Fang Xiao stared at Lü Shaoqing, who was looking at her in shock, as if he were accusing her of being a cheapskate. She felt an urge to lash out.
"Seriously? Do you really think that of me?" she thought, incredulous.
"Am I the kind of person who would withhold someone's wages? You actually believe that?"
Dealing with Lü Shaoqing felt like a constant challenge to her patience and composure. She had to relent, sighing inwardly as she called Xiao Yi over.
When Xiao Yi learned that she didn't need to work there anymore, she didn't seem happy. Instead, her face showed disappointment.
"Already?" Xiao Yi asked.
Lü Shaoqing was surprised. "What's with you? Are you so addicted to working now?"
"You were the one who said you didn't want to work at first. And now you're reluctant to leave?"
Xiao Yi laughed, "Second Senior Brother, I actually found working here pretty fun. It's something I've never done before."
Lü Shaoqing replied, "Alright, but there's just one month left. It's time for you to return and train."
Xiao Yi hesitated and asked, "Second Senior Brother, are you really sure you can help me grasp sword intent and reach the Foundation Establishment stage within a month?"
Fang Xiao also looked expectantly at Lü Shaoqing, eager to hear his response. Over the past few days, she had grown quite close to Xiao Yi, even becoming friends. Xiao Yi had shared many things with her, including how Lü Shaoqing had promised Ji Yan that he would help Xiao Yi reach the Foundation Establishment stage and master sword intent within two months.
But was that even possible?
People struggle for years to break through even a single stage, and Xiao Yi had only recently reached the eighth level of the Qi Refining stage. She had also spent the past month working at the inn, which meant Lü Shaoqing had only one month left to help her progress. And that wasn't just about advancing one stage but two, along with mastering sword intent.
Was that even humanly possible? Fang Xiao felt a strong urge to call him out. "Is he just bluffing?"
Sword intent isn't something one can grasp on a whim. If it were that easy, it would already be common knowledge. Even the top disciples of Guiyuan Pavilion and Shuangyue Valley haven't mastered sword intent. The fact that Tianyu Peak already has two disciples who've done so is like their ancestors' blessing. And now you want your junior sister to master it too?
Why not just ascend to the heavens?
Seeing Fang Xiao's reaction, Lü Shaoqing snorted and turned to Xiao Yi. "I have faith in you. Do you have faith in yourself?"
Xiao Yi looked like she was about to cry. "Second Senior Brother, I don't have any confidence."
"First Senior Brother is a prodigy, and you're also a genius, but I'm just ordinary. Why do you all have so much faith in me?"
Lü Shaoqing replied, "Exactly, you know you lack confidence. But that's okay."
Xiao Yi looked worried. "But you promised First Senior Brother."
Lü Shaoqing shrugged. "So what if I promised? It was just a tactic to deceive him and get you out of his clutches—plus, I wanted to swindle him out of that thousand spirit stones."
"Really?" Xiao Yi's face showed a hint of disappointment. She had hoped that Lü Shaoqing had some way to help her master sword intent and reach the Foundation Establishment stage within a month.
"Of course. What did you think? That I'm a deity?" Lü Shaoqing smirked.
Fang Xiao also felt a sense of relief hearing this. She was relieved that things weren't as impossible as they seemed. At least everyone here was still normal.
It's fine to be a bit extraordinary, but being too extraordinary makes life difficult for everyone.
Lü Shaoqing turned to Xiao Yi. "Go outside for a moment; I need to talk business with the boss."
But Fang Xiao purposely interrupted, "Xiao Yi, wait. Here's your salary for the month—1,270 spirit stones. Take it."
Xiao Yi waved it off. "Xiao Xiao, I don't need it."
Before she could react, Lü Shaoqing snatched the money and glared at Fang Xiao. Then he said to Xiao Yi, "No, you have to take it. We can't let capitalists like her get away with things."
"If you don't want it, I'll hold onto it for you."
Xiao Yi hesitated. "But…"
Fang Xiao was shocked at how shameless Lü Shaoqing could be.
Xiao Yi frowned. "Second Senior Brother, that's Xiao Xiao's money. How can you just take it?"
Lü Shaoqing replied, "What do you mean, her money? This is your hard-earned salary. We shouldn't let capitalists take advantage of us."
Fang Xiao was curious. "Capitalists?"
"Yeah, greedy, bloodsucking, tax-evading, profiteering thieves—that's what capitalists are."
Fang Xiao rolled her eyes, retaliating, "Xiao Yi, your brother asked me to hand over your salary to him and not give it to you."
Xiao Yi looked at Lü Shaoqing, her face showing no surprise. "That's exactly the kind of thing my Second Senior Brother would do."
Ignoring Xiao Yi's resentful gaze, Lü Shaoqing replied, "You're still young. I'm afraid people might deceive you."
"I'll keep the spirit stones safe for you until you're older."
Xiao Yi sighed, feeling speechless. "I'm sixteen! How am I still too young?"
And once the spirit stones were in his hands, would they ever come back to hers? Xiao Yi gave up any hope of getting them back.
Fang Xiao, equally speechless, thought, "This guy is truly shameless. He doesn't even blush."
Turning to Xiao Yi, Fang Xiao asked, "Xiao Yi, are you really going to give up your salary?"
Xiao Yi replied, "It's fine. Let Second Senior Brother take it."
Coming from a well-off family, Xiao Yi wasn't particularly interested in a small sum of spirit stones. Besides, it was her second senior brother—if he wanted to take it, so be it.
Fang Xiao felt exasperated. "You silly girl, you should take what's rightfully yours."
Lü Shaoqing shot back at Fang Xiao, "Boss, stop trying to drive a wedge between us siblings."
"Let's go, Junior Sister. Don't let this capitalist corrupt you."
Fang Xiao could only stomp her foot in frustration as she watched them leave.
As Xiao Yi waved goodbye to Fang Xiao, she cheerfully caught up with Lü Shaoqing. She pulled a small notebook from her pocket and said, "Second Senior Brother, you once told me to write down everyone who bullied me. I've got them all listed here."
Lü Shaoqing glanced at her and laughed. "Oh? And who made the list?"
Xiao Yi, with a cheeky smile, flipped through her notebook. "There are a few. Some guests at the inn tried to flirt with me or made rude comments. And oh, a few of the kitchen staff made fun of me on my first day!"
Lü Shaoqing raised an eyebrow. "Good. Keep that list safe. Once you're strong enough, we'll pay each of them a visit."
Xiao Yi's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Really, Second Senior Brother?"
Lü Shaoqing smirked. "Of course. Don't let people think they can mess with our Tianyu Peak."
For a moment, Xiao Yi felt a sense of warmth. Though her Second Senior Brother was often mischievous and shameless, he always had her back.
"By the way," Lü Shaoqing added as they walked away, "if you ever encounter anyone who's particularly annoying, just tell me. I might charge them a visit fee."
Xiao Yi couldn't help but laugh. "Second Senior Brother, you're incorrigible!"
As they continued back to Tianyu Peak, Lü Shaoqing watched Xiao Yi, seeing the spark in her eyes and the newfound determination she carried. His decision to have her experience the world outside their training grounds was working—she was growing stronger, not just physically but mentally.
He was willing to be the villain in her eyes if it meant she would become tougher, sharper, and more resilient. After all, they were family, and that's what family did: they prepared each other for the challenges ahead.
"Let's see how far you can go, Junior Sister," he thought to himself, a smile playing on his lips.