Martial Peak - Rise Of The Human Emperor Chapter 21 - Xia Ning Chang first Appearance In Front Of MC

Treasurer ng squinted at the young man in front of him. Yang Kai 's face was practically screaming anticipation, but there was also a hint of nervousness—like a gambler who just bet his last coin on a crooked ga.

With the utmost caution, Treasurer ng untied the bag and peeked inside.

A dark-red, bowl-sized fungus lay within, exuding a faint yet potent dicinal aura. It was certainly no ordinary mushroom.

"Ke… keke…" Treasurer ng coughed into his fist.

Yang Kai 's heart lurched. "Treasurer ng, what is it? Did I strike gold?"

ng gave him a sidelong glance. Instead of answering, he asked, "Where did you find this?"

"In a cave on the mountain. There was a first-realm demonic beast guarding it, but rather than becoming its dinner, I turned it into mine." Yang Kai grinned.

Treasurer ng nearly choked. "You fought a demonic beast?! I told you not to go past the safety boundary!"

Yang Kai raised his hands innocently. "I didn't! The beast wandered into the safe zone. If you think about it, the real culprit here is whoever designed these safety boundaries."

Treasurer ng sighed. This kid was either too lucky or too reckless. Either way, he was still alive, which ant the heavens hadn't abandoned him yet.

Looking back at the mushroom, Treasurer ng sipped his tea and rubbed his beard.

"Well, well… your luck isn't bad."

Yang Kai 's shoulders slumped in relief. He had feared the worst—that he had risked his life for a random wild fungus.

"Treasurer, what exactly is this? And how many contribution points is it worth?"

ng put on his most sagely expression. "This… is a Blood Mushroom. A rare dicinal herb."

Yang Kai 's grin widened.

"It's… an ordinary—"

Yang Kai 's face fell.

"—No, no! I misspoke! It's an Earth Grade Lower Level herb! Yes! That's exactly what it is!" Treasurer ng quickly corrected himself, his voice so firm it nearly convinced even himself.

Yang Kai arched a brow. "You sound suspicious."

Treasurer ng scoffed. "Do you think I, Treasurer ng, would misidentify an herb? These hands have handled countless treasures—"

"And countless won," Yang Kai muttered.

"AHEM! That too. But that's beside the point!"

Yang Kai smirked. Ti to strike.

"Since it's Earth Grade, it must be worth a lot," he mused aloud.

ng's eyes flickered. "Yes, yes… quite valuable."

Yang Kai leaned in. "Then let's say… forty points."

Treasurer ng nearly dropped his tea. "Forty?! That's outrageous! Do you think contribution points grow on trees? I'll give you… twenty."

Yang Kai scoffed. "That's robbery."

"It's business," ng countered.

Yang Kai feigned disappointnt. "Oh well. In that case… I'll take it to the Black Market."

ng's hand froze mid-sip. "…What?"

Yang Kai shrugged. "I an, surely soone out there would appreciate an Earth Grade herb. Maybe the dicine Hall? Or one of the Alchemists? I hear they pay in silver too."

ng's face twitched. "You wouldn't dare."

Yang Kai smirked. "Try ."

"…Fine! Thirty points!" ng relented.

Yang Kai stroked his chin. "Thirty-eight."

ng glared. "Thirty-five."

Yang Kai grinned. "Deal."

Treasurer ng felt like he had just been mugged by a smiling bandit.

.......

Now sitting on a fat stack of contribution points, Yang Kai turned to his next purchase.

"Alright, I want ten Dead Jedi Tree Grass herbs."

Treasurer ng quickly recovered his composure. "That'll be ten contribution points."

Yang Kai narrowed his eyes. "Wait a minute. You said before that two herbs were worth one point. Shouldn't it be five points?"

ng spread his hands innocently. "Ah, but buying and selling prices are different. If the sect didn't profit, how would it support three thousand disciples?"

Yang Kai sighed dramatically. "I see, I see. Then I'll just go back into the mountains to pick them myself."

ng's smile faltered.

Yang Kai patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, Treasurer ng. If I don't co back, you can have my points."

"…Hold on now."

"I an, sure, a few demonic beasts might get in my way, and I might get eaten, but at least I won't waste ten points—"

"Alright! Alright! Five points!"

Yang Kai grinned

...…

Feeling victorious, Yang Kai strolled out of the Contribution Hall—only to almost collide with soone.

A soft fragrance filled his senses, one that was delicate yet strangely familiar.

His eyes landed on a figure clad in white, her face half-concealed by a veil.

Despite the covering, her moonlit eyes were enough to ensnare anyone who gazed into them.

Sothing poetic stirred within Yang Kai , and before he could stop himself, words flowed from his lips:

"Like a lotus untouched by the mud,As moonlight graces the silent lake,The heavens must have stolen a star,And placed it in your eyes."

Xia Ning Chang froze.

Her heart pounded furiously against her chest.

For a mont, she thought her veil had sohow fallen off—surely he wouldn't say such words otherwise!

Yet, no… she could feel it still covering her face.

Xia Ning Chang's face turned crimson beneath the veil. Hastily, she brushed past him and rushed into the hall.

But her hands trembled.

Because when she saw Yang Kai 's face…

She rembered.

The hot spring.

Him.

BARE.

Heat rushed up her neck. She had seen everything.

Xia Ning Chang's face was on fire as she hurried away.

Seeing this scene was sowhat laughable, for such shy females were quite rare. Although there are many females disciples in High Heaven , they were martial practitioners and were therefore more open-minded than normal. For soone like her to beco red just from looking at his face, it was no wonder she wore a veil.

This senior was a little bit cute

Sowhere behind him, a certain Senior Sister was dying of embarrassnt