Chapter 128: Ambiguous, Neither-Male-nor-Female!

Chapter 128: Ambiguous, Neither-Male-nor-Female!

Lin Xian'er looked at the various rare treasures on the shelves, glancing east and west, feeling somewhat helpless.

She found herself entirely disinterested in this Treasure Appraisal Convention, yet Jia Lang persisted in bringing her along to expand her perspective.

In truth, she had attended similar events countless times back in the imperial capital under the guidance of her teacher.

However, given that the Jia family was one of the prominent figures in Hanwu County, Lin Xian'er found it difficult to outrightly refuse Jia Lang's invitation without causing offense.

Suddenly, to Lin Xian'er's astonishment, Ling Feng appeared as well. She was momentarily taken aback but swiftly regained her composure.

"He's here too?"

Lin Xian'er felt a surge of surprise, a subtle smile gracing her lips as her bright eyes formed crescents.

Beside Lin Xian'er, Jia Lang frowned upon witnessing her smile directed at Ling Feng, his hostility unveiled in his gaze.

Ling Feng shrugged off the hostile stare and disregarded Jia Lang's murderous gaze. He walked slowly up to Lin Xian'er with a smile and said, "Now, should I address you as Brother Lin or Miss Lin?"

Lin Xian'er couldn't help but smile, her expression akin to a gentle breeze, enchanting those around her.

"Sorry about last time, Brother Ling. I disguised myself as a man and told some lies. In truth, my name is Lin Xian'er, not Lin Feng."

"You live up to your name, graceful and ethereal.[1]" Ling Feng nodded slightly, smiling faintly. "I didn't expect to encounter you here."

"Indeed, what a coincidence," Lin Xian'er murmured, nibbling on her delicate lip. Catching Ling Feng's gaze, she instinctively offered an explanation, "Oh, Brother Ling, this is Jia Lang, the second young master of the Jia family in Hanwu County. He's also my senior brother at the Tianwei Academy."

Jia Lang had an arrogant expression, carrying himself with pride. His admission to the Tianwei Academy already proved his talent, at the very least, he was not someone that Jing Wuxue, the leader of the Iron Blood Alliance, could compare to.

"Miss Xian'er, who exactly is this fellow?" Jia Lang directed a disdainful glance at Ling Feng, loaded with provocation.

With his cultivation slightly surpassing Lin Xian'er's, already at the eighth level of the Pulse Formation realm, Jia Lang easily discerned that Ling Feng's aura was much weaker than his own. To him, Ling Feng was merely a Qi Formation Realm youngster, unworthy of his attention.

In reality, Jia Lang's reputation at the Tianwei Academy was rather unfavorable; he was known as a profligate and licentious individual. Naturally, Lin Xian'er couldn't harbor any favorable feelings toward such a character.

As Lin Xian'er grappled with her inner turmoil, preparing to lower her head and select the most appealing treasure, a gentle breeze swept by. Her eyes flickered as she noticed Ling Feng had already approached her side, attentively observing something without turning away.

With their proximity, Lin Xian'er felt her heart rate slightly accelerate. Nervously, she nibbled her delicate lip and instinctively shifted sideways.

However, as she moved, Ling Feng followed closely behind, closing the distance.

Furrowing her delicate brows, Lin Xian'er had initially believed Ling Feng to be an upright gentleman. Yet, to her surprise, he seemed to share the intentions of some unruly rascals, seeking to take advantage of her.

In frustration, she gritted her teeth, feeling somewhat disappointed in Ling Feng. Just as she contemplated how to maintain her distance, Ling Feng suddenly crouched down and reached for her dainty foot.

"Hey, you!" Lin Xian'er's pretty face chilled slightly, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes, her previous fondness for Ling Feng evaporating instantly.

She was about to speak, but Ling Feng beat her to it. He lifted his head to gaze at Lin Xian'er with clear eyes devoid of any lewd thoughts and calmly said, "Um... Miss Lin, could you please step aside? It seems you're standing on something quite valuable."

"Ah...?" Lin Xian'er was stunned, realizing she had been overthinking things. Ling Feng was merely interested in the treasure beneath her feet, nothing more...

In an instant, a blush spread across Lin Xian'er's cheeks, feeling her ears grow warm.

As Lin Xian'er blushed with embarrassment, unsure of what to do, she watched as Ling Feng reached out and handed her a plain-looking black object, his expression indifferent as he said, "Here, this is for you."

Lin Xian'er blinked her eyes, resembling precious gems, and instinctively reached out to take it. However, she quickly realized that the treasure was not only unremarkable but also rough and unsightly in appearance, devoid of any spiritual essence, much like a common roadside stone.

What kind of treasure can this possibly be?

"Ling..." Lin Xian'er's eyes flickered with doubt, but Ling Feng had already drifted away, leaving behind only a remark. "It's yours now."

Gritting her teeth, Lin Xian'er found herself involuntarily placing some trust in Ling Feng's words as she tightly clenched the black little stone in her hand.

1. The character 'xian' in Xian'er stands for immortal, fairy, etc. ☜