Chapter 125: Gratitude for a Grain of Rice, Hatred for a Bushel
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
South Sea City, also known as the First City of the Southern Region, was a bustling hub with cultivators constantly coming and going. The city’s vibrant atmosphere was filled with the sharp voice of a young woman, Little Red, who was now drawing attention as she loudly mentioned spirit stones.
Unaware of the growing interest around her, Little Red glared angrily at Yu Zhao, who returned the gaze with a cold, indifferent look.
It’s no wonder people often say that small favors breed gratitude, but larger ones can lead to enmity, Yu Zhao thought bitterly. The saying couldn’t be more true.
“I have no reason to lend you anything,” Yu Zhao stated flatly.
“But… but I need it!” Little Red blurted out, her desperation showing. Realizing how selfish she sounded, she quickly tried to justify herself. “You were so generous before, those spirit stones are nothing to you! I promise I’ll pay you back eventually. Can’t you just help me out this once?”
The surrounding crowd, drawn in by the drama, began to murmur among themselves. One of them, curious, asked loudly, “Senior, what’s your relationship with this girl?”
Yu Zhao’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. “She was my guide the first time I came to South Sea City. This is only the second time we’ve met.”
“What? She’s just a guide?”
“And here I thought you two were related. They sure don’t look alike!”
“To ask for a loan after just one meeting? She’s got some nerve.”
In the world of cultivation, there was never a shortage of those who enjoyed watching a spectacle. Upon learning the truth of their relationship, the crowd’s opinion of Little Red quickly soured. Their gazes turned strange, filled with disdain and suspicion.
Little Red’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but she refused to back down. “I just wanted to borrow some spirit stones from Senior. I never said I wouldn’t pay them back! Why shouldn’t I ask?”
“Who do you think you are? Spirit stones aren’t something you can just borrow on a whim. Besides, can you even repay them?”
“Your audacity is as thick as a wall!”
“An insignificant Qi Refining cultivator daring to speak so brazenly to a Golden Core master. Where did you get the courage?”
Yu Zhao didn’t need to say a word; the onlookers’ jeers were enough to bring Little Red to the verge of tears. She wanted to run away, but the thought of her younger brother back home gave her the strength to stay. Gritting her teeth, she shouted at Yu Zhao, “You spent so many spirit stones at the Siren Pavilion—just a little from your fingertips would be enough for me and my brother! You acted so kind and generous before; why can’t you show me a little pity?”
The crowd fell silent as they processed Little Red’s words, their eyes shifting toward Yu Zhao with a mix of curiosity and greed.
Little Red had just revealed something crucial—Yu Zhao was wealthy. Extremely wealthy.
Yu Zhao’s gaze turned icy, her patience running thin. Whether Little Red had spoken out of malice or ignorance, she had just placed Yu Zhao in a dangerous position. The girl wasn’t just foolish—she was maliciously unaware of the consequences of her actions.
“A little over a month ago, I gave you six top-grade spirit stones. Was that not enough for you and your brother?” Yu Zhao’s voice was sharp, cutting through the crowd’s murmurs.
The onlookers were stunned. Six top-grade spirit stones? That amount was more than enough to sustain their cultivation for years. Had she really spent it all in just two months? No one was foolish enough to believe that.
“I-I told you, I lost them! I don’t have any spirit stones left!” Little Red stammered, panicking as she realized the gravity of Yu Zhao’s revelation. She tried to explain herself to the crowd, but her shifty eyes and anxious demeanor only made her seem more deceitful.
As suspicion and malice grew in the crowd, more unfriendly eyes turned toward Little Red. She was on the verge of tears, sensing the danger she was in. Having lived in the most chaotic parts of South Sea City, she had a keen sense for malice, and she knew trouble was coming.
“Senior…” she began, her voice trembling as she turned to Yu Zhao for help. But Yu Zhao didn’t even spare her a glance, walking straight toward the city gate with an air of cold indifference. Her aura radiated an unapproachable intensity that made the crowd part before her, not daring to stand in her way.
As Yu Zhao’s figure receded into the distance, Little Red, driven by desperation, fell to her knees with a loud thud. She kowtowed deeply, her forehead touching the ground as she cried out, “Senior, I beg you! Have mercy, please save me!”
Yu Zhao didn’t stop. Her expression remained stoic, her steps unwavering. The crowd, seeing her resolve, didn’t dare interfere, and Little Red was left alone, watching helplessly as Yu Zhao walked away, her back resolute and unyielding.
“Well done! I can’t stand people who think being weak gives them the right to act pitiful. You shouldn’t have given her those six top-grade spirit stones in the first place!” The siren heart, who had become more talkative since leaving the Siren Pavilion, chirped in Yu Zhao’s ear, clearly displeased with Little Red.
“Those six spirit stones weren’t meant for her.” Yu Zhao’s tone was calm, as if recalling a distant memory. “Five of them were supposed to be payment for the tea master, but he refused to take them. So they ended up with her instead.”
Instead of gratitude, Little Red’s greed had only grown, leading her to covet even more of Yu Zhao’s wealth.
“Hmph, let her be greedy—she deserves whatever comes her way.” The siren was satisfied with Yu Zhao’s handling of the situation, feeling a little less resistant toward her now.
After leaving the city, Yu Zhao noticed that Ji Han Zhou hadn’t arrived yet, so she took the time to bury the bones of Lady Hua and the others on a nearby desolate mountain. Returning to the city outskirts, she continued to wait, dealing with a few opportunistic Golden Core cultivators who tried to ambush her in the meantime.
After a while, Ji Han Zhou finally arrived, hurrying to meet her.
“Did you send the letter?” Yu Zhao asked, her expression unreadable.
Ji Han Zhou nodded, a smile on his face. “Yes, the people at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion said the sect should receive it within a month.”
Yu Zhao hesitated for a moment before speaking again. “Junior Brother Han Zhou, now that our business here is done, there’s no need for you to stay in Southern region any longer. Why not return home early and reunite with your family?”
Even the quickest round trip to the Siren’s undersea palace would take about a month. Yu Zhao saw no reason for Ji Han Zhou to accompany her further.
“Senior Sister Yu Zhao, I’d still like to stay by your side and learn more from you,” Ji Han Zhou replied earnestly, his tone filled with youthful determination. “Besides, we went to the undersea palace together last time, but I didn’t even get to see what it looked like inside. It would be embarrassing to tell people that!”
His expression was pitiful, filled with regret. He had fainted at the worst possible moment, missing everything, and now he was determined to see the palace for himself.
Yu Zhao had no objections, though she worried the siren might not be as agreeable. Fortunately, the siren heart remained silent, so the three of them set sail, spending nearly half a month returning to the cursed island.
With the siren’s help, they easily passed through the underwater barrier and entered the undersea palace without Ji Han Zhou needing to expend any effort.
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
From the moment they entered the sea, the siren had been unusually quiet, not uttering a single word. It wasn’t until they arrived inside the undersea palace that his suppressed emotions finally erupted, and he let out a heart-wrenching wail.
His voice was filled with profound sorrow, as if he was releasing years of pent-up grief all at once. Yu Zhao and Ji Han Zhou were both moved by his pain, their eyes reddening as they shared in his heavy heart.
Yu Zhao, in particular, was deeply affected. Knowing the tragic history of the siren tribe and remembering how the old siren had sacrificed his life to save her, she felt an overwhelming sense of sympathy.
Then, amidst the siren’s anguished cries, Yu Zhao heard a faint, crisp sound. She turned toward the source and saw a tiny, bead-like object, barely smaller than a grain of rice, rolling to a stop at her feet.
She bent down to pick it up, holding it carefully in her hand, her expression thoughtful as she examined the mysterious bead.