Forget it, I'm just an outer sect disciple with no one to rely on. Better to avoid trouble than invite it.

Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, Su Ji immediately made a run for it.

Watching Su Ji’s retreating figure, Su Jiu finally managed to calm the turbulent emotions surging within her.

She walked over to the bed and sat down, lifting her slender leg to wipe away the lingering droplets of water.

Glistening beads slid down her fair skin.

What did he mean by "smelling nice"...

Su Ji’s last words echoed in her mind once more.

Driven by an inexplicable impulse, she raised her right hand, slowly bringing the back of it to her nose and giving it a light sniff.

Hmm... there did seem to be a faint...

"Does it smell good?"

"Well, it’s not bad..."

Su Jiu’s movements froze abruptly.

Wait...

Who was speaking?

She lifted her head slowly, meeting Su Ji’s amused gaze.

Unbeknownst to her, Su Ji had doubled back and was now leaning casually against the doorframe.

When had he returned?

How had she not noticed at all?

Thankfully... thankfully she hadn’t lost her mind and actually gone ahead with sniffing her own...

If Su Ji had witnessed that scene, she would’ve been too mortified to live another day.

He might even have threatened her: "Little junior sister, you wouldn’t want our fellow disciples to find out about this, would you?"

But even this current act was embarrassing enough!

Su Jiu hastily withdrew her hand, her cheeks burning crimson, the flush spreading from her ears down to her neck.

Her small fox fangs peeked out slightly as her face twisted with indignation. "Didn’t I tell you to scram?!"

Su Ji spread his hands, feigning innocence. "I did scram just now, but then I remembered something, so I came back."

Seeing Su Jiu abruptly rise to her feet, looking ready to charge at him, Su Ji quickly clarified his purpose. "Junior sister, how about repaying another favor? Your senior brother here needs..."

The moment those words left his mouth, Su Jiu’s motion to throw him out came to an abrupt halt.

Her already flushed face seemed to grow even hotter.

How... how could he make such a blunt request right in front of her...

"Right now...?"

Su Jiu’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s hum, her eyes darting away nervously.

"No, I... I need to think about it... I can’t just agree the moment you..."

Su Ji’s face twisted in exaggerated confusion. "You won’t even spare a few herbs for a sect mission?"

"Since when are you this stingy?"

Su Jiu’s fox-like eyes shimmered with a mix of embarrassment and anger.

That ambiguous phrasing—Su Ji had definitely done it on purpose!

"Who... who’s stingy?!"

"They’re just a few lousy herbs! Go pick them from my backyard if you want!"

Su Ji studied Su Jiu’s face, which was struggling to maintain composure despite her humiliation, and deliberately put on a hesitant expression. "Well, I had to ask first. Otherwise, wouldn’t that be stealing...?"

"Fine, fine! I consent! Just take the herbs and get lost!"

Knowing when to quit, Su Ji grinned. "Got it. Many thanks for your generosity, junior sister. I’ll go turn in the mission now."

With that, he turned and bolted, afraid that if he lingered even a second longer, Su Jiu’s fury might actually crush him on the spot.

Watching Su Ji’s retreating figure disappear through the door, Su Jiu felt all the strength drain from her body, collapsing weakly onto the bed.

She buried her burning face in her hands, her mind a tangled mess.

So humiliating...

Su Ji hummed a cheerful tune as he strolled toward the Contribution Hall, thoroughly pleased with himself.

Nothing beat the thrill of freeloading.

Not only had he completed his mission, but he’d also scored some goodwill points along the way.

It was already dusk.

The Contribution Hall remained bustling with activity.

No helping it.

Cultivation revolved around "wealth, companionship, techniques, and land."

For outer sect disciples like them, who had no backing, grinding for a few measly spirit stones was just part of the daily struggle.

The disciple on duty that evening was a lanky, shrewd-looking fellow, lazily slumped in his chair, half-asleep.

Su Ji approached with practiced ease.

"Senior brother, here to submit a mission."

He handed over his identity token along with the herbs from his pouch.

The lanky attendant barely lifted an eyelid, grunting in acknowledgment before picking up one of the herbs—a Heart-Cleansing Grass.

But the moment it touched his fingers, the unusually potent spiritual energy within made him pause.

His eyes snapped open as he brought the herb closer for inspection, all traces of drowsiness vanishing in an instant.

In its place was an unmistakable glint of greed.

"Heart-Cleansing Grass? And this Dew-Gathering Flower... Impressive quality, junior brother."

His exclamation drew curious glances from nearby disciples.

Realizing his slip, the attendant quickly lowered his voice, scrutinizing Su Ji with newfound intensity.

"Junior brother, where exactly did you get these herbs?"

Their grade far exceeded the requirements of Su Ji’s mission.

Su Ji had anticipated this. Scratching his head with an air of naive honesty, he replied, "Senior brother, I just got lucky—found them growing on a hidden cliffside."

The attendant scoffed, clearly unconvinced.

"Lucky?"

He slapped the herb onto the counter, leaning in with a hushed tone.

"Cut the act. Where did you steal these from?"

Su Ji frowned.

This wasn’t part of the plan.

When he’d asked for herbs to complete his mission, he’d assumed Su Jiu would hand over something ordinary.

What did he know about herb grades?

Seems like Su Jiu had been seriously distracted today.

Still, no big deal.

Su Ji’s expression turned icy. "Senior brother, you can eat whatever you want, but words aren’t so easily taken back."

"I gathered these herbs myself. If you don’t believe me, report it to the Personnel Hall and let them investigate."

The attendant stiffened, his face darkening.

He wouldn’t dare escalate things.

After a moment, his eyes flickered with calculation before he forced a smile. "No need for that, junior brother. Just following protocol, you understand."

Then, shifting gears:

"However, since you’ve exceeded expectations, the hall’s rules state you’re entitled to an extra reward."

"These two herbs are top-grade. How about ten low-grade spirit stones? Satisfied?"

The trap was laid bare.

Su Ji smirked inwardly.

He might not know herbs, but he knew human nature.

From the fat attendant at Personnel Hall to this skinny one, they were all cut from the same cloth.

Putting on an exaggerated look of shock, Su Ji’s eyes widened, his voice trembling with excitement.

"T-ten low-grade spirit stones?!"

His awestruck expression only deepened the attendant’s condescending smirk.

Just another poor fool.

Outer sect disciples typically earned ten to twenty stones a month—hardly enough to live on, given the mandatory mission quotas.

This windfall would make any of them ecstatic.

"That’s right. Ten."

The attendant lazily tossed the stones onto the counter, their clinking sound crisp in the air.

"Go on, take them."

"Thank you, senior brother! Thank you!"

Su Ji scrambled to gather the stones, bowing repeatedly in exaggerated gratitude.

With a dismissive wave, the attendant logged the mission completion and promptly ignored him, reclining once more into feigned sleep.

Su Ji turned away with a thousand expressions of gratitude.

The moment he turned his head, the look of ecstatic joy on his face faded, replaced by a suppressed fury.

But this shift in expression did not escape the sharp-eyed, lanky steward.

Hmm?

The steward immediately sensed something amiss.

He sharpened his focus.

Sure enough.

Once Su Ji turned back, he muttered through gritted teeth in a voice so low only he could hear it.

"Do they take me for a fool? These quality herbs, and they fob me off with just ten low-grade spirit stones..."

"Whatever. As an outer disciple with no backing, it's better to avoid trouble."

"At least I had the sense to hold back a few dozen stalks. I’ll check the market later—they’re definitely worth more than this."