Chapter 956: Whose Price? (1/2)

It was a plausible explanation if this internal armor came from the imperial family. The empire had stood tall for a thousand years, and its bountiful accumulations weren’t something ordinary people could imagine. Even then, its characteristic of being able to withstand a void colossus’ suppression was priceless. Experts exploring the depths of the void would never refuse such a set of armor. On the contrary, it was less valuable to ordinary experts, and the weaker ones wouldn’t even be able to put it on.

Such a treasure would be ranked in the top ten even in the imperial treasure. How did Song Zining get his hands on it?

Thinking about that while trying the clothes on, he asked, “Zining, how many years did you sell to the empire?”

Song Zining laughed radiantly. “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

No small movement could escape Qianye’s notice. He pressed on with the matter, “What I mean is what did you have to promise them for this armor.”

Song Zining seemed rather relieved. “Someone delivered this treasure of their own free will.”

Qianye snorted distrustfully. “The imperial family sending over something like this? Not even a prince or princess can make such a decision, can they?”

“That person’s status… is much higher than a prince or princess.”

Qianye was even more skeptical. The imperial palace was highly hierarchical with many different levels in status, but only a handful of people could be higher in status than a prince or princess. Even an imperial consort was no greater than the more important princes. Someone like Consort Zhao, who had the support of the entire Zhao clan behind her, was merely equal in status.

A major character like that currying favor with Song Zining? Not to mention Qianye, even the seventh young master himself might not believe such a claim.

It didn’t take a lot of deliberation to figure out that, just like with the alloy formula, Song Zining had either paid a significant price or made a great contribution in exchange for a treasure that he thought would save Qianye’s life.

As clever as Song Zining was, he immediately noticed Qianye’s change in expression and figured out what he was thinking. He chuckled, saying, “The causes and effects related to this treasure are quite significant. The price involved is not small, either.”

“Makes sense.” Qianye recognized the value of the item, hence he waited quietly for Song Zining’s continuation.

Song Zining pulled tight the last bit of creases on the internal armor and said in satisfaction, “Now that’s a perfect fit if I’ve ever seen one. It won’t affect your movements at all in combat. With it, your chances of survival have increased by thirty percent.”

“Do you have that little confidence in me?”

“You’re facing Luo Bingfeng. Who can really say they understand him? Who can guarantee that what we know is the extent of his secret arts?”

Qianye had no reply to these questions.

Song Zining patted Qianye’s back. “So, survival is the most important. It’s worth paying any price as long as it can save your life. You have to believe in yourself. No matter how steep the price, it can be recouped as long as you remain alive. You’re a man who will reach the Sacred Mountain one day, how can you be suppressed by this small hurdle?”

Hearing this, Qianye sensed something wrong about the contents. “Wait a minute, you mean I’m the one who has to pay this price?”

“Of course! It’s your life we’re trying to protect. Don’t tell me I have to pay for it?”

“That’s not wrong, but…”

“No buts, the thing is already here and it’s already on your body. It’s too late for regrets!”

Qianye replied, “No, I’m not trying to go back on my words. I just wanted to know what the price is.”

Qianye wasn’t inflexible. No amount of preparation was excessive against an expert like Luo Bingfeng since staying alive was the most important objective. It was just that the feeling of not knowing what one owed was fairly uncomfortable.

At the critical juncture, Song Zining resumed his annoying flippant attitude. “You’ll know when the time comes.”

Qianye snorted coldly and simply decided not to press on with this matter. As long as the internal armor was intact, he could still return it in the end—at most, he would have to pay additional compensation.

What came next, however, stopped Qianye from smiling.

Song Zining opened the two boxes. A system of intricate mechanisms raised one syringe each from their containers. One of them was as yellow as a raging flame, and the other was red like boiling blood.

After seeing the two syringes, Qianye’s blood began to flow rapidly and his vitality increased by a small margin.

Song Zining shot Qianye a glance before closing the boxes again. “See them?”

Qianye took a deep breath. “One of them is a stimulant, and the other is a... regenerative medicine? But how come I’ve never seen this type? No, I’ve never even heard of it.”