Chapter 39: The Cat Tail or the Little Shizun: Which Is Cuter? Part 2

Lin Chuyun ground his teeth, feeling an urge to bite his tail.

“Shizun, is there a problem with the cultivation method?” Feng Xixing suddenly spoke, successfully diverting Lin Chuyun’s attention.

Speaking of the cultivation method, Lin Chuyun felt a bit troubled.

The method itself wasn’t a problem; it was indeed for demon beasts. The issue was that practicing it required the demon beast to be in Beast Form, but he currently couldn’t transform back due to the pill’s effect.

That’s why, after reading for a while, he had unconsciously fallen asleep.

It absolutely wasn’t because the sunlight was too comfortable!

He sighed. Lin Chuyun didn’t dwell on it too much. Anyway, he could change back in a couple of days. Putting the cultivation method aside, he looked up at Feng Xixing. “Where did you go just now, Disciple?”

The smile on Feng Xixing’s face didn’t change. “Just now, Senior Brother Yan reminded me that tomorrow is the day for distributing next month’s spirit stones.”

Lin Chuyun’s attention was once again diverted. He immediately thought about how Feng Xixing had been bullied by the Spirit Fire Peak Steward before. Although Wang Jianbai hadn’t made it out of Thunder Echo Grotto this time, what if there were others who disliked his little disciple and wanted to bully him?

Thinking of this, Lin Chuyun swiftly decided. When the time came, he would go with his disciple!

Having his attention diverted by Feng Xixing twice, Lin Chuyun had already forgotten what he’d originally intended to do. He tried to recall for a few seconds, confused, then decided to give up. It probably wasn’t important anyway.

The little tail, having successfully escaped disaster, secretly poked out and brushed against Feng Xixing’s wrist. A trace of amusement flickered in Feng Xixing’s eyes. He discreetly toyed with the tail tip for a moment before withdrawing his hand.

The next day, Lin Chuyun woke up early and found he had turned back into a cat.

The little black cat sighed, stood up, and stretched. Then he crouched, feeling a bit troubled, and stared blankly.

He hadn’t been dreaming. He just inexplicably woke up and then couldn’t fall back asleep no matter what. Seeing Feng Xixing still meditating, Lin Chuyun didn’t disturb him. He followed the bed over to the window himself.

Outside, it was an overcast day. Looking at the gloomy clouds, Lin Chuyun swished his tail. A sense of unease lingered in his heart.

“Shizun?” Behind him, Feng Xixing opened his eyes and looked over.

Lin Chuyun didn’t turn his body, just twisted his little head and greeted Feng Xixing. “Meow.”

Morning, Disciple.

Once Feng Xixing was ready, Lin Chuyun took the Illusory Form Pill and returned to his original appearance. He looked at his height a bit disoriented, then touched the top of his head. Confirming there were no ears or tail, he breathed a sigh of relief. “Let’s go.”

Feng Xixing, on the other hand, had an imperceptible flicker of disappointment in his eyes.

The first day of every month was the day Star Point Sect distributed spirit stones. The Stewards were generally quite busy on this day. But after so many years, they had experience and weren’t exactly in a fluster.

The Steward of Spirit Fire Peak was surnamed Liu. Originally a disciple of Spirit Fire Peak, his talent wasn’t very good. He was only at the Golden Core Late Stage and couldn’t become an Enforcement Elder, so he had to settle for being a Steward.

Because of this, he harbored some jealousy towards disciples with good talent.

However, Steward Liu had a slick personality. No matter how malicious he felt inside, he never showed it on his face. Instead, he was cheerful to everyone.

Except Feng Xixing.

Everyone in the sect knew Feng Xixing wasn’t liked by Immortal Lord Lin, and he had also offended Wang Jianbai of Spirit Fire Peak. So when Wang Jianbai asked him to make things difficult for Feng Xixing, Steward Liu agreed without hesitation.

It was just a casual matter, and he could get spirit stones for it. Why refuse?

He just hadn’t expected that Wang Jianbai wouldn’t make it out of Thunder Echo Grotto, while Feng Xixing somehow found favor with Immortal Lord Lin. Thinking about what he had done to Feng Xixing before, Steward Liu felt very uneasy.

“Junior Brother Feng, you’re here!” Yan Sha spotted Feng Xixing at the back of the crowd immediately. He ran over to greet him, but as soon as he got close, he shivered and his expression became much more docile. “Immortal Lord Lin.”

Why was Immortal Lord Lin here too?

Lin Chuyun nodded at Yan Sha and didn’t speak. He’d actually long forgotten that Yan Sha had spoken ill of him. Seeing Yan Sha so afraid of him, he found it a bit baffling. Was he really that scary?

The surrounding disciples also noticed Lin Chuyun, their eyes secretly looking over. Lin Chuyun had come today specifically to support his disciple. He naturally didn’t try to hide, but openly walked into the square.

Steward Liu had already received the news. Before Lin Chuyun even approached, he proactively came forward to greet him. “Paying respects to Immortal Lord Lin.”

Lin Chuyun didn’t recognize him. He first glanced at Yan Sha. Seeing indignation flicker in Yan Sha’s eyes, he confirmed this was the Steward who’d bullied his little disciple before. The smile on his lips instantly turned cold.

He sized Steward Liu up and down. At a single glance, this Steward Liu was wearing at least three spirit tools. But Lin Chuyun didn’t lash out directly. He just asked coldly, “The spirit stones?”

Steward Liu signaled a disciple nearby. When the disciple brought the spirit stones over, he smiled ingratiatingly, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Here, here. Immortal Lord Lin, rest assured, not a single piece missing.”

Lin Chuyun glanced at them. There were five mid-grade spirit stones and one high-grade spirit stone, indeed the standard for a Direct Disciple.

Seeing Lin Chuyun’s expression was okay, Steward Liu felt relieved, but then heard Lin Chuyun snort coldly. “Not a single piece missing?! In This Lord’s opinion, more than half are missing!”

The smile on Steward Liu’s face froze. Thinking Lin Chuyun didn’t know the rules, he offered an explanation. “Immortal Lord Lin, a Direct Disciple’s monthly stipend really is only this much…”

“What about the past five years?” Lin Chuyun interrupted him coldly, his gaze icy on Steward Liu.

The spiritual pressure of the Nascent Soul Stage pressed down. Steward Liu’s face instantly turned pale. Trembling, he wiped the sweat from his temple, still trying to quibble. “Th-The previous spirit stones, D-Disciple Feng already…”

“Oh?” Lin Chuyun narrowed his eyes and took a step forward.

Steward Liu’s heart was a bleak mess. He’d already secretly embezzled the previous spirit stones and couldn’t possibly produce them now! Just as he was about to come clean and ask Lin Chuyun for more time, a furious shout came from the sky.

“Lin Chuyun! What do you take my Spirit Fire Peak for?! How dare you act so wantonly here!” As Zhu Yan’s thunderous shout rained down, a Fire Fist descended from the sky.

Feng Xixing’s expression changed. He quickly condensed ice frost in front of Lin Chuyun. But Lin Chuyun was much calmer. He took three steps back and directly dodged Zhu Yan’s fist.

Seeing this, Steward Liu immediately swallowed the words he was about to say.

“Lin Chuyun, why aren’t you staying on your Spirit Cloud Peak? What are you doing running to my Spirit Fire Peak?” Zhu Yan rolled his eyes and said coldly.

Lin Chuyun didn’t answer him. He first recalled the original host’s memories. All in all, the original host had scammed a Fire Spirit Bead and three high-grade spirit stones from Zhu Yan. But unfortunately, those things were later given by the original host to Bai Linghan.

He looked down and rummaged in his storage bag, then threw ten spirit stones to Zhu Yan.

Zhu Yan caught them instinctively, though he regretted it right after. Looking at the spirit stones in his hand, his eyes were full of caution. “What are you trying to pull this time?!”

Lin Chuyun rolled his eyes and said coolly, “One Fire Spirit Bead is worth seven high-grade spirit stones, plus three high-grade spirit stones. Now This Lord has paid you back.”

“And then?” Zhu Yan was still wary.

“And then?” Lin Chuyun’s gaze landed coldly on Steward Liu. “And then This Lord will settle accounts regarding the spirit stones your Spirit Fire Peak owes This Lord’s disciple.”

Zhu Yan’s face darkened upon hearing this. “Lin Chuyun, don’t slander people! How could anyone from my Spirit Fire Peak possibly…”

“Shizun.” Yan Sha had somehow moved to Zhu Yan’s side at some point and said, very earnestly, “Steward Liu indeed deducted Junior Brother Feng’s spirit stones.”

Zhu Yan’s voice instantly died. “…”

“And he deducted them for several years,” Yan Sha completely missed his own master’s embarrassment and was still calculating earnestly. “Adding it up… it should be around two hundred and fifty mid-grade spirit stones and fifty high-grade spirit stones.”

Zhu Yan’s face was black with anger. He glared at his silly disciple, then his gaze fell on Steward Liu nearby. Steward Liu knew Zhu Yan’s character of striking at a word. He was so frightened he backed up another two steps.

Seeing his manner, Zhu Yan knew exactly what had happened. He, himself, had resented how harsh Lin Chuyun was on Feng Xixing, yet he hadn’t expected the Steward under his own command to be no better!

“Yang Yan,” Zhu Yan called his first disciple by name. “Go and tally up exactly how much this fool embezzled before!”

Yang Yan bowed in acceptance of the order.

Steward Liu was already drenched in sweat. He hadn’t only embezzled Feng Xixing’s spirit stones. Over the years, other Spirit Fire Peak disciples had more or less been shortchanged by him under various pretexts. If Yang Yan uncovered all his past deeds, he wouldn’t be able to stay in Star Point Sect at all.

“Also, throw this fool to the Punishment Hall for sentencing.” After finishing, Zhu Yan couldn’t be bothered to look at Steward Liu, who had crumpled into a terrified ball. He glared fiercely at Lin Chuyun. “You, come with This Lord.”

Lin Chuyun wasn’t afraid at all and directly followed.

When Zhu Yan reached his residence and looked back, he saw two people following behind Lin Chuyun. One was Feng Xixing, and the other was his own foolish disciple.

The moment he saw Yan Sha, Zhu Yan’s head started throbbing.

“You knew Steward Liu was bullying Feng Xixing. Why didn’t you tell your master?” Zhu Yan looked at his silly disciple, wanting to send his brain back for reforging.

Yan Sha scratched the back of his head blankly and said hesitantly, “Well… I thought it was all Wang Jianbai’s doing. So every time Steward Liu bullied Junior Brother Feng, I’d go beat up Wang Jianbai.”

“…And then? Did you tell Wang Jianbai why he was being beaten?” Zhu Yan asked.

Yan Sha thought about it, then suddenly understood. “Ah, I forgot.”

No wonder that after each beating, Wang Jianbai still had Steward Liu bully Junior Brother Feng.

Zhu Yan rolled his eyes. Not wanting to aggravate himself further, he turned to Lin Chuyun and spoke reluctantly, “Consider this my Spirit Fire Peak’s fault. Speak, what compensation do you want?”

Lin Chuyun was taken aback, then glanced back at his little disciple.

He’d come today to back Feng Xixing up and incidentally find trouble with that Steward Liu. Now, both tasks were accomplished. It seemed he didn’t have any other requests.

Seeing this, Feng Xixing took the initiative. “Shizun, Disciple wishes to be governed under Spirit Cloud Peak again from now on.”

Lin Chuyun stared. “But…”

There were only two people on Spirit Cloud Peak!

But seeing the hopeful look in his little disciple’s eyes, Lin Chuyun couldn’t voice his objection. At worst, he could just give his disciple his allowance from now on.

Thinking this, Lin Chuyun swallowed his words and told Zhu Yan, “You heard him. We won’t trouble your Spirit Fire Peak any longer.”

Zhu Yan hadn’t expected Lin Chuyun’s demand to be so toothless. He was stunned for a moment. “Are you sure you don’t want spirit stones?”

Lin Chuyun shook his head, but halfway through shaking, he suddenly stopped. “Wait.”

Zhu Yan wasn’t surprised. He braced himself for Lin Chuyun to make an outrageous demand.

“The spirit stones owed to Xixing – your Spirit Fire Peak must pay them back!” Lin Chuyun stared at Zhu Yan, suspecting he was trying to gloss over those spirit stones.

Zhu Yan’s mouth twitched. He casually tossed over a storage bag. “Alright, alright. You…”

His words couldn’t be finished. A deafening thunderclap suddenly boomed.

Zhu Yan’s expression instantly turned grave. He turned his head towards the Main Peak. The ominous clouds there were thickening. Faintly, flashes of lightning were visible within the cloud layer.

Seeing Zhu Yan’s expression grow even more solemn, Lin Chuyun was baffled. “What happened?”

Zhu Yan narrowed his eyes and said darkly, “Shizun… has begun his Tribulation Transcendence.”