A Fine Young Woman, Why Does She Eat Everything?

Zhang Miao, who had been going all out, only managed to go all out for a single breath.

Five family heirloom protective artifacts, thirteen precious Zhang Family talismans gifted by Sanlang... before the sword light of a Dharma sword that had already bonded and awakened its spirit, they were as if nothing.

Before Zhang Miao could even lift the brush in her hand, the Golden Glow Sword Light had already split the air and arrived at her tender neck.

And the artifacts and talismans meant to shield their master hadn't even had time to react!

To this, Wu Ming was utterly unsurprised. This Taiyi Dharma Sword was clearly only a Qi Refining Stage artifact, yet it was hailed as priceless. That was because within its rank, its power was already completely overpowered; ordinary artifacts couldn't even overcome it through numbers.

What's more, this Dharma sword had bonded and awakened its spirit, allowing it to unleash nearly all its might in actual combat... For Zhang Miao, who had only begun cultivation a month ago, this was simply too advanced.

Defeated in an instant, it wasn't a failure of skill. So Zhang Miao couldn't even be bothered to feel disheartened this time. She directly withdrew her artifacts and talismans, giving Wu Ming a sweet smile. "I lost!"

"Zhang Miao!" Liu Li erupted in fury again, but this time, the anger was clearly laced with panic.

The Four Symbols of Dharma Combat, and they had actually lost?

Looking at the Apricot Yellow Flag toppled on the ground, Liu Li naturally knew the outcome was beyond dispute. That unknown brat had truly won this Dharma duel!

Able to wield that Taiyi Dharma Sword with such ease, he deserved to win... If it weren't for such divine power, how could this Dharma sword have been sent to Qiongzhou by the Sanqing Immortal Sect as a Dao Seed token?

If it weren't for such divine power, how could the Liu Family, as the foremost noble house of Wu Prefecture with a Nascent Soul cultivator seated at home, be so fixated on a Qi Refining Stage artifact?

Yet now, his wife's obsession, and all their efforts to forcibly seize the sword, had all flowed away like water with the conclusion of the Four Symbols of Dharma Combat. That Prefecture Edict they had painstakingly obtained had become a deadly joke.

Thinking of the consequences, Liu Li had to forcefully stoke his anger and shift the blame onto others to suppress his fear.

"Zhang Miao, you useless waste..."

"How dare you!"

Liu Li's rebuke had barely begun when Zhang Miao cut him off sharply.

The gentle girl who had been so easily pushed around the whole way suddenly wore a frosty expression, her aura utterly unyielding.

"What are you, to dare speak rudely to me!? I am the direct daughter of the Zhang Family, a disciple of True Person Qin Yu of Luohuang Mountain, and the betrothed wife of Liu Qi! The two of you are merely from the outer courtyard, respectfully called 'clan uncles' by Sanlang, but you are not of the main family! You only receive guest retainers' annual stipends! What gives you the nerve to repeatedly show me disrespect? Kneel down at once!"

This sudden, harsh reprimand came like a violent storm, leaving Liu Li and Liu Yi dumbfounded, as if in a dream, unable to come to their senses for a long time.

After a long while, it was Zhang Miao who first let out a sigh. Dissolving the frost on her face with a gentle smile, she spoke softly to the two elders.

"That was what Sanlang told me to say... He said that after losing the Four Symbols duel, the two of you would likely fly into a rage out of humiliation and take it out on me. At that time, I was to snap back like this."

Liu Li finally woke from his daze, and sure enough, his fury returned. "You..."

But Zhang Miao continued, "Sanlang also said that once the duel is lost and the Prefecture Edict comes to nothing, the family will have to push someone out to settle the accounts. And the two clan uncles, who have been jumping around from start to finish, will naturally bear the brunt. Your arrogance earlier relied on the matriarch's authorization, but now, will the matriarch still protect you? So instead of venting your hysteria at me, you'd better think about what way out you have left after becoming scapegoats."

At these words, Liu Yi was still somewhat confused, but Liu Li's face turned deathly pale in an instant, his body swaying.

Zhang Miao said softly again, "Sanlang said this errand seemed impressive, a chance to curry favor with the matriarch and earn merit for the family, but in truth, it carried immense risk and endless hidden dangers. If not, why didn't the most meritorious Feng and Lu elders by Sanlang's side come? Instead, it was you two, usually unremarkable outer courtyard elders, who suddenly got to don blue Dao robes and swagger about under the name of Dinghuang Prefecture?"

"The inner courtyard people, though they seemed to flatter and echo you, treating you as the matriarch's favorites, were secretly all waiting for your downfall. As for the matriarch... you know her style well enough. If things succeed, fine; if not..."

Hearing this, Liu Li could no longer hold himself up. His legs gave way, and he nearly collapsed to the ground. Fortunately, Liu Yi, though also stunned, quickly steadied his senior brother.

Afterward, Liu Li barely regained some composure and asked in a low voice, "May I ask... does the Third Young Master have any other instructions? If, if the young master would only point us to a way out, we brothers would be willing to serve as oxen and horses."

Zhang Miao was taken aback and said apologetically, "I'm not sure about that. Sanlang didn't tell me that much; most of the time, he was talking about Wu Ming."

Wu Ming couldn't help but shiver.

A bit scary there, buddy.

Liu Li showed a look of realization, hurriedly turned to look at Wu Ming, squeezed out a fawning smile with all his might, and then yanked his still-dazed junior brother Liu Yi down to kneel.

Thump! Thump!

With two dull thuds, the original blue bricks of the Sect Leader Temple took -2 damage.

"Young Master Wu..."

"Stop."

Before Liu Li could brew up his emotions and put on a show, Wu Ming coldly called a halt.

"I'm going to train my body later and don't have time to watch your performance. If you want my forgiveness as the party involved, just pay up."

Liu Li had just squeezed out a few cloudy tears and was taken aback. "Pay?"

Wu Ming set the price. "One lump sum of ten thousand Spirit Stones, and I'll act like nothing happened."

"Wah!" Liu Li burst into tears and snot on the spot. "Spare me, Great Hero Wu..."

"Cry again, and it's twelve thousand!"

Liu Li quickly bit his tongue, letting a mouthful of vital blood seep from the corner of his mouth, barely managing to stop his wailing... but the despair on his face only deepened.

Fortunately, someone spoke up to bail them out.

Gu Bai sighed. "Ming'er, this price of yours... they couldn't afford it even if they sold everything they had."

Wu Ming was unperturbed. "Don't they have plenty of healthy organs? Between the two of them, you could save at least three kidneys and twenty meters of intestines, right?"

"Sigh..." Gu Bai sucked in a cold breath, deeply impressed by his disciple's creativity, and fell silent for a moment.

Zhang Miao then spoke up tremblingly. "Um, those two clan uncles aren't skilled in body refinement. Though they're at Core Formation, their, their organs aren't worth much."

Wu Ming clicked his tongue. "Those two are useless! So, how much does your Sanlang think I should ask for?"

Zhang Miao paused, then answered honestly, "Sanlang never said, but those two clan uncles spent a lot bribing their way into this job, so they're probably strapped for cash... but since they've been in Core Formation for years, they should still have some treasures, pills, and talismans."

Before she finished, Liu Li had already untied his and Liu Yi's storage pouches and laid out a few treasures.

"Third Young Master speaks truly! This Humble One still has a few treasures, willing to gift them to Young Hero Wu Ming! As long as Young Hero forgives our momentary lapse in judgment..."

Wu Ming glanced at the treasures on the ground, then at his master... but quickly shook his head and turned to Zhang Miao for help instead.

"Sister Zhang, could you appraise these for me?"

Gu Bai looked disappointed.

Zhang Miao, on the other hand, said with surprise, "Just, just call me Zhang Miao! Um, let me take a look! Hmm, Green Vine Rope, Remnant Star Seal, Wind-Breaking Shuttle—all very... standard treasures. Based on recent market prices, they'd total about two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones."

Wu Ming immediately frowned. "Looks like these two have no sincerity at all!"

Gu Bai quickly advised, "Ming'er, you don't understand—these treasures are priced modestly because they have strict cultivation requirements, and their divine abilities aren't much better than Foundation Establishment treasures... but they are genuine Golden Core treasures!"

Wu Ming roughly understood: high-level white gear, used and male-oriented, so selling cheap made sense...

"Anything else?"

Liu Li gritted his teeth and pulled out two porcelain bottles.

"This is the top-grade [Red Cloud Essence-Condensing Pill] gifted to us by the Lady."

Zhang Miao let out a soft exclamation. "Now that's a good item—it quickly replenishes True Essence and restores mana. For top-grade quality, a bottle usually goes for five to six hundred Spirit Stones."

Wu Ming nodded: this kind of HP and MP recovery pill was perfect for feeding to his master.

"Anything else?"

"Wah!" Liu Li burst into tears again. "Lord Wu Ming, have mercy!"

"Cry again, and I'll really add to the price!"

Wu Ming said this, but he realized there wasn't much more to squeeze from these two. So...

"Write an IOU."

"..." For a moment, Liu Li actually stopped crying, then sucked in a cold breath.

The handsome young man from Wuyang Village before him seemed to sprout horns on his head, his pupils igniting with flames from all directions, taking on the fierce aura of the former Sheep-Headed Demon King...

An IOU too!?

But Liu Li quickly thought: as long as he could escape the immediate trouble, an IOU wasn't really a fatal issue. In Qiongzhou, a dignified True Person of the Liu Family didn't really need to fear a Desolate creditor.

Some debts weren't so easy to collect.

So after some reluctant posturing, Liu Li tearfully wrote an IOU for two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones, already determined to default on it.

He could just flee to the next province to lie low!

Then he saw Wu Ming hand the IOU to Zhang Miao.

"Sister Zhang, how about I sell this IOU to you for one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones? It'll be easier for your own family to collect the debt."

"You!? Pfft!"

Liu Li immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, rolled his eyes, and fell backward. Liu Yi quickly massaged his meridians to revive him, a messy and embarrassing affair.

Zhang Miao smiled warmly. "Sure! But I don't have that many Spirit Stones on hand, so I'll have to write you another IOU."

As she spoke, she bent down to write the IOU, then asked, "And those treasures—want me to take them to Liuxiang Pavilion to sell for you?"

"I'd be grateful."

"Hehe, I'm glad you trust me! Once the treasures are sold, I'll send the Spirit Stones right over!" With that, Zhang Miao handed the new IOU to Wu Ming, which clearly read four thousand Spirit Stones.

Along with it, a small embroidered pouch sat on top of the IOU.

"This is a small apology from me and Sanlang. Our means are limited, so it's nothing valuable—just a token of intent. I hope that on the long road of cultivation, we can exchange favors and support each other."

Wu Ming nodded noncommittally, not refusing.

Just then, Liu Li was being dragged by his junior brother Liu Yi, quietly edging toward the Sect Leader Temple's exit... trying to slip away in the chaos.

Zhang Miao said softly, "Before you go, Uncle Li, there's one more thing. Don't forget."

Liu Li, called out by name, startled into another surge of chaotic qi and blood.

"Heh, I'm not trying to make trouble. It's just that when we passed through the wild forest at the foot of Yan Mountain earlier, we saw a few passing wild demons. The notes you secretly wrote down then—better to erase them, don't you think?"

"...Miss is right. I was bewitched at the time and scribbled down some baseless words that might cause misunderstandings. Indeed, better to erase them!"

With that, Liu Li took out two green jade bamboo slips, dipped his finger in the blood at the corner of his mouth, and smeared it over the slips. The slips quickly withered and turned to ash. Liu Li himself looked even more haggard, clearly paying a heavy price for the destruction.

After that, without waiting for Zhang Miao to say more, Liu Li gave a signal, and Liu Yi dragged him away, transforming into a rainbow light that shot into the sky and vanished in an instant.

Zhang Miao found it both amusing and regrettable. "They still had two Rainbow Cloud Evasion Talismans left. Those two clan uncles are even wealthier than Sanlang guessed."

Then, watching the two fade into the distance, the temple finally quieted down. The girl turned back to face Gu Bai and knelt gracefully.

"?!"

Gu Bai, who had been dozing off, jolted awake at the sight, flustered and unsure. "Little friend Zhang, what are you doing..."

As he spoke, he was about to lift her up with his qi, but when he saw the sincerity in Zhang Miao's eyes, the old man's heart stirred with sudden understanding. He stopped his motion and let her finish kowtowing several times.

Zhang Miao said, "For the sake of this Taiyi Dharma Sword, the Liu Family has repeatedly harassed your sect. Outer Court Elder Liu Xi, bold as heaven itself, attempted to murder the True Person in broad daylight; Liu Li and Liu Yi, acting on Madam's orders, colluded with Dinghuang Prefecture to issue an absurd Prefecture Edict, scheming to frame you and seize the sword... Though these three have already reaped what they sowed, the Liu Family's transgressions clearly cannot be wiped clean with a single stroke."

"As for this humble girl, though I came unwillingly, swept along by others, I still played the role of an accomplice in truth..."

Before her words faded, Gu Bai interrupted with a sigh: "Young friend of the Zhang Family, there's no need for this. The Gujian Sect may be small, but we can tell right from wrong, friend from foe. Since you first set foot here, your attitude has been consistent—we've all seen it. Ming'er never once treated you as an enemy from the start. So you need not apologize for faults that aren't yours."

Zhang Miao's voice trembled: "Thank you, Sect Leader True Person, for your magnanimity! But this humble girl speaks not only for herself—I also wish to offer a slight defense for Sanlang. I only beg the Sect Leader to spare some time..."

Gu Bai sighed: "The Liu Family is the foremost noble house of Wu Prefecture, with many branches and deep roots. In such a vast clan, there will naturally be all kinds of people and all kinds of schemes. I will not condemn the entire family for the sins of a few. As for Third Young Master Liu, I've met him only once; we bear no grudges, so there's nothing for me to defend him against."

Zhang Miao shook her head, insisting: "Sanlang is a direct descendant of the Liu Family. Back then, though Liu Xi was only temporarily acting as his protector, he was still his subordinate. And while Sanlang sensed Liu Xi's intentions, he failed to stop him—the responsibility for lax oversight cannot be shirked. Moreover, the two elders Liu Feng and Liu Lu, though they didn't act personally, lent out their artifacts, making them accomplices as well... They've now been transferred away on Sanlang's pretext and can no longer enter the Liu Family's inner courtyard."

Gu Bai slowly nodded.

Zhang Miao continued: "Furthermore, the Liu Family's repeated lawless acts were actually Madam Rong's willful actions alone, not the clan's intent. In truth, most of the inner courtyard elders opposed her conduct, but Madam moved too swiftly for anyone to intervene in time. However, now that the Shangqing Hengxiao Flag has ruled and recorded the outcome, the sword's ownership is settled. No matter how unwilling Madam may be, for now she can only focus on self-preservation. In the future, she will never cause your sect any more trouble."

"Of course, we dare not hope your sect will simply let bygones be bygones because of this. We only ask that the True Person give us a chance to atone..."

Gu Bai said solemnly: "Listen to words, observe deeds—the principles of conduct and action are no different. Enough. You've knelt long enough; stand up now!"

With that, a gentle breeze stirred, lifting Zhang Miao to her feet.

Zhang Miao was stunned for a moment before realizing that the old man before her had already forgiven and trusted her. Overjoyed, she said, "Thank you, True Person!"

Gu Bai said with some pity, "A child like you, born into a noble house—it must be hard."

Zhang Miao smiled: "Knowing Sanlang makes it not hard. Meeting the True Person today... and Young Master Wu Ming and Miss Zheng—I think this is my destiny!"

Then she turned her smile to Wu Ming: "You have cultivation this afternoon, and the True Person needs rest, so I won't disturb you any longer!"

With that, she turned to leave, stepping onto an expensive rainbow-haze talisman...

Wu Ming was a bit puzzled: "In such a hurry? Won't you stay for a meal and strengthen our bond?"

Zhang Miao hesitated briefly, then gritted her teeth and said frankly: "Though Liu Li and Liu Yi have lost their nerve, it's still better to keep someone close to watch them... And if I don't follow closely, I won't get to see that pair of long-suppressed senior and junior brothers licking each other's wounds in despair, clinging to each other for survival. I've been looking forward to it all the way here... Enough talk, I'm off!"

A flash of rainbow light, and the girl's figure vanished without a trace, leaving only Wu Ming standing there, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

Bro... seriously!?

Thanks to book friend 20190606145744762 and Bai Zhuo's blanched water for the tip!

Also, begging for all kinds of votes—thank you, everyone!