Chapter 168 I Will Stake Everything I Have to Help You

Returning from Red Wheel Peak, both young women were in a deeply despondent mood.

Soon, Hongjian mentally organized the situation based on her own deductions: judging by Wei Yilian’s extreme reluctance, today was evidently his first time bringing annual tribute and offerings. Zhong Xiu’s extortion currently seemed limited exclusively to Wenchuai Yang’s disciples. The fat man’s remark that cultivators without a master were like motherless children precisely hit the nail on the head—this was clearly an instance of bullying the soft and picking on the weak.

The practice probably hadn't started long ago, likely beginning around the time Qi Tianbao became obsessed with alchemy and developed corresponding needs. To target Golden Core cultivators of the water attribute with such despicable tactics for such limited gains suggested that Zhong Xiu and that fat man were very likely acting on their own initiative behind the scenes to curry favor with Qi Tianbao.

As for why Wei Yilian swallowed his pride and submitted, the reason was even simpler: his senior brother, Yan Kang, had been injured by someone while cultivating in the Endless Sea a few days prior.

As to who had inflicted the injuries, Wenchuai Yang’s disciples must have known the truth all too well. Since ancient times, the collectors of protection fees and the thugs who smashed and looted were always cut from the same cloth.

Anger could not solve problems. What could be done?

Even if Mu Fengshan and Ying Qi were to learn of this, they would simply feign ignorance, and the last remaining two Nascent Soul cultivators on the side of the water lineage were equally unreliable.

To kill a peak Golden Core cultivator of the earth attribute was simply beyond Hongjian’s capabilities.

Not to mention that behind Zhong Xiu stood Qi Tianbao, one of the culprits involved in the murder of their grand-teacher, Sun Yougong. Naturally, Hongjian longed to avenge her grand-teacher, but for her, a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, to confront Qi Tianbao in the late Nascent Soul stage would be no different from a mayfly trying to shake a giant tree; even if she exerted all her might, she might not even scratch his little finger.

Improving her cultivation required time; Chen Zaizhi, who had vanished without a trace, required time; and even the newly established Cloud-Slaying Sect required time to develop. Yet, right now, watching the Cliff-Edge Sect wither day by day like a terminally ill patient, likely perishing before any rescue could arrive, felt to her as agonizing as being pricked by needles.

She had to do something for it.

Dragging Tong Dai back to Osmanthus Garden, Tong Dai even forgot to resist those glaringly gaudy and vulgar curtains. Muttering to herself, she said, "How could it come to this? It's simply too much."

Sitting upon the edge of the bed, she suddenly burst into silent tears, covering her face with her hands and sobbing, "I guessed his days were difficult, but I never imagined they could be this hard. Even so, he never thought of leaving the Cliff-Edge Sect; he is still looking out for his fellow disciples."

Feeling a headache coming on, Hongjian could not help but say, "Sister, what good is crying? Be sensible and think about how you can actually help him instead."

Tong Dai abruptly raised her head, revealing a pair of swollen, tear-reddened eyes. "You are right, Xiaoxiao. You have always been more resourceful than Senior Sister. Fortunately, you insisted today, allowing me to witness firsthand the kind of life Senior Brother is living. I must help him!" As she spoke, she stood up with a start, and before Hongjian could react, she rushed out like a gust of wind.

Hongjian gave a wry smile and sent her spiritual sense out to follow. Seeing that Tong Dai was not heading anywhere else but was hurrying straight back to her own quarters, she finally set her mind at ease.

No more chaos could be afforded at a time like this.

Standing amidst the fluttering curtains, Hongjian released her spiritual sense. Considering the intricate and complex relationships involving Qi Tianbao, Shiqing Xiang, the water and wood sects, and even someone as distant as Xing Wuhai, her expression turned solemn.

Stationed at Incense-Accumulation Peak, she was separated from these people and affairs by a barrier; no matter from which angle she chose to intervene, it would lack sufficient prudence.

Before she could sort out any clear thoughts, Tong Dai came running back, dumping a large pile of items from a bundle directly onto Hongjian’s bed. High-grade spirit stones, boxes of spiritual herbs, and small vials containing elixirs and monster cores rolled all over the mattress.

With just a brief glance, Hongjian realized this was likely the entirety of Tong Dai’s personal wealth. Among Foundation Establishment cultivators, this young woman could be considered quite affluent.

Sure enough, taking a deep breath, Tong Dai announced, "All the valuable things I brought from home are right here, Xiaoxiao. Help me look them over quickly; I need to pick out the suitable ones to give to Senior Brother."

Hongjian cast a glance at Senior Sister Tong, seeing her face filled with the resolute determination of someone burning her bridges, and could not help clicking her tongue twice inwardly, thinking to herself: "Just how many good deeds must this Wei Yilian have done in his past life to make Senior Sister Tong so infatuated with him? If it were me, knowing that someone had spent so many years thinking of me, yearning for me, and giving selflessly without asking for anything in return—what else is there to wait for? The most sensible thing would be to figure out a way to marry her right away. I just wonder if Wei Yilian even knows."

Although she suspected that Wei Yilian would not accept Tong Dai’s belongings, Hongjian did not pour cold water on her enthusiasm. Instead, she sat down and helped Tong Dai select a dozen or so items like monster cores and spiritual herbs that Zhong Xiu might actually fancy, packing them neatly into a cosmos bag.

Once everything was prepared and packed, the courage Tong Dai had shown moments before vanished without a trace. Smiling ingratiatingly, she adopted a flattering demeanor: "Xiaoxiao, won't you accompany Senior Sister to Red Wheel Peak one more time?"

Hongjian turned her face aside and lifted her chin. "No. I'll get caught, and who knows, Master Hong might nab us."

This was the very excuse Tong Dai had kept repeating earlier on Red Wheel Peak. Refusing to believe that her fearless Junior Sister Xiaoxiao would genuinely have such concerns, Tong Dai dropped her jaw in surprise and stared blankly at Hongjian.

Hongjian secretly found it amusing, while Tong Dai quickly recovered, saying with an embarrassed smile, "Xiaoxiao, Senior Sister is so flustered she's losing her mind. Look quickly, is there anything among these items that you like? How about this illusion pearl? I brought it from home intending to study illusion arrays, but I have no heart for that now. How about I give it to you as a gift?"

Looking at her distressed expression, Hongjian could not help letting out a giggle. She took the illusion pearl and examined it. To be fair, the pearl radiated a shifting luster with a mysterious aura, and judging by its quality, it must have come from at least a mid-to-late Golden Core stage illusion beast, making it exceptionally rare.

Yet Hongjian merely curled her lips in a pout and said coquettishly, "Such a small piece, and the color is so dull—how could I ever wear it out in public? No, no, I don't want it." As she spoke, she even shook her head, gesturing for Tong Dai to look at the two oversized pearl earrings hanging from her own ears.

Tong Dai was left speechless, watching helplessly as she casually tossed the valuable illusion pearl back, catching it in a panic for fear of dropping it.

"Xiaoxiao, I beg you, please accompany me one more time. Whatever you like, I'll go and get it for you later." In her desperation, Tong Dai completely failed to realize she was actually shaking her junior sister's sleeve and acting spoiled.

Resting her chin on her fingers, Hongjian thought for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright. Senior Sister must remember she owes me a huge favor, though."

Overjoyed, Tong Dai nodded repeatedly.

Suppressing a smile in her heart, Hongjian put on a straight face and looked Tong Dai up and down. Noticing her sudden silence and intense scrutiny, Tong Dai grew nervous again and asked, "What is it?"

Frowning with mild disgust, Hongjian said, "Have you figured out how you're even going to address Senior Brother Wei later? Besides, your outfit is far too plain; why would Senior Brother Wei ever like that? Hurry up, comb your hair properly, and I'll lend you a few pieces of jewelry—actually, wear my clothes instead."

Horrified, Tong Dai thought that if she dressed up to look like Junior Sister Xiaoxiao to meet her senior brother, she might as well drop dead on the spot. However, not to mention that she currently needed a favor from Xiaoxiao, even under normal circumstances she would never dare to offend her. With a forced smile, she pleaded, "No, no, I usually look like this and am used to it. Dressing up too much would only make people feel awkward."

Only after saying this did she realize what her junior sister had meant by asking how she would address him!

Indeed, what on earth should she say to Senior Brother Wei?

"Senior Brother, I know you've been tight on funds lately, so I specifically brought some things for you to help you tide over your current predicament." That sounded far too abrupt. Senior Brother was a proud man; would saying that make him feel his self-respect was wounded?

"Senior Brother, although Senior Uncle Wen is gone, we should still stick together like brothers and sisters. The difficulties the junior disciples face should not be for you alone to figure out." That sounded far too hypocritical. Who didn't know about the friction between Red Wheel and Incense-Accumulation peaks?

For a moment, Tong Dai was so tormented by worry that she turned to Hongjian and asked, "Xiaoxiao, do you think we should just quietly slip this bag of things into his cave dwelling while he's not around?"

Although she genuinely believed this was a terrible idea, Hongjian stood up anyway. "Let's go. We'll play it by ear and adapt to the situation."

Setting off for Red Wheel Peak once more, Tong Dai imagined how greatly Senior Brother's situation would improve once he received the items. This served as a tremendous source of motivation for her, making her noticeably less nervous than the first time.

However, upon arriving outside the cave dwelling that Wei Yilian had previously frequented, Tong Dai suddenly realized she had overlooked one detail: was the master of this cave dwelling actually Wei Yilian, or his senior brother, Yan Kang?

Wei Yilian had hurried in and out before claiming to Zhong Xiu that he had retrieved a pair of illusion pearls from Yan Kang. She had no idea if that was true; if she rashly went in to deliver the gifts only to bump into Senior Brother Yan recovering from his injuries inside the dwelling... Tong Dai did not dare to think any further.

"What's difficult about that? We'll just keep watch nearby; sooner or later, we'll run into him. When that happens, you can boldly step up, block his path, and hand the things to him personally." Hongjian had been opposed to Tong Dai's stealthy approach from the very beginning.

"But what am I supposed to say?"

"Does that need to be taught? Just tell him how much you like him, and that these are your dowry for him to keep."

Tong Dai’s face instantly flushed crimson, as if it might bleed, and her voice dropped to the hum of a mosquito: "How could I possibly say that?"

Despite saying so, apart from waiting like a stump for a hare outside the cave dwelling, there really wasn't any better alternative. When Wei Yilian failed to appear right away, Tong Dai's complexion alternated between flushed and pale, clearly reflecting her inner struggle and indecision.

As it turned out—whether it was fortunate or unfortunate for Tong Dai—Wei Yilian never showed up for the remainder of that day. By the time night fell, Tong Dai let out a long sigh of relief, comforting herself with the thought, "It looks like we won't run into him today. Waiting a few more days shouldn't matter."

The next day, Tong Dai proactively asked Hongjian to accompany her to continue waiting. Having had a whole night to think it over, Tong Dai seemed to have made up her mind, no longer as disoriented and frantic as she had been on the first day.

Yet her luck was truly dismal. Whether Wei Yilian had not returned at all or for some other reason, he failed to appear once more for three consecutive days.

On the evening of the third day, just as the two young women were lingering on Red Wheel Peak, the spiritual energy of the entire mountain was suddenly agitated by an unknown force, causing the leaves of the mountain's trees to fall like snow in the wind. In the distance, towering waves surged into the sky, immediately followed by the crash of a violent thunderbolt cleaving downward.