Xie Zhou frowned slightly. “Zhu Zhao is awake?”
Song Yao nodded her head.
It was rare to see Zhu Zhao so peaceful and generous. Finding it highly unusual, her eyes sparkled as she couldn't help but share, “Second Senior Sister said I can have whatever I want, and she'll give it to me.”
Xie Zhou: “...”
His eyelashes trembled slightly. After a moment, he asked, “Then what did you ask for?”
Song Yao: “I haven't decided yet.”
She had always been stingy, scamming money here and there, and had saved up a decent amount of spirit stones.
Leaving the cultivation world to return to an ordinary life didn't actually cost that much, and her savings would last her a very long time.
Besides—
She had already snatched everything she wanted in her past life. Now, she was somewhat free of desires.
Xie Zhou pushed the bamboo scroll back toward her. “Second Senior Sister usually prefers brandishing swords and spears. She isn't very attentive and can't look after everything. If you want something, you don't need to ask her. Just ask me.”
Song Yao still shook her head. “There's really no need. Thank you, Fourth Senior Brother, but I'm not lacking anything.”
Xie Zhou looked up at her.
Her features were naturally delicate and soft, with the corners of her eyes drooping slightly and her light-colored pupils looking as if they were shrouded in a thin mist.
Yet, as she sat there so obediently and filled with understanding, that sense of aloofness that kept people at a distance seemed to grow even stronger.
It shouldn't be like this.
The fingertips Xie Zhou used to hold the teacup turned white, his knuckles tightening slightly. His voice dropped half an octave. “Do you not want the hundred and fifty thousand anymore either?”
Song Yao coughed. “One... hundred and fifty thousand is still needed. Let's keep those separate.”
Xie Zhou lowered his eyes, his long lashes casting a small shadow beneath them, concealing the turbulent emotions in his gaze. “Fine. We'll keep them separate.”
He pushed the bamboo scroll in front of her once more. “She repays her debt, and I repay mine.”
“Choose.”
Song Yao: “...”
Wait, what?
She had only treated his injuries once and even demanded a hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones for it. How did that even count as a favor?
Why was he so obsessed with getting her to buy things?
Did he have too much money and nowhere to spend it?
Song Yao knew she wasn't someone who could easily resist temptation. Since he insisted on giving her something, she had no reason to keep refusing. She unrolled the bamboo scroll and scanned it.
The auction items were indeed abundant, featuring all kinds of rare treasures and interesting playthings.
Most of them were things she would have been interested in during her past life.
But in this life...
She felt rather indifferent.
She flipped through a couple of pages but didn't see any cauldrons for sale. Thus, she settled for the next best thing and chose a moderately priced evil-warding wood carving. It was said that anyone carrying this carving would be ignored by demons and remain unharmed.
When she moved out to live on her own in the future, she could place it in the chicken and duck coops to prevent her chicks, ducklings, and Lin Shui from being eaten by demons.
Unfortunately, Fourth Junior Brother still didn't look very happy. “Just this?”
Song Yao nodded. “Just this.”
It wasn't cheap either. The starting bid was a hundred thousand spirit stones, and the final transaction went for a hundred and seventy thousand.
If she ever ran out of money in the future, she could always sell it.
A servant quickly delivered the wood carving. Song Yao caught it and toyed with it for a moment. “It's getting late, so I should head back. If I get caught, the Teaching Elder will dock my points.”
This was purely an excuse.
She was in a hurry to buy some wine.
Xie Zhou, however, said, “Wait a moment.”
With that, he stood up and left the private room. When he returned, a sumptuously dressed woman followed behind him.
A string of Eastern pearls was wrapped around her wrist, and her hair was adorned with gold, silver, and jade ornaments. A gold-painted mask covered half of her face, and she held a tray in her hands.
Song Yao recognized her.
She was Cai Dongsheng, the manager of Wanchun Pavilion.
She was a very capable young woman whom Eldest Senior Brother had brought back from his travels.
It was said that she originally lived in a small mountain village and was a hunter's daughter.
However, a few evil cultivators had passed through, seizing the village to commit atrocities and imprisoning all the villagers to use them for essence harvesting.
While the other villagers had long given up, she quietly bided her time, even secretly learning quite a few of the evil cultivators' methods. In the end, she lured in demons to kill the evil cultivators, though half her face was ruined in the chaos.
Eldest Senior Brother had happened to pass by and helped treat the villagers.
Seeing that her parents had passed away, he brought her back to Sichun City, originally intending to find her a livelihood so she could support herself.
To everyone's surprise, she possessed extraordinary methods and immense capability. Eventually, she became the manager of this branch of Wanchun Pavilion in Sichun City, making the business flourish.
Back then, Song Yao had shared drinks with her several times.
She would take off her mask, show off her scar, and say with great pride, “Is it beautiful? Is it impressive? What is this called? It's a woman's badge of honor.”
Song Yao had looked on with envy and said, “Then I'll get one next time too.”
Cai Dongsheng had laughed heartily. “How can something done on purpose be called a badge of honor? Besides, it hurts quite a bit.”
However, since she was running a business and feared scaring the customers, she still wore her mask on regular days.
The wine she brewed was delicious, and Song Yao liked her very much.
Seeing her enter, Song Yao's lips curled up slightly before she quickly suppressed the smile, feeling a bit curious.
What was she doing here?
Cai Dongsheng sat down at the table and placed the tray in front of Song Yao with a smile. Tapping her fingertips, she introduced each item one by one. “These are Wanchun Pavilion's account books for the past three years, this is the seal, these are the land and property deeds for the building, and here are the employment contracts for the managers and workers under us. Everything is here.”
As she spoke, she pulled out a translucent white jade token from her sleeve and placed it on top of the account books. “This is the revenue jade token. The earnings from the first half of the year are stored inside.”
Song Yao stared blankly, not understanding what she meant. “Ah?”
Cai Dongsheng was also taken aback, but then she smiled in realization. “Did the Fourth Young Master not tell you? Wanchun Pavilion is being transferred to your name. From now on, all of the pavilion's earnings are yours to dispose of.”
Song Yao: “?”
She looked at Fourth Junior Brother in confusion. “W-Why?”
Xie Zhou replied succinctly, “To repay my debt.”
Song Yao: “...”
She had thought demanding a hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones was already scamming him enough.
And yet, he was directly giving her Wanchun Pavilion?
Furthermore, she remembered that Eldest Senior Brother had handed over this branch of Wanchun Pavilion in Sichun City to Fourth Junior Brother because he had no time to manage it, and Fourth Junior Brother had put in a lot of effort to revitalize it.
It was currently at the peak of its profitability. Was giving it to her really... not a massive loss?
Fourth Junior Brother was very smart. She didn't believe he would make such a losing deal.
Cai Dongsheng glanced at the two of them, left the items behind, and tactfully stepped out of the room.
Xie Zhou fell silent for a moment before explaining, “Lately, the Nine Saints Hall hasn't been peaceful. I need to leave the sect for a while. Leaving Wanchun Pavilion in your hands gives me peace of mind.”
“Moreover, you have just entered the main peak. Having neither a master's support nor help from other senior brothers and sisters goes against proper etiquette. Consider this a modest gift from me on behalf of Master.”
Song Yao came to a sudden realization.
Fourth Junior Brother had indeed always been very disciplined and mindful of etiquette.
This was indeed something he would do.
After all, he was the same in their past life. Even when facing a highly malicious antagonist senior sister, he had been willing to hand over his personal treasury.
Not to mention that in this life, facing another well-behaved and polite junior sister, he would likely be even more willing to spend money on her.
Thinking this way, she no longer felt any psychological burden. Sweeping the items into her spatial pouch, she smiled at him. “Then thank you, Fourth Senior Brother.”
Xie Zhou nodded.
Song Yao thought for a moment, then followed up with a question, “Is Fourth Senior Brother going to investigate Fifth Senior Sister's matter? Do you have any clues yet?”
Rate on N.U.
