38: Reselling resources

Inside the abandoned utility yard, the moonlight was fragmented by the high walls, casting large, heavy shadows on the ground.

Lin Ye lay hidden in the shadow of the eaves, perfectly blending his form and breath into the darkness. He was like a cold, lifeless stone, unmoving, with only his eyes, startlingly bright in the darkness, fixed intently on the two figures in the center of the courtyard.

Inner Sect Disciple!

A Steward of the Menial Servants and an Inner Sect Disciple meeting secretly in such a desolate place late at night… A strong sense of unease, like a dark cloud, enveloped Lin Ye's heart. He knew that tonight, he had probably stumbled upon a huge secret!

In the center of the courtyard, Steward of the Menial Servants Zhang Ping had long lost the arrogance and harshness he usually displayed in front of Outer Sect Disciple. He stooped his back, his face covered in fawning smiles, looking even more servile than the most abject slave.

“Senior Brother Liu, you… you’re finally here! This humble one has been waiting for a long time,” Zhang Ping’s voice carried an irrepressible hint of flattery and fear.

The Inner Sect Disciple he called “Senior Brother Liu” seemed completely out of place in the dilapidated environment.

He was around twenty years old, dressed in a finely made moon-white robe, with an expensive warm jade tied at his waist. He had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and his face could be considered handsome. But his slightly upturned chin and the undisguised arrogance and disdain deep in his eyes ruined the harmony of his entire face, making him appear full of a superior sense of self-importance.

He didn't even bother to look Zhang Ping in the eye, merely grunting “Hmm” through his nose, his tone full of impatience: “Enough with the pleasantries! Where is it? Did you bring the things?”

“Brought them! Brought them!” Zhang Ping, as if receiving a royal decree, hurriedly and carefully pulled out a heavy, tightly wrapped package in black cloth from his wide robe, holding it with both hands and respectfully handing it over.

Disciple Liu frowned, a hint of disgust on his face, as if he was very unwilling to touch this “dirty” item from the Outer Sect. He extended two fingers, pinched a corner of the package, and took it.

He casually opened the package and, by the moonlight, glanced inside.

Inside the black cloth were a dozen white jade porcelain bottles with seals, and a small pile of dried medicinal herbs wrapped in oil paper, emitting a faint Spiritual Qi!

On the eaves, Lin Ye’s pupils sharply contracted the moment he saw those items!

He recognized those things!

Those white jade porcelain bottles were precisely the most basic “Qi Condensation Powder” that the Sect distributed to all Outer Sect Disciple at regular intervals each month to aid their Cultivation!

And those medicinal herbs were “Body Tempering Grass,” used to heal injured Disciple or for medicinal baths for Disciple who Cultivated certain special Cultivation Technique!

These were the most fundamental, and most vital, Cultivation resources for Outer Sect Disciple! They were the hope of survival that countless people desperately worked as menial servants to obtain!

Lin Ye understood instantly.

Why were the Outer Sect’s resources always so scarce?

Why was the food in the mess hall always bland and difficult to swallow?

Why were the monthly Medicinal Pill distributions always deducted or delayed for various reasons?

So… so all of this wasn’t because the Sect’s rules were inherently so strict, but because there were Woodworms! There were internal traitors!

These life-saving resources, which should have belonged to them, the Outer Sect Disciple struggling at the very bottom, were secretly intercepted by Zhang Ping, the Steward who controlled the lifeline of the Outer Sect’s menial servants, and then resold to Inner Sect Disciple!

A cold, uncontrollable rage suddenly surged from Lin Ye’s chest!

He remembered the despair of not having enough to eat or wear, and being exhausted to the point of collapse from completing tasks, when he first Transmigrated!

He remembered the bitterness of Fatty Wang saving every penny for several months just to exchange for a piece of Yao Beast jerky!

He remembered the countless fellow Disciple, just like him, with mediocre Aptitude, who were still struggling for that glimmer of hope!

All their sweat, all their hope, had turned into… bargaining chips in this dirty transaction!

Lin Ye bit his lip tightly, his fingernails deeply embedded in the eaves’ tiles, barely managing to forcefully suppress the killing intent that was almost about to burst forth from his body.

In the courtyard, the transaction continued.

Disciple Liu seemed satisfied with this “merchandise.” He nodded, casually tossed the package into his Storage Pouch, and then, as if dismissing a beggar, took out a small porcelain bottle from his In my arms and threw it to Zhang Ping.

“Here, this is yours. Use it sparingly.”

Zhang Ping fumbled to catch the porcelain bottle, his face revealing an expression of flattered, almost fawning, ecstasy. He carefully opened the stopper, and merely inhaling the medicinal fragrance wafting from the bottle’s mouth, which was a hundred times purer than “Qi Condensation Powder,” made him tremble with excitement.

“Thank you, Senior Brother Liu! Thank you for the generous gift, Senior Brother Liu!” He bowed repeatedly, overwhelmed with gratitude.

“That’s enough,” Disciple Liu waved his hand impatiently. “Things are tense lately. That kid named Lin Ye has caused quite a stir, even alarming the Elders. Our business should pause for now. Don’t cause any trouble.”

Upon hearing the name “Lin Ye,” a flicker of malice and jealousy instantly crossed Zhang Ping’s face. He put away the porcelain bottle, his eyes glinting with sinister light, and whispered:

“Senior Brother Liu, rest assured, not only will I not cause any trouble, but I also have a foolproof method to completely clear our previous accounts.”