Chapter 75: Stop Acting, I Beg You (Part 2)
Sect Leader Liu sized up Qi Huang after hearing his words and then smiled with relief. “If I’m not mistaken, Junior Brother Cheng is after the Black Gold Lily, right? It’s true, with your talent, you’ll definitely reach the Huashen Realm, it’s just a matter of time. It’s indeed time to prepare for the Peiyuan Dan.”
“You could say that.”
Qi Huang didn’t deny it after a moment of thought. The Black Gold Lily was bought by his father, so it was reasonable to take it back.
“If that’s the case, then Junior Brother Cheng will likely be disappointed.”
Sect Leader Liu sneered and said, “Our Yuxiao Sect also urgently needs the Black Gold Lily, that’s why we sent people to bid for it. We will not transfer it to Junior Brother Cheng.”
“Sect Leader Liu, you seem to have misunderstood something. I’m not here to ask you to transfer it, I’m here to take it. The Black Gold Lily originally belonged to me.”
Qi Huang decided to be straightforward and reveal everything.
“Originally belonged to you?”
Sect Leader Liu laughed angrily and said, “Junior Brother Cheng, this is not the HongHua Sect where you can act on your temper. This Black Gold Lily was won by our sect members from the Juyin Auction House. Its origin is legal and reasonable, so how did it become yours?”
“I’m afraid that’s not the case. The Black Gold Lily was bid on by my father. Unfortunately, he was intercepted and robbed by your sect’s people on the way. Not only was the item stolen, but he was also kidnapped to extort me later.”
Qi Huang briefly explained the situation.
“You’re saying that our Yuxiao Sect members robbed your father? And even kidnapped him?”
Sect Leader Liu confirmed in disbelief.
“Yes, you didn’t mishear!”
Qi Huang calmly reiterated.
“That’s impossible! Although our Yuxiao Sect isn’t a super sect, it’s still a reputable righteous sect. How could our disciples engage in such unsavory activities?”
Sect Leader Liu adamantly denied it.
“I have no prejudice against the Yuxiao Sect, but even the cleanest mirror can have a few specks of dust. This matter is absolutely true, otherwise, I wouldn’t have come to you directly.”
Qi Huang patiently explained.
“But this is your word against ours! Does Junior Brother Cheng have any evidence?”
Sect Leader Liu frowned.
“Evidence? I don’t have evidence, but I do have a witness!”
Qi Huang, knowing this would happen, calmly took out a bamboo tube from his embrace, opened it, and transmitted a message: “Sister Ruoyi, are you there?”
“Is that Hong Ling? That was quick to miss me! I didn’t dote on you for nothing!”
Mu Ruoyi sounded happy, like a little girl.
“Miss you! I dream about you! But I need to rescue my father first. Now Sect Leader Liu of the Yuxiao Sect doesn’t believe what I’m saying. Please explain it to him.”
After saying this, Qi Huang handed the Thousand Li Sound Transmission Device to Sect Leader Liu.
“What do you want?”
Sect Leader Liu held the Thousand Li Sound Transmission Device and said drily.
“Didn’t you want a witness? The person on the other end of the transmission is the witness, the Saintess of Shuiyu Valley. This witness should have some weight, right?”
Qi Huang sneered.
Hearing this, Sect Leader Liu took a deep, grim breath before speaking into the Thousand Li Sound Transmission Device, “Is this Junior Nephew Mu from Shuiyu Valley?”
“It’s me, Senior Uncle Liu! I just saw you at the Evergreen Convention a few months ago. You should still recognize my voice, right?”
Mu Ruoyi asked in a less-than-pleasant tone.
“What are you saying, Junior Nephew Mu? You are the pride of Shuiyu Valley and a future pillar of the cultivation world in our Xihui Dynasty. How could I not recognize you?”
Sect Leader Liu said with a fake smile.
“Since Senior Uncle Liu still recognizes me, then it should be fine for me to testify for Junior Sister Cheng of the HongHua Sect. You should know that our Shuiyu Valley’s Mullinglong can investigate anything.”
Mu Ruoyi probed politely.
“Of course!”
Sect Leader Liu nodded repeatedly. Although he didn’t fear Shuiyu Valley, they were both under the Immortal Alliance, so there was no need for hostility.
Mu Ruoyi then recounted everything she had witnessed. She then pretended to flatter him, saying, “Senior Uncle Liu, as the Sect Leader of the Yuxiao Sect, I believe you are a gentleman. I’m sure you can provide everyone with a convincing outcome on how to handle this matter, right?”
“Indeed! Indeed!”
Sect Leader Liu knew she was trying to trap him. Gritting his teeth, he abruptly ended the call.
“Sect Leader Liu, since the truth is out, please order the perpetrator to hand over my father and the Black Gold Lily.”
Qi Huang then applied pressure.
Sect Leader Liu’s old face turned ashen as two juniors pushed him around. He slammed the chair and shouted outside, “Guards! Summon all elders and high-level figures from the HongHua Sect to the main hall for a meeting!”
“Yes!”
The disciples outside immediately complied.
“Don’t worry, Junior Sister Cheng. If this matter is true, I will ensure justice is served.”
Sect Leader Liu tried to calm his emotions. He felt he absolutely couldn’t lose composure in front of a junior, or it would tarnish his reputation.
“I believe in Sect Leader Liu’s character!”
Qi Huang also indulged in flattery.
“How did it go?”
At the same time, Cheng Hong Ling’s mind transmission came into his mind.
“Don’t worry, everything went smoothly. I’ve explained the whole situation to Sect Leader Liu and even had Mu Ruoyi testify. Looking at his reasonable demeanor, he should be able to help us get justice.”
Qi Huang comforted her.
“Don’t let your guard down. Such old foxes are cunning and manipulative. Who knows what they are thinking?”
Cheng Hong Ling quickly warned him.
“Don’t worry! If he dares to play any tricks, I’ll start acting immediately. I’d like to see if he dares to pretend in front of a master at the seventh level of the Huashen Realm.”
Qi Huang replied with great confidence.
“As I said, tell me immediately if there’s any danger.”
Cheng Hong Ling warned him again and again.
…
Meanwhile, in a secluded courtyard in the back mountain of the Yuxiao Sect, the perpetrator was in the basement counting the spirit herbs and medicines he had just bought, while Cheng Yuan was tied up in a corner.
After more than ten days, Cheng Yuan had lost all his former vigor. His mouth was tightly gagged, and he was listless and emaciated from hunger.
“The whole lot for you!”
The pale-faced middle-aged man casually threw a spirit herb to his disciple, Xiao Zhi, next to him.
“Thank you, Master!”
Xiao Zhi’s cheeks flushed with excitement as he carefully put it away.
“Look at you, getting so excited over a common century-old Polygonum multiflorum. Anyone who saw this would think I’m stingy with you.”
The pale-faced middle-aged man reprimanded him.
“I’m sorry, Master! My talent is ordinary, and I usually only get leftovers from the sect. I haven’t seen many good spirit medicines or herbs.”
Xiao Zhi quickly explained. He felt lucky to accompany his master to the prefecture capital. If not for the kidnapping of Cheng Yuan, he would never have become his master’s confidant.
“It’s not difficult to see good spirit medicines and herbs. As long as you behave from now on, with Cheng Yuan in hand, you can get anything you want from his daughter.”
The pale-faced middle-aged man shook his head helplessly.
“But look at Cheng Yuan. Once released, he’ll try to commit suicide, so we can only keep him tightly bound. He hasn’t eaten for over ten days. If we don’t find a solution soon, he won’t last much longer.”
Xiao Zhi said with some worry.
“Hmph! Your daughter isn’t here, so who are you trying to impress?”
The pale-faced middle-aged man snorted coldly, a look of disgust on his face.
Cheng Yuan couldn’t speak, but he let out a weak snort.
“Master, I don’t understand. Since we’ve already decided to extort Cheng Hong Ling, we’ll have to turn on her eventually. Is this guy’s life and death really that important?”
Xiao Zhi suddenly spoke, a cold glint in his eyes. After all these days, he had lost his patience with this Cheng fellow.
“What do you know? Masters of the Guiyi Realm and above have keen senses and some spiritual connection with their closest relatives. If he died, Cheng Hong Ling would know immediately. Then how would we extort her? So you must take good care of him.”
The pale-faced middle-aged man reprimanded him.
“Yes…”
Xiao Zhi replied unwillingly.
“Elder Zheng… Elder Zheng…”
Just then, faint shouts could be heard from above.
“Who is it? What a bother!”
The pale-faced middle-aged man stood up and walked up the stairs. Before leaving, he instructed his disciple to do his best to keep Cheng Yuan alive.
“What is it?”
The pale-faced middle-aged man walked into the courtyard and asked.
“Elder Zheng, the Sect Leader wants you to come to the main hall for a meeting.”
A disciple’s voice came from outside the courtyard.
