Xia Xin didn't know what came to mind, but his expression changed drastically, and without much thought, he stuffed the little devil into Jiangli's arms and immediately lunged at the group of people.
Jiangli caught the little devil and looked over, only to see a middle-aged man in a suit and leather shoes among the people, dressed rather smartly—though his face was not so presentable.
His countenance was as pale as a silver plate, fat-headed and pot-bellied; his eyes brimmed with shrewd calculations, and his brow emanated a dark aura—an omen of bloodshed and disaster.
"Boss Cao, you—how come you're here without saying a word in advance?!" By this time, Xia Xin had already run up to the man, chuckling nervously.
Boss Cao didn't even give him a glance, "This land is already mine. Do I need to inform you of my arrival? And you, Xia Xin, I've already told you. I'm going to demolish this place, told you to move out. Why haven't you moved yet?"
"Demolish?!" Xia Xin's eyes bulged in shock as he hastily said, "No, you can't demolish this Taoist temple! Boss Cao, the money I owe you, I'll find a way to repay you, but this temple truly cannot be demolished!"
"This Taoist temple is already mine. If I want to demolish it, I'll demolish it. Is it your place to say anything?" Boss Cao pushed Xia Xin away impatiently, gesturing to a nearby excavator, "Get to work! Stop wasting my time!"
"But, Boss Cao..."
Xia Xin staggered from the shove, and as he saw the excavator start to move, he quickly tried to rush towards it.
Boss Cao looked annoyed, about to speak his mind, when a pleasant yet cold female voice interjected.
"You cannot demolish this Taoist temple."
Boss Cao turned his head, only to see a young, pretty girl walking towards him.
Seeing her in traditional ancient attire, Boss Cao frowned, "Where is this little girl coming from? This matter has nothing to do with you—don't come here looking for trouble!"
"I'm telling the truth. As the Abbot of Jiaoyang Temple, when I say you can't demolish this temple, it means you really can't," Jiangli stated, her voice indifferent, neither loud nor low, yet each word seemed indisputable.
Boss Cao laughed, "You're the new Abbot of Jiaoyang Temple? Fine, if you don't want me to demolish it, then return the six million I'm owed. As long as you pay me, I'll have my men leave immediately."
"Six million?" A trace of confusion flickered in Jiangli's eyes.
Xia Xin, knowing she didn't understand these matters, hurried over and whispered, "Previously, due to various reasons, our temple owed Boss Cao six million, which we haven't been able to repay. To treat the master's illness, I... I mortgaged the land deeds of the temple..."
Jiangli looked skeptical, "Silver or gold? I left behind so much money and properties before. Even if it's six million in gold, we could still afford to pay it back, right? Was there really a need to go so far as to mortgage the temple over debt?"
Xia Xin was stunned, remembering the old Taoist had mentioned that indeed many courtyards were left by their ancestors, but in certain eras, all were confiscated. Thinking of this, he said with an embarrassed expression, "Well, all that money and properties are... gone..."
Jiangli: "..."
All the money she had left behind was gone?
Jiangli had originally thought that with the money she left behind, she could live out her days in peace after exiting seclusion.
These disastrous, good-for-nothing disciples...
How did she not see clearly back then when she accepted these disciples!
Jiangli looked at Xia Xin with frustration tinged with regret.
Xia Xin's scalp tingled as he quickly said, "Ancestor, now is not the time for this discussion, the Taoist temple is really about to be demolished..."
Upon hearing this, Jiangli glanced at him coldly and turned to Boss Cao, "You can't demolish this temple. I'm giving you friendly advice. As for the money I owe you, I don't have it right now, but I will find a way to repay you later."