Chapter 3: Drowning in debt yet still being exploited

Xue Mufeng frowned as he looked at the person lying on the ground. When he first saw him, he was startled, thinking it was some eccentric master with a strange fetish.

But upon closer inspection, it turned out to be just an ordinary disciple, and a disciple of Silver Moon Sect at that.

Ever since being “mobbed” by Silver Moon Sect disciples a year ago, and with Yue Chuyin constantly picking fights with him after he became a guest elder, his impression of Silver Moon Sect had already fallen to rock bottom.

Judging from this disciple’s appearance, had he been poisoned by the Phoenix-Immortal Golden Stamen?

With that thought, Xue Mufeng turned away without hesitation.

Phoenix-Immortal Golden Stamen’s poison wouldn’t kill anyone. At most, it would knock you out for a few days, and when you woke up you’d vomit a few times and lose a bit of cultivation.

Even if something went wrong and the disciple died, it had absolutely nothing to do with him, a mere guest elder.

And if this happened to be a spy from Silver Moon Sect, feigning such a state on purpose, the consequences would be disastrous…

What he regretted the most—

Was underestimating the survival instinct of the delirious person before him.

So, in the end, he dragged this unconscious disciple like a dead pig forward step by step with great difficulty.

The first thing he did after hauling him back was to go to “Bamboo Strings and Brocade Zither” to find Yin Ruohua.

At this time, Yin Ruohua was idly playing cards with Kui Zhuo. Suddenly, their young master appeared, startling him.

“Young Master, what brings you here?”

Xue Mufeng’s face was gloomy, hard to read. He shifted slightly, and under the moonlight, a young man could be seen clutching tightly at his robe, refusing to let go even in unconsciousness, like a dead pig.

Upon closer look, he was still comatose.

Yin Ruohua took a glance and immediately felt a headache coming on.

Kui Zhuo, however, looked utterly baffled. “Which spirit beast from the sect transformed into human form?”

Xue Mufeng: “Lord Kui Zhuo jests. This is clearly a disciple of Silver Moon Sect. He was poisoned by Phoenix-Immortal Golden Stamen. I heard you had an antidote here, so I rushed over.”

Yin Ruohua only grew more doubtful.

With their young master’s personality, not stabbing a Silver Moon Sect disciple to death on the spot was already considered merciful. Since when did he start meddling in other people’s business like this?

Kui Zhuo was lost in thoughts, then suddenly looked up. “This disciple’s vitality is really strong. For a place like Silver Moon Sect, full of blockheads, to produce someone with such a strong life force… that’s rare.”

As expected, someone with higher cultivation could see more clearly.

Though the youth seemed dazed and weak, it was precisely that state which pushed his survival instinct to the extreme.

Every bit of his remaining strength was used to clutch at Xue Mufeng’s robe—clutching so tightly it was impossible to pry him off.

If Xue Mufeng had been at full cultivation, it would have been nothing. But now, with part of his power sealed, he truly had no way to shake him off.

When Lin Xi finally regained his senses, he was in Secluded Snowfall Pavilion.

Opening his eyes, he looked around, recalling the events of the previous day.

Yesterday, he had only vaguely seen a figure in white. Thinking it was a fellow sect disciple, he clung on for dear life, refusing to let go no matter how the other kicked or hit him, holding on like bamboo rooted in stone against the wind.

Even now, his bones still ached faintly.

Tsk.

That bastard really hit damn hard.

But since you’re the second male lead, I’ll (very) begrudgingly (unwillingly) forgive you.

Yes, at the very moment he woke up, he already knew exactly where he was.

In the original novel, there had been several hundred words dedicated solely to describing the furnishings of Secluded Snowfall Pavilion and the details of its courtyard.

Back then, he had thought it was really beautiful and even re-read those passages a few times.

Now, looking at it in person, the courtyard was indeed stunning—utterly incomparable to the shabby, primitive cave dwellings of Silver Moon Sect’s suffering disciples, where spiritual energy was thin and one had to endure freezing winters and sweltering summers.

After a round of internal complaints, he braced his pitiful body that had been beaten to pulp last night, and managed to stand up.

“You’re awake?” Suddenly, a cool, clear voice sounded, crisp and melodious like pearls falling onto jade plates.

The kind of voice that could make some cultivators squeal like pigs breaking through the limits of sound.

That distinct, icy tone… He didn’t even need to think to know who it was.

Still, Lin Xi felt he should at least pretend to be surprised.

“Ah? May I ask, who might you be, young master?”

“Gui Jin.” Xue Mufeng replied coldly.

Gui Jin? Lin Xi blinked, belatedly remembering. If the man hadn’t said it himself, he might’ve forgotten.

In the original novel, when Xue Mufeng became a guest elder, he was given the surname “Gui.” But he didn’t like the name much.

Because of taboos, everyone in the sect simply called him Young Master Jin, while the main villain directly addressed him as Jinzhi—his courtesy name.

So, the name Gui Jin was rarely mentioned in the text.

“Hahaha… So it was Young Master Jin. Thank you very much…”

Lin Xi gave an awkward laugh. His exaggerated acting felt stupid even to himself.

Xue Mufeng took a step back slightly, looking irritable, his expression still full of disdain. “What do you mean by that?”

Lin Xi quickly reined himself in: “Nothing, I was simply expressing my gratitude toward you, Young Master Jin.”

He had already prepared to be rolled out of Secluded Snowfall Pavilion.

He figured that’s what Xue Mufeng would probably do.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll just go then…”

Xue Mufeng spoke: “Wait.”

Lin Xi froze for a second, a little touched.

Could it be that the second male lead actually had something to say to him?

That would truly be an honor for a mere background character like him.

“Remember to pay for the robes.” The cold voice mercilessly shattered his fantasies.

“And for the antidote to Phoenix-Immortal Golden Stamen, I’ll be generous. One hundred high-grade spirit stones.”

?! One hundred high-grade spirit stones?!!!

That was daylight robbery! What, just because I’m a lowly disciple you think you can bully me?!!

In the original novel, such a tiny dose of antidote cost less than fifty high-grade spirit stones. And here the second male lead called one hundred a discount?!

Scammer!

But unfortunately, the other was now a guest elder. As for himself—not even an inner sect disciple—he had no choice but to silently endure it.

Lin Xi raised his eyebrows slightly.

“Alright, alright, alright. You really are such a good person… of course, I’ll pay the full price. Many thanks for your great kindness, Young Master Jin.”

He turned to leave.

Suddenly, he glanced back, smiling: “But—you actually hate being called ‘Young Master Jin,’ don’t you?”

“In that case… thank you, Young Master Feng.”

The youth’s delicate face, in that fleeting instant, shone like a bright full moon.

It was as if a maple leaf had drifted down from the horizon, caught and carried away gently by the wind.

The figure in white stood in the courtyard of Secluded Snowfall Pavilion, lingering for a long time.

Feng?

It had been so long since he last heard that name.

Originally, he and Kui Zhuo had noticed this boy’s spiritual energy absorption speed was incredibly fast, almost unbelievably so. But for some reason, his cultivation remained low.

There were only two possible explanations.

The first: he was too lazy, neglectful of cultivation, wasting his extraordinary talent.

The second: this person was absurdly strong, at least at the Nascent Soul stage or higher!

When he spoke the word “Feng,” something inside Xue Mufeng’s heart seemed to shatter into pieces, utterly collapsing.

As for Lin Xi, he had no idea about Xue Mufeng’s reaction at that moment.

Nor did he expect that one day, someone would think he was a Nascent Soul cultivator.

He was just secretly pleased.

So this was how novel characters made a professional exit?

Leaving the other person with lingering doubts and then vanishing?

Now this… was really fun.

---

When he returned to Silver Moon Sect, a fellow disciple immediately grabbed him: “Hey! Where have you been? You disappeared all morning. Have you heard? The canteen raised prices again! Meals used to cost fifteen lower-grade spirit stones, and now they’re charging fifty! How are we supposed to live???”

“Exactly, exactly! It’s several times more expensive! Our incomes as low-level disciples were already meager, now how can we afford cultivation resources if we spend everything just to eat?”

“Right?! And the food tastes like pig slop. Disgusting, and they still charge so much. Who would even want to be a Silver Moon Sect disciple at this point? I heard over at Green Apricot Sect, meals only cost ten lower-grade spirit stones, and they even hand out cultivation resources regularly! I’m going to switch over to Sect Leader Lan Xing!”

“Don’t see how the Green Apricot Sect look shabby and disreputable like street sweepers, but at least their disciples eat well and stay warm. Their sect leader is also beautiful and kindhearted! Then, look at us here… tsk tsk.”

The overwhelming complaints left Lin Xi stunned.

He raised his hand weakly: “Um… excuse me, but… why did the canteen raise prices?”

Someone answered: “It’s because of Lady Xuan Hou! She’s very close with Sect Master Yue. Recently she took a fancy to a magic weapon, but it’s ridiculously expensive. Sect Master Yue couldn’t afford it himself, so she’s squeezing us disciples instead!”

The already drowning in debt Lin Xi: ?

Yue Chuyin, I know you were cursed by the Moonshade Begonia. I also know you’re under Lady Xuan Hou’s Gu poison. But can’t you at least try to act like a decent human being???!!!

Stop squeezing us poor disciples dry!!!!!!

Yue Chuyin, you #￥…%#%￥#…!

After a round of furious cursing in his heart, Lin Xi finally brought his thoughts back on track.

“So… does our sect have any kind of overpopulated animals?”

His fellow disciples all looked at each other blankly.

Animals?

Actually… there were indeed quite a few.