Ignorant of Gratitude

Yan Shu’s eyelids twitched, and she hurriedly said, “Senior Brothers, weren’t you here to teach him the methods of alchemy and artifact refinement? It’s getting late, let’s start quickly.”

Bing Shi’en and Liu Zhiqing withdrew their gazes and nodded. “Let’s go, let’s head to the alchemy room.”

Xiao Jihan, upon hearing this, revealed a hint of surprise in his phoenix-like eyes, but he quickly concealed it and lowered his gaze. “Please, Senior Martial Uncles.”

Bing Shi’en and Liu Zhiqing had assumed that Xiao Jihan’s alchemy room would be inside the main hall, but they didn’t expect him to lead them to the neighboring room.

Inside the neighboring room, there was still a lingering aura of spiritual energy from the Immortal Spirit Grass. As a fifth-grade alchemist, Liu Zhiqing immediately recognized it.

He looked at Yan Shu with some displeasure and said, “Junior Junior Sister, did you give him the Immortal Spirit Grass I gave you?”

Yan Shu blushed upon hearing this and awkwardly replied, “I know nothing about alchemy, nor do I know the value of the Immortal Spirit Grass. When I saw him practicing alchemy, I threw the Immortal Spirit Grass into his furnace, but it ended up exploding.”

Upon hearing this, both Liu Zhiqing and Bing Shi’en were stunned.

Liu Zhiqing felt somewhat relieved in his heart and earnestly said, “Junior Junior Sister, in the future, if you need anything, just tell us senior brothers. Listen to our advice and stay away from the pill furnace.”

Yan Shu nodded in embarrassment at his words.

Bing Shi’en looked at Yan Shu, then at Xiao Jihan, who had not changed his clothes and was still dressed in a slightly faded pale cyan garment. Suddenly, he felt that Junior Junior Sister was probably just trying to make up for mistreating this disciple too much in the past.

He looked at Xiao Jihan and sighed softly, “You’ve worked hard.”

Liu Zhiqing looked at Xiao Jihan and came to the same conclusion as Bing Shi’en. From his mustard seed bag, he took out a pill furnace and said to Xiao Jihan, “This is the Blazing Fire Furnace. It can be used for alchemy and artifact refinement. It was originally my possession. After your master fell, I obtained his Xuanyuan Furnace, so this Blazing Fire Furnace became available.”

“Junior Junior Sister said that you have talent in alchemy and artifact refinement, so I’m giving you this Blazing Fire Furnace. I hope you won’t let Junior Junior Sister’s kind intentions go to waste.”

Xiao Jihan looked at the Blazing Fire Furnace, then raised his gaze to Yan Shu. His phoenix-like eyes were dim and unclear.

He didn’t say he wanted it, nor did he say he didn’t want it. The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

Liu Zhiqing couldn’t help but feel unhappy. The Blazing Fire Furnace was capable of refining seventh-grade pills, and it was a rare treasure. He had originally planned to pass it on to his most outstanding personal disciple. If it weren’t for the fact that Xiao Jihan had suffered hardships in the past, he wouldn’t have brought it out.

But this Xiao Jihan, not only did he not show gratitude, but he also acted so unappreciative!

A cold glint flashed in Liu Zhiqing’s eyes. “What? You don’t like it?”

Yan Shu’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing his words, afraid that there would be a conflict between Liu Zhiqing and Xiao Jihan. She quickly spoke up, “Senior Brother, how could he not like it? It’s just that this child has grown accustomed to a life of hardship. Suddenly receiving such a precious gift, he might be a bit overwhelmed.”

“Moreover, he is just beginning to learn alchemy and artifact refinement. Using such an excellent pill furnace from the start would be a waste. You can give him a more suitable one.”

This child...

Favorability: -73 (Hatred)

Favorability: -74 (Hatred)

Favorability: -75 (Hatred)

Looking at the plummeting favorability points, Yan Shu widened her eyes in disbelief.

Is your brain made of water on the left side and flour on the right side, shaking it would just turn it into a mess.

I’m trying to help you, and you still lower my favorability?!

However, Liu Zhiqing and Bing Shi’en were quite satisfied with the word “child”, but Liu Zhiqing was still somewhat displeased with Xiao Jihan’s lack of gratitude. Losing interest in teaching him, Liu Zhiqing put away the Blazing Fire Furnace and said, “Fine, I don’t have a suitable one on hand for now. After we return, I’ll have someone send a regular pill furnace to you. Rest well today.”

Saying that Liu Zhiqing turned and left the room.

Bing Shi’en glanced at the silent Xiao Jihan, then took out a jade slip and handed it to him. “This is my accumulated experience in artifact refinement over the years. It might be useful to you.”

This time, Xiao Jihan didn’t refuse. He reached out and took the jade slip, bowing respectfully. “Thank you, Senior Martial Uncle.”

Bing Shi’en looked at him and whispered, “It’s good for a man to have integrity, but being too rigid is easily broken, just like this artifact. Leave that thought behind.”

After saying that, Bing Shi’en also turned and left.

Yan Shu looked at the plummeting favorability points above Xiao Jihan’s head with a worried expression and dejectedly followed them out.

Xiao Jihan watched her departing figure, and his eyes turned cold.

Integrity?

No, he simply no longer dared to trust or hope, preferring not to get involved from the beginning rather than holding onto unrealistic fantasies and the unknown truth that might come one day.

As for this jade slip, he considered it as interest in the blood from his heart. They owed him that much.

Yan Shu accompanied Liu Zhiqing and Bing Shi’en to the outside of the main hall, hesitating for a moment before speaking to Liu Zhiqing. “Senior Brother, please give me the Blazing Fire Furnace.”

Liu Zhiqing furrowed his brows upon hearing this. “What? Do you still want to give it to him? Even though he doesn’t appreciate it?!”

Yan Shu remained silent.

Liu Zhiqing said angrily, “What kind of spell did he cast on you?! Junior Junior Sister, appearance is nothing more than a mere outer shell. As cultivators, how can we be swayed by appearances?!”

Bing Shi’en also chimed in, “Junior Junior Sister, we understand that you feel guilty towards him, but there should be a limit to everything. We have already expressed our apologies, but he refuses to accept them. Going to such lengths compromises your status. Don’t forget, you are his master!”

Seeing their misunderstanding, Yan Shu hesitated for a while before speaking softly, “Senior Brother, it’s my debt to him.”

In the original story, even though the senior brothers knew the reason why Xiao Jihan killed the original host, they still relentlessly pursued him. It was evident that in their hearts, regardless of right or wrong, Junior Junior Sister would always be their Junior Junior Sister.

While reading the book, Yan Shu felt that these senior brothers of the original host were both detestable and pitiful. Now that she had become the original host, inheriting the original host’s emotions, she didn’t want to repeat the same mistakes.

So she explained the reason why the original host took Xiao Jihan as her disciple and the matter of extracting his heart blood to suppress her inner demons.

After hearing her words, both Liu Zhiqing and Bing Shi’en were incredulous.

Liu Zhiqing was both angry and distressed as he said, “Junior Junior Sister! How could you commit such a mistake?! Even if the master is no longer here, you still have us, and if necessary, we, the senior brothers, can join forces to suppress your inner demons. How could you... How could you...”

Liu Zhiqing was so angry that he couldn’t speak. Assuming the guise of accepting a disciple, extracting his heart blood using the name of the moon every month, this was not something a righteous person would do!