Chapter 10: The Young Master Has Deep Pockets

In the bustling city of Gao Huai, every inn was fully booked except for the Fu Lai Inn, which still had two superior rooms available. Despite its lavish decor, this inn was notorious for its exorbitant prices, caring only about money and not people.

Mu Chi Huai was chatting amiably with the innkeeper at the front desk, about to pay for the last two rooms, when a group suddenly burst in from outside..

Several figures appeared in Chu Sang’s view, backlit. They all wore white robes with two golden sun emblems embroidered on the sleeves—inner disciples of the Tianyan Sect.

No wonder they carried themselves with such arrogance.

The slender figure in the center, wearing a soft gauze dress, was all too familiar to Chu Sang. It was none other than Qin Xixue, the crowd-pleasing female protagonist.

Chu Sang was genuinely surprised to encounter her in such a mundane small town.

After the initial shock came excitement. The protagonist’s presence meant that the seemingly ordinary small secret realm set to open in three days must hold many opportunities and treasures. This trip was worth it!

However, it was strange that the delicate protagonist was traveling alone. While it was understandable that Chang Yu, as a busy sect elder, couldn’t accompany her, it was surprising that Mo Qingchen wasn’t with her either, contradicting their inseparable depiction in the original story.

This must be Qin Xixue’s first solo trip. Chang Yu had still sent some skilled disciples to accompany her—or rather, to protect her.

The man in a bamboo-green long robe beside Qin Xixue, with his refined appearance, stood quietly by her side. He wasn’t wearing the Tianyan Sect’s disciple attire, suggesting he was from another prominent family or sect.

Chu Sang marveled at the female protagonist’s charm. It had only been a few days, and she already had a new admirer.

“We want the last two superior rooms!” the newcomers demanded, not even glancing at Mu Chihuai’s group.

Tantai Ming, arms crossed over his sword, glared back, “On what grounds? We clearly saw these rooms first!”

The leading Tianyan Sect disciple looked Tantai Ming up and down with contempt, “Dressed so shabbily, can you even afford the superior rooms?”

Mu Chihuai turned around at the commotion, raising an eyebrow at the words, “What do you mean by that?”

He didn’t mind them calling the brat poor, as it was true. But in his eighteen years of life, this was the first time someone had used “poor” to insult him.

“Didn’t you hear or are you just brainless?” Qiu Xiude, eyeing their unfamiliar robes, assumed they were from an insignificant sect. He sneered, “Which small sect dares to compete with us? Do you know who we are?”

He then flatteringly looked at Qin Xixue, “This beautiful cultivator beside me is our Tianyan Sect’s little junior sister, a once-in-a-century prodigy with an extreme fire spiritual root, who has already broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage at a young age. We are here on Elder Chang Yu’s orders for the secret realm.”

“Be sensible and give up the rooms, or don’t blame us for taking action.”

Qin Xixue blushed, slightly embarrassed. She softly chided, ” Xiude, have you forgotten what Master reminded us before we left? We should maintain our dignity as disciples when outside and not use the sect’s name to bully others.”

Though her words were virtuous, she had only spoken after the disciple had finished, sweetly softening her tone.

Ugh, hypocrite.

Having seen through her true nature, Chu Sang increasingly felt that Qin Xixue was a fake white lotus^[1]fake white lotus, aka pretending to be a good person.

“No wonder his name is Xiude, he’s truly shameless,” Chu Sang whispered to Tantai Ming with a polite cover to her mouth, “They’re really shameless.”

“Yes, yes, truly shameless,” Tantai Ming agreed, nodding vigorously.

“What did you say?” Xiude, furious at their open insult, was about to draw his sword.

Qin Xixue, not wanting to create a public spectacle, gently held him back with a slender arm. Softly calling him “Senior Brother,” she raised her delicate face, her clear eyes lingering on Tantai Ming and Mu Chihuai, and sweetly smiled, “Sorry, but we do have urgent matters. Could you kindly give us the rooms? We’re willing to pay double and offer you a hundred low-grade spirit stones as compensation.”

Though not a huge amount, a hundred low-grade spirit stones were significant for low-level cultivators from small sects.

Qin Xixue’s move was clever, making people feel they got a good deal, and many onlookers changed their views on them.

But this didn’t mean the others had to agree.

“A hundred low-grade spirit stones?” Mu Chihuai opened his folding fan, covering his mocking smile, “Are you trying to shoo away beggars?”

“Why should we give you face?” Tantai Ming frowned, “What makes your face so special?”

“Sixth and Seventh Senior Brothers are right,” Chu Sang cheered internally.

As expected of destined antagonists, their provocations were already superb even before turning dark.

What made her most gratified was Seventh Senior Brother. She had thought that Seventh Senior Brother, being simple-minded, would be unable to move upon seeing the female protagonist, starting down the path of a devoted admirer as in the original story… Now it seemed her worries were unnecessary. Not only had Seventh Senior Brother not taken the bait, he was even retorting. Not bad, not bad, he showed promise!

“……”

Perhaps because she had never been treated like this by men before, the smile on Qin Xixue’s face became somewhat forced, her delicate white fingers hidden in her long sleeves clenched a bit tighter.

It was precisely because Chu Sang had spoken just now that Qin Xixue finally spared a glance for the girl beside her.

This one look caused her expression to change dramatically, and she stepped back as if she had seen a ghost, almost losing control of her gentle and composed expression, “Se-Second Senior Sister…?”

She never expected to encounter the fool Chu Sang here.

Wasn’t she expelled from the sect?

How did she join a new sect so quickly?

“Hi,” Chu Sang greeted.

Hello, protagonist, what a coincidence, protagonist, we meet again.

Qin Xixue’s mind raced with fear and guilt, feeling embarrassed, “When I woke up that day, I heard you had left. I didn’t expect to see you here, Second Senior Sister.”

Noticing Chu Sang’s aura change, she was shocked that this waste had also reached Foundation Establishment.

Although annoyed, Qin Xixue felt relieved, knowing she had broken through first, reaffirming her superiority as a rare fire spirit root genius.

The green-robed youth beside Chu Sang looked either wealthy or noble. He must have given her, his senior sister, quite a few pills. Otherwise, this waste couldn’t possibly break through to Foundation Establishment.

Such cultivation, built on pills, was unstable and would hinder future progress. It’s really not worth it.

Feeling she had humiliated herself by comparing herself to Chu Sang, Qin Xixue grew angrier. How did this waste make such connections? In her memory, Chu Sang had always been unfriendly during her years in the sect, with poor relationships and few people willing to associate with her. Handsome youths with family backgrounds and wealth like this had always revolved around her, so how come now…

Chu Sang saw the female protagonist’s reaction and knew she must be overthinking about something in her heart again. However, she couldn’t be bothered with Qin Xixue’s petty thoughts. As long as she didn’t interfere with her and her senior brothers, she was naturally happy to distance herself from her.

“Thanks to you, otherwise I wouldn’t be here,” Chu Sang smiled, genuinely happy to be away from that damnprevious sect. The new sect was incomparably better in every way

In a sense, Qin Xixue’s actions had helped push her away.

Qin Xixue, thinking Chu Sang was sarcastic, grew angrier and clutched her handkerchief, unsure of what to say.

“Junior Sister, you know this woman?” Qiu Xiude shot a hateful glance at the three, then turned to Qin Xixue, deliberately softening his voice. Those slanted eyes became so gentle they could almost squeeze out water.

Large sects often had tens of thousands of disciples, with very clear class distinctions.

Menial disciples, outer disciples, inner disciples, and personal disciples all had their own living areas, not interfering with each other. Moreover, Chu Sang had never liked to be in the limelight before, and after her spiritual root was damaged, she became even more indifferent to social interactions. Qiu Xiude, as an inner disciple, didn’t recognize her.

Chu Sang shook her head and sighed. This minor character hadn’t even appeared in the original story, just a nameless admirer.

A loyal dog licking to the end will end up with nothing.

How pitiful.

“Junior Sister, who is she?”

Tantai Ming and Mu Chihuai, curious, opened a mental group chat, “Loving Sect Family,” to discuss.

Chu Sang didn’t feel there was anything to hide about her past, so she spilled everything that had happened before. As the two listened, their expressions became increasingly grim. They never imagined that their little junior sister had suffered such unfair treatment in her previous sect!

The two silently vowed to treat their junior sister even better, to make up for the missing camaraderie among fellow disciples.

At the same time, they also remembered their junior sister’s warning—

Stay away from white lotuses, be happy every day!

The term “white lotus” was taught by their junior sister.

It had to be said, it was fitting

“Second Senior Sister, although you’re no longer in Tianyan Sect, the master taught you for ten years. A day as a teacher is like a lifetime as a father. Could you give us the rooms for master’s sake? We’re willing to pay double,” Qin Xixue pleaded, looking pitiful.

Resorting to emotional manipulation now?

Mu Chihuai didn’t wait for her to finish, “I’ll pay two hundred spirit stones, four times the price.”

“I’ll pay two hundred and fifty spirit stones,” Xiude, determined to save face, quickly raised the bid.

Mu Chihuai remained calm, “Three hundred spirit stones.”

“Four hundred spirit stones!”

The bidding escalated.

Mu Chihuai raised the stakes, “One thousand spirit stones.”

Xiude’s face contorted, realizing his opponent was difficult. Desperate to end this, he bit the bullet, “One thousand five hundred spirit stones.”

He turned to the innkeeper, “One thousand five hundred spirit stones for two rooms is a fortune. Give us the keys!”

“Why so impatient?” Mu Chihuai smiled, “I’ll pay two thousand spirit stones.”

Qiu Xiude almost swore out loud. Although he came from a wealthy family, casually throwing out thousands of spirit stones still hurt.

But having already bid, it would be shameful to back down now.

He decided to go all in

“Five thousand spirit stones!”

He hadn’t taken this small secret realm trip seriously and had only brought a few thousand spirit stones. He really didn’t have more.

Five thousand spirit stones for two ordinary rooms without a spirit gathering array? The onlookers couldn’t help but think it was a huge waste.

Seeing Xiude and Qin Xixue’s embarrassment was satisfying for Chu Sang.

Being rude felt great, playing the villiian was fun.

She wanted to stop Mu Chihuai, as their goal to disgust them was achieved, and they shouldn’t waste more money.

But Mu Chihai spoke first, “One hundred thousand spirit stones.”

The room fell silent, everyone questioning if they heard right.

Xiude, veins bulging, glared, “one hundred thousand spirit stones? Do you think we’re fools?”

“Who do you look down on?” Mu Chi Huai tossed a spatial bag containing one hundred thousand spirit stones at the innkeeper, slapping Xiude in the face, ” This Young Master isn’t short on money.”

One hundred thousand spirit stones!

This was the extravagance of a wealthy young master.

Everyone gasped. The innkeeper counted the stones with trembling hands, almost fainting. He could never earn that much in a lifetime, or even ten lifetimes!

The previously aggressive group fell silent.

Qin Xixue bit her lip, her face alternating between red and white, feeling utterly humiliated. She had never been so embarrassed in her life!

Xiude’s face burned with shame. Remembering how he had just mocked them for being poor, he felt the complex stares from everyone around were full of ridicule, and he wished he could disappear.

Tantai Ming, laughing so hard he nearly fell, imitated Xiu De’s earlier pretentious posture, “You poor guy, no money, and still want to stay in the superior rooms?”

Qin Xixue, the delicate heroine, immediately teared up, “You… you’re bullying us too much…”

Beauty in tears would soften any other man’s heart, but Tantai Ming and Mu Chihuai, knowing her true nature, found her hypocrisy disgusting.

They had started the trouble, and now they acted like victims?

“Alright, the inn is full, and it’s getting late. Unnecessary people should leave and not disturb the guests,” the innkeeper, experienced in dealing with such situations, immediately issued an eviction order.

“Do you know who we are? We are…”

The innkeeper, who only cared about money, grew impatient. “I don’t care who you are. No money, then get out.”

He released his aura, revealing himself as a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“You!”

Xiude was furious but knew fighting here would disgrace himself and his sect. He held back and left with a heavy snort, “Let’s go!”

Qin Xixue, spoiled all her life, had never been treated this way. She tore her handkerchief in anger.

Outside, Xiude consoled her, “Junior sister, don’t be sad. Those three look like they’re heading to the secret realm too. Once inside, we’ll deal with them properly and vent our anger!”

“It’s normal for two cultivators to die in a secret realm, especially ones from small sects. No one would care if they died…” He said with a sinister look in his eyes.