Cao Youqian's Wounded Heart

"Of course you can."

Chu Feng answered without even thinking.

"I never stopped you from going down the mountain. But with your cultivation, brat, remember to keep a low profile when you're out there.

"If anyone tries to beat you up, remember to give them your eldest senior brother's name."

Cao Youqian couldn't help feeling a warmth in his heart when he heard that.

Back when he was at the Pill Dao Institute, he had always been surrounded by countless people.

But those fellows had only called him Young Master Cao because of his spirit stones. Once he was sent to the Miscellaneous Dao Institute, they had vanished without a trace. Only the patriarch had truly cared about him.

Now he had two more people who cared about him.

His master and eldest senior brother had only spent a few days with him.

Yet their words and deeds all made his heart feel warm.

"I understand, Master. I won't disgrace the Miscellaneous Dao Institute while I'm out."

Half a month later.

Cao Youqian bid Chu Feng farewell and set off for Dao-Seeking City. When he had been wealthy, he had owned a few small businesses there.

Even though he had no spirit stones on him now, he could withdraw them once he reached Dao-Seeking City.

Then he could live the carefree life again.

No, he also had to bring some novel things back for his master.

Though his master would most likely consider those things beneath notice, they were still a small token of his regard.

The more Cao Youqian thought about it, the happier he became. In less than half an hour, he arrived in Dao-Seeking City.

He went straight to the Pavilion of Fragrant Beauties, intending to withdraw some spirit stones there.

As soon as he entered, Yuan Shuxiao of the Pavilion of Fragrant Beauties came to greet him.

"Young Master Cao, what brings you here?"

Cao Youqian put on a stern face. "What, am I not allowed to come here anymore?"

Yuan Shuxiao was well-versed in the ways of pleasure houses and knew how to handle people. Without a change of expression, he said, "I only heard that you suffered a great deal after being sent to the Miscellaneous Dao Institute, Young Master Cao. I thought you wouldn't be coming down the mountain again."

"Who's been talking nonsense behind my back? I only went to the Miscellaneous Dao Institute to have some fun for a few days. Anyway, I'm here to collect last month's dividend."

Cao Youqian spoke with a serious expression.

Yuan Shuxiao looked troubled. "To tell you the truth, Young Master Cao, Young Master Youde took your dividend."

"What?"

Cao Youqian flew into a rage the moment he heard that.

"Who told you to hand my dividend over to him? The shares in the Pavilion of Fragrant Beauties belong to me!"

Yuan Shuxiao hurriedly said, "Young Master Cao, Young Master Youde said he was collecting the dividend on the Profound Fire Pill King's orders. I wouldn't have dared refuse him, especially since he's now an inner disciple of the academy."

Cao Youqian's face turned livid. "Cao Youde, you've got some nerve, laying hands on my money! If I don't beat you up today, my surname isn't Cao!"

After that furious curse, he said to Yuan Shuxiao, "If that fellow comes asking you for my dividend again, don't give it to him. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

Yuan Shuxiao watched Cao Youqian's retreating figure and muttered, "That fellow doesn't understand his own position!

"He still thinks he's the Profound Fire Pill King's favorite junior."

The more Cao Youqian thought about it, the angrier he became. He soon arrived at the Pill Dao Institute, charged straight to the inner disciples' quarters, and shouted,

"Cao Youde, you shameless bastard, get out here!"

At his shout, quite a few people immediately emerged from the courtyard.

When they saw that it was Cao Youqian, contempt appeared on every face.

Some in the crowd even began making sarcastic remarks.

"Well, well, isn't this the Pill Dao Institute's number one good-for-nothing young master? What brings you to the inner courtyard to throw a fit today?"

"Don't talk nonsense. He's no longer one of us at the Pill Dao Institute. He's a brilliant disciple of the Miscellaneous Dao Institute."

"Hahaha..."

Word that the Profound Fire Pill King had sent Cao Youqian to the Miscellaneous Dao Institute had long since spread throughout the Pill Dao Institute.

No one knew about the wager between the Profound Fire Pill King and Chu Feng.

So, as far as everyone was concerned, Cao Youqian had fallen out of favor and been abandoned by the Profound Fire Pill King.

They simply hadn't expected a piece of trash like Cao Youqian to dare come back and throw his weight around.

None of them intended to intervene, though. They wanted to see how Cao Youde would deal with this piece of trash.

A moment later,

Cao Youde came out, surrounded by a crowd of people.

Though he was only at the peak of the Ninth Level of Dao Foundation, he was a direct descendant of the Cao Clan and held a high position in the Pill Dao Institute.

Even some True Fate Realm inner disciples deferred to him.

Cao Youde sneered contemptuously. "Well, I was wondering who was making all that noise. So it's you, you utterly worthless piece of trash. What do you want with me?"

"Hmph!"

Cao Youqian snorted. "You shameless scoundrel! You actually sent people to snatch all my dividends from the Tower of Fragrant Beauties. Have you no shame?"

At those words, realization dawned on everyone. So these two were fighting over the Cao Clan's interests.

"What do you mean, your dividends? Those are the Cao Clan's dividends from the Tower of Fragrant Beauties. You're no longer at the Pill Dao Institute, so what right do you have to them?"

Cao Youde changed tack. "Let me make this clear today. Not just the dividends from the Tower of Fragrant Beauties, but all your dividends in Dao-Seeking City will belong to me from now on."

His eyes lit up at the mention of the dividends in Dao-Seeking City.

Before, Cao Youqian had relied on the patriarch's favor to claim so many dividends.

A piece of trash had received more than him, a genius of the Cao Clan. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Those dividends should have been his long ago.

Fortunately, the patriarch had a discerning eye for talent and had sent Cao Youqian to the Miscellaneous Dao Institute.

Only then could he take over those businesses as a matter of course. Though the lion's share had to go to the clan, what remained was still a considerable income for him.

"Come on, let's go ask the patriarch to settle this."

Angry as Cao Youqian was, his head was still clear. He knew he couldn't beat Cao Youde.

The only one he could rely on was the patriarch. This was the Pill Dao Institute, after all; he couldn't drag his master and eldest senior brother into it.

Cao Youde smiled. "There's no need to look for the patriarch. He's already gone into seclusion. The great elder arranged this matter. If you're not satisfied, you can come with me to see him."

Cao Youqian's expression changed slightly. Wasn't the patriarch's seclusion a little too much of a coincidence?

He knew Cao Youde wouldn't dare lie to him about the patriarch going into seclusion. After all, it wasn't difficult for him to see the patriarch.

"Fine, let's see him!"

"Let's go."

Cao Youde spoke without a hint of fear.

The group soon arrived at the Pill Dao Institute's Head's Hall.

The Profound Fire Pill King, who usually presided here, was absent. Instead, the great elder was handling affairs.

Seeing this, Cao Youqian had a bad feeling.

When the great elder saw so many disciples enter, he asked, "What important business brings you to the Head's Hall?"

"Great Elder, this is what happened..."

Cao Youde spoke first and gave an account of the matter.

After listening, the great elder turned to Cao Youqian. "Youqian, you're in the wrong here. You're no longer a member of the Pill Dao Institute, so naturally you can no longer enjoy the resources you received here before. That is a rule set by the head."

Cao Youqian was no fool. As soon as he heard those words, he understood that the patriarch had abandoned him. Otherwise, the patriarch wouldn't have avoided seeing him.

Looking utterly dejected, he cupped his fists. "This disciple understands."

With that, he turned and left the Pill Dao Institute.

Cao Youde and the others left as well.

A lackey beside Cao Youde said, "Senior Brother Cao, should we teach Cao Youqian a lesson?"

"No need. There are plenty of people who want to make trouble for Cao Youqian. All we need to do is spread the word."

As Cao Youde spoke, a cold glint flashed in his eyes...