I Transmigrated as a Doomed Villain and Awakened a Rebate System, Then Pampered the Protagonist’s Fiancée to Heaven - Chapter 12:
Chapter 12: A Fortuitous Coincidence
“Chu Qiuran.”
Liu Ruobing didn’t beat around the bush and called him out directly.
“Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Stalactite Essence, two bottles.”
“Centenary Dao Heart Fruit, three pieces.”
“Upper-grade spiritual weapon, Violet Lightning Frost Sword, one item.”
With each item she named, Chu Qiuran’s heart sank a little more.
“These things,” Liu Ruobing said in a calm voice that still weighed down like a mountain, “any one of them could make Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators fight to the death. Even those old Pill Condensation Realm guys would be tempted. And you, a 9th stage Qi Refining Realm Registered Disciple—where did you get all of them?”
There it was! As expected, this was what she was after!
Chu Qiuran had already guessed it would come to this. He immediately squeezed out an expression of combined “panic” and “grievance.”
“Senior Sister Ruobing, please see clearly! These… these were truly obtained by pure luck, by sheer coincidence!”
His eyes rolled once, and then he launched into his “Oscar-winning” performance, spilling out the fabricated tale he had prepared long ago.
He spoke of slipping and falling off a cliff, narrowly escaping death, and unexpectedly discovering an ancient senior’s cave dwelling.
Then he described helping a seriously wounded expert out of a sense of justice, and in return, being gifted treasures in gratitude… The story was filled with ups and downs, dramatic turns that could move even stone.
Liu Ruobing listened quietly the whole time, her face completely unreadable.
By the time Chu Qiuran’s mouth was dry and his tongue parched, she finally spoke slowly, “Not bad. Next time, make the story even more outrageous—it’s still not believable enough.”
Chu Qiuran: “…”
Damn it! This woman’s not buying it at all!
“Guan Peng’s younger brother, Guan Sheng, died in the desolate hills of the Outer Sect. The two lackeys with him also died,” Liu Ruobing suddenly changed the topic, her tone turning icy. “And yet you, a lowly Qi Refining Realm disciple, returned completely unharmed. Chu Qiuran, are you going to tell me that’s also just ‘luck and coincidence’?”
Chu Qiuran’s heart skipped a beat—this wasn’t good!
As expected, this woman was no fool. She had even dug up that incident!
“Senior Sister Ruobing! That matter… that really had nothing to do with me!” Chu Qiuran nearly jumped up from anxiety. “The situation was chaotic back then, I—I was terrified out of my mind, all I could think about was running for my life… I didn’t have time to pay attention to anything else…”
“Oh? Is that so?” Liu Ruobing’s lips curled into a subtle, unreadable smile. “Then why did I hear that, ever since you came back from the desolate hills, you’ve been throwing around spirit stones in the Treasure Pavilion like they’re dirt? Are you saying those spirit stones were also ‘picked up’ by coincidence?”
Cold sweat trickled down Chu Qiuran’s forehead.
He suddenly realized that all his carefully crafted lies were like childish games in front of Liu Ruobing—full of holes.
“Senior Sister Ruobing!”
Seeing he couldn’t bluff his way out, Chu Qiuran clenched his teeth and dropped to his knees with a loud thud!
“My loyalty to you, Senior Sister, is as clear as the sun and moon, witnessed by the heavens!” He cried earnestly, nose running and eyes tearing up. “I have no power, no background, and my cultivation is low. In this Ethereal Sect, I’m no better than an ant! Everything I’ve done—was all in hopes of earning your favor, to gain your protection, just so I can survive in this sect!”
“I know I’m useless, and I can’t offer any earth-shattering treasures. These things might be nothing in your eyes, but they’re all I have! I only hope you’ll understand my sincerity!”
With snot and tears streaming down, Chu Qiuran’s words were filled with raw emotion.
Liu Ruobing watched his performance quietly and didn’t respond immediately.
In the cultivation residence, the only sound was Chu Qiuran’s muffled sobbing.
Did she believe him… or not?
What exactly was this woman planning?
Chu Qiuran’s heart was once again suspended in midair.
After a moment of silence, Liu Ruobing finally spoke again, “Chu Qiuran, you do have ‘good luck.’ I won’t deny that.”
“But in the Ethereal Sect, and even in the entire cultivation world, there’s never been a shortage of lucky people. But luck alone doesn’t keep you alive for long.” Her voice remained cold, but there was now a hint of amusement. “You keep offering me heavy gifts, hoping I’ll be your backing. I can be that backing. But you must prove that you’re worth it.”
Chu Qiuran’s mind spun rapidly. “What does Senior Sister mean?”
“My protection doesn’t come for free,” Liu Ruobing said without looking at him. “If all you plan to do is exchange a few rare treasures for peace, then I advise you to drop that idea. That kind of relationship is unstable, and it will eventually bring even greater disaster upon you.”
“You should understand the saying: ‘a man without sin may still die for possessing treasure.’”
Chu Qiuran nodded. “I understand.”
Of course he understood. If not, he wouldn’t have handed those things to Liu Ruobing in the first place.
“That’s why I need to see your real value—something beyond just these ‘external items’.” Liu Ruobing’s tone was firm. “If all you are is a gift-giving mascot, then I have no use for someone like that around me.”
Chu Qiuran’s heart sank slightly.
As expected, this woman wasn’t someone who could be pacified with a few treasures. She was even more cunning and sober-minded than he had imagined.
“Please guide me, Senior Sister. What do you want me to do?” Chu Qiuran no longer circled around the issue and got straight to the point.
Liu Ruobing finally stood up and walked to the entrance of the cultivation residence. Her gaze turned toward the dark night sky in the distance.
After a while, she turned back and spoke without emotion, “On the western side of the Outer Sect, there’s a spiritual herb garden that has been abandoned for many years. It used to be a decent herb field, but due to changes in the spiritual veins, the soil became barren. On top of that, low-level demon beasts frequently harass the area. It’s been completely deserted since then.”
She stared directly at Chu Qiuran. “I want you to restore that spiritual herb garden within three months. And at the very least, you must successfully cultivate three stalks of Condensation Dew Grass.”
“Condensation Dew Grass?” Chu Qiuran frowned slightly. He had heard of it before. It was a 1st-grade upper-tier spiritual herb used as a supplementary material in some Foundation Establishment Realm pills. But it was notoriously picky about its growing environment.
“That’s right.” Liu Ruobing’s tone allowed no room for argument. “The state of that herb garden is well-known among the Outer Sect disciples. Reviving it is as difficult as ascending to the heavens. Many steward disciples have tried and failed.”
“If you succeed, I’ll officially acknowledge you. From then on, as long as you don’t go too far, I, Liu Ruobing, will ensure you’re safe in the Outer Sect.”
“And if I fail?” Chu Qiuran asked.
“If you fail,” Liu Ruobing’s tone was completely indifferent, “then I’ll convert the items you gave into spirit stones and return them to you. From that moment on, we’ll be strangers. Your life and death will no longer concern me.”
Chu Qiuran fell silent.
This woman was ruthless! This was an outright test, and also a clear choice.
The difficulty level? Hell mode. A barren, abandoned herb garden, poor soil, constant beast attacks… and he had to grow the delicate Condensation Dew Grass?
Wasn’t this just deliberately making things hard for him?!
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Shield Loyalist
…you’re being tested as a potential husband, you dense chap!