Does Su Ji Prefer Not to Use the Main Entrance

"Spiritual Root Conquest?"

A bolt of realization struck the gaunt steward's mind, connecting all the scattered clues in an instant.

Su Jiu's inexplicable protection of Su Ji...

The recent string of "lecher incidents" plaguing the sect...

It all made sense now!

He had uncovered the truth!

The gaunt steward abruptly raised his head, his pallid face twisting into a horrified epiphany.

With a trembling finger, he pointed at Su Ji.

"It's you!"

"You're the lecher the sect's been hunting all this time!"

The moment these words left his mouth, the smug grin on Su Ji's face froze.

"The hell it's me!"

He wasn't taking the blame for this!

Su Ji was ninety percent sure this was the handiwork of that bastard Wang San—why should he be the scapegoat?

"You think I'd believe that?"

The steward let out a deranged laugh.

"Su Ji, Su Jiu! You two colluding snakes, deceiving the sect, and now daring to commit murder here!"

"Just wait—I'm reporting this to Elder Liu! Neither of you will escape!"

Before the words fully left his lips, he spun around, erupting with spiritual energy as his body transformed into a streak of light, hurtling toward the courtyard wall in a desperate bid to flee.

From what he knew, Su Jiu's cultivation was at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment.

At this distance, if he focused solely on escape, she wouldn't be able to stop him quickly enough.

All he needed was to cause a commotion, draw the attention of other inner disciples.

His life would be spared—and he'd even be rewarded handsomely.

Su Jiu sighed.

This man knew too much.

He could only die here.

His greed and stupidity were to blame.

As a steward of the Contribution Hall, a little corruption could've lined his pockets comfortably.

But no—he had to scheme against Su Ji.

The entire sect would struggle to find someone as petty and vindictive as Su Ji.

Touch his spirit stones, and he'd rearrange your skull.

...

The gaunt steward suddenly felt an overwhelming surge of spiritual energy pressing in from all sides, freezing him in place for a split second.

Then, Su Jiu raised her delicate hand, fingers poised like a blade.

No earth-shaking spectacle.

Just a flash of cold light—faster than thought.

"Pfft—"

A soft sound.

A tiny hole appeared in the steward's forehead.

His face froze in indignation, the light in his eyes fading rapidly as his body crumpled from the wall and thudded into the backyard.

Silence.

From strike to finish—a single breath.

"Killing to protect the root, slaying sin, not the sinner."

Su Jiu calmly withdrew her hand, not even sparing a glance at the corpse as she turned her gaze to Su Ji.

Su Ji wore an expression of pure admiration.

"Impressive technique, Junior Sister."

"Clean, efficient, no mess."

"Looks like if we ever team up for murder and looting again, we've got our roles set."

"I'll lure them in, and you deliver the killing blow."

"Then we split the loot—70-30, my favor."

Su Jiu: "..."

She was seriously considering sewing his mouth shut.

Just how did this guy's brain work?

How long had it been since he became an outer disciple?

First, he killed a steward from the Personnel Hall.

Now, a steward from the Contribution Hall.

Which hall's steward was next on his list?

If he was killing stewards at Qi Refining, would he start targeting elders at Foundation Establishment?

Once he hit Golden Core, might as well chop down the sect leader and take over.

"Senior Brother, try to behave for once. Killing fellow disciples is... troublesome."

Her voice carried a hint of exasperation she didn't even notice herself.

"Sure thing."

Su Ji agreed with unsettling enthusiasm.

He strode to the corpse and began looting with practiced ease, his skillful technique making Su Jiu's eyes twitch.

After a moment, he stood up with a look of disdain.

"Cheapskate."

"Just a crappy pouch with less than a hundred low-grade spirit stones."

"Oh? He even brought out the herbs I submitted?"

"Well, not a total loss then."

Su Jiu massaged her temples, interrupting his inventory.

"Senior Brother, save the loot-counting for later. You might want to think up an explanation first."

"Last time, we could claim it was a frame-up."

"But this time? A Contribution Hall steward dies right after handling your task."

"Getting tied to two deaths in a row—not everyone's a fool. This won't be easy to brush off."

Su Ji paused, then waved a dismissive hand.

"Piece of cake."

"Works out perfectly, actually."

"I'll just say I stole herbs from your backyard to submit for the mission."

"The steward noticed the odd quality and grilled me on the source."

"I confessed to theft."

"He got greedy, tried to strong-arm me into teaming up for another midnight herb heist."

Su Jiu blinked, momentarily stunned.

This... almost sounded plausible.

"Then we got unlucky—you caught us red-handed. He bolted, and you put him down."

Su Jiu couldn't help rolling her eyes.

"And how does Senior Brother explain surviving?"

Su Ji grinned, the picture of shamelessness.

"Easy."

"I'll say I groveled at your feet, bawling and begging for my pathetic life."

"You took pity and spared me."

He even mimed the act, dropping to his knees theatrically.

"If they don't believe it, I can reenact the scene."

Su Jiu's cheeks flushed instantly.

This guy...

He might dare to perform, but she wouldn't dare to play along.

She'd had more headaches since meeting Su Ji than in her entire previous life combined.

Then a realization struck her: "Senior Brother, are you short on spirit stones?"

Su Ji's reply was matter-of-fact: "Obviously."

"Was about to scrounge up some when this idiot delivered himself to my doorstep."

Su Jiu was at a loss for words.

So his solution to poverty was murder?

Well, the steward was no saint either.

Guess it was a case of the wicked meeting their match.

She couldn't exactly protest.

Su Jiu turned and entered her quarters, emerging moments later with two hefty pouches.

She tossed them to Su Ji without ceremony.

"Three hundred low-grade spirit stones."

"Use these first, so you stop plotting homicidal fundraisers."

Su Ji caught the pouches, weighing them in his palm. "Ah, you shouldn't have—"

His mouth feigned reluctance while his hands swiftly pocketed the loot, as if fearing she'd change her mind.

Su Jiu ignored his behavior of taking advantage of others while pretending to be innocent.

"I have matters to attend to and may leave the sect for a while."

She added sternly: "Behave yourself, Senior Brother. Don't let me return to find you've either killed an elder or been killed by one."

Su Ji's eyes lit up.

Leaving the sect?

Must be heading to the black market to offload their spoils—and probably to gather materials for his Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment too.

Tsk tsk.

Having a sugar-mommy junior sister sure smoothed the path of cultivation.

He cleared his throat and leaned in with an earnest expression.

"Junior Sister, don't worry. Do I seem like the troublemaking type?"

"I'll be a model disciple—won't cause you any headaches."

Su Jiu didn't believe a word.

She didn’t even bother to turn her head, merely responding with a faint "Mm."

"Leave the corpse here."

"I’ll report it to the sect tomorrow."

"It’s getting late. Senior Brother should go rest."

The dismissive tone in her words was unmistakable.

Seeing this, Su Ji decided not to press his luck.

Pocketing the three hundred-plus spirit stones, he hummed an off-key tune and vaulted over the wall in high spirits.

Su Jiu: "…"

So the front gate just wasn’t an option, huh?