Volume 1, Chapter 12: The Merciful Living Bodhisattva, the True Holy Mother

Wu Xingxue glanced at the exotic parrot plant in Wu Yumian’s hands and curled her lip, making no effort to hide her disdain.

"Tch, this piece of junk is worth ninety thousand?"

Wu Yumian struggled to keep her voice steady. "I’m not lying to you, Sister Axue. If it weren't to save someone, I wouldn't be willing to part with it. After all, it was a birthday gift from my cousin..."

"Oh." Wu Xingxue rolled her eyes. "If you’re so reluctant, then don't bring it out. Why bring it out and then whine about it? I don't want it anymore."

"Don't!"

Wu Yumian was getting anxious. "Sister, you don't understand. Aside from singing, talking, and translating, this exotic parrot plant holds a special secret! That’s why it’s so expensive."

"But you’ll have to discover the secret yourself; even I don't know what it is..."

Wu Yumian never imagined that one day she would have to beg someone to take a gift from her. She already regretted trying to save Luo Jing, but since she had already opened her mouth, she had to see it through to the end. Otherwise, she would be branded a hypocrite. Wu Xingxue was forcing her to suffer a massive financial loss!

A sudden flash of inspiration hit Wu Yumian: Could Wu Xingxue be doing this on purpose?

Shen Chi tried to intervene. "Mianmian, this was a gift from me! How could you give it to her?"

That flicker of realization in Wu Yumian’s mind vanished as quickly as it had appeared. She offered Shen Chi a bitter, apologetic smile. "Cousin, I already felt so guilty for failing to save Luo Jing’s brother last time. If I don't save Luo Jing this time, I’ll never have peace of mind."

"Don't worry, I’ll work hard to earn money and pay you back. Today, I just want to save Luo Jing."

"Mianmian, that’s not what I meant!" Shen Chi, who could never let Wu Yumian pay him back, softened instantly, his resentment shifting entirely toward Wu Xingxue. "If I gave it to you, it’s your property; you can do whatever you like with it, as long as you're happy."

He looked pointedly at Wu Xingxue. "You’re doing a good deed, which is far better than some people who take advantage of others in their time of need."

Wu Xingxue acted as if she hadn't heard him and just clicked her tongue.

Luo Jing hurriedly pleaded, "Just take it! Consider it an act of kindness, please?"

Wu Xingxue hesitated for a moment before reluctantly saying, "Fine, I’ll consider it a good deed. Hand it over."

Luo Jing’s eyes lit up with immense hope. She snatched the parrot plant from Wu Yumian’s hands and shoved it at Wu Xingxue, terrified that the latter might change her mind. "You’ve taken the item, so you can't take my arm anymore! We are square now!"

Wu Xingxue toyed with the parrot plant. It seemed to have been pinched too hard, as the bird emitted a soft, whimpering sound of surrender.

Quite interesting.

Wu Xingxue said, "Luo Jing, you’re really lucky. If you hadn't run into Wu Yumian, you wouldn't have been able to keep your arm."

Wu Yumian frowned instinctively. Since when did Wu Xingxue have such a sweet tongue? She was actually speaking well of her. Had the sun risen from the west, or was she plotting something sinister?

Before Wu Yumian could figure it out, she heard Shen Chi chime in from the side, "Exactly! That mouth of yours finally said something right."

"My cousin is the kindest and purest person I’ve ever met!"

Wu Xingxue nodded, her expression as sincere as could be. "Wu Yumian’s kindness isn't just something I’ve experienced; everyone sees it, too."

"How many people nowadays could do what she does? Willing to risk their own safety for a stranger, willing to pay a massive sum of ninety thousand Alliance Credits just to save someone else’s arm!"

"She can truly be called a paragon of morality, a living bodhisattva, a true saint of our time!"

The crowd nodded in agreement, offering praise and cheers. Wu Yumian, however, felt no joy; instead, she grew increasingly uneasy. She waved her hands frantically. "I’m not as good as my sister says!"

"No! You are!" Wu Xingxue’s gaze was firm. Wu Yumian was stunned. She had never received this level of validation before—and from Wu Xingxue, of all people? Wu Yumian felt more and more awkward; something just felt wrong.

Wu Xingxue continued passionately, "Selfless acts like Wu Yumian’s deserve a round of applause from us all!"

Following the sharp, rhythmic clapping of Wu Xingxue, the crowd was swept up in the moment, erupting into a chorus of cheers. Shen Chi and his five teammates also clapped enthusiastically.

Wu Yumian felt as if she were being pricked all over. Did Wu Xingxue take the wrong medicine today? What exactly was she trying to do?!

Wu Yumian’s voice was naturally soft and gentle; amidst the roaring cheers of the crowd, she couldn't make a dent. The crowd, assuming she was just being modest, clapped even harder.

Wu Xingxue’s eyebrows arched slightly. In the heated atmosphere, her clear voice carried with extreme penetration and infectious energy, piercing directly into everyone’s ears.

"Wu Yumian has made helping others her life’s ideal and goal; we should help her fulfill that! From now on, whenever anyone faces difficulty, you must think of her first!"

"We must remember, this isn't troubling her—it’s helping her achieve greatness!"

"We should add luster to Miss Wu’s life! Remember! When in trouble, find Miss Wu!"

"Right! Well said!" The crowd looked at Wu Yumian with gleaming eyes.

"Miss Wu is truly a wonderful person!!"

A boom went off in Wu Yumian’s head. It exploded. She finally realized what Wu Xingxue was doing! She was lifting her up onto a pedestal just to let her crash down hard!

So vicious!

No matter how Wu Yumian tried to explain, no one listened. Beside her, Shen Chi continued to praise her: "Mianmian, everyone finally sees your goodness! Wu Xingxue finally did something right for once!"

*Right your mother's head!* Wu Yumian roared internally. She was going to be ruined by Wu Xingxue!

Wu Xingxue clapped away, her palms turning red, her eyes shining. *This feels great!*

So this is what it feels like to stand on the moral high ground! No wonder that dead green-tea white lotus, Wu Yumian, used this trick every time. It was exhilarating! Much easier than killing zombies!

Wu Xingxue smiled across the noise and cheers, locking eyes with Wu Yumian. This was the first time Wu Yumian failed to control her mask, her features slightly twisted in anger.

*Wu Yumian, this feeling of being unable to defend yourself doesn't feel good, does it? It’s your turn to taste it.*

*Just wait, the real show is yet to come!*

Wu Xingxue squinted, hiding the gloating and satisfaction in her eyes. Once the story of Wu Yumian spending a massive fortune of ninety thousand just to save a stranger’s arm spread, it would cause an even greater reaction.

One had to realize that beyond the few in the upper-middle class, the safety zone was filled with poor people struggling for food and drink, whose suffering could be recounted for three days and three nights. With such a living "saint" right in front of them who could casually drop ninety thousand, who wouldn't want to try their luck? What if they could manage to squeeze ten or twenty thousand out of this saint too?

By the time Wu Yumian finally managed to calm the excited crowd, Wu Xingxue was nowhere to be found.

Even as dull as Shen Chi was, he sensed the negative emotions leaking from Wu Yumian. Though he didn't understand why she wasn't happy after getting her way, he still said, "Mianmian, don't worry about the lost gift; Cousin will get you another one."

He asked loudly, "Who among you tested for something with beauty-enhancing effects earlier?"

"It was Wu Xingxue! You two are family, didn't she tell you?"

"Yesterday she even tested a fruit with regenerative effects; she ate it on the spot. Who knows when she’ll recover her abilities!"

Shen Chi was surprised. "Hers? She has good things and doesn't think of the family first—who knows how long she’s been hiding them! Heartless!"

He turned to Wu Yumian and said naturally, "It’s okay, Mianmian. Cousin will go get it for you. What’s hers is the Wu family’s, and what’s the Wu family’s is yours."

"As an older sister, she should be giving you gifts."

At that moment, all Wu Yumian could think was: *Can Wu Xingxue really repair her ability core?*

Wu Xingxue slipped out of the Appraisal Hall and headed straight for the supply department.

"This is an exotic fruit with beauty-enhancing effects I just tested in the Appraisal Hall; it can lighten the skin."