By this time, the morning mist had fully dissipated. Gu An and Yun Xiuyan sat down in the pavilion. The spiritual energy from the nearby spirit spring eye spread along with the water vapor. Taking a deep breath, he felt his spiritual power abundant and his mind at ease.
“This spirit spring eye is the only one on my Yun family’s second-grade lower-tier spirit vein. My third uncle gave it to me.” Yun Xiuyan saw Gu An’s eyes constantly drifting toward the spirit spring eye and, somewhat helplessly, explained.
This junior brother, the moment they met, was already talking about spirit stones and such. Now, seeing the spirit spring eye, he couldn’t look away. She wondered what he was thinking.
Gu An caught himself staring and looked away, embarrassed. Why did anything valuable stop him in his tracks? Poverty, that was why. He needed more spirit stones.
His storage bag vibrated lightly. Thirteen bags of spirit rice flew out first, followed closely by a jade jar. Upon closer inspection, one could see that compared to when Lin Luping had handed them over, the thirteenth bag of spirit rice was nearly half empty, and the Red Maple Spirit Sap in the jade jar had also decreased by a layer.
Surely a little skimming was only natural when the goods passed through his hands? Besides, the extra had been intended for him. He would have to be a fool to hand it over to the sect.
“Senior Sister, this is the Lin Clan’s Spirit Tax for this year: one thousand two hundred and sixty jin of Golden Cloud Rice, and four and a half jin of Red Maple Spirit Sap. Please check it.”
Yun Xiuyan picked up a handful of Golden Cloud Rice and took a quick look, seeing that the quality was good, then opened the Red Maple Spirit Sap to inspect it. She nodded in satisfaction. Her jade-like face, which had remained unchanged, finally showed a faint smile as her red lips parted slightly.
“You’re an honest one, Junior Brother. This is well above the sect’s estimate. Your senior brothers would carve off a whole chunk for themselves.”
Upon hearing this, Gu An’s heart ached. These parasites were too shameless!!
Were his senior brothers that brazen? He had merely skimmed a little fat; they were helping themselves to the meat.
Being too honest had cost him. He would know better next year.
Unaware of his thoughts, Yun Xiuyan continued, “Still, you mustn’t be too honest. There isn’t much Red Maple Spirit Sap, and I need it myself. Take a bag of Golden Cloud Rice instead.”
With that, one bag of Golden Cloud Rice flew back in front of Gu An.
Gu An blinked, his mind momentarily confused.
How honest did she think he was, to offer him a kickback herself?
How ruthless must those Senior Brothers be!!
And the sect allowed this?
Why hadn’t anyone told him!
Corrupt! Visit g.com for the full chapter.
Utterly corrupt!
Gu An felt as if the world was shrouded in pitch-black darkness, with only himself remaining unstained by the mud.
Little did he know that in Yun Xiuyan’s view, this junior brother was also strange. He clearly seemed obsessed with spirit stones, yet he wasn’t tempted by the Spirit Tax.
She had no idea he had already helped himself. His ambitions were so modest, and his cut so small, that she hadn’t even noticed.
Fifteen years in this world had changed some of Gu An’s views, but habits from his previous life still lingered. He had yet to adjust fully to the way things worked here.
Simply put, Gu An’s moral standards were still too high!!!
Resisting temptation, Gu An cupped his hands cautiously. “Is this really all right, Senior Sister? Won’t the sect investigate?”
Yun Xiuyan’s expression remained unchanged as she said, “Relax. The Sect doesn’t interfere. Even my master said it’s fine.”
“Then thank you, Senior Sister. It would be rude to refuse.” Reassured, Gu An finally relaxed.
After all, if even True Person Qingxiao said it was fine, then it truly was fine.
Yun Xiuyan scattered the Golden Cloud Rice in her hand to the Purple Cloud Goose, causing it to frolic joyfully.
The goose swallowed the spirit rice in two gulps, then ran over to rub against Yun Xiuyan’s feet, clearly not full.
Yun Xiuyan refused to indulge the bird any further. It could go hungry for a while. Couldn’t it see she had a guest? The least it could do was stop embarrassing her.
Seeing its owner ignore it, the Purple Cloud Goose stopped its useless efforts and walked away coldly.
It knew very well when it could get food!
Turning to look at Gu An, it remembered this human who had fed it Spirit Fish. A wisp of subtle spiritual power was injected into the storage bag, and a familiar Purple Cloud Goose egg floated before Gu An’s eyes.
Gu An almost laughed. More eggs for fish? What a wonderfully well-mannered beast.
He glanced at Senior Sister Yun Xiuyan and saw that she was also somewhat startled but didn’t stop it. Instead, she spoke up, “Since she’s willing to give it to you, Junior Brother, just accept it.”
Hearing this, Gu An shook his head and explained, “Senior Sister, this Spirit Goose isn’t giving it to me.”
With that, he took four Black Spirit Fish from his spirit beast bag, tossed them to the Purple Cloud Goose, and put away the goose egg.
Yun Xiuyan’s lashes flickered. How many times was that stupid bird going to embarrass her today?
She had lost all face!!
Gu An saw her narrow eyes turn toward him, unaware of the dangerous thought behind them. He smiled. “When she delivered your letter, Senior Sister, I treated her to some spirit fish. She was polite enough to give me an egg in return.”
“As long as you’re both willing.” Her voice seemed even colder. “Do you have any fish left, Junior Brother? I’d like to buy some.”
“Yes, plenty!” Gu An nodded rapidly, delighted. Just what he needed, right when he needed it.
“Fifty-nine Black Spirit Fish, Senior Sister. One spirit stone each.”
Yun Xiuyan nodded slightly. “That’s quite cheap. Give them all to me.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Gu An’s eyes sparkling as he quickly took the remaining fifty-nine Black Spirit Fish from his spirit beast bag, afraid she might change her mind.
Yun Xiuyan naturally wouldn’t go back on her word, as the price was indeed quite good, perfect for feeding that foolish bird.
“This is fifty-nine spirit stones, plus one year’s salary. You previously drew half a year in advance, so thirty-six remain, along with the two Jade Spirit Fruits I promised you earlier. I’ll give them all to you now.”
A pile of spirit stones and two fruits flew out of the storage bag. Gu An caught them steadily and put them into his own storage bag.
Gu An was very happy. After all, shiny spirit stones always lifted one’s spirits, not to mention the two free Spirit Fruits.
“Thank you, Senior Sister.” Gu An cupped his hands forward. This thanks was truly sincere.
Whoever gave him spirit stones was his good friend!
He had been down to just two spirit stones, left over from his visit to Treasure Gathering Tower. He had saved them ever since, unwilling to spend his emergency reserve.
“By the way, there will be a small gathering of fellow disciples here in three days. If you’re interested, you can come.” Seeing Gu An’s sincere thanks, Yun Xiuyan couldn’t help but offer a hint.
Of course, it might also be because she saw that Gu An had just gained a new batch of spirit stones that she extended the invitation.
Gu An was interested regardless. “I thought the gathering was after the fifteenth?”
“That’s the Yun Kingdom trading gathering, open to the various families and Rogue Cultivators of Yun Kingdom. This small gathering of fellow disciples is only for Qingyuan Sect disciples.” Yun Xiuyan explained.
“I’ll be there!”
Gu An understood and agreed, then took his leave.