Chapter 1637 - 697: Death Pardoned, Punishment Unavoidable

Chapter 1637: Chapter 697: Death Pardoned, Punishment Unavoidable

"Alliance Hierarch, please think carefully before making a decision. If you pardon them, from now on, everyone will become cowardly and fearful of death. Who will seriously carry out missions then?"

Upon hearing that Alliance Leader Ning intended to pardon Ye Lingyue and her team, Nian Wu Venerable became increasingly anxious.

"I haven’t finished speaking. While they may be spared from death, escape from punishment is impossible. Huangquan, Jin, and Tang’s teams certainly failed their mission. According to the rules of the Jiu Provinces Alliance, failure in missions demands taking responsibility." Alliance Leader Ning spoke unhurriedly.

Ye Lingyue had initially relaxed, but then Alliance Leader Ning brought a sudden twist, leaving her stunned and unclear about what the leader had in mind.

"The Senluo Ghost Fruit King is of great importance. Since it was lost under your care, you must find a way to retrieve it. At the very least, you need to find a way to destroy the Senluo Ghost Fruit King."

Listening to this, Ye Lingyue felt slightly relieved.

Such a condition was still relatively manageable.

Even if Alliance Leader Ning hadn’t commanded it, she was already planning to infiltrate the Tongtian Tribe to recover the "Senluo Ghost Fruit King."

Only by doing so could she cooperate with Little Wuya to find the Demon Road and even discover the whereabouts of the Taixu Tomb Realm.

But then Alliance Leader Ning continued.

"What I mentioned earlier is only part one. Part two is that because of the mission failure, the originally rewarded merit points are invalid. Furthermore, you must deduct the corresponding merit points. Especially the Huangquan Team, you must take primary responsibility, which means the Huangquan Team must deduct 200,000 merit points. The other two teams need to deduct 100,000 merit points each."

Alliance Leader Ning said with deep implication.

Ye Lingyue felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck her on a clear day, leaving her dumbfounded.

To deduct 200,000 merit points in one go—isn’t this too excessive?

She had previously used the Infinite Black Diamond Card to overdraw more than 200,000 merit points. After much effort, she managed to pay off 100,000 merit points by selling Vajra, and now this incident abruptly added another 200,000 merit points!

Was she drowning in old debts while incurring new ones?

Moreover, this is not a small sum—a total of 200,000 merit points, which equates to all the merit points earned by the Huangquan Team since joining the Jiu Provinces Hunting.

But Ye Lingyue dared not object since the Senluo Ghost Fruit King was indeed lost under her care. If there were severe penalties, the entire Huangquan Team would be implicated.

Now, having finally reached the Jiu Provinces Main Camp, "Thank you, Alliance Leader Ning."

Jin Mu and the Tang Family’s representative team stepped forward to express their gratitude.

The teams led by Tang Tianqi and Third Young Master Jin were secondary teams of their respective families. Now they’ve reached the Jiu Provinces Main Camp, and naturally, their main representative teams will handle the aftermath.

For the main representative teams of the First-tier, 100,000 merit points are not completely unaffordable.

Tang Lei glanced at Ye Lingyue with schadenfreude.

How could an unsupported Fourth-tier Representative Team possibly afford 200,000 merit points?

If they couldn’t pay the merit points, the Huangquan Team would have to roll out of the Jiu Provinces Main Camp.

Once the Huangquan Team steps outside the power scope of the Jiu Provinces Main Camp, he planned to discreetly eliminate them, avenging his sister.

Ignoring Tang Lei’s sarcastic look, Ye Lingyue appeared a mess in the wind.

"Captain Ye, do you have anything else to say?"

Alliance Leader Ning noticed Ye Lingyue’s expression, and her lips twitched awkwardly, forcing a smile more unsightly than crying.

"Thank you, Alliance Leader Ning. I accept the mandate. However, Alliance Leader, I request a thorough investigation into another matter. We were ambushed and attacked by the Demon Clan, and this matter is far from simple."

Ye Lingyue had already learned from Di Shen that a Human Clan traitor leaked the transportation route of the Senluo Ghost Fruit King.

Judging by the Golden Horn Demon King’s situation, similarly, a Human Clan traitor must have passed on the message to the Golden Horn Tribe.

Being penalized 200,000 merit points couldn’t just be accepted.

She must find out who is pulling strings behind the scenes.

"What do you mean by that? Are you suggesting there’s a traitor within the Jiu Provinces Alliance? Without substantial evidence, don’t make baseless accusations."

Nian Wu hurriedly stood up.

"Nian Wu Venerable, I’m merely expressing suspicion. Why are you so anxious?"

Ye Lingyue retorted irritably.

"Indeed, Alliance Hierarch, I concur with Captain Ye. The information regarding the Senluo Ghost Fruit King was confidential, known to no more than a handful of people within the Jiu Provinces Alliance. If an investigation is warranted, begin with these individuals."

At this moment, a young man, who had been silently standing nearby, suddenly spoke up.

He approached Ye Lingyue, joining her in petition.

Seeing the young man’s agreement, Nian Wu Venerable’s face darkened even more, and Alliance Leader Ning seemed slightly surprised.

"Long Fang Venerate, if even you say so, an investigation is certainly needed. In my opinion, let’s leave it to you, Long Fang Venerate, to handle this investigation."

Long Fang Venerate?

Ye Lingyue was startled and took a closer look at the young man standing beside her, matching her height.

The young man was also looking at her, his features handsome, and his eyes carried a warmth unlike any other.

"Ling Yue."

Amid his brows, faint traces of his childish appearance could be seen.

Although he had lost the baby fat from his childhood, the features, the expression, and on top of that, he was also named Long!

"Baobao! Are you Long Baobao?"

Ye Lingyue was so excited she almost jumped up, seizing Long Baobao’s hand in public view, overwhelmed with excitement.

Long Baobao’s hand was caught directly, looking at the hand that once warmed his youthful jade hand many times, then glimpsing into those eyes he couldn’t forget even in dreams—Long Baobao’s velvety skin immediately tinted with a blush.

He attempted to pull away from Ye Lingyue’s grasp but couldn’t bear to do so, resulting in awkwardness as Ye Lingyue held it.

Alliance Leader Ning gazed at Long Baobao mischievously.

If those within the Jiu Provinces Alliance, who revered Long Fang Venerate, were to witness Long Baobao expressing such emotions, they would probably be astounded.

It’s important to note that even before Alliance Leader Ning, Long Baobao typically showcased a mature composure that belied his true age.

Long Fang Venerate, or rather Long Baobao, chuckled lightly, constrained but smiling wryly.

The young man was precisely Long Baobao, one from Ye Lingyue’s childhood with whom she had shared a connection.

Ever since Long Baobao succeeded as the Sifang City Lord and became the guardian of the "Demon Awakening Gate," no one had called him by the name Long Baobao.

"It’s me, Ling Yue. We’ll discuss it further once outside," Long Baobao softly replied.

Immediately, Long Baobao courteously bowed toward Alliance Leader Ning.

"Alliance Hierarch, in that case, let me humbly accept the task of investigating the traitor. I will administer justice, thoroughly scrutinize the entire matter, and unearth the true culprit behind the leaked secrets."

After speaking, Long Baobao slightly raised his head, his gaze locking onto Nian Wu Venerable’s with intensity.

Their eyes simultaneously darkened, sparking an unspoken hostility that quickly spread.