“Dad! Dad!” Xiao Xiaofan bounded over excitedly, followed closely by Xiao Xiaodong, Xiao Xiaojin, and the others.
Xiao Jingting frowned slightly as he watched them approach, muttering to himself, Why did these kids have to come now, of all times?
Xie Wanran’s expression stiffened when she saw Xiao Xiaodong, as if recalling something unpleasant.
The little flower chicken flapped its wings and strutted over gracefully.
Qiu Yun’s face immediately brightened when he saw Xiao Xiaodong. “Xiaodong, you’re here! Here, take this.” He casually tossed a spirit fruit to Xiao Xiaodong.
Xiao Jingting rubbed his forehead. and thought Qiu Yun really favors my eldest son. He just casually gave him a Snowpear Fruit—those aren’t cheap!
Xiao Xiaodong caught the fruit and smiled happily.
Xiao Xiaofan watched enviously before turning hopeful eyes toward Qiu Yun, but the man ignored him.
Xiao Jingting felt a little strange seeing Xiaofan left out.
Xiaofan scratched his head, not too disappointed.
When Xie Wanran heard Xiao Xiaodong call Xiao Jingting “Father,” her gaze toward him shifted noticeably.
Xiao Xiaodong glanced at Xie Wanran, his guard rising.
“Manager Qiu, the Jade Peach King is extremely important to me. If you are willing to part with it, I will pay any price,” Xie Wanran declared firmly.
Xiao Jingting, though not particularly fond of Xie Wanran, couldn’t help but admire her courage. Qiu Yun had already made his stance clear, yet she still dared to make such an offer. Truly, the female protagonist’s unyielding spirit—charging ahead even when she knows it’s dangerous.
Qiu Yun sneered. “Any price? Miss Xie, aren’t you afraid of biting off more than you can chew? Let me make this clear—the Jade Peach King’s price is ten top-grade spirit stones.”
“Manager Qiu, that’s outrageous!” Zhuge Ming protested angrily. “Ten top-grade spirit stones are equivalent to a million low-grade spirit stones! Junior Sister Xie has already compromised, yet you still push her like this?”
Xiao Jingting inwardly agreed. That’s way too expensive. At that price, Qiu Yun might as well be robbing them!
“If you can’t afford it, then don’t buy it. Just because you’re poor doesn’t mean I’m being unreasonable,” Qiu Yun scoffed.
Xiao Jingting: “…”
Qiu Yun really knows how to provoke people. But then again, he’s the manager—he can afford to be arrogant.
“Have I offended you in some way, Manager Qiu?” Xie Wanran asked.
Qiu Yun shook his head. “No. I just don’t like you.”
Xie Wanran’s face flushed red—clearly unused to such blunt rejection.
Xiao Jingting’s internal alarms blared. Qiu Yun’s attitude is textbook villain behavior. Is he setting himself up to be cannon fodder?
Seeing that she wouldn’t get anywhere, Xie Wanran left.
—
Xiao Jingting turned to Qiu Yun. “Manager Qiu, isn’t it unwise to offend her like that?”
Qiu Yun smirked coldly. “What, have you taken a liking to her? Defending her after just a few meetings—have you already fallen for her charms?”
Xiao Jingting waved his hands frantically. “Don’t misunderstand! I’m a married man—how could I be interested in her? It’s just… despite her three spiritual roots, she’s quite capable. If you antagonize her, you might suffer for it.”
Qiu Yun scoffed. “Are you saying a Golden Core cultivator like me can’t handle a mere Foundation Establishment girl?”
Xiao Jingting laughed awkwardly. “She has a lot of protectors around her—some of them Golden Core too.”
Qiu Yun’s gaze turned complicated.
Xiao Jingting scratched his head. “I’m not underestimating you.”
Qiu Yun nodded. “You’re right. I’m no match for her. If someone had warned me years ago, I wouldn’t be in this state now.”
Xiao Jingting: “…”
“Go plant the Spirit-Devouring Flowers around the peach grove,” Qiu Yun ordered.
Xiao Jingting hesitated. “Is that really necessary?”
Qiu Yun smirked. “Better safe than sorry. Who knows if thieves might come? If the Jade Peach King gets stolen, I’ll be at a huge loss.”
Xiao Jingting sighed. “Fine.”
—
Xu Mu’an looked at Xiao Jingting when he returned. “You’re back late. Xiaofan and the others arrived ages ago.”
Xiao Jingting sighed. “Got pulled into overtime work.”
Xu Mu’an narrowed his eyes. “Manager Qiu and that Xie Wanran seem to have a deep grudge.”
Xiao Jingting nodded. “Yeah. Let’s just hope we don’t get caught in the crossfire.”
Xiao Xiaodong sat nearby, happily munching on his spirit fruit while Xiao Xiaofan watched enviously.
“Brother, is it good?” Xiao Xiaofan asked.
Xiao Xiaodong nodded. “Very.”
“Manager Qiu really likes you,” Xiao Xiaofan said, a little wistfully.
Xiao Xiaodong smiled. “Maybe.” Though it’s more like he likes my chicken.
Xiao Xiaojin served them food, and the little flower chicken excitedly devoured the Grayfeather Swallow he had cooked, occasionally puffing out mist.
Lei Xuan stroked his chin. “Manager Qiu’s demand of ten top-grade spirit stones for the Jade Peach King was quite bold.”
Xiao Jingting chuckled. “He never intended to sell it.” That price was just to make them back off.
Xu Mu’an gasped. “Ten top-grade spirit stones—that’s an astronomical sum!”
“Have any of you seen Lingyao Sect’s Mu Yun?” Xiao Jingting asked.
“I have!” Xiao Xiaofan raised his hand.
“What’s he like? Anything special?”
Xiao Xiaofan shook his head. “Just a normal guy—one nose, two eyes.”
Xiao Jingting: “…”
“Is he handsome?” Xiao Jingting asked.
Xiao Xiaofan immediately declared, “No one is as handsome as you, Dad!”
Xiao Jingting: “…” Good son, but not very helpful.
Lei Xuan hesitated. “He’s quite good-looking, though not as much as you. Many in the Lingyao Sect admire him. Xie Wanran probably wanted the Jade Peach King for his sake.”
So even Mu Yun isn’t as handsome as me? Xiao Jingting preened a little.
“For him? Why? Did he accidentally hurt someone who needs the Peach King to recover?” Xu Mu’an asked.
Lei Xuan shook his head. “No. Rumor has it he suffered a qi deviation during cultivation, causing chaos in his meridians and frequent outbreaks of Profound Yang Fire Poison. They say the pain is unbearable.”
Xiao Jingting nodded. “I’ve heard that victims of Profound Yang Fire Poison need Jade Peaches to suppress it, but I didn’t know the poison could afflict the user too.”
Lei Xuan looked surprised. “You know about this? Actually, there’s a simpler way to cure it.”
“What’s that?”
“Find someone else with a Profound Yang Body to absorb the poison.”
Xiao Jingting: “…”
Then why did Qiu Yun go to such lengths before?
—
When Xiao Jingting returned to the peach grove, he found two cultivators tangled in Spirit-Devouring Flowers.
“This little brother.” A handsome young man appeared in front of Xiao Jingting silently.
The young man had a calm attitude, but there was a strong sense of oppression on him.
“Senior, is there anything I can help you with?” Lei Xuan simply sketched Mu Yun’s face for Xiao Jingting yesterday. Xiao Jingting looked at the man and immediately recognized his identity.
“Can you release the two cultivators inside first?” Mu Yun asked.
Xiao Jingting shook his head. “I’m afraid not. The flowers don’t listen to me.”
Who would’ve thought thieves would actually dare to sneak into Qingyun Sect’s territory? These two are doomed. Spirit-Devouring Flowers drain spiritual energy—even if they escape, their cultivation will plummet.
I bet Xie Wanran sent them.
“Then who do they obey?” Mu Yun asked.
“Me.” Qiu Yun stepped forward.
Xiao Jingting nodded. “Right. This flower is raised by our manager Qiu and it listens to our manager Qiu.”
“Manager Qiu, could you release these two fools?” Mu Yun requested.
Qiu Yun smirked coldly. “Let them go ? Why should I? Don’t tell me that these two guys came to my territory for an outing. For thieves, isn’t it the best destination for them to stay in this medicine garden and be used as fertilizer for the flowers?”
Xiao Jingting: “…” Ruthless.
Mu Yun frowned. “I’m very sorry for their behavior. I’d like to apologize to Manager Qiu here.”
Qiu Yun scoffed. “I’m sorry, Brother Pastor. It’s a pity that you have to apologize to me for two thieves! I won’t accept it. There are so many good things in my garden. If I let them go easily, people will think I, Qiu Yun, am a soft persimmon and they can squeeze me however they want.”
Xiao Jingting: No one would ever think that.
“They’ve already been punished. I’ll compensate you with a hundred mid-grade spirit stones,” Mu Yun offered.
Qiu Yun sneered. “Do I look like I need money?”
Xiao Jingting coughed. “Manager Qiu, a hundred mid-grade stones isn’t bad. Besides, they’re just two Foundation Establishment cultivators—not worth much.”
Qiu Yun glared at Xiao Jingting and said. “Spineless.”
Xiao Jingting: “…”
“Fellow Daoist Mu, this is Qingyun Sect’s territory. You’d better be more restrained in your actions,” Qiu Yun warned.
Mu Yun smiled faintly. “Fellow Daoist Qiu is right. It’s just the two of them. Their crime doesn’t deserve death. I hope Manager Qiu will show mercy.”
Qiu Yun sighed. “Fine. They’re just idiots anyway. The flowers have already drained most of their spiritual power—they’re useless now. It’s hard for Fellow Daoist Mu to make a trip in person.” (It’s a waste of time)
Xiao Jingting: “…”
Rain : Trying to catch up… (ʃƪ ˘ ³˘)
Keep me fueled with caffeine! Support me on Ko-fi! It helps a lot ! Thank you so much ♡(´･ω･)(･ω･`)♡
YES!! More chapters PLEASE!!!