Chapter 9 - 9 Nine Zhu Ji

Chapter 9: Nine, Zhu Ji Chapter 9: Nine, Zhu Ji Song Yan Ning felt a slight shock in her heart, but her face remained expressionless. She knew there was something wrong with the Peace Pendant, just that her current abilities did not allow her to know what exactly was wrong, and of course, she wouldn’t foolishly ask Xu Dongqing.

As Xu Dongqing and Yang Lisheng spoke, Xu’s gaze swept across Song Yan Ning from time to time. Seeing her sitting quietly without any unusual expression, he felt somewhat surprised. Could it be that his judgment was wrong, and she wasn’t qualified to go there?

“Xiao Ning, do you like this Peace Pendant?” Xu Dongqing asked with a smile looking at Song Yan Ning.

Song Yan Ning nodded happily, “I like it, Grandpa Xu, is this jade? It feels so cold in my hand!”

After taking a sip of tea, Xu Dongqing nodded, “This was bought by Grandpa Xu when I went to Yun City. This type of Peace Pendant is most suitable for young ladies to wear; it’s said to ensure safety. Besides feeling cold, do you feel anything else?”

“No.” Song Yan Ning shook her head, turned to Yang Lisheng, and handed the Peace Pendant to him, “Grandpa, could you help Xiao Ning wear it around my neck?” Once they got back, she would take her time to investigate what was wrong with the Peace Pendant.

She didn’t know what Xu Dongqing’s intentions were in giving her this Peace Pendant, but other than feeling somewhat blank in the mind when she first received it, she now felt nothing else. However, she was certain that Xu Dongqing knew there was something wrong with the Peace Pendant; otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked her that.

“Okay!” Yang Lisheng smiled as he took the Peace Pendant and put it around Song Yan Ning’s neck.

Song Yan Ning looked down at the Peace Pendant on her chest and turned to Xu Dongqing, “This Peace Pendant is really beautiful, Xiao Ning likes it a lot. Thank you, Grandpa Xu.”

“It’s good that you like it, hahaha…” Xu Dongqing laughed, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

“Old Xu, it’s about time for us to leave; we won’t disturb you any longer,” Yang Lisheng said as he put down his teacup and stood up. He had promised Xiao Ning to take her to eat Zhu Ji’s dumplings.

“Okay, I’ll see you out,” Xu Dongqing got up.

After seeing Yang Lisheng and Song Yan Ning out of the store, and watching as they disappeared into the crowd, Xu Dongqing slowly withdrew his gaze, shook his head with a sigh, and walked back into the store.

Seeing Song Yan Ning take off the Peace Pendant from her neck, Yang Lisheng was somewhat surprised, “Xiao Ning, don’t you like the Peace Pendant? Why did you take it off?”

“I’m afraid it might fall off; the string doesn’t seem very secure.” Song Yan Ning gave a mischievous smile and tucked the Peace Pendant into her small backpack. This backpack was made for her by her grandmother; she liked it very much and always carried it when she went out.

Yang Lisheng smiled and ruffled Song Yan Ning’s hair, “After we get back, I’ll ask your grandma to restring it for you. Come on, grandfather will take you to eat dumplings.”

“Mm.” Song Yan Ning nodded with a smile and followed Yang Lisheng into Zhu Ji’s Dumpling Shop.

Zhu Ji’s Dumpling Shop was very famous in Beiyan Town, boasting a hundred-year history. The dumplings had thin skin, a generous filling, delicious taste, and were quite affordable, which is why the business was always booming, and every visit was met with a full house.

Yang Lisheng looked around and saw a couple near the window who were nearly done eating, “Xiao Ning, let’s wait over there.”

Song Yan Ning followed Yang Lisheng to the couple and waited by their side.

The young couple didn’t rush to leave after finishing their dumplings; instead, they continued to chat.

After nearly ten minutes, Song Yan Ning couldn’t help but speak up, “Brother, sister, are you done eating?”

The couple turned towards Song Yan Ning and Yang Lisheng. The young man waved his hand dismissively, “Go away; can’t you see we’re talking?”

Song Yan Ning frowned and turned to the young woman, “Sister, are you this brother’s girlfriend?”

“Mm.” The young woman nodded, not understanding why Song Yan Ning would ask that.

“Then, sister, you should really take this brother to the hospital for a check-up; his health isn’t very good,” Song Yan Ning said.

“Who did you say is not healthy? Don’t think I won’t hit you just because you’re a kid,” the young man threatened, raising his fist toward Song Yan Ning.

Ignoring the young man, Song Yan Ning turned to Yang Lisheng, “Grandpa, the medical book says that if parts of the face, like around the lips, turn black, it indicates a kidney deficiency, doesn’t it?”

“Indeed, it does,” Yang Lisheng nodded. He too had noticed that the young man had health issues.

“You’re spouting nonsense!” The youth’s face turned livid. No man would want to be accused of having a kidney deficiency.

The young woman looked at the young man for a long while then turned to Yang Lisheng and Song Yan Ning, concerned, “Does that have any implications?” She was with him because his family owned two apartments. If he really had a kidney issue, wouldn’t that hold her back?

“Kidney deficiency should not be underestimated; if severe, it can affect your future marital life,” Yang Lisheng advised the young man. Although Xiao Ning’s medical skills were not inferior to his, these adult matters weren’t something he could discuss too openly.

“It’s you who has kidney deficiency,” the young man glared fiercely at Song Yan Ning and Yang Lisheng, then stormed off pulling the young woman with him.

“Ah Ji, perhaps you should consider a hospital visit,” the young woman suggested; it was related to her future after all.

“Don’t listen to their nonsense!” The young man quickened his pace, refusing to believe he had any health problems.

“Grandpa, let’s sit,” Song Yan Ning looked away and took a seat. Although she intended to embarrass the young man, she was also helping him; if he didn’t visit the hospital soon, his condition would only worsen.

“You really…” Yang Lisheng shook his head, both helplessly and affectionately.

Song Yan Ning playfully stuck out her tongue, “Grandpa, I want to eat shrimp meat and egg yolk dumplings,jiang can we also take some back for Grandma?”

“Alright! As you wish.” Yang Lisheng nodded with a smile

When they returned home, Song Yan Ning went to her room and took out the Peace Pendant.

After examining it for a long while, Song Yan Ning couldn’t find anything wrong with the Peace Pendant. Could it have been her misconception? Was she overthinking it? But why did Xu Dongqing ask her like that?

Putting the Peace Pendant into the drawer, Song Yan Ning moved to one side and picked up a watering can to water the herbal medicines in her room. These herbal medicines were discovered by her in the mountains; most were First-level Spiritual Grass. Usually, she relied on the faint Spiritual Energy emitted by these herbs for her cultivation, though the results were not very significant. She had only just advanced to Second-level, and at this pace, it would take at least ten to twenty years to break the seal inside her body.