Chen Nan had only wanted to show Lin Mo the scars from his last punishment by Ning Xuan, just to scare him a little.

Of course, it wasn’t that the scars couldn’t heal; Ning Xuan simply wouldn’t allow it.

But he never expected that last night’s marks would still be there. When he’d woken up this morning, they had already nearly faded. ’No, wait... a moment ago, when Ning Xuan told me to go talk to Lin Mo, she patted me... could it be...’

The more Chen Nan thought about it, the redder his face became. Lin Mo found it odd. "Weren’t you being pretty frank just a moment ago? Why so quiet all of a sudden? Your face is beet red. What’s on your mind?"

"Our Contractor is a good person with great potential. It must be fate that we get to serve her together. I hope we can get along!" Chen Nan said, extending a hand to Lin Mo.

Lin Mo immediately shook it.

"Yun Han is the one from the Heavenly Might Corps, right? Do you know what happened to him? There were rumors he was injured and recuperating. Is that true?" Chen Nan asked.

"He was injured, and it’s very serious," Lin Mo said, his voice tinged with sadness.

In Ning Xuan’s private room, Zhu Hongying listened to the question and shook her head with a wry smile. "You’re so smart, you must have guessed it already. What he did... it’s as if I did it myself. We have wronged you. The promise I made you before is still valid, permanently. I’ll keep a close eye on him from now on and make sure he never causes you any more trouble."

"Sister Zhu, he sent people to kill me because he looks down on me. My Spiritual Power Level may have risen, but my background hasn’t changed. Are you sure he’s willing to let me even try?" Originally, Ning Xuan had found the assassination attempt completely intolerable and had planned to find the mastermind and retaliate decisively. But now that Zhu Hongying had taken responsibility and offered sincere compensation, she was starting to waver.

"I’m sure! He doesn’t normally act this way. He was completely out of his mind at the time and regretted it immediately after. Thank goodness you got away," Zhu Hongying explained again.

"But I’m still too scared! Yun Han’s Spiritual Power Level is SS-level, and I’m only B-level. The gap between our Levels is just too big! Besides, all you’ve said is that his Spiritual Sea is ’closed.’ I have no idea what that actually means, so I can’t be confident even if I go. What if I fail? Will he fly into a rage and kill me to vent his frustration? After all, he’s tried it once before," Ning Xuan said with a frown.

Yun Han’s body was being sustained by the Gold Attribute Energy on Seven Star Divine Mountain, which meant he couldn’t leave. If Ning Xuan agreed to help, she would have to travel to Seven Star Divine Mountain with Zhu Hongying. And there, she would inevitably have to face Yun Han’s father, Yun Tianye.

"I guarantee he won’t. If you’re still worried, I’ll invite the president of the Controller Protection Association to accompany us. With the president there, no one will dare lay a finger on you!" The Contractor Association exists to regulate and sanction Contractors, while the Controller Protection Association is dedicated to protecting every Controller. Having just advanced to B-level and arrived on the Central Star, Ning Xuan hadn’t even had the chance to go to the Protection Association to collect her benefits yet.

"You just need to be willing to try. If you can save him, we will reward you handsomely," Zhu Hongying said with sincerity.

"But I’m still not satisfied. If I hadn’t been so lucky, I’d be long dead by now, yet he hasn’t been punished at all. What if he tries to pull something again in the future?"

Zhu Hongying sighed in resignation. "And here I thought you were the magnanimous type. Turns out you’re quite the sharp one. What kind of punishment do you want him to receive? Just say it."

"At the very least, a punishment so severe he’ll never forget it—one that keeps him bedridden for a month or two. I’ll have my people verify his injuries, and once I confirm it’s been done, I’ll make the trip to Seven Star Divine Mountain." Ning Xuan’s smile vanished, and the atmosphere in the room instantly grew solemn.

"He is Yun Han’s father, after all. If Yun Han wakes up, he’ll be caught in a very difficult position between the two of you," Zhu Hongying reminded her with a sigh.

"I only said I could *try* to save Yun Han, as a doctor treating a patient. I never said I wouldn’t dissolve my Contract with him. With a father like that, I wouldn’t dare form a Contract with him," Ning Xuan declared as soon as she heard Zhu Hongying’s words.

’With Yun Tianye’s character,’ Ning Xuan thought, ’I wouldn’t dare take on a child he raised!’

"Yun Tianye is powerful, his bloodline is high-level, and his status in the Yun Family is unshakable. If you insist on making him suffer, the promises I made to you... well, carrying them out will be much less efficient," Zhu Hongying warned her.

"That’s fine. As long as I see Yun Tianye punished, I don’t care about the discount," Ning Xuan insisted. She knew perfectly well that if the Yun Family weren’t desperate for her help, Yun Tianye would never face any consequences for sending those assassins. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Ning Xuan, don’t act out of spite. Yun Han’s condition is truly dire. We’ve spent the last year trying everything we can think of, and nothing has worked. To be honest, even if you go, the chances of success are slim. Taking the benefits is the most practical choice. Why must you make an enemy of him?" Zhu Hongying felt a wave of helplessness. ’If Yun Tianye really loses it, I won’t be able to control him!’

"And my life is worthless? If he truly regrets his actions and knows he was wrong, then he should accept his punishment willingly. How is that making an enemy of him? I’m not sending assassins after him—I’m just demanding he be punished. I’m already letting him off easy!"

"Sister Zhu, say no more. As soon as my people have verified his injuries, I will set off immediately."

Zhu Hongying’s face was grave as she left. Seeing her so preoccupied, Lin Mo couldn’t help but ask, "Aunt, did Ning Xuan refuse? Don’t worry, maybe I can go and plead with her!"

Zhu Hongying glanced at her nephew and shook her head. Ning Xuan wasn’t even eighteen yet, just a commoner girl from a Low-class Star. ’Where on earth did she learn to be so difficult?’

After parting ways with Zhu Hongying, Ning Xuan checked her newly updated profile.

Profile

REGULAR CITIZEN (MINOR)

Name: Ning Xuan

Gender: Female

Age: 17

Mother: Ning Zilan (Deceased)

Father: Bai Xiwen (Deceased)

Registered Address: D-level Star, D618 Planet, Zone 4 Residence, Xingluo Bay

School: Xingluo Bay Middle and High Level Joint Academy (Student’s Spiritual Power Level has been promoted to B-level. Qualified for residence on the Central Star; application submitted.)

Major: Alchemy

Professional Qualification: Passed Advanced Alchemist examination. Certified Advanced Alchemist.

Spiritual Power: B-level (Value: 3999)

Brain Domain Width: A-level

Companion Spirit (Superpower Body): Energy Level exceeds testing limits. Please proceed to a higher-level testing center for evaluation.

Superpower Talent: Slash

She needed to make another trip to the information center. ’I have to find out just what my Companion Spirit is.’

’If Yun Tianye truly cares about his son, Yun Han, he should agree to my demands. I need to see Yan Fuzhen tonight and tell him about my trip to Seven Star Divine Mountain.’

’After all, if I can’t save Yun Han and Yun Tianye flies into a rage, Yan Fuzhen should be able to get me out of there.’