Chapter 144: The Medicinal Herb Dispute
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
Wang Qian’s gaze flickered, and he stood silently for a long moment.
Mu Ye, originally itching to kick him while he was down, glanced at Yu Zhao nearby and reconsidered. She snorted softly, walked straight up to Wang Qian, and shoved him aside with her shoulder. “Yu Zhao, let’s go. Don’t waste time on irrelevant, inexplicable people.”
Yu Zhao chuckled, following Mu Ye into the Medicine Storage Room.
Standing in place, Wang Qian’s chest heaved violently. He had expected Yu Zhao to confront him publicly about the auction and the Dark Pavilion, but instead, she treated him like air.
This wasn’t just a slap in the face—it was worse.
Watching their retreating figures, seething hatred welled up in Wang Qian’s eyes.
Birds of a feather flock together! Yu Zhao’s arrogance is just like Mu Ye’s.
Don’t get too smug, Mu Ye. The Disciple Assessment is coming. Let’s see how long you can keep acting this way.
…
“Mu Ye, that man earlier was…” Yu Zhao asked once the prickling sensation of being stared at faded.
Though she and Wang Qian were mortal enemies, she’d only met him once at the auction and didn’t even know his name.
“His name is Wang Qian. Both his parents are highly respected elders in the Green Wood Sect, so he’s been spoiled since birth and thinks everyone should cater to him.”
Mu Ye wrinkled her nose, openly displaying her distaste for him.
Yu Zhao nodded thoughtfully. It seemed Wang Qian’s hostility toward her was partly tied to his feud with Mu Ye.
Wait… Wang Qian?
Yu Zhao’s heart skipped. In her past life, wasn’t Wang Qian the Young Sect Master of the Green Wood Sect and one of Ye Cong Xin’s many admirers?
“How does his pill-refining skill compare to yours?” Yu Zhao’s question came abruptly, but Mu Ye didn’t mind. After a moment of contemplation, she answered honestly. “Our pill-refining skills are probably on par, but I tend to stay calmer during tests, so I usually perform better.”
Though she disliked Wang Qian, Mu Ye wouldn’t lie about such matters.
Yu Zhao fell deep into thought. Wang Qian was stronger than she had expected. But could someone as narrow-minded and petty as him truly shoulder the responsibilities of a Young Sect Master?
She seriously doubted it.
…
Her musings were interrupted by Mu Ye’s sudden angry outburst.
“Senior Brother Zhao, I reserved this month’s herbs with the Medicine Storage Room two months ago. What gives you the right to replace mine?”
Yu Zhao looked up and realized they had unknowingly reached the central herb cabinet of the room. Several disciples in Medicine Hall uniforms were busily sorting freshly picked herbs.
Mu Ye, clutching a medicine pouch, glared furiously at Zhao Liang, the sole disciple seated behind a desk and not sorting herbs.
Zhao Liang glanced indifferently at the pouch in Mu Ye’s hands. “It must’ve been a mistake. I’ll remind them to be more careful next time.”
Mu Ye nearly laughed in anger at his nonchalant response.
Next time?
There was only one month left before the Pill Hall Disciple Assessment. Zhao Liang clearly knew how crucial these herbs were for her preparation, yet he had the audacity to dismiss it so lightly.
“I don’t care. I want the herbs I reserved now!” Mu Ye slammed the pouch onto the desk, her anger surging.
Zhao Liang maintained his leisurely demeanor. “Junior Sister Mu, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but you came too late. Many of the herbs you wanted are already gone. My hands are tied.”
“I reserved them first!”
“You did, but I can’t conjure herbs out of thin air. Come earlier next time, and such mistakes won’t happen.”
Zhao Liang not only came up with excuses to solve the issue but even tried to shift the blame, enraging Mu Ye.
“Zhao Liang, you did this on purpose!” Mu Ye’s voice trembled with anger.
“Junior Sister Mu, I have no grievances with you. Why would I intentionally trouble you? This was truly an accident. Please be careful with your accusations,” Zhao Liang retorted, his expression calm.
Mu Ye hesitated for a moment. Indeed, Zhao Liang had no reason to target her deliberately. Unless…
Her thoughts turned to Wang Qian, who had arrived at the medicine warehouse before her. Wang Qian’s father was an elder of the Pill Hall, and Zhao Liang worked directly under him. Considering that she and Wang Qian were rivals, it wasn’t hard to imagine Zhao Liang might have been acting on someone’s orders—or trying to curry favor with the elder—by deliberately obstructing her.
Realizing the implications, Mu Ye’s gaze grew cold. “Zhao Liang, does Elder Wang know about your shameless attempts to flatter him?”
“What nonsense are you spouting! This has nothing to do with Elder Wang! Don’t drag others into this!” Zhao Liang snapped, sitting up straight. His feigned confidence, however, betrayed his underlying guilt.
The disciples in the back, busy sorting medicinal herbs, slowed their movements and subtly perked their ears, eager to catch every word of the escalating confrontation.
“No connection? You think just saying that will convince me?” Mu Ye’s anger surged.
She could accept being openly defeated by Wang Qian in a fair competition, but she refused to tolerate underhanded tactics meant to sabotage her and compromise the integrity of the assessment.
“What benefits did Elder Wang promise you to make you trouble me like this? Is he so afraid Wang Qian will lose to me? Or is it because you, deep down, think Wang Qian will lose, and you’re acting out of your own stupidity to try and help him?”
Mu Ye’s delicate features exuded a quiet elegance, like an orchid in bloom—gentle, graceful, and serene. However, her personality was entirely at odds with her appearance. Since the incident in Dragon Roar Valley, where she insisted on accompanying Yu Zhao to rescue others, it had been evident that she was resilient and strong-willed.
Now that she was being bullied, her temper flared. For Mu Ye, to endure silently would mean she was no longer herself.
“Mu Ye!” Zhao Liang was on the verge of panic, visibly shaken by her words. If Elder Wang heard even a fraction of this, Zhao Liang’s punishment would be severe.
“You’re being unreasonable! I’ve told you this was an accident! If you continue making trouble, I’ll have no choice but to force you to leave!” Zhao Liang’s face darkened as he unleashed the aura of a Golden Core cultivator, pressing it toward Mu Ye.
Instinctively, Mu Ye started to retreat, trying to resist the oppressive energy, when suddenly a hand rested on her lower back.
“Don’t back down. I’ll help you,” a calm and steady voice whispered—it was Yu Zhao.
In that instant, the suffocating pressure dispersed like melting snow, replaced by a gentle breeze brushing against her face. Mu Ye felt a surge of gratitude, and her gaze turned sharp.
“You’re so flustered—did I hit a nerve? Zhao Liang, hand over those spirit herbs immediately, or I’ll report this to the Pill Hall elder and let them judge!”
Although her background was not as prestigious as Wang Qian’s, she was still the favored disciple of the Pill Hall’s grand elder. Zhao Liang might not fear her, but would he dare offend the grand elder?
As expected, Zhao Liang’s expression grew even darker, regret flashing in his eyes. He had underestimated Mu Ye, assuming her reputation for kindness meant she could be easily manipulated. If he had known she would be so relentless, he would have tampered with the herbs directly instead of trying to deny them to her outright.
“Who’s threatening to involve the Pill Hall elder now?” A low, authoritative voice broke the tension.