Free Web NovelChapter 202: Chapter 195: This House Is Mine Now
Inside the thatched hut.
Ye Longtao recalled that at Qingxu Temple, even the residence of an Inner Sect Disciple was a private courtyard with spotless windows.
He would never have willingly set foot in such a dilapidated thatched hut.
’Wasn’t I infiltrating the Demonic Sect?’
His memory began to rewind.
He remembered now. It was that Su Ling’er... She had been leading him down a narrow path, where the only sound was the whistling of the wind.
He seemed to have... provoked her with a few words.
And then...
Then, it seemed something had slammed into him from the side with immense force.
And after that, he woke up, and he was here.
’What in the world happened?!’
A thought escaped his control, rising from the depths of Ye Longtao’s mind.
’Could it be... that Su Ling’er was enraged by my words?’
’So, she had someone knock me out and dump me in this place to humiliate me?’
And this line of thought instantly ignited the flames of fury in his heart.
’And just what is my status?!’
’I’m an Inner Sect Disciple of Qingxu Temple!’
’I may not be a personal disciple, but I am still considered a prodigy in Qingxu Temple!’
’The Sect Leader himself thinks so highly of me that he gave me this undercover mission!’
’How can a person of my stature live in a place like this?!’
’A thatched hut like this is only fit for those outer sect wastes!’
’No, that’s not right!’
He snorted inwardly.
’Back at Qingxu Temple, it was already a blessing from the heavens when the sect let them sleep in the woodsheds!’
’That bunch of wastes can’t even touch the threshold of cultivation. They belong in a pigsty; only then would they learn their place!’
A thought flashed through his mind.
’This thatched hut must be the standard housing the Demonic Sect provides for this bunch of outer sect wastes.’
’That’s right. How could wastes like them be worthy of a nice place?’
’But...’
’It’s one thing for them to live in this pigsty, but how dare they drag me down into the same mud pit with them?!’
’This is the last straw!’
A surge of fury rushed to his head.
He kicked out violently. With a loud CRASH, the flimsy plank door, nearly breaking apart, was kicked open, and he stormed out.
Then, he saw the surrounding scenery.
Bamboo lofts with curved eaves, stone houses built like steps on the mountainside...
One residence after another, from their stonework to their timber, showed signs of meticulous care, scattered up and down the mountain slope.
The rage in Ye Longtao’s chest instantly blew the top of his head off.
’Fine!’
’All I did before was probe them with a few words. For the sake of the mission, I didn’t even pick a fight, which goes against my usual style. And in return, I get this blatant humiliation?!’
’So you all get to live in these nice places, while I’m just tossed into a dump like this all by myself?!’
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Unable to suppress his humiliation and fury any longer, he roared at the dwellings shrouded in the morning mist:
"Su Ling’er! Get out here!"
...
The roar instantly shattered the morning silence of the enclave.
Different commotions arose from the residences of the various undercover disciples.
Some disciples rubbed their eyes as they climbed out of bed, looking completely bewildered.
Others, who were meditating, were so startled by the shout that their True Qi began to flow in reverse.
Only in Li Chunfeng’s bamboo loft, Li Chunfeng himself was still asleep. He seemed to hear something, but merely stirred, continuing to practice drawing and sheathing his sword in his sleep.
The CLANG, CLANG of a sword being drawn and sheathed accompanied Li Chunfeng’s mumble of, "This is a good thing," as he drifted back into his dreams.
...
Meanwhile, inside Dong Changsheng’s stone house.
Hearing the furious roar, his heart skipped a beat.
He remembered how, just yesterday, he had knocked this new senior from the Inner Sect unconscious.
But then, an epiphany washed over him.
The teachings of his master surfaced in his mind:
"You must be grateful! Grateful for every time you are suppressed, grateful for every person who looks down on you!!"
"For those are the essential stepping stones on a master’s path to the top!"
’That’s it!’
’Isn’t Mr. Ye’s anger just another "stepping stone" on my path to success?’
’It is a "trial" that I must overcome!’
’I should... thank him!’
...
A moment later, one door after another was pushed open.
Bleary-eyed, everyone emerged from their residences, their gazes landing in unison on the furious Ye Longtao at the entrance of the thatched hut.
The same thought simultaneously flashed through all of their minds.
’...Is this guy fucking nuts?’
’What’s all the shouting about this early in the morning?’
’Are you not fully awake or something?’
’Don’t you know that waking people up is asking for a beating?’
But remembering he was a prodigy from the Inner Sect, they only dared to think it.
Only Su Ling’er, yawning and rubbing her sleep-deprived, throbbing temples, spoke up directly:
"I’m serious, are you nuts? If you are, go get help! What are you screaming your head off for this early in the morning, disturbing everyone’s peace and quiet."
’What the hell is with this guy!’
’Also, why are you only shouting my name?!’
’I wasn’t the one who knocked you out! There are so many people here. Do you just think I’m an easy target?!’
’Just as I suspected. With a temperament like this, no wonder the Sect Leader sent you over like a sacrificial pawn!’
’He’d probably be a menace if he stayed in the Qingxu Temple’s Inner Sect anyway. Sending him here is putting a waste product to use. If he succeeds, great. If he fails, it’s just a way of cleaning out the Inner Sect’s trash.’
Hearing Su Ling’er’s words, Ye Longtao was so furious he laughed.
"Me, nuts? I think you’re the ones who are nuts!"
He took a step forward, his gaze sweeping over all the undercover disciples who had emerged from their dwellings.
When he recognized their faces and confirmed they were all his fellow disciples—the wastes from Qingxu Temple’s outer sect—the disdain in his eyes could no longer be hidden and spilled out.
"I possess a dual Spirit Root. And you all... what are you?"
He extended a finger, pointing to one furious, red face after another.
"A bunch of wastes with Pseudo Spirit Roots. The best aptitude among you is nothing more than a triple Spirit Root."
"What is my status? And what are all of you?"
"Are you even worthy of residing in the same place as me?"
Su Ling’er’s expression was flat, her voice devoid of any ripple.
"These are the rules here. All new disciples live in thatched huts."
"If you want something better, build it yourself. Or, buy one with Spirit Stones."
Her gaze lingered on Ye Longtao for a moment.
"Don’t tell me... you don’t have any Spirit Stones? Or are you expecting someone to just hand you a residence for free?"
"Then again, I suppose you’ve never endured a day of hardship in your life."
"Impossible!!!"
Ye Longtao’s denial was explosive.
"Those are the sect’s rules for you wastes! How could I, Ye Longtao, be lumped in with the likes of you?!"
His words were a slap in the face to the other disciples. Their breathing grew heavy, and their fists clenched within their sleeves.
Ye Longtao’s gaze swept over the crowd, finally landing on a small, newly-built loft belonging to one of the disciples.
"This house isn’t bad."
He pointed at the loft, announcing in a commanding tone.
"From now on, it’s mine."
With that, he ignored the crowd and turned to walk toward the small loft.
The disciple who owned it trembled, the color draining from his face, but he didn’t dare make a sound.
But Su Ling’er let out a furious roar!
"You dare!"
