Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 91: Chapter 89: Gathering, Crescent Lake

Ning Yu’an’s face was ice-cold. The moment she entered, she heard them badmouthing Ning Jiang. How could she tolerate that? She immediately snapped, "Don’t you feel it’s beneath you to badmouth people and spread gossip behind their backs?"

"Ning Yu’an, what’s that supposed to mean? Was there anything wrong with what we said? The kid’s a jinx. What’s wrong with stating a fact? I have a mouth, and I’ll say what I please. Is he so high and mighty that no one can say a word against him?"

A look of disdain crossed Ning Ding’s face. In the past, he might have been somewhat afraid of Ning Yu’an, since both of her parents were Innate Realm experts.

But now, with Ning Changfeng and his wife’s fate unknown and only Ning Yu’an left, he had nothing to fear.

Besides, he knew that Ning Feng’s branch of the family had never gotten along with Ning Yu’an’s.

Ning Shoujing had always favored his youngest son, Ning Changfeng. Many of the family’s resources were funneled to him as well, which naturally bred resentment in Ning Changhan.

In the past, Ning Changhan had even gotten into a physical fight with Ning Changfeng over the allocation of family resources. The whole affair had been a very ugly scene.

Just as expected, right after Ning Ding finished speaking, Ning Feng chimed in, his voice cold. "Ning Yu’an, is a few words all it takes to make you so hostile and aggressive? Do you even have any respect for us, your cousins?"

"Me, aggressive?"

Hearing Ning Feng twist the truth like that, Ning Yu’an’s expression grew even colder.

"Let me tell you, with my little brother’s current status, he is indeed too noble for you to utter a single word against him." Ning Yu’an was about to say more.

Just then, a group of people walked out from the inner room.

It was Ning Shoujing’s sons: the eldest, Ning Changhan; the second, Ning Changming; the third, Ning Changhe; and the fourth, Ning Changyong. Only the youngest son, Ning Changfeng, was absent.

In addition to the four of them, an old man walked at their head.

The man was in his seventies or eighties, with salt-and-pepper hair and simple clothes. He had a slender build, but his steps were firm, and he moved with a swift, steady gait, clearly in excellent health.

This was Ning Shoujing, a cultivator at the Innate Early Stage.

Martial Artists constantly strengthen their bodies, making them impervious to heat and cold. Even in old age, their health rarely falters.

"Grandfather."

Seeing Ning Shoujing, Ning Yu’an stepped forward to greet him.

Ning Shoujing was her elder and had always treated her well enough.

"Ah, Yu’an, it’s good to have you back."

A smile spread across Ning Shoujing’s weathered face as he saw her. He was quite pleased with this granddaughter of his.

Her cultivation might not have been top-tier, but she had a gentle and endearing personality.

"Hm? What’s the matter with you, boy? You see your grandfather and don’t say a word? Did the Ning Family raise you for nothing?"

The voice came from Ning Changhan, who stood behind Ning Shoujing.

Ning Changhan himself was an Innate Early Stage Martial Artist. Among Ning Shoujing’s five sons, he and Ning Changfeng had the highest cultivation. As the eldest, he had always carried the most authority, and his words were laced with severity.

At his words, the others all turned to look.

But Ning Jiang’s expression was impassive. He ignored him completely.

In the original owner’s memories, Ning Changhan had always been hostile, frequently finding fault with him over the most trivial matters just to scold and lecture him.

As for Ning Shoujing, their relationship wasn’t much better.

Ning Shoujing had always been neither affectionate nor distant toward him—simply indifferent.

After all, he wasn’t of the Ning family’s bloodline. In Ning Shoujing’s traditional mindset, he was just an outsider, so it was only natural he wouldn’t be treated with any particular warmth.

Indifference was the best he could hope for.

Just then, Ning Shoujing’s gaze also fell upon Ning Jiang, and a flicker of shock and bewilderment flashed in his eyes.

He had met countless people in his life and weathered innumerable storms. Long ago, he had developed a keen eye for judging character. ƒгeewebnovёl.com

Others might not see it, but he could tell: Ning Jiang had changed. He had become someone completely unreadable.

Ning Jiang just stood there, his expression impassive and his presence quiet. Aside from his handsome features, he seemed utterly unremarkable.

But upon meeting his gaze, one would discover the truth. His eyes were unfathomably deep, like a maelstrom in a churning sea. And hidden within that depth was an arrogance that looked down upon the entire world and all its inhabitants.

Ning Shoujing had never seen such a gaze on anyone before.

’How can a sixteen-year-old boy have such a terrifying gaze?’ Ning Shoujing was inwardly shocked. ’The eyes are the windows to the soul; a person’s gaze cannot be faked.’

’For example, someone who has weathered many storms will have the eyes to show for it. Someone who has known great sorrow will have grief in their eyes. A person’s gaze is a reflection of their soul.’

’Ning Jiang’s gaze even filled him with a sense of dread. He felt as though he wasn’t facing a boy, but a supreme, unparalleled being.’

"Boy, I’m talking to you! Are you deaf?" Ning Changhan barked, interrupting Ning Shoujing’s thoughts.

"Alright, if he doesn’t want to offer a greeting, then let it be. It’s not a big deal," Ning Shoujing said, playing the peacemaker. "Yu’an is back today, so let’s have a pleasant gathering and not make things unpleasant for everyone."

"Yes."

Since even Ning Shoujing had spoken, Ning Changhan had no choice but to drop the matter.

It was afternoon, still some time before dinner, so they all sat down in the main room to chat.

Ning Shoujing’s sons rarely gathered like this. Most of the time, they were busy managing their respective duties for the family.

For a family to function, all its different facets required someone’s attention.

"Young Ning Feng has already broken through to the Innate Realm at such a young age. His future is boundless! Congratulations, Eldest Brother."

The brothers all showered Ning Changhan with compliments. He already had the highest cultivation among them, and he also held an important position within the Ning Family, wielding immense power—much like Liu Zhengkun, the eldest son of the Liu Family.

Now that his son had also reached the Innate Realm, the father-son duo’s influence would be even greater. This made the other brothers secretly envious, lamenting how their own children couldn’t measure up.

"Heh, he’s done well enough. Ning Shan is also quite good, already at the Postnatal Middle Stage of cultivation."

Ning Changhan’s face was all smiles when talking about Ning Feng. After a brief comment on Ning Shan, his gaze fell upon Ning Yu’an.

He couldn’t help but frown.

He couldn’t discern Ning Yu’an’s current cultivation level, but in any case, he had never liked her.

’Hmph. Ning Changfeng, oh, Ning Changfeng,’ he thought. ’My son has already reached the Innate Realm. What about your daughter?’

Ning Changhan felt no brotherly affection for Ning Changfeng, only a cold indifference and jealousy, mixed with a hint of envy.

Among all the brothers, Ning Changfeng had the greatest talent. Because of this, Ning Shoujing had doted on him since childhood, and he was the first among them to reach the Innate Realm.

What made him even more jealous was that later, by some stroke of incredible luck, Ning Changfeng managed to marry Li Qingyun, the jewel of the Li Family—a First-Class Noble House from Golden Cauldron City. At the time, that marriage had filled all the brothers with envy.

Unfortunately, Ning Changfeng’s marriage to Li Qingyun brought the Ning Family no benefits. The Li Family had vehemently opposed the union and had even suppressed the Ning Family as a result.

Because of this incident, the other brothers had always harbored resentment toward Ning Changfeng and his family.

"Yu’an," Ning Changhan said blandly, "you’re not getting any younger. How about your eldest uncle finds a good family for you to marry into?"

"I wouldn’t want to trouble you, Eldest Uncle." Ning Yu’an’s face turned cold. She knew perfectly well he meant her no good.

Ning Jiang’s expression also turned icy. Ning Changhan had ignored Ning Shan but singled out Ning Yu’an. It was clearly a deliberate jab.

"That’s enough, Changhan," Ning Shoujing said with a frown. "Yu’an’s affairs are for her parents to decide."

"It’s not even certain if those two will ever come back," Ning Ding muttered under his breath.

But they were all Martial Artists, and they heard him loud and clear.

Hearing this, Ning Shoujing’s face turned ashen. Ning Ding’s father, Ning Changyong, knew his son had misspoken and hastily interjected, "Father, Ning Ding is still young and doesn’t know any better. Please, pay him no mind."

Ning Yu’an’s fists were clenched, her eyes blazing with fury.

"Say one more word, and I’ll kill you where you stand."

The sudden pronouncement from Ning Jiang stunned the entire room.

He stared at Ning Ding, his eyes filled with a chilling intent that promised death at the slightest provocation, like the gleam of a frost-covered dagger.

Ning Ding’s face went pale. His heart pounded in his chest, and he was rendered speechless.

He felt as if Ning Jiang’s gaze were a sharp blade held to his throat. That look, imbued with frost and steel, seemed forged from the biting chill of a winter gale. It required no anger to command an authority that demanded submission.

"You bastard! What did you say?" Ning Changyong slammed his hand on the table and roared. Ning Ding was his son; how could he stand by and do nothing after hearing such a threat?

"The Ning Family took you in, and now you want to kill one of us?" Ning Changhan sneered.

"Little brother, don’t stoop to their level."

Ning Yu’an took Ning Jiang’s hand and spoke softly. She knew perfectly well that her little brother meant what he said. If he were provoked into a killing rage, no one here would be able to stop him.

To the others, however, Ning Yu’an’s action looked like a sign of weakness.

"Ning Jiang, it’s been a while."

Seeing how awkward the atmosphere had become, Ning Shan walked over and forced a smile.

She and Ning Jiang had once been on good terms, so it would have been improper not to greet him.

But Ning Jiang only gave her a cool glance before looking away, not saying a word, as if he didn’t even know her.

A flicker of embarrassment and annoyance flashed in Ning Shan’s eyes.

"Ning Shan, if he doesn’t know how to appreciate kindness, then just ignore him," Ning Feng said. "I was just invited to a party today. Why don’t you all come with me? It’ll be fun."

With his superior cultivation, he had clearly become the leader of their little group.

"Brother Feng, what kind of party is it?" Ning Ding asked curiously.

"Heh, I only received the invitation after I broke through to the Innate Realm," Ning Feng said with a laugh. "It was from that certain someone from the Song Family. He invited all the young geniuses in Baiquan Town."

"The Song Family? You mean him! I heard he just got back from Luoyang City, which is thousands of miles away."

Ning Shan and the others looked shocked. They all knew who Ning Feng was talking about.

"Heh, with my current cultivation, I’m more or less on his level now, so I can hold a conversation with him," Ning Feng boasted. "Ning Shan, I know you have a crush on him. I can introduce you when we’re there."

Ning Shan blushed and didn’t object.

"Let’s go."

Ning Feng led the others away, completely ignoring Ning Yu’an.

"Sister An, it’s too stuffy in this house. Let’s go for a walk," Ning Jiang said.

"Good idea. We used to go to Crescent Lake all the time. Let’s go there."

Ning Yu’an wasn’t feeling happy either, so she readily agreed. The two of them left together.