NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 42:
Chapter 42:
“I have the Water Spirit Pills,” Xiao Yang said quietly, his gaze fixed on Jiang Ting.
“Then give them to me quickly! Father has promised that as long as I break through to the Heavenly Martial Realm, he’ll allow me to participate in the Sixty-Year Tournament,” Jiang Ting said anxiously.
“Why should I give them to you?” Xiao Yang replied coldly.
“Senior Brother, you…” Jiang Ting looked at him in disbelief.
“You had the pills made for me, didn’t you? Why won’t you give them to me?” Jiang Ting’s face flushed with anger.
“Yes, I had someone refine them for you. I worked hard to gather the spiritual herbs and paid a great price to hire an alchemist to create them. So what?” Xiao Yang’s tone was icy, devoid of emotion.
“What do you mean, ‘so what’? Since you made the pills for me, just give them to me already!” Jiang Ting stomped her feet in frustration.
“I don’t feel like giving them to you anymore,” Xiao Yang said firmly.
“You…” Tears welled up in Jiang Ting’s eyes, and she looked hurt. In the past, whenever she was upset, Xiao Yang would go to great lengths to cheer her up.
What had changed? Why was he acting like this? Jiang Ting couldn’t understand.
“If you want the Water Spirit Pills so badly, go ask your beloved Junior Brother to have someone make them for you,” Xiao Yang said as he poured himself another drink, ignoring her.
“Senior Brother… are you jealous?” Jiang Ting suddenly exclaimed, her expression one of realization.
“Senior Brother, don’t misunderstand. There’s nothing between me and Junior Brother. I only take care of him because I feel sorry for him. It’s purely a senior-junior relationship,” Jiang Ting explained hastily.
“Ha! You were willing to defy your father for Qin Fei, and now you’ve come to me, begging for pills for him. And you claim it’s just a senior-junior bond? Do you think I’m a fool?” Xiao Yang’s voice trembled with anger.
Nearby, Lin Wangchuan and Song Qiang stood frozen, watching the scene unfold.
Senior Brother Xiao Yang and Junior Sister Jiang Ting, arguing? And over Qin Fei?
Over the years, Xiao Yang and Jiang Ting had argued countless times because of Qin Fei. Every time, Xiao Yang would relent and comfort Jiang Ting.
But this time was different.
Jiang Ting was on the verge of tears, yet Xiao Yang stood his ground. He didn’t back down, nor did he try to console her.
Even the carefree Lin Wangchuan was stunned by the change in Xiao Yang.
“How do you know about that?” Jiang Ting asked, her eyes wide with shock.
“Leave. If you don’t, I’ll make you leave,” Xiao Yang said dismissively, unwilling to argue further.
“Senior Brother, do you really care nothing for our childhood bond, our shared camaraderie? Do you have to be so heartless?” Jiang Ting asked, her voice trembling with emotion.
“Jiang Ting, do you really think you have the right to call me heartless?” Xiao Yang snapped.
“Fine! You won’t give me the pills? Then watch this!” Jiang Ting said, yanking a jade pendant from around her neck and gripping it tightly in her hand.
“What are you doing?” Xiao Yang’s face paled.
“I’ll ask you one last time: will you give me the pills?” Jiang Ting’s red-rimmed eyes bore into Xiao Yang.
“Jiang Ting, you…” Xiao Yang’s voice was hoarse as his gaze fixed on the pendant in her hand.
“Do you even know what this pendant means to me?” Xiao Yang’s fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.
“Of course I know,” Jiang Ting said coldly. “But you left me no choice.”
“If you don’t give me the pills, I’ll crush this jade pendant!” Jiang Ting declared.
To get the Water Spirit Pills, she was willing to do whatever it took. In her heart, she apologized to Xiao Yang. I can’t just stand by and let Junior Brother Qin Fei’s future be ruined. I’ll make it up to you later, Senior Brother.
But what Jiang Ting didn’t realize was that there would be no “later” between her and Xiao Yang.
“You…” Xiao Yang’s eyes reddened.
The jade pendant was a relic from his grandfather.
Years ago, it was his grandfather who had defied objections to send him to the Azure Sun Sword Sect. It was thanks to his grandfather that he had become the sword prodigy and Holy Son he was today.
As a child, Xiao Yang was frail and sickly, constantly bullied by peers and ignored by his parents. His grandfather was the only one who believed in him, stood up for him, and sent him to the sect.
When Xiao Yang’s talent was recognized, and he was taken as the first disciple of Sect Master Jiang Qitian, the news had brought his grandfather unparalleled joy. But before Xiao Yang could share the news of becoming the Holy Son, his grandfather had passed away.
The jade pendant was the last gift his grandfather had left him, meant for the woman Xiao Yang loved. Xiao Yang had given it to Jiang Ting.
And now, Jiang Ting was using it to threaten him.
She knew what the pendant meant to him, yet she dared to use it against him.
“Give me the pills, and I’ll return the pendant,” Jiang Ting said coldly.
“Fine! Take them!” Xiao Yang growled, pulling out two bottles of Water Spirit Pills and thrusting them toward her.
Jiang Ting’s eyes lit up with joy as she grabbed the bottles, but seeing Xiao Yang’s furious expression filled her with guilt.
“I’m sorry, Senior Brother. I’ll make it up to you someday,” Jiang Ting said softly before turning and walking away without looking back.
Lin Wangchuan and Song Qiang were dumbfounded by what they had just witnessed.
“What just happened?” Lin Wangchuan scratched his head. “Are all women this fierce? Even Junior Sister?”
“Master said women are like tigers. I think they’re worse,” Lin Wangchuan said, patting his chest nervously.
Song Qiang remained silent, unable to believe the once-close relationship between Xiao Yang and Jiang Ting had reached this point.
Xiao Yang stood motionless, staring at the pendant in his hand.
The pendant wasn’t particularly valuable—just a simple piece of carved purple jade. Yet, to him, it was priceless.
“Jiang Ting, you went too far this time,” Xiao Yang murmured.
This time, he had truly let go.
The bond they had shared since childhood was severed.
In his previous life, he had clung to his feelings for Jiang Ting, leading to endless heartache and ultimately his death at Qin Fei’s hands.
Now, he felt both anger and an unexpected sense of relief.
“Senior Brother, are you alright?” Song Qiang asked hesitantly.
“I’m fine. Come, let’s drink,” Xiao Yang said with a smile, carefully putting the pendant away.
“Big Brother Holy Son, let’s drink until we’re drunk!” Lin Wangchuan cheered, grabbing a wine jar.
That night, Xiao Yang drank heavily. For the first time in both lifetimes, he felt truly free.
…
The next day, the sect tournament resumed.
As Xiao Yang joined the gathering, his eyes fell on Jiang Ting, standing on the dueling platform.
His pupils contracted in disbelief.
“How is this possible?”
Overnight, Jiang Ting had broken through to the Heavenly Martial Realm.
Even with the aid of the Water Spirit Pills, it shouldn’t have been possible to achieve such a dramatic breakthrough in a single night.
Something had happened while he was drunk, something he couldn’t sense within the protected confines of his residence.
Jiang Ting stood calmly on the platform, her body radiating water-element sword energy. The faint glow of a water-blue sword aura surrounded her, exuding the unmistakable presence of a Heavenly Martial Realm cultivator.
The crowd was utterly stunned.