Hitting women

“Ding! Detected a significant loosening of Lin Qianxue's mental defenses. Favorability has increased to 85 (Deeply Rooted Love).”

“Congratulations, Host, you have received the reward: 5,000 villain points points, and the Earth Rank supreme movement technique, 'Stepping on Snow Without a Trace'.”

The cold System notification sounded in Su Ye's mind, yet it did not affect his gentle expression in the slightest.

Third Mistress was extremely perceptive. Seeing this, she immediately laughed so hard she trembled, and swiftly ordered the maids to carefully take down the priceless “Ice Luan Dancing Heaven Skirt.”

Along with the few plain and elegant magic robes Su Ye had casually pointed out earlier, they were all carefully folded and placed into exquisite brocade boxes.

“Young Master Su, the total is twelve thousand Spirit Stones.”

Third Mistress's eyes were seductive like silk threads, and her respectful attitude made it seem like she wanted to stick right onto Su Ye.

This was a true great patron!

Although Purple Bamboo Peak had declined, the extravagance of Senior Brother Su Ye's spending was even more imposing than that of the Personal Disciples of the Core Elders.

Su Ye's expression was indifferent. He waved his hand casually.

Clatter—

A pile of clear, crystalline Mid-Grade Spirit Stones instantly appeared on the counter. The rich Spiritual Qi immediately filled the entire second floor of Jinyi Pavilion.

One hundred and twenty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, no more, no less.

This kind of generosity made the eyes of the female cultivators nearby, who were selecting clothes, widen instantly. They wished they could immediately kick their Dao Companions away and stand beside Su Ye instead.

Lin Qianxue stood nearby, watching the pile of Spirit Stones, her heart pounding like a drum.

She felt as if she were dreaming.

Since childhood, she had never been cherished in someone's palm like this.

The feeling of being firmly chosen and spoiled regardless of the cost caused her Innate Sword Heart, which was originally as firm as bedrock, to melt into a pool of spring water at this moment.

“Senior Brother...”

She gently tugged Su Ye's sleeve, her eyes shifting, carrying a hint of shyness and emotion. “In the future... I will work hard on missions to earn Spirit Stones and repay you.”

Su Ye turned his hand and grasped her soft palm, his fingertip lightly scratching her palm as he said with a half-smile:

“Repay?”

“If Junior Sister truly wishes to repay me, then use your entire lifetime to do so.”

Lin Qianxue's pretty Face instantly turned so red it looked ready to drip blood. She lowered her head and hummed a reply, faint as a mosquito.

At this moment, time stood still and peaceful.

However.

Just as Third Mistress held the packed brocade box, preparing to hand it to Su Ye.

An extremely inappropriate female voice, laced with a hint of acrimony and spite, abruptly came from the stairwell.

“Wait!”

The voice was sharp and high-pitched, instantly shattering the originally beautiful and ambiguous atmosphere on the second floor.

Su Ye's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and a trace of coldness flashed across his eyes.

Lin Qianxue's body stiffened as well, and she subconsciously looked towards the sound.

At the stairwell entrance, a man and a woman were walking up.

The man wore a fiery red brocade robe. He was burly with a resolute Face, and his entire body emitted a scorching Spiritual Pressure, clearly indicating a Golden Core Stage Level Five cultivation.

Hanging from his waist was a crimson jade token, engraved with the characters “Chixiao.”

That was the symbol of Chixiao Peak, one of the top three powerful peaks among the Inner Sect of Taichu Holy Land.

The woman wore a pink, low-cut ruqun skirt. Her appearance could be considered alluring, but her slanted eyebrows gave her a somewhat spiteful look.

At this moment, she was intimately holding the man's arm, practically plastered against him.

“Oh, who do we have here? It turns out to be Lin Qianxue from Purple Bamboo Peak.”

The pink-clothed woman swept her gaze over Lin Qianxue, then fixed it on the brocade box in Third Mistress's hands, a flash of greed and jealousy crossing her eyes.

“Junior Sister Zhou?”

Lin Qianxue recognized the person, and her expression immediately turned cold.

This woman was named Zhou Mei, an Inner Sect Disciple of Chixiao Peak, who had participated in the entrance assessment alongside Lin Qianxue in the past.

At that time, Lin Qianxue had stunned the entire audience with her Innate Sword Heart, stealing Zhou Mei's thunder, and Zhou Mei had held a grudge ever since.

Unfortunately, Lin Qianxue joined the declining Purple Bamboo Peak, while Zhou Mei, relying on her looks and methods, managed to climb the high branch of Chixiao Peak.

“Third Mistress, I want that 'Ice Luan Dancing Heaven Skirt'.”

Zhou Mei completely ignored Lin Qianxue, immediately let go of the man's arm, swayed her waist, walked to the counter, pointed at the brocade box, and adopted an arrogant demeanor.

The smile on Third Mistress's Face stiffened, and she said with some difficulty:

“Fairy Zhou, this... this outfit has already been purchased by Young Master Su, and the Spirit Stones have already been paid...”

“Purchased?”

Zhou Mei gave an exaggerated gasp, then turned her head and looked at Su Ye and Lin Qianxue with an extremely exaggerated and mocking gaze.

“Based on them?”

“Everyone knows Purple Bamboo Peak is dirt poor, they can't even afford the Spirit Stones to repair their main hall.”

“This 'Ice Luan Dancing Heaven Skirt' costs eight thousand Spirit Stones. Even if you sold this impoverished girl, she might not be worth that much, right?”

As she spoke, she didn't forget to cover her mouth with a handkerchief and let out a charming laugh, the sound grating like fingernails scratching glass.

“Junior Sister, don't be rude.”

At this moment, the red-robed man also walked over.

Although he said she shouldn't be rude, his eyes were brazenly sizing up Lin Qianxue, and a hint of astonishment and lust flashed deep within his gaze.

Although Lin Qianxue was dressed plainly, her cold and immortal-like temperament, along with her exquisite beauty, were truly incomparable to the common, gaudy women around him.

“I am Zhao Tianba, a True Disciple of Chixiao Peak.”

The man slightly cupped his fist towards Su Ye. He appeared courteous, but was in fact extremely arrogant, his chin practically pointing toward the sky.

“This must be Senior Brother Su Ye, the Senior Brother of Purple Bamboo Peak?”

“I heard that Senior Brother Su, despite being the Senior Brother, has been in seclusion for 'cultivation.' Seeing you today, you are indeed... a talented individual.”

He deliberately emphasized the words “cultivation in seclusion.” Everyone knew that the Senior Brother of Purple Bamboo Peak was a good-for-nothing only in the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Su Ye's expression was calm. He didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, merely uttering a single word indifferently:

“Scram.”

The fake smile on Zhao Tianba's Face instantly froze.

The surrounding onlookers also sucked in a breath of cold air.

This Su Ye... so arrogant!

He actually dared to tell Zhao Tianba of Chixiao Peak to scram?

One must know that Zhao Tianba was a genuine Golden Core Stage Level Five expert, and Chixiao Peak was a powerhouse that typically swaggered around the Inner Sect.

“What did you say?”

Zhao Tianba's Face darkened. Spiritual Power surged throughout his body, and a wave of scorching hot air instantly swept out.

“Su Ye, don't push your luck!”

Zhou Mei, seeing her Senior Brother angered, immediately felt emboldened. She pointed at Su Ye's nose and cursed:

“My Senior Brother gave you some Face out of consideration for fellow disciples, and you actually think you're someone important?”

“If you know what's good for you, quickly hand over that skirt, and then kowtow and apologize to me, or else...”

Before she finished speaking, her gaze suddenly fell back onto Lin Qianxue.

Looking at Lin Qianxue's cold and unyielding appearance, the flames of jealousy in Zhou Mei's heart burned even fiercer.

Why?

Why could this cheap girl from a declining peak wear such fine clothes?

And have such a handsome Senior Brother accompanying her?

Although Su Ye was a good-for-nothing, his appearance... truly made people envious.

With this thought, Zhou Mei's eyes rolled, and she revealed an extremely malicious fake smile.

“Oh, Junior Sister Lin, don't blame Senior Sister for speaking harshly.”

“This outfit is an Earth Rank Spiritual Artifact. If you wear it, wouldn't that be ruining a good thing?”

“Besides, your Tingxue Courtyard doesn't even have a decent Spirit Gathering Array. Taking this outfit back would only allow it to gather dust.”

“How about this...”

She pretended to be generous, pulled a Storage Pouch from her bosom, and tossed it onto the counter.

“There are ten thousand Spirit Stones here.”

“I'll pay double the price, and this outfit belongs to me.”

“The extra two thousand Spirit Stones can be considered a reward from Senior Sister to improve the food at your Purple Bamboo Peak, how about that?”

“After all, I heard your Peak Master, that sickly person, still has to consume a lot of Spirit Medicine every day just to cling to life, giggle giggle...”

As soon as these words were spoken.

The entire second floor instantly fell silent.

Insulting someone's Sect and cursing their Revered Master.

In the cultivation world, this was already an extreme humiliation.

Lin Qianxue's previously cold expression instantly turned pale, followed immediately by a surge of extreme fury.

Clang!

A clear, ringing sword cry suddenly sounded.

A piercing cold Ice Sword Intent burst uncontrollably from within Lin Qianxue's body.

The surrounding temperature plummeted, and tiny bits of frost actually condensed in the air.

“How dare you insult my Revered Master?!”

Lin Qianxue's eyes were bloodshot, staring intently at Zhou Mei, her right hand already pressing down on the sword hilt at her waist.

Although Revered Master Yun Yuzhen was constantly in seclusion healing her wounds, in Lin Qianxue's heart, she was an existence akin to a mother.

No matter how cold her personality usually was, she absolutely would not allow anyone to insult her Revered Master in such a way!

“Oh? Are you angry?”

Zhou Mei was not afraid; instead, she cried out even more exaggeratedly, as if she had seen a joke.

“Senior Brother, look! This wretched girl actually wants to fight!”

“A good-for-nothing who just recently reached Foundation Establishment, dares to draw a sword in front of me?”

Zhao Tianba also sneered, stepping forward to block Zhou Mei, releasing the Spiritual Pressure of Golden Core Stage Level Five without reservation, directly pressuring Lin Qianxue.

“Junior Sister Lin, private fighting is prohibited in the Inner Sect.”

“If you dare draw your sword, don't blame me, your Senior Brother, for being ruthless and cleaning up the mess for Purple Bamboo Peak!”

Under that immense Spiritual Pressure, Lin Qianxue's pretty Face was pale, and her body swayed precariously, but the hand gripping the sword hilt was held tight, her knuckles turning white from the effort.

She knew she couldn't win.

But the dignity of a Sword Cultivator meant she absolutely could not retreat.

“Cleaning up the mess?”

Just then.

A voice, gentle as jade yet carrying bone-chilling coldness, slowly sounded.

Su Ye moved.

He did not unleash any earth-shattering Aura.

He merely took a light step forward.

This single step seemed to cross the distance of space, instantly appearing in front of Lin Qianxue.

The Golden Core Spiritual Pressure, pressing down like a mountain, vanished without a trace the moment it touched Su Ye's body, like a clay ox sinking into the sea.

Su Ye extended a hand and gently pressed down on Lin Qianxue's trembling shoulder.

“Junior Sister, put your sword away.”

His voice was very light, very gentle.

“Why use an ox-slaughtering knife to kill a chicken? Moreover, this kind of filth is not worthy of dirtying your sword.”

Lin Qianxue was startled, and her eyes instantly turned red.

That sense of security from being protected surged into her heart once more.

“Senior Brother...”

“Who are you calling filth?!”

Hearing this, Zhou Mei immediately bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

Relying on Zhao Tianba's backing, she rushed forward a few steps, pointed at Su Ye's exceptionally handsome Face, and cursed, spewing spittle:

“Su Ye! You pretty boy who only knows how to live off women!”

“I don't know what despicable methods you used to trick this silly girl into being devoted to you.”

“I bet those Spirit Stones are the burial funds left behind by your dead Revered Master, right?”

“Using burial funds to pretend to be a rich patron! Why don't you take a piss and look at your own virtue!”

“I am taking this outfit today!”

“Not only do I want the clothes, but you people must also kneel before me!”

Saying this, she recklessly reached out a hand, trying to grab the brocade box held by Third Mistress.

While grabbing, she used her other hand to viciously slap towards Lin Qianxue's Face.

“Give it to me!”

Her movement was swift, carrying the power of a Golden Core Stage Level One cultivation. Her fingernails were even coated with pale pink poison powder. If she landed the strike, Lin Qianxue's Face would likely be ruined.

“Ah!”

The surrounding onlookers let out a cry of alarm.

Zhao Tianba stood to the side, a cruel sneer hanging on his lips, showing no intention of stopping her.

He wanted to see what this good-for-nothing Senior Brother of Purple Bamboo Peak could do.

However.

The next instant.

No one saw clearly what happened.

They only felt a flash of green before their eyes.

There was no fierce collision of Spiritual Power, nor the roar of Magic Treasures.

There was only the sound of a slap, extremely crisp, as if it could pierce the Soul.

“Pah!!!”

This crisp sound exploded like thunder on the silent second floor of Jinyi Pavilion.

Immediately following.

A pink figure, like a kite with a broken string, traced an elegant parabola through the air.

Accompanied by a few bloody broken teeth and an extremely shrill scream.

Bang!

Zhou Mei's entire body slammed heavily into a shelf more than ten meters away, shattering the expensive Zitan Wood shelf into pieces. Countless magic robes scattered across the floor, burying her beneath them.

“Ah... my Face... my Face...”

Zhou Mei writhed on the ground, clutching her Face. The half of her Face that was once somewhat alluring was now highly swollen, resembling a pig's head, clearly branded with an unmistakable five-fingered print.

The whole place fell into dead silence.

It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, watching the green figure who still stood with his hands clasped behind his back, utterly disbelieving.

Su Ye stood rooted to the spot, not even a corner of his robe having been disturbed.

He slowly retracted his hand, pulled out a pure white silk handkerchief from his embrace, and meticulously wiped the palm that had just struck someone.

His movements were elegant, as if he hadn't just hit a person, but merely brushed away a speck of dust.

“Noisy.”

He casually tossed the used silk handkerchief onto the floor, looking indifferently at the wailing Zhou Mei in the distance, as if watching a fly he had just swatted dead.

“Since your mouth is foul, you won't be needing it anymore.”

Following this.

He slowly turned his head, his deep, abyss-like eyes looking at Zhao Tianba, who was now completely frozen in place.

The corner of his mouth curved into a chilling, bone-deep arc.

“Next.”

“It's your turn.”