Jiang Yubai’s expression shifted repeatedly as he stared at the man before him, first raising a brow slightly. At this moment, countless thoughts flashed through Fan Yang’s mind.
Eventually, he looked up and said to Jiang Yubai, “Senior Brother Jiang, I was misled by Lu Zi’an’s slander… In truth, I’ve always deeply respected you—”
Before he could finish, Jiang Yubai interrupted, “Senior Brother? Why don’t I remember ever having a Junior Brother like you?”
Fan Yang froze, an awkward look crossing his face, but he quickly collected himself. “…Senior Brother Jiang must be joking. In the cultivation world, strength is everything. Since my cultivation is lower than yours, it’s only right for me to address you as Senior Brother.”
Jiang Yubai’s lips curved slightly as he looked at Fan Yang with a faint, mocking smile. “So what you’re saying is, if your cultivation surpassed mine today, I should lower my head and call you Senior Brother instead?”
As he spoke the last line, his tone turned playful and sarcastic.
Fan Yang’s heart tightened at the words. A thin layer of sweat broke out on his forehead, and he hurried to explain, “How could that be!? Senior Brother Jiang, you’ve always been a peerless talent in the cultivation world. I’ve admired you greatly—there’s no such intention at all!”
At that, Jiang Yubai lowered his eyes. A flash of coldness gleamed in his gaze.
He slowly raised the sword in his hand, the blade shimmering with a chilling light.
Under Fan Yang’s terrified stare, the sword descended. A streak of sword Qi directly shattered Fan Yang’s spiritual platform.
Fan Yang’s eyes widened in disbelief. The next second, his body went limp and collapsed to the ground, completely lifeless.
Noisy fool. A petty opportunist who follows the wind.
Then, Jiang Yubai casually scattered something over the two corpses. To everyone’s astonishment, they instantly vanished without a trace.
Just then, a breeze stirred and a fine drizzle began to fall.
Jiang Yubai extended his left hand, feeling the blessing of nature. His heart stirred.
Ye Yunshang, Mu Xueqi… death is far too lenient for you.
He stood in the valley as the rain soaked him. Raindrops slid down his brow ridge, tracing his cheek, falling from his sharp jaw onto the ground.
At that moment, his eyes were filled with shifting emotions.
…
Meanwhile, in the Longevity Sect.
After more than ten days of careful healing, Xiao Yifei’s body had mostly recovered. He could already move about on his own.
Of course, Jiang Yubai’s strike couldn’t have allowed him to recover this quickly.
But who was he!?
He came from another world, born with a strange ability to absorb other people’s fortune… Naturally, his recovery was faster than ordinary people.
That said, he still harbored some devious thoughts.
Just now, he’d been up and jumping about. But the moment he heard Ye Yunshang had arrived, he instantly threw himself back on the bed and feigned extreme weakness.
When Ye Yunshang saw this “barely breathing” Junior Brother before her, she was deeply moved.
She softly asked, “Yifei, how are you feeling today?”
Hearing her words, Xiao Yifei seemed to only then realize her presence. He slowly opened his eyes and said in a frail voice, “Master, I’m much better… I only ask one thing of you…”
“What is it!?”
Xiao Yifei’s eyes welled up instantly. Tears swirled in his eyes. “Disciple begs Master… to bring Senior Brother back…”
At those words, Ye Yunshang’s willow-like brows furrowed sharply.
But upon recalling that this was her beloved Junior Brother, her tone softened a little. “Yifei, you’re still so kind… Even after Jiang Yubai treated you like that, you still want him to come back!?”
Xiao Yifei nearly burst out laughing when he heard that.
Who wants him back!?
He simply coveted that overwhelmingly rich fortune surrounding Jiang Yubai!
Ever since transmigrating from another world, he’d awakened a unique ability—
The ability to absorb someone else’s fortune to cultivate himself.
And Jiang Yubai—
The Longevity Sect’s top disciple!
Was the most blessed and gifted person he’d encountered so far!
Otherwise, why would he have come to this broken sect!?
On the surface, it still held some standing in the cultivation world…
But in truth, it was barely hanging on thanks to Jiang Yubai, the sect’s hidden ace!
His original plan—
Was to use a pitiful act to trick Jiang Yubai into giving up half his cultivation.
Then, through long-term contact, he could slowly drain all of Jiang Yubai’s fortune to strengthen himself.
Everything had been laid out perfectly.
But who would’ve thought Ye Yunshang, that fool!
Not only drove away the always-loyal top disciple…
She even made him suffer a direct strike from Jiang Yubai!
Still, he had to admit—Jiang Yubai really was the perfect target.
He even managed to escape the sect protection formation with ease!
Once he returns, Xiao Yifei would definitely find an opportunity to drain every last drop of fortune from him!
Honestly, Xiao Yifei might already be treating this like some protagonist fantasy plot.
But whether he could even touch Jiang Yubai’s fortune now—
That, he hadn’t considered at all.
After all, how could he expect Jiang Yubai to return at all…?
Then again, it wasn’t entirely his fault for thinking so.
If this were the previous life, perhaps Jiang Yubai really would’ve been spun in circles by Ye Yunshang and the others’ sweet words!
But this wasn’t the past…
In her eyes, Jiang Yubai was nothing more than a dog at her side!
Come when called, leave when dismissed!
And now, he dared to show a temper!?
Just because his talent, spiritual root, and appearance were slightly better, he thought he could spread his wings?
As she thought this, her expression grew darker.
Xiao Yifei, fearing this foolish woman might do something rash again, quickly let tears fall and said, “Master, I know you care for me… but please don’t hurt Senior Brother again because of me—”
That sentence struck Ye Yunshang’s heart.
She looked at the boy before her, eyes full of pity and affection.
She reached out and gently pulled her Junior Brother into her arms, speaking tenderly, “Yifei, what fault do you have? You’ve always been the most wronged in this whole mess…”
Xiao Yifei stiffened slightly in her embrace but quickly relaxed.
In truth, his face was now terrifyingly cold.
To be honest, if it were someone like Mu Xueqi, he might enjoy toying with them.
But Ye Yunshang?
He had no interest whatsoever.
After all—
How old was she!?
No matter how young she looked, she couldn’t stir anything inside him.
Put plainly, she just wasn’t his type.
However, at that moment, the corners of Xiao Yifei’s lips curled up into a roguish smirk.
Though he held no affection for Ye Yunshang, he was very aware of his own charm. Since he couldn’t refuse her, he might as well go with the flow.
After all, he was endlessly charming, wasn’t he?
So he deliberately spoke in a spoiled tone, “Master, please call Senior Brother back, okay?”
Once again hearing her beloved Junior Brother plead like that, Ye Yunshang’s heart softened. All her previous resentment vanished.
After hesitating for a moment, she finally nodded helplessly and agreed, “…Alright.”
…
Soon after, the Longevity Sect released another announcement.
Its general content—
Something about showing great compassion and forgiving the traitorous Jiang Yubai.
If Jiang Yubai saw this notice, he should immediately return to the sect and repent.