Chapter 36 - The Lion's Big Mouth
The pressure from Burning Sky Valley's "Red Phoenix Sky Patrol" hung like a heavy, leaden cloud over the "T-shaped End" area, lingering for a long time. The blazing, greedy gaze cast across space, like magma, nearly solidified the murderous aura surrounding Chu Linyuan, and the humming sound from the Frost Silence sword scabbard echoed incessantly.
He sat cross-legged at the edge of the camp, facing the void where the sea of clouds was rolling. His back in black clothes was like a silent iceberg, isolating himself from the noise of the outside world and the concerns of his companions.
Only the sword before the knees and the stubbornly swaying red at the waist prove the undercurrent surging beneath the iceberg.
Xie Zhao looked at Chu Linyuan's back, his peach blossom eyes filled with worry. The Jinghong Fu pen unconsciously spun at his fingertips.
Burning Sky Valley… What are they trying to do? That look definitely doesn't look kind! He forced himself to look away. Right now, there were more pressing issues to deal with—repairing the ship! Compensation!
He took a deep breath, crouched back down at the smoking stern, and once again engaged in a battle with the Stitched Monsters' driving array. Sparks flew, and the sound of metal clashing was fierce.
The atmosphere in the camp was somewhat depressing. Tie Niu stopped pounding the ground and sat aside, hugging his "stone rations", looking unhappy.
Su Tang also put down her photo stone, her little face wrinkled, and she counted on her fingers how many jade slips she needed to sell for one thousand spirit stones.
The white deer was holding the rabbit, and his clear deer eyes were full of worry.
Luo Hongyi leaned on a relatively clean white jade tile, her beautiful face covered with a layer of frost, and her fingertips played with a small dark green jade bottle, with a faint sweet and fishy smell lingering around the bottle mouth.
She raised her eyes to look at the huge ship in the center area that looked like a red-gold mountain, and her red lips curled up into an icy arc.
The sound of Uncle Chen's broom was the only rhythm in this depressing scene.
He hunched his back and slowly swept the last bit of metal debris that had collapsed from Xie Zhao's repair work into the garbage pile in the corner.
Then, he paused, and his cloudy old eyes swept over the Guixu Sect's camp, which was swept exceptionally clean, and then looked at the slightly messy camps of Baiduan Valley and Yaowang Valley next to it. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, but finally dragged the broom and walked over slowly, and began to clean up the scattered iron filings beside the Baiduan Valley flying boat and the herbal residues outside the Yaowang Valley tent with the same meticulousness.
Tie Kuang and Liu Qingyi were stunned at first, but then their eyes revealed gratitude and a hint of warmth. In the strict hierarchy and cold humanity of Wanxiantai, the silent kindness of an insignificant old servant seemed particularly precious.
"Thank you very much, father-in-law!" Tie Kuang clasped his fists and spoke in a loud voice.
"Thank you for your hard work, old man." Liu Qingyi bowed gracefully.
Uncle Chen just made a vague "hmm" sound, without even raising his head, and continued cleaning attentively.
Just then, a burst of arrogant noise broke the dullness of the fringe area.
"Get out of the way! The Immortal Alliance is in charge! Everyone else, please get out of the way!"
Three monks wearing standard black robes with silver edges and chain dragon head emblems embroidered on their chests, led by a middle-aged monk wearing a luxurious purple robe with gold edges and an arrogant face, separated the crowd and walked straight towards the Guixu Sect's camp.
The purple-robed monk in the lead was holding a jade scroll in his hand, his chin raised high, and his eyes looking down on others. He was the Immortal Alliance deacon in charge of this "D-shaped" area - Jin Buhuan.
"Guixu Sect! Who's in charge?" Jin Buhuan's voice was sharp and full of impatience. His eyes swept over the crooked wrecked boat and the rubble-like "camp" before finally landing on Xie Zhao, who was repairing the boat. His brows knitted into knots. "Is it you?"
Xie Zhao stopped what he was doing, stood up, dusted himself off, and habitually put on a smile: "I am Xie Zhao, the temporary manager of Guixu Sect.
I wonder what advice the steward has for you?" He glanced at the three monks in black robes with silver edging behind Jin Buhuan, their auras cold and their eyes indifferent—standard members of the Immortal Alliance's law enforcement team.
"Give me some advice?" Jin Buhuan sneered, and with a rustling sound, he unfolded the jade book in his hand and tapped it with a jade ruler. "Look for yourself! You've damaged seven and a half tiles of the 'Flawless Jade' floor of the Wanxian Terrace, causing disorder in the berthing area and disturbing everyone!
Considering this is your first offense, you will be fined one thousand low-grade spirit stones! Plus additional venue occupancy fees, cleaning fees, and compensation for mental damage... a total of one thousand five hundred low-grade spirit stones! You must pay the full amount within one hour! Otherwise, you will be disqualified and expelled from the Wanxiantai! Damage to public property will be subject to compensation at the price paid!"
One thousand five hundred spirit stones! Five hundred more than Lao Qian's previous estimate!
"What?!" Su Tang screamed in surprise.
Tie Niu's eyes widened: "I... I don't have that many stones..."
The white deer's expressionless face turned cold, and the rabbit in his arms bared its teeth as if it sensed its owner's dissatisfaction.
Even Uncle Chen, who was sweeping the floor not far away, paused slightly.
Xie Zhao's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes turned cold. "Deacon Jin, this number... isn't it a little off? Just now, the Iron Valley Master of Baiduan Valley gave me an estimate, and the floor tiles are only worth about 700 spirit stones. This extra cost..."
"Hmph!" Jin Buhuan interrupted him, the jade ruler almost poking Xie Zhao's nose, "Whatever this deacon says is what it is! How can you question the rules of Wanxiantai?
Your wrecked boat is littered with garbage and soot. Shouldn't you pay for the cleaning? That noise just now scared so many fellow Taoists. Shouldn't you compensate for the emotional damage?
And since you're taking up such a large area to park this pile of junk, shouldn't you pay for the site fee? Fifteen thousand is already very respectful to you 'country bumpkins' from the Burial God Abyss!"
The three law enforcement officers behind him were like cold statues, their hands already on the standard magic swords at their waists, their auras locked on Xie Zhao. A solemn and murderous atmosphere instantly filled the air.
The monks from the surrounding Baiduan Valley, Yaowang Valley, and some smaller sects were all furious but dared not speak out. Tie Kuang's face was ashen with rage, and his fists were clenched so tightly that they made a crackling sound. Liu Qingyi's eyes were also filled with resentment.
Xie Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly, and the Jinghong Talisman Pen quietly slid into his palm from his sleeve.
He knew this was a harassment, a naked harassment! The Immortal Alliance, or some other forces, were forcing and humiliating them in this way!
Fifteen hundred spirit stones, they simply couldn't come up with that now! The money Su Tang earned from selling the jade slips wasn't even enough!
Just as the atmosphere was tense, a lazy yet somewhat sweet voice sounded:
"Hey~ Deacon Jin, you are so majestic~"
Luo Hongyi stood up slowly, her waist swaying slightly like a swaying poisonous poppy.
She had a charming smile on her face, and she was holding the dark green jade bottle between her fingertips as she walked gracefully to Jin Buhuan.
An extremely elegant yet mind-blowing fragrance quietly spread.
Jin Buhuan was stunned by this sudden beauty. His eyes were involuntarily attracted by Luo Hongyi's gorgeous face and graceful figure. He subconsciously softened his tone and asked, "Who are you?"
"My humble self, Luo Hongyi, is just an insignificant cook in Guixu Sect." Luo Hongyi smiled sweetly, her eyes moving like hooks. "Master Deacon, you have come from afar and taken care of these trivial matters. Thank you for your hard work."
She held the dark green jade bottle forward, and a richer, mouth-watering sweet fragrance emanated from it. "This is our Guixu Sect's specialty, the 'Hundred Flowers Jade Dew Soup'. It's extremely nourishing and soothing, and it's also good for your skin and mind."
Seeing that the deacon has worked so hard and looks a little haggard, I have specially presented a small gift to you. I hope you will accept it..."
Her voice was soft and tender, with a hint of pity, and her eyes were filled with genuine concern. The sweet fragrance penetrated Jin Buhuan's nostrils, making him feel a little nervous and his vigilance dropped instantly.
He looked at the warm, shiny and fragrant liquid flowing in the jade bottle, then looked at Luo Hongyi's gorgeous face, and his Adam's apple rolled unconsciously.
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