Nothing.” Ji Huo caught the pleasant scent of her hair, his heart fluttering before he forced himself to calm down.

Focus, focus—not the time for such thoughts… Ah, it was noon—just right for a lucky draw.

For some reason, his luck had seemed better these past days; the daily draws yielded more and better attributes. Clearly, getting out and about was good for fortune.

A large spinning wheel appeared in the void, emblazoned with the words “Fair for All! Every Spin Wins!”

The wheel spun rapidly, this time for even longer, before the pointer finally slowed and stopped.

Congratulations! You’ve received: Cultivation Points +99,999!

“What the—!” Ji Huo jolted, his shoulder bumping Xia Ningshang’s sharp chin. She yelped, quickly pulling back and rubbing her chin, glaring at him.

“What was that for?”

“Uh, sorry, I just got too excited.” Ji Huo waved his hands apologetically.

Xia Ningshang snorted, muttering “Idiot” under her breath.

Ji Huo could hardly conceal his excitement—what a windfall! This was the first time he’d ever drawn such a reward!