Chapter 4: Ten Thousand Taels of Silver—Will You Top Up?
At the moment when disaster was imminent, a commanding voice resounded.
“Stop!”
At the same time, a middle-aged man approached.
Yet Wang Lu was determined to kill Xiao Yang, hoping to curry favor with the Grand Elder. Even if someone called out to him, he would finish Xiao Yang off first.
“Hmph!”
Seeing Wang Lu still daring to act, the middle-aged man let out a cold snort. His figure moved swiftly.
Smack!
Just as Wang Lu was about to succeed, the man seized his hand.
“I said stop—did you not hear me?” The middle-aged man’s brows were tightly knit, his tone icy.
Only then did Wang Lu snap to his senses and look at the man, his body trembling. Panic flickered in his eyes.
The newcomer was none other than Zhou Jingpeng, the Third Elder of the Giant Spirit Sect.
“Father! You must stand up for Senior Brother!” Zhou Yan, seeing her father arrive, hurried over, her voice choked with sobs.
“Master!” Xiao Yang called out awkwardly.
It was this man who had brought him to the Giant Spirit Sect ten years ago. Under pressure from the other elders, he had taken Xiao Yang as his disciple, and it was then he met Zhou Yan.
Using charming words from his previous life, Xiao Yang had captivated the young girl’s heart.
The middle-aged man nodded. Yet Xiao Yang's words stunned everyone present.
The sect’s Third Elder was actually Xiao Yang’s master. This was explosive news.
Many began to regret their past actions; none more so than Wang Lu, whose intestines twisted with remorse.
He had assumed Xiao Yang had somehow bewitched Zhou Yan, but never imagined he was Zhou Jingpeng’s disciple.
Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
“Th-Third Elder, it’s a misunderstanding!” He swallowed nervously, his voice trembling.
Zhou Jingpeng merely glanced at him, a wave of murderous intent erupting.
“If there’s a next time—you die.”
Wang Lu felt as if he’d plunged into an icy cavern, shivering violently.
At that moment, a mocking, ambiguous voice rang out.
“Third Brother, this isn’t proper, is it?”
An elder, well into his fifties, strolled over unhurriedly.
Zhou Jingpeng’s brows furrowed.
“Senior Brother!”
The old man pretended not to hear, speaking to himself.
“Third Brother, your disciple has violated sect rules. Do you intend to shield him?”
At once, Zhou Jingpeng’s expression soured.
The elder knew well that backing Zhou Jingpeng into a corner would benefit no one, so he only pressed the matter lightly.
“Since he is your disciple, Third Brother, we should give our little junior nephew a chance. Let him spend seven days in the Cave of Ten Thousand Insects, and I shall let the matter rest.”
“What do you say, Third Brother?” the Grand Elder said with a smiling face.
Hearing this, a chill settled in everyone’s hearts. This was no pardon—it was a harsh punishment.
Rumor had it that the Cave of Ten Thousand Insects housed ten thousand varieties of poisonous creatures, though none were particularly deadly on their own. But with so many gathered, a single bite would summon a swarm, subjecting the victim to the agony of being devoured alive.
Let alone seven days—even one day would drive a person mad.
“Very well!” Zhou Jingpeng agreed without hesitation.
Zhou Yan was dumbstruck, unable to believe her ears.
“Father...”
She started to speak but was waved off.
“No need to say more. Since I’ve agreed, I will not change my mind.”
Zhou Yan felt aggrieved, tears streaming down as she turned away in anger.
“You... You’re not my father!”
Zhou Jingpeng remained unmoved, turning to address his senior brother.
“Senior Brother, I have a request.”
The Grand Elder’s eyes lit up. The two had always been at odds; not only did they rarely plead for favors, they barely spoke face-to-face.
“Third Brother, speak freely. I’ll give it careful thought,” the Grand Elder replied with a kindly smile.
Knowing well what sort of person his counterpart was, Zhou Jingpeng dispensed with pleasantries.
“My disciple and I haven’t seen each other for ten years. I wish to spend one night reminiscing. Tomorrow, I will personally escort him to the Cave of Ten Thousand Insects.”
Hearing this, the Grand Elder nodded in agreement.
The cave was far more treacherous than people imagined. Anything brought in from outside to deal with the poison would fail. Thus, the Cave of Ten Thousand Insects was the most feared punishment in the Giant Spirit Sect.
Not even a day, let alone a year, would suffice to find a way out.
“Thank you, Senior Brother.”
The Grand Elder glanced at Xiao Yang, then swiftly looked away.
He spoke unhurriedly.
“Third Brother, I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”
After the Grand Elder departed, the crowd dispersed as well.
Today, although Xiao Yang had triumphed, it was a victory indistinguishable from defeat—he was doomed regardless.
If given the choice, many would prefer a swift death to being devoured alive in the Cave of Ten Thousand Insects.
“Come with me inside.”
Zhou Jingpeng left these words behind and walked into the house.
Xiao Yang, wounded, followed.
Both entered the room.
Zhou Jingpeng finally spoke.
“Take this money and leave.”
He produced a stack of silver notes and handed them to Xiao Yang.
“Master!” Xiao Yang looked at him in astonishment, an indescribable ache in his heart.
“Master, I know you care for me. If not for you, with the Grand Elder’s temperament, I would never have made it into this room.”
He understood clearly: without Zhou Jingpeng’s delay, he would have been killed already.
The rules of the Giant Spirit Sect were strict; even elders were punished for transgressions.
His master was notorious for protecting his own.
Years ago, to avoid causing Zhou Jingpeng trouble, Xiao Yang had moved to the servants’ quarters.
“Take the money and go!”
Zhou Jingpeng hurled the silver notes at Xiao Yang, glanced at him once more, then turned and left.
He walked a good distance, then couldn’t help looking back at the small tiled house.
“Xiao Yang, I hope you can use that money to live an ordinary life.”
He shook his head and truly departed this time.
Xiao Yang picked up the silver notes from the ground and sighed softly.
“I won’t leave. I cannot.”
He understood well: this was the Grand Elder’s trap for Zhou Jingpeng.
The Grand Elder had seized upon his master’s protective nature, intending to use this incident to force Zhou Jingpeng into making a mistake.
When the time came for the sect leader’s election, he would use it as leverage.
Zhou Jingpeng would surely be disqualified from candidacy.
His master couldn’t run, and his second uncle had no interest in the position.
Thus, the Grand Elder would naturally ascend as sect leader.
“That old fox is truly cunning.”
No matter what, Xiao Yang would not leave.
First, for Zhou Jingpeng; second, to foil the Grand Elder’s plans.
The man was determined to kill him; even if Xiao Yang couldn’t win, he would at least cause him some discomfort.
Besides, Xiao Yang still had hope.
His master had left him a pile of silver notes.
Money—he could spend it!
“Ding! Detected ten thousand taels of silver. Would you like to recharge?”
The system, sensing the notes, suddenly appeared.
Now Xiao Yang had time to study his system.
The Invincible Pay-to-Win System!
Just as its name implied: with enough money, anything was possible, anything could be purchased.
The system’s universal currency wasn’t silver notes, but Pay-to-Win Points.
Each tael of silver was equivalent to one point.