Chapter 34 - 9: Dog Bites Dog

Ye Zhaozhao’s eyelashes fluttered, but she stubbornly kept her eyes shut. Her mind was already racing, plotting how she would explain herself to Master Lingxu later.

A trace of irritation welled up in her heart.

This Master Lingxu was both greedy and stingy. Over the years, she had given him countless things just to keep him thoroughly reeled in.

Now that her wealth had been exposed, Ye Zhaozhao didn’t even need to look to know that Master Lingxu was definitely harboring doubts!

Her master’s appetite was simply bottomless!

She thought, "Have these past few years been easy for me? I obtained this cultivation through countless hardships and schemes. Li Shuang wants to take it back? In her dreams!"

She would definitely come up with a solution. She definitely would.

"Business matters are entirely based on mutual consent. Therefore, we don’t intend to pursue these dividends. However, this sum of spirit stones is not a small amount, and I thought you should be aware of it," Hong Sheng said with a smile. "Additionally, people from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion’s headquarters will be arriving soon. If our superiors ask, we will naturally report the truth."

Meng Yifei’s expression shifted slightly at the thought of reporting the truth.

Reporting the truth would mean admitting that the disciples of their Sword Sect had colluded with Manager Qiu to amass a vast fortune!

Manager Qiu was certainly no saint, but if word of this got out, the Sword Sect’s reputation would undoubtedly suffer as well!

They were, after all, one of the Upper Six Sects. If rumors spread that their disciples resorted to scams and deceit just for spirit stones, how could they maintain their standing among the Upper Six Sects?

Meng Yifei’s expression changed slightly. He flipped through the ledger and calmly stated, "If this were money earned through normal business, it naturally wouldn’t be an issue. However, these methods clearly carry the suspicion of fraud. These spirit stones are ill-gotten wealth." He stared fixedly at Master Lingxu and added, "A total of three thousand, six hundred and fifty-two top-grade spirit stones. Ye Zhaozhao must return them in full."

Master Lingxu’s expression flickered.

A full three thousand, six hundred and fifty-two top-grade spirit stones!

Given his cultivation, this sum wasn’t particularly exorbitant. However, driven by his very nature, Master Lingxu still felt an agonizing ache in his heart over the impending loss.

For the first time, he harbored a trace of resentment toward this young disciple of his.

She had clearly earned so much, yet the portion she paid in tribute to him was merely a drop in the ocean—all while she pretended to be incredibly filial every single time.

Unable to keep up her act any longer, Ye Zhaozhao let out a soft groan and slowly opened her eyes.

"Junior Sister, you’re awake?" Chang Le’an cried out excitedly.

Ye Zhaozhao nodded weakly.

"It’s good that you’re awake," Meng Yifei nodded. "Hand over all the dividends you’ve collected over the years."

The sect’s reputation was paramount. At this moment, Meng Yifei was exceptionally decisive.

Ye Zhaozhao immediately put on an aggrieved expression. "Sect Leader, I only offered a few ideas. Manager Qiu was the one who actually carried them out! It’s been several years, and I’ve already spent more than half of those spirit stones. If you ask me to hand them over now, how am I supposed to produce them?"

Hong Sheng smiled. "It’s fine. We have no intention of demanding them back. We merely wanted to mention the matter."

He said they had no intention of demanding them back, but if this matter leaked out, would the Sword Sect even have a reputation left to defend?

Meng Yifei’s voice grew cold. "Within seven days, deliver this sum of spirit stones to the Spiritual Artifact Pavilion."

His tone left no room for argument.

Ye Zhaozhao remained unwilling, but Sheng Yuan pressed down on her hand, signaling her to say no more.

She could only shut her mouth with great grievance.

Meng Yifei glanced at the people from Lingxu Peak, feeling somewhat irritated himself. "Enough, everyone is dismissed!" he stated bluntly. "Old Hong, let me see you out."

Hong Sheng nodded, and the two walked off together.

Manager Qiu hurriedly followed. Before leaving, he didn’t forget to shoot Ye Zhaozhao a vicious glare.

Finding the scene amusing, Luo Mingyue couldn’t help but whisper, "I suppose those two are just dogs at each other’s throats."

Neither Manager Qiu nor Ye Zhaozhao was any good. Seeing the two turn on each other was thoroughly satisfying.

The corners of Li Shuang’s lips curled up slightly as she nodded.

As she followed the sect disciples out, she waited for something.

Suddenly, a surge of spiritual power—thicker and more robust than the previous few times—silently materialized within Li Shuang’s body.

She circulated the spiritual power through her body a few times. Just like the spiritual power she had cultivated herself, it moved as a seamless extension of her will, without the slightest hint of stagnation.

A thoughtful gleam flashed in Li Shuang’s eyes.

She wondered, "Could this spiritual power... actually be from my own cultivation?"

This time was exactly like the previous two times. Whenever Ye Zhaozhao faced a setback, an extra thread of spiritual power would suddenly appear within her. Why exactly was this happening?

Li Shuang’s gaze shifted slightly.

When her cultivation stagnated, Ye Zhaozhao advanced by leaps and bounds. When she fell into a slump, fortune smiled upon Ye Zhaozhao.

Now, the situation had reversed. The moment Ye Zhaozhao encountered a setback, her own cultivation would increase.

She thought, "Are the two of us bound by some strange connection?"

Li Shuang shook her head. How could such a fantastical thing exist in the world? Perhaps this was simply another marvel of the Supreme Forget Emotion Technique.

At the mountain gate, Meng Yifei and Hong Sheng were speaking privately.

Hong Sheng sighed. "Master Meng, it’s not that I’m deliberately trying to cause trouble for you. It’s just that Manager Qiu hoarded so much evidence. In an attempt to lighten his own punishment, he reported the matter upward immediately. When people from the headquarters come to investigate, Ye Zhaozhao’s involvement will definitely not stay hidden."

Meng Yifei nodded. "The fact that you made this trip is already a great help. Once Ye Zhaozhao returns the spirit stones, please help me smooth things over. Do your best to prevent word of her actions from spreading outside. Our Sword Sect... cannot afford to lose this face."

Meng Yifei was currently quite annoyed with Ye Zhaozhao as well, but as long as she remained a Sword Sect disciple, he had to help cover up her mess.

"I know," Hong Sheng nodded.

After a brief conversation, Meng Yifei watched Hong Sheng leave.

On the Nanyan Continent, their Six Great Sects were known as the Upper Six Sects. However, this did not mean there were no other organizations capable of standing toe-to-toe with them.

The Spiritual Artifact Pavilion had suddenly risen to prominence a century ago. Over the past hundred years, it had expanded at a terrifying pace. Not only were its branch pavilions spread all across the Nanyan Continent, but it was said that there were even branches on other continents.

It was an equal behemoth. If it came down to pure power, the Sword Sect might not necessarily surpass them.

Therefore, when the Spiritual Artifact Pavilion came knocking, he, despite being a Sect Leader, had to handle the situation with caution.

Meng Yifei massaged his temples. He worked tirelessly to maintain the sect’s status—did anyone think it was easy for him? Yet, so many people kept dragging him down.

As for Ye Zhaozhao, she absolutely had to pay back those top-grade spirit stones!

Back at Lingxu Peak, Ye Zhaozhao was aching all over, only able to lie flat on her bed, afraid to move.

Chang Le’an fed her elixir pills with a heartbroken expression, and only then did Ye Zhaozhao’s complexion improve slightly.

Master Lingxu looked at her. "Zhaozhao, the Sect Leader has spoken. You must return those top-grade spirit stones. Within seven days, you have to hand them over."