5. The Worst Kind of Relatives

“Feifei, don’t speak of your sister like that. Even if Xuanxuan were still alive, we could still transfer the property. I have here a gift authorization from Xuanxuan, proving that she willingly gave the house to us!”

Ning Zhiqing produced a paper authorization, bearing Ning Xuan’s signature and thumbprint.

She had tricked Ning Xuan into signing it by pretending she needed the signature to help her apply for a gene medicine that would stimulate spiritual awakening.

Under normal circumstances, this document alone would not have been enough. The property bureau would have contacted Ning Xuan for confirmation. But Ning Xuan’s personal terminal had been unreachable for three days, and since they could not get in touch with her, they would not keep the matter open indefinitely.

“When did I ever willingly give my property to you? Wasn’t this authorization for you to help me apply for the gene medicine?” Ning Xuan had been listening from outside for a while, and now she had also figured it out: the woman was her aunt, and the girl beside her, who had watched her go to her death, was her cousin. The reason she knew about the gene-medicine application at all was because she had gone through the correspondence the original owner had exchanged with classmates on the personal terminal.

Ning Xuan’s sudden appearance changed Ning Zhiqing and her daughter’s expressions.

“You—how could you possibly still be alive after going into a B-grade bewilderment zone?” Ning Fei stared at her in disbelief. To be absolutely certain, Ning Fei had deliberately taken her to a C-grade star and found the most dangerous area there.

“You wanted my property and even tried to kill me for it. Fortunately, at the critical moment, I met good people who saved me!” Through the information preserved on her personal terminal, Ning Xuan had learned that ever since this cousin discovered that the Xingluo Bay residence belonged to her, she had wanted nothing more than to see her dead.

Her classmates had warned her many times, but the original owner had never taken it seriously, and in the end she still died at the hands of her cousin’s schemes.

“What do you mean, kill you for money? You were the fool! You went to the bewilderment zone to gather spiritual herbs just to curry favor with Romon. What does that have to do with me?” With Ning Zhiqing’s reminder, Ning Fei realized there were outsiders present and immediately shot back.

“Don’t try to frame me. I have video evidence here proving that you entered the dangerous zone on your own initiative. It has nothing to do with me!” To clear herself of suspicion, Ning Fei played a recording on her personal terminal. In the video, Ning Xuan looked frightened, but she had indeed entered the B-grade bewilderment zone of her own accord.

Ning Xuan arched a brow. Her cousin had even made full preparations.

The property bureau staff had enjoyed quite the drama. Seeing that the rightful owner had returned, they thought the matter was over and were about to leave.

“Excuse me,” Ning Xuan called to them. “May I ask something? My aunt has taken advantage of my youth and actually occupied the house my mother left me for so many years. Does anyone deal with that sort of thing?”

“Honored madam, our records show that Miss Ning Zhiqing applied to reside in this house as your guardian. If you believe Miss Ning Zhiqing has violated your rights, you may apply to have her qualification as your guardian revoked,” the bureau employee replied respectfully after checking the records on his terminal.

“Could you help me apply? Or teach me how?”

“Ning Xuan, you can’t throw us out! Y-you want to form a bond with Romon, don’t you? I can help you! We’re sisters—whenever something happened at school, wasn’t I always the one helping you?” Hearing that Ning Xuan intended to drive them away, Ning Fei hurried forward to grab her arm, only for Ning Xuan to slip aside and avoid her.

“Xuanxuan, I’m your aunt. I’m the closest person you have in this world. You haven’t awakened spiritual power; you’re just an ordinary person. If you end up matched with a male spirit master and you can’t soothe him, what if he mistreats you? Who else but me can help you?” Ning Zhiqing could no longer keep her composure and said irritably.

“If it weren’t for you two, I would only be living better. As for what happened to me this time, it was all thanks to you. The fact that I haven’t asked the investigative bureau to intervene already is out of consideration for family ties. And by the way, I have some good news for you: my spiritual power has awakened.”

While sorting through the original owner’s identity information, Ning Xuan had already figured out the two women’s background. They were mediocre in skill and even worse in ability. The original owner had died in the bewilderment zone largely because she had been bewitched and had brought it upon herself.

Even if the Federal Investigation Bureau got involved, so long as she returned safely, the two women would not face much punishment.

“You’re already this old, so what use is awakening spiritual power? You’ll still be stuck at the lowest F rank for life. What difference does it make?” Ning Fei mocked bitterly, jealousy in her voice.

Ning Xuan raised her brows. There was nothing strange about Ning Fei saying that, because most spiritual awakenings began at F. Only a very small number of exceptionally gifted people would skip that rank and begin at E or D.

“Xuanxuan, awakening spiritual power is a good thing. But if you want it to grow, you need enough nutrition. Surviving on nutrient solution like before won’t do. I did fall short in the past, so how about this: from now on, your aunt will set aside half of my monthly income for your living expenses. What do you think? With that money, you won’t have to live on nutrient solution every day, and you can even buy a few nice clothes!” Ning Zhiqing coaxed gently.

Ning Zhiqing’s income was the living allowance her bond partner handed over to her, about three thousand star coins a month. Even the cheapest public rental housing cost one thousand star coins in rent each month. She was making her calculations with great confidence, all while wearing the expression of someone bestowing a favor.

“Aunt should use that money to rent a place for herself instead.”

Ning Xuan looked toward the property bureau staff and gestured for them to come over and teach her.

“Mom, I don’t want to live in public rental housing. If I have to live in a place like that, I’ll never be able to show my face again!” Ning Fei burst into panicked tears.

Ning Xuan’s mother, Ning Zhilan, had been able to own a house on Star D618 only because Ning Xuan’s father, Bai Xiuwen, had worked himself to exhaustion to earn it.

Ning Zhiqing had not awakened spiritual power, and her bond partner was a male D-rank spirit master. Among men, a D-rank spirit master was rather ordinary in strength: not only unqualified to join a regular legion, he would not even be wanted by a mid-sized mercenary group. He could only survive in some small mercenary band and had no ability at all to buy a home.

If Ning Xuan drove the mother and daughter out, they would have no choice but to move into those extremely crowded, filthy, and chaotic public rental units.

Without Ning Xuan’s guarantee, Ning Fei would not even have the qualifications to attend the Xingluo Bay Intermediate and Senior Joint Academy.

At school, Ning Fei had always told everyone that the house belonged to her mother, and that Ning Xuan was merely being kept out of kindness. But now, if they were driven out, the false image she had maintained all this time would be shattered.