When his Garrison duty ended that day, he was about to leave, but the Shopkeeper of the Hundred dicine Hall called out to him, Lu Ren, and the others.
"The three-month term is up. You don’t need to co back tomorrow," the potbellied Shopkeeper said with a smile.
It was only then that Xu Yang realized he had been on Garrison duty at the Hundred dicine Hall for three months without even noticing.
Because this place collected dicinal ingredients, the Sect worried that the Guardian Disciples and the Shopkeeper might collude to cook the books, so they were replaced every three months.
But it wasn’t very effective. For example, Lu Ren and the others had been deliberately assigned here by soone.
If that weren’t the case, the matter of the stolen Spirit dicine wouldn’t have been resolved with just a small paynt.
"Here are your mission settlent slips!" The Shopkeeper handed the prepared slips to the group.
Aside from Xu Yang, Lu Ren and the others weren’t happy. They had all been docked a month’s worth of contribution points. The worst off was Jin Lei, who had worked for three months for nothing.
Of course, they had other illicit inco, but it was in silver coins, not the most valuable currency in the Purple Sun Sect—contribution points.
In the Outer Sect, silver wasn’t as useful as contribution points.
Xu Yang glanced at his slip and saw the three months’ worth of contribution points from Zhao Qing’s reward written on it. He imdiately thanked the Shopkeeper and strode out of the Hundred dicine Hall.
"Junior Brother Xu, hold on. You received quite a few contribution points this ti. Are you thinking of selling any? The price is negotiable," Jin Lei said, catching up from behind.
Xu Yang’s heart sank. He put on a troubled expression and said, "I’m sorry, Senior Brother Jin. I’m also very short on contribution points. I still haven’t obtained any Vigorous Qi Martial Arts. I need these points for myself."
Before Jin Lei could say anything, Gu Haoming, who was standing nearby, chid in, "Just do it for my sake and sell so to Senior Brother Jin. He won’t let you take a loss."
"You have contribution points too. Why don’t you sell yours to Senior Brother Jin?"
Xu Yang almost laughed. ’For his sake? Gu Haoming has no pull with whatsoever. Even Lu Ren wouldn’t dare say sothing like that.’
"You..." Gu Haoming was rendered speechless.
’He didn’t even have enough contribution points for himself; there was no way he was going to sell them.’
’The Purple Sun Sect treated its Outer Disciples like workhorses, giving them no opportunity to use silver. If everyone could just spend their way into being a big shot at the Sect’s nurous enterprises, the businesses would have all gone under long ago.’
"Junior Brother Xu, I’ll give you five silver coins for one contribution point. Sell half, and consider it making a friend out of this Senior Brother. If you’re ever in trouble in the future, you can co to anyti," Jin Lei said earnestly.
’The nerve!’
’Asking for half right off the bat was one thing, but to offer a favor he clearly thought was valuable as a bargaining chip... Did he think he was an Inner Sect Disciple?’
Xu Yang never believed in things like favors. Lu Ren and Gu Haoming, standing right before him, were pri examples.
’Back then, Zhang Yong, Zhao Zhifei, and Jiang Ping fought on their behalf. Weren’t they just being harvested like chives now? Once you have no value, people don’t want anything to do with you.’
"I’m sorry, Senior Brother Jin, but I really do have a use for them. This junior brother will take his leave now."
Xu Yang cupped his fist in a salute, then turned and departed quickly.
"He doesn’t know what’s good for him. Should we finish him off on the road?" A vicious look flashed across Hu Fengyi’s face as murderous intent stirred within him.
Lu Ren’s expression flickered, but he said nothing, looking instead to Jin Lei.
Gu Haoming added, "He’s been living in the city these past few months without returning to the Purple Sun Sect. All his valuables should be on him."
The implication was that killing Xu Yang would likely yield a good sum of money.
However, since the mission rewards hadn’t been officially processed, killing him wouldn’t get them Xu Yang’s contribution points.
Jin Lei shook his head. "No, we’ve already tipped him off."
Xu Yang had left so decisively, obviously worried his refusal would get him killed, which was why he had fled so quickly.
"He’s a clever one!" Hu Fengyi realized.
"If he weren’t so cautious, how would he have survived the last three months? Let’s go."
Jin Lei said. The group strode out of the Hundred dicine Hall, but when they got to the street, there was no sign of Xu Yang anywhere.
’Safe!’
Xu Yang had pushed his Flying Swallow Skill to its limit the entire way, only breathing a sigh of relief when he finally saw the main gate of the Purple Sun Sect.
He had originally planned to buy the ingredients for refining a Blood Coagulation Pill and a copper pot before returning to the Purple Sun Sect, but he hadn’t dared to linger in Cyan Yang City for a mont.
’A senior disciple like Jin Lei utterly looked down on new disciples like him. Refusing him was no different from slapping him across the face. If the location had been different, he would have attacked long ago.’
’Don’t be fooled by his seemingly amicable negotiations. If they had t outside the city, they would have shown no rcy. These people were ruthless enough to set a trap involving Spirit dicine just for contribution points.’
"Still not strong enough. If I were, I wouldn’t have had to give a ek explanation and then flee for my life. I would have just sent a palm strike his way."
"Gu Haoming, Jin Lei, Hu Fengyi... and Lu Ren."
He muttered the nas, committing them to mory. After presenting his Identity Waist Token, he entered the Purple Sun Sect without a problem and headed to the Task Hall to turn in his mission.
This ti, he didn’t run into that old dog Xiao Hua, so no one questioned his settlent slip. He smoothly received one hundred and twenty contribution points.
’Adding that to my original thirty-nine, I have nearly one hundred and sixty contribution points. I wonder what kind of Vigorous Qi Martial Arts I can get with that.’
After securing his contribution points, Xu Yang left the Task Hall.
He had only taken a few steps when he saw Lin Wei and Xiao Chen walking toward him, chatting and laughing.
’Su Man’s appearance was a far cry from Lin Wei’s. No wonder Xiao Chen’s eyes were always wandering.’
"Senior Sister Lin, Brother Xiao," Xu Yang said with a cupped-fist salute.
Xiao Chen smiled and nodded. He was very pleased that Xu Yang hadn’t said anything about him and Su Man, so he certainly wasn’t going to give Xu Yang the cold shoulder in front of Lin Wei.
Lin Wei smiled. "Oh, it’s Junior Brother Xu. I heard you perford a great service at the Hundred dicine Hall and even received a comndation from the Steward. You should be sure to thank Uncle Xiao properly."
’A life-or-death situation, an incident where even soone like Jin Lei had nearly failed, had sohow beco a good thing in her telling.’
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