Chapter 228: Chapter 228 Compensation Chapter 228: Chapter 228 Compensation When the space had calmed down again, Lu Yichen and Zhong Niangyao realized they seemed to have arrived at the deepest part of the vein.

Not far in front of them, a piece of translucent Jade, radiating a green glow, was floating in mid-air, emitting a faint Spiritual Energy.

Just standing there, one could feel joyful in body and mind, nourished by the Spiritual Energy.

“It seems this is no longer an ordinary Jade Heart,” Zhong Niangyao could not help but exclaim as she glanced at the Jade Heart, “A normal Jade Heart could never emit such pure Spiritual Energy! No wonder Hu Xiaoman was able to transform into human form so early with this energy.”

As she spoke, Zhong Niangyao wanted to move forward and take down the Jade Heart. Of course, she did not intend to keep it for herself but planned to take it and return it to Lu Yichen.

This Jade Mine belonged to Lu Yichen, so naturally, the Jade Heart did too. Her visit this time was to resolve the issue with the vein, and now she was doing just that.

Zhong Niangyao had just taken one step when she was directly blocked by Hu Xiaoman, “It’s useless, the Jade Heart can’t be taken away. Moreover, if you try to forcefully take it, you might even suffer a backlash!”

She didn’t know why she bothered to be so kind as to warn the other person. After all, they were planning to drive her away and not allow her to continue cultivating here.

“Step aside,” Zhong Niangyao said, “I know what I’m doing.”

Seeing that the other party didn’t want to trust her, Hu Xiaoman didn’t insist and consciously stepped aside.

From the recent Void Talisman drawing, she could tell the other person’s strength. But such power was nothing in front of the Jade Heart.

Previously, she had tried to take the Jade Heart with her. But just as she held it in her hand, a thunderbolt struck down. Fortunately, she let go immediately and dodged quickly. Otherwise, she would have lost her life.

After that incident, she no longer dared to think about taking the Jade Heart away.

She was just a little fox spirit who had recently transformed and absolutely could not withstand a thunderbolt. A strike of lightning could possibly reduce her to ashes.

Thankfully, although she couldn’t take it with her, she could still cultivate nearby.

Now that these two people were not heeding her warning and were determined to take the Jade Heart, they would have to bear the consequences themselves.

Under Hu Xiaoman’s gaze, Zhong Niangyao stepped forward, intending to take down the Jade Heart.

“Wait a moment,” Lu Yichen suddenly spoke. He stepped forward and looked at Zhong Niangyao, saying, “Let me do it.”

Zhong Niangyao raised an eyebrow but said nothing, and simply stepped aside.

Hu Xiaoman said nothing either, just waiting to see the two make a fool of themselves.

Lu Yichen didn’t say anything. He stepped forward and reached out towards the front, grabbing the Jade Heart in one motion.

The light of the Jade Heart dimmed instantly, and it lay quietly in Lu Yichen’s hand. If it wasn’t still emitting a faint Spiritual Energy, one might think it had been switched!

“How could this be possible?”

Hu Xiaoman was filled with disbelief in her tone. She had been waiting to see a good show, but now, nothing had happened at all. She couldn’t help but start to doubt whether the Jade Heart had also become enchanted, as it seemed to be choosing its people now.

Lu Yichen closed his hands directly.

“Hu Xiaoman, it’s time for you to leave!” Zhong Niangyao looked at Hu Xiaoman and then spoke, “Over the years, you have been cultivating by drawing on the Spiritual Energy of the Jade Heart; you could say it’s a gift from heaven. Now that you’ve transformed into a human form, your future cultivation should be easier.”

Hu Xiaoman looked towards Lu Yichen one last time, as if to say her final farewell. Of course, her goodbye was meant for the Jade Heart, not Lu Yichen.

The space fluctuated for a moment, and Hu Xiaoman vanished on the spot.

Once Hu Xiaoman had left, Lu Yichen walked slowly over to Zhong Niangyao, extended his hand, opened his palm, and directly passed the Jade Heart to Zhong Niangyao.

“Huh?” Faced with Lu Yichen’s sudden action, Zhong Niangyao was also stunned for a moment, “What are you doing?”

“This Jade Heart is for you,” Lu Yichen looked at Zhong Niangyao and smiled faintly, “Consider it renumeration for this incident! Now that the matter has been resolved, it’s time to start mining operations at the mine.”

Zhong Niangyao outright refused, “No need for any renumeration. You also helped me with the Zhong Family matters before. We can consider ourselves even with this.”

Lu Yichen was taken aback for a moment, then he remembered what Zhong Niangyao was referring to. He frowned, shook his head, and said, “Let’s keep different matters separate; that was just a trifle.”

“Well, this was also just a trifle!” Zhong Niangyao immediately said, “You saw for yourself, this matter was really simple. Such a renumeration is far too generous. If you really want to pay me back, then when the jade is mined later on, just give me a piece, or perhaps a jade jewelry piece will be enough.”

Looking at the determined expression on Zhong Niangyao’s face, a shadow of complexity flickered in Lu Yichen’s eyes, and then he retracted his hand, placing the Jade Heart back in his pocket.

Zhong Niangyao let out a long sigh of relief when she saw Lu Yichen’s actions.

Hu Xiaoman had already left, and naturally, the vein had returned to normal.

So Lu Yichen and Zhong Niangyao just followed the original path back. Along the way, the two chatted casually.

“You seem to feel a bit different about that little fox spirit!” Lu Yichen spoke indifferently, “It seems you have a sort of fondness for her!”

“Is that so?” Zhong Niangyao’s steps paused for a moment, but then she quickly recovered, “I don’t know why, but when I saw Hu Xiaoman, I always had this feeling of familiarity. Even a very strange feeling, like–”
She struggled to organize her thoughts in her head, “Like an elder looking at a younger relative.”

She also found it strange to feel this way, as Hu Xiaoman was already several hundred years old. Even if she combined both of her lives, she hadn’t lived half a century yet!

But when she saw Hu Xiaoman, she really felt this odd sensation. She couldn’t clearly explain why.

When Lu Yichen heard Zhong Niangyao describe it this way, he couldn’t help but laugh. However, he didn’t say anything to refute her.

“I wonder where Uncle Li and the others are right now?” Zhong Niangyao finally remembered to ask, “Have they already returned to the surface by now?”