Chapter 503 - 218: Probing
Chen Qing walked toward his small courtyard. Dusk was settling in, and lights began to appear on the peaks of Xu Wang Mountain, like stars scattered across the inky mountain range.
Just then, a slender figure stood quietly at a bend in the path ahead, seemingly having waited for some time.
The person was dressed in the moon-white Martial Attire common among Outer Disciples of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect.
Her long hair was tied up as neatly as ever, secured with only a simple Wooden Hairpin, revealing a smooth forehead and a slender neck.
He hadn’t seen her in months, and she seemed to have slimmed down a bit. The lines of her profile were more distinct, but her eyes remained as clear and pure as ever.
"Senior Sister Nie?"
Chen Qing was a little surprised and slowed his pace. "Are you here to see me?"
Nie Shanshan turned her head at the sound of his voice. Her eyes lit up for a moment upon seeing Chen Qing, like ripples on water, but the light was quickly concealed.
She nodded, her voice softer than usual. "I... was just passing by and thought I’d check on you and Junior Martial Uncle Shen."
’How could Xu Wang Mountain and the Outer Sect possibly be on the same route!?’
Chen Qing understood but didn’t point it out. He simply stepped aside to open the courtyard gate and said, "Junior Martial Uncle Shen lives in another courtyard. Senior Sister, please come in and have a seat."
"Okay."
Nie Shanshan gave a slight nod and followed Chen Qing into the small courtyard.
Chen Qing led her to a stone table, brewed a cup of tea, and pushed it toward her.
The two chatted for a while, with Chen Qing mostly asking about the situation in the Outer Sect and Nie Shanshan giving brief answers.
"Everything is fine in the Outer Sect. There are many rules and the competition is fierce, but it’s not without its benefits for cultivation."
Her tone was flat, revealing no emotion, but the way her fingers tightened slightly on the teacup betrayed that things were not as easy as she claimed.
Chen Qing looked at her and suddenly asked, "Senior Sister Nie, is there something you want to tell me?"
He was perceptive and had already noticed her repeated hesitation.
Nie Shanshan’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly, her fingers clenching the teacup.
She was silent for a moment before finally looking up, her voice so low it was almost inaudible. "Actually... I came this time to ask... to borrow some Contribution Points from you, Junior Brother Chen."
It was as if she had used all her strength to say those words. A faint, almost unnoticeable blush appeared on her cheeks. She quickly added, "I’m short three hundred Contribution Points. It’s what I need to exchange for an Astral Condensing Pill to help me break through my current bottleneck."
By the end, her voice had grown even quieter, becoming nearly a whisper. "If it’s not convenient for you, Junior Brother Chen, it’s okay if you don’t lend them."
She had rarely asked anyone for help in her life, let alone for something as precious as Contribution Points.
She knew very few people in the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect. After thinking it over, the only person she felt she could ask was Chen Qing.
If not for the fact that the Astral Condensing Pill was crucial for her to quickly establish herself in the Outer Sect and break through to the next Realm, she would have never been willing to come here.
Hearing this, Chen Qing let out a hearty laugh without the slightest hesitation. "Senior Sister Nie, you’re being too formal. It’s a mere three hundred Contribution Points, no need to act like a stranger. Have you forgotten? Back in the Wutai Sect, I borrowed a full thirty thousand taels of silver from you, and you lent it to me without a second thought."
Hearing Chen Qing bring up the past in such a relaxed and open manner, the tension in Nie Shanshan’s heart suddenly eased. An indescribable warmth welled up inside her, washing away her awkward embarrassment.
She looked up, her eyes filled with sincere gratitude, and said earnestly, "Don’t worry, Junior Brother. I will definitely repay these Contribution Points as soon as possible."
"Just pay me back whenever it’s convenient, Senior Sister. There’s no rush."
Chen Qing waved his hand and stood up. "Let’s go, Senior Sister. I’ll accompany you to Wanxiang Hall."
The two went to Wanxiang Hall together. By now, the hall was much less crowded.
Nie Shanshan took out her Identity Token, and Chen Qing handed his over as well.
The Steward Disciple completed the transaction. Three hundred Contribution Points were added to Nie Shanshan’s Token, while Chen Qing’s was reduced by the same amount.
Seeing that she finally had enough on her Token, Nie Shanshan breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
However, Chen Qing didn’t take his Token back right away. Instead, he said to the Steward Disciple, "I’d also like to exchange for a bottle of Vein Protecting Pills."
"Junior Brother Chen, you don’t have to!" Nie Shanshan quickly tried to stop him. Vein Protecting Pills were helpful for breaking through a bottleneck, but they were also expensive, costing a full fifty Contribution Points a bottle.
Chen Qing had already handed over his Token. He turned to her and smiled. "When breaking through a barrier, it’s always good to be prepared."
Soon, the exchange for the Vein Protecting Pills was complete, and Chen Qing pressed the Small Jade Bottle into Nie Shanshan’s hand.
Nie Shanshan clutched the Jade Bottle, looking at Chen Qing’s open and honest expression. It was as if the tightest string in her heart had been gently plucked, and a bittersweet, warm feeling spread through her.
She no longer refused. She just gave Chen Qing a deep look and said softly, "Junior Brother, thank you."
Chen Qing smiled, his tone as calm as ever. "We’re from the same sect; it’s only natural to support each other. Your breakthrough is imminent, Senior Sister. I wish you the best of luck."
Nie Shanshan nodded, then turned and left.
Chen Qing also returned to his small courtyard.
Time flew by, and the atmosphere on Xu Wang Mountain grew increasingly tense.
As the six-month deadline for the final rankings drew closer, the area in front of the Celestial Treasure Tower was bustling with figures almost every day.
The rankings on the stone stele flickered like candlelight in the wind, changing every few days.
Some fought hard and managed to pass higher floors, causing their rankings to soar.
Others stalled, or were even surpassed by newcomers, their rankings falling.
This competition for rank would determine the amount of resources one could obtain in the coming months, or even years. No one dared to be complacent.
Compared to the clamor outside, Chen Qing’s small courtyard was like a deep pool of water, unnaturally tranquil.
He lived in seclusion, pouring all his energy into his Cultivation.
Inside the courtyard, the whistling sound of his spear cutting through the air almost never ceased.