The construction of the large water pool required considerable thought. Efforts were made not only to ensure it was waterproof and leak proof, but also to design the insulation layer with great care.
The manager and clerks at the Treasure Pavilion had all reminded Yu Qing that as long as the insulation was done well, the ice crystals would last much longer.
Once all the indoor pools were renovated and water retention tests completed, a large quantity of immortal peaches, still in their crates, were densely stacked into the pool. Heavy stones were placed on top, water was added to submerge them, and some ice crystals were thrown in.
After the pool water froze over, wooden boards and cotton quilts were quickly laid on top. They were covered tightly to retain the cold and extend the lifespan of the ice crystals.
Except for a reserve of immortal peaches that would remain usable for a certain period, the vast majority were sealed in ice.
Having finished all this, Yu Qing climbed to the top of the highest terrace inside the Miao Qing Hall. Watching the flowing lights dance in the sky above, he felt a sense of wonder.
To be honest, having a rooftop like this in Youjiao Port to sit and drink tea was rather nice. Not everyone could enjoy such a privilege. Yet ever since he acquired this property, Yu Qing had never had the leisure for it. His energy had been entirely devoted to cultivation and making money.
At this moment, he still had no interest in those fantastical lights and shadows. His gaze shifted again to the dark cliff face of You Ya. There, a line of words formed by red lanterns read, ‘Nine-Child Golden Lotus!’
This was a new task posted by You Ya a few days ago. It was after seeing this new task that he had finally decided to mortgage the Miao Qing Hall, buy the ice crystals, and build the pool.
According to reports, the Nine-Child Golden Lotus originated from the Nether Sea. It grew on reefs shrouded in mist in the land of eternal night. It was rare, a spiritual herb that could only be found by chance.
The Nine-Child Golden Lotus served as the main ingredient for a celestial pill known as the Nine-Turn Golden Pill. It was said that this pill possessed the ability to regenerate flesh. Unless one lost their head or was already dead, any other body part lost to accident could regrow after taking the pill.
Refining this celestial pill was no easy task. It had a market but no fixed price. Basically, no one would put it up for sale. Those who could collect such a pill were likely not short of money.
After staring at those words for a long time, Yu Qing made his final decision. He jumped straight down from the building, returned to his courtyard, and said to Chong Er, who was sweeping, ‘Go, call the three of them over. Tell them I have important matters to discuss with them.’
‘Oh.’ Chong Er dropped his broom and ran off.
There was still construction debris left to clean up here…
‘Three people? Are you sure the fifteenth wants to call all three of us?’
In a courtyard on the other side, Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie were both surprised by Chong Er’s message. It was normal enough for the fifteenth to call the two of them, and they had grown used to it. But calling the second brother as well was rare.
Chong Er nodded and headed towards Gao Yunjie’s room. He knocked on the door upon arrival.
Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie exchanged a glance and immediately hurried over.
Inside, Gao Yunjie, who had been sitting cross legged in meditation, frowned once he understood Chong Er’s purpose.
Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie stood in silence, communicating with their eyes. Both thought privately that it was over. The second brother would probably lose his temper again. The fifteenth really was looking for trouble. Why did he always provoke the second brother?
‘Hmph!’
As expected, Gao Yunjie let out a heavy snort. Yet he stepped off the platform, stood up, and said with great disdain, ‘I would like to see what trick the fifteenth is trying to pull!’
Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie were stunned. They felt completely dumbfounded. The second brother was actually going to follow the summons?
Not to mention them, even Chong Er felt it was unreal.
Their reactions suddenly made Gao Yunjie feel somewhat awkward. He also worried slightly that his compliance might make him look weak, and he actually felt quite embarrassed inside.
‘Oh, right. Let us see what trick the fifteenth can pull.’
Nan Zhu, who recovered his wits first, quickly chimed in. He actively stepped forward to clear the way for his second senior brother, deliberately putting on the air of a loyal follower showing support.
The group went out together, making quite a spectacle.
The second senior brother walked ahead with his hands behind his back. Seventh and Ninth followed closely on his left and right. Chong Er trotted along at the very back.
The group marched into the courtyard of the shop owner and headed straight for the main hall.
Inside the hall, seated in the place of honour, Yu Qing sat upright. Both hands rested on a sword planted in the ground. Seeing that all three had arrived, he raised an eyebrow.
Upon seeing Yu Qing, Chong Er immediately detached himself from the three men and stood alone to one side.
If he stood with his three senior brothers, the sect leader would scold him for being ungrateful, tell him he was growing up crooked, and kick him. If he stood with the sect leader, the three senior brothers would lecture him endlessly. He was truly afraid. Whenever such a situation arose, he would stand on neither side, forming a faction of his own.
Gao Yunjie stood proudly in front of the hall with his hands behind his back. He held his chin up and looked to the side, refusing to look directly at a certain person.
‘Very good. You are all here.’
Yu Qing hummed in acknowledgement, showing his appreciation that they had followed his summons.
Nan Zhu had grown somewhat afraid of him. He feared the fifteenth would act like a mad dog again and escalate the conflict. He immediately shouted, ‘Fifteenth, do not ramble. We only came because we heard you had important matters to discuss.’
These words were really more about saving face for the second brother.
Yu Qing slowly leaned back against his chair, crossed his legs, and drawled, ‘I do not want to be sect leader anymore.’
The words struck like thunder from the heavens, leaving the group thoroughly stunned. One could almost hear the sound of eyeballs hitting the floor. They all thought they had misheard.
Even the second brother turned his head sharply to look at him, his face filled with astonishment.
Nan Zhu said, ‘Wait, fifteenth, what did you say?’
Yu Qing replied, ‘Listen carefully with your ears wide open. I do not want to be sect leader anymore. Have you all heard me clearly?’
‘…’
The group grew even more bewildered. They wondered if they were dreaming. Could this little moustache, who was so desperate to prove his youthful capability and so eager to lord it over everyone, actually say such a thing?
Mu Aotie’s lips moved silently for a moment before he finally could not help but ask, ‘Why?’
Yu Qing said, ‘You ask why? Although I am the legitimate sect leader, officially passed down from the previous generation, I am genuinely exhausted. Being sect leader is far too tiring. I work desperately in the front to secure cultivation resources for everyone, while a bunch of people pull me back from behind, constantly trying to push me off my seat. Fine, I quit playing this game. Is that acceptable?’
‘…’
The way he said it left the group speechless, wanting to speak but holding back.
Nan Zhu asked sceptically, ‘Are you serious? Fifteenth, this is not like you. Are you really going to step down and yield the position to someone more capable?’
Yu Qing replied, ‘It is as true as it can be. I am willing to yield the sect leader position to whoever is capable. I do not expect you to be exceptionally talented. Simply put, you all know our current situation. In short, whoever is willing to take on all the debts and cover all future expenses can have the position. Whoever is willing to sign a debt transfer contract with me gets the sect leader title. Who is stepping up?’
Everyone’s minds had already started calculating the accounts.
The two hundred million in shipping fees for the Blue Sea Shipping Company made their heads spin just thinking about it. Even after repaying those two hundred million, they still had to pay ten million annually to Ye Diandian.
As for their current assets, there was only this shop and those immortal peaches. Yet the peaches could not be sold anymore, and the shop had been mortgaged. It was mortgaged for twenty five million. To redeem it, they would need to pay thirty million, with a deadline of two and a half years.
The crucial point was that this fellow, the fifteenth, had turned all the mortgaged money into ice crystals. Spending money to buy ice crystals was easy, but turning them back into cash was difficult.
The more they calculated, the heavier their hearts grew.
Seeing everyone remain silent, Yu Qing glanced towards the corner and shouted, ‘Chong Er, why are you hiding over there? Come here. Do you want to be sect leader?’
Chong Er hurriedly waved his hands, shaking his head like a rattle drum. ‘I have no money.’
Yu Qing waved his hand, immediately letting him off the hook, and fixed his gaze back on the other three.
Gao Yunjie, whose lips had been tightly pressed together for a while, finally spoke. ‘This is not yielding a position. You are clearly trying to make someone inherit a mountain of debt!’
Yu Qing replied, ‘Do not talk so lightly without bearing the burden. What is this little debt to you, Second Senior Brother? It is a drop in the ocean. Think about the immortal peaches you have consumed since you arrived. They must be worth at least a billion, would they not? Have I ever stopped you from using them? I shouldered this huge burden so you could eat your fill, grow strong, and reach a profound cultivation level. Now you turn around and blame me for the debt?’
Gao Yunjie gritted his teeth, his face flushing red.
He now deeply understood what it meant to have a soft mouth from eating others’ food. Especially when he had eaten so much, to the point of feeling embarrassed, he could no longer claim he was eating Seventh and Ninth’s share. Otherwise, he would not have come over immediately upon hearing the summons this time.
He felt that this bastard, the fifteenth, saying he no longer wanted to be sect leader at this moment, was likely a long plotted scheme.
He had even mortgaged the shop, stripping everyone of any ability to liquidate assets here. And now he says he is willing to step down? Is this stepping down? This is sheer wickedness!
It was hard for him not to suspect the fifteenth had planned this deliberately.
Nan Zhu suddenly gave a dry laugh. ‘Fifteenth, if you really cannot bear it anymore, why not follow the young junior uncle’s advice? Just abandon those immortal peach trees. Hand them all over to Ye Diandian and be done with it. Let her cover the losses, and most of the debt will disappear.’
Yu Qing replied, ‘Seventh, have you gone mad? Never mind the value we already know about those peach trees. Even if they only produce those tainted peaches once every fifty years, we would not lose out. We would actually profit greatly. They can serve as a long term cultivation resource for the sect. If we had not listened to the young junior uncle, would we be this deep in debt? If you have the ability, go ask the young junior uncle to pay the money to redeem the shop for us first.’
Nan Zhu rolled his eyes. ‘Fifteenth, stop pretending here. Do you think I do not know you? You are the type who would clutch a chicken feather and treat it as an official warrant. You would never easily give up the sect leader position. Talking too much is just nonsense to annoy people. Let us be straightforward. You have set up this stage for a performance today. What exactly are you trying to achieve?’
Yu Qing stood up and looked around at everyone. ‘Since things have come to this, and we have reached a state of heavy debt, some matters must be settled. We have important tasks ahead. We must work together with one heart. I do not want anyone pulling us back from behind anymore.
Today, let us all speak openly and honestly. In the past, I may have indeed wronged you all. I did not give you any benefits. You had grievances against me and refused to accept my authority. I tolerated it. But now is different. I believe I have not treated you unfairly. I have also let you gain great advantages. Now I feel I have earned the right, so I want to ask one question. Do you acknowledge me as your sect leader?
If you do, call me sect leader properly and sincerely. I will let bygones be bygones, and we will remain senior and junior brothers. If you do not, we will part on good terms. Voluntarily leave the sect… On this matter, I have the final say today! If anyone disagrees or wants to cause trouble, ask my sword in hand if it agrees. Do you really think I dare not cleanse the sect?’
A hint of murderous intent subtly permeated his tone!
The group’s eyes shifted slightly. They only now realised that he was carrying his sword with him inside the room today.