Two people, both Outer Sect Disciples in blue robes, walked over from the Outer Sect courtyard.
The one in front, with a square face, walked with his head held high and chest puffed out, taking measured steps; it was Gongsun Zheng from the Protectorate.
The one behind him was Wu Binghuo from the mountain gate.
Upon reaching them, Gongsun Zheng nodded slightly to Wang Meiruo, acknowledging her.
After they finished their greetings, Gongsun Zheng lifted his chin and asked, "The Protectorate received a report that someone is privately digging and building here, occupying Sect land, and damaging the Sect's geomancy."
Wu Binghuo's gaze drifted, looking at Wen'an Peak in the distance, as if deep in thought over some enormous problem.
"We—" Qian Duoduo had just spoken two words when Gongsun Zheng interrupted him.
"This area is your doing? Goodness, such a beautiful grassland, ruined by you all like this."
Gongsun Zheng mustered his strength and kicked the Spirit Bamboo fence. "Bang," dozens of Spirit Bamboo immediately became crooked and twisted, stirring up a commotion in the nearby chicken coop.
"I—" Qian Duoduo wanted to explain.
"Report your names, Immortal Mountains, and confess why you did this. I will report it to the Sect, and the Sect will decide your punishment."
Gongsun Zheng took out a Jade Slip and held it towards Qian Duoduo, "Every word you say now, you will be responsible for, and it will be evidence for the Sect to punish you."
Gongsun Zheng had a smile on his face, his smug and cruel eyes seemed to still be shooting out from the window of a Jail, and Qian Duoduo was already a dying prisoner in the Jail.
The anger in Qian Duoduo's heart could no longer be controlled.
"My Zhangzuo Dajiu teaches me, and I must obey. A poisonous snake bullies me, and I must endure. But you, an Outer Sect Disciple who guards the Jail, still want to trample me into the mud?"
This was not that time.
Qian Duoduo pulled Huang Guiren and Wang Meiruo aside, revealing the stone behind them, and almost roared, "Look."
The two large characters "Bu Huan" and the three smaller characters "Tang Honggong" clearly appeared in Gongsun Zheng and Wu Binghuo's eyes.
"Open your dog eyes and take a good look."
Qian Duoduo focused his gaze into a needle, piercing Gongsun Zheng's face, "Who dares to slander us like this? Private digging and building, occupying Sect land, damaging the Sect's geomancy—what a filthy accusation to come up with!"
Gongsun Zheng became flustered, his eyeballs darting around, his gaze flickering non-stop, "This, this..."
"Take a good look, see if it's not the personal inscription of our Mengyuan Mountain Palace Lord. Don't rush, if you can't see clearly, you can invite someone over to look."
Qian Duoduo lowered his voice, advising him word by word.
Taking a deep breath, Qian Duoduo raised his voice and displayed the red Jade Pendant given by Zhangzuo Dajiu:
"However, to call an estate personally inscribed and approved by the Palace Lord 'private digging and building' and 'damaging geomancy' is undoubtedly accusing the Palace Lord of being foolish. I must tell Tang Zhangzuo about this matter."
Wu Binghuo's eyes widened, and he immediately spoke, "I must also report this matter to the Elder of the mountain gate. The Palace Lord's authority must not be offended."
"Two Senior Brothers—" Gongsun Zheng's face changed from clear to cloudy, then from cloudy to rainy, as he cupped his hands towards Qian Duoduo and Wu Binghuo.
"And," Qian Duoduo continued loudly without waiting for him to finish:
"Senior Brother Wu, just now someone tried to kick down the fence of the Mengyuan Mountain Outer Sect estate, frightening the spiritual creatures of the estate. Both human and material evidence are present; please report them to the Elder of the mountain gate as well."
Wang Meiruo jumped on both feet, raising her right hand, "I am willing to testify."
Huang Guiren said in a low voice, "Me too."
"Just looking at you two, you have a sense of justice." Wu Binghuo's expression was solemn as he took out a Jade Slip and quickly began to record.
After recording, he also used the Jade Slip to record the crooked fence.
Gongsun Zheng wiped the sweat from his forehead, a large, stiff smile plastered on his face, and cupped his hands to everyone, "Fellow Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters, please calm down. What I said just now was clear—"
"Are you saying we didn't hear clearly, or that we couldn't understand?" Qian Duoduo immediately retorted.
"It's Junior Brother's fault, I didn't explain clearly." Gongsun Zheng's expression was as if he had swallowed a fly but had to pretend he had eaten a chicken leg.
"Someone reported it. When the people don't report, officials don't investigate. When the people report, officials must investigate. As I am in the Protectorate, I had no choice but to come on this official duty."
Gongsun Zheng reached out to pat Qian Duoduo's shoulder to show familiarity, but Qian Duoduo turned sideways to dodge him.
"It has now been thoroughly investigated that there is no private digging and building, occupation of Sect land, or damage to the Sect's geomancy here." The muscles on his smiling face twitched a few times, "Since the report is unfounded, naturally no one insulted Tang Zhangzuo."
"Whether there was an insult or not is not for you to decide." Qian Duoduo snorted coldly.
Large drops of sweat continuously rolled down Gongsun Zheng's forehead.
Wang Meiruo said to Wu Binghuo, "Senior Brother, record it in detail. Many of these Spirit Bamboo, bought at a high price, have died! Also, the Spirit Chicken in the chicken coop, after being startled, don't like to lay eggs anymore. Chickens lay eggs, eggs produce chickens; the estate has suffered huge losses. Tang Zhangzuo personally said this is a Sect estate. The estate's losses are the Sect's losses."
"Junior Sister is absolutely right." Wu Binghuo squatted down and took pictures of the fence from bottom to top. After that, he entered the estate and walked towards the chicken coop.
A large sweat stain appeared on the shoulder of Gongsun Zheng's gray robe.
He lowered his head, pulled his chin into his neck, and bent over to stand before Qian Duoduo:
"I lost my footing just now and accidentally bumped into your estate's fence. I am willing to—compensate for your estate's losses."
Compensate? Qian Duoduo, Huang Guiren, and Wang Meiruo exchanged glances.
"This attitude is barely acceptable. We won't bully you or make you overpay. Let me calculate: Spirit Bamboo, Spirit Chicken, eggs..."
Wang Meiruo's red lips began to chatter non-stop.
Qian Duoduo was closest to her, and although he didn't hear exactly what she said, he understood it clearly in his heart.
Wang Meiruo clapped her Jade Hand, "I've figured it out, a total of thirty-six thousand eight hundred gold coins."
Gongsun Zheng's mouth twitched non-stop, and he exhaled roughly through his nostrils, "This, the Spirit Bamboo, the chickens—"
"Oh, so you're saying my calculation is wrong. Let me calculate again..." Wang Meiruo's eyebrows almost turned from horizontal to vertical.
Her unquestionable attitude made Qian Duoduo wonder if either the Spirit Bamboo was made of gold, or Gongsun Zheng's leg was made of gold.
Gongsun Zheng nearly sat on the ground, "Good Junior Sister, your calculation is correct. I'll give it, no, I'll compensate."
Wang Meiruo sweetly called out to Wu Binghuo, "Senior Brother, come back, it's already calculated."
Wu Binghuo responded and returned, asking Gongsun Zheng with the Jade Slip, "How much should be compensated?"
"Thirty-six thousand eight hundred." Gongsun Zheng answered painfully.
Wu Binghuo trembled all over upon hearing it, and immediately said seriously, "Hmm. Since both parties agree, then this amount must be correct."
"When will the money be paid?" Wang Meiruo pressed Gongsun Zheng.
"Right. When will the money be paid?" Wu Binghuo echoed.
"Hmm..." Gongsun Zheng's eyeballs began to roll.
"Think carefully, the current loss of the estate is this amount. By tomorrow, perhaps other Spirit Bamboo will die, other Spirit Chicken won't grow, and then the losses will be different. Some injuries and diseases can be contagious, you know."
Wang Meiruo spoke lightly, and Gongsun Zheng's eyeballs instantly froze.
Qian Duoduo saw him trembling slightly, as if he heard the sound of his courage shattering and his liver breaking.