55: Chapter 55 What virtue or ability do I possess to deserve such trouble from the Immortal Lord!

Zhang Tianjie was in such pain that cold sweat poured down his head, and he could only force himself to swallow his pent-up frustration.

With trembling hands, he hurriedly fished out a string of mundane copper coins from the Storage Pouch at his waist, trying to hand them over in a panic.

Jiang Xuan didn't even glance at the string of copper coins. His thin lips parted slightly, and he spat out four words: "One Spirit Stone."

Zhang Tianjie's extended hand froze in mid-air, and his entire face instantly turned the color of pig's liver.

One Spirit Stone! That was enough to buy tens of thousands of baskets of steamed cakes! This was practically cutting off his own flesh!

He gritted his teeth, braced himself, and squeezed out a sentence: "Fellow Daoist, leave a margin in all things, so we may meet again in the future."

Mistress Zhen, standing to the side, gasped in shock.

She lifted her pretty face, still stained with tear tracks, and stared at Jiang Xuan in utter astonishment.

One Spirit Stone?

This amount of money, let alone buying pastries, would be more than enough to buy her entire stall, including the cloth awning and the steamer baskets!

Jiang Xuan remained completely unmoved, his five fingers pressing down on Zhang Tianjie's shoulder with a sudden increase in force.

A piercing, bone-deep pain spread from the joints.

Zhang Tianjie gasped in pain, not daring to spout any more nonsense.

He could only retract the copper coins, his heart bleeding, and with trembling hands, he fished out a Spirit Stone wreathed in Spiritual Qi from the depths of his Storage Pouch and handed it over.

Jiang Xuan casually took the Spirit Stone, released his iron-clamp-like grip, and said indifferently: "Fellow Daoist is generous; I thank you on behalf of Mistress Zhen."

Zhang Tianjie clenched his fists tightly, his chest heaving violently. He didn't even dare to utter a harsh word before turning tail and pushing through the crowd to flee.

Jiang Xuan tossed the Spirit Stone in his palm.

The town had the Enforcement Hall watching; Cultivators were not permitted to fight each other arbitrarily, lest they cause a great disturbance that would be difficult to resolve.

But those were only the rules on the surface.

Once outside the town, in those lawless, wild outskirts...

...the business of killing people for their treasures and destroying the bodies happened every single day in the shadows.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so polite today.

He turned around, handed the faintly glowing Spirit Stone to Mistress Zhen, and smiled gently: "Come, take it; this is the payment he owes for the pastries."

Mistress Zhen finally snapped out of her daze. Startled, she retreated repeatedly, frantically wiping her flour-covered hands on her apron, not daring to accept it.

"Immortal Master, absolutely not! I am merely a Mortal woman; how could I be worthy of accepting such a treasure of the Immortal Realm!"

"This one Spirit Stone is enough to buy my stall ten times over!"

"That the Immortal Master could help me out of this predicament is enough for me to be moved to tears..."

As she spoke, she bent her legs, preparing to kneel on the bluestone pavement.

Jiang Xuan had experience with this; quick as a flash, he reached out and firmly supported her elbows.

The sensation upon contact was plump and soft.

With her movement, a scent mixed with the sweet fragrance of Spirit Honey and the unique, warm aroma of a woman wafted towards him.

It went straight to the tip of his nose, making one feel exceptionally calm.

Jiang Xuan smiled helplessly, his tone carrying an air that brooked no refusal: "Alright, listen to me; just take it."

As he spoke, he directly pressed the Spirit Stone into her soft palm.

Feeling the warm, gentle Spiritual Qi emanating from her palm, Mistress Zhen looked up at the tall, upright figure before her. Her nose tingled, and tears almost fell again.

She quickly raised her hand to wipe the corners of her eyes, calmed her emotions, and obediently clutched the Spirit Stone tight, responding softly: "Many thanks for the Immortal Master's grace."

[Liu Zhen Favorability + 10]

[Congratulations, Liu Zhen Favorability has reached 21, Immortal Fate increased!]

[Acquaintance: The predestined bond on the Immortal path lies in mutual understanding; the conversation was most pleasant.]

Jiang Xuan looked at the panel before him, feeling inwardly satisfied.

With just one act of assistance, he had directly crossed the threshold of initial acquaintance.

He withdrew his thoughts and asked casually: "By the way, Mistress Zhen, didn't you use Spirit Stones when you came to my shop to buy the protective Spirit Treasure last time?"

"Presumably, you must have familiar Cultivators looking after you; how could you be bullied by such a low-level Loose Cultivator today?"

Upon hearing this, Mistress Zhen paused slightly, a sorrow that could not be dissolved appearing on her dignified face.

She lowered her eyelids, her voice as light as a breeze: "The Immortal Master is unaware..."

"Those few Spirit Stones were left behind by my ill-fated husband before he passed away..."

"Back then, he was also a Loose Cultivator trying to make a living in the town."

Jiang Xuan realized in a flash.

Although the Immortal Realm distinguished between Immortals and Mortals, in a place like Tingfeng Town where low-level Loose Cultivators gathered...

...it was not uncommon for Cultivators to live together with Mortal women.

No wonder a Mortal woman like her could obtain ingredients containing Spiritual Qi, such as Spirit Honey and Spirit Fish mince.

Presumably, other Loose Cultivators had given her a way to make a living out of respect for her late husband.

Jiang Xuan nodded slightly: "So that's it. It must have been hard for you, a weak woman, to raise a child alone all these years."

Mistress Zhen forced a gentle, faint smile and shook her head lightly: "For the sake of the child, no matter how bitter it is, I have grown accustomed to it."

She paused, looked up at Jiang Xuan, her gaze soft: "Did the Immortal Master eat his fill with that piece of pastry just now?"

"Let me go get you a few more hot ones from the steamer."

Being a Mortal woman, she could not produce any Heaven And Earth Treasure, so she could only use the food made by her skillful hands to repay him slightly.

As she spoke, she turned and walked towards the steamer behind the stall.

But just as she took a step, her body tilted abruptly, she stumbled, and nearly fell to the ground.

She knitted her delicate eyebrows in pain and couldn't help but gasp.

Jiang Xuan's gaze flashed, and his Divine Sense swept over silently.

He immediately discovered that her right ankle, hidden beneath her skirt, had already swollen into a conspicuous red welt.

"Did you twist it?"

Mistress Zhen steadied herself by holding onto the wooden table, her cheeks slightly flushed, carrying a hint of awkwardness and apology: "I am clumsy; I was in such a hurry just now that my steps were messy, and I accidentally twisted it... It is nothing."

Jiang Xuan scanned the surroundings.

The surrounding Mortal merchants and passing low-level Cultivators were still craning their necks to look over.

Clearly, the "killing the chicken to warn the monkey" act just now had been effective.

He pondered for a moment and said: "Mistress Zhen, with your foot injury, it is not suitable for you to stand and solicit business today."

"It would be better to close the stall early and go home to rest."

Mistress Zhen was now obedient to his every word and hurriedly nodded in submission.

She endured the soreness in her ankle, covered the steamer, and carefully wrapped up the remaining pastries.

After tidying up simply, she prepared to bow and take her leave of Jiang Xuan.

But Jiang Xuan suddenly stepped forward and said: "Let's go; I will see you home."

A low-level Loose Cultivator thug like Zhang Tianjie might not be able to swallow his frustration after suffering such a big loss.

He might not dare to deal with him openly, but if he were to follow a Mortal woman and strike in the shadows, it would be impossible to guard against.

It would be better to walk her back openly now, letting everyone on this street see clearly.

After all, this gentle and house-proud young woman was now, in a sense, a member of his Immortal Fate record.

Upon hearing this, Mistress Zhen was immediately shocked.

A high and mighty Cultivator actually wanted to personally escort a Mortal widow home?

She felt flattered and terrified, shaking her head repeatedly to decline: "This... this must not be!"

"How could this humble one possess such virtue to trouble the Immortal Master!"

Jiang Xuan did not give her another chance to refuse.

He directly reached out his broad, thick hand and grasped Mistress Zhen's soft, delicate hand.

A wisp of gentle Spiritual Qi flowed slowly through his palm into her body, reaching straight to her ankle.

That burning pain dissipated by more than half instantly, replaced by a warm, comfortable sensation.

Before Mistress Zhen could react, Jiang Xuan held her hand and, under the gaze of hundreds of eyes, strode forward with calm composure.