Treasurer Meng squinted at the young man in front of him. Yang Kai 's face was practically screaming anticipation, but there was also a hint of nervousness—like a gambler who just bet his last coin on a crooked game.
With the utmost caution, Treasurer Meng untied the bag and peeked inside.
A dark-red, bowl-sized fungus lay within, exuding a faint yet potent medicinal aura. It was certainly no ordinary mushroom.
"Ke… keke…" Treasurer Meng coughed into his fist.
Yang Kai 's heart lurched. "Treasurer Meng, what is it? Did I strike gold?"
Meng gave him a sidelong glance. Instead of answering, he asked, "Where did you find this?"
"In a cave on the mountain. There was a first-realm demonic beast guarding it, but rather than me becoming its dinner, I turned it into mine." Yang Kai grinned.
Treasurer Meng nearly choked. "You fought a demonic beast?! I told you not to go past the safety boundary!"
Yang Kai raised his hands innocently. "I didn't! The beast wandered into the safe zone. If you think about it, the real culprit here is whoever designed these safety boundaries."
Treasurer Meng sighed. This kid was either too lucky or too reckless. Either way, he was still alive, which meant the heavens hadn't abandoned him yet.
Looking back at the mushroom, Treasurer Meng sipped his tea and rubbed his beard.
"Well, well… your luck isn't bad."
Yang Kai 's shoulders slumped in relief. He had feared the worst—that he had risked his life for a random wild fungus.
"Treasurer, what exactly is this? And how many contribution points is it worth?"
Meng put on his most sagely expression. "This… is a Blood Mushroom. A rare medicinal herb."
Yang Kai 's grin widened.
"It's… an ordinary—"
Yang Kai 's face fell.
"—No, no! I misspoke! It's an Earth Grade Lower Level herb! Yes! That's exactly what it is!" Treasurer Meng quickly corrected himself, his voice so firm it nearly convinced even himself.
Yang Kai arched a brow. "You sound suspicious."
Treasurer Meng scoffed. "Do you think I, Treasurer Meng, would misidentify an herb? These hands have handled countless treasures—"
"And countless women," Yang Kai muttered.
"AHEM! That too. But that's beside the point!"
Yang Kai smirked. Time to strike.
"Since it's Earth Grade, it must be worth a lot," he mused aloud.
Meng's eyes flickered. "Yes, yes… quite valuable."
Yang Kai leaned in. "Then let's say… forty points."
Treasurer Meng nearly dropped his tea. "Forty?! That's outrageous! Do you think contribution points grow on trees? I'll give you… twenty."
Yang Kai scoffed. "That's robbery."
"It's business," Meng countered.
Yang Kai feigned disappointment. "Oh well. In that case… I'll take it to the Black Market."
Meng's hand froze mid-sip. "…What?"
Yang Kai shrugged. "I mean, surely someone out there would appreciate an Earth Grade herb. Maybe the Medicine Hall? Or one of the Alchemists? I hear they pay in silver too."
Meng's face twitched. "You wouldn't dare."
Yang Kai smirked. "Try me."
"…Fine! Thirty points!" Meng relented.
Yang Kai stroked his chin. "Thirty-eight."
Meng glared. "Thirty-five."
Yang Kai grinned. "Deal."
Treasurer Meng felt like he had just been mugged by a smiling bandit.
.......
Now sitting on a fat stack of contribution points, Yang Kai turned to his next purchase.
"Alright, I want ten Dead Jedi Tree Grass herbs."
Treasurer Meng quickly recovered his composure. "That'll be ten contribution points."
Yang Kai narrowed his eyes. "Wait a minute. You said before that two herbs were worth one point. Shouldn't it be five points?"
Meng spread his hands innocently. "Ah, but buying and selling prices are different. If the sect didn't profit, how would it support three thousand disciples?"
Yang Kai sighed dramatically. "I see, I see. Then I'll just go back into the mountains to pick them myself."
Meng's smile faltered.
Yang Kai patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, Treasurer Meng. If I don't come back, you can have my points."
"…Hold on now."
"I mean, sure, a few demonic beasts might get in my way, and I might get eaten, but at least I won't waste ten points—"
"Alright! Alright! Five points!"
Yang Kai grinned
...…
Feeling victorious, Yang Kai strolled out of the Contribution Hall—only to almost collide with someone.
A soft fragrance filled his senses, one that was delicate yet strangely familiar.
His eyes landed on a figure clad in white, her face half-concealed by a veil.
Despite the covering, her moonlit eyes were enough to ensnare anyone who gazed into them.
Something poetic stirred within Yang Kai , and before he could stop himself, words flowed from his lips:
"Like a lotus untouched by the mud,As moonlight graces the silent lake,The heavens must have stolen a star,And placed it in your eyes."
Xia Ning Chang froze.
Her heart pounded furiously against her chest.
For a moment, she thought her veil had somehow fallen off—surely he wouldn't say such words otherwise!
Yet, no… she could feel it still covering her face.
Xia Ning Chang's face turned crimson beneath the veil. Hastily, she brushed past him and rushed into the hall.
But her hands trembled.
Because when she saw Yang Kai 's face…
She remembered.
The hot spring.
Him.
BARE.
Heat rushed up her neck. She had seen everything.
Xia Ning Chang's face was on fire as she hurried away.
Seeing this scene was somewhat laughable, for such shy females were quite rare. Although there are many females disciples in High Heaven , they were martial practitioners and were therefore more open-minded than normal. For someone like her to become red just from looking at his face, it was no wonder she wore a veil.
This senior was a little bit cute
Somewhere behind him, a certain Senior Sister was dying of embarrassment
..........................
Dear Readers,
First off, thank you for joining me on this journey! Every chapter I write is fueled by passion, excitement, and a little bit of villainous laughter (which, unlike Yang Kai's, doesn't fail).
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