Is It Wrong to Bully the Novice Village for System Rewards?

Chapter 168: Family Politics and The Art of the Scheme

Upon learning that Qi Yuan was merely an Outer Sect Disciple, a flicker of confusion passed through Madam Ji’s eyes. However, she quickly smoothed her expression, nodding slightly in acknowledgment. Her tone remained warm and gentle.

“Since you are a good friend of Chan’er, there is no need to stand on ceremony. Please, consider this your own home.”

As a Golden Core cultivator, Madam Ji could easily see through Qi Yuan’s disguise—or rather, the disguise he wanted her to see: Foundation Building, Mid-Stage.

Combined with his status as an Outer Sect Disciple, she naturally assumed he was one of her daughter’s loyal subordinates.

Although she was surprised that Chan’er would bring a strange man into the inner sanctum, she interpreted it as a sign of the subordinate’s value. As a mother and a matriarch, she was happy to give her daughter some face.

For those in high positions, feigning respect for underlings was a standard management tactic. Treating a subordinate like family was a low-cost, high-reward method to buy loyalty (“winning hearts”).

Of course, from the subordinate’s perspective, anyone who actually bought into this corporate benevolence was a Grade-A moron.

“Auntie, you are too kind,” Qi Yuan replied, his face a mask of humble gratitude.

Internally, however, he let out a breath of relief.

It seems the ‘Mother-in-Law’ creature isn’t as terrifying as the legends suggest. At least this Auntie Ji seems easy enough to handle…

Just as he was mentally scrolling through his inventory for an appropriate greeting gift, Ji Chan’er seemed to sense the misunderstanding. She shot her mother a peculiar look, her lips curling into a knowing smile.

“Mother, where is Father?”

Madam Ji, suspecting nothing, sighed. “Where else could he be? He’s holed up in his study, staring at a Go board. I don’t know what madness has possessed him these past few days. He glares at an unfinished endgame all day, muttering to himself like he’s possessed.”

Ji Chan’er nodded. “Then I won’t disturb him yet. I’ll take Big Qi to pay his respects once he’s finished.”

You still want to take him to see your father?

Madam Ji felt a vague sense of unease. A subordinate greeting the mistress of the house was normal, but a formal introduction to the master? That was… irregular.

But she couldn’t probe too deeply in front of a guest. She waved her hand, her tone complicated. “Go, arrange a place for your friend to stay. But come to my courtyard tonight. Mother has some questions for you.”

Right at that moment, a commotion erupted outside the courtyard gates. A servant sprinted in, bowing hastily.

“Madam! Young Master Yang has arrived. He says he needs to see the Young Miss immediately.”

Hearing the name, Ji Chan’er’s delicate brows furrowed. Her voice turned ice-cold.

“I’m not seeing him.”

But her refusal came too late.

The doors were pushed open, and a figure swaggered in. The servants of the Ji residence trailed behind him at a distance, looking like they wanted to stop him but lacked the courage.

The newcomer was a young man dressed in opulent brocade robes, a golden crown pinned in his hair. He scanned the courtyard with his chin held high, an air of supreme arrogance clinging to him like a bad cologne.

His gaze finally landed on Ji Chan’er.

“Cousin!” he exclaimed, his smile not reaching his eyes. “You returned without notifying your dear younger brother? You ruined my drinking session! The moment I heard the news, I rushed over to Uncle’s house to pay my respects.”

Ji Chan’er glanced at him, disgust flashing in the depths of her eyes. “Ji Yang, this is my home. I come and go as I please. I don’t need to file a report with you. If you have no business here, get out.”

“Hold your tongue,” Madam Ji interjected, her willow-leaf brows knitting together. She reprimanded her daughter sternly, “Yang’er is your cousin. How can you be so rude? It would be a joke if word got out that the Ji clan lacks manners.”

She then turned her expressionless face toward the intruder. “Nephew, your cousin has always been willful. I hope you can forgive her discourtesy.”

Ji Yang was handsome, but a hint of wickedness lingered between his brows, giving him the look of a viper waiting to strike.

“Aunt, you are too serious,” he laughed, waving a hand dismissively. “Your nephew was simply overjoyed to hear of Cousin’s return. That is why I came uninvited. I hope I haven’t disturbed the peace of your esteemed residence.”

As he spoke, he looked right through Qi Yuan, treating the “subordinate” as if he were part of the scenery. He addressed Ji Chan’er directly.

“Cousin, the Family Head has been talking about you non-stop lately. He holds you up as the gold standard for the younger generation. He even scolded the brothers and sisters from the other branches, using you to shame them.”

Ji Yang’s smile widened, dripping with false sincerity. “They have all sincerely repented and are eager to thank you properly.”

“In another month, it will be the Ancestor’s 80,000th birthday. As scions of the Ji Clan, raised on the family’s resources, it is time we showed our filial piety.”

He paused, his tone taking on a mocking edge. “If you are short on funds, Cousin, your younger brother can help you out. We wouldn’t want the gift you present to be too… shabby. It would only upset the Ancestor.”

Ji Chan’er snorted, her patience evaporating. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re scheming. How I congratulate the Ancestor is my business. I don’t need your fake concern. If you’re done performing, leave.”

She knew exactly why he was here. He was probing.

Since childhood, Ji Yang had viewed her as his biggest rival.

She had broken through to the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm at barely twenty years old. She had mastered the Thousand Illusions Heavenly Demon Body, the supreme technique of their scripture. She was accumulating massive favor with her grandfather.

If she managed to shine at the Ancestor’s birthday banquet, even her Second Uncle—the current Heir Apparent—would feel the throne shaking beneath him.

After all, neither the Saint Sect nor the Ji Clan had any rule forbidding a woman from taking power. The current Sect Leader of the Saint Sect was a prime example—she had crushed the Holy Son of her generation and seized the position by force, shocking the entire cultivation world.

Seeing Ji Chan’er’s unshakeable confidence, Ji Yang’s expression stiffened.

“Fine,” he said, his smile looking more like a rictus. “Then I won’t waste my breath. I look forward to seeing how Cousin amazes everyone at the banquet.”

He turned and cupped his hands toward Madam Ji. “Aunt, since Uncle is busy, I won’t disturb him. Farewell!”

With a swirl of his robes, he turned and left without looking back.

Watching this family drama play out, Qi Yuan smacked his lips, feeling a bit unsatisfied.

So this is the scheming and intrigue of a great clan?

It’s almost too interesting. What a shame I’m an orphan in this life. All those palace intrigue dramas I binge-watched in my past life were wasted…

While Qi Yuan was lost in his meta-commentary, Ji Chan’er finished seeing her mother off. She grabbed his arm.

“Come on. I’ll take you for a stroll and introduce you to the managers of the Ancestral Land.”

Qi Yuan perked up instantly. “Excellent. I’ll trouble Fairy Ji to lead the way.”

He had been looking for an excuse to scour the area for clues about the Cauldron fragment. Now, the Demoness was actively inviting him to map the terrain. How considerate!

They walked for a while, Qi Yuan’s eyes scanning the surroundings like radar. Suddenly, he stopped, his expression lighting up with excitement as he pointed toward a distant, heavily fortified structure.

“Fairy Ji, I feel a strong affinity with that place. Can you take me there for a look?”

“Huh?”

Ji Chan’er followed his finger. Her face went pale, then twisted into a strange expression. She turned to him, dead serious.

“I am warning you right now,” she hissed. “That is the Ji Clan’s Treasure Vault. It is guarded year-round by elders at the Dao Integration realm.”

She leaned in, staring into his eyes.

“Do not even think about targeting the vault. You won’t just die—you’ll die ugly.”

She knew this man. He was deeply demonic and outrageously bold. If she didn’t shut this down immediately, he would absolutely try to rob her family blind.