Chapter 203: Smart for Once

Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Smart for Once

"I’ll leave it entirely up to you, Senior Brother."

Ye Linglong replied at once. She understood the situation perfectly, of course. Compared to her parents struggling on their own in Purple Cloud Valley, joining a business backed by three Inner Sect Disciples was a heaven-sent opportunity. Barring any accidents, it would mean her parents could continue their cultivation in Purple Cloud Valley indefinitely.

"Go back and ask your parents."

Liu Chen gave Junior Sister Linglong a helpless look. He knew she would say that, of course, but the fact remained that her parents were the ones directly involved.

Ye Linglong felt a little awkward. She was certain her parents would agree, but there was no way her Senior Brother could know that. ’If he did know, I’d have to dig a hole and bury myself on the spot.’ Lately, her parents had been relentlessly teasing her about her relationship with him. If her Senior Brother knew their attitude, it would mean he had overheard her conversations with them. The mere thought made Ye Linglong’s face flush.

"I don’t think my parents need to be asked. They’re technically your Servants now, Senior Brother."

Ji Suyao, on the other hand, saw no issue. She had no intention of going back to ask them. ’A Senior Brother’s Servants should naturally follow his arrangements. There was nothing wrong with that.’

"Go back and ask them. I can’t just treat your parents like actual Servants."

Liu Chen shook his head. ’If I really do that, I’ll surely get an earful from my Master and his wife when I return to Purple Cloud Valley. According to the rules of Purple Cloud Valley, all ties to one’s family are severed upon becoming a disciple. Even if one’s own parents enter the valley using a Servant slot, in the eyes of the sect, they are Servants—a station below that of a disciple.’

’Perhaps some Inner Sect or even True Disciples really do treat their elders, or even their own parents, as Servants, but I certainly can’t treat Junior Sister Suyao’s parents as such. It could be interpreted as me looking down on Junior Sister Suyao. Taken a step further, it could even be seen as disrespect toward my Master and his wife, since they are the source of my relationship with my junior sisters.’

’To avoid unnecessary trouble, it’s better to ask. If they don’t want such an arrangement, I won’t force it. If it weren’t for my two junior sisters, I wouldn’t even be bothering to set up a business in the first place. Since I’ve already decided to continue my cultivation as a Loose Cultivator, why make trouble for myself before I leave?’

"Alright..."

Ji Suyao shrugged helplessly. She didn’t really want to go see her parents. They had too much free time lately. In the past, they would at least ask about her life in the Imperial Palace, but now, whenever she went back, every other word was about her Senior Brother. The rest of the conversation was spent probing her relationship with him or occasionally recounting the "fated encounter" that supposedly made them destined to be cultivation partners.

Ji Suyao felt like her head was about to explode, but she couldn’t say a thing in response. She could never say anything bad about her Senior Brother; that was impossible. And as for claiming she had no feelings for him... even if it was just to placate her parents, she couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

Once the official business was concluded, the meeting reverted to a simple dinner. After seeing his two junior sisters off, Liu Chen took a deep breath and began his daily cultivation.

***

"So that’s the situation. Senior Brother is going to set up a business, and you’ll be able to work and cultivate there. Even after he leaves, there will still be three other Inner Sect Disciples to act as patrons."

Ye Linglong looked at her parents expectantly. It was a nearly perfect arrangement from her Senior Brother. If her parents didn’t agree, it wouldn’t just be her Senior Brother who was disappointed—she would be, too.

"Are you sure your Senior Brother didn’t hint at anything?"

Lady Ye looked at her, her curiosity piqued. "He’s even made arrangements for after he leaves. No matter how you look at it, this isn’t an ordinary relationship between a senior and junior disciple. Before, I suspected that prodigy wasn’t picking up on your hints, but now I’m starting to wonder... has he been dropping hints of his own?"

"Of course not."

Ye Linglong shook her head. She was quite sure about this. "In the past, Senior Brother always seemed gentle, but he gave off an unapproachable air. It’s only since we’ve started interacting more that things have improved. He hasn’t hinted at anything even now, so it would have been even more impossible back on Purple Bamboo Peak."

"Should we leave the Ye Family first?"

Ye Hui, on the other hand, was considering something else. "If everything goes smoothly, we could take this opportunity to officially leave the Ye Family. That way, our joining this business would have nothing to do with them. But if we don’t, it might give the rest of the Ye Family the wrong idea."

"There’s no need. We’ll talk about it after the Ye Family delivers next month’s Spirit Stones to Senior Brother."

Ye Linglong continued to shake her head. "Besides, none of those people from the Ye Family stood up for us back then. I don’t consider them family anymore, so we should naturally aim to maximize our own benefit."

"Then it’s settled."

Lady Ye nodded. What the Ye Family did back then could only be described as a blatant betrayal. Under the circumstances, there was no need to worry about so-called "face." The only reason she hadn’t sought revenge after her cultivation breakthrough was out of consideration for her husband.

"So be it."

Ye Hui didn’t say anything more. Although his own parents had treated him well, they had long since passed away. Any bond he had with the rest of the Ye Family was long since spent.

A similar scene was playing out in another courtyard.

"Since he’s doing this to find a place for us to settle, perhaps we could just buy the business outright."

Ji Ming couldn’t help but speak up. He reasoned that if Liu Chen founded the business himself, he would inevitably lose a large sum of Spirit Stones once he carried out his plan and left. ’If I don’t show some form of appreciation,’ he thought, ’won’t my daughter be at a disadvantage with him in the future? Her status as a Servant already puts her one step below. If she falls another step, then all hope is probably lost.’

"Why don’t we just give the Spirit Stones directly to Senior Brother?"

Ji Suyao muttered. She wasn’t familiar with the other three disciples. "Rather than letting the four of them openly split the Spirit Stones, it would be better to give our share to Senior Brother in private. That way, he’ll get more resources and can return to the Mo Family that much faster."

"A rare moment of brilliance from you."

Ji Ming nodded. He had been thinking the same thing. The details of the business were unclear, but if they gave the Spirit Stones directly to Liu Chen, he could certainly put them to good use. Even if their contribution ultimately changed nothing, securing a stable place for themselves was a deal with no downsides.

"I’m always smart."

Ji Suyao couldn’t help but retort. Ji Ming chuckled and nodded, while Lady Ji gently straightened her daughter’s hair. As for whether to accept the arrangement, the three of them never even discussed it. They had run out of options long ago. If they couldn’t establish a foothold in the Purple Cloud Valley Marketplace, the moment they left, their very lives would no longer be their own.

Even if the Great Xia Royal Family wouldn’t act directly out of deference to Purple Cloud Valley, there were plenty of opportunistic families within the court, not to mention countless Loose Cultivators hoping to become Royal Guards by taking care of the matter for them.