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

Chapter 199: Do You Know What You Missed?

The next day. Nether Fiend Sect, Inner Sect. A lavishly decorated guest hall.

Qi Yuan woke from his cultivation trance. The space beside him was empty, the beauty long gone. However, the soft brocade sheets still held faint wisps of an elegant fragrance, a lingering reminder that a certain demoness had been here not long ago.

He stretched lazily, his joints popping satisfyingly. His body felt light, his spirit invigorated. The Nascent Soul within his dantian glowed with divine light, overflowing with Dao rhythm. He felt a surge of power, as if he were on the verge of a metamorphosis.

Nascent Soul Perfection!

Recalling the soul-stirring intensity of the previous night, Qi Yuan felt a flutter in his heart. He rubbed his slightly sore lower back and muttered to himself.

“Truly worthy of being a demoness. Without the stamina of a dragon, one really can’t subdue her. For the sake of my health… next time, I can’t let her use the Mirror Clone Technique again. Four at once is too much…”

Just as he was lamenting his sweet suffering, a respectful voice called out from beyond the door.

“Young Master Qi? May this servant enter?”

Qi Yuan paused, then quickly dressed himself, assuming the facade of an upright gentleman.

“Enter.”

The heavy doors creaked open. A line of graceful young maids in flowing skirts filed in, each carrying an exquisite tray.

The head maid bowed deeply.

“Young Master, our Mistress instructed us to bring these. She noted that you recently broke through to the late Foundation Building stage and your foundation might be unstable. These are nourishing pills and rare heavenly treasures from the treasury to aid your cultivation.”

Unlike yesterday, the maids looked at him with more than just curiosity. Their eyes held a deep reverence and awe, as if they already considered him the master of the house.

“You ladies have gone to great trouble.”

Qi Yuan glanced at the trays. His expression twitched.

Red Ganoderma… Golden Sun Fruit… Dragon Scale Jade Liquid… Seven Treasures Blood-Replenishing Pill…

Damn it. These aren’t for cultivation. These are clearly kidney tonics for restoring ‘yang’ energy.

While these were priceless treasures, Qi Yuan was a vigorous, healthy man. He didn’t need performance enhancers!

And sending this right after dual cultivation… why do I feel like a kept man?

He smiled helplessly and nodded. “I understand. You may withdraw.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Once the maids left, Qi Yuan popped a Seven Treasures Blood-Replenishing Pill into his mouth.

Whoosh.

A surge of warm, potent vitality flooded his limbs and bones. His fatigue vanished instantly, replaced by boundless energy.

Huh. Unexpectedly effective.

Qi Yuan smiled with satisfaction, stood up, and strode out of the guest hall.

He had reached the absolute limit of the Nascent Soul stage. Now, he only needed a wisp of Heavenly Dao Qi to attempt a breakthrough to Soul Formation.

The only known source was the Immortal Cauldron Fragment stored in the Ji Clan’s treasure vault.

He already had a vague plan to get it…

…

At the same time. Situ Clan Ancestral Estate.

A streak of light descended, revealing Situ Yun standing before a sprawling, majestic courtyard built beside an azure lake.

The estate was a masterpiece of architecture, filled with winding paths, flying bridges, and exotic flowers that bloomed in a riot of colors. Spirit springs gurgled amidst pavilions carved with dragons and phoenixes.

Led by a finely dressed maid, Situ Yun walked through a long corridor until he reached an elegant flower hall.

Before he could announce himself, a cold, indifferent female voice drifted out.

“Cousin. Enter.”

The voice was soft and sweet, yet it carried a bone-chilling coldness that made Situ Yun shiver. The owner was clearly not in a good mood.

“Yes, Eldest Miss.”

Situ Yun took a deep breath, straightened his robes nervously, and pushed the door open.

The hall was decorated with extreme extravagance—golden curtains, jade ornaments, and pearl screens. Behind layers of sheer mermaid-silk, a young woman in a red dress sat on a throne-like chair.

Her skin was white as frost, her eyes like autumn pools, her lips red as rouge. She was breathtakingly beautiful, but her voluptuous, hourglass figure exuded a dangerous, demonic allure. She was like a blooming poppy—beautiful, intoxicating, and deadly.

This was the Situ Clan’s direct-line heir and the Nether Fiend Sect’s True Disciple: Situ Yan.

Facing this peerless beauty, Situ Yun didn’t dare lift his head. He trembled as he bowed.

“Subordinate greets Eldest Miss.”

He knew he was in trouble.

“Hmph.”

Situ Yan nodded slightly, her exquisite face revealing unconcealed anger.

“Cousin. How is the task I assigned you progressing?”

Situ Yun shuddered. “Reporting to Eldest Miss… I followed your instructions and was making good progress in recruiting Big Qi. But yesterday… a shocking event occurred. I was confused and retreated without clarifying the situation. I beg Eldest Miss for punishment.”

Situ Yan’s eyebrows shot up. Her voice sharpened.

“A major event occurred, and you fled without notifying me? Do you have any idea what you missed?”

“Eldest Miss is right!” Situ Yun’s face turned pale. He dropped to his knees with a thud.

“I thought he was dead meat! There was no point in recruiting a corpse! I never expected him to survive! It was a dereliction of duty. Please punish me!”

“Hmph.”

Situ Yan didn’t press the issue. Instead, she leaned forward, her expression intense.

“Tell me everything that happened. From the beginning. Do not omit a single detail.”

“Yes!”

Situ Yun composed himself and began his report.

“When I entered the room, I saw Senior Sister Shen tied to the bed. She looked disheveled and humiliated, as if she had just been… taken advantage of.”

“Big Qi was standing there, leering at her. He even admitted he had interrogated her. However, Senior Sister Shen never revealed her identity, so Big Qi likely didn’t know he had kidnapped the Sect Leader’s disciple.”

“When I told him who she was, his shock was genuine. It wasn’t an act.”

“After that… I got scared and left. I advised him to run for his life…”

Hearing this, the anger on Situ Yan’s face faded, replaced by thoughtful calculation.

“So the ‘Hero Saving the Beauty’ story was a lie. Shen Xingxuan really was captured by an Outer Sect disciple.”

She smiled coldly, a gleam of satisfaction in her eyes.

“After you left, they must have reached an agreement. Everything that followed was theater.”

“Shen Xingxuan is arrogant. To save face, she would swallow her pride rather than admit she was bested by a nobody. And Big Qi… he exploited that weakness to force a compromise. He is a rare talent. Smart. Ruthless.”

“That kid is that formidable?” Situ Yun gasped.

The situation had been a hopeless dead end. Even an old fox like him had seen no way out. Yet this kid had turned the tables and survived?

Situ Yan shook her head.

“No. It’s not that simple. Shen Xingxuan suffered a massive loss. With her temperament, she will seek revenge. If Big Qi were truly smart, he would have fled the sect immediately. Outer Sect disciples aren’t bound by Soul Lamps; he could have escaped.”

“But he didn’t run. Instead, he openly moved into Ji Chan’er’s cave. He accepted the Ji Clan’s protection.”

“Ji Chan’er is shrewd. She wouldn’t shelter a liability without a massive payoff. There is something fishy here.”

Situ Yun looked confused. “You mean…?”

Situ Yan narrowed her eyes, her tone certain.

“He dared to stay because he has insurance. He holds something over Shen Xingxuan—leverage strong enough to make her hesitate. Ji Chan’er saw that leverage and decided to invest in him.”

Situ Yun’s eyes widened in realization. “Eldest Miss is wise! Big Qi has blackmail material on Shen Xingxuan! Given her status, the value of that blackmail is immeasurable!”

“Exactly.”

Situ Yan’s lips curved into a seductive smile.

“If that’s the case, it’s simple. Whatever Ji Chan’er can offer, I can offer too. And I can offer more.”

“Go find Big Qi again. Invite him here. I want to personally meet this… rising star of the Saint Sect.”