CHAPTER 34
Underlying Currents
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Ye Qinghan stood before a counter resembling a pawnshop, rubbing her hands together as she waited to collect her payment.
For some reason, she felt she had grown quite fond of money now.
Perhaps it was because having money would make her Master happy. And if her Master was happy, she would be happy too. So having money meant happiness?
But who would have guessed the woman behind the counter refused to hand over the money!
"What did you say? Say that again?" Ye Qinghan's fierce expression made her look less like someone collecting aid and more like a robber demanding money!
"I said Lingxian Hall does not meet the criteria for sect subsidies." The Ling Mountain official across from her showed no leniency toward Ye Qinghan.
"Why?"
Because Lingfrost Hall only has two people. It doesn't meet the distribution criteria.
"So you're saying that Lingfrost Hall only has two people, making them easy to bully?"
Ye Qinghan rolled up her sleeves as she spoke. Damn it, she was the one who bullied others!
This was the first time she'd encountered such a tough nut! How dare they openly bully Lingxian Hall just because it had fewer members?
"Qinghan, let them finish speaking." Su Cheng hurried over to restrain his fox-like mother, lest Ye Qinghan unleash a bloodbath!
"Master, Qinghan understands! This guy is bullying us!"
"No, Miss Qinghan. According to Ling Mountain's subsidy distribution rules, only sects with at least six members are eligible to receive the sect subsidy."
Ye Qinghan felt a pang of disappointment. While she didn't need the two hundred taels herself, her master would surely be upset!
If Master was unhappy, then she was unhappy too!
"Master, may Qinghan speak with her privately?"
"Hm? Don't cause trouble for your master here—this is Ling Mountain."
"Master, rest assured. Qinghan is quite reasonable."
Su Cheng stood at the courtyard gate, his expression skeptical as he watched Ye Qinghan leaning over the counter, seemingly trying to reason with someone.
Ye Qinghan was indeed reasoning: "My Master desperately needs these two hundred taels. Do you understand?"
"Everyone who comes here needs this two hundred taels. Those who don't wouldn't come!"
"Look, I don't need this two hundred taels. I'll pay it. Do you understand what I mean?"
The girl behind the counter was a bit bewildered. Though she had no cultivation, she wasn't afraid at all. "Miss, you can speak your mind."
"I'll pay the two hundred taels, but when my master comes to collect them, you must tell him this is a subsidy from the sect. Understand?"
Ye Qinghan wasn't exactly short on money right now. After all, she'd practically robbed everyone in this entire secret realm…
"Oh, I see! You want your master to believe this is a sect subsidy to make him happy, right?"
"Yes. My master is always frugal. I don't want him to know about this. Can you help me?"
"Of course."
Thus, when Su Cheng reentered, the counter girl seemed like a different person. He smoothly obtained the sect subsidy.
"Master Su, here is your sect subsidy. Please count it carefully." The girl handed over the money pouch with both hands, her attitude so pleasant it was almost unbelievable.
Su Cheng instantly beamed with joy, his face radiating happiness.
"Hehe, Master, now we have money. Remember taking Qinghan out to eat?"
Forgetting all about their master-disciple relationship, Su Cheng grabbed Ye Qinghan's hand.
"Let's go! I'll take you right now!"
Seeing her master so happy, Ye Qinghan felt joyful too.
Dragged along by her master, feeling the warmth of his hand in hers, Ye Qinghan's heart fluttered wildly. She secretly thought to herself that spending three hundred taels was absolutely worth it!
Absolutely worth it!
A mere three hundred taels to hold hands with her master!
Qinghan offers three thousand taels! Can I get a kiss?
"Master is the best!"
Tian Dao Pavilion.
A week passed, and Dongfang Jue was able to walk again. Cheng Liang had been attentive for several days, and Dongfang Jue's attitude toward him had improved considerably.
"Master Cheng, thank you for your trouble."
Dongfang Jue was naturally grateful for Cheng Liang's care. After all, she had lain on the ground for so long, and only Cheng Liang had been willing to save her.
His care over the past few days had been meticulous, leaving nothing to fault.
In contrast, Dongfang Jue had initially hurled insults at Cheng Liang, suspecting him of attempting to take advantage of her.
Now it seemed she had judged a gentleman by her own petty standards.
"Your father and I have known each other for years. We're family. There's no need to speak of trouble."
"Is that so?"
Cheng Liang had certainly taken a liking to Dongfang Jue. She was one of the few prodigies who could hold her own against Ye Qinghan. Though the Holy Maiden was also exceptionally gifted, her intellect was still that of a nine-year-old…
Dongfang Jue sat at the bedside, listening to Cheng Liang recount stories from her childhood. It turned out they had met long ago.
"You've always been this lively since childhood, loving to play with swords and spears."
"Hehe, Mother always said I was too mischievous, like a boy!"
After chatting for a while, Cheng Liang departed. Dongfang Jue walked alone into the courtyard of the Celestial Path Pavilion, sat down, and summoned the system interface.
Over the past few days, Dongfang Jue had practically pored over every detail in Ye Qinghan and his disciple's system files until they were worn out, yet the mysteries in her heart only grew deeper!
Su Cheng's information was entirely inaccessible. No matter how she looked at it, it was just those things—a situation that had never occurred before.
Beyond a partial name and the cultivation level of Qi Cultivation Stage 1, almost nothing was known.
Ye Qinghan's records were slightly better, but everything concerning her time after becoming a disciple had become shrouded in mystery. The system could only access a handful of details.
Clearly, Su Cheng had offered her immense benefits, which was why she had wholeheartedly accepted him as her master.
But why? Why was Su Cheng being so generous to Ye Qinghan?
Even if Ye Qinghan was exceptionally beautiful, could she possibly be worth so many divine-grade magical treasures?
Not to mention the two innate treasures!
With such treasures, what woman could Su Cheng not have?
If he desired, he could line up bedmates from the Southern Realm all the way to the Northern Realm! What did Ye Qinghan have that others didn't?
Dongfang Jue shook her head. After getting beaten up by Ye Qinghan, she wasn't quite as angry anymore. She had to admit defeat when she was outmatched!
But she refused to accept it! Why should Ye Qinghan, with the same innate talent, be able to beat her?
Ye Qinghan was beautiful, but what was lacking in her?
Ye Qinghan had a great figure, but she…
"Miss Dongfang, are you feeling any better?"
Just as Dongfang Jue was at a loss, a gentle, feminine voice drifted over from the side.
Her poised and graceful figure was draped in a jet-black qipao, accentuating her already irresistible figure to deadly effect.
Shangguan Rou glided over, her usually-tied-up black hair now cascading down her sides. The aura of a Chief Disciple from a major sect radiated from her, yet it carried an added warmth reminiscent of a married woman—a stark contrast to her demeanor when she had seen Ye Qinghan.
"Thank you for your concern, Sister Shangguan. I'm fine now."
Shangguan Rou smiled softly, instantly discerning Dongfang Jue's preoccupation.
"Thinking about Ye Qinghan?"
Dongfang Jue smiled. This guy definitely wasn't here to waste her time.
"Sister, you're not here to mock me, are you?"
"Not at all. Before you arrived, that fellow nearly killed me."
Shangguan Rou gave a bitter smile, seeming utterly helpless.
"Even with your Golden Core cultivation, you couldn't defeat her?" But Dongfang Jue immediately caught himself…
With all those magical treasures in Ye Qinghan's hands, winning would be impossible!
That divine sword alone would be enough to give me a run for my money! Not to mention all those mysterious artifacts whose functions I don't even know!
"Even the Second Elder at the Nascent Soul stage couldn't defeat her. I nearly died at her hands. The only reason I'm still alive is that she wanted to humiliate me further."
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