They seemed to be engaged in a heated discussion about something.
However, due to the barrier set up around them, their voices did not leak out.
On the other hand, Ruan Ruoyin, who was watching the screen, listened to their conversation with great interest.
The long-haired woman in a purple dress angrily slammed the table, pointing at the handsome man in green robes across from her and shouting, “Ouyang Mu, you’re going too far! We agreed to split it fifty-fifty, and now you want to take it all for yourself?”
“That’s not what you said when you were negotiating the partnership with us!”
When he was discussing the collaboration with them, he appeared refined and sincere.
But when it came time to divide the spoils, he immediately turned his back on them, as cold as a stranger.
Wasn’t he just toying with them?
Before Ouyang Mu could speak, the elegant man in white robes beside him used a fan to gently push away the purple-dressed woman’s finger and said with a faint smile, “Zhu Qingqing, our Brother Ouyang made it very clear—he would exchange spirit stones for half of your share. How can you accuse him of taking it all for himself?”
“Don’t pin all the blame on our Brother Ouyang. He has no interest in being a scapegoat.”
Zhu Qingqing laughed in anger. “Situ Shen, stop pretending to be righteous! Everyone knows that what we obtained is priceless. If it could be bought with spirit stones, why would we even bother partnering with you?”
“Exactly!” Zhu Qingqing’s senior sister, Liu Zhaomei, was also furious. She angrily said, “If we had known you couldn’t be trusted, why would we have collaborated with you in the first place?”
Ouyang Mu shrugged. “So what?”
“Do you have any proof of what you’re saying?”
“How come I don’t remember any partnership between us?”
Ouyang Mu curled his lips maliciously. “Isn’t the truth that the two of you kindly helped us obtain the item, and we gave you some spirit stones as a reward?”
“You!” Zhu Qingqing had never met someone so shameless.
Twisting the truth, blurring right and wrong.
Zhu Qingqing was tempted to just walk away.
But she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
That item was crucial for her and her senior sister—it could help them break through their cultivation levels.
Their sect’s grand competition was approaching soon, and with that item’s assistance, they could shine brightly in the competition.
The rewards for this sect competition were incredibly generous, and she absolutely couldn’t miss out.
Zhu Qingqing swallowed her pride. “Ouyang Mu, what will it take for you to give half to me and my senior sister?”
Ouyang Mu feigned ignorance. “Why should I give my things to you?”
“Zhu Qingqing, where are your manners? Is this how your Wanzhao Sect teaches you to behave?”
Zhu Qingqing was about to lose her mind. This damned Ouyang Mu was utterly shameless.
Her face turned ashen. “Is there no room for negotiation?”
Ouyang Mu took a sip of tea. “Well, there might be.”
“It depends on whether you’re willing to do it.”
Zhu Qingqing took a deep breath. “Tell me.”
Ouyang Mu tilted his head slightly, pointing at Fu Ruheng, who was talking to the shopkeeper, and said with a malicious grin, “See that man in black robes?”
“As long as you reveal his face, I’ll agree to give you half.”
Zhu Qingqing followed Ouyang Mu’s gaze, and her expression instantly changed. Her voice involuntarily sharpened. “Are you insane? Can’t you sense that person’s aura?”
“Even without thinking, it’s obvious—his cultivation level is higher than all four of ours combined!”
She had noticed the man in black robes as soon as he stepped onto the second floor.
One glance was enough for her to avert her eyes.
The aura emanating from the man in black robes was too fierce and terrifying—he was undoubtedly a ruthless and vicious individual.
Moreover, he deliberately wore a black robe to conceal his face, clearly not wanting others to see his appearance.
He might be someone disfigured and ugly.
Asking her to lift the black-robed man’s robe was undoubtedly stepping right on his sore spot.
It was essentially sending her to her death.
She might not even get close before the black-robed man killed her.
How could Ouyang Mu be so despicable?!
Zhu Qingqing refused, “Impossible, I don’t have the ability to make him reveal his face.”
“Change your demand!”
Ouyang Mu shook his head regretfully, “Since you lack the ability, there’s no room for negotiation.”
“Zhu Qingqing, it seems you are destined to have no connection with that item.”
Zhu Qingqing gritted her teeth. She knew Ouyang Mu was deliberately provoking her, but she truly wanted that item. So, she lowered her stance and softened her voice, “I shouldn’t have scolded Brother Ouyang. It’s just that the black-robed man’s presence is too intimidating, and as a woman, I’m genuinely afraid.”
“Brother Ouyang, could you change your demand?”
“Qingqing…” Liu Zhaomei hesitated to speak. There was no need for them to waste words with someone like Ouyang Mu. If they couldn’t get a share of the item, so be it—they could just treat it as a training experience.
However, Zhu Qingqing had been preparing for that item for a long time, almost to the point of obsession. Considering that Zhu Qingqing only had her as a friend, Liu Zhaomei ultimately didn’t try to persuade her to give up.
Ouyang Mu remained unmoved, shaking his head, “No change.”
“I’ve made it very clear: if you can make him reveal his face, I’ll give you half of the item.”
“If you’re unwilling, I’ll leave with Brother Situ.”
Ouyang Mu’s demand started as a whim but later took on a more sinister undertone.
He wanted Zhu Qingqing to provoke the powerful figure, after which he would step in, twist the truth, and righteously condemn Zhu Qingqing’s actions. The black-robed expert would likely look at him with newfound respect.
If the expert was in a good mood, he might even grant him some opportunity.
Opportunities given by powerful figures were usually rare and invaluable.
Obtaining one would be a great gain.
Ouyang Mu’s calculations were loud and clear in his mind, and even his smile grew more genuine.
Zhu Qingqing gritted her teeth, “I’ll try.”
Liu Zhaomei was shocked and grabbed Zhu Qingqing’s hand, but Zhu Qingqing pushed her away, “Senior Sister, we can’t judge a powerful figure’s temperament based solely on their aura. What if that expert is actually gentle?”
Zhu Qingqing didn’t fully believe her own words, but she tried to comfort herself—what if it was true?
She stepped out of the barrier and walked step by step toward Fu Ruheng.
Outside the screen, Ruan Ruoyin, who had been enjoying the drama only to find it involved her own Zaizai: “”
Are they insane?!
Her Zaizai was just buying medicine—how did he suddenly become the target of their games?
Ruan Ruoyin had initially sided with Zhu Qingqing, silently blaming Ouyang Mu and Situ Shen. Now, she didn’t side with anyone.
She felt especially heartbroken for her Zaizai!
Her Zaizai had already hidden his appearance, shrinking into the shadows, and yet he was still being targeted!
How infuriating!
Ruan Ruoyin tapped the screen and dragged Zhu Qingqing’s leg, preventing her from walking toward Fu Ruheng.
Fu Ruheng was about to go downstairs when he saw Zhu Qingqing approaching him. He frowned slightly, his intuition telling him that Zhu Qingqing was coming for him, and her motives were impure.
He hated trouble and was about to leave immediately.
Before he could lift his foot, he noticed that Zhu Qingqing’s legs seemed to be dragged by something, making it impossible for her to move even an inch.
Zhu Qingqing herself was panicked and flustered.
She mustered all her courage, only to have something eerie wrap around her legs, rendering her completely immobile.
Even with all her cultivation, she couldn’t take a single step.
The thing gripping her legs was incredibly forceful—she could feel her flesh being pressed inward.
This was a phenomenon she had never encountered before, and it threw her into a panic.
She no longer cared about the black-robed figure, crying out desperately:
“Senior Sister, help me quickly—I can’t move!”