Having travelled all this way only to suffer such humiliation, Gao Yunjie was in a fit of righteous anger. How could he listen to any of this? He reached out and grabbed the two men’s wrists, saying earnestly, “We are all men. How can we endure humiliation and live in submission? If the three of us brothers join forces, we need not rely on him. Have you never thought of relying on your own abilities to earn your own cultivation resources?”
Nan Zhu sighed, “Second Senior Brother, cultivation resources are not that easy to earn. Just to get these things, we nearly died several times.”
Gao Yunjie said, “Did you not say you have clues about that Golden Ruins? He can go to Little Cloud Realm, so why can we not go to the Golden Ruins?”
Go to the Golden Ruins?
Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie were quite shocked, both looking dumbfounded. They discovered this second fellow really dared to think. Had they told him about the dangers of Little Cloud Realm for nothing?
Gao Yunjie, clutching his cloak, still held their hands and continued to encourage them, “If that old fifteen can do it, can we not do it too?”
Nan and Mu looked at each other, speechless.
The two discovered a problem. Just now, regarding the treasure hunt process, it seemed they had downplayed old fifteen’s role.
The reason for downplaying it was, for the two of them, quite normal. Expecting them to boast about how crucial Yu Qing was would be unlikely. They would definitely downplay it.
Only, because of this, it seemed to have given the second brother some kind of misconception, giving him the feeling that he could do it too.
For the two who had truly experienced that danger, if not for old fifteen’s calm response in the face of danger, they would have been buried alive in the ancient tomb. If not for old fifteen urgently making them cut open that tentacle and hide inside to escape, they would probably have been smashed to death by Yun Xi.
They had no way to negotiate with the three great powers to get that pile of things out.
Leaving aside whether they could find the Golden Ruins, having the second brother take the lead and the two of them following to find the Golden Ruins, why did it feel somewhat unreliable just thinking about it? Could the three of them really find the Golden Ruins? Even if they found it, could they really be safe inside the Golden Ruins? Could they really enter without any accidents happening?
Having experienced the incidents at Little Cloud Realm, the two felt the Golden Ruins was probably not that simple.
They had heard people from the three great powers say that Yun Xi was the mountain guardian beast of Little Cloud Realm, and that the Mirage City had also had a mountain guardian beast.
Would the Golden Ruins also have a mountain guardian beast? Moreover, they could not guarantee whether it would be another chain conspiracy by Yun Xi.
How to put it, the two did not quite dare to go to the Golden Ruins with the second brother. They had known each other for more than a day or two. The second brother putting on an act might be fine, but really going to the Golden Ruins to play for real, the two would rather go with Yu Qing. Although neither liked Yu Qing.
Repeatedly tricking Yun Xi and still succeeding, charging forward alone with heroic courage and risking his life to slash Yun Xi with a sword, slashing Yun Xi twice, ultimately killing the demon Yun Xi in Little Cloud Realm, those scenes were all remembered by the two, they just did not want to say it. That old fifteen fellow was truly both wise and brave at critical moments.
Old seven had a rib broken and still did not leave. It was not without reason.
Under Gao Yunjie’s expectant gaze, Nan Zhu first gestured for him to let go of his hand, then sighed, “Second Senior Brother, it is inconvenient to address each other as senior brothers here. It is inappropriate if outsiders hear it. Better to call you second brother, and you call us the same. Second brother, the Golden Ruins is not that easy to find. We have no idea where to look.”
Gao Yunjie said, “Did you not say that jade page mentioned the entrance is in Golden Valley? Did it not say finding the halberd-wielding guard of Golden Valley would allow entry?”
Nan Zhu sighed, “That is just what was written on the jade page. Its truth is uncertain. Besides, who knows where Golden Valley is?”
Gao Yunjie said, “Did you not go to that Wang Tower to buy information about Jianyuan Mountain? Why not try again and see if you can find the location of Golden Valley.”
Mu Aotie spoke up, “Second brother, this kind of clue is not suitable to let outsiders know. What we know is truly too little. We do not know how many people know about Golden Valley. Once it attracts attention, the consequences are not something we can bear. The power of some people is not something we can imagine. We have suffered similar losses from leaking information. Just because the three words ‘Shiji Bay’ leaked, we were captured outside Little Cloud Realm.”
He rarely said so many words in one breath.
Nan Zhu nodded, “Old nine speaks reasonably. Second brother, if the clue is real, and there are also the halberd-wielding guards outside the valley, are those people we can find? How many years ago were they from? They may have long been gone. If they still exist, what kind of terrifying existence would that be? It probably would not be inferior to Yun Xi. Are we actively seeking death by going to find them? Second brother, if it were truly that easy, how could we tolerate that old fifteen fellow throwing his weight around? We would have set up our own stove and gone to look long ago.”
Speaking reason, presenting facts.
Gao Yunjie was not stupid. After listening to a bunch, he knew he had been impulsive, gradually calming down. But that grievance was still hard to swallow.
Although there was no way, although he had to stay because of lack of money, he did not go to pay respects to Yu Qing either. Either you Yu Qing come over. Anyway, he was old and would not take the initiative to go.
To show consideration for Big Head, after Yu Qing heated several large vats of water, today’s work was paused to let Big Head rest.
Yet even at this time, the second brother still had not come over. Yu Qing, coming out of his room, sneered coldly. Suddenly he said to the person following behind him, “Chong’er, remember, if the second brother asks to borrow money from you, you must not give him a single coin.”
People had come here to take advantage, yet still refused to soften. How could he let the second brother be comfortable? Judging by the little martial uncle’s character, he estimated he would not give the second brother much money, probably at most giving him the travel expenses to come here.
Chong’er choked silently, then slowly lowered his head.
Yu Qing said, “No, not only the second brother, but if the seventh brother and ninth brother ask to borrow money from you, you are not allowed to lend either. The two of them have already each taken one hundred thousand taels. If they want to give to the second brother, let them give from their own pockets. You are not allowed to lend them a single coin. Did you hear me? Your money was given to you by me, for you to spend. Giving it to others requires my consent. Understand?”
Among the senior brothers, he could give money to anyone, except he was unwilling to give to the second brother. Wanting to plot against his sect leader position was one thing, but also wanting his money? Not a chance. If the seventh and ninth brothers wanted to do mischief, let them use their own capital.
“Oh, I understand. Then can I go see Second Senior Brother now?”
Yu Qing raised his eyebrows and stared at him, staring until he lowered his head and said nothing. Then he suddenly relented, “Fine, go if you want. But remember which side your bottom should sit on.”
“Yes yes, the young master is the best.” Chong’er nodded repeatedly and flattered, his bright eyes sparkling with a smile.
Smiling beautifully, Yu Qing looked stunned for a moment. Then he immediately raised his foot and kicked him on the bottom, “Scram!”
Chong’er, who was kicked and swayed, was startled and stunned again. His head lowered, he quickly left.
In the following days, Gao Yunjie also did not show his face, hiding in his room eating immortal peaches to cultivate.
He happened to catch Yu Qing in the process of storing water by the vat. The seventh and ninth brothers had it in their rooms, without needing to pass through Big Head.
Yu Qing knew it well in his heart, turned a blind eye and said nothing.
What he cared more about now was the income issue of Miaoqing Hall.
Immortal peaches, still selling one or two per day. Occasionally there would be days with no customers at all.
Although business was bleak, if he could truly maintain such sales, Yu Qing could accept it. At least the storage fees for those immortal peach trees could be earned. If it continued, the interest for Blue Ocean Shipping and the maintenance fees for the Spirit Gathering Array should be able to last a few years.
However, he was very clear that even such sporadic sales could not last long. After all, the number of people not afraid of Chilan Pavilion and Jilu Mountain was limited.
The immortal peach trees were truly attracting no interest. Those who could buy immortal peach trees were generally spirit plant sects. Without a Spirit Gathering Array, buying them back would be meaningless. And those spirit plant sects obviously had many concerns.
Once Ye Diandian’s side was settled, the two hundred million shipping fee, plus the minimum twenty million annual fee, where should he get it from?
Where to earn two hundred million became Yu Qing’s headache.
And the scene of parting with Ye Diandian that day would occasionally appear in his mind. What about the grand wedding gift Ye Diandian wanted?
Ye Diandian hoped the Tanhua Scholar could specially write a poem for her.
After pondering this matter back and forth for several days, he finally entered the study. After grinding the ink, he spread out white paper and weighed it down.
Dipping the brush in ink, he wrote three words, “The World is Good.”
Only this time, for the signature, he used the two characters “Yu Qing.”
Afterwards he switched to a fine brush and wrote a letter. In a few words he informed her that the Tanhua Scholar no longer existed in this world, so naturally there were no poems to be written. He could only gift a piece of calligraphy to express his feelings.
After putting away what he had written, he personally went out to find a Thousand Li Messenger to send it.
Two days later, he received a reply sent by a Thousand Li Messenger. Opening the letter, he discovered it was a letter from Lin Chengdao.
The letter informed him that his aunt had already left Little Fresh Tower and had gone to the Great Wilderness to prepare for the grand wedding. Little Fresh Tower was now formally taken over by him, so the letter was received by him here. Lin Chengdao said he would go to the wedding site, said that by the time this side received the letter, he should have already set off. He would help him deliver the letter and gift.
Lin Chengdao’s tone in the letter was quite emotional, saying he had heard a little about his matters. He expressed that if there was an opportunity he would come to Youjiao Port to see, and told him to go to the capital to have fun if he had the chance.
Several days later, Yu Qing’s letter appeared in an ancient stone fortress in the Great Wilderness.
Ye Diandian, standing barefoot on a felt rug, had already changed out of her usual clothes and put on a beast-skin dress. Having her arms and legs exposed made her extremely uncomfortable. Especially thinking that on the wedding day she would have to stand out half-exposed like this for many men to see.
Many gorgeous colourful feathers were pinned on the beast-skin skirt. On her head she wore an ancient heritage wooden phoenix crown. This was the wedding dress for women of the Phoenix Clan. She was currently trying it on.
She could not wear this clothing by herself. Several Phoenix Clan women surrounded her, helping her put it on.
Lin Chengdao, who hurried over, did not disturb them too much. After a simple greeting, he left Yu Qing’s letter and wedding gift and departed.
Ye Diandian then dismissed the people around her. Sitting alone at the dressing table, she opened Yu Qing’s letter. After reading it, she opened the gift box and took out that piece of paper to spread it open.
Seeing the three words “The World is Good” again, she smiled understandingly. Subconsciously she recalled the scene when she first met Yu Qing, and the scene when he wrote those three words. It had immediately amazed her.
Everything was as if it were yesterday.
Seeing the signature name, then looking at those three words again and again, as she smiled, she suddenly cried. She raised her hand and covered her mouth tightly, crying as if her heart were being torn apart, yet not letting herself make any sound.