Chapter Twenty-Three: A Slap in the Face

The Qingling Hall fell into a deathly silence, and the smile on Xu Ning'an's face froze instantly.

"How, how could it be her?" someone muttered.

The mockery and ridicule from just moments ago now felt like loud, stinging slaps across their faces. Jiang Heng had actually formed her Golden Core. Their previous wagers and malicious speculations seemed foolish and ridiculous, like a group of ants pointing fingers at a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. Many faces turned beet red; the more arrogant they had been before, the more embarrassed they felt now.

Xu Ning'an was filled with anger and anxiety. She bit her lip, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Jiang Huaixu, remaining relatively calm, sent a steward from the peak to deliver the gifts to Jiang Heng’s cave dwelling, offering a few polite, perfunctory remarks. The person who had brought the gifts, sensing the awkward atmosphere, quickly made an excuse to leave, and the other disciples followed suit in a disheveled hurry.

Xu Ning'an threw herself into Jiang Huaixu’s arms and began to sob. It was truly humiliating; she had actually thought those gifts were for her. If Jiang Heng found out, she would surely mock her.

"It's alright," Jiang Huaixu consoled his junior sister. "You will form your Golden Core sooner or later."

Xu Ning'an nodded, sniffing, and held him even tighter.

Shen Yanchu and the others arrived shortly after receiving the news, with Xia Zhiyu appearing the most shocked. "No way! Her meridians were almost completely crippled, and yet she succeeded in forming her Golden Core on the first try?"

He recalled his own experience: he had been severely wounded in battle and stumbled upon a fortuitous opportunity, which he immediately seized with the help of various sect treasures and his senior brothers, yet he had still failed four times before succeeding. Jiang Heng had such disadvantageous conditions, made a risky attempt, and succeeded directly?

Shen Yanchu, though stirred inside, maintained a calm expression. "This is good news. Fourth Junior Brother, go tell the steward at the storehouse to prepare a celebratory banquet. I will go find our junior sister and ask what gift she would like."

He had decided that this banquet would be even grander than the one held for An'an’s Foundation Establishment. It would not only bring prestige to Snow Crane Peak but also serve as an opportunity to mend the rift with her and make amends for the harm she had suffered. From now on, whatever An'an had, Jiang Heng would have too; he would not forget his other junior sister again.

Just as Xia Zhiyu was about to leave, Xu Ning'an shrieked, "I don't agree!"

Huo Shiqing and Xia Zhiyu both turned to look at her, and Shen Yanchu was equally bewildered. "Why?"

"No reason," Xu Ning'an sobbed. "I just don't agree! If you dare to hold a celebration for her, I won’t speak to you anymore!" With that, she stomped her foot in a fit of pique and ran off.

The men looked at each other in confusion, but Jiang Huaixu understood why she was acting out. "When Elder Lu’s people brought the gifts earlier, An'an thought they were for her and lost face. Let’s discuss the banquet later; we should go comfort her first."

Left with no choice, the four of them went to Xu Ning'an’s cave dwelling, bowing and scraping to appease her. Yet, no matter how they tried to cheer her up, or even conceded to things they had previously forbidden, she remained adamant that they not hold a celebration for Jiang Heng.

"An'an is just being unreasonable. You all shouldn't like me; go like the Senior Sister instead!" Xu Ning'an wept, her nose twitching, looking like a wounded little rabbit.

Huo Shiqing felt helpless and gently pinched her cheek. "What nonsense are you talking about? How could we ever like her? We only care about you, An'an."

Xia Zhiyu nodded repeatedly. "Exactly. We were only doing it out of common courtesy as fellow disciples. An'an, you used to urge us not to be so cold to her. Why are you the one who can't let it go now that we’ve had a change of heart?"

Xu Ning'an bit her lip. "Because she is targeting me! She deliberately chose to form her core during my Foundation Establishment just to overshadow me. I endured all her bullying before, but everyone has a breaking point."

Ever since Jiang Heng had escaped death and undergone a drastic change in personality, Xu Ning'an felt a vague sense that things were veering in a direction she did not want. The old Jiang Heng had been dull and stubborn, chasing after the senior brothers for reconciliation, only to make herself more detestable. Xu Ning'an had been happy to play the role of the kind, innocent one to contrast with her. But the current Jiang Heng seemed to have had a change of heart; she had begun playing a game of retreat to advance, and it was working quite well. She no longer fell into the traps laid for her.

Under Jiang Heng’s feigned fragility, the senior brothers, who had once despised her, were showing signs of wavering, which deeply unsettled Xu Ning'an. Times were different now, and she had to maintain a tight grip on her senior brothers; she would never push them toward Jiang Heng.

Xia Zhiyu, feeling immense pity for his junior sister, turned to Shen Yanchu. "Senior Brother, perhaps we should cancel the banquet. Look at how upset An'an is." He didn't believe Jiang Heng was trying to provoke her, but since An'an was crying so pitifully, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Shen Yanchu looked at Xu Ning'an with slight disappointment. For some reason, he suddenly felt that this usually obedient and cute junior sister seemed like a stranger. Especially the way she stole glances at them while crying—it was as if her face were a mask, with the edges starting to peel away. What would be revealed if he tore it off?

This eerie thought startled him, and he quickly dismissed it. How could he harbor such malicious thoughts about An'an? They had all witnessed her purity and kindness.

Shen Yanchu felt a headache coming on and asked the other two, "What are your thoughts?"

Huo Shiqing said coldly, "Let’s not ask for trouble. She didn't even ask us to act as her protectors; why should we celebrate for her? Just send a few gifts to be done with it."

Xu Ning'an immediately looked up. "No gifts allowed either!"

Huo Shiqing’s expression softened, and he coaxed her, "Alright, alright. I won't send any."

Jiang Huaixu, who had always been open about protecting Xu Ning'an, agreed. "I don't think it's necessary either. Jiang Heng has been deliberately distancing herself from the sect lately. If she is playing a game of cat and mouse, we would be falling into her trap; if she isn't, she’ll only find us annoying."

At these words, Shen Yanchu fell silent. The spark of enthusiasm he had felt earlier grew cold. He realized that mending the relationship between the others and Jiang Heng was far more difficult than he had imagined. Not only were the others uncooperative, but Jiang Heng herself was cold and resistant. He had originally intended to use his junior sister to persuade everyone, but why had she suddenly become so unreasonable?

Xu Ning'an looked at Jiang Huaixu with adoration, the stars in her eyes almost overflowing. As expected of her Third Senior Brother, he had hit the nail on the head, leaving even the usually indecisive Eldest Senior Brother speechless. The Eldest Senior Brother was always too excessively gentle, sharing warmth with those who didn't deserve it. The love and care of her senior brothers belonged to her, and her alone.