Chapter 16: Spoiled by Yu Zhao
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
Lan Zi Yu’s face turned completely dark.
Over the past few days, he had been fantasizing about Yu Zhao lowering her head and apologizing to him. Determined to stand firm, he had stayed within the confines of his cave dwelling, refusing to venture out.
Yet, the one he had been waiting for never appeared. Instead, Su Ming arrived, bringing nothing but bad news.
The little bird pouch was something Yu Zhao had sewn herself, stitch by stitch.
Without guidance, she had pricked herself countless times and shed many tears. Lan Zi Yu had witnessed all of this, even getting silently upset on her behalf.
And now, Yu Zhao had reclaimed that pouch, stained with her own blood, from Su Ming’s hands.
An eerie chill ran down Lan Zi Yu’s spine.
This time, Yu Zhao seemed serious.
She was truly angry.
On the other side…
Su Ming was still grumbling indignantly.
“She’s borrowed spirit stones from me so many times before! What’s the big deal about borrowing them again? Besides, this time I had a legitimate reason!”
The morning’s events replayed in his mind, fueling his resentment.
Just as he was about to continue venting about being extorted, he caught sight of a tall figure approaching rapidly out of the corner of his eye.
Both he and Lan Zi Yu stood and bowed in greeting. “Eldest Senior Brother.”
While they might have their grievances about their other senior brothers, Fang Cheng Lang was someone they deeply respected and admired.
Fang Cheng Lang’s expression was cold as he regarded them silently before sitting down in an empty spot nearby.
Lan Zi Yu and Su Ming exchanged a glance, both feeling perplexed.
Su Ming tentatively asked, “Eldest Senior Brother, who’s upset you?”
Surely it couldn’t be him, could it? No… he hadn’t done anything wrong recently, right?
Fang Cheng Lang lifted his gaze and swept it over the two of them. “I overheard you discussing Little Six just now?”
Su Ming pursed his lips and took the lead in complaining. “Eldest Senior Brother, you really need to do something about Yu Zhao! She’s out of line! Do you know what she did? She actually brought Zhou Jin Yue to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion this morning to demand spirit stones from me! She embarrassed me completely!”
Su Ming grew more animated as he spoke, oblivious to the darkening aura radiating from Fang Cheng Lang.
Lan Zi Yu, however, noticed something amiss. But with the eldest senior brother sitting across from him, he hesitated to voice a warning.
Bang!
Fang Cheng Lang slammed his palm onto the table. The dull sound reverberated, causing the stone table to tremble violently.
Su Ming froze, then grew excited, feigning concern as he tried to console Fang Cheng Lang. “Eldest Senior Brother, there’s no need to be so angry. Yu Zhao just needs to be taught a few lessons. Maybe lock her in the Black Prison for a few days. Once she realizes her mistakes, we can let her out.”
Su Ming’s outrageous suggestion made even Lan Zi Yu’s face darken with disdain.
“Shut up!” Lan Zi Yu snapped coldly.
Su Ming glared back defiantly. “I’m not wrong! What’s the big deal? And you, Lan Zi Yu! After she gave away your Purple Cloud Bamboo Flute, you’re still defending her? Such sibling affection, huh?”
Lan Zi Yu sneered. If Su Ming wanted to dig his own grave, he wouldn’t stop him.
Seeing Lan Zi Yu remain silent, Su Ming continued pressing his luck. But before he could say more, Fang Cheng Lang pointed at him, his voice booming with fury, “Su Ming! How dare you criticize others? Have you looked at your own actions?”
“I-I… What did I do?” Su Ming’s arrogance faltered, though he still tried to hold his ground.
“Hmph, nothing at all, right!” Fang Cheng Lang’s face was so stormy it looked like rain might pour. “Tell me, how many spirit stones have you borrowed from Yu Zhao over the years?”
There it was again—Yu Zhao!
She must have gone to complain to the eldest senior brother! This was beyond outrageous!
Clenching his fists, Su Ming growled in frustration. “Yes, I borrowed some spirit stones! But I’ve already paid them back! And now she’s tattling on me? She’s really asking for it!”
With a sweep of his sleeve, Su Ming moved to storm off, only for Fang Cheng Lang to grab him by the collar and drag him back.
“Some? You call that some? Six hundred and ninety-eight spirit stones! Six hundred and ninety-eight spirit stones in total! That’s seven years’ worth of savings for Little Six, all wasted by you! And you’re still acting so shamelessly!”
Fang Cheng Lang’s voice trembled with rage.
He had always known Su Ming borrowed spirit stones from Yu Zhao, but he had assumed it was small amounts, no more than a few dozen. He hadn’t paid much attention.
But when Zhou Jin Yue confronted him earlier with the staggering total, his shock and fury knew no bounds.
No wonder Yu Zhao avoided using spirit stones to recover her spiritual energy or buying accessories other girls enjoyed.
Fang Cheng Lang had assumed she was simply frugal, a holdover from her old habits. It never occurred to him that Su Ming’s greed had drained her dry. The man was no better than a parasitic leech!
“Six hundred and ninety-eight spirit stones?!”
Lan Zi Yu was equally astounded.
He had initially felt Yu Zhao was being overly petty based on Su Ming’s complaints. But learning the true scale of the situation made him reassess everything. If Su Ming had come to him for such a loan, he wouldn’t have lent even half that amount, knowing it would be a dead loss.
Yu Zhao’s decision to lend the stones must have come with no expectation of repayment. But her actions today showed she was finally standing her ground.
Adding it all up, Lan Zi Yu’s heart sank further, his expression turning grim.
“I already repaid it all today,” Su Ming muttered, lowering his head and avoiding Fang Cheng Lang’s furious gaze.
Fang Cheng Lang shook his head in disappointment at Su Ming’s lack of remorse.
Yu Zhao had spoiled him.
Nearly seven hundred spirit stones were nothing to him anymore. But in the cultivation world, that amount was enough to spark a bloody conflict.
Fang Cheng Lang’s thoughts turned to Quan Ye, still out on an expedition. That troublemaker was just as reckless.
Why was everyone on Lone Moon Peak so infuriating?
“Eldest Senior Brother! Second Senior Brother! Third Senior Brother!”
A cheerful voice rang out, and Su Ming’s face immediately lit up. He looked toward the sound, his dimples deepening as he grinned widely.
“Little Junior Sister!”
Fang Cheng Lang and Lan Zi Yu softened visibly as Ye Cong Xin approached with a bright smile, their stern expressions melting away into faint smiles.
“What are you three discussing here?” Ye Cong Xin asked, sitting down at the last empty spot at the stone table. Resting her chin in her hands, her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Fang Cheng Lang quickly responded with a warm smile, “Nothing important. Little Junior Sister, aren’t you supposed to be cultivating under the Master today?”
Ye Cong Xin stuck out her tongue playfully. “Eldest Senior Brother, even cultivators need to rest. It’s all about balance!”
Su Ming chimed in enviously, “Little Junior Sister, you’re the only one who gets personal guidance from the Master.”
For the senior brothers, Fang Cheng Lang had always been their guide. Only when they faced something even he couldn’t solve did they seek help from the Master. To them, Fang Cheng Lang was like a second Master.
“Third Senior Brother, don’t be envious,” Ye Cong Xin said sweetly. “It’s only because I’m physically weak, and the Master worries about me. I actually envy you all. You can always learn from Eldest Senior Brother—he’s the kindest of all.”
For better, but for you guys? Worse.
All are trash, the eldest is the worst. Hypocrite and superficial, claiming he the most responsible while he has not at all supervise or teach his juniors. Blind, deaf and mute to the underlying problems.