Mission Complete!
You received 100 Battle Points, 25 EXP, and a Random Talent Upgrade Card ×1!
[Do you want to use the Random Talent Upgrade Card?]
[Yes] [No]
Before Jiang Ning could decide, a voice cut through his thoughts.
"I'm impressed with your marksmanship, Jiang Ning."
Uncle Qin's tone was light, his face arranged into the picture of pride and admiration.
Jiang Ning smiled faintly, polite on the surface, seething beneath.
This traitorous bastard really knows how to play the part.
"You flatter me, Uncle," he said evenly.
Behind him, Ren Ning's hearty laugh filled the courtyard. "You've done well, my son."
Jiang Ning bowed slightly. "Thank you, Father."
The older man looked genuinely pleased, his chest swelling with pride at the sight of his son's growing strength.
But before the warmth could linger, Qin spoke again. "Ren, before you both get carried away with celebration, there's actually something I wanted to discuss with my dear nephew. Might we continue in your study?"
Ren's brow lifted, but he nodded. "Of course. Come, both of you."
Jiang Ning's instincts sharpened immediately.
So that's it. You didn't come just to see family.
He fell into step beside his father, Qin trailing slightly behind.
As they left, the whispers of knights and soldiers rippled through the courtyard like a tide.
"No way… Lord Jiang Ning actually beat Lord Qin?"
"And with a gunblade duel, no less!"
"I knew the young lord was strong, but that… that was unreal."
Off to the side, Lina watched Jiang Ning's departing figure with wide eyes. Her small hands were clasped to her chest.
"So Lord Jiang Ning is really that powerful…" she whispered, awe flickering across her face.
The study door shut behind them with a soft click.
Ren gestured for them to sit. "Now then," he said, his voice calm. "Time for business."
Jiang Ning didn't bother with pleasantries. "What is this about, Father?"
Ren exhaled and folded his hands. "Your uncle heard that we acquired a cache of Dragon Tail Ferns. He came here asking if I'd sell him a portion."
Jiang Ning's expression hardened immediately.
"I told him," Ren continued, "that I'd given you full authority over those herbs, so I made no decision on his behalf."
So that's his real motive, Jiang Ning thought coldly. He came early because of the ferns. Not family. Never family.
He turned his gaze toward Qin, who was smiling with feigned warmth. "Uncle, did Father tell you that it was I who found the Dragon Tail Ferns?"
Qin blinked in mock surprise. "Oh? You did?" He glanced toward Ren for confirmation.
Ren nodded once.
"Well then," Qin said smoothly, "you've certainly done well for yourself, nephew. Tell you what, since it was you who found them, I won't take advantage. I'll buy the herbs directly from you… 25 gold coins apiece."
He leaned back casually, watching for a reaction. "What do you say?"
Jiang Ning's lips twitched slightly. Outwardly calm. Inwardly calculating.
He's testing me. The price is deliberate, high enough to look generous, but bait meant to make me reveal how many stalks I have left. You sly old fox.
He inhaled slowly, letting the tension settle before speaking. "Give me a moment to think."
Qin smirked. "Of course. Take your time."
In his mind, he was already gloating.
You might be quick with a trigger, boy, but business requires more than muscle. Let's hear how many you're foolish enough to admit to.
A moment passed. Then Jiang Ning looked up with a thoughtful frown. "To tell you the truth, Uncle, we don't have that many left. Most were already sold off across several towns. I'd say we have… a little more than twenty stalks remaining."
He caught the faint gleam that sparked in Qin's eyes, greed, excitement, and a touch of disbelief.
Ren, however, gave a small, puzzled glance.
I thought we had over seven hundred left. Why lie?
Then, understanding dawned.
Ah. He's testing his uncle in return.
"That's right," Jiang Ning continued smoothly. "If you want, I can sell you fifteen of them. The rest are allocated for our knights' training and the household's reserves. I hope you understand my difficulties, Uncle."
Qin chuckled heartily. "Understand? Of course! I'll take all fifteen, then."
Jiang Ning smiled lightly. "That will be three hundred seventy-five gold coins."
"Hahaha!" Qin slapped his thigh. "You take after your mother, boy. Sharp with the numbers!"
He reached into his coat and produced a small leather pouch, the clinking sound of coins filling the air. "Here, a hundred gold coins now. I'll send the rest tomorrow before the banquet begins."
Jiang Ning accepted the pouch with both hands and gave a polite bow. "I trust your word, Uncle. I'll have the herbs sent to your quarters later tonight."
"Excellent!" Qin said cheerfully. "You're learning fast, nephew."
But behind that genial smile, his thoughts were far from kind.
So… the boy does have a stash after all. Even fifteen stalks will do for now. Once I've used them to advance, I'll take everything that's left. Including his future.
Ren watched the two in silence, hiding the weight behind his gaze. He could feel the undercurrents of deception flowing between them, a quiet war fought with polite smiles.
Qin leaned back, folding his arms. "Then it's settled. I'll make the payment in full tomorrow."
Ren nodded. "Good. I'm glad you two could work it out peacefully."
The conversation drifted toward lighter topics after that, the banquet preparations, the current state of the northern frontier, and a few empty anecdotes from Qin's recent travels.
But Jiang Ning's mind had already moved on. He was memorizing every word, every twitch, every subtle flicker in his uncle's expression.
The man was dangerous, not just because of his skill, but because of how easily he wore a mask.
When Qin finally left, Ren exhaled softly. "You handled that well."
Jiang Ning smiled faintly. "I've had good teachers."
Ren's gaze softened. "You know your uncle won't stop there, right?"
"I'm counting on it," Jiang Ning replied, his tone calm but steely. "Let him think he's winning. It's easier to corner a man when he's sure of victory."
Ren chuckled, shaking his head. "You sound more and more like me every day."
As his father left the room, Jiang Ning was already opening the cyan interface with his thoughts.
[Do you want to use the Random Talent Upgrade Card?]
[Yes] [No]
Without hesitation, he selected [Yes].
[Congratulations! Your talent 'Horseback Riding (D)' has been upgraded to Horseback Riding (C).]
The faint blue light shimmered for a moment before fading.
Jiang Ning exhaled slowly as the familiar numbers and symbols appeared before him again.
Jiang Ning [Knight]
EXP: 31 / 500
Potential: B
Talent:
Horseback Riding (C)
Swordsmanship (SSS)
Close Combat (D)
Archery (F)
Hunting (E)
Tracking (F)
Attributes:
Strength: 28+
Stamina: 28+
Agility: 25+
Vitality: 27+
Endurance: 27+
Mana: 13+
Battle Points: 460
Stat Points: 35
Advancement Requirements:
500 EXP
100 in all attributes
5,000 Battle Points