But He Was Offering Far Too Much

Many people had heard the classic scumbag hypothetical: if your girlfriend and your mother both fell into a river, which one would you save?

The people had come up with countless jokes to deftly dodge this scumbag's dilemma from every possible angle.

However funny and clever those jokes might be, they couldn't actually pull anyone out of the water. When a scumbag's hypothetical became real, people had to make a choice and decide.

That was the profound, educational point Wu Ming had been trying to make.

Unfortunately, Zhu Ying had clearly failed to get it. Her expression changed in an instant.

"Wu Ming! Cultivators shouldn't joke about their own life and death!"

When Zhu Ying flew into a rage, Zheng Lingxi, standing nearby, shuddered in fright before Gu Bai could even intervene. She hurriedly said, "Y-yes! I'm sorry, Senior Sister! I was wrong!"

"..."

Zheng Lingxi's interruption was like a sudden gust that blew Zhu Ying's anger away.

After a long while, she could only shake her head with a wry smile. She reached out and stroked Zheng Lingxi's cheek, soothing her guileless junior sister.

Only then did she turn to Wu Ming and say solemnly, "Little Junior Brother, I know what you're trying to say. If it really comes down to it, I wouldn't hesitate to collude with the Aristocratic Clans, much less brave fire and water. But you can't use an extreme hypothetical like that to make me abandon my principles out of nowhere."

"Sorry. I didn't think that question through."

"It's fine..."

"As professionals, if we need to make money, we should do the work ourselves instead of counting on others. Since I've joined Gujian Sect, it's only natural that I take on the responsibility of making the sect rich. There's no need to force Senior Sister! So don't worry. I'm all the sect needs to collude with the Aristocratic Clans!"

"..." Zhu Ying felt a headache coming on. There were too many layers to Wu Ming's words for her to untangle them all at once. But somehow, he seemed to have turned the tables on her!

And was it just her imagination, or did it sound as if he'd already colluded with the Aristocratic Clans?

Just as a trace of suspicion surfaced in Zhu Ying's mind, a breeze blew in from outside the temple, carrying the gentle voice of a woman.

"This humble woman is Zhang Miao. As agreed, I've come to pay my respects to Gujian Sect Leader..."

Zhu Ying was taken aback. "Zhang Miao? Who's that, Master? Do you know her?"

Gu Bai coughed. "Ming'er, you're good with words. You can explain."

"Simply put, she's the daughter of the Zhang Family of Wu Prefecture, the Aristocratic Clan that's colluding with our Gujian Sect."

"!?"

"A week ago..."

Wu Ming then briefly recounted how the two elders of the Liu Family had traveled a thousand miles with the Prefecture Edict and the Shangqing Hengxiao Flag, only to come all that way and humiliate themselves.

It was undoubtedly the kind of story that would make Senior Sister furious. But given her temperament, she probably wouldn't take it out on Zhang Miao...

Meanwhile, Gu Bai conjured a talisman out of thin air and sent a message inviting Zhang Miao up the mountain.

A moment later, just as Wu Ming finished his story, Zhang Miao's tall, slender figure appeared in front of Sect Leader Temple.

Compared to last time, without the two elders of the Liu Family accompanying her, the shy, gentle woman seemed much more relaxed and at ease. When she saw the people of Gujian Sect, she smiled warmly, then solemnly saluted each of them before entering the temple.

Then she got straight to the point.

"True Person, these are the Spirit Stones that Sanlang and I borrowed from your sect."

As she spoke, Zhang Miao took out a small brocade pouch that clearly had storage capabilities. She opened it with a special hand seal, and a dazzling stream of light poured out...

A flawless white jade tray was piled high with round, translucent Spirit Stones, gleaming brilliantly.

The temple fell silent in an instant. Even Zhu Ying was stunned by the brilliance and couldn't help holding her breath...

She might have the backbone of a cultivator who would never bend for a fortune, but she'd never been this close to so many Spirit Stones before.

Only Wu Ming kept his composure. After gazing at the dazzling light for a moment, he raised his brows and smiled. "That makes 4,012 in total. You've paid it all back in just a week, and even included interest—three percent a week. You really do put good faith first."

Zhang Miao was taken aback. "Y-yes, that's exactly 4,012. Sanlang said that when it comes to Spirit Stones, good faith must come first."

Wu Ming took out the IOU and returned it to Zhang Miao. "Please tell Third Young Master Liu that we've confirmed receipt of your sincerity and given it a thumbs-up."

Zhang Miao giggled. "If you get the chance, please do come visit us in the Prefecture City. Sanlang will prepare a fine banquet for you!"

"Then we'll have to decline!" Wu Ming replied righteously. "We of Gujian Sect are born with backbone. We don't ordinarily collude with scions of the Aristocratic Clans."

Zhang Miao looked terribly disappointed. "But we're being so sincere!"

"I believe you. That's all the more reason we can't go getting mixed up in such dirty business..."

At that point, Zhu Ying couldn't help speaking up. "All right. Now that you've finished your business, please head back. Gujian Sect is remote and impoverished. We don't have anything worth offering our distinguished guest..."

Although Wu Ming's story had left her with no ill will toward Zhang Miao, she still didn't want to get too close to a scion of an Aristocratic Clan.

Zhang Miao hurriedly said, "T-there's one more thing! I also brought a request from Sanlang. It's a bit presumptuous, but we hope True Person will grant it..."

Since Zhang Miao had specifically asked to speak to the sect leader, Zhu Ying couldn't overstep.

Gu Bai had always thought highly of Zhang Miao, and that had even given him a favorable impression of Liu Qi. He chuckled and said, "Young friend from the Zhang Family, please tell us what Third Young Master Liu is requesting."

Zhang Miao said, "Sanlang wants to establish a Qingluan Post Station at the foot of Yan Mountain."

"!?"

Even Gu Bai was astonished by this.

Qingluan Post Stations were a transportation network widely established throughout Qiongzhou. Their stations were linked by Lingguang Paths woven through the sky.

Along the Lingguang Paths, the exclusive spirit beasts of Luohuang Mountain, Qiongzhou's foremost immortal sect, shuttled back and forth. The Qingluan carried passengers and cargo with the speed of thunder, far surpassing human travel.

With a Qingluan Post Station, the fastest trip from Wu Prefecture's Prefecture City to the foot of Yan Mountain would take only half an hour—though riding a Qingluan would be astonishingly expensive.

For the perpetually impoverished Gujian Sect, a Qingluan Post Station was plainly an extravagant luxury they could hardly afford to enjoy. In the past, even Wuting of Luohuang Mountain had never considered extending its network to such a poor, remote backwater.

What's more, laying down Lingguang Paths and setting up a post station required all sorts of building materials, including spirit wood and jade foundations. The Prefecture City would also need to organize its spiritual veins, diverting a sliver of the world's spiritual energy—which it had gathered with great effort—to this poor, remote place. Without some extraordinarily special reason, Dinghuang Prefecture would never allow it.

Of course, none of those problems posed any obstacle to the foremost Aristocratic Clan of Wu Prefecture. And although Third Young Master Liu couldn't speak for the whole clan, it was hard to say he lacked the ability to establish a Qingluan Post Station at the foot of Yan Mountain.

But why?

Setting up a Qingluan Post Station would, all in all, do Gujian Sect more good than harm. They might not be able to afford the service day to day, but another spiritual vein would mean more spiritual energy for Yan Mountain. For the people of Yan Mountain, who suffered from a lack of spiritual energy, it would be a timely rain.

And if they ever ordered magical treasures or talismans from Liuxiang Pavilion, they might even get free delivery...

But what was in it for the Liu Family?

Was this just an apology? Or...

Gu Bai pondered for a moment. "Third Young Master Liu's generous offer is appreciated, but our humble sect's land is poor and its fortune meager. We truly couldn't bear the weight of a Qingluan..."

After a pause, the old man changed tack. "So if Third Young Master Liu has something he wants from us, why not appear in person and explain the reasoning behind it?"

As he spoke, the old man's gaze fixed firmly on the Red Cloud Ruyi Shoulder Mantle worn by Zhang Miao.

The next instant, a translucent, rosy cloud pendant on the mantle lifted lightly. It was a beautifully drawn talisman.

The talisman unfurled, and a man's voice, gentle and pleasant to the ear, came from within.

"This is Liu Qi. Greetings, True Person. I should have come with Zhang Miao to pay my respects, but an unforeseen circumstance got in the way. I could only send my voice through this cloud talisman, which has a time limit. That's why I didn't appear from the beginning. I hope you'll forgive my discourtesy."

Gu Bai naturally didn't press him on it. "There's no need for formalities, Third Young Master Liu. Since you've used the Red Cloud Talisman, which only transmits the truth, it's no different from being here in person. Please, speak plainly."

Liu Qi chuckled. "Thank you, True Person... Then I'll speak plainly. One reason I want to establish a Qingluan Post Station is to apologize for what happened before and show my sincerity. The other is that I'd like to invest in your sect... or more precisely, in one of your people."

As he spoke, the cloud talisman turned slightly, its exquisite design facing Wu Ming as if greeting him with a smile.

Wu Ming immediately clicked his tongue.

Seeing this, Zhu Ying even forgot her distaste for the Aristocratic Clans for a moment and couldn't help laughing. "Didn't someone just say that he alone was enough to collude with the Aristocratic Clans?"

Zhang Miao's eyes lit up with excitement. Her breathing grew quick, like a police dog clutching a metal food bowl in its mouth and waiting for dinner.

Dealing with all sorts of troublesome matters in the Prefecture City had been exhausting. At last, she was finally getting something good to eat!