Chapter 55: Junior Brother, Just Ask

Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Junior Brother, Just Ask

"Are our Master and her husband eating breakfast?"

In the bamboo forest, Ji Suyao, who was digging up Bamboo Shoots, couldn’t help but ask. Ye Linglong, who had just cut a shoot and placed it in her basket, froze for a moment.

"I don’t think they said whether they were eating or not."

Ye Linglong thought back carefully. Yesterday’s voice transmission hadn’t mentioned breakfast at all.

"Then let’s just assume they are. If they don’t eat it, I can help take care of it."

Ji Suyao made her decision after a moment’s thought. Ye Linglong couldn’t help but glance at her a few times. ’This girl definitely just wants to eat more.’

After breakfast was ready, Ye Linglong took the food container to her master’s Bamboo Garden. Following a brief exchange, she turned to leave. For some reason, she felt that aside from her improved complexion, her master gave off a completely different aura today.

It was a hard feeling to describe. In the past, her master had seemed troubled. Although it felt presumptuous to think so, Ye Linglong felt that her former master was a bit like herself—both had things they were unwilling to face. But the master she saw today was starting to give off the same impression Ji Suyao did.

It wasn’t about personality, but rather the feeling she got from them.

Back in the kitchen, Ye Linglong didn’t voice her thoughts. She wouldn’t stoop to gossiping about her master and her master’s husband behind their backs. Besides, she wasn’t a fool; her senior brother was likely so good to her simply because she was his junior sister.

And it was her master and master’s husband who had given her this status. Otherwise, she would still be struggling in that bleak and hopeless environment. Although the matter wasn’t completely resolved yet, Ye Linglong knew with certainty that as long as her senior brother stepped in, the issue with the Nangong Family would be settled instantly.

That was how much faith she had in her senior brother.

***

"Junior Brother Liu, the Steward who fled has been captured by an Elder from the Law Enforcement Hall. You probably don’t know this, but the results of the Soul Search were absolutely horrifying. Eight out of ten matters that Steward handled violated the sect’s rules. Now the Law Enforcement Hall is conducting an internal investigation!"

Yang Haichen took a sip of tea, looking very worried. The Law Enforcement Hall was supposed to be the one place in the Purple Cloud Valley that valued the sect’s rules above all else. However, the results of the Steward’s Soul Search not only gave all the disciples who had been dissatisfied with the Law Enforcement Hall a valid reason for their complaints, but it also made ordinary disciples like him worried.

After all, being targeted by the Law Enforcement Hall would affect one’s promotion within the Purple Cloud Valley. The Hall used to be trustworthy, but after something like this, it was safe to say everyone felt insecure.

"That is truly surprising."

For a moment, Liu Chen didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t that he had expected this to happen, but he wasn’t exactly surprised either.

"You don’t look very surprised."

Yang Haichen couldn’t help but look over at him. This incident definitely wouldn’t be resolved easily. The fallout could spread to the entire Purple Cloud Valley. He just didn’t know how the Sect Leader and the Peak Masters would handle it.

If they let the Law Enforcement Hall investigate itself, even if the Peak Masters trusted them, most of the disciples in the Purple Cloud Valley would not.

"Is Senior Brother Yang really worried about the Law Enforcement Hall?"

Liu Chen paid no mind to Senior Brother Yang’s words. Some disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall might be arrogant and domineering, but they wouldn’t be stupid enough to offend the disciple of a Peak’s Elder. That wasn’t brandishing their insignificant authority; it was suicide.

"What I’m worried about is the upcoming Inner Sect assessment. Inner Sect Disciples certainly won’t be hassled by the Law Enforcement Hall disciples—they aren’t idiots. So, the ones they’ll target will be the Outer Sect Disciples and those who belong to the Purple Cloud Valley but aren’t disciples. Perhaps the Inner Sect Disciple assessment is going to be moved up."

Yang Haichen shook his head. Disciples from the Law Enforcement Hall were rarely ever seen on Purple Bamboo Peak, but according to his master, the Inner Sect assessment might change directly, and it would very likely be related to these recent events.

"Senior Brother is almost at Body Tempering Perfection. Are you still worried about this?"

Liu Chen glanced at him. Back when Liu Chen was at Body Tempering Beginner, this guy was already at Body Tempering Great Success. Now, with the help of Spiritual Cuisine, his progress would certainly be even faster.

This wasn’t Liu Chen boasting; he could see the effect Spiritual Cuisine had on Body Tempering just by looking at his two junior sisters’ progress. The only problem was that Spiritual Cuisine was useless for Liu Chen himself. To be precise, it could only speed up his stamina recovery, not increase the efficiency of his Body Tempering.

"I’m still a little short, aren’t I?"

Yang Haichen shook his head. Since he had gotten some information from his master, he naturally had to prepare early. If the Inner Sect assessment was indeed moved up, becoming an Inner Sect Disciple with his current strength wouldn’t be a problem. But if he *only* became an Inner Sect Disciple, would that be worthy of his master’s tutelage?

He had to make a dazzling performance, one way or another.

"Senior Brother Yang, if you have something to say, just say it."

Liu Chen shot a glance at Senior Brother Yang. ’This guy’s focus definitely isn’t on the major affairs of the Purple Cloud Valley. They’re not high-level enough to get involved in that stuff. Maybe True Disciples have the right to participate. But since Senior Brother Yang brought up the Inner Sect assessment, he must want more Spiritual Cuisine to speed up his Body Tempering progress.’

"Junior Brother Liu, I’ll be direct. I want more Spiritual Cuisine."

Yang Haichen leaned forward, his eyes filled with excitement. If the Inner Sect assessment were held at its original time, he wouldn’t be worried at all. He could even skip the assessment and become an Inner Sect Disciple directly with his Meridian Passage Realm cultivation.

But since a problem had arisen, even though his master didn’t care about it, he himself cared a great deal. His master had high hopes for him, and he naturally didn’t want to let his master down.

This Inner Sect assessment was destined to be a major event. Once he made a name for himself, everyone would know that the Grand Elder of Purple Bamboo Peak was an excellent teacher.

"That’s simple enough. But what does Senior Brother Yang plan to trade for it?"

Liu Chen narrowed his eyes. It was no trouble for him, anyway. As for Purple Bamboo Grass, it wasn’t really important anymore. What Liu Chen was interested in were the other resources Senior Brother Yang could bring him.

The amount of Purple Bamboo Grass his two junior sisters needed for their cultivation could be gathered in just three days to last a whole month. Tempering their bodies twice a day meant they only needed sixty stalks of Purple Bamboo Grass a month.

As for the leftover Purple Bamboo Grass, Liu Chen planned to research how to brew it into tea when he had free time. The taste of Purple Bamboo Grass steeped directly in water was bitter and astringent—even worse than swallowing it whole.

"Junior Brother Liu, feel free to name your price."

Yang Haichen was very composed. After the Inner Sect Disciple assessment, the Yang Family would definitely give him more resources. At that point, whether it was directly acquiring what Liu Chen needed or using those resources to trade for them, it would be an easy task.

"How many Spirit Stones does Senior Brother think a serving of Spiritual Cuisine should sell for?"

Liu Chen shook his head. He could certainly have Senior Brother Yang gather the resources he wanted, but the problem was that Liu Chen didn’t urgently need anything at the moment. In that case, it was better to just trade for Spirit Stones.

Besides, Spirit Stones could also aid in cultivation. Liu Chen had never obtained a Spirit Stone before, so he wasn’t sure if they would help with his Body Tempering progress.