Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Dog Bites Dog

Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyelashes trembled as she forced herself not to open her eyes. [How am I going to explain this to Immortal Ling Xu later?] A thin line of anger rose in her chest. [Immortal Ling Xu is greedy and stingy. All these years I kept giving him things to win him over, and I can’t even count how much I spent.] Now that her wealth had been exposed, she did not need to look to know what Immortal Ling Xu was thinking: [He must be grumbling already. In his eyes, his Master’s appetite can never be satisfied.]

[Do they think my life has been easy? This strength of mine was clawed out with great effort. Li Shuang wants to take it back? Dream on. I will find a way. I will.]

Hong Sheng smiled as he said: “Business is about give and take. We don’t plan to go after those dividends. But this is not a small amount of spirit stones, so I figured you should at least be informed. Also, Treasure Pavilion headquarters will be sending people soon. If they ask, we will report the truth.”

Report the truth.

Meng Yi Fei’s face shifted slightly. He understood the result of a truthful report: their Sword Sect disciple and Steward Qiu had teamed up to make a pile of money. Steward Qiu was no good, but if the story spread, the Sword Sect’s reputation would suffer. They were one of the Six Great Sects. If people said their disciples came up with shady tricks for spirit stones, how would they stand in the alliance?

Meng Yi Fei glanced through the ledger, then said evenly: “If you earned money through normal business, that would be fine. But these tricks clearly look like cheating. These spirit stones are ill gotten.”

Fixing his gaze on Immortal Ling Xu, he continued: “There are three thousand six hundred fifty two high grade spirit stones in total. Ye Zhao Zhao must return the full amount.”

Immortal Ling Xu’s expression changed. Three thousand six hundred fifty two high grade spirit stones. With his cultivation, it was not an unbearable sum, yet his nature made his heart ache anyway. For the first time, he felt a hint of resentment toward his little disciple: [She made so much, but what she gave me was only a drop in the bucket, and she acted so filial each time.]

Ye Zhao Zhao could not keep up the act any longer. She let out a soft groan and slowly opened her eyes.

Chang Le An called out in a rush: “Junior Sister, you’re awake?”

Ye Zhao Zhao gave a weak nod.

“Good,” said Meng Yi Fei with a nod: “Hand over the dividends you received these years.”

The sect’s honor outweighed everything. At this moment he was unusually decisive.

Ye Zhao Zhao showed a wronged look as she said: “Sect Master, I only offered a few ideas. Steward Qiu did the actual work. Years have passed, and I’ve spent most of the spirit stones. If you tell me to return them now, how can I take them out?”

Hong Sheng smiled as he said: “No need to worry. We’re not here to collect, just to state the situation.”

He said they were not here to collect. But if this spread, what would be left of the Sword Sect’s name?

Meng Yi Fei’s voice turned cold as he said: “Within seven days, deliver the spirit stones to the Artifact Pavilion.”

He left no room for doubt.

Ye Zhao Zhao still wanted to argue, but Sheng Yuan pressed her hand to signal her to stop. She had to bite back her words and close her mouth.

Feeling vexed with the people of Ling Xu Peak as well, Meng Yi Fei said simply: “Enough, everyone disperse. Old Hong, let me see you out.” Hong Sheng nodded, and the two left together.

Steward Qiu hurried after them, and before going, he shot Ye Zhao Zhao a vicious glare.

Luo Ming Yue found it funny and lowered her voice as she said: “Those two are dogs biting dogs.”

Neither Steward Qiu nor Ye Zhao Zhao were good people. Watching them turn on each other felt very satisfying.

Li Shuang’s lips curved faintly as she nodded. She followed the sect disciples toward the exit while waiting for something.

Suddenly, a thicker wave of spiritual power than the last few times appeared soundlessly in her body. She circulated her energy a few times; the new power moved as freely as the energy she had cultivated herself, without the least resistance.

A thoughtful light flashed in Li Shuang’s eyes. [This spiritual power… could it actually be something I cultivated myself?] Again, just like before, whenever Ye Zhao Zhao suffered a setback, Li Shuang gained a bit of power. [Why is this happening?]

Her eyes shifted. [When my cultivation stalled, Ye Zhao Zhao surged ahead. When I sank into trouble, Ye Zhao Zhao’s fortune rose. Now that our situations are reversed, every time she stumbles, my strength increases. Are we bound together by some strange link?] She shook her head. [How could the world be that mystical? Maybe this is another subtle effect of the Supreme Emotionless Art.]

At the mountain gate, Meng Yi Fei spoke privately with Hong Sheng. With a sigh, Hong Sheng said: “Sect Master Meng, I didn’t come to target you. Steward Qiu had kept piles of evidence. To lessen his own punishment, he reported everything right away. When headquarters asks, Ye Zhao Zhao’s matter cannot be hidden.”

Meng Yi Fei nodded as he said: “Your visit already counts as helping. After Ye Zhao Zhao returns the spirit stones, do what you can to smooth things over. Try to keep this from spreading. My Sword Sect cannot afford to lose face like this.”

He was already annoyed with Ye Zhao Zhao, but as long as she was a Sword Sect disciple, he had to cover for her. “I understand,” said Hong Sheng with a nod.

After a few more words, Meng Yi Fei watched Hong Sheng leave.

On the Nan Yan Continent, their sects were called the Six Great Sects. But that did not mean there were no other powers equal to them. The Artifact Pavilion had risen a hundred years ago and grew with amazing speed. It had branches all over the Nan Yan Continent, and there were even branches on other continents. It was a giant as well. In raw strength, the Sword Sect might not even beat them. So when the Artifact Pavilion came knocking, even as a Sect Master, Meng Yi Fei had to be cautious.

He rubbed his temples. He worked hard to hold the sect’s position. [Is it easy for me? There are always people dragging us down.] The spirit stones on Ye Zhao Zhao’s side had to be returned.

Back on Ling Xu Peak, Ye Zhao Zhao ached all over and lay on her stomach, afraid to move. Chang Le An fed her a pill with a pained look until her complexion improved a little.

Immortal Ling Xu looked at her and said: “Zhao Zhao, the Sect Master has spoken. You must return those high grade spirit stones. Hand them over within seven days.”