Volume 10, Chapter 659 – Interrogation (Part 1)

When Qin Quan heard this, his face revealed a struggle. Seeing everyone around him staring fixedly, he could only let out a deflated sigh and say: “You know how poor Honghua Sect used to be. If word got out that I spent millions of silver taels renting a single seed… if it grew, that would be fine, but if it didn’t, how could I explain it to everyone?”

“So you were afraid of taking responsibility!”

Qi Huang suddenly understood.

The disciples of Honghua Sect all showed looks of contempt. It was clear that after this incident, Qin Quan’s prestige would plummet to the bottom.

“Now the sequence of events is clear enough. What’s still unknown is whether the words that Pi Lao told the Sect Master back then were true. If this group really is, as he said, preparing to use the Golden Fate Blossom seed to enter the Kapok Valley Treasure Land and obtain more Golden Fate Blossom seeds, perhaps they won’t make things too difficult for you. But if not?”

Xu Mei frowned and reminded them.

“Exactly. If that’s not the case, then eight or nine times out of ten, they’ll be hostile toward you.”

Elder Ruan added in agreement.

“Yes, with your appearances and identities, if they tried to sell you, you’d probably fetch far more than the price of a single Golden Fate Blossom seed. Perhaps that’s the reason they insisted on taking Lingyu and the others with them.”

Xu Mei realized as well.

“If they demand compensation, I’ll provide it. But if they dare harbor evil intentions, I’ll show them what it means to invite a god that cannot be sent away.”

Qi Huang smiled like a sly fox. She didn’t fear if they had evil intentions; what she feared most was if they tried to reason fairly.

“I absolutely trust in your strength. The concern is whether bringing Lingyu and the others along will end up burdening you.”

Elder Ruan spoke tactfully, expressing concern for his granddaughter.

“It’s fine, we’ll just treat it as a trip. Back during the Evergreen Conference, didn’t I bring them to the tournament as well?”

Qi Huang spoke lightly. To call a journey to the “Kapok Valley Treasure Land” a trip, if outsiders heard that, they’d probably think she was mad.

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“Yes, Grandfather, at the Evergreen Conference we were just there for the atmosphere. Every opponent was defeated singlehandedly by Junior Sister!”

“That’s right! Back then we even cracked melon seeds on the stage, infuriating our opponents until they jumped with rage. Thinking about it now is still hilarious!”

“When has Junior Sister ever failed to keep her word? Rest assured!”

Ruan Lingyu comforted Elder Ruan, and the other senior sisters all chimed in. This time, they were determined to go; otherwise, they would carry a knot in their hearts for life.

Afterward, each sister went home to pack. Before long, their families escorted them to the gates of Honghua Sect.

“I promise all of you elders, I will bring them back safe and sound.”

Qi Huang once again gave her word.

The families did not object. After all, Qi Huang’s abilities were plain for all to see, and she had never broken a promise.

“Does she even know where she’s going, to dare make such boastful claims?”

Outside the gate, the skinny old man beside the pale-faced middle-aged man sneered.

“There’s nothing strange about it. Just a country bumpkin girl who’s never seen the world. Like a frog at the bottom of a well, thinking that reaching the Divine Realm makes her invincible. She doesn’t realize that in the Wenren clan, this level of cultivation isn’t even enough to sit at the table.”

The pale-faced middle-aged man ridiculed.

At this moment, Mu Ruoyi and her daughter arrived in a hurry. She anxiously suggested: “Hongling, Qi Huang, how about I come with you?”

“Better not. You’re not of Honghua Sect, and you’re still busy rebuilding Shuiyu Valley. There’s no need to wade into these muddy waters.”

Qi Huang refused without hesitation. She had her reasons for bringing the senior sisters; it wasn’t about dragging people into trouble for no reason.

Mu Ruoyi wanted to say more but ultimately held back.

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Qi Huang then took out a spatial ring and handed it to Wen Yunmei, saying: “Aunt Wen, inside is ten million silver taels. It should be enough to start rebuilding Shuiyu Valley.”

“How could I possibly accept your silver?”

Wen Yunmei refused outright.

“Don’t refuse. After all, the destruction of Shuiyu Valley is partly my responsibility. If you don’t take it, I’ll feel guilty. At worst, you can pay me back once you’re wealthier in the future.”

Qi Huang pushed the ring into her hand. Though she wished Shuiyu Valley would merge into Honghua Sect, she couldn’t force the matter, especially since Shuiyu Valley was an all-female sect.

“Let me make it clear, I’m not driving you away. If you want to stay, you can live here as long as you like.”

Qi Huang quickly added.

“…Fine. Then thank you. I’ll repay you as soon as I can.”

Wen Yunmei hesitated, then accepted the ring.

“No rush. I’m not in any hurry for the money.”

Qi Huang reassured her.

Beside them, Cheng Hongling said nothing. Sentimentally, she was glad Mu Ruoyi would leave quickly; rationally, she and the doppelgänger indeed owed Shuiyu Valley help for its reconstruction.

“Enough already. Stop dawdling. The journey is still long.”

The pale-faced middle-aged man urged impatiently.

Qin Quan hesitated but then stepped forward and warned firmly: “Daoist friend, the Golden Fate Blossom seed may be precious, but it cannot compare to my female disciples. I hope that after you uncover the truth, you will not make things hard for them. I will do my utmost to provide compensation.”

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“Of course.”

The pale-faced middle-aged man replied perfunctorily.

At that moment, Cheng Yuan also stepped forward. Unflinching, he asked: “Immortal Elder, I am Cheng Hongling and Qi Huang’s father. May I at least know your identity? My daughters are leaving with you; surely we deserve to know who you are.”

“There’s no need. Once the matter is investigated clearly, we’ll naturally send them back.”

The pale-faced middle-aged man said impatiently.

Cheng Yuan frowned slightly. Their secrecy revealed impure intentions, but trusting his daughter, he did not press further.

The seven sisters bade farewell to their families and departed with the group led by the pale-faced middle-aged man. As for Pi Lao, he was lucky to escape with his life but was dragged along.

On the road, Cheng Hongling sent a mental transmission to Qi Huang: “As Master said, if Pi Lao lied, and these people never intended to go to the Kapok Valley Treasure Land to seek more Golden Fate Blossom seeds, what will you do then?”

“No problem. I’ll just find another opportunity later. With my strength, entering the Kapok Valley Treasure Land is no issue. I only want a few guides.”

Qi Huang answered confidently.

Cheng Hongling understood, then added: “But there’s another thing I can’t figure out. That twenty-year rental period between Pi Lao and Sect Master Qin. Why did this group come looking precisely after twenty years? Did they only realize after two decades that the seed was missing? That makes no sense.”

“Indeed. There’s no such thing as pure coincidence. There must be hidden reasons. Perhaps only once we reach the destination will we understand.”

Qi Huang spoke thoughtfully.

Since they rode horses imbued with flight talismans, their speed was astonishing. After several days, they arrived in the Changming Kingdom of the Central Continent.

During the journey, Ruan Lingyu and the senior sisters chattered happily, showing no worry at all, as though they were sightseeing. Their faith in Qi Huang was clear.

Qi Huang, on the other hand, carefully listened in on the conversations of the so-called creditors. But aside from learning their names and that they belonged to the same clan, she gained nothing.

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The pale-faced middle-aged man was named Wenren Qing. He led the party to the imperial capital of Changming Kingdom, to the family estate.

Once inside, Qi Huang and the others looked around curiously. They found the Wenren Residence to be grand and expansive, as large as Honghua Sect itself, showing the extraordinary status of its master.

Wenren Qing brought the women and Pi Lao to the main hall of the central building, where a “tribunal” awaited. Presiding over it was Wenren Jun, the clan patriarch and head of the Wenren family. Several elder clansmen sat alongside as judges.

Wenren Jun was a white-haired elder, yet upright and vigorous, walking with the speed of the wind. His strength was obvious at a glance. Seated now on a high-backed chair, his expression was sinister, and his cold eyes bored into Qi Huang and the others standing in the middle of the hall.

Qi Huang and her sisters yawned lazily, bored out of their minds, entirely ignoring Wenren Jun. Cheng Hongling’s delicate face also showed impatience. Only Pi Lao prostrated on the ground, trembling.

“Can you hurry up with whatever you want to say? My legs are numb from standing.”

Shen Yuan finally lost patience.

“Yes, why don’t you give us some stools? Whenever you’re ready to sit, we’ll sit along with you.”

Ruan Lingyu added.

“Letting you stand is already my Wenren clan’s mercy, and you dare ask for stools? Foolish dreams.”

Wenren Qing barked harshly.

“No stools? That’s fine. I have my own.”

Qi Huang’s thought stirred, and six or seven small stools appeared, neatly placed by her and her sisters.

The girls were delighted and promptly sat down as if at home.

The Wenren clan members were stunned, struck dumb. The hall fell into dead silence.