Chapter 175 - Being Alive… Without Money
Chapter 175 Being Alive… Without Money
No official of the Great Zhou had ever dared to say such a thing in front of the cultivators of Taihao Palace!
Su Wen’s actions undoubtedly made everyone in the sect feel humiliated.
They had always thought highly of themselves, just like how when Su Wen wanted to negotiate with them earlier. In their eyes, so what if he was the son of the prime minister of Great Zhou?
They had already taken many things for granted. In fact, this was inevitable in this era. Individual martial prowess led to their disregard for law. Many people felt that they were impressive just because they were skilled in martial arts. What government? Could it be eaten?
Just like some rich people, if you know, you know.
For example, the Taihao Palace had monopolized the usage of some mines. At the time, perhaps some officials were unwilling to offend them, so they nodded their heads in agreement and turned a blind eye to their actions.
After that, no one pursued the matter. As time passed, the culprits soon begin to feel that the mine was theirs. What did it have to do with the Royal Court? So what if they lived in Great Zhou? Today, Su Wen blatantly told them that if the imperial court were to take them seriously, then everything would be illegal! Perfected Cui Xu was left utterly stunned. What should he do? Go back and organize people to kill their way out?
Without a doubt, this would cause the Taihao Palace to break ties with the Great Zhou Royal Court! Once the war began, the foundation that the Taihao Palace had built for thousands of years would be destroyed. He suddenly regretted it! Mo Qingfeng was right! He should not offend the Royal Court just because of a woman!
When Su Wen said that he wanted to settle it with money, he should have reconciled with him.
But so what if they didn’t start a war? Could it be that they would just let Su Wen chase them out of their Sect base?
The Taihao Palace would definitely lose all face!
At that moment, a sigh was heard. A white-haired old man slowly descended from the sky. There was no anger in his eyes, only calmness, as if everything was normal.
After he landed, he looked at the Thirteenth Master behind Su Wen and nodded slightly. When the Daoist priests of the Vast Sky Palace saw this person, they all bowed. “Greetings, Prime Elder.” Even the sect leader, Perfected Cui Xu bowed. “Taihao, Long Hua!” “Commander of the Secret Shadow Guard, Su Wen!”
The two of them introduced themselves to each other before Daoist Long Hua said in a low voice, “Little friend, don’t go too far in everything you do.” Su Wen raised his eyebrows. Was this old fellow not going to chat nicely with him too? His expression hardened, and he said in a low voice, “What do you mean by going too far? Everything I do is according to the law. According to the rules, everything under the heavens is the land of the Emperor! Does your Taihao Palace stand outside the laws of the Great Zhou?” Even if a Heaven Rank expert from Taihao Palace arrived, Su Wen wouldn’t back down.
Long Hua’s eyes narrowed slightly as a terrifying aura suddenly surged toward Su Wen.
At this point, Thirteenth Master appeared beside Su Wen. His eyes were wide open as he shouted angrily, “Daoist Long Hua, you dare to injure our Great Zhou officials? Are you courting death?”
A formless spiritual energy collision occurred in midair.
Daoist Longhua took half a step back. He sighed and said, “Then what do you want to do, Lord?” Su Wen smiled and said, “Nothing much. Firstly, you have to deliver the women you abducted!” Daoist Longhua turned to look at Cui Xu, a questioning look in his eyes. He had no idea what was going on. Cui Xu whispered, “That’s the Demoness of the Demonic Music Sect!” “Release her!” Cui Xu didn’t even dare to let out a fart. He quickly got someone to bring Xie Bingrui out. Xie Bingrui had no idea what was going on. When she saw Su Wen, she finally understood!
“It must be my daughter who told him to come to me! He was bewitched by her Mental Demon Charming Body and obeyed my daughter’s orders. Hahahaha! This move of mine is too ingenious!” Xie Bingrui was ecstatic. She was delivered to Su Wen by the people from the Taihao Palace. Perfected Cui Xu couldn’t help but ask, “I’ve given you the person. Can you leave now?” Su Wen sneered. “Are you kidding me?” Xie Bingrui was in an extremely miserable state. Her lute bones were pierced by the iron hooks at this point. Su Wen coldly said, “Who captured her? Who used such a method? I’ve to get an explanation for all this, right?”
“Don’t go too far!” Cui Xu uttered in a low voice.
Long Hua suddenly turned around and slapped him. He shouted coldly, “Who asked you to speak?”
Perfected Cui Xu’s face swelled up from the slap, but he didn’t dare to say anything. Daoist Longhua pulled out a medicinal pill from his robes and handed it over. “This is a Jade Bone Ice Flesh Pill. Once you use it, her injuries will completely heal within three days. She won’t even leave a scar behind.” Su Wen received the pill and stuffed it into his sleeves. However, he continued staring at them as he shouted in a deep voice, “I want the culprit! If you can’t hand them over, I will bring all of you back!” Daoist Long Hua was rather displeased. “Didn’t I already give you the pill?” Su Wen sneered. “What has got to with the culprit? So you’re saying, if I beat a certain disciple of yours until all his bones and tendons are broken and torture him for another month or two, so long as I provide a pill to heal his injuries, the matter will be settled?”
“I said it very clearly. I want the culprit!” He could tell that Long Hua had suffered some losses just now and was probably no match for the Thirteenth Master.
Since that was the case, he could act even more unbridled.
To put it bluntly, if a few thousand people from the government died, there would still be many more to replace them. However, if the few thousands from Taihao Palace died, the sect would be wiped out! Even if some of them escaped the net, their enemies would probably pounce on them.
“Brat, leave some leeway so that we can meet again in the future!” Long Hua said coldly.
Su Wen sneered and said, “You guys didn’t give me a chance when I wanted to give you guys one. It’s too late now! Hand over the culprit or I will order people to attack the mountain!”
Su Wen knew that even if he did leave some leeway, the other party would not be grateful. “Cui Xu!” Long Hua suppressed his anger and shouted angrily.
Cui Xu looked at the old Daoist priest who brought Xie Bingrui over. The old Daoist priest smiled bitterly before taking a step forward, “It’s me! I did it!”
After Su Wen ordered them to capture the old Daoist, someone went forward to restrain him.
Su Wen looked at Long Hua and said in a deep voice, “Your Taihao Palace has been violating the governmental mining laws for a long time. You will be fined 200,000 taels of silver and the mineral resources will be returned to the country. Also, regarding your infraction of the construction, I will show you some leniency, quickly go to the authorities to settle the paperwork! If this happens again, I will not forgive you!” Su Wen didn’t force the Daoist priests of the Taihao Palace to move out either. Otherwise, a war would really break out.
He then coldly watched as Cui Xu strenuously gathered 200,000 taels of silver from the sect. Su Wen ordered his men to accept it, before turning around and shouting, “Let’s go!” He behaved extremely arrogantly! He led the old Daoist priest and Xie Bingrui as everyone slowly descended the mountain! Daoist Longhua turned to Cui Xu at this point. “What’s going on? Why did you provoke him? He has a Heaven Rank expert with him!” Perfected Cui Xu smiled bitterly and explained everything slowly! Daoist Long Hua was incomparably furious as he berated them, “Have you all gone mad? Do you really think that you are invincible just because you have some martial arts skills? Do you think no one dares to provoke you? I’ve already warned you all to treat the people of the royal court with caution. Why did you all forget about it?” “They came to our door to discuss business, yet you demand an exorbitant price. Do you really treat the Royal Court as invisible? Do you know that if it weren’t for that person, the Court would have destroyed all these sects long ago? Would it be your turn to be arrogant?” Perfected Cui Xu asked curiously, “That person? Who is he?” Daoist Long Hua only glanced at him before lambasting, “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask! All you need to know is that the Court normally wouldn’t touch us for no reason, but that’s only because we don’t take the initiative to provoke them. But once we really poke this hornet nest, even that person won’t help us! There must be rules in everything!” “Yes, this disciple knows his mistake! But… What about Junior-apprentice Brother Qing Xuanzi?” Daoist Longhua shook his head and said, “What do you think we should do?”
Right at this time, Mo Qingfeng who had remained silent all along opened his mouth and said, “This disciple and that Su Wen are old friends. Why not… this disciple go and
ask?”
Long Hua looked at him and nodded. “Not bad, kid. We’ll do as you say.”
On the other side, Xie Bingrui, Su Wen, and the others returned to the transit station.
Xie Yiyi finally relaxed when she saw her mother.
She quickly helped Xie Bingrui remove the iron hooks on her body and took the pill to help her wash up and rest. Meanwhile, Su Wen brought Qing Xuanzi to a room.
Zhao Jin and Chu He stood by the side. After all, this old fellow had a cultivation of 8th Grade Earth Rank!
Su Wen crossed his legs and casually said, “Old Daoist, we meet again.” Qing Xuanzi smiled apologetically. “Young Master Su.” “Why did you capture my mother-in-law?” Su Wen asked in a fierce tone. The old Daoist seriously replied, “Sect Master has given the order, I dare not disobey!” What a good throw of the ball into the other’s court. Su Wen smiled. “Then that Sect Master of yours is not any good thing as well, to just turn back and sell you out!” To be honest, Qing Xuanzi was also speechless. When Cui Xu had looked at him just now, it was obvious that he wanted him to take the blame. What could he do?
In the end, he couldn’t possibly allow Cui Xu to leave with Su Wen. He could only step forward, but it was impossible for him not to feel disappointed. You asked me to do something, but when sh*t hit the fan, I have to take the blame?
Although this was a common occurrence, no one would desire to have it happen to themselves. “For the crime of abducting a woman, logically speaking, you should have been sent to the army for at least three to five years. Considering how high your cultivation base is, they might even have destroyed your cultivation,” Su Wen said, and the old Daoist’s expression turned uglier. “Young Master Su, I’m not the Sect Master. I’ll submit. You can say however you wish to deal with me.”
This old Daoist priest had his priorities right. Su Wen smiled and said, “In that case, how about you follow me for five years?”
“Deal!”
Qing Xuanzi agreed without hesitation.
Having one more person was naturally better than nothing. Su Wen said to Qing Xuanzi, “Don’t worry, I won’t be like your sect master. I will never let my subordinates take the blame.” “Of course, I’ve long heard of Young Master Su’s arrogance! He’s a responsible person!” the old Daoist said with a smile. Zhao Jin, who was standing to the side, felt a faint sense of disgust in his heart when he saw this boot-licking appearance of this Daoist! He rebuked angrily, “Don’t speak nonsense. What do you mean by being arrogant? My young master has a heart for the world! He sees injustice!” The old Daoist replied loudly, “That’s right! This brother is right!” Zhao Jin was left speechless. What should he do? Someone was stealing his business now.
Right then, someone reported from outside that Mo Qingfeng had arrived. Su Wen gave the old Daoist a look, and the guy immediately stood up and went behind Su Wen.
Mo Qingfeng entered and was stunned when he saw the three people standing behind Su Wen.
However, he retained his manners, smiling and greeting them.
As the two of them sat down, Mo Qingfeng looked at the old Daoist behind Su Wen from time to time. “Um… Young Master Su, may I ask, how do you plan to deal with my Martial Uncle Qing Xuanzi?” Just as he finished speaking, the old Daoist shouted angrily, “Insolence! Is this something you should ask about?” After saying that, he bent down and asked Su Wen in a low voice, “Young Master, can I explain to him?” Seeing his attitude, Zhao Jin was already itching to draw his saber and strike down this old Daoist. Mo Qingfeng was even more dumbstruck. Why does this Martial Uncle… look so hateful at this moment?
Su Wen nodded. He was very curious about how the old Daoist would explain to Mo Qingfeng After receiving Su Wen’s approval, the old Daoist stood up straight and said in a deep voice, “I have just been rehabilitated by Young Master Su Wen and have already deeply recognized my own mistakes. I have thus decided to turn over a new leaf. From now on, I will treat Young Master Su Wen as a benchmark and abide by the law. I will report to the country and atone for the mistakes that our Taihao Palace made previously! Go back and report to the sect master. Tell him that after I have atone for my sins, I will return to the sect!”
Mo Qingfeng’s jaw dropped. Why did these words not sound like words spoken by a human at all? He had said it in all seriousness, but it was terrifyingly fake!
“This…”
Mo Qingfeng was somewhat in a dilemma. Su Wen said with a smile, “You saw it, I didn’t force him. It was your Uncle-Master who was enlightened. Furthermore, he’s guilty of abducting women, so he has to pay a price, right? He’ll be back in a few years, so don’t worry. If you miss him, you can come to my house to visit anytime. Just remember to bring me some gifts when the time comes.” Mo Qingfeng came out of the transit station in a daze and could not help but look back. He felt as though whatever transpired was him having a dream Shouldn’t Uncle-Master be filled with grief and indignation? What was going on with that smile on his face? Was he coerced to that point? He probably was… After returning to the Taihao Palace, Mo Qingfeng reported truthfully. When everyone had finished listening, the Prime Elder Long Hua said in a low voice, “This matter ends here. That Su Wen has a Heaven Rank expert protecting him, so it’s clear that the emperor values him greatly. Don’t get on his bad side.
Since Qing Xuanzi hasn’t been tortured, and there’s no danger, then let him follow Su Wen for a few years. We can consider him as a buffer between the Sect and the Royal Court in the meantime. Practice well and strive to break through to Heaven Rank as soon as possible, as I don’t have much time left… If none of you are able to reach the Heaven Rank in time, then not to mention the Royal Court, even in the martial world… I’m afraid there will be people who will try to harm our Taihao Palace…” The Prime Elder sighed and left.
In reality, he was also very helpless. If he was ten years younger, he would be even more unyielding than he was today. It was just that right now, his body might not be able to endure another great battle. He knew that he could not fall at this time!
After he left, Perfected Cui Xu shook his head helplessly and said, “Disperse! Also send out a notice that the execution of Xie Bingrui is canceled!”
The Taihao Palace would definitely lose face this time. Everyone left, but the logistics elder didn’t. “Sect Master, what should we do!” He cried miserably. Cui Xu frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Money… We don’t have any more money! There are less than 300 taels of silver in the account now!” The logistics elder counted on his fingers and said, “There are more than 1,000 disciples in the sect. Let’s not talk about anything else, even if it’s just eating, this money won’t last for more than a few days. Not to mention the need for medicinal pills, some low level disciples even need to have weapons forged…” As Cui Xu listened to the report, he realized that he had never thought money could be so important. “If I had known, I would have agreed to exchange the money with Su Wen. I heard that the Su family is rich…” Perfected Cui Xu wanted to cry at this moment. He finally experienced the pain of being alive… without money. They could only mobilize the entire Taihao Palace to start a great business of earning money. For a very long time, the disciples of Taihao Palace would chop wood, sell medicine, and sell wild animals. They would do anything to obtain money, turning into a topic of discussion within the martial world. Of course, this was all in the future…
Much later, Xie Bingrui woke up and found Xie Yiyi lying beside her. And her injuries felt much better. “Yiyi.” She tapped on her daughter to rouse her.
She then said with some heartache, “It’s been hard on you. It’s all thanks to you managing to control Su Wen and let him save me. Hurry up and get him to order people to attack the mountain and kill those ox-nosed Daoists.”
She still mistakenly thought that Su Wen was controlled by Xie Yiyi to save her.
“Mother!” Xie Yiyi was helpless. “Can’t you just stop? Look at you. Even after being captured, the sect master didn’t come to save you. Now, you’re asking Su Wen to attack the Taihao Palace. What’s the point!” Xie Bingrui shook her head. “There’s nothing we can do about it. Taihao Palace is powerful and has Heaven Rank experts. Our Demonic Music Sect can’t handle them. How can they save me?”
“Mother, do you really plan on staying in the Demonic Music Sect forever?” Xie Yiyi looked at Xie Bingrui and decided to lay her cards on the table.
She continued in a deep voice, “I’m not afraid to tell you the truth. I won’t listen to your orders anymore and I won’t let Su Wen do anything for you. Su Wen saved you this time, so you better take care of yourself. If there’s a next time…” At this moment, Su Wen knocked on the door. “Can I come in?” “Come in!”
Xie Yiyi didn’t ask for Xie Bingrui’s opinion. Su Wen walked in with a face full of smiles. Behind him was a maid carrying toiletries and breakfast.
The maid put down her things and left. Su Wen smiled as he asked, “How are your injuries?” Xie Bingrui casually replied, “I’m already mostly recovered.” As she spoke, she looked at Xie Yiyi and said, “What’s wrong with you? Didn’t we agree to control him to serve our Demonic Music Sect? What do you mean now?”
She thought that Su Wen was being controlled by Xie Yiyi and was completely defenseless.
Xie Yiyi shook her head and said, “Mother, so what if you make the Demonic Music Sect number one in the world? Isn’t it good to just focus on raising your cultivation?” “Exactly!” Su Wen agreed. Xie Bingrui completely ignored Su Wen and raged at Xie Yiyi. “Reviving the Demonic Music Sect is my lifelong wish. No matter what, I have to continue! If you don’t help me, then go live your own good life. In the future, we will sever all ties!”
Xie Yiyi burst into tears and plunged into Su Wen’s arms.
At this moment, Su Wen smiled and said, “I’ve never seen someone who works so hard as an employee. If you were the Demonic Sound Sect’s Sect Master, I can understand why you’re acting like you’re on steroids. But you’re just a worker, so what are you trying to do? You even talk about your lifelong wish. Without me, your wish would probably have gone unfulfilled!”
“Yiyi, tell him to shut up! This brat’s words are too annoying!” Xie Bingrui’s face turned red from anger. To which Xie Yiyi whispered, “I didn’t control him at all!”
“Huh!” Xie Bingrui left stunned at this revelation.
At this moment, Su Wen raised Xie Yiyi’s chin and looked at her alluring face. He chuckled and said, “What do you mean by you haven’t controlled me… your tears have already controlled my heart…” As he spoke, he swooped down to kiss her! As their tongues intertwined, Xie Yiyi’s body turned weak.
What a display of dog food for the mother-in-law! (TL Note: One of the slangs the Chinese use for single people can be translated as ‘single dogs’. Thus, displays of affection are often jokingly called scattering dog food for the single dogs to ‘eat’.) Xie Bingrui’s face blushed crimson at this passionate scene. After the kiss, Su Wen turned to Xie Bingrui with a smile. “My dear mother-in-law, are you very surprised? I have an opinion to voice, why don’t you listen to it? I can help you revitalize the Demonic Music Sect, but there’s a condition. You have to be the sect master! What do you think of this condition? No matter what, you’re one of us. I can’t possibly waste so much effort only to benefit a third party, right?”
Xie Bingrui fell into silence. Be the Sect Master?
In other words, the current Sect Master had to die!
After all, no one would willingly give up their position.
As her expression changed, Su Wen’s voice sounded in her ear. “Don’t you want to revive the Demonic Music Sect? Then sacrifices are definitely needed. If you don’t even have this bit of determination, how are you going to revive it?”
“I… I have to think about it! You go out first!”
Su Wen pulled Xie Yiyi and said, “Leave this place to the servants. Go back to your room and have a good rest.”
With that said, Su Wen turned around to look at Xie Bingrui. His voice was low and seductive like a devil. “Didn’t you sacrifice Yiyi’s cultivation base for the Demonic Music Sect? Didn’t you also threaten to break all ties with Yiyi just now? Think about it carefully. Opportunities don’t knock twice.”
With that, he carried Xie Yiyi and left the room.
In the courtyard, the Thirteenth Master was currently bragging about his bravery to Ying Hua.
“Just that Long Hua? He didn’t even dare to let out a fart when I spoke. Didn’t you see his expression at that time…”
Ying Hua looked at Old Master with admiration, making Old Master feel even more heroic.
However, in reality… she didn’t understand a single thing at all. But in the service industry, the customer was the King, right?
If only her customer was that Young Master instead…
Ying Hua wandered off in her thoughts.
Just then, she saw from the corner of her eye Su Wen carrying Xie Yiyi past them. She couldn’t help but secretly sigh…
Her looks were not bad, but compared to Su Wen’s wives, she was truly nothing.
They were all country toppling beauties.
Ying Hua turned around and looked at the Thirteenth Master, who was speaking so fast to the point he had spit at the mouth. She smiled and praised, “Great Master is mighty!”
In a dark corner somewhere in the world, the current Demonic Music Sect’s Sect Master was listening to his subordinate’s report.
He was a man in his forties with a perpetually frosty expression. When he heard that Xie Bingrui was saved by Su Wen and the execution was canceled, he revealed a smile. “Not bad! Not bad at all! When Xie Bingrui brought Xie Yiyi to the capital, I didn’t think much of it. I didn’t expect this woman’s move to be so powerful.
“Although I don’t know the details, Su Wen’s ability to rescue that person from the Taihao Palace is truly impressive. With his help, our Demonic Music Sect will definitely rise to prominence!”
As he spoke, a look of pity flashed across his face. “What a pity, Xie Yiyi! After that woman… dispersed her power, she became so naturally charming. She’s so beautiful that it’s hard to resist!”
At the thought of this, he even had a physiological reaction. “But this is also good. Didn’t Xie Yiyi already control Su Wen? Now that I’ve broken through to the 9th Grade, I don’t have to worry about that woman Xie Bingrui anymore. When the time comes, I can also find a chance to get close to her! If I can get her pregnant with my child, I might even be able to borrow the power of the Su family to let my bloodline take over authority in the Court… Hahahaha!”
The Sect Master burst out laughing.
The subordinate who reported also smiled and said, “Sect Master’s wisdom is peerless! This subordinate admires you!”
Speaking up to this point, the Demonic Music Sect Master’s face suddenly stiffened. “You may leave!”
After the man left, he smiled lewdly again. “I, Fang Mushan, am a man of many talents. That idiot Xie Bingrui actually refuted my advances in the past. If it weren’t for her superb cultivation, I would have forcibly taken her and her daughter. Now that she’s seriously injured, I can give it a try! Hehe!”