Chapter 63: Want to Try Again?
’Go to the company with Su Wan and get directly involved in the Lin Family’s power struggles and their marital conflict?’
A flurry of thoughts flashed through Yun Sheng’s mind.
The last time Su Wan had said she would give her 10% of the Lin Group’s shares as compensation, Lin Zhenye had ultimately turned it into a matter for "long-term consideration," and the issue was simply dropped.
Lin Zhenye’s stance couldn’t have been clearer.
He had no intention—or rather, saw no need—to provide this "useless" daughter of his with any substantial financial security.
If she went to the company with Su Wan now to confront them, what would she gain? Besides escalating the conflict, making herself even more of an eyesore to Lin Zhenye, and possibly provoking even deeper animosity from Lin Yueyao, what kind of real explanation could she possibly expect?
She already had enough trouble as it was.
What she needed was time and space to build up her strength, not to throw herself into another obvious quagmire.
"Madam, I don’t think I’ll go." Yun Sheng gently pulled her hand free from Su Wan’s, her tone calm. "Mr. Lin is free to give the shares to Lin Yueyao. I don’t have a problem with it. The company’s business is urgent, so you should go take care of it."
Su Wan clearly hadn’t expected Yun Sheng to refuse.
She opened her mouth, wanting to persuade her further, but found she had no solid reason to do so.
’Should I force Yun Sheng to face what could be an even more humiliating situation?’
’In that case, I might as well go to the company, sort everything out, and then come back and give Yun Sheng a proper explanation.’
Su Wan took a black crystal card imprinted with the Lin Family crest from her handbag and, without another word, pressed it into Yun Sheng’s hand.
"Well... Shengsheng, why don’t you look around for a while longer and relax? Buy whatever you like; don’t worry about the price. This card has no limit. Just consider it... a small gesture from me."
She paused, her voice softening slightly.
"I’ll come back for you after I’m done, or I’ll have the driver pick you up. Be safe, and call me if you need anything."
"Alright, Madam," Yun Sheng replied softly, clutching the card in her hand.
Su Wan gave her one last, deep look, then turned and left with hurried strides.
Yun Sheng watched Su Wan disappear by the elevators, then glanced down at the black crystal card in her hand—a symbol of wealth and status. Her expression was cold.
She had received Su Wan’s compensation and good intentions, but that was all.
Tucking the card away, Yun Sheng’s gaze returned to the vast shopping mall.
’Since I’m already here and it’s still early, I might as well look around. It’ll be a good way to unwind, and I can get a better feel for Capital Star.’
She wandered aimlessly, avoiding the still-crowded clothing and luxury goods sections, and turned into the relatively quieter area for household goods and specialty products.
Soon, a shop with a simple yet professional decor caught her eye. Its sign pulsed with a soft blue light.
The shop window displayed all sorts of exquisite, colorful, transparent vials and jars. They held liquids that glowed faintly or swirled with mist, and each had a simple description next to it.
Spiritual Power Relaxant, Basic Barrier Fortifier, Spiritual Fatigue Relief Agent, and so on.
It was a store specializing in support products related to spiritual power, like a "pharmacy" or "supply depot" for guides and Sentinels.
Intrigued, Yun Sheng went inside.
The store was quiet, the air filled with the soothing, fresh scent of herbs and plants.
A clerk in a light-blue uniform saw Yun Sheng and immediately approached her with a professional smile.
"Welcome, ma’am. What can I help you with? We have the newest formula for our guide-specific relaxant; it’s highly effective at relieving fatigue after spiritual channeling. We also have a Basic Stabilizer for Sentinels with minor instability in their spiritual landscape. And if you need to strengthen your own spiritual power, we also have..."
The clerk gave his practiced speech at a moderate pace, his attitude perfectly professional.
"I’ll just look around by myself for now, thank you."
Getting the hint, the clerk stepped aside. "Of course. Please, take your time. Just let me know if you need anything."
Yun Sheng browsed slowly between the neatly arranged shelves.
There was a dizzying variety of potions, all with different effects, and their prices, naturally, varied wildly.
Many of the potions also had certification marks and recommended Levels from the Tower displayed beneath them.
She had little interest in the Advanced products that cost tens, or even hundreds, of thousands of Star Coins. Instead, her gaze was drawn to a relatively plain display case in the corner.
It held a selection of basic items and trial sizes, with much more affordable price tags.
Yun Sheng’s eyes landed on a small vial shimmering with a faint, mysterious blue light. The label read: "Basic Spiritual Perception Enhancement Agent (Trial Size)."
The description on the side read: *Helps beginners perceive the flow of their own spiritual power more clearly. Mild effect, short duration.*
’Maybe... I should give it a try?’
’Although I have more faith in actual practice, it can’t hurt to understand these kinds of assistive items.’
Just as she reached out to pick up the trial-sized vial for a closer look, a deep voice—tinged with amusement and a sense of familiarity—suddenly spoke from behind her.
"That little move you pulled on that low-level Sentinel earlier was not bad."
Yun Sheng froze.
’That voice...’
She whipped her head around.
Before her was the face of a complete stranger.
He had a darker complexion, deep-set features, and rimless glasses perched on his nose, giving him a refined, scholarly air.
But after an initial jolt of surprise, Yun Sheng’s heart quickly calmed.
’That guy Si Jin... he’s out and about with a new face again.’
’He’s so brazen!’
Then again, she thought, with his power as an SSS-level Dark Sentinel, he probably couldn’t be stopped. Unless Bai Ye showed up in person or the Tower laid an inescapable trap, even if his disguise was seen through, no one could keep him there if he wanted to leave.
Yun Sheng quickly composed herself, hiding that initial, instinctive shock. She turned back around as if she had just been bothered by a stranger and said coldly, "Sir, I don’t know you. You must have me mistaken for someone else."
With that, she purposefully reached once more for the mysterious blue vial.
A long, slender hand shot out and covered her own, its fingertips cool against her skin.
"Nice act."
The familiar, low chuckle sounded again, so close that only she could hear it.
"Daring to use what I taught you last night on someone today? You’ve got some nerve."
Yun Sheng’s heart skipped a beat.
’He saw? Don’t tell me this guy has been secretly following me this whole time.’
’How is that any different from being a stalker!’
She grumbled internally, but her expression remained impassive.
"How would I know if it worked if I didn’t try?"
Si Jin chuckled, apparently amused by her reaction.
"Fair enough." His tone was teasing as he tapped a finger lightly on the back of her hand. "But that piece of trash was too low-Level. His spiritual landscape was practically made of paper; it’s no surprise you succeeded."
Yun Sheng knew Si Jin was right. That Sentinel had been emotional and completely defenseless, which was the only reason her one attack had landed.
’Against someone calmer and more on guard, the result would have been completely different!’
Si Jin seemed to read her mind. His gaze, from behind his glasses, was appraising. "Want to try again? On a... more worthy target?"
’Try again?’
Yun Sheng’s eyes lit up for an instant, but the light was quickly replaced by wariness.
She looked up at Si Jin. "Try again? Where? What are you planning now?"
Seeing her eyes light up only to be immediately filled with caution, the corner of Si Jin’s mouth seemed to twitch into a smile.
"Relax. I’m not asking you to go and provoke someone on Bai Ye’s or Zhou Lin’s level. Just to find a... more suitable practice subject. So, what do you say? Do you dare?"