Chapter 303: A Clean Slate

Jin Yunlie gave Jiang Fan a sidelong glance and calmly asked, "Why are you asking this?"

Jiang Fan replied, "Naturally, to compensate you on behalf of my friend."

"You?" Jin Yunlie sneered.

The Red-Scaled Dragon, even if he wanted to capture it alive, wouldn't be easy. On that day, they weren't specifically trying to rescue Xu Yining. Rather, they only acted when they discovered a large number of Red-Scaled Dragons around Xu Yining. However, the Red-Scaled Dragons moved like lightning in the water, and upon sensing something amiss, immediately fled into deeper waters. In the end, they returned empty-handed.

He didn't believe that Jiang Fan, merely a disciple, could kill a Red-Scaled Dragon.

Lu Shiyi, feeling hostile towards Jiang Fan for "stealing his love," coldly snorted: "Trying to play the hero rescuing the beauty? Alright, I'll indulge you. The one that escaped was an adult Red-Scaled Dragon. If you're capable, just bring back one of its teeth."

Those who didn't understand the significance of an adult Red-Scaled Dragon didn't think much of it. Ji Ruyue, however, snorted coldly: "How dare you say that! You've never even seen an adult Red-Scaled Dragon, have you? Do you know how formidable it is? If you truly encountered one in the water, let alone hunting it, simply surviving would be difficult!"

Ling Jinghu asked in surprise, "Ruyue, have you seen one?"

Ji Ruyue cupped her hands and replied, "Reporting to the Grand Elder, this disciple witnessed one personally in Nu River that day. This beast's strength reaches the second level of Core Formation, making it incredibly ferocious even on land! In water, it's even more impossible for humans to contend with. Even the Grand Elder of Tianyin Sect had an arm bitten off by that adult Red-Scaled Dragon, leaving her disabled."

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Only then did everyone realize how terrifying the Red-Scaled Dragon truly was. Their gazes towards Lu Shiyi were filled with disdain.

Ling Jinghu's expression also changed. Ming Youlian had her arm bitten off? She looked at Lu Shiyi, her face cold, and said, "So young, yet already learning to extort people! Is this the caliber of Zheng Lei Sect's chief disciple?"

Lu Shiyi's face stiffened. He hadn't expected there to be someone present who knew its true value. For a moment, his guilty gaze flickered incessantly.

Jin Yunlie's expression turned serious. Since it had escalated to the sect's reputation, he quickly interjected to smooth things over: "It was just a juvenile. My disciple misremembered." He then immediately shifted the topic back to Jiang Fan, saying, "What, can you conjure a juvenile Red-Scaled Dragon for me?"

Lu Shiyi also glared fiercely at Jiang Fan and said, "Exactly, what if it was a juvenile Red-Scaled Dragon? You talk as if you could hunt one."

Ji Ruyue involuntarily thought of Jiang Fan. She didn't know if the masked person in front of her could hunt one, but Jiang Fan had eradicated all the juvenile Red-Scaled Dragons in Nu River. Even the adult one had met its demise by his sword.

What stunned Ji Ruyue was this: Jiang Fan calmly stated, "I don't have any juvenile Red-Scaled Dragon parts. However, I can give you one of the adult Red-Scaled Dragon's teeth that you requested."

As he spoke, he immediately took out an extraordinarily long fang. Ji Ruyue recognized it on the spot and exclaimed, "A tooth from that adult Red-Scaled Dragon? How do you have it? Hadn't Jiang Fan collected all of them?"

Wait! She stared fixedly at Jiang Fan in front of her, suddenly realizing something, and involuntarily gasped! Could it be that the person in front of her was Jiang Fan?

Upon hearing this, everyone present also changed their expressions drastically. "This is a Red-Scaled Dragon's tooth? And an adult one? Just by looking at it, you can tell it's an excellent, high-grade material for artifact refining!"

Ling Jinghu was also surprised, wondering where Jiang Fan had obtained it. Seeing Jiang Fan about to give it to Jin Yunlie, she was very displeased and said, "Their goal was a juvenile Red-Scaled Dragon's tooth. Giving them an adult's tooth is too cheap for them. Don't give it! I'm protecting you today; they wouldn't dare act recklessly!"

Jiang Fan cupped his hands in gratitude and said, "Thank you, Elder Ling. However..." As he spoke, he looked up at Jin Yunlie. He casually tossed the tooth to the other party.

Jin Yunlie quickly caught it, and after a careful examination, his face revealed surprise. It was indeed an adult Red-Scaled Dragon's tooth. Moreover, its material was fresh, making it the best raw material for refining the artifact he needed. This filled him with unexpected joy.

However, doubt also flickered in his eyes, and he squinted, saying, "You intend to compensate us for our loss with this?"

Jiang Fan chuckled, impolitely saying, "Are you taking me for a fool? Can a hundred juvenile Red-Scaled Dragons compare to a single adult's tooth?"

Jin Yunlie gave an awkward smile. Clutching the tooth tightly, he said nothing, unwilling to return it to Jiang Fan. Squinting, he said, "Then what do you mean?"

"This adult Red-Scaled Dragon's tooth is for you, but your debt with Xu Yining is completely settled!" Jiang Fan said coldly. If he only compensated his loss, Jin Yunlie would still bring up the life-saving favor later. It was better to settle it once and for all, to prevent him from constantly coveting Xu Yining.

Lu Shiyi grew anxious. After spending a few days together, he had grown to like Xu Yining even more. He had made up his mind to make her his woman. But now he was to let her go completely? "A life-saving favor isn't so easily repaid..." Lu Shiyi quickly rebuked. But as soon as he spoke, Jin Yunlie interrupted him.

A wide smile spread across Jin Yunlie's face, and he eagerly said, "Of course! From now on, this elder will never mention the life-saving favor again." Compared to helping his disciple get a woman, exchanging it for a priceless tooth to refine a top-tier artifact for himself was surely tens or even hundreds of times more worthwhile?

"Master!" Lu Shiyi exclaimed anxiously.

Jin Yunlie's face tightened, and he reprimanded: "Silence! How dare you question your master's decision?" Then, he grinned at Xu Yining: "You're quite lucky, to meet a man who would sacrifice so much for you. The debt between us is settled. Let's go!"

Laughing heartily, he rode off. Lu Shiyi reluctantly glanced at the beautiful Xu Yining. He then glared fiercely at Jiang Fan. Finally, filled with unwillingness, he followed his master away.

The Zheng Lei Sect members were completely gone. Only then did Ling Jinghu let out a long sigh of relief. She looked at Jiang Fan, a touch of tenderness in her eyes. In a world of treacherous human hearts, Jiang Fan's gesture of friendship truly shone brightly. Then she looked at Xu Yining, showing genuine envy, and said meaningfully, "Miss Xu is very fortunate."

A glimmer appeared in Xu Yining's eyes. She gazed at Shadow Guard One, her voice slightly choked: "Why are you so foolish?" Although she didn't know the exact value of an adult Red-Scaled Dragon's tooth, the fact that it could make Jin Yunlie beam with joy and even scold his most favored disciple showed that it was priceless. Yet Shadow Guard One used it to repay the debt of saving her life.

Jiang Fan said indifferently: "It's merely an external possession. Your well-being is more important than anything." He already had the 'Sorrow Frost' blade. The remaining two teeth indeed served no practical purpose for him. Using one to resolve Xu Yining's trouble was quite a worthwhile trade.

"Come with me," he said, leaping onto the carriage.

Xu Yining was deeply moved. He said it so casually, but in this world, aside from one's parents, who else would be willing to give up such a valuable possession for her? She finally understood how Chen Siling and Xu Youran felt, being pampered by Jiang Fan. Thinking of this, a pang of bitterness suddenly arose in her heart. "If only... if only Shadow Guard One were Jiang Fan." But she knew there were no "ifs" in this world. From the moment she resisted the engagement, even threatening death, there could be no outcome between them.

"Miss Xu, please come aboard." Ling Jinghu's reminder brought Xu Yining back to reality. She shook her head, not allowing herself to overthink anymore. Looking at the dust kicked up by the Zheng Lei Sect's contingent on the horizon, she suddenly remembered something. A look of relief appeared on her face as she said, "Fortunately, Elder Ling refused to travel with them. Otherwise, you would have been in big trouble."