Chapter 422: I’m Not Interested in You
Jiang Xinghai and Leng Ning investigated and excavated, one by one, the five spots where the Spirit Stones glowed.
"They’re all just Lower Grade Spirit Stones, but adding them all up, it’s a full thirteen stones. That’s more than valuable enough." Jiang Xinghai’s eyes gleamed as he stuffed one into Leng Ning’s hand. "Keep this safe. Use it when you hit a bottleneck in your cultivation."
"I... I don’t need it. You should keep it." Although Leng Ning desperately wanted it, she knew just how precious Spirit Stones were.
"Still being so polite with me?" Jiang Xinghai grinned.
Leng Ning couldn’t refuse any longer and carefully put the Spirit Stone away, treasuring it.
Afterward, Jiang Xinghai put away the remaining twelve Spirit Stones, and the two of them walked out of the cave.
Jiang Xinghai felt both a little disappointed and a little fortunate about the number of Spirit Stones.
A place that could produce Spirit Stones was inherently extraordinary, so to find only a few was a bit of a letdown. On the bright side, at least no one else had discovered them.
At the same time, he also understood why there had been a giant python in the cave.
Animals are naturally drawn to such wondrous stones. Moreover, a python as thick as a bucket had obviously developed a degree of spiritual intelligence.
Outside the cave.
Just as the two of them walked out, Yan Qingshan rushed forward to greet them.
"Old Yan, this Spirit Stone is for you." Jiang Xinghai took out a small piece and handed it to Yan Qingshan.
"Master, I couldn’t possibly accept this!"
Yan Qingshan was overwhelmed with emotion. Though his words said no, his hands were quite honest, readily accepting the stone before he dropped to his knees.
"The stronger you become, the more help you’ll be to me. Take it." Jiang Xinghai patted Yan Qingshan’s shoulder.
Tears of gratitude streamed down Yan Qingshan’s face. He put away the Spirit Stone and stood up. "Master, choosing to pledge my loyalty to you was absolutely the best decision of my life. Thank you for your immense generosity."
’First, it was a Gathering Essence Pill, which is nearly as good as a Spirit Stone, and now a piece of a Spirit Stone itself,’ he thought. ’Just how many people in the entire world of Martial Arts get to enjoy the kind of benefits I’m receiving?’
"You handle the rest. Leng Ning and I will be staying on Phoenix Mountain for a couple of days. The day after tomorrow, at noon, you’ll be responsible for holding a press conference to announce our backing of the Leng and Shen Families," Jiang Xinghai instructed before leaving.
Yan Qingshan was, of course, confident he could handle it.
Moving with the crowd, Jiang Xinghai and Leng Ning headed for their Land Rover.
Just as they were getting into the vehicle, a uniformed female police officer came running over.
"Mr. Jiang, please wait!"
It was none other than Miao Cuicui.
"Is there something you need, Officer Miao?" Jiang Xinghai asked coolly.
He had no intention of forgiving this woman for shooting him in the back.
He had only refrained from pursuing the matter because she was a public official.
"Mr. Jiang, I’m so, so sorry. About before, I..."
"If there’s nothing else, we’ll be going." Jiang Xinghai had no interest in hearing Miao Cuicui’s excuses.
"Mr. Jiang, would you let me treat you to lunch? I really want to offer you a proper apology," Miao Cuicui said hurriedly.
She realized Jiang Xinghai was already furious with her. If she couldn’t salvage the situation immediately, her career might be dead in the water.
"I don’t have time." Jiang Xinghai shook his head.
Miao Cuicui looked pleadingly at Leng Ning.
As another woman, Leng Ning might have been inclined to say something, but she wasn’t a fan of backstabbers, so she paid her no mind.
"Then... when will Jiang Xinghai be free?" Miao Cuicui refused to give up.
Just then, Leng Ning’s phone rang.
"Second Grand-uncle, I’m almost there. Maybe ten more minutes," Leng Ning said into the phone.
"Excellent. We’ve prepared a lavish lunch banquet. We’re just waiting for you to get back," a cheerful voice laughed from the other end of the line.
Leng Ning exchanged a few more pleasantries before hanging up.
"You heard her. We don’t have time for lunch," Jiang Xinghai said, signaling for Miao Cuicui to get out of the way.
"Then what about tonight? I can come to Central State—anywhere you want. As long as Mr. Jiang accepts my apology, I’ll do anything," Miao Cuicui said, on the verge of tears from desperation.
"Anything at all?" Jiang Xinghai suddenly asked with a suggestive smile.
"That... Mm," Miao Cuicui seemed to realize what Jiang Xinghai was implying. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded.
"A pity. I’m not interested," Jiang Xinghai said with a slight smirk. He had no choice but to back up the car, turn it around, and drive away.
’Not interested in me?’
Miao Cuicui looked down, examining her own figure. ’It’s this uniform, it doesn’t show off my best assets. You...!’
Watching the Land Rover disappear into the distance, Miao Cuicui was heartbroken.
Suddenly, she saw Yan Qingshan approaching and immediately had an idea.
"Chairman Yan, I was wondering if you could give me Mr. Jiang’s phone number?" Miao Cuicui asked tentatively.
"What for?" Yan Qingshan asked, sizing her up.
"I didn’t get the chance to ask him properly. I’d like to talk to him again about the Liu Biao case," Miao Cuicui explained tactfully.
"Never mind that. Mr. Jiang is a very busy man."
Why would Yan Qingshan so easily trust a woman he had just met?
Even if she was a public official.
"Chairman Yan..."
Miao Cuicui believed that Yan Qingshan was the only one who could help her now, so she jogged after him.
The movement fully accentuated her figure.
Yan Qingshan glanced back. Her magnificent physique was quite a shock to his senses.