Chapter 55, Family, Who Understands?
At the Demon Cultivation Mountain Gate, an urgent high-level meeting was convened.
There was fierce discussion about the sudden outbreak of a battle among Crossing Tribulation Stage cultivators across the way, with Demon Cultivators Sect Leader Hua Jianglian engaging in heated debates with the upper echelons of the sect.
The discussions went roughly like this:
“Don’t stop me! I don’t care if it’s a trap; if I don’t kill that old hag, I’ll take her surname!”
“Leader! Please think again! There are two Crossing Tribulation Stage cultivators over there, and the enemy’s unclear. If you fall into a trap, how will we survive?!”
They called it a discussion.
In reality, it was just a bunch of high-ranking Demon Cultivators crying and pleading with Hua Jianglian not to go over there and get her head handed to her.
Tang Yubbing watched the heated chaos in the conference room, feeling a mix of headache and helplessness.
Just then, she noticed a small crack opening in the conference room door.
Young Master Sang was peeking through, waving at her.
——
——
“What’s up, Young Master Sang? If there’s nothing, I need to hurry back to keep an eye on things; otherwise, if the Leader gets into a fight with them…”
But Sang didn’t say anything.
He just pulled her along mysteriously and jogged over to a small grove halfway up the mountain.
His expression was very alert.
Once they reached a tree, he confirmed that no one was around, then lowered his voice, speaking in a mysterious tone:
“I brought the goods. It’s legit; you can verify it.”
“Cash for goods.”
Tang Yubbing: “Huh? What are you talking about?”
She watched as Sang turned and ran a few steps before sneaking back with a large burlap sack over his shoulder, looking as if he were a thief.
Tang Yubbing had no idea what treasure could be inside that sack.
She was about to reach out and pry it open when Sang suddenly stopped her.
“Remember.”
Sang’s gaze was serious, carrying a hint of danger: “Even if things go south, you absolutely cannot rat me out.”
“We in this line of work stick to the rules—don’t break them.”
“Got it?”
Tang Yubbing: “… Got it, you big face hammer.”
“What’s with the mysterious vibe? Trying to look all cool; if I didn’t know better, I’d think you soloed a Crossing Tribulation cultivator—”
As she spoke, she gently opened the sack’s mouth.
In the next moment, she slammed it shut again.
Though it was just a fleeting glance.
Her heart began to race uncontrollably.
Her face turned pale as she struggled to turn away.
“… You’re serious, huh?”
Sang nodded deeply.
“Water Moon Sect got ambushed. The one attacking was He Hongyi, the sect leader of Qian Kun Que.”
“Even though He Hongyi colluded with the sect disciples to drug her, both sides ended up badly injured. He Hongyi seems to have gone mad, and Master Yu Xia is severely injured and unconscious.”
“All the sect disciples nearby fled in fear of being caught up in it; I figured Master Yu Xia wouldn’t need her, so I brought her back.”
“So, what do you think? For this quality of goods, three months of paid leave isn’t too much, right?”
Listening to his account, Tang Yubbing still felt a bit skeptical about life.
Although if what he said were true, it could indeed explain what happened over there.
But why?
This guy always seems to have such ridiculous luck?
Last time, he ended up bringing back a hidden guard and the sect leader’s daughter.
And now he straight up drags back the sect leader herself.
Are you the kind of person who finds a lottery ticket worth a billion just by picking up trash on the street?
Seeing her doubtful expression, Sang immediately became defensive.
“Do you want it or not? If you don’t want this, I can sell it to someone else.”
“Of course, I want it.”
Tang Yubbing thought for a moment and then asked, “But why don’t you just give it to the Leader? With such a huge contribution, all you’d need to do is ask for a deputy leader position; I’m sure she’ll agree!”
“Eh, that’s where you’re wrong, Sister Yubbing.”
Sang shook his head, “Big trees attract the wind. In our Demon Cult, it’s always about the strong being respected, based on strength.”
“If I let everyone know I had this kind of luck, people would inevitably grow jealous.”
“Who knows, one day while I’m walking home, I might get ambushed and killed by some Demon Cultivator who doesn’t like me.”
“I say, a contribution this impressive should be handled by someone like you, who can keep things under control.”
“Besides,” he grinned, “I have a pure and loyal heart toward you, sister; I thought of you the moment I stumbled upon this.”
“My requests aren’t high; after you rise, don’t forget about your poor little brother, and help me out where you can, and I’ll be satisfied.”
Tang Yubbing stared at Sang, giving him a deep look.
That gaze made Sang feel as if he were standing nude in front of an old client.
A strange sense of shame washed over him.
“… Sister, please don’t look at me like that; I’ll get shy…”
He began to squirm shyly.
But Tang Yubbing took a deep breath.
“Sang, you…”
This time, she didn’t call him “Young Master Sang” in her usual light and flirtatious tone.
Instead, she seemed hesitant.
“You don’t… like me, do you?”
Sang: “… Huh?”
“That, well, I don’t mind age-gap relationships,” she said, her face unusually flushed, with a hint of embarrassment and a sense he’d never seen before, fidgeting with her fingers as she spoke softly:
“But, you don’t have to think of me all the time. With such a big gift, I’m really a bit afraid to accept it…”
“Ah, but I’m not rejecting you! If you want, after work, we could, um… start by going out together somewhere…”
Seeing that she genuinely thought he was trying to woo her, Sang couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.
Family. Who understands?
Today I ran into a desperate girl who thought I liked her the moment we met.
So desperate.
Truthfully, Sang wasn’t thinking that much.
Capturing Master Yu Xia was a merit he would never report himself.
Too much trouble, and he was too lazy to list it all out.
The most suitable person to take the credit was Tang Yubbing.
Tang Yubbing had already become a rising star in the Demon Cult; she was powerful, cunning, skilled, young, beautiful, and curvaceous.
Her career was on a smooth path; with a few more years, she’d likely become the deputy leader.
If she took credit for this, the deputy leader position would basically be assured.
And when she rose up,
The position of head of the Punishment Department would be left vacant, right?
Every time he thought of his perfect plan, Sang couldn’t help but smile.
Now, that’s what I call a plan working out.
“It’s fine.”
Sang chuckled lightly, shaking his head, his tone casual.
“I’ve always been a discarded disciple of the sect. The life I have now is all thanks to the Leader and you looking after me.”
“So I’m a very easily satisfied person. I also understand gratitude very well.”
“No reward is too great for me; you need it more than I do.”
“And as long as you’re happy…”
“I’ll be happy too.”
He smiled shyly.
Tang Yubbing stared blankly at him, somewhat dazed.
Whether it was her imagination or not.
Just a second ago, when Sang smiled so brightly and sincerely,
She felt her heart.
As if it skipped a beat.
