Chapter 63: “Is This What You Wanted?”

“Eight hundred?

“Eight hundred seventy-five?

“Eight hundred eighty… Immortal Master Ning, I really can’t decide this on my own,” the Deputy City Lord said, sweating profusely. “How about this, I’ll gather the other family heads and we can hold a meeting to discuss how to split the cost. Many citizens in the city also suffer from the evil spirits…”

People always said cultivators were free of worldly desires. But as someone who often dealt with major sects, the Deputy City Lord knew better. Whether it was the ever-smiling Shen Liwan or the arrogant Fang Wuyu, none of the Supreme Clarity Sect’s members were easy to deal with.

Not to mention the ever-dignified, highly respected, and highly priced Sect Master Qi, who always made his demands with the utmost sincerity.

So when the Deputy City Lord received a letter stating that the relatively unknown Elder Ning Mingmei, who had been in seclusion for ten years and was supposedly simple-minded, would be coming to Ye Province, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He had thought things would be much easier to negotiate.

…Yet it turned out this one demanded even more than Sect Master Qi. Was his ‘simple-mindedness’ just a lack of awareness about market prices?

Ning Mingmei said, “The citizens are suffering from evil spirits?”

The Deputy City Lord glanced around to make sure no one was listening, and then whispered, “The people have wanted to get rid of these curses for a long time but didn’t know how. Since you’re here, Immortal Master, why don’t we take this opportunity to raise awareness and allow the people to contribute…?”

In other words, crowdfunding.

Ning Mingmei said, “So, seventy-thirty split for the citizens’ contributions and all of the wealthy families’ money goes toward the cost, correct?”

With a loud smack, he slammed his teacup onto the table. The Deputy City Lord flinched, but Ning Mingmei merely wiped his hands and said indifferently, “It seems you’re still not sincere enough. What is sincerity? It means that from the wealthiest noble to the poorest villager, everyone contributes equally. Anything less isn’t sincerity.”

“…” The Deputy City Lord dared not say a word.

“I’ll give you three days to figure out the funding—to show true sincerity,” Ning Mingmei said. “After three days, bring me a formal proposal of a collaboration agreement between the city and the sect.

“The proposal, the contract, the down payment, a Ye Province research report, a pathology report, a historical analysis… not a single document can be missing. And if the formatting is even slightly off, redo it.”

At that moment, an eerie, oppressive aura surrounded Ning Mingmei. Not only did he exude the presence of a mentor, but he also had the unmistakable air of a demanding client.

The Deputy City Lord stammered, “But… what’s the correct format?”

Ning Mingmei: “Figure it out yourself.”

Even more like a demanding client.

The system was dumbfounded. [Are you negotiating or holding them for ransom?]

Ning Mingmei said, [This is business. A proper commercial negotiation.]

The system: [Why does it look like robbery to me?]

Wasn’t a client just a robber with better manners?

Ning Mingmei left the Qin family’s mansion.

Despite being reprimanded, the Deputy City Lord still had to politely arrange a carriage to take Ning Mingmei back. He was both frustrated and anxious.

Ning Mingmei, however, stepped out of the carriage in a leisurely manner. As soon as he entered the Royal General’s mansion, he saw a few maids chatting.

The guard accompanying him noticed them and scolded, “Why aren’t you waiting inside the hall?”

One of the maids replied, “Physician Wu is here. He’s currently treating His Lordship.”

The guard suddenly understood and explained to Ning Mingmei on their way to the side residence, “Physician Wu comes regularly to treat the general. Every time he arrives, the treatment lasts an entire afternoon. During these times, the general forbids anyone from entering.”

Ning Mingmei considered this. “Is that Physician Wu’s request?”

The guard shook his head. “No, it’s the general’s.”

That was unexpected.

Ning Mingmei asked, “What kind of person is Physician Wu?”

The guard said, “He doesn’t talk much and seems cold, but he’s actually a good man. He owns a medical clinic but rarely takes patients. However, when other doctors visit him with questions, he always provides answers. Everyone says he’s an excellent physician.”

Ning Mingmei said to the system, [Of course he’s considered a good man. He’s not stealing their business.]

The system sighed. [Can you ever stop thinking in such a twisted way?]

When Ning Mingmei arrived at the side residence, only Gui Ruoxue was there. It seemed he had faithfully carried out Ning Mingmei’s last instructions by driving away the remaining disciples.

At that moment, Gui Ruoxue was leaning against a tree, frowning, looking as if he hadn’t sobered up from a hangover.

The system noticed Ning Mingmei’s good mood. [Why are you so happy?]

Ning Mingmei replied, [Waking up early in the morning to find that while my classmates are slacking off, I’ve already completed a major project. Who wouldn’t understand the joy of winning in a competitive environment?]

…The system didn’t get it at all. It saw Gui Ruoxue glance at Ning Mingmei and say, “That little brat of yours is awake.”

Ning Mingmei said, “Wasn’t he already half-awake before?”

Gui Ruoxue replied, “This time, he can talk. That means he’s fully awake now.”

The system: …

Could it be that he was scared awake by Ning Mingmei?

Though it wasn’t necessarily a good thing for Lian Chengyue to wake up, Gui Ruoxue’s frown and hesitant expression suggested he had something on his mind.

The system saw Ning Mingmei heading straight for Lian Chengyue’s room and couldn’t even enjoy the rare moment of him actively checking on someone. It said, [Aren’t you going to ask Gui Ruoxue what’s wrong?]

Ning Mingmei replied, [If he really wants to talk, he’ll come find me with money.]

The system: …Are you even human?

Ning Mingmei was truly committed to his heartless persona from beginning to end.

When he entered, he saw that Lian Chengyue was already sitting up in bed. Dressed in white inner robes, he was clearly awake, but his lips were still dark and his complexion remained pale.

The boy stared blankly ahead, lost in thought. His fragile and helpless appearance could easily evoke an adult’s protective instincts.

Ning Mingmei said, [He’s faking it, isn’t he?]

The system weakly refuted, [Not entirely.]

At the very least, before he heard Ning Mingmei’s footsteps, Lian Chengyue had been staring at the ceiling with a gloomy, contemplative look.

Combined with his doll-like appearance, when he wasn’t putting on an act, the little troublemaker actually looked quite eerie and unsettling.

Ning Mingmei stopped three steps away from Lian Chengyue and did not approach any further. Crossing his arms, he asked, “Awake?”

“Immortal Master?” The child seemed to just notice him. His eyes showed a mix of surprise and confusion as he looked at him. “Where am I? And… my body hurts a lot…”

Ning Mingmei: “Tsk.”

That sound made it impossible for the system to guess what he was thinking. But then, Ning Mingmei said, “You were injured. We had other matters to attend to, so we took you along for treatment while traveling to Ye Province.”

Lian Chengyue looked at his hands. “This is Ye Province… I was injured… Immortal Master, how did I get hurt?”

Tsk.

Ning Mingmei tapped his arm with his fingers and asked, “Do you really remember nothing at all?”

The child hesitated, tried to recall, and then shook his head blankly.

Pale and frail, with large eyes, he looked like a finely crafted porcelain doll. In the original novel, he used his beautiful face and the elegant demeanor he learned from high society to deceive everyone. Even though he committed countless misdeeds in secret, he still won people’s trust.

Even the original Ning Mingmei had always believed that Lian Chengyue was a good student.

Although the current Lian Chengyue was just a five-year-old child, far from his future self, one could already see the budding ability to use his appearance to his advantage.

Especially when he spoke the next words.

“I really can’t remember… But Immortal Master didn’t abandon me. Thank you, Immortal Master.”

Ning Mingmei replied, “No need to thank me.”

The child said, “Ever since my adoptive mother passed away when I was three, I’ve known that kindness in this world is never given freely. When I recover, I will surely repay Immortal Master.”

If not for his venomous heart, he would truly appear obedient and adorable at that moment.

Like a little poisonous snake wrapped in a candy coating, always waiting for the right moment to strike.

Ning Mingmei sat down on the edge of the bed. “Look at me.”

He placed the back of his hand on the child’s forehead. “Your fever is gone… Are you sure you don’t remember anything before you fainted?”

Ning Mingmei’s eyes were deep black, reflecting an amber-like glimmer under the sunlight.

The child shook his head. “I don’t remember.”

“Then let me remind you.” Ning Mingmei didn’t withdraw his hand. “I found you in a ruined temple outside Wangyue Town after a battle with a mysterious figure. That night, you should have been in the Gao family’s residence. Why did you end up there?”

His tone was calm, but coming from an adult to a child, his questioning was sharp and pressing.

The child froze. “I…”

Ning Mingmei remained steady. “You deliberately followed me when I left the Gao family’s residence.”

“…”

“You trailed me up the mountain, watched me fight my enemy, and then, in the midst of the battle, you were struck by a stray silver needle, poisoned, seriously injured, and left on the brink of death.” Ning Mingmei continued, “If not for my overwhelming kindness in taking you with me, you would already be dead.”

The system, eavesdropping: …

Overwhelming kindness? Didn’t you need his blood in the first place?

The child, worthy of being a future protagonist, took only a brief moment to react before lowering his head and murmuring, “I’m sorry, Immortal Master… I was just curious…”

“Curious?” Ning Mingmei suddenly let out a cold laugh. “If it was just curiosity, then what was that black mist that deflected the silver needle?”

“…”

“You wanted me to see it on purpose, didn’t you? Just like you deliberately brought the books to the Gao family’s residence. You brought them over but failed to attract my attention and you were disappointed, weren’t you? You were unconvinced because you saw that I treated you the same as any other mortal. Just like how you think you are superior to others, yet to me, that is nothing more than your own illusion,” Ning Mingmei said.

“You were unwilling to accept it, so even knowing that your future was uncertain, you still stubbornly followed me up the mountain. You were waiting for the right moment to prove to me that you truly have power.”

“…” Lian Chengyue said.

This isn’t what I imagined at all.

To Lian Chengyue’s surprise, having an adult so ruthlessly see through his thoughts left him not only embarrassed and angry but also with a faint sense of excitement.

Why was that?

In the past, he had also been humiliated by some self-righteous adults. Back then, all he felt was anger, gritted teeth contempt, cold indifference in his determination to surpass them, and disgust.

But Ning Mingmei was different.

Even though Ning Mingmei had ignored him, treating him as nothing more than an amusing child when they first met, and even though he had somehow seen through his scheme, he still let him finish his performance as if teasing a clown.

At that moment, Lian Chengyue had yet to understand that there was only one reason for his complex emotion.

Because Ning Mingmei saw him.

Not a disguised child, not a label, but him. And he had truly analyzed his intentions.

And he understood him.

That lofty immortal actually saw him, saw through his little schemes, and yet… he understood him.

Because of that, all the humiliation, all the mockery, the contempt, and the frustration of his failed plan were things he could endure.

As long as those sharp yet calm eyes continued to look at him.

Unfortunately, Lian Chengyue still didn’t understand anything. He remained an overly mature yet instinctively reckless child, completely unaware of his own emotions.

He had yet to distinguish between ‘defeating him’ and ‘being seen by him.’

“Why would the Immortal Master say such things?” he said gloomily.

His voice was lower now, but it no longer carried that forced obedient tone from before.

Ning Mingmei, however, did not answer his question.

“There is only one thing you were right. I really could have chosen not to save you,” he said.

“…” Lian Chengyue said. “Isn’t the Immortal Master part of the righteous sects?”

The candy wrapper had finally been torn open a little. That wasn’t something a scheming brat pretending to be obedient would say.

He looked up at him. Though he had been exposed, aside from gloom, there was still a hint of curiosity in his expression.

“When you followed me up the mountain, did you notice that I slowed my pace?” Ning Mingmei asked. “Because I was giving you a chance to turn back. You thought you were playing some clever tricks. But unfortunately, from the moment you left the Gao family’s residence, I already noticed you.”

Lian Chengyue: “…”

Ning Mingmei watched as he clenched his fists beneath the covers, seemingly trembling a little. So, he continued, “At the time, I was simply curious about what kind of act you were trying to put on, so I let you follow me.”

Lian Chengyue: “So that’s how it was…”

As if recalling something, he pressed his lips together and lowered his head.

Ning Mingmei guessed that Lian Chengyue must be feeling embarrassed and angry now. After all, a child shouldn’t be twisted enough to enjoy that.

A self-proclaimed clever little brat, completely exposed by an adult without mercy. How pitiful.

If not for his arrival, Lian Chengyue, who would one day become a master schemer, wouldn’t have had to suffer such a setback so early in life.

Looking at the silent, downcast Lian Chengyue, Ning Mingmei spoke again, “But there’s something I’m rather curious about.”

“…”

“Is this what you wanted?”

“…?”

“Or let me put it another way. At the moment the silver needle struck you, was your first reaction regret? Did you regret coming up the mountain, accept your impending death, and fear that your life was about to end?

“Or were you excited and filled with anticipation because you had finally seized a chance to climb higher?

“Even if there was a ninety-nine percent chance you’d die there, do you think there was still that one percent possibility that I would take you with me?

“Hurry and answer. This question is very important for your future.”