Chapter 33: Harem in Flames?

Lin Dongming was numb.

Was this really a month’s income for an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple?

Are all rich women this generous?

Yuan Zhe beside him was even more dumbfounded: No, Brother Lin, when did you get close to such a wealthy lady?

Lin Dongming ignored Yuan Zhe next to him.

“Bai Shimei, should I remind you that the monthly Ling Salary for an Inner Sect Disciple is only a hundred Spirit Stones?”

Before Lin Dongming finished speaking, the Shidi in front had already taken Bai Zhiqing’s Spirit Stones and ran off.

He even happily went to the back of the line to queue again.

***

Forget it, I don’t blame him.

If it were me, I’d take the money and run too.

***

Bai Zhiqing said, “I know. Can’t help it, the benefits for Inner Sect Disciples are limited.”

A bead of cold sweat slid down Lin Dongming’s temple.

“Even though you lowered your voice and chose your words carefully, that doesn’t change the fact that you just offended all the Inner Sect Disciples present.”

Bai Zhiqing shrugged.

“It’s fine, I don’t mind. Besides, not many people heard. As long as the complaint isn’t heard, all is well.”

Lin Dongming rolled his eyes.

“Are you the type who thinks breaking the rules doesn’t count unless you’re caught?”

“Isn’t Senior Brother Lin the same?”

Bai Zhiqing didn’t answer directly but countered Lin Dongming.

“…Seems like it.”

Lin Dongming thought about it. He’d already teamed up with Bai Zhiqing to beat up people from Du Yuan Peak, which probably counted as breaking the rules too.

He hadn’t been thinking long before another person interrupted his thoughts.

“Junior Brother Lin, did you come to collect your Ling Salary today too?”

It was actually Han Xiangjun, and her attitude was a bit better than before.

***

Goodness, Bai Zhiqing is using me to provoke you.

Aren’t you asking for trouble by coming over?

***

Lin Dongming groaned inwardly, but could only watch as she walked over.

She picked a disciple at the front.

“This Shidi, I’ll trade you two hundred Lower-grade Spirit Stones for your spot. Is that alright?”

“Yes! Yes!”

That Shidi was stunned by the huge windfall and immediately left with the big prize.

Looking at his running speed, he was even faster than the previous one.

***

Amazing. She even chose right in front of Bai Zhiqing and paid more.

These two are never going to stop fighting.

***

Lin Dongming didn’t dare to roll his eyes now.

After all, Bai Zhiqing was still his client.

A bit of service spirit was necessary.

What Lin Dongming feared most now was that Bai Zhiqing would wave to call back the disciple who had just left, then offer another hundred Spirit Stones.

Maybe Han Xiangjun would increase the amount too, turning it into a money-throwing contest between two rich ladies.

Then, the next day, the whole Heavenly Extreme Sword Sect would be abuzz with news: [Shocking! Two rich ladies throw over ten thousand Spirit Stones at an unknown disciple. Did a bystander become the biggest winner?]

The thought alone gave Lin Dongming a headache.

***

But the little fox’s IQ is usually online.

She wouldn’t really compete with Han Xiangjun over something like this, right?

***

He watched as Bai Zhiqing raised her hand, about to call out.

“The one who took my Spirit Stones just now—”

“Wuwu!”

Lin Dongming hurriedly covered her mouth.

“What’s there to compete over? You’re not a child!”

Bai Zhiqing unhappily pushed his hand away.

“Yes, yes, yes, I definitely won’t compete over this kind of thing. Let those bystanders get lucky.”

“It’s fine, I’m happy to do it.”

Han Xiangjun snorted softly.

Lin Dongming felt so awkward he wanted to dig a three-bedroom apartment out of the floor.

He’d met many clever clients who spoke in circles, but not many childish ones like this.

Besides, Bai Zhiqing wasn’t usually this childish. Why did she keep clashing with Han Xiangjun?

“May I ask what advice Han Shijie has?”

Lin Dongming knew this trainwreck couldn’t be avoided.

He could only hope he’d reach the front of the line quickly and end this farce.

Until then, he tried to babble meaningless nonsense to avoid direct confrontation.

“Junior Brother Lin is really heartless.”

Han Xiangjun pretended to be shy.

“Weren’t you all mighty and heroic yesterday?”

Lin Dongming: “????”

Bai Zhiqing: “????”

Yuan Zhe: “Ah????????”

Bai Zhiqing’s gaze instantly turned resentful and aggressive, as if questioning what had happened between Lin Dongming and Han Xiangjun.

“Don’t say things with such double meanings! I clearly didn’t do anything to you!”

Lin Dongming’s eyes nearly rolled to the heavens.

“Is that so?”

Han Xiangjun teased.

“But without Junior Brother Lin’s help, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to win against the Wenxin Tianzong people.”

Lin Dongming was covered in black lines.

“…Can you speak more normally?”

That word [I] nearly turned Lin Dongming to stone.

“Fine.”

Han Xiangjun sighed.

“Thank you for your thoughtful advice, Junior Brother Lin. You helped me a lot.”

Lin Dongming’s expression didn’t improve.

After all, it wasn’t good for this to reach Bai Zhiqing’s ears.

***

If she knew the advice was originally meant for her, she’d probably kill me.

***

One of the things women hate most is having something that originally belonged to them taken away.

So, the moment Lin Dongming left Han Xiangjun’s side to join Bai Zhiqing, the former’s hostility toward the latter skyrocketed, even if Han Xiangjun wasn’t all that interested in Lin Dongming to begin with.

Han Xiangjun took out a small white jade bottle from her Storage Ring, lowered her voice but deliberately made sure Bai Zhiqing could hear.

“This is the [Nine-turn Resurrection Pill]. I’m sure Junior Brother Lin has heard of it. It’s said to bring the dead back to life, able to heal both spiritual and physical injuries as long as there’s a breath left.”

Lin Dongming: “…………”

If you weren’t giving this to me in front of everyone, I might believe your sincerity a little more.

Giving it to me now just makes me think you’re trying to irritate Bai Zhiqing.

Helpless, Lin Dongming shook his head.

“Thank you, Han Shijie. But this is too valuable. I can’t accept it. I only said a few words before the match. You won on your own, Han Shijie. There’s no need for concern.”

“Don’t mind me. Take it.”

Bai Zhiqing also lowered her voice, seeming to speak to Lin Dongming but deliberately letting Han Xiangjun hear.

“This is useful for you. Your previous Body Tempering Method requires a lot of healing elixirs. Besides…maybe we’ll both need it.”

Lin Dongming was numb.

***

Goodness, are you two using me as a relay to argue from a distance? Spare the innocent!

***

She even emphasized [we].

Han Xiangjun was probably furious.

If Lin Dongming really took Han Xiangjun’s precious pill to curry favor with Bai Zhiqing, Han Xiangjun might come over with her sword the next day to chop off his head.

Helplessly, Lin Dongming could only refuse again.

“Han Shijie, please take it back. ‘A man without sin is envied for his wealth’—this pill is too valuable and might invite trouble.”

Han Xiangjun was angry.

“Just take it if I tell you to! No one in the Heavenly Extreme Sword Sect dares mess with you!”

Lin Dongming sighed.

“Then I’ll respectfully accept. Body tempering has been difficult lately. I’m afraid this pill will be used up soon.”

He had to deliberately emphasize [I] and not [we].