Chapter 65

Chapter 64. Zhang Ming! That guy is a God of Wealth! (4)

Mount Hua was in an uproar.

Or rather, it was already in an uproar, but the meaning of the chaos had completely reversed.

"Did they save Lord Huang?"

"Who is Lord Huang?"

"The greatest elder of Huayin. Even if you combine all the people who have ever come to the main peak, none of them would match Lord Huang alone."

"Wow? So he's a remarkable person."

"Indeed."

The third disciple's face suddenly twisted.

"To think that Qingming saved such a person!"

"Wow! This is really..."

"We're doomed."

"Of all people."

"Why him..."

For Mount Hua, it was a very welcome piece of news, but for the third disciples, it was a sorrowful one.

This would elevate Qingming's status, and the elders of Mount Hua would undoubtedly favor him even more. After all, Qingming already had the protection of Senior Yunjian and the sect leader.

And now, he's rising even higher?

Zhaoge let out a hollow laugh.

"Where were you?"

He really is a ghost.

Or perhaps he has the heavens on his side.

"Isn't it a bit much, Senior Brother?"

"Hmm."

"Isn't that guy just too lucky?"

"Luck?"

Yunzhong stared intently at Zhaoge.

"Do you think it's luck?"

"......Do you think differently?"

"It's not luck, but skill."

Zhaoge tilted his head. Yunzhong looked at him and continued.

"Being able to go down to Huayin was a right Qingming earned through his abilities, and encountering the matter of the Huang family in Huayin was also a result of his abilities. What could we have done in that situation? We could only return to Mount Hua and report it."

"......That's true."

"That won't solve the problem. There's no guarantee that Lord Huang wouldn't die in the meantime, and without capturing the culprits on the scene, there would be no evidence. If things went wrong, it would have been said that Mount Hua, having tasted the sweetness of money, would oppress innocent people to seize their wealth. The sect leader wouldn't have been able to act recklessly."

Zhaoge nodded unconsciously.

Upon reflection, it was indeed a sound argument.

"Everything seems easy when you see it after someone else has done it. But when you try it yourself, it's never as easy as it looks. Before talking about luck, improve your skills. If your skills are sufficient, luck will follow."

"I understand, Senior Brother."

Zhaoge sighed.

'Senior Brother has been nagging a lot lately.'

In the past, Yunzhong always kept a step back from whatever happened.

He held the symbolic position of the eldest among the third disciples but never flaunted it or used it to his advantage.

He simply went with the flow like water. But recently, he has truly taken on the air of an eldest disciple.

Ever since he decided to achieve something on Mount Hua, he has changed.

Of course, Zhaoge has also changed.

The others, sensing something from Yunzhong's words, fell silent in thought.

But Yunzhong wasn't finished.

"One, I'm worried."

"Huh?"

"While the process and the result were achieved through ability, the elevated status is also a fact..."

Qingming has already accomplished many feats on Mount Hua. With this new achievement, his status would be even higher.

"He must be planning something else."

"......"

Qingming's biggest problem isn't that he's evil.

It's that he's also diligent.

"Ah."

"Really, what did I do in my past life?"

The Bai Mai Hall was instantly filled with sighs and groans.

* * *

"Lord Huang has agreed to take charge of the business in Huayin."

"That's a relief."

"Lord Huang is trustworthy."

Xianzhong suppressed his excitement.

'I shouldn't show too much enthusiasm.'

But it was hard to keep his fidgeting under control.

Huang Wenyaok proposed to manage the business without any compensation and even promised a substantial amount of money as a token of gratitude for this incident.

There were two conditions.

First, not to accumulate the profits but to use them immediately for the development of Mount Hua.

Second, to treat the third disciple, Qingming, well.

The first condition was not a problem.

Xianzhong also didn't intend to hoard the profits. Mount Hua was not at a stage where it could accumulate wealth. It needed to pour money into the bottomless pit to barely fill it.

The problem was the second condition.

'Treating well is such an ambiguous term.'

For Huang Wenyaok, it was a reasonable request. Qingming was his savior. While Qingming, as a disciple of Mount Hua, had saved the mountain, the personal gratitude he felt towards Qingming was even more profound.

The problem arose from this 'treatment.'

'What ways are there to specially treat a third disciple?'

This was what troubled Xianzhong.

If Qingming's achievements were evaluated objectively, the result was that he hadn't received a proper reward.

Qingming had already received everything a third disciple could, and even enjoyed privileges that even a first disciple couldn't dream of.

'In such a situation...'

Xianzhong glanced at Yunyan.

Yunyan, noticing Xianzhong's gaze, quietly spoke up.

"Ahem, this is a good thing."

Yunyan, drawing everyone's attention, continued.

"But Lord Huang is stepping forward because Qingming saved them from a crisis."

"Hmm."

"Yes."

"What a remarkable young man. How does he always manage to do such incredible things?"

"He is truly a Dao Qi (道器)."

"So, what I'm saying is..."

"Hmm?"

Yunyan cleared his throat under everyone's gaze.

"Shouldn't we give this young man a reward this time as well?"

"Hmm, yes, we should."

"He deserves a reward."

Everyone nodded.

"Hmm, then what kind of reward do you think would be appropriate? Let's hear everyone's opinions."

As things unfolded as he wished, Xianzhong smiled contentedly.

With good things happening on Mount Hua and disciples moving according to his intentions, how could he not be happy? Not to mention the blessings that kept coming.

"Considering he is a third disciple, how about letting him learn a martial art that he can't learn as a third disciple yet?"

"Ah?"

Xianzhong looked at Xianxiang.

This was indeed something that could be considered the 'treatment' Huang Wenyaok mentioned.

"Once the research on the Falling Flower Sword and the Seven Plum Sword is complete, we should give him that right. He will surely be overjoyed."

"Good idea. Sect Leader!"

"I agree."

The atmosphere was truly warm. Xianzhong nodded with a contented smile.

"Yes. Then let's do it..."

"No."

At that moment, a resolute voice cut off Xianzhong's words.

Xianzhong glanced at the source of the voice and closed his eyes tightly.

Xian Ying, the head of the Financial Management Hall.

His face was filled with anger.

"Sect Leader! Giving such a reward to that boy is unreasonable!"

'What, again?'

This would be a headache.

No matter how much Xianzhong was the sect leader of Mount Hua, Xian Ying was his junior, an elder of Mount Hua, and the head of the Financial Management Hall. Ignoring Xian Ying's words and proceeding would be a heavy burden for Xianzhong.

"Head of the Financial Management Hall, what's the problem?"

"Rewards are not like that! What kind of reward is this?"

"Huh?"

"Would giving martial arts to children make them happy? Isn't it a burden to tell a child who is already busy learning martial arts to learn even more? That's a punishment! That's why martial artists are like this!"

What?

What is this?

The conversation was taking a strange turn.

Everyone was puzzled, and Xian Ying's eyes were practically on fire.

"Rewards are not like that! It's not about giving something that won't be missed. What kind of reward is that? A proper reward should be something that the giver is reluctant to give! Do you understand?"

Why is he acting like this?

Xianzhong looked at Xian Ying, completely baffled. Until the last meeting, Xian Ying had openly advocated for punishing Qingming.

Why the sudden change of stance?

Xian Ying's voice grew more agitated.

"Is this an ordinary achievement? Thanks to that boy saving Lord Huang, Mount Hua has received... no, a substantial sponsorship, and Lord Huang has agreed to manage the business for free! For free!"

Only then did Xianzhong understand why Xian Ying was acting this way.

Xian Ying was the head of the Financial Management Hall.

The Financial Management Hall was responsible for the financial management of Mount Hua. In simpler terms, it managed Mount Hua's finances.

And the Financial Management Hall had been in a state that could be described in one word: hell.

How terrifying must it be to manage the finances of a declining sect? It was only thanks to Xian Ying's efforts that Mount Hua had managed to stay afloat.

'It makes sense.'

With no source of income and debt collectors constantly harassing him, Xian Ying had become so jumpy that he would have a panic attack just hearing the word 'money' in his sleep.

In the midst of this, Qingming had achieved something.

While a large sum of money had come from the box Qingming discovered, it would quickly be spent.

What the Financial Management Hall needed was a steady stream of income from a well-managed business.

How happy must Xian Ying be that Qingming had saved Huang Wenyaok, the key to achieving this?

Xian Ying's face turned red as he shouted.

"We need to give a proper reward! Only then will he go out and achieve more!"

"Achievements are not earned, but established..."

"Anyway!"

Xian Ying seemed ready to pounce on Xianzhong.

"Sect Leader! That boy is a God of Wealth! We need to give him a proper reward and keep sending him out to earn more! Do you understand? Yes?"

"......"

"Do you know how much money he brought in this time? Among these rice worms who can't earn a single coin, this boy! This remarkable boy! Do you understand? Yes?"

Wujiao Hall's Xianxiang smiled and stood up. He then began to drag Xian Ying out of the room from behind.

"Sect Leader! A big reward! Sect Leader!"

As Xian Ying was dragged out, Xianzhong sighed deeply.

"I hope everyone can understand. He has a lot of pent-up frustration."

"......I understand."

"Actually, you can do more. Considering his hard work."

"How much frustration must he have..."

Everyone wiped their eyes.

"Sect Leader."

Yunyan, trying to calm the atmosphere, spoke up.

"The head of the Financial Management Hall is right. Qingming should receive a proper reward. I especially don't like the idea of giving something that's left over."

"Hmm, that's true."

"Objectively, Qingming's achievement this time is not as significant as the previous one."

Xianzhong nodded.

"But the previous achievement was a stroke of luck. This time, the disciples will judge Mount Hua's fairness based on what reward Qingming receives."

"That's true."

"I hope Qingming receives a proper reward. It's important for all the disciples to understand that those who achieve should be rewarded."

Everyone nodded.

Xianzhong, observing the reactions of the others, spoke up.

"Then, what reward do you think would be appropriate?"

But no one spoke up, only exchanging glances.

"First..."

As always, it was Yunyan who spoke first.

"Since the boy likes going down to Huayin, how about making him the liaison with the Silver River Merchant Group?"

"But isn't that just using him as a messenger? Can that be considered a reward?"

"Lord Huang favors Qingming, so he will receive good treatment every time he goes."

"Ah, that's true."

Xianzhong nodded vigorously.

It's a good idea.

With one suggestion, others began to offer their opinions.

"How about giving him the Plum Blossom Sword early? The children would be happy, wouldn't they?"

"What use is the Plum Blossom Sword to a child who practices with a wooden sword? How about giving him a new martial uniform instead? With gold thread embroidery on the chest!"

"What's the point of a martial uniform that can't be eaten? How about giving him something to eat? Or allowing him free access to the library!"

"Does Qingming think he's like you? Giving him food as a reward?"

"Then, how about a spirit medicine!"

"Where are we going to get spirit medicines!"

"We can buy them! Now that we have money!"

At that moment.

Bang!

Xian Ying burst into the room, pounded his chest, and shouted.

"Just give him money! With money, everything can be done! Why are you all so stuck? First, give him the reward and the money... Uh! Uh!"

Xianxiang silently covered Xian Ying's mouth and dragged him out, closing the door awkwardly.

Thud.

"......"

"......"

"......"

Xianzhong closed his eyes.

'Good things keep happening, but...'

The more he knew Mount Hua, the more it seemed a bit strange.

Maybe it's just my imagination?