Chapter 85: The Price of Sin
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
For the latest updates, visit: ProNovels.com
Join our Discord for release updates: https://discord.gg/Eh2ayfR4FB
Lin Xiu heard about Xue Ning’er again three days later.
She had graduated early and left the Aether Arts Institute.
Students typically studied at the Institute for three to five years. Afterward, a small number would be recruited by the imperial court into the Aether Arts Department. Most would return to their hometowns and take up positions in the local Aether Arts Department. While not necessarily rich and powerful, they would be provided for life.
A select few, exceptionally talented individuals like Lingyin, could remain at the Institute, enjoying all its resources, for they represented the future of the Great Xia Dynasty.
Xue Ning’er had arrived at the Institute three years ago. It would have been normal for her to leave eventually. However, the Institute term had only just begun two months prior, and she was still more than half a year away from graduation. Her sudden departure seemed strange.
Students were gossiping that she had left because of the incident with Song Yuzhi, feeling humiliated and unable to stay at the Institute any longer. This explanation made some sense.
The nobles of the capital placed great importance on face. Xue Ning’er being confronted by Song Yuzhi at the palace gate in front of so many people, and almost being slapped, was a complete loss of face. She would be the subject of gossip wherever she went. In their shoes, most wouldn’t dare show their faces in public.
But Lin Xiu knew that wasn’t the reason.
The last time he saw Xue Ning’er, she didn’t seem overly affected by the Song Yuzhi incident. Could it be because of him?
In truth, Lin Xiu had expected Xue Ning’er to react with panic, anger, or embarrassment after he exposed her scheme. But that day, she hadn’t shown any reaction at all.
Lin Xiu had left after saying those words and didn’t know her subsequent reaction.
He only overheard a few female classmates discussing it during martial arts class. The male classmates, in private, cursed Song Yuzhi vehemently. If it weren’t for that hateful woman, Lady Ning’er wouldn’t have left the Institute. At least they could still see her during martial arts class.
Of course, they only dared to curse in secret. The Song family was immensely powerful, even the Xue family had to yield to them, let alone these students.
Li Bozhang walked over to Lin Xiu, his voice full of regret. “Lady Ning’er is gone. Of the four beauties of the Aether Arts Institute, only three remain. Martial arts class has become so boring, might as well skip it…”
Lin Xiu agreed with Li Bozhang.
Xue Ning’er was the most beautiful sight in martial arts class. With her gone, all the male classmates were listless, lacking any desire to show off during training.
Li Bozhang suddenly remembered something and looked at Lin Xiu. “I heard you offended Song Yuzhi for Lady Ning’er. That’s a crazy woman. Be careful, she’s capable of anything…”
Speaking of this, his expression became puzzled. “Wasn’t Lady Ning’er aggressively pursuing you recently? Why did she suddenly give up?”
Lin Xiu didn’t hide anything from Li Bozhang. “I’ve made things clear with her.”
Li Bozhang was stunned. “Made what clear?”
Lin Xiu said calmly, “She confessed to me that day, and I told her that I knew her purpose in approaching me was to humiliate Zhao Lingjun. We have nothing to do with each other now.”
Li Bozhang finally realized something, looking at Lin Xiu with astonishment. “You’re truly ruthless…”
Lin Xiu glanced at him. “It was Xue Ning’er who had ulterior motives. If anyone’s ruthless, it’s her, right?”
Li Bozhang shook his head. “Her approach was impure, but her methods weren’t as sophisticated as yours. You gave her a taste of her own medicine, making her fall for you and then rejecting her. Isn’t that just as ruthless?”
Lin Xiu had played along with Xue Ning’er to obtain her ability. Xue Ning’er, wanting to ensnare him, naturally had to pretend to like him. It was just that her acting was better.
As for Lin Xiu, he hadn’t actually intended to give her a taste of her own medicine.
For him, anything could be faked, except feelings.
He simply said, “Couldn’t you tell that Xue Ning’er was always pretending?”
Li Bozhang shook his head. “I couldn’t tell. I only saw that Lady Ning’er truly liked you.”
Lin Xiu was stunned.
He trusted Li Bozhang’s judgment. Even he said so… could it be that he, as the person involved, was blinded, while the bystander saw clearly?
He had preconceived notions, believing that Xue Ning’er’s approach, everything she said and did, was a pretense, a means to make him fall in love with her. Therefore, even when she confessed, he only saw it as a step in her plan, never considering that she might genuinely like him.
Could it be that what she said that day was true?
Li Bozhang looked at Lin Xiu questioningly. “If you weren’t trying to give her a taste of her own medicine, why did you play along with her?”
Lin Xiu couldn’t reveal his true purpose to Li Bozhang, so he casually replied, “I just wanted to see what tricks she had up her sleeve… You really think she liked me?”
Li Bozhang glanced at him. “Is that so hard to believe? You’re handsome, you understand women, your family background is decent, and most importantly, you have such a good physique. Countless girls in the Institute secretly admire you. If you weren’t Lady Zhao’s fiancé, they would have pounced on you and torn you apart. If I were a girl…”
Lin Xiu fell into a long silence.
He had been blinded by his own perspective. Who could understand a girl’s heart better than him?
Thinking back carefully, Lin Xiu realized that Xue Ning’er’s gaze in those days had contained deep affection, and the words she spoke were definitely not something a manipulative “green tea” could say.
No wonder he felt Xue Ning’er’s acting was so good that it seemed real. Because it was real.
Things seemed to have become complicated.
He had a rich history with women, but he also knew clearly that those girls who had been with him were either after his money or his looks. There was no love between them, only mutual exploitation.
When he encountered innocent girls who still harbored illusions about love, Lin Xiu always avoided them.
It wasn’t because he was afraid of responsibility.
But because he wasn’t worthy.
Enjoying the translation? Stay updated with the latest chapters at ProNovels.com.
Xue Ning’er, though manipulative, had initially approached him with impure motives. But if she truly liked him, her initial intentions no longer mattered.
At this moment, Lin Xiu understood the look in Xue Ning’er’s eyes back then.
There had been a light in her eyes.
But after he spoke those words, the light was gone.
He had broken a girl’s heart.
The heart of a girl who genuinely liked him.
Li Bozhang saw Lin Xiu’s silence. “What’s wrong?”
Lin Xiu sighed. “I’ve sinned…”
Monetary debts were easy to repay, but debts of the heart were not.
If everyone was just playing around, no one needed to be responsible for anyone. But when one person became serious, things changed entirely.
His heart could be soft, and it could be hard. If Xue Ning’er was only trying to humiliate Zhao Lingjun, Lin Xiu could be ruthless. But he couldn’t bring himself to intentionally hurt a girl who liked him…
The Xue Residence.
Over a dozen men crowded in a small courtyard, facing a closed door, all with worried expressions.
These men were of various ages. After a long while, a middle-aged man walked to the door and knocked softly. “Ning’er, even if you’re upset, you should come out to eat. Your uncles, your grandfather, we’re all worried about you…”
The Xue family had many descendants. The old Duke had four sons, and there were more than a dozen male grandchildren, but only one precious granddaughter. Naturally, the family had pampered and protected her since childhood, unwilling to let her suffer any grievance.
Now, the Xue family’s only precious granddaughter had shut herself in her room for three days, three whole days without food or water, worrying the entire household.
“Useless, all useless!”
The old Duke’s face was full of fury. Pointing at his four sons standing in the courtyard, he roared, “Four useless sons! If any of you were more capable, my Xue family wouldn’t be bullied by the Song family!”
After being scolded, the four sons didn’t dare talk back. They just looked at the younger generation around them, fuming.
After their father left, they grabbed their own sons and beat them mercilessly, cursing as they did so.
“You’re all grown men, yet you can’t even protect your sister!”
“Why did I give birth to such useless things!”
“I should have coughed you up on the wall!”
…
The Xue family’s precious daughter had shut herself in her room because she had been bullied and wronged by the Song family. However, the Song family was powerful, even the Xue family couldn’t contend with them. Although the Xue family was furious and wanted revenge, they could only endure this grievance for the time being.
After leaving the courtyard, the old Duke quickly summoned his four sons.
The old Duke, with his graying hair, had an ashen face. “In the coming days, you will watch over the family. I will enter seclusion. I will not emerge until I break through to the Heaven Rank. When I emerge, I will personally go to the Song family to avenge Ning’er!”
Thirty years ago, the old Duke’s strength had already reached the Earth Rank Upper Realm, but he had been unable to break through the barrier to the Heaven Rank.
The Song family’s power stemmed from their Heaven Rank expert. Once the old Duke broke through to the Heaven Rank, the Xue family would undoubtedly be promoted to a Second Rank Duke’s household. At that time, the Xue and Song families would truly be equals.
With his beloved granddaughter bullied, the old Duke was enraged. He quickly announced his seclusion, refusing all visitors.
Whenever the Song family was mentioned, the entire Xue household gritted their teeth in hatred.
Meanwhile, Xue Ning’er sat dazed in her room, holding a pair of delicate earrings in her hand. They were a gift from Lin Xiu. Seeing the earrings, Lin Xiu’s words from that day echoed in her ears.
“From the very beginning, you approached me to humiliate Zhao Lingjun…”
“Lady Ning’er must think I’m very stupid. Does it feel good to play with others…?”
“Xue Ning’er, from now on, we are no longer friends.”
…
These words reverberated in Xue Ning’er’s mind, each echo causing a fresh pang of pain. She didn’t hate Lin Xiu, she only hated herself.
Why was she so bad? Why did she have such thoughts in the beginning…?
She was a bad woman, she deserved this. It was all heaven’s punishment.
Tears streamed down Xue Ning’er’s face as she clutched the earrings to her chest, her heart aching. Having done such things, she no longer had the courage to face Lin Xiu…
But she really wanted, really wanted to see him again…
She lowered her head, her voice choked with sobs. “Lin Xiu, can you tell me what kind of spell you’ve cast on me? I think about you all day, even in my dreams…”
[Author’s Note: Afraid you guys would scold me, I didn’t dare write it too tragically. Although the process is tortuous, the ending will be good. Long-time readers understand this, and new readers can rest assured. It’s been seven days of continuous 10,000-word updates since the launch. This is quite unbelievable to me. I don’t know how others write 20,000 or 30,000 words a day. Writing is truly a difficult task for me. My fingers start to hurt around the 7,000-8,000 word mark. Seeing you guys urge me to update makes me both happy and worried. Please bear with me, a slow and steady flow will last longer.]
For the latest updates, visit ProNovels.com. Join our Discord for release updates: https://discord.gg/Eh2ayfR4FB.
