NOVEL NEXT Chapter 33: Stirring up Waves
So, let’s clear things up—it’s not that Young Master Sang couldn’t pack a punch.
Nope, this was all a strategy from the system.
Just doing some mindless play, the progress on his mission was crawling slower than a snail on a lazy day. After several days, he hadn’t even hit ten percent.
And the more he went for passive play, the less apparent that creepy craving of hers became.
It was just like treating her symptoms.
So, under these circumstances, he actually needed to amp up her sensitivity, making her cravings grow wilder.
The more addicted she got, the greater the need, and it was only when she couldn’t get her fix that the real agony would kick in.
This was what they called “inch-stopping training.”
That’s why earlier, Young Master Sang deliberately chose a harmless little whip and controlled his strength.
Just enough to tease that craving, but not enough to satisfy it.
Sure enough, it was effective.
At that moment, Si Jingzhu seemed to have thrown all dignity out the window, slumped on the ground, pleading desperately with herself.
Her face was flushed, her breathing soft and ragged.
She looked like she had just been pulled out of a pool.
“Please…”
“Don’t go, hit me a little longer…”
“I—I don’t mind that you’re weak; you’re so strong, I feel so fulfilled…”
It was as if she would agree to anything, just to feel a bit more satisfaction.
This was the result Young Master Sang wanted to see.
“What a pity.”
Before he left, Sang flashed a devilish smile: “The workday is over.”
“But tomorrow, you can expect even more torturous hell awaiting you.”
Then he strolled out of the prison, ignoring Si Jingzhu’s pleas behind him.
——
——
Once out of the prison, he should’ve enjoyed a sweet end-of-the-day moment.
But the instant he stepped outside, Young Master Sang saw plenty of demon cultivators rushing about like chickens with their heads cut off.
“What’s going on?”
Noticing the atmosphere was off, he casually pulled aside a demon cultivator and asked, “What happened?”
“We’re in big trouble! Water Moon Sect has declared war on us!”
“Uh, haven’t the demon path and Water Moon Sect always been at war?”
“This time it’s different,” the demon cultivator whispered urgently. “This time they mean business. I heard Master Yu Xia is personally leading all the disciples above foundation establishment, blocking the main gate to the demon path! They’re not going to stop until there’s blood!”
“Why are they suddenly losing their minds?”
“They want to get back the Sect Leader’s daughter.”
Young Master Sang shivered.
“But the leader and the heads of the departments seem to have anticipated this; they’re already deploying disciples to prepare for defense.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be your Punishment Department’s concern, but if they’re short-handed, you might just have to join in, Young Master Sang.”
Blocking the main gate already? Sang was taken aback.
Wasn’t that a bad omen? How was he supposed to get home?
Little Ying was still at home!
And besides, even if their target was the Sect Leader’s daughter…
He was the main culprit interrogating Si Jingzhu!
If the demon path got wrecked and he fell into the sect’s hands…
Just thinking about it made Sang break out in a cold sweat.
Just when he was fretting, a message from Tang Yubbing arrived.
“Sang Zhe, come to the office for a meeting.”
By the time Young Master Sang rushed to the office, he saw several familiar higher-ups from the Punishment Department.
Leading the group was Tang Yubbing, and surprisingly, she wasn’t in her usual revealing, form-fitting outfit but rather clad in a tight, slick leather armor.
Seeing this dramatic setup startled Sang a bit.
“Sis, are we about to…”
“Calm down.” Although Tang Yubbing’s expression was grave, her voice was still steady. “Even though the righteous path is on the attack, we are, after all, in our territory.”
“With the leader around, the opposing side can’t easily gain the upper hand.”
“As it stands, the situation is stable, and our Punishment Department doesn’t need to act just yet.”
Sang finally let out a breath of relief.
“But this surprise attack has its effects; the front gate for leaving the mountain is still blocked.”
“If we hadn’t had the warning from Yan Rouwan, we would have been in a tough spot.”
Wait, this news was even from Yan Rouwan?
Looks like he had a share of the credit, huh.
“You’ll probably have to stay in the company for a few days, it might be a bit cramped.”
At this, Sang couldn’t help but worry, “Yubbing, my home…”
“I know; you’re thinking about that little maid, right?”
Tang Yubbing glanced over her shoulder.
At the other end of the office, Zhang Xiaoying was tiptoeing out, hugging Jiao Jiao and Hei Xia as she came along.
“Your little maid is pretty sharp. She sensed something was off and brought those cats up the mountain to find you.”
Seeing Zhang Xiaoying was fine eased the last stone in Sang’s heart.
“Then the rest is just a matter of hanging in there with the enemy.”
“Not entirely.” Tang Yubbing’s expression lightened. “At least we still hold the initiative.”
Young Master Sang pondered, “You mean… Si Jingzhu?”
“Exactly.”
Tang Yubbing smiled brightly: “Whether it’s fight or negotiate, as long as Si Jingzhu is in our hands, everything will depend on us.”
“So, this treasure of Si Jingzhu, little brother, you better get her trained up soon.”
Sang readily agreed, but a sliver of doubt crept into him.
——
——
“System, I want to ask something.”
“Was Si Jingzhu’s earlier statement true?”
“I mean, about her not being Master Yu Xia’s biological daughter.” After Tang Yubbing left, Sang couldn’t help but sneak a question to the system.
【Si Jingzhu did not lie】
“Didn’t lie? But didn’t you say they indeed have a mother-daughter relationship?”
【Si Jingzhu’s true body is a type of spirit herb, cultivated from Master Yu Xia’s vital essence. So, from a biological perspective, they share a lineage and could be regarded as mother and daughter.】
Spirit herb? Young Master Sang blinked.
Ah, now it made sense.
From the very beginning, Si Jingzhu was not human.
Spirit herbs with intelligence were quite the rarity in the entire cultivation world.
Because herbs with their own spirit are themselves already extremely rare treasures.
Usually, once one is discovered, people would snatch it up immediately.
Surviving long enough to mature into something intelligent was indeed a rare and fortunate event.
Who knew Master Yu Xia hid such a treasure in Water Moon Sect?
Raising it with her own blood…
So, once the spirit herb matured, the benefits would be immense.
No wonder when Si Jingzhu was captured, that old lady acted like she’d lost her mind and declared war on the demon path.
Even Yan Rouwan hadn’t seen her get that serious.
Sang had thought she was just heartbroken over her daughter.
Sighing in reflection, Sang couldn’t help but say, “Then we need to get to training Si Jingzhu even faster.”
“Owner…”
At that moment, a delicate voice interrupted him.
Sang turned to see Zhang Xiaoying clinging to his sleeve, looking a little forlorn with both cats in her arms.
“I… can’t go home.” Her voice was tinged with sadness.
Sang sighed deeply.
“I’m sorry.”
“For now, I know it’s unfair, but you’ll just have to stay with me at the office for a few days.”
Before he could finish, Zhang Xiaoying had already snuggled up behind him, her tone softening:
“As long as I’m with my owner… it’s not unfair.”