Chapter Fifty-Three: Infuriated to the Core!
As expected, with the treasures she obtained from the city’s treasury, her recovery was swift; the pain in her meridians faded in a matter of moments. While Qu Yiqiu was steadily restoring her health, the Hall of Military Merits at the City Lord’s Mansion was so packed there was barely room to breathe.
Yuan Zhengqing stood there, stunned by the cacophony around him, finally comprehending just how valuable the jade slips in his hands were.
“You all used the jade slips I gave you and found the hiding places of the demonic cultivators?”
He swallowed hard, almost unable to believe it as he asked.
His question was met by hundreds of excited replies.
“Yes, Senior Brother Yuan! Where did you get so many jade slips? Every location they point to is spot-on!”
“Senior Brother Yuan, you know we’re close. Why not hand the rest of your jade slips over to your brother here?”
“Don’t be ridiculous! When did you ever have a relationship with Senior Brother Yuan? If he’s giving out jade slips, it shouldn’t be to you! I come to the Hall of Merits every day to exchange materials, just to catch a glimpse of him. The jade slips should go to our squad!”
A female cultivator shot Yuan Zhengqing a coquettish wink.
Yuan Zhengqing shuddered and quickly looked away.
“You’re all wrong! Not every jade slip is accurate. The first squad led by Senior Sister Jiang found nothing at all; they're still hunting lone demonic cultivators!”
“That’s right, these jade slips aren’t reliable. Stop crowding here—I have serious business to discuss with Senior Brother Yuan!”
“Don’t pretend! Of the thirteen squads, only Senior Sister Jiang’s hasn’t found a demonic stronghold. Thanks to the jade slips, Senior Brother Chi and Senior Brother Xia’s merit scores have soared to the top two spots, far ahead of the rest of us!”
“Chi and Xia had foresight. I wondered why they were so eager to take the jade slips—it turns out they knew they weren’t ordinary! Follow the jade slip, and you’re sure to find what you seek!”
“You’re all confused! Jiang’s squad not only failed to find the demonic lair, but the jade slip misled them… Enough crowding! The jade slips should belong to our eighth squad!”
Yuan Zhengqing looked at the surging crowd, the sea of heads pressing in, and involuntarily took a step back.
He had lived thirty-eight years, and never had he been so popular.
The remaining twenty jade slips in his arms had suddenly become the most coveted treasures in the city.
...
Jiang Shuangyan gazed over the corpses littering the Heart Refining Spring, a proud smile curving her lips.
She calmly opened her pale palm, and a water mirror appeared silently above it.
She watched the shifting ranks and numbers on its surface, and her expression grew darker and darker.
“What’s going on? Why has our first squad fallen so far behind, dropping to tenth place? And why have my one hundred ten thousand merit points slipped out of the top ten?”
“Could there be something wrong with the water mirror?”
Her face was cold as she flipped her hand and stowed the mirror in her storage pouch.
“Sister Jiang, there’s no need to worry. We just finished wiping out a demonic stronghold of a hundred cultivators—how could anyone surpass us?” Her trusted aide, Yu Mingyuan, replied with a self-satisfied smile.
Jiang Shuangyan smiled approvingly and glanced at him sideways. “Go find me the water mirrors from the other squads. I want to know if we’re truly secure in our first place.”
Yu Mingyuan bowed. “Yes, Sister Jiang, await my good news here!”
Her mood brightened; she raised her chin haughtily. “Be off, then—here’s your chance to prove you’re not useless.”
Yu Mingyuan’s smile faltered, but he responded respectfully, “Yes!”
He transformed into a stream of light and departed.
Jiang Shuangyan’s gaze swept over the demonic corpses, her fingers playing with a lock of hair draped over her shoulder. “Is Fei Zhongda’s matter still unresolved? Don’t waste time on useless jade slips—send someone to call them back.”
“Yes… Wait! Fei is returning!” Her aide pointed to a distant wisp of smoke.
Fei Zhongda landed hastily from his sword.
“Sister Jiang, something terrible has happened!”
She cast him an impatient glance. “What now? Can’t you lot spare me any worry? What trivial matter has you in such a panic?”
Fei Zhongda flushed under her rebuke, but pressed urgently, “Sister Jiang, this time it’s not trivial—it’s huge! The jade slips Yuan Zhengqing distributed are most likely genuine!”
Jiang Shuangyan’s brows knitted, her slender fingers releasing her lock of hair. “What did you say? You actually found demonic cultivators at the location indicated by the jade slip at Five Rainbow Bridge?”
Her voice rose with excitement, the ornaments in her hair trembling.
Fei Zhongda hesitated, then shook his head. “Our jade slip was fake…”
Her frown relaxed, her refined features fell, and she interrupted with marked impatience, “Then what jade slips are real?”
Fei Zhongda’s face reddened further. He opened his mouth, then said miserably, “The jade slips received by the other squad leaders are all genuine. Yuan Zhengqing’s place is already mobbed—my disciples sent there couldn’t even squeeze in!”
Jiang Shuangyan was stunned. “You mean the jade slips they got from Yuan Zhengqing are all real? They followed the instructions and found the demonic strongholds?”
Fei Zhongda nodded urgently. “Yes, Sister Jiang! What should we do? I heard the second squad led by Chi Yushu has already attacked eight or nine demonic nests thanks to their jade slips!”
Chi Yushu’s personal merit score has soared past two hundred thousand! If this keeps up, our first squad can never catch up!
...
Even Xia Changhan, who ranked one hundredth, has surged to second place, right behind Chi Yushu, and other squads are scrambling for jade slips. Our first squad is now out of the top ten!
Sister Jiang, what should we do?”
A flood of information overwhelmed Jiang Shuangyan, causing her beautiful figure to sway.
Her stunned aides quickly rushed to steady her.
Jiang Shuangyan’s lips parted, and she managed to force out a single phrase, “Go seize Yuan Zhengqing for me!”
Fei Zhongda and the aides answered urgently in unison, “Yes!”
...
Qu Yiqiu, absorbed in restoring her body, was completely unaware of the turmoil unfolding among the thirteen squads of the Sky Evolution Sect.
Every face was vivid with emotion—complex and dramatic.
Yuan Zhengqing, holding the jade slips, hadn’t found a moment’s rest for several days.
Chi Yushu and Xia Changhan’s squads had swiftly claimed the top two spots on the merit leaderboard, and the squads who realized the jade slips were real stuck tightly to third place.
Compared to the bustling Hall of Military Merits, the hall where Cheng Changsheng resided was much quieter.
Especially when he learned that the throngs of disciples were clamoring for the jade slips handed over by Qu Yiqiu, his cheerful smile froze instantly, as if he’d turned to stone.
“Zi’er, what did you just say? Repeat it.”
The maid named Zi’er trembled in fear, stammering, “According to the responses from the squad leaders, every demonic nest reported by Fairy Qu was real!”
Cheng Changsheng’s face turned grim, veins bulging on his forehead. “All of you—get out!”
Yan’er, Zi’er, and the other maids hurriedly retreated in terror, scrambling from the hall.
As they left, the last exquisite decoration in the hall was crushed to dust beneath Cheng Changsheng’s palm.
Thank you, Qi Xi, for recommending the story. Thank you all for your continued support and subscriptions!
(End of chapter)