Chapter 129

Beads of sweat the size of beans instantly appeared on Jin Lei’s head, and his face was extremely pale.

"Deacon Zhao, save us, we will surely reward you handsomely in the future!"

Jin Lei stumbled forward to grab Zhao Qing’s hand, and a few silver banknotes were slipped in without a trace.

Zhao Qing lowered his head and glanced at them, then unconsciously withdrew his hand into his sleeve. "The death penalty can be avoided, but the living penalty is hard to escape. I now fine you three months of contribution points. Are you convinced?"

Jin Lei nodded hurriedly. "Convinced, the disciple is convinced."

Just three months of contribution points, not making him pay for the spiritual herb, was already an act of grace beyond the law.

Zhao Qing’s gaze swept over the few of them. "Remember, the spiritual herb was only received when the shop was about to close last night; there was no time to send it to the sect."

The few of them nodded hurriedly.

Zhao Qing said again, "Lu Ren, Gu Hao, and Hu Fengyi, fined one month of contribution points. Are you convinced?"

Is Xu Yang not being fined?

The three were stunned, but they also nodded hurriedly.

"The sect rewards and punishes clearly. Xu Yang beat Liu San to death, performing meritorious service, allowing the sect to lock onto the identity of this group. The contribution points fined from the three of them will be rewarded to you." Zhao Qing looked at Xu Yang.

Xu Yang felt neither joy nor sorrow in his heart, but a grateful expression appeared on his face as he cupped his hands. "Thank you, Deacon Zhao."

Those who wanted to perform meritorious service didn't, and he, who didn't want to, had gained three months of contribution points, and they were fined from Lu Ren and the others. He didn't know if he would be held in grudge.

He had been prepared to be fined along with them, but he didn't expect there would be a reward.

Lu Ren’s expression was complex, remembering Xu Yang’s previous persuasion, and his own solemn guarantee that Xu Yang only needed to be sharp to follow along and perform meritorious service.

Who would have thought the result was that they were almost beaten to death, and it was Xu Yang who killed Liu San and sent a distress signal that saved their lives.

Now they were all fined contribution points, but only Xu Yang performed meritorious service.

Jin Lei asked, "May I ask Deacon, have you locked onto the whereabouts of these thieves?"

Zhao Qing nodded. "The people from the Qingyang City Law Enforcement Division just came to see the corpse and recognized that the person beaten to death by Xu Yang was named Liu San, a member of the Iron Eagle Gang, a small gang in the south of the city. They have already gone to make arrests, and the spiritual herb should be recovered soon."

Jin Lei secretly breathed a sigh of relief. So they had already locked onto the identity; no wonder Zhao Qing dared to help cover it up.

None of them spoke, but stood quietly to the side waiting. After a while, an outer sect disciple dressed in black walked in from outside and cupped his hands. "Reporting to Deacon Zhao, the spiritual herb has been recovered, but the leaders of the Iron Eagle Gang have all run away. Please ask the Deacon to go and escort the spiritual herb back to the sect."

The outer sect disciple in black was a law enforcement disciple of the Purple Sun Gate. Basically, those without a background in the inner sect of the Purple Sun Gate could not enter the Law Enforcement Hall.

Unlike ordinary outer sect disciples like Xu Yang who took tasks everywhere, law enforcement disciples had high contribution points just by patrolling Qingyang City every day.

Zhao Qing snorted. "They are smart, knowing they cannot swallow the things of my Purple Sun Gate, otherwise, even at the ends of the earth, it would be a dead end."

He was not worried at all that the spiritual herb would not be recovered. Liu San’s life was left here, and even if the leaders of the Iron Eagle Gang got the spiritual herb, they wouldn't dare to take it away.

Even if the people had already escaped, the item had to be left behind.

The matter came to an end here. Lu Ren and the others could be said to have stolen a chicken only to lose the rice. Not to mention being fined contribution points, Xu Yang heard from Lu Ren afterward that the silver banknotes Jin Lei stuffed to Zhao Qing at the time were two hundred taels.

Afterward, each of them gave Zhao Qing another two hundred taels to thank him for helping to cover it up.

"Xu Yang, you ruined my good deed. I want to kill him."

In a certain mountain, Li Tieying was full of murderous intent. Originally, his plan was foolproof; after getting the spiritual herb, he would be able to break through the Great Completion of Gang Qi and step into the Marrow-Cleansing realm.

Who would have thought that Xu Yang was not at the Qi Refining cultivation, but had already secretly refined Qi into Gang, killing Liu San and exposing their identities, causing his plan to fall short of success. Even if he successfully robbed the spiritual herb, he wouldn't dare to take it.

Leaving the item behind, as long as he didn't step into the scope of Qingyang City in the future, there was still a way to live. If he dared to take it, even if he broke through to Marrow-Cleansing, it would be a dead end.

The deputy leader of the Iron Eagle Gang, Wang Lun, hurriedly pulled back the leader Li Tieying. "Leader, don't be impulsive. The Purple Sun Gate is probably already starting to hunt us down. It will be troublesome if we are bumped into.

Taking revenge is not a matter of a moment; let’s wait until this wave of wind passes."

Li Tieying suppressed the anger in his heart, knowing that it was unrealistic to go and kill Xu Yang now. He said angrily, "It’s all because of you, trash, for getting the information wrong, not only harming Liu San but also making it so I don't dare to take the spiritual herb even after getting it."

Wang Lun was speechless for a moment, then said, "It is my incompetence, but Leader, let’s go quickly. I guarantee that in the future, I will surely use Xu Yang’s head to sacrifice to Liu San.

Leader, if you want to break through to Marrow-Cleansing, it’s not that I don't have a way."

Li Tieying’s eyes flashed with brilliance upon hearing this. "You still have a way?"

Wang Lun nodded. "Leader, just follow me."

Xu Yang became increasingly cautious.

Although the spiritual herb was recovered, the leaders of the Iron Eagle Gang escaped, and he had beaten Liu San to death, so he might be retaliated against.

However, the Purple Sun Gate had already issued a wanted notice for them. As long as he didn't leave Qingyang City, there shouldn't be much of a problem.

Another day of guarding ended. After he left the Hundred Herb Hall, he came to the Wanbao Pavilion.

The Wanbao Pavilion was a place specifically for selling martial artist resources. He had heard Liu Qian mention at the alliance meeting that there were pills for the Marrow-Cleansing realm for sale here.

After he came here for the first time, the situation he inquired about was indeed as Liu Qian said: after spending five thousand taels, one could purchase pills for the Marrow-Cleansing realm.

Naturally, he didn't have that much money to spend, but he inquired about another thing: the Wanbao Pavilion had a pill called the Eight-Treasure Body-Strengthening Pill. Although it was not a pill that truly improved Gang Qi in the Marrow-Cleansing realm, its auxiliary effect was better than the Qi-Nourishing Pill.

After he bought an Eight-Treasure Body-Strengthening Pill to test, he found that the Eight-Treasure Body-Strengthening Pill actually had miraculous effects in tempering the physique and could accelerate the progress of the Vajra Skill.

It was just that the price was a bit expensive. The Qi-Nourishing Pill was only ten taels of silver each, while the Eight-Treasure Body-Strengthening Pill was fifteen taels each.

"Is Master Xu here to buy the Eight-Treasure Body-Strengthening Pill? How many do you want this time?" Just as he stepped into the Wanbao Pavilion, the familiar servant greeted him.

Xu Yang nodded. "Give me three."

One Eight-Treasure Body-Strengthening Pill could maintain its medicinal effect for three days, so he usually only bought three each time.

Fortunately, he had received over a hundred taels of silver from Liu San that night, plus what he had received from Han Xing and Ji Jingcheng earlier, he was not short of money now, and supporting a few months of cultivation was not a problem.

"Master Xu, please wait a moment."

The servant said and left. After a while, he returned with a porcelain bottle.

Xu Yang opened it, confirmed that the quantity and quality of the pills were fine, and then took out the silver banknotes to pay.

After getting the change, he intended to leave.

He heard the servant lean over and say, "Master Xu, the Wanbao Pavilion has an auction in seven days. I asked the shopkeeper for a spot for you. I wonder if you are interested in participating."

Xu Yang stopped his movement to leave and raised his eyebrows. "What are they auctioning?"

He still had seven or eight hundred taels of silver on him, so he could be considered to have some confidence, and he became interested in this auction. Even if he didn't have enough money, he could broaden his horizons.

The servant smiled obsequiously. "Pills, spiritual herbs, weapons, martial arts, young exotic beasts—all kinds of things. There is no entrance fee; only guests who frequently consume at the Wanbao Pavilion can participate.

Of course, if you have things you want to auction, and the value reaches a certain level, you can also bring them to participate in the auction.

If you are willing to participate, I will register you. Just come directly here at the first quarter of the Chen hour in seven days."

Xu Yang’s heart stirred. Should he take the Vajra Skill to sell?

The Vajra Skill could be said to be the most precious thing on him, and it should be able to sell for a lot of money.

However, he quickly rejected it. The origin of the Vajra Skill was not clean, so it was better not to cause trouble.

"Good."

After agreeing with the servant, Xu Yang left.