Inside the Budao Peak Main Hall, looking at Yu Ruyi, Wu Yong, and Bai Jin as they left, Ren Pingsheng turned to Nangong Xue and said with a hint of impatience, "What are you still standing around for? Hurry up and take the fox demon away."
Nangong Xue waved her hand, dismissing the Hehuan Sect Disciples from the main hall, and met Ren Pingsheng's gaze. "You have to help me."
"I already helped you drive Yu Ruyi and them away," Ren Pingsheng said with a touch of helplessness.
"You still have to help me," Nangong Xue insisted.
Ren Pingsheng took a new Judge's Brush from a drawer and placed it on the inkstone. "If I help you again, will I still be a Sect Master?"
Nangong Xue turned her head to look outside the main hall. "If the Budao Sect Disciples knew that their Sect Master frequently ran up tabs at the brothels under the Hehuan Sect..."
Ren Pingsheng slammed the table. "You dare to threaten me?"
"If your Dao Companion knew that you could order ten courtesans to battle for ten days and ten nights every time..."
Ren Pingsheng took a deep breath. "How am I supposed to help you?"
"I want you to cancel the mission against the Gold Phoenix Pavilion," Nangong Xue said, looking at Ren Pingsheng with a smile.
"Alright, that's a small matter," Ren Pingsheng nodded without hesitation.
"I also want you to protect my businesses in Qingyun City from now on."
Ren Pingsheng stood up and glared at Nangong Xue. "Are you messing with me?"
Nangong Xue directly pointed at Ren Pingsheng. "Last time you were drunk, you even..."
Ren Pingsheng grabbed Nangong Xue's finger and nodded. "Let's plan this out."
Outside the Budao Peak Main Hall.
Yu Ruyi played with the Judge's Brush in her hand. "Haha, a High Grade Magic Treasure, the Judge's Brush! I've been eyeing it for so long. I'll sell it now to buy some wine."
"Master, aren't you afraid the Sect Master will scold you?" Wu Yong sighed, looking at Yu Ruyi's shameless demeanor.
"Afraid of what?" Yu Ruyi tucked the Judge's Brush into her robes. "This is what your Master earned with her own ability. What does a child know?"
"Oh, right, Master," Wu Yong drew the longsword from his back. "My Flying Sword is low on spiritual power and needs Spirit Stones to be driven. Master, haven't you repaid the seven hundred and thirty-two Low-Grade Spirit Stones you owe your Disciple?"
A hint of awkwardness appeared on Yu Ruyi's face. "Oh, your things are my things. Once a teacher, always a mother. At worst, I'll pay you back with my body." As she spoke, she winked at Wu Yong.
Wu Yong and Three Flowers simultaneously stared at Yu Ruyi with deadpan eyes.
Yu Ruyi's eyes darted around, and she directly took the longsword from Wu Yong's hand. "Who said you must use Spirit Stones to replenish it? Your Master can directly use spiritual power to charge it for you. I guarantee it will be long-lasting and durable."
As she spoke, her hand condensed, and spiritual power continuously flowed into the Flying Sword.
Before long, the originally dim longsword emitted a light green glow.
Yu Ruyi nodded with satisfaction. "There, this spiritual power is enough for you to use for half a year. What more Spirit Stones do you need?"
Wu Yong looked at the vibrant green Flying Sword and extended a hand. "Seven hundred and thirty-two Low-Grade Spirit Stones. I'll even round it down for you. Now, immediately, right now."
Three Flowers on his shoulder also let out a "Meow," demanding repayment!
Yu Ruyi's smile became increasingly stiff, and she slapped her forehead. "I almost forgot, the rice porridge is still cooking on Yunhai Peak. If I don't go back and turn off the fire, it will boil dry. I'm leaving first, bye-bye."
With that, she tapped her foot, stepped onto her Flying Sword, and transformed into a streak of light, swiftly slipping away.
Wu Yong and Three Flowers sighed in unison. "If I lend Master Spirit Stones again, I'll be a cat."
Three Flowers nodded in agreement. "Meow~."
Wu Yong walked down the steps of the Budao Peak Main Hall. Several Senior Brothers were gathered, chatting, each holding a copy of the Da Chu Newspaper and perusing it.
The Da Chu Newspaper was the official newspaper published by the Great Chu Dynasty, the most powerful Dynasty within Zhongzhou.
Legend has it that the first Chu Emperor, Chu Tianyu, was originally a Loose Cultivator. During his travels, he witnessed too much suffering among the common people, and one day had an Epiphany, deciding to unify Zhongzhou and end the chaotic era.
Later, with the assistance of his strategist Xiao He, he befriended distant states and attacked nearby ones, forming alliances and gradually dismantling other forces, eventually successfully establishing the Great Chu Dynasty and unifying two-thirds of Zhongzhou's land.
Only the Buddhist Kingdom of Tubo, supported by the West Niuhe Continent, and the Wu Clan, located adjacent to the Hundred Thousand Mountains of the Southern Jambudvipa, were not under his jurisdiction.
The Budao Sect, where Wu Yong was located, was also within the Great Chu Dynasty's territory and was also the first line of defense in Zhongzhou against the southward Yao Race from North Ju Luzhou.
After establishing the Great Chu Dynasty, to better control public opinion, the Chu Emperor, at the suggestion of a descendant of the Xiao family, established the Da Chu Newspaper.
The Da Chu Newspaper, upon its debut, won enthusiastic support and unanimous praise from the vast populace of Zhongzhou. Although the content published in the newspaper was mostly based on unsubstantiated rumors, both ordinary commoners and Cultivators, who usually led dull and uninteresting lives, were particularly fond of such news.
Wu Yong walked up to Senior Brother Lin Yu and bowed with cupped fists. "Senior Brother, is there any news recently?"
Lin Yu handed the newspaper in his hand to Wu Yong. "It's a creative slump. It's always the same old news. This time, they're reporting news from last month. I'm done with this one, so I'll give it to you, Junior Brother."
"Then thank you, Senior Brother," Wu Yong took the newspaper from Lin Yu's hand.
As soon as he unfolded it, Wu Yong was shocked by the headline: "Budao Sect Tianjian Peak Master Long Aotian, Driven by Love to Hatred, Angrily Seizes the Dragon Root of Xuankong Temple Elder Wu Tian!"
Wu Yong gasped. "Junior Martial Uncle Long is that fierce? He doesn't even spare the bald donkeys of Xuankong Temple?"
Lin Yu shrugged. "Junior Brother, you can read it slowly. I'm going to do a mission."
"Senior Brother, take care."
After seeing Lin Yu off, Wu Yong walked and read. A month ago, Long Aotian rode his Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, Ao Bing, to the West Niuhe Continent to visit Ao Bing's relatives, the Eight Tribes of Heavenly Dragons.
At that time, it happened to be the Xuankong Temple's annual Buddhist Dharma Forum. Long Aotian, being a bit loose-tongued, said, "I've consulted ancient texts, and it seems Guanyin Bodhisattva was a man."
This immediately provoked strong dissatisfaction from Xuankong Temple Elder Wu Tian. "How could the Great Merciful and Compassionate Guanyin Niangniang be a pure man? This is misleading!"
Thus, the two debated for three days and three nights on the topic of whether Guanyin Bodhisattva was male or female. Just as Long Aotian was about to lose the debate against Elder Wu Tian, Long Aotian used a Dragon Claw Hand move, "Dragon Claw Plucking Peaches," and directly plucked Elder Wu Tian's life root.
Wu Tian was completely unprepared at the time and was instantly hit. He immediately lost his Dragon Root and became an out-and-out eunuch monk.
Long Aotian, meanwhile, rode his Five-Clawed Golden Dragon and fled, shouting "Wind's tight, let's go!" The monks of Xuankong Temple chased furiously but couldn't catch him, and the Eight Tribes of Heavenly Dragons even interfered, allowing Long Aotian to escape.
Afterward, Long Aotian explained to the swarming reporters from the Da Chu Weekly, "Wu Tian, that bald donkey, has not purified his six senses. This humble Daoist's action was merely to help my old friend better comprehend Buddhist Dharma."
However, the very next day, an item appeared on the black market for auction, claiming to be the "Root of Wu Tian." As soon as this news broke, it caused an immediate uproar. Many Disciples of the Hehuan Sect showed immense interest in this root, and the auction price soared all the way up.