Hua Yufeng and the others bought some additional talismans and magical items and then left. Recently, the mercenary team had been low on funds, so the items they purchased were of low quality. When they paid the bill, the attendant’s expression turned cold and indifferent, which embarrassed the usually proud Hua Yufeng until his face flushed red.

“Xiao Jingting bought a magical item worth 120,000 taels of silver.”

“Clearly the young master is really rich,” Zhao Li couldn’t help but sigh. The mercenary team sometimes completed big jobs but only made a few thousand taels at best, and occasionally just topped 10,000 taels. This young master casually spent a hundred thousand taels. It was infuriating how people differed so much!

“Where did Xiao Jingting get so much silver? Xiao Jingfeng wasn’t usually this extravagant. Since they’re brothers, their treatment shouldn’t be that different.”

“Maybe Xiao Jingting just pretends to be poor. Those big young masters only have to act a bit spoiled and the elders would shower them with red envelopes. Clearly so rich, yet still sharing with the mercenary team,” Hua Yufeng said sourly.

Zhou Fang looked at Hua Yufeng and thought: Xiao Jingfeng also contributed a lot on missions, so his share is well deserved. Knowing Hua Yufeng harbored resentment towards Xiao Jingfeng, and given he also had to work under Hua Yufeng, Zhou Fang chose not to speak up for Xiao Jingfeng.

Zhao Li nodded and said, “That’s right! Being lucky beats everything. Almost 130,000 taels, even Xiao Jingting’s parents would wince. If Xiao Jingting’s father refuses to help pay off the debt, Xiao Jingting will be in real trouble.”

The trading post had its own debt collectors. If payment was overdue, they would come to the door.

“What’s there to fear? If the sky falls, his father will take the hit for him,” Hua Yufeng said.

“That’s true,” Zhao Li agreed.

“Xiao Jingfeng’s power has advanced to the fifth level of Qi Refining,” Zhang Meng said.

Zhao Li nodded, “That’s really strange, advancing to the fifth level so quickly.”

Xiao Jingfeng once had high standing in the mercenary team. Part of the reason he was kicked out was due to poisoning that blocked his advancement. The mercenary team needed capable fighters; they couldn’t keep liabilities around.

In less than a year, Xiao Jingfeng had jumped from fourth level to fifth level Qi Refining.

Hua Yufeng clenched his fists. After Xiao Jingfeng left, many began to miss his value. Some even suggested bringing him back. Judging by Xiao Jingfeng’s attitude earlier, if they tried to invite him personally, he probably wouldn’t return.

In fact, Hua Yufeng also regretted letting him go. Losing a cheap muscle greatly lowered the mission success rate. Recently, the mercenary team struggled financially, and members increasingly criticized Hua Yufeng. His stress grew heavier.

Sometimes, Hua Yufeng reminisced about when Xiao Jingfeng was around. Although Xiao Jingfeng often argued with his decisions, missions went smoothly.

Trading Post

“Young Master Xiao Jingting really is wealthy! Spending over 100,000 taels on one magic item—wouldn’t even Qi Refining practitioners at levels seven or eight be this extravagant?”

“That’s because his father’s rich. If needed, he can just ask his old man for money.”

“That spirit tower is really good. It was originally made for Foundation Establishment practitioners but had flaws during refinement, so its rank was lowered. The materials alone cost a fortune.”

“But it’s still a failed artifact!”

“The spirit tower sat here for days. Many seventh-level Qi Refining family elders wanted it but hesitated to buy. Unexpectedly, Xiao Jingting bought it.”

“…”

Xiao Jingting’s lavish spending caused much gossip among the trading post’s people.

Sun Qi and Zheng Liming entered and overheard the merchants praising Xiao Jingting’s generous spending.

“That guy Xiao Jingting really has money,” Sun Qi said, astonished. Although previously richer than they, he never spent that lavishly, occasionally buying gifts worth only several hundred taels to please Miss Sun.

Now spending over a hundred thousand taels, he had become extravagant.

Zheng Liming said enviously, “What kind of luck does this guy have?”

“Maybe he found gold?” Sun Qi said. Although he only paid a 30,000 taels down payment, that was still a large sum.

Zheng Liming responded enviously, “Not gold, but probably discovered several rare spiritual treasures.”

Sun Qi nodded, “Makes sense.”

He regretted quietly. Since Xiao Jingting returned, his attitude had been cold towards them. If it were before, he could have tagged along and gotten plenty of benefits. Now that Xiao Jingting was this wealthy, even a small tip from his fingers would be enough for him. Sun Qi regretted not giving Xiao Jingting some silver to appease him back then. Maybe things would have been better.

“This guy only paid 30,000 taels down, with a large sum left to repay. He must be counting on his parents to pay off the debt. Though favored, Xiao Qingyan is the favorite son. Xiao Qingyan’s monthly allowance isn’t even 10,000 taels,” Zheng Liming muttered.

“It’s bought and can’t be returned. His parents will definitely help him repay. Would they just watch as the debt collectors come beat him to death?” Sun Qi asked.

Zheng Liming nodded, “Good point.”

“Miss Sun, do you need anything else?” the attendant asked the somewhat distracted Sun Miaoyin.

Sun Miaoyin replied coolly, “No, just these few items.”

Earlier, when Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jingfeng first visited the shop, Sun Miaoyin was also there. However, they were so focused on the merchandise that they hadn’t noticed her. Sun Miaoyin hadn’t approached to greet either.

She thought of Xiao Jingfeng—her childhood fiancé—and considered him a charismatic man, not as bad as she imagined.

Sun Miaoyin shook her head internally. Though Xiao Jingfeng was decent, he couldn’t compare to Zhou Kanghe.

Xiao Jingting had just been very generous, spending over a hundred thousand taels on that spirit tower.

Sun Miaoyin recalled what her sister said: Xiao Jingting was like a toad lusting after swan meat, never willing to spend much—always giving her just cheap gifts of a few hundred taels. Sun Miaomiao certainly wasn’t so easily pleased. If Xiao Jingting gave that spirit tower to her sister, the sister might just be moved.

Xiao Jingting fondled the spirit tower in his hand, reluctant to let go. He had set his eyes on it the moment he saw it and had finally bought it.

Though delighted, his heart ached from the cost—the purchase put him in the red again.

He put away the spirit tower and strolled with Xiao Jingfeng and Xu Muan in the street. Suddenly, a hurried guard rushed over.

“Two young masters, hurry back. Master Xiaofan is fighting with someone again.”

Xiao Jingting: “…” Fighting again? I only just got home a few days ago, and my youngest son is already fighting again?

Xiao Jingting and the others quickly rushed home. In the hall, Xiao Xiaofan hid behind Mu Shuyu, angrily staring at some other children.

“Third brother, you’re back! Your son has really gone too far—he actually commanded a beast to attack his cousin. He’s truly ruthless.”

Xiao Jingting looked at Xiao Xiaofan, who said angrily, “Dad, that’s not true! I told Xiao Yun to take me flying, but they shot arrows at Xiao Yun from below. Xiao Yun got angry and injured them.”

“Your cousins were just playing around, and you went too far. You even accused others first, acting like the villain,” Zheng Peier scolded viciously.

“They weren’t playing; they wanted to kill me, and Xiao Yun shot back and hurt them,” Xiao Xiaofan said.

No other children in the Xiao family had flying beasts like Xiao Xiaofan. Seeing him riding the fire cloud bird, Xiao Yuerong recalled their past grievances and suddenly became furious. He ordered some children who usually played with him to shoot arrows at the fire cloud bird, a young bird. When hit, it panicked and almost threw Xiao Xiaofan off.

Xiao Xiaofan was shocked but the fire cloud bird soon calmed down and, enraged by the attack, lunged at the children below but was restrained by several patrolling guards.

Listening to Xiao Xiaofan’s defense, Xiao Jingting angrily said, “Sister-in-law, my son was flying in the sky on a beast. How could your son shoot at him? If the beast was injured and my son fell, what would you call that—murder? And you dare to shout? You shameless harpy, you invert black and white. How despicable!” If Xiao Xiaofan fell from that height, he’d be dead or seriously injured.

Zheng Peier trembled with anger at Xiao Jingting’s merciless words. “Third brother, how can you speak like that? Your son is uninjured. It’s my son who suffered.”

“He deserves it! Who asked him to harbor ill intentions? Your nephew still has a wound, and you don’t keep him in check; you’re teaching him badly. So young and you’ve taught him to be so cruel, always bullying the weak,” Xiao Jingting said bitterly.

“You…” Zheng Peier was furious at Xiao Jingting’s attitude.

“Enough! It’s just kids fighting; nothing serious happened. Let it go,” Xiao Qingyan said.

Hearing Xiao Qingyan, Zheng Peier shot him an angry glance. Xiao Qingyan gave a look, and Zheng Peier reluctantly shut up.

Xiao Jingting stared at Xiao Qingyan in astonishment. He couldn’t understand when his big brother had suddenly become so tolerant and just let the matter drop lightly.

“Third brother, I heard you spent over 100,000 taels on a useless magical item,” Xiao Qingyan asked.

Xiao Jingting: “…” Why didn’t Xiao Qingyan mention this earlier? So he was waiting for this moment.

“It did cost over 100,000 taels, but I don’t have that much silver. I just paid a 30,000 taels deposit. The rest will be repaid slowly,” Xiao Jingting said.

Xiao Qingyan narrowed his eyes, thinking: He thought Xiao Jingting would stop being so wasteful with money, but it got worse. Saying ‘buy’ and just buying a magical item worth a hundred thousand taels? The item he used was just a Qingyun Sword worth 10,000 taels, and many envied its quality.

“Third brother, you really do have deep pockets,” Xiao Qingyan said.

Xiao Linfeng and Wang Lu’s expressions turned a little unpleasant. Though they could afford that much, it was still a lot of money for both of them.

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Edited by: Tetsu

Proofreader: Taalia

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