Nine Star Burden

Chapter 173: Not Flustered at All!

Daybreak came late during winter in Beijiang Province.

At 4:30 AM, the sky was still pitch dark.

The chilly gust of wind blew past with a unique howl that resembled that of a ghost.

However, Jiang Xiao’s tiny room was warm like spring and the round light on the ceiling was emitting white rays of light.

At this moment, Jiang Xiao was gazing at Han Jiangxue as she rested her head against the headboard and closed her eyes to get some rest. He decided not to disturb her.

This light is too bright. It’s suitable for studying, but not for resting, he thought.

Jiang Xiao got out of bed gently and tiptoed towards the door before switching on the lights.

Pak! Pak!

Warm light mixed with cool, white light? Still a little too bright.

Pak! Pak!

Yes, they’re all warm and yellow now. Much more heartwarming.

After some consideration, Jiang Xiao decided not to get onto the bed again. Instead, he sat on the ground and looked up at Han Jiangxue, who was seated on the small bed. However, she slowly opened her eyes.

Jiang Xiao frantically asked, “What’s the matter?”

Han Jiangxue extended her fair and tender arm which complemented her white nightdress and accentuated her fair yet rosy skin. Under the dim yellow light, she looked extremely laid back and alluringly beautiful.

All of a sudden, sparks formed in her hand and they continued to increase in quantity, resembling beautiful fireflies flying in the sky during dusk.

The tension on Han Jiangxue’s face eased up a little and she said softly, “Flame Torch Pillar.”

“Not bad, not bad!” Jiang Xiao exclaimed as he stared at the three Flame Torch Star Beads on the bed before feeling amazed at Han Jiangxue’s incredible talent.

She managed to acquire an advanced fire series Star Technique, Flame Torch Pillar, after absorbing just two Flame Torch Star Beads.

Unlike Jiang Xiao, whose success rate in acquiring Star Techniques was 100%, the probability for others was extremely low.

A classic example would be Xia Yan, who had once bought plenty of Lava Ghoul General Star Beads for the sake of acquiring the Star Technique, Scorch. Although she had a total of 28 star slots and was considered to have excellent talents in the eyes of others, she had never acquired that Star Technique.

“Hey, tell me, does this have anything to do with your Star Map? Look, your Star Map determines the path you should take, so does that mean that White Flames symbolizes your fate of becoming an Awakened with fire-series Star Techniques?” Jiang Xiao asked.

“I think so,” said Han Jiangxue, who was very certain that that was the case. Even though she failed to acquire any Star Techniques after absorbing her first Star Bead, she could still feel the vague surging of power from the Star Bead.

It seemed that her desire to acquire that Star Technique was not one-sided and that that Star Technique also wanted to be embellished in her star slot and integrate with it.

However, when she acquired the Savage Sorcerer Star Techniques “Corpse Spirit” and “Explosive Corpse” in the Arsenal, she didn’t have such an “intimate” feeling.

“Just do it all at once. There’s one more Star Technique,” Jiang Xiao frantically urged, hinting for Han Jiangxue to strike while the iron was hot.

Han Jiangxue raised her left hand to grab a Flame Torch Star Bead and said softly, “Li Weiyi invited us for lunch this afternoon.”

Jiang Xiao was dumbfounded.

Why did she mention Li Weiyi again?

This is the second time you’re bringing up another man when we’re in bed together!

My heart hurts so much.

Lunch?

I’m still young, but I have so many meal gatherings to attend.

“He said that Qingmei was the one who suggested it. Your Sis Qingmei misses you dearly,” Han Jiangxue said as she closed her eyes.

Jiang Xiao was dumbfounded.

Jiang Xiao did not think that he was very popular with women, because he felt that all women were pig trotters.

Han Jiangxue is the only beautiful one.

All other women only get close to me when they need my help, he thought.

For example, Li Qingmei only tried to get close to Jiang Xiao because she wanted him to heal Li Weiyi more often. The first time she tried to do so was when she asked Jiang Xiao to take a photo with her long legs and the second time was when she looked ill and wanted to ask him for a Blessing.

What does she want this time?

Just as Jiang Xiao was deep in thought, Han Jiangxue turned the Star Bead in her hand into stardust and allowed it to be absorbed by her tender skin.

After 30 whole seconds, Han Jiangxue opened her eyes again and remained silent without much of an expression.

It’s alright, failure is the key to success.

“Go on, strike the iron while it’s hot. Relax. I doubt there’s anyone in Beijiang who’s more qualified than you. If you can’t acquire it, no one can,” Jiang Xiao said, trying to suck up to her while also encouraging her. However, Han Jiangxue rolled her eyes at him.

Han Jiangxue got a grip on her emotions before picking up another Flame Torch Star Bead.

The tiny Star Bead actually cost 30,000 yuan.

Although she could afford to make ends meet, she was definitely not affluent or wealthy.

Due to the fact that she could enter the Beijiang Dimensional Space training sites free of charge, she did not feel the pressure of having to pay for entry tickets and so could earn money to support her family.

However, she did not want to see Jiang Xiao selling White Ghoul Witch Star Beads again.

She knew better than anyone else that, although Jiang Xiao had Blessing and Decoy, he needed White Ghoul Witch Star Beads more than others.

Filled with hope, Jiang Xiao looked at Han Jiangxue and watched as the stardust fused into her body. He decided to prepare himself mentally. After all, the frequency of humans acquiring Star Techniques from Star Beads was extremely low. She was neither a god nor...

Did she fail again?

One last Star Bead left.

However, Jiang Xiao didn’t show any disappointment. He suddenly said, “You know, Xia Yan was the one who selected and reserved this Star Bead.”

“Oh.” After all, Han Jiangxue was just an eighteen-year-old girl who couldn’t adjust her emotions well. Having failed twice in a row, she was in low spirits.

Jiang Xiao said smilingly, “I bet Xia Yan prepared this for herself.”

Han Jiangxue asked with raised brows, “What do you mean?”

“It’s the Flame Torch Whip.” Jiang Xiao shrugged his shoulders and continued, “I bet she dreams of being whipped by you.”

Han Jiangxue was slightly stunned and she began to blush while glowering at Jiang Xiao.

“Hehe.” Jiang Xiao watched as Han Jiangxue’s spirits were lifted. He then stood up and said, “I’ll go make some porridge. There’s class later.”

Jiang Xiao reckoned that she must have felt too pressurized by him and decided to give her some space to absorb the last Star Bead by herself.

Jiang Xiao then picked up his mobile phone from the bedside cabinet and walked out before closing the door.

Watching videos while cooking is wonderful.

Jiang Xiao entered the kitchen and got ready to cook some porridge. He first looked at the empty refrigerator, took out a piece of celery, and scrutinized it for a while before throwing it into the garbage bag.

Hey... porridge has to be eaten with side dishes, right?

There isn’t a single egg at all.

This life doesn’t seem like the life someone with tens of thousands of yuan should be leading.

Shall I go down to get breakfast?

Jiang Xiao finally recalled that his clothes were still in his bedroom.

Uh...

Forget it, Jiang Xiao thought as he put on his cotton shoes while clad in pajamas and removed Han Jiangxue’s large white quilt jacket from the clothes stand and reached into the pockets to find that there were still dozens of yuan. He then grabbed his mobile phone and left the house with peace of mind.

Han Jiangxue was taller than Jiang Xiao, and the quilted jacket was loose in the first place. Hence, it was comfortable and suitable for Jiang Xiao.

The breakfast bistros were usually open for business rather early, and the owners would be up to steam some buns by three or four in the morning. Hence, Jiang Xiao would definitely be able to buy some food.

However, when Jiang Xiao was waiting for the elevator, he suddenly realized something.

Am I cross-dressing?

People always say that you either never wear women’s clothes or wear them countless times.

However, most quilt jackets should be similar even though they’re not all unisex, right?

So, am I wearing female clothes?

Jiang Xiao scratched his head and, as soon as he walked out of the corridor, a strong gust of cold wind hit him, causing him to feel so cold that he hurriedly put on the jacket.

When Jiang Xiao returned with two bags of tofu, two fried dough sticks, ten buns, and four bags of side dishes, he stopped in his tracks below his block.

Due to the fact that the sky was still dark, the light above was indeed rather eye-catching.

While carrying the bags of food, Jiang Xiao raised his head to look up.

There was a beautiful figure standing in front of the window of his tiny bedroom and trying her best to test her newly-acquired Star Technique.

She succeeded!?!

Flame Torch Whip!?!

It was a good Star Technique because it could be used in close combat and remotely. It could also be used as both a weapon and a tool. As long as it was used well, it would be able to exert unexpected effects.

It may be that Han Jiangxue was afraid of damaging the furniture. Hence, she swung the Flame Torch Whip out of the window and into the dark sky.

In the dark and dim sky, the Flame Torch Whip was particularly eye-catching...

Jiang Xiao swallowed his saliva and took out his mobile phone from his pocket before shooting a ten-second video of the whip.

[Hong Yan, Hong Yan, where are you?] Jiang Xiao sent the video to Xia Yan on WeChat.

Jiang Xiao also sent a voice recording, saying: [Xia Yan, it’s now... 4:55 AM and I’ve already come clean with my sister about the Star Bead. I also told her that it was your idea. As you can see, she’s very angry now.]

Jiang Xiao continued, [She’s trying to whip me from the seventh floor, but I’m not flustered at all because the sky is so dark now and she can’t find me at all.]

After giving it some thought, Jiang Xiao sent again: [I’m being punished and standing right below my home. You don’t have to care about me. Hurry up, pack your things, and flee. Go into hiding.]

The sounds of the cold wind and Jiang Xiao’s trembling voice made his lie seem real.

Jiang Xiao put his phone away in satisfaction and scurried into the corridor.

At the same time, in a mansion in a famous city.

The mobile phone rang continuously.

On the soft and spacious bed, Xia Yan grabbed her chestnut-colored hair before picking up her mobile phone which was beside her pillow. While in a daze, she watched the ten-second-long video.

At the next moment, Xia Yan was no longer sleepy.

When she heard Jiang Xiao’s voice message, she turned as pale as a sheet...