183: He Tianfa Pavilion clears up misunderstanding

“Thank me for what? You little brat... you hide things really deeply! Even I was almost scared into developing Heart Demons and an unstable Dao Heart!”

Qin Yue extended her slender, jade-like finger and lightly poked Lin Jingyu's forehead, her tone carrying a hint of gritted teeth:

“I'll settle this score with you properly when we get back! Let's go, Vice President Gu Yue and Shopkeeper Shui Sheng are still waiting over there, their eyes are so enthusiastic they're practically melting you.”

Lin Jingyu followed her gaze. Sure enough, on the judges' panel, Vice President Gu Yue and Shopkeeper Shui Sheng had already stood up and were looking at them with beaming smiles.

Especially Old Man Gu Yue, his gaze was so burning, as if he had discovered some rare treasure. He didn't look like he was watching a Junior at all; he clearly looked like he was watching a Spirit Stone mine that could walk!

Just then, a short, dark-complexioned old man approached.

He was leading several people.

Apart from him, who was only at the Qi Refining Second Layer, the rest were all at the Middle or Late Stage of Qi Refining.

One of them was even at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.

Their Faces were filled with disbelief and doubt.

Clearly, they didn't believe Gong Changshou's boasting.

Gong Changshou had dragged them here for verification.

In fact, he himself felt somewhat anxious.

The two of them had a decent friendship.

He had helped Lin Jingyu purchase various items and guided him to the Black Market.

But speaking publicly, he hadn't helped that much.

Now that Lin Jingyu had refined a Supreme-grade Pure Heart Pill, his status had instantly soared, surpassing even a Cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.

It would be perfectly normal for him to pretend not to recognize him now.

After all, in the Cultivation World, good people with a conscience don't live long.

However, seeing how loyal and righteous Lin Jingyu was toward Miaoling Pavilion just now, he decided to come and try his luck.

After all, if he could forge a relationship with Lin Jingyu in front of everyone, the benefits for him would be unimaginable.

For him, a Loose Cultivator at the Qi Refining Second Layer, this was the only way to access the upper echelon of Cultivators in the Southeast Market Town, which is why he had to take the risk.

Even if he failed, there wouldn't be much loss, just losing a little Face.

“Old Brother Gong, long time no see! Were you watching my competition just now? Perfect, wait for me a moment, we'll go drinking later.”

Before Gong Changshou could speak, Lin Jingyu's clear voice rang out.

He looked up and saw Lin Jingyu smiling and looking their way, his eyes full of familiarity toward a friend.

There was not a hint of distance.

He immediately broke into a wide smile, cupped his fists, and said:

“Brother Jingyu, you don't need to be so polite, please carry on with your business. I was just meeting up with a few Fellow Daoists to go eat at Drunken Moon Tower...”

As a sharp individual, Gong Changshou knew that Lin Jingyu did not have time to eat and socialize with him right now.

The Cultivators behind him also quickly spoke up:

“Master Lin, you must be tired. We won't disturb you anymore.”

“Master Lin, please carry on with your business...”

Watching the group leave, Gong Changshou looked like a monkey whose tail was sticking straight up to the sky.

Lin Jingyu smiled. Gong Changshou had helped him quite a bit.

Without all those various items he provided, he might not have had the chance to defeat Lin Jingxie.

A casual comment like that cost him nothing.

But for Gong Changshou, it was more useful than several hundred Spirit Stones.

The judges and Qin Yue exchanged pleasantries, then moved to a Quiet Room inside the Association specifically used for receiving honored guests.

The Quiet Room was decorated with elegant simplicity; sandalwood smoke curled gently, and the walls were adorned with ancient landscape paintings embodying profound Concepts, instantly isolating the outside noise.

The steward of the Alchemist Association had already prepared Spirit Tea, its fragrance wafting everywhere.

Shopkeeper Shui Sheng was the first to speak. She gently placed a thick stack of red Spirit Stone Cards, shimmering with tempting spiritual light, in front of Lin Jingyu.

That was fourteen thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones! The spiritual light they emitted when piled together was so dense it was almost blinding.

However, everyone present, except for Lin Jingyu and Yun Momo, were Great Masters at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.

Having status and standing, their expressions were very calm regarding these Spirit Stones.

“Young Friend Lin, this is the prize money you won in this competition, not a single cent is missing.”

Shui Sheng's voice was gentle and soft, and her gaze toward Lin Jingyu was filled with undisguised appreciation. “Would you like to count the amount?”

Even though he knew the Spirit Stones would be handed over, Lin Jingyu's heart still thumped rapidly against his will, and his throat felt dry.

He was too used to living in poverty.

Fourteen thousand Spirit Stones!

A few days ago, this would have been an astronomical figure, a huge sum that the Lin Family couldn't save up in over a decade!

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed his turbulent emotions, and tried hard to make his expression look calm.

He reached out and put away the Spirit Stone Cards; they felt heavy in his hand, as if he could feel the massive energy contained within. He cupped his hands and said solemnly:

“Thank you, Shopkeeper Shui, for overseeing this. Junior trusts the reputation of Tianfa Pavilion and the Association.”

Shui Sheng nodded slightly in satisfaction, rating Lin Jingyu's composure even higher.

Lin Jingyu pondered for a moment, then counted out exactly three cards from the stack of Spirit Stone Cards and respectfully returned them to Shui Sheng.

“Shopkeeper Shui, when Junior was bidding against Li Duoduo at Tianfa Pavilion earlier, I acted cleverly and exploited a loophole in the rules, though I did not violate them.

However, I ultimately offended Tianfa Pavilion and disturbed your establishment's peace. These three thousand Spirit Stones are a token of my apology; I ask the Shopkeeper to please accept them.”

This was a step he had planned long ago. Although he had won Face and gained practical benefits at the time, he had ultimately slighted Tianfa Pavilion's Face and exploited their rules.

This point was not glorious.

If he originally had no connection with Tianfa Pavilion, it wouldn't have mattered.

But now, their Shopkeeper had stepped forward to borrow the Alchemist Association's competition venue, served as a judge, and ultimately allowed him to win seven thousand Spirit Stones.

If he didn't do something now, it would be unreasonable.

Taking advantage of the momentum from his great victory to proactively apologize and show goodwill, and offering tangible benefits to ease the relationship, was definitely a worthwhile investment.

He possessed this level of social acumen and foresight.

Shui Sheng and Gu Yue exchanged glances, and a hint of surprise and understanding flashed in both their eyes.

They truly hadn't expected this kid to not only have high Alchemy talent but also be so skilled in human relations.

If he hadn't brought it up, Shui Sheng wouldn't have blamed him.

But the fact that he did this was enough to show that his Heart-Nature was extraordinary.

He was countless times stronger than those so-called Geniuses who only knew Alchemy but lacked social common sense.

Shui Sheng covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, her laughter like wind rustling silver bells: “You sly kid! Now you know how to apologize? Where did that quick wit and that ruthless calculation go?”

While she teased him verbally, her hand didn't hesitate to push the three thousand Spirit Stone Cards back, her tone gentle but carrying an undeniable finality:

“Take them back! My Tianfa Pavilion has been open for business for hundreds of years, and we rely on reputation and rules.

You did not violate any explicit rules at the time; that was your ability, your wisdom.

If I accepted these Spirit Stones, it would be beneath us, making people laugh at Tianfa Pavilion for being sore losers and narrow-minded.”