Chapter 26

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Another hour passed, and Wujiao carried the jade to Zong Bao's resting place.

He had originally put two pieces of jade into his leather bag, but then had to give up. The leather bag was sturdy and could easily hold the two pieces of jade, but the weight of over a hundred pounds was too heavy. It was not only difficult to carry but also hard to move. He had to move them one by one, like an ant moving its home.

Zong Bao had changed from lying down to sitting, looking calm and focused on his cultivation, undisturbed by the outside world.

Wujiao moved the two pieces of jade to one place, panting heavily. Seeing Zong Bao sitting with his eyes closed, he couldn't help but ask, "Brother Zong, don't rush to practice. I have a question. If I complete the excavation, can I leave the jade well early?"

He didn't want to stay in the jade well for a moment longer and just wanted to escape the darkness and cold to see the sky again.

Zong Bao slowly exhaled, as if finishing his cultivation, then blinked his eyes and asked curiously, "Why do you want to leave early?" He was afraid Wujiao wouldn't understand, so he explained, "Even someone like Cloud Saint Son endures humiliation and heavy burdens at his age. What's your reason? Every morning, you have spiritual soup to nourish your body and spiritual meat to eat, and you can cultivate in the jade well with its rich spiritual energy. This is a great opportunity..."

As the saying goes, what is jade to one is poison to another. You have an opportunity, but I am trapped like a beast!

Wujiao was speechless, facing the mottled jade light and Zong Bao's young-looking yet somewhat world-weary face.

Zong Bao smiled understandingly and said, "You have spirit stones to cultivate, so you don't need to suffer in the jade well. Haha!" He took out a booklet and started reading, then added, "There's no precedent for leaving early. When the work is done, you might as well ask the overseers..." The booklet was made of animal skin, thin with only a few pages. In the light of the pearl, the title "Compilation of Immortal Dao" was visible.

Wujiao didn't ask more, just nodded in understanding.

Today, in front of everyone, he was searched and found to have spirit stones, jade slips, and talismans, revealing everything he had. He suddenly seemed like a nouveau riche, drawing everyone's attention. Regardless of whether those stones were valuable, it only showed how poor this group of cultivators was.

In the evening, the disciples in the well returned to the surface, each handing over the required amount of jade under the supervision of Overseers Xiang Rong and Gou Jun, then finished their work and returned to their quarters. There was an exception, however. Cloud Saint Son had nothing, saying he was being punished and would have no soup or meat the next morning. For a hundred-year-old man, the weight of over a hundred pounds was too much!

Wujiao handed over the jade and didn't rush to leave. Instead, he asked the two overseers about his doubts. They looked at him in surprise but still agreed that as long as he had mined enough jade, he could choose whether to stay in the well.

Every morning and evening were the most beautiful times on Lingxia Mountain.

The clouds stretched for miles, the sky vast, with peaks and colorful clouds creating a breathtaking scene.

Wujiao stood on the mountaintop for a moment, then hurried down the mountain. Although he was hungry, his mood was good. Tomorrow, he wouldn't have to suffer anymore. After mining the jade, he could wander freely. With some free time, he could inquire about Ziyun's whereabouts. Since she knew he was looking for her, why didn't she show up? It was making him worry, hehe!

From the mountaintop to the valley, a stone staircase wound down for hundreds of feet. The disciples followed it, their figures adding a unique vitality to the jade well peak at dusk.

Zong Bao had taken a few steps ahead and turned to wave.

Wujiao wanted to catch up, but an elder blocked his way.

It was Cloud Saint Son, his green robe slightly lonely, the leather bag at his waist empty and swinging. He sensed something and slowly moved aside, smiling, "Indeed, the carefree youth is enviable! Junior Brother, you go ahead..."

Wujiao smiled and passed by, then asked, "Old Cloud, are you begging for food every morning?"

Cloud Saint Son replied, "Old age and physical decline make punishment natural. In old age, who isn't begging for food and drink? What you beg for might be the will of heaven or destiny!"

Wujiao glanced back, seeing the old man still smiling, but his heart sank inexplicably. Without thinking, he took out two pieces of meat from his leather bag and handed them over. The old man's smile widened, and he exclaimed, "Whenever I see Junior Brother, I think of my grandson, equally filial and righteous..."

This old man, who had just inspired respect, quickly reverted to his old ways!

Wujiao turned and went down, hearing Zong Bao laugh, "Old Cloud, your grandson must be over fifty, how can he be compared to Junior Brother?"

Cloud Saint Son apologized, "You're right! My grandson died of illness and is no longer in this world!"

Zong Bao shook his head, "This old man loves to take advantage of others. Junior Brother, don't pay attention to him..." He walked down the stairs with Wujiao, chatting and laughing as they crossed the valley and returned to their quarters.

When the huts appeared ahead, the group had already dispersed.

Wujiao was about to part ways with Zong Bao, but Zong Bao suggested taking him to the front mountain. Wujiao agreed and put his leather bag back in the hut. The moment he stepped inside, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Zong Bao, not understanding, followed.

Wujiao took out the pearl and rushed to his place. The bed was overturned, jars and pots shattered everywhere, and several deep holes were dug in the ground. The entire hut was in disarray.

Zong Bao realized, "Junior Brother, you've been robbed. Did you lose anything..." He stopped mid-sentence.

Wujiao was stunned for a moment, then waved his hands, distressed, "My spirit stones, jade slip, and talismans are gone. Who did this..."

Zong Bao still hoped for the best but then became dejected, sighing, "As the saying goes, don't show off your wealth. The ancients were not wrong!" He pondered for a moment and said, "Forget it, consider it a loss to avoid disaster."

Wujiao firmly said, "That won't do. If I let it go, I'll just be bullied and have to endure it. I'll report to Overseer Ge Qi!" He bowed and hurried out of the hut.

Zong Bao didn't stop him, standing silently for a moment, then shook his head, muttering, "Who did it, do we really need to ask..."

After leaving the hut, Wujiao, perhaps in a panic, directly crossed through the forest. During a brief rest, he looked up at a nearby tree, then continued on, looking very anxious.

By now, dusk had fallen, and the torches under the eaves of the row of houses were particularly bright.

In no time, Wujiao reached the row of houses. Without hesitation, he headed straight for Overseer Ge Qi's room. Just as he stepped onto the stairs, the door opened, and Ge Qi appeared, sternly asking, "What's the rush?"

"Overseer Ge..."

Wujiao stepped back a few paces, returned to the bottom of the stairs, and bowed. Glancing inside, he saw three more people come out. He respectfully greeted, "Greetings, Overseer Xiang, Overseer Gou... and Overseer Zhong!"

The four overseers of Jade Well Peak were all in one room, which was unexpected. They seemed to have anticipated Wujiao's arrival, all looking indifferent and calm.

Wujiao glanced around and lowered his head, "I returned to my hut and found it in chaos. After checking, I realized I had been robbed. I ask the overseers to investigate and help me recover my lost treasures..."

Ge Qi didn't respond but looked at his three companions. They all looked surprised and shook their heads. He crossed his arms, chin in hand, pondered for a moment, then asked, "What did you lose?"

Wujiao answered without hesitation, "A beast skin map, a jade slip, four spirit stones, and two talismans."

Ge Qi's face darkened, "I know. Go..."

Wujiao protested, "The robbery hasn't been confirmed. How can I get my treasures back?"

Ge Qi's patience wore thin, "Point out the thief, and we'll make a fair judgment!"

Wujiao spread his hands, aggrieved, "I spend all day in the well. How can I identify the thief?"

Before Ge Qi could speak, Xiang Rong sneered, "If so, why complain? Don't ruin our drinking. Get lost..."

Wujiao noticed the smell of alcohol and meat from the room, swallowed hard, but refused to give up, angrily complaining, "I never thought such despicable acts would happen in this immortal sect. Heaven is blind, and the thieves are rampant..."

Xiang Rong's face changed, and he shouted, "Nonsense! Jade Well Peak has always been orderly. How can there be theft?"

"Shut up!"

Ge Qi finally lost his patience, waving his hand, "Wujiao, without evidence, you can't make false accusations. If you say another word, I'll kick you off the mountain. Even if Daoist Xuan Yu and Daoist Chang Xian were here, they wouldn't tolerate such insolence!" He turned and went back into the room. Xiang Rong hurried after him, whispering something. The other two overseers exchanged glances, their expressions inscrutable.

In the open space in front of the house, Wujiao was left alone, looking abandoned and helpless. He looked around, then, in a fit of anger, walked to the eaves, pulled out a torch, and said matter-of-factly, "I can't stay in the hut. I'll move tonight!" The four overseers inside ignored him, letting him walk away with the torch.

Inside the room, the table was set with roasted meat and wine. The four overseers, sitting together, had different expressions.

"Everyone, I really didn't see the boy's things and left no trace. It must have been done by a disciple after work..."

"Senior Brother Xiang, if you leave a few spirit stones, can you give me the talismans..."

"Senior Brother Xiang, I don't want anything, just the jade slip..."

"Considering our friendship, you shouldn't keep all the treasures to yourself..."

"Don't look at me like that, I... I really didn't..."

(Note: The last part is a conversation among the overseers, suggesting they might have taken the items Wujiao lost.)