Nine Star Burden

Chapter 162: The Cowardly Xia Yan and the Stubborn Han Jiangxue

Jiang Xiao tidied up the house and changed into a thick, white-colored quilt jacket before hailing a cab to Ruifeng Business firm.

Due to the fact that it was daytime, Jiang Xiao didn’t dare to drive Second Last’s car, for fear that he would be arrested.

Things would be terrible if he were to get arrested. Although Jiang Xiao was an experienced driver, he was still in the body of a 16-year-old teen.

Even if a minor and first offender was exempt from detention for driving without a license, he would definitely have to pay a fine too.

To Jiang Xiao, a fine was akin to death.

A fine of 200 yuan would make him feel the pinch and pain for a week.

A fine of 200 yuan would make him feel like he was dying...

He felt that it would be more convenient to take a cab. Compared to the second-tier cities in the south, Jiangbin City was much less developed and there were still places in the city that were inaccessible by subway.

Squeezing with other commuters on the bus was a waste of time too. Jiang Xiao wanted to go home to take a wonderful nap.

Why don’t I talk to Second Last tomorrow and ask her if I can stay home to rest for another day?

Jiang Xiao also knew that he was pressed for time, but he was seriously exhausted. He couldn’t put his fatigue in words at all.

...

Ruifeng Business Firm in Dongcheng District of Jiangbin City.

Jiang Xiao alighted from the cab but was shocked by the tiny signboard of the Ruifeng Business Firm.

It’s such a famous firm and yet, the shop is so small?

At the door, two tall girls seemed to be chatting about something. When Han Jiangxue saw Jiang Xiao, she waved at him.

He walked over quickly, but he felt that there was something wrong with Xia Yan’s gaze.

Jiang Xiao secretly kept his guard up and carefully walked towards Han Jiangxue. On the other end, Xia Yan kicked him and exclaimed, “You’re getting rebellious! How dare you hang up on me!”

Move~ Move~

Jiang Xiao dodged nimbly and avoided Xia Yan’s feet.

Indeed, my sister still loves me.

Before Xia Yan could even throw her third kick, she was stopped by Han Jiangxue, who hollered at her.

Xia Yan looked at Jiang Xiao with a furious expression.

Jiang Xiao scratched his head and chuckled. I wonder if Xia Yan is infuriated because I hung up on her or because I said “I love you too” to her.

“We’ve sold all the Star Beads that we got in the Arsenal. I sold them for 50,000 yuan,” Han Jiangxue said.

Slightly stunned, Jiang Xiao asked, “50,000 yuan?”

“Yeah, we got a total of 48,700 yuan and the firm rounded it up to 50,000 yuan after we gave them a few more low-level savage Star Beads,” Han Jiangxue said with a nod.

“Wow, you’ve struck a fortune,” Jiang Xiao said while rubbing his hands.

Xia Yan sneered as she looked at Jiang Xiao. “Hah. 50,000 yuan is not even enough for an entry ticket to the Arsenal.”

Jiang Xiao was speechless.

What does it have to do with the entry ticket? It was paid for by the school, anyway.

Jiang Xiao asked, “How did you guys sell it?”

Han Jiangxue didn’t want to say it at all. However, when she saw how curious Jiang Xiao was, she tried to suppress her temper and explained, “There were a total of 27 spearmen, swordsmen, and female Archer Star Beads, each of which was sold for 600 yuan. The 13 Ape Ghoul Star Beads were sold at 2500 yuan each and the firm topped up the total amount to 50,000 yuan after we gave them the remaining assorted savage Star Beads.”

“Silver Quality female Archer Star Bead, 600 yuan each...” Jiang Xiao said helplessly.

Han Jiangxue nodded and said, “The resale price is, of course, lower than the retail price. There isn’t a high demand for Star Beads of swordsman and female Archers in the market. The effects of Resentment are too poor and, compared to Sharp Claws and Sharp Fangs, people tend to prefer Green Glow and Endurance.”

While defending Han Jiangxue, Xia Yan explained, “Although they’re Silver Quality Star Beads, the Star Techniques contained in them are of Brass Quality. In terms of effects, they’re worse than the Brass Quality Star Beads of White Ghouls.”

Jiang Xiao nodded and said, “The Ape Ghoul Star Beads can be resold for 2500 yuan each?”

Han Jiangxue said, “That’s a good price.”

Jiang Xiao said, “Logically speaking, Brutality and Massive Strike should be very powerful, right?”

Xia Yan humphed and said, “Brutality is a suicidal Star Technique that isn’t as popular as you think. The Ape Ghoul Star Bead can be sold at such a high price, entirely because of Massive Strike.”

Jiang Xiao waved his hands helplessly and asked, “What do we do next?”

Han Jiangxue said, “When we get the money later, we will split all the revenue in half and transfer the respective amounts to Li Weiyi and Xia Yan. Let’s find somewhere to chat.”

“Hey, don’t give all the money to the two of us, save some for yourself too,” Xia Yan said as she hurriedly looked at Jiang Xiao, hinting for him to persuade her.

Xia Yan clearly didn’t care for the money because money didn’t matter to her. However, for Han Jiangxue and Jiang Xiao, the money could improve their standard of living.

Jiang Xiao thought about it for a while before figuring it out. He looked at Xia Yan and said, “The two of us have absorbed a lot of Star Beads of Savage Sorceresses and Savage Sorcerers in the Arsenal. Those should have been split equally amongst the team, anyway. My sister made a reasonable choice.”

Seeing the heartened look on Han Jiangxue’s face, Jiang Xiao chuckled and said, “Even though we’re giving you and Li Weiyi all the money, it still isn’t enough.”

Han Jiangxue was bewildered.

Staring at Xia Yan longingly with affection, Jiang Xiao said, “I don’t have any more money to spare. Sis, let me pay for it with my body.”

Xia Yan held onto Han Jiangxue’s arm and retorted, “Your sister is here. Even if someone has to pay with their body, it won’t be you.”

Han Jiangxue had an interesting expression as she turned around and looked at Xia Yan in shock.

Xia Yan’s expression changed and she smiled awkwardly before saying, “I’m joking, Xuexue. I’m just joking with Xiaopi. I was just spouting nonsense.”

Han Jiangxue curled her finger and knocked it against Xia Yan’s forehead. She chided. “What nonsense are you thinking about?”

“Mm~” Xia Yan put a hand on her forehead and blinked while looking at Han Jiangxue aggrievedly. However, she dared not utter a single word at all.

“Uh, will you guys give me the sword now?” Jiang Xiao asked. His wooden sword was still in Han Jiangxue’s Sky Smasher, that was the reason he came to look for her.

“No hurry, let’s go somewhere to have a chat first,” Han Jiangxue said after looking around.

To her surprise, Xia Yan loosened her grip and did not hold onto her arm while walking forward together. Instead, she walked beside Jiang Xiao.

While keeping his guard up, Jiang Xiao asked, “What are you trying to do?”

Xia Yan slapped Jiang Xiao’s shoulder angrily and said, “Your sister is right in front. What else can I do? Rascal, help me persuade your sister. She’s already in the Nebula Stage and yet, she only has five Star Techniques. I’m thinking of buying her a Rules output Star Bead, but you know what she’s like. She’s as obstinate as a bull and refuses to give in.”

Jiang Xiao’s mouth twitched awkwardly. He thought that it’d be better not to let Han Jiangxue hear that remark.

However, Xia Yan did make sense.

Until now, Han Jiangxue only had five Star Techniques. Previously, Han Jiangxue and Jiang Xiao had both rescued Xia Yan in the snowfield, so they received two Star Beads as a gift from Xia Shanhai. After Jiang Xiao’s continuous persuasion, the two of them accepted a Blue Crown Star Bead.

In other words, Han Jiangxue had a Gold Quality Rules output Star Bead.

However, she was only in the Nebula Stage and there was only one Blue Crown Star Bead. Hence, if she wanted to absorb it, she had to wait until the Nebula Stage in order to have a higher success rate.

The provincial league was round the corner and Han Jiangxue really needed an output Star Technique.

Han Jiangxue’s personal Star Map seemed to be more resistant to the Savage Sorcerer’s “Corpse Spirit” and “Explosive Corpse”. Despite her incredible talent, she actually failed to acquire any Star Technique despite having absorbed three Savage Sorcerer Star Beads in a row.

Xia Yan muttered incessantly, “She always thinks that I have given her too much, but she doesn’t realize how much she has helped me. How did I break through the middle of the Nebula Stage? Wasn’t it all because of the mercenary corp Star Bead that she gave me?”

Jiang Xiao looked at Xia Yan speechlessly. Strictly speaking, the Star Bead belonged to Jiang Xiao, but Jiang Xiao gave it to Han Jiangxue and got her to keep it until the late stage of Nebula to use it for a breakthrough.

Xia Yan continued, “On top of that, although we went to the Arsenal as a team, she was the one who harvested those Savage Sorcerer and Savage Sorceress Star Beads when she was hanging off the cliff and giving them sneak attacks. We didn’t help at all and yet, she credited the gains to the team’s efforts.”

Jiang Xiao said in a timely manner, “We’re indeed a team.”

Xia Yan stomped her feet and said, “I just want to buy her a Rules output Star Bead. In some sense, I’m also doing it for the team. However, she refuses to agree. I was scared that she would get angry. Ah, this is making me so vexed. Help me out and persuade her.”

Impressive.

Oh, dear...

You’re afraid of making her angry?

Where have your arrogance and feisty mannerisms gone?

Why are you such a coward?

Jiang Xiao looked at the cowardly Xia Yan and said, “I’m going to the snowfield this time to see if I can seize some White Ghoul Witch Star Beads. If I do, I’ll bring them back and sell them for money to get her some Star Beads.”

Xia Yan casually replied, “Why do you have to go to such lengths? I’ll just buy her the Flame Torch Star Bead and let you hand it to her. Just find a random excuse. Doesn’t the team of Guardians Of The Night admire you greatly? Just say that they recruited you and decided to groom you, which is why they gave that Star Bead to you.”

Jiang Xiao was speechless.

Xia Yan said, “It’s settled, then.”

Jiang Xiao said, “Forget it. I’ll go to the snowfield and we’ll talk about it when I come back.”

Xia Yan asked, “Huh? You...”

Jiang Xiao said, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely get the White Ghoul Witch Star Beads. There are no secrets that can be kept hidden forever in this world. She’ll find out sooner or later, I don’t want to die with you.”

Xia Yan pursed her lips and chided. “Two stubborn bulls.”

Jiang Xiao was speechless.

Xia Yan said helplessly, “I shall talk to the Ruifeng Business Firm in private, then. When you are here, look for Manager Sun, and I will get him to help you keep the Star Bead.”

Jiang Xiao said softly, “You can’t tell her about this. We have to take action before she finds out. If she knows that I have seized the White Ghoul Witch Star Beads, she will definitely make me keep it and forbid me from selling them.”

“Okay, don’t worry, I know what to do,” Xia Yan said in displeasure.

“What are you two talking about?” Han Jiangxue asked as she stopped in front of a fried chicken store and turned around to look at them.

“She agreed,” Jiang Xiao said all of a sudden.

“What?” Xia Yan asked.

Jiang Xiao answered, “She agreed to let me train with Second Last in the snowfield.”

Xia Yan asked, “Why do you say so?”

Jiang Xiao looked at the fried chicken store in front and answered softly, “She’s going to treat me to good food...”

Staring at the beautiful figure in front of the fried chicken store, Jiang Xiao made up his mind and thought, Sis, wait for me to come back, I’ll definitely buy you the Flame Torch Star Bead.

Mm, but then again, what is a Flame Torch Star Bead?

Let me find out about it online first...