Chapter 144: The Incident with the Spiritual Herbs
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
Wang Qian’s eyes flickered uneasily, betraying the turmoil within him. For a moment, he remained silent, calculating his next move.
Mu Ye initially planned to exploit the moment and add to Wang Qian’s humiliation. However, when she noticed Yu Zhao nearby, she reconsidered. With a derisive snort, she shoved Wang Qian aside with her shoulder, dismissing him. “Yu Zhao, let’s go. There’s no point wasting time on irrelevant people.”
Yu Zhao chuckled softly and followed Mu Ye into the herb storage room, leaving Wang Qian standing there, his chest heaving with barely contained anger.
Wang Qian had expected Yu Zhao to confront him, perhaps publicly accusing him of his connection to the auction or his involvement with the Dark Pavilion. Yet, to his surprise, Yu Zhao treated him as if he were invisible. The indifference stung far more than any confrontation would have. It wasn’t just a slight—it was complete dismissal.
As he watched Yu Zhao and Mu Ye walk away, resentment boiled within him. “People really are drawn to those like themselves,” he thought bitterly. Yu Zhao’s arrogance paired perfectly with Mu Ye’s smugness.
“Mu Ye, don’t get too comfortable. The disciple evaluation is just around the corner. Let’s see how long you can keep that smug look on your face.”
As they walked deeper into the storage room, Yu Zhao turned to Mu Ye, her curiosity piqued. “Mu Ye, who was that guy just now?”
The oppressive feeling from Wang Qian’s stare had vanished, leaving Yu Zhao with lingering questions. Although she considered Wang Qian an enemy, they had only met once before, during the auction. She didn’t even know his name until now.
“His name is Wang Qian,” Mu Ye explained, her tone laced with disgust. “His parents are respected elders in the Green Wood Sect. He’s been spoiled since birth, thinking everyone should bow to him.”
Yu Zhao nodded in understanding, piecing together the puzzle. It seemed Wang Qian’s hostility toward her was partly due to his issues with Mu Ye. But then something clicked in her memory. Wang Qian… Could it be the same Wang Qian from her past life? The Young Master of the Green Wood Sect who had been one of Ye Cong Xin’s many admirers?
“How does his alchemy compare to yours?” Yu Zhao asked abruptly, her thoughts racing.
Mu Ye didn’t seem to mind the sudden shift in conversation. After a brief moment of consideration, she answered honestly, “Our skills are about the same. The difference is, I’m usually more composed during exams, so I tend to perform better.”
Despite her disdain for Wang Qian, Mu Ye was fair in her assessment. Yu Zhao pondered this. Wang Qian was more formidable than she had anticipated. Yet, could someone as petty and narrow-minded as him truly bear the responsibilities of a Young Master in the Green Wood Sect? She doubted it.
Lost in thought, Yu Zhao was suddenly brought back to reality by Mu Ye’s sharp voice.
“Senior Brother Zhao, I reserved these spiritual herbs two months ago! How dare you switch them out!”
Yu Zhao looked up, realizing that they had unknowingly reached the central herb cabinet of the storage room. Several disciples in Herb Hall robes were busy sorting freshly picked herbs, their hands moving with practiced precision.
Mu Ye held a small herb pouch in her hand, glaring furiously at the lone disciple seated behind a desk—Zhao Liang, the only one not engaged in the sorting.
Zhao Liang glanced at the pouch in Mu Ye’s hand and responded with a casual indifference, “It must have been a mistake. I’ll remind them to be more careful next time.”
Mu Ye nearly laughed at Zhao Liang’s nonchalant attitude. Next time? There was only one month left before the disciple evaluation. Zhao Liang knew exactly how crucial these herbs were to her, yet he dared to dismiss her with a flippant “next time.”
“I don’t care. I need the herbs I reserved right now.” Mu Ye slapped the herb pouch onto the desk, her frustration evident.
Zhao Liang remained unfazed. “Junior Sister Mu Ye, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but you arrived too late. Most of the herbs you wanted are gone. There’s nothing I can do.”
“I reserved them first,” Mu Ye insisted, her voice rising with anger.
“True, but I can’t just conjure the herbs out of thin air. If you had arrived earlier, this mistake wouldn’t have happened,” Zhao Liang retorted, shifting the blame onto her.
Mu Ye’s temper flared at his blatant refusal to take responsibility. “Zhao Liang, you did this on purpose!”
“Junior Sister Mu Ye, I have no reason to make things difficult for you. This really was an accident. Please, watch your words,” Zhao Liang responded coolly, though a hint of irritation crept into his voice.
Mu Ye hesitated, considering his words. He was right—Zhao Liang had no direct conflict with her. So why would he target her? Unless…
Her thoughts drifted back to Wang Qian, who had been in the storage room before her. Wang Qian’s father was an elder in the Herb Hall, and Zhao Liang was under his father’s supervision. Given her ongoing rivalry with Wang Qian, it was likely that Zhao Liang was either following orders or trying to curry favor with the elder.
Realization dawned on Mu Ye, and her expression hardened. “Zhao Liang, does Elder Wang know you’re here kissing up to him like this?”
Zhao Liang snapped upright, his tone a mix of fear and anger. “What nonsense are you spouting? This has nothing to do with Elder Wang! Don’t drag him into this!”
The other disciples sorting herbs had slowed their work, their ears perked up, eavesdropping on the heated exchange.
“No connection? Just because you say so doesn’t make it true. Do you really think I’ll believe you?” Mu Ye’s voice was icy, her anger simmering beneath the surface.
She could accept being outdone by Wang Qian in a fair contest during the evaluation, but she would not tolerate underhanded tactics that threatened the fairness of the test.
“What did Elder Wang promise you to make you go out of your way to cause me trouble? Is he so afraid that Wang Qian will lose to me? Or is it your own cowardice, knowing Wang Qian might lose, that drove you to pull this stupid stunt?”
Mu Ye’s usual gentle and refined appearance often led others to underestimate her. Her calm and composed demeanor gave the impression of a quiet, graceful woman, but those who knew her well understood that she was tough, determined, and unyielding. Her decision to accompany Yu Zhao to Dragon Roar Valley to save someone had already proven her strength of character. She wasn’t someone who backed down easily.
And now, facing this blatant attempt to sabotage her, there was no way Mu Ye would let it slide.
“Mu Ye!” Zhao Liang’s voice trembled with fear as her accusations hit closer to the truth than he cared to admit. If Elder Wang heard any of this, Zhao Liang would be in serious trouble—or worse.
“Stop this nonsense right now! I’ve told you it was an accident! If you keep making a scene, I’ll have no choice but to force you out!” Zhao Liang’s face darkened as he released the intimidating aura of a Golden Core cultivator, pressing it down on Mu Ye.
Instinctively, Mu Ye tried to retreat, but just as the pressure became unbearable, she felt a hand gently placed on her lower back.
“Don’t step back. I’ll help you,” Yu Zhao’s voice was clear and reassuring in her ear.
Instantly, Mu Ye felt the suffocating pressure lift, as if it had melted away like snow in the sun, leaving only a gentle breeze that brushed against her face.
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
Feeling both reassured and emboldened, Mu Ye’s gaze sharpened, focusing intently on Zhao Liang.
“You’re panicking because I hit the nail on the head, aren’t you? Zhao Liang, hand over the herbs now, or I’ll report this to the elders in the Alchemy Hall and let them decide.”
Though Mu Ye didn’t have the same level of influence as Wang Qian, she was still a favored disciple of the Grand Elder in the Alchemy Hall. Zhao Liang might not be afraid of offending her directly, but crossing the Grand Elder was another matter entirely.
As expected, Zhao Liang’s face grew even darker at Mu Ye’s threat, and regret began to creep in. He hadn’t dealt with Mu Ye often, only knowing her by reputation within the sect. He had assumed she was soft-hearted and easy to handle, thinking he could dismiss her without much trouble. He hadn’t expected her to be so persistent and resilient.
Had he known she would be this difficult, he wouldn’t have withheld her herbs in the first place. Instead, he would have tampered with them subtly, ensuring she failed without directly confronting her.
“Who said the Grand Elder of the Alchemy Hall should be involved?” A voice cut through the tension, breaking the standoff between Mu Ye and Zhao Liang.