In just a single day, the news of Yan Pingsheng obtaining the Innate Creation Lotus spread like wildfire.
In an instant, numerous influential families practically beat down his door to buy the Innate Creation Lotus. Even after being rejected, they refused to back down, desperately raising their offers as if they would never leave unless he agreed to sell.
Only after Zhuang Xun tactfully explained that he had already gifted the Innate Creation Lotus to Yi Wangyou did they finally leave in disappointment, promptly turning their attention toward Yi Wangyou instead.
This time, operating under a different identity, Zhuang Xun was not nearly as easy to talk to.
First, he demanded astronomical prices. When the families sheepishly admitted they could not afford it, he unleashed a barrage of mockery and abuse before kicking them all out.
Zhuang Xun had no intention of selling the Innate Creation Lotus in the first place; it was not as if he lacked money.
He planned to have Bai Yujing consume it once his martial arts reached the First Rank.
The Innate Creation Lotus could briefly return the consumer's body to its innate embryonic state, reducing the difficulty of shaping a martial physique to nearly zero.
Consuming it then might allow Bai Yujing to shape his martial physique to great perfection in one fell swoop, stepping directly into the Zenith realm.
Zhuang Xun carefully packed the Innate Creation Lotus into a jade box and kept it close on Yi Wangyou's person.
Something this valuable was not safe no matter how secretly it was hidden; there was always a risk of it being stolen by some book-transmigrating transmigrator.
...
Outside Xue Shiyu's small courtyard.
Stepping outside, Xue Shiyu saw Huang Renyong pacing in front of his door and asked in surprise, “Brother Huang, is there something you need?”
“Yes, yes... well, I wanted to talk to you about the mountain expedition team, Brother Xue.” Huang Renyong smiled. “Speaking of which, that Yan Pingsheng is truly lucky. Out of everyone, he was the last to pick, yet the most valuable item ended up in his hands.”
Xue Shiyu sighed. “Unfortunately, he already gifted that Innate Creation Lotus to Yi Wangyou. It was never meant to be ours.”
“Bah, that kid looks honest, but his mind is as sharp as a tack.” Huang Renyong shifted the topic. “Brother Xue, about the money for that precious beast... you seem to have forgotten to give me my share.”
“Oh? Brother Huang, you want a share of that too?”
“Wasn't that precious beast an unexpected harvest? If it had been a bait we set up beforehand, I certainly wouldn't ask for a share.”
Xue Shiyu smiled faintly. “Brother Huang, that precious beast was no unexpected harvest. I had scouted its location beforehand and led everyone there. Otherwise, how could anyone be so lucky as to stumble upon an eleven-year-grade precious beast just by wandering around the mountain?”
Huang Renyong braced himself and said, “Brother Xue, you must be joking. Haven't I always been the one in charge of scouting locations?”
The smile on Xue Shiyu's face slowly faded. He stared at Huang Renyong in silence for a moment before sighing.
“Brother Huang, look at you, focusing on these petty gains again. Do you know why you, who were once the top disciple of the Outer Court, failed to enter the Upper Two Courts? It is because your vision is too short-sighted.”
“The profit from this precious beast is a mere pittance. When the time comes to pull in our net, there will be more than enough money for you to take. The harvest will be a hundred, even a thousand times greater than a precious beast. When that happens, I only want what is on Hu He, and the rest will be yours. Why must you be so impatient?”
“Yes, yes,” Huang Renyong forced a smile.
Xue Shiyu patted Huang Renyong on the shoulder and said with earnest sincerity, “Brother Huang, I hope you truly understand. We came from the same dorm, and with our years of friendship, I genuinely want the best for you. Otherwise, I wouldn't have kept bringing you along after you ended up in the Lower Three Courts. Just look around. Of those who used to be weaker than you and flattered you, how many are still willing to give you the time of day?”
“Yes, yes, I know. Only you, Brother Xue, are willing to lend me a hand in my time of need.”
“It is good that you understand, Brother Huang. Well, I have things to attend to. We will talk next time.”
“Of course, take care, Brother Xue.” Huang Renyong smiled as he watched Xue Shiyu's departing figure, but the fist hidden beneath his sleeve clenched so hard his knuckles popped.
...
Three days later, the mountain expedition team assembled once more.
This time, Xue Shiyu did not invite Hu He, nor did he recruit any newcomers; it was still the exact same lineup as before.
On the way, after chatting and laughing with his teammates for a bit, Zhuang Xun took the initiative to explain, “Senior brothers and sisters, Pingsheng must beg your forgiveness. I took it upon myself to gift that Innate Creation Lotus to Junior Brother Yi.”
“Ah, it's fine, it's fine.”
“Forgiveness? Junior Brother Yan, you are being far too polite.”
“Exactly. It's such a small matter. What is there to forgive?”
“No, no, it is only right. The Innate Creation Lotus should have been divided equally among everyone, yet I gave it to Junior Brother Yi without consulting you. However, Master Yi has gifted me some things in return. I will make sure to send them over to you all later.”
Looking at Yan Pingsheng, who stubbornly insisted he was in the wrong, everyone had only one thought.
Junior Brother Yan is truly a great guy. He is far too righteous!
They waved their hands repeatedly, refusing to accept and giving Yan Pingsheng no chance to argue.
After all, Yan Pingsheng had just said he gave it away, so what valuable things could a counter-gift possibly contain? They did not know Yi Xiaoxiang, but they were well aware of how those prominent figures operated.
It would likely consist of a few words of praise and some pocket change to send him on his way.
Even if they accepted it, it would not amount to much once split among everyone. It was far better to do him a favor and build a closer relationship with Yan Pingsheng.
After cooling down for a few days, they had also realized that the Innate Creation Lotus was not something they could afford to keep anyway. Holding onto it would only invite disaster; it had to be given away.
Thus, not only did they harbor no resentment toward Yan Pingsheng, but they also found him incredibly clever and decisive for being able to resist such a massive temptation.
Now, with Yan Pingsheng proactively apologizing and even offering compensation, their estimation of him skyrocketed.
Junior Brother Yan is not only smart and practical, but he is also a true gentleman!
He is definitely someone worth befriending, and deeply at that.
Even Xue Shiyu and Huang Renyong were no exception; even hypocrites and scoundrels preferred to be friends with a gentleman.
Well, you're the ones who don't want it. Heh, even if you did, I wouldn't give it to you. I'm a total miser.
Zhuang Xun felt incredibly satisfied.
He had managed to kill two birds with one stone with that Innate Creation Lotus.
Upon learning that Zhuang Xun had transferred the Innate Creation Lotus from Yan Pingsheng's hands to Yi Wangyou's, Yi Xiaoxiang had immediately sought out Yan Pingsheng. Not only did he give Yan Pingsheng one hundred thousand taels of silver, but he also personally drew a martial physique diagram for him, along with a promise and a weapon.
For the weapon, Zhuang Xun had chosen a meteor hammer. He felt that the spinning motion of the Posuo Sword matched the meteor hammer quite well, and it better suited Yan Pingsheng's muscle-bound hunk image.
Although Yi Xiaoxiang was surprised, he silently withdrew the precious sword he had originally intended to gift, promising to search the outside world for a high-quality meteor hammer for Yan Pingsheng.
Rate on N.U.
