The next day, the war chariot stopped at the borders of Baiye Sect.
"Pingyan, have the steward of Baiye Sect come out," Chen Qingyuan said as he sat and sipped his tea.
"Alright." Although Lin Pingyan didn't know exactly what kind of "account" Chen Qingyuan was collecting, he didn't ask further. He swiftly went to the entrance of Baiye Sect.
Lin Pingyan was very polite, clearly stating his identity and waiting for the disciples to announce him.
Seeing Lin Pingyan being so proper, Chen Qingyuan couldn't help but feel a bit helpless. He loudly shouted, "You're an inner sect elder of Xuanqing Sect—why are you waiting at the door? The gatekeepers of Baiye Sect don't know their manners? Just kick the door open!"
Chen Qingyuan stayed inside the war chariot, his voice echoing clearly to Lin Pingyan.
"Junior Uncle, this is not appropriate!" Lin Pingyan replied through transmission.
Kicking down the door was not in line with his principles.
"Not appropriate? Nonsense! Baiye Sect is just a second-rate sect. You're an elder of Xuanqing Sect, and they're not letting you in directly? That's an insult to the face of Xuanqing Sect! If this gets out, our disciples will be bullied whenever we go outside. Everyone will think they can step on us!"
Chen Qingyuan deliberately exaggerated the seriousness of the situation to put pressure on Lin Pingyan.
"It's not that serious, is it?" Lin Pingyan turned back to look at the war chariot not far away and sent a message through transmission.
"Pingyan, am I still your Junior Uncle?"
Seeing Lin Pingyan hesitate, Chen Qingyuan decided to use their seniority to pressure him.
"Yes," Lin Pingyan quickly replied.
"Then listen to your Junior Uncle and kick the door open," Chen Qingyuan said sternly. "If you don't do it today, I won't go to Yunhai Star Domain either, and I won't treat your injuries."
Hearing this, Lin Pingyan became anxious. If Chen Qingyuan truly refused to heal his wounds, Lin Pingyan would feel guilty for the rest of his life.
Boom!
With no other choice, Lin Pingyan steeled himself and kicked the door open. A loud crash sounded as the door of Baiye Sect was kicked open.
In an instant, numerous figures appeared above Baiye Sect. Everyone wanted to see who had the audacity to be so reckless and disrupt Baiye Sect. The atmosphere became tense.
"Senior Elder Lin, what's the meaning of this?"
An inner sect elder of Baiye Sect appeared. He had heard that Lin Pingyan had arrived and hurried over, just in time to witness the door being kicked open. His face immediately turned livid with anger.
"It's nothing," Lin Pingyan replied, feeling somewhat guilty inside, though he still tried to maintain a calm facade.
Just as the two sides were at a standoff, Chen Qingyuan's voice came from the war chariot.
Chen Qingyuan pulled out a common but useful item— a sound amplifier. This item could amplify the sound dozens or even a hundred times, though it wasn't particularly useful to cultivators.
Chen Qingyuan stood at the front of the war chariot and placed the amplifier to his mouth, loudly shouting in the direction of Baiye Sect, "Pingyan is an inner sect elder of Xuanqing Sect and the direct son of the Sect Master. He has come to visit Baiye Sect, yet he's being kept outside the gate. Do you not take Xuanqing Sect seriously?"
No matter who was right or wrong, he first placed the blame on Baiye Sect by accusing them.
"Chen Qingyuan, it's him!"
Many members of Baiye Sect recognized Chen Qingyuan immediately and whispered amongst themselves, thinking it over.
"Baiye Sect absolutely didn't mean any disrespect," one of the elders quickly interjected. "According to the rules, the gatekeeper disciples must announce the visitor before they can enter."
"Rules my ass!" Chen Qingyuan immediately cursed. "If the elders of Tianyu Sect or any of their affiliated forces came, would Baiye Sect not let them in? Baiye Sect is not giving Xuanqing Sect face. Looks like you think Xuanqing Sect is in decline and easy to bully, huh!"
"Master Chen, please don't be angry. It is indeed Baiye Sect's fault for lacking proper manners and neglecting Elder Lin,"
The Grand Elder of Baiye Sect stepped forward and motioned for others to remain silent, hoping to prevent the situation from escalating further.
"It's good that you acknowledge the mistake," Chen Qingyuan's tone softened slightly.
"Both Elders, please come in. Tea has been prepared in the hall,"
The Grand Elder clasped his fists in a respectful gesture.
"No need," Chen Qingyuan declined. "I didn't come here to drink tea. I came to settle some accounts."
"Settle accounts? What accounts?"
The Grand Elder looked confused, unsure whether his bewilderment was genuine or feigned.
"Ask your Sect's Thirteenth Elder,"
Chen Qingyuan raised the transmission tube in his left hand and spoke loudly.
Immediately, the Grand Elder summoned Thirteenth Elder, a thin, middle-aged man.
"What's going on?"
Thirteenth Elder then recounted everything truthfully.
A hundred years ago, Chen Qingyuan had invested in a business and partnered with Baiye Sect's Thirteenth Elder to establish a trading guild, with profits split fifty-fifty.
However, after Chen Qingyuan's incident in Tianyuan, Thirteenth Elder failed to honor the agreement and didn't distribute the guild's profits.
Chen Qingyuan had already conducted an investigation, which is why he had come to collect the debts.
"Over the past century, the guild hasn't been running smoothly, and there haven't been many spirit stones earned,"
Thirteenth Elder lowered his head, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"I don't care if you made a lot or a little. Compensation in the form of one middle-grade spirit vein will settle the matter,"
Chen Qingyuan said, uninterested in auditing the guild's financials. He had already made up his mind before coming.
"One spirit vein? How could that be possible!"
Thirteenth Elder's head snapped up, clearly unable to accept the demand.
"For a hundred years, you didn't inform either sect about this matter, clearly trying to swallow the guild's profits for yourself. But unfortunately, you're too incompetent to manage it properly. No one else is to blame. I'm only asking for one middle-grade spirit vein as compensation, which is already generous. If this had happened a century ago, I would have personally crippled you,"
Chen Qingyuan scolded angrily, his authority still commanding despite not being as powerful as before.
"Master Chen, let's sit down and discuss this,"
The Grand Elder said, hoping to avoid making the situation bigger and damaging the sect's reputation.
"There's nothing to discuss. He's from Baiye Sect, so Baiye Sect must take responsibility,"
Chen Qingyuan continued without giving Baiye Sect any face. "If he can't provide it, then Baiye Sect will pay the debt."
"Is Elder Chen really being so unreasonable?"
The Grand Elder's face darkened, clearly displeased.
"If I weren't being unreasonable, I wouldn't be here to collect a debt. Instead, I'd have asked the senior brothers and sisters of Xuanqing Sect to come and discuss things,"
Chen Qingyuan wasn't afraid of threats. Some sects only respected power and feared the strong, so he had to approach things this way.
"You…"
Upon hearing this, a hint of panic flashed in the Grand Elder's eyes. He had heard how Xuanqing Sect treated Chen Qingyuan with extreme favor, so how could he dare to make threats now?
"Pingyan, I'm going to take a nap. Half an hour from now, if Baiye Sect still refuses to pay, you should have a good spar with their elders of your age. Don't hold back,"
Chen Qingyuan said, returning to the war chariot to relax, eating fruit and drinking tea, no longer paying attention to the people of Baiye Sect.
Lin Pingyan bowed respectfully in the direction of the war chariot. "Understood."
He then turned to face the people of Baiye Sect, showing no sign of fear.
No matter how much Baiye Sect's higher-ups tried to soften things, Lin Pingyan only said one thing: "If you have anything to discuss, speak with my little master."
Half an hour later, Baiye Sect came to a decision.
They would give it!
Though they didn't want to part with a middle-grade spirit vein, they couldn't refuse.
Chen Qingyuan's temperament was notorious in the Fuliu Star Region. He was ruthless and always followed through on his words.
"Take it. After today, this debt will be settled."
The Grand Elder's face was dark as he handed the spirit vein to Lin Pingyan.
Looking at the entire middle-grade spirit vein, Lin Pingyan was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected Baiye Sect to truly compromise.
"I'm busy with affairs, so I won't be inviting Elder Lin in for tea."
The Grand Elder issued the dismissal order, turning and leaving without another word.
Back in the war chariot, Lin Pingyan placed the space ring containing the spirit vein on the table, staring intently at Chen Qingyuan. "Little master, we got the spirit vein."
"Mm."
Chen Qingyuan stretched lazily, seemingly having expected this outcome. He showed no signs of happiness.
After a moment, Chen Qingyuan raised an eyebrow and asked, "Feeling comfortable?"
"What?"
Lin Pingyan froze, confused.