The three of them couldn't help laughing at their own thoughts. Back then, they had tried all they could to kill Miao Yi, but now they had somehow become his friends. What else could they be if not friends? And good friends who had fought side by side at that. It seemed as though it was no longer important whether or not they could complete the mission handed to them by their schools.
Judging from the reactions on Pi Junzi and Tao Yongchun's faces, it looked like Miao Yi would be getting two good Yao cultivator friends from now on too.
There was a tinge of sorrow in Zhao Fei's gaze as he looked at Miao Yi. Those people from the Red Scarves Alliance who had betrayed Miao Yi, where were they now? Zhao Fei hadn't seen a single one of them on this nameless island. On the contrary, him and Sikong Wuwei were the ones who managed to survive until now because of the decision they made in that one moment. And by the looks of things, they would be able to leave the Sea of Constellations in one piece as well. On top of that, they had just obtained an incredible fortune. With ample time and a safe environment, if they used the cultivation resources they had now, the two of them could break through all the way to Red Lotus Fifth Grade!
Originally, there had been one more person by Miao Yi's side. It was a woman, and her name was Qi Xiuhong! Zhao Fei couldn't help lamenting as he thought about it. It was such a pity that Qi Xiuhong's cultivation had been much too low in this perilous place. If only she could have held out for another half day. But sadly she couldn't even endure past the first half. If she had, she'd still be alive and leaving the Sea of Constellations together with them. She would have a bountiful supply of cultivation resources, and a bright future ahead of her. But alas, it was all too late.
"Wu…"
A loud howling noise came from outside. Looking around by the cave's entrance, Miao Yi turned back and said, "It's time to assemble. Let's go!"
Everyone touched the storage rings wrapped under their clothes, coming to realize that it was truly a hassle to have too many storage rings. But alas, they didn't have those high-grade storage rings that could stack their effects upon one another, so they could only carry them along.
Things were easier for the men. However, being a woman, Ye Xin couldn't just take off her clothes in public and hang the storage rings on her body, so she just tied it directly over her clothes. She then added on a few extra clothes on top of them. Her slim figure was immediately gone after that.
"Pfft!" Tan Lao couldn't resist breaking out into laughter. He quickly stifled it, but his gaze continued to look up and down Ye Xin's body.
Ye Xin shot him a vicious glare.
"Tsk tsk! We can even use this as armor if we ever need to step up and fight. You won't have to worry even if the opponent strikes you with his sword," Sikong Wuwei said as he felt around his body.
The Celestial Nation forces soon gathered and began making their way to the arena together. Yue Yao cast a sideways glance at Miao Yi, who was riding beside her, then turned back to see the slightly plumped up Zhao Fei and the others. She secretly transmitted her voice over to Miao Yi, "Yan Beihong, looks like you guys have made quite a fortune."
Miao Yi became a little furious the moment Yue Yao brought up this topic. 'How could you even set up your own brother?' He replied in kind, "How can we compare to you, Yue Yao? You're the one who took the lion's share of the profits with you. We're just getting your leftovers."
Yue Yao then flashed the transparent, golden-amber storage ring on her slender finger in front of Miao Yi. It was the kind that could overlay its storage space. Miao Yi could tell from a single glance that it was very intricately designed. The storage ring looked very beautiful on Yue Yao's finger.
Moving her fingers around in a flaunting manner, Yue Yao teased, "Just look at yourselves. You barely have any room left to keep all your things. I'm doing you all a favor by taking some away."
'She's mocking me for not having a high-grade storage ring! Hmph! Now that I have so much treasure with me, I'll get Yao Ruoxian to refine one for me as soon as I get back. If he can't then I'll just buy one directly!' Miao Yi replied coolly, "Fairy Yue Yao is so beautiful. I'm just scared you won't be able to find someone to marry if you're branded as a greedy woman. Wouldn't I be causing trouble for you then?"
"That's funny! Me, have trouble finding someone to marry?" Yue Yao acted as though she'd just heard the biggest joke in her life. She said disdainfully, "There are countless men across the realm who wish to marry me. As long as I spread word that I'm looking for a partner, men will surely flock in droves to my side like schools of carp, and I can just choose as I please. I may be afraid of many things, but I never have to worry about my marriage!"
"Is that so?" Miao Yi asked sarcastically, "Then why not try and spread the word then? Let's see who wishes to marry you."
'Trying to provoke me?' Yue Yao scoffed, "Thanks for the kind reminder, but I already have a standard for the type of man that I wish to marry. I don't need to spread the word out."
Miao Yi was surprised by her answer. He immediately stopped trying to tease her, and looked at her earnestly as he asked, "You already have someone in mind?"
"Yes, I do!" Yue Yao admitted without hesitation.
Miao Yi mulled this over for a while, then asked, "Can you tell me who it is?"
"What right do you have to know this?" Yue Yao felt his question was laughable. "I see where you're coming from. Are you jealous?"
"As if I would be jealous. I just wish to give you my blessing!" There was a trace of melancholy in Miao Yi's expression as he shook his head and sighed. "You've really grown up I see. You even have someone you want to marry! You're right, I don't have the right. I probably don't even have the qualifications to attend your big day either. Very well then! Since my strength is limited, I won't be able to give you anything too luxurious. So I won't be angry anymore. You can just think of all the stuff you took last night as your dowry. Don't complain that it's too little. If I ever get the chance, I will add on a more expensive gift in the future."
Yue Yao found Miao Yi's words truly insufferable. He made it seem like he was her father or something. She found it infuriating and laughable at the same time, and replied, "You, give me my dowry? What a joke. Who do you think you are? Even if I'm willing to accept it, do you think you can afford my dowry? You think a paltry amount like that is enough to be my dowry?"
Miao Yi immediately lowered his head and sank into silence. 'Even if I revealed my identity. Even if… Given Little Sister's status now, the person she wishes to marry is definitely someone extraordinary. But as her big brother, I probably don't even have the ability to represent the bride's family and fork out an appropriate dowry for her wedding. How can I shamelessly reveal my identity then…'
Seeing how Miao Yi had suddenly quieted down, Yue Yao wanted to continue mocking him. However, she quickly stopped herself as she thought, 'What am I doing? I'm not acting like myself. Why did I even say such things to a man I barely know?'
"Sorry!" Miao Yi suddenly apologized with a pained expression.
"..." Yue Yao was speechless. The sudden apology had completely broken her train of thought, and she couldn't fathom what Miao Yi was thinking of at all. 'He couldn't possibly be apologizing just because I said he couldn't afford my dowry, right?'
Yue Yao didn't know what to say. She turned back to look at Zhao Fei and the others, then said to Miao Yi via voice transmission, "You divided all the loot with them last night?"
Miao Yi lowered his head a little, and replied absent-mindedly, "We divided it equally."
'Equally?' Yue Yao was shocked, and she looked on at Miao Yi in confusion. That amount of treasure was no small sum even to her. After she took away half, they actually divided the rest equally?
The six camps soon gathered around the arena, however, there were no signs of anyone starting the battle. Instead, Hei Wuya, Feng Ruxiu, Kong Zhi, and Bai Ziliang all headed over to Yue Yao's side. Meanwhile, Yun Feiyang was rubbing his hands excitedly and giving his men a pep talk as he saw this. Confused, he then said, "What's going on? We aren't fighting anymore? These guys better stop trying to play tricks behind my back. Come on! Let's go over and see what's up!"
Afterwards, he quickly charged over with a few of his men.
Several dozen people stood before Yue Yao in a semicircle. She eyed them calmly, then asked, "What do you think you're doing?"
"Stop playing dumb. What do we think we're doing, you say? Motherfucker. How dare you steal from a monk? That's just too unscrupulous. I will definitely get justice today!" Ba Jie was the first one to speak. He was absolutely boiling with rage. Not only did the other party set him up, but they didn't even show up to the trap he'd prepared the night before. He ended up waiting an entire night for nothing and suffered a second time.
Yue Yao cast a sideways glance at him, then said, "Kong Zhi, where did this scoundrel of a monk come from? As if he's fit to speak with me!"
"My master is Mount Duolai's Grandmaster Qi Jie. You dare say you've never heard of him?" As soon as the other party questioned his identity, Ba Jie immediately announced the name of his master.
"Grandmaster Qi Jie is a noble and honorable monk. How can he possibly have such a disrespectful disciple like you? Beat it!" Yue Yao scoffed.
"You—" Ba Jie had just pointed out with his finger, when suddenly— 'Whoosh!' —a crescent moon appeared directly over his head, giving him a fright as it almost cut him down on the spot.
No matter how sharp his tongue was, he couldn't make any snide comments when faced with absolute strength. Ba Jie's expression twisted in dismay as he stared at the razor-sharp edge that was merely half an arm's length away from his face. 'I almost got turned into a cross-eyed guy. A good monk does not make himself suffer willingly. I'll keep quiet and endure this for now.'
Meanwhile, Bai Ziliang pointed at Miao Yi and scoffed, "We all know what the issue is here. Let's not beat around the bush. Have him return all the things he stole!"
Seeing as the issue was related to Miao Yi, Yun Feiyang asked curiously, "Bai Ziliang, what's going on? Explain it to me."
Bai Ziliang then briefly explained to him the deeds that Miao Yi had committed. After which, Yun Feiyang looked at Miao Yi in shock, and asked, "Are you for real?"
Finally realizing who was behind the weird happenings of late, Yun Feiyang was instantly overjoyed. He thought, 'This Miao Yi is a loyal friend indeed. He only set up everyone else's members and not mine.'
Beside him, Yan Beihong looked at Miao Yi in astonishment. 'This Little Brother of mine sure is crazy as hell.'
The floating crescent moon then drifted over to Yue Yao's back as she said coolly, "I was the one who ordered him to do it. The rules didn't explicitly forbid participants from doing this after all. If you have the strength, you can do it too. All your things are in my possession now. You want me to hand them over? Fat chance. So what can you do about it then?"
"You—" Before Bai Ziliang could finish his sentence, Yue Yao immediately cut him short and said, "Bai Ziliang, you'd better stop acting so rude in front of me. Even your mother, Ji Meimei, has to be respectful when speaking to me. This is no place for you to point fingers and boss me around. If you continue acting out of turn, don't blame me for teaching you a lesson on behalf of Ji Meimei!"
Bai Ziliang clenched his fists in anger, and behind him, Lan Susu was evidently displeased as well. However, they couldn't do anything about it as they knew that they were no match for her. They heard that Yue Yao had even taught Yun Feiyang a lesson the moment he arrived.
Feng Ruxiu raised his hand in a friendly manner and tried to play the mediator as he said, "Yue Yao, everyone is here to talk things out. You don't need to get so angry!"
"What a joke. I've never heard of someone coming to the Sea of Constellations Subjugation Crusade to talk things out." Yue Yao snorted contemptuously, "All your things are with me now. If you want to take them, then bring it! But let me make things clear—don't blame me if my hand slips and you get into an accident!"
Everyone exchanged glances with one another. Yue Yao had no intention of yielding, and the others couldn't do anything about it either. It's not like they could just kill her off. More importantly, there was no telling who would win either if they started fighting.
Yun Feiyang was overjoyed to see all these people disadvantaged like this. And because of Miao Yi, he immediately decided to play the good guy, waving his hand as he said, "Let's just forget about it. It's not like they fought privately. Our members were the ones who willingly handed their things over. So long as they didn't break any of our rules, there isn't much we can do about it. Come on, let's move along now. We wouldn't want to cause any delays to the Subjugation Crusade."
Feng Ruxiu and the others all rolled their eyes at him. 'What do you mean 'our members'? How are your people even related to this? It's easy for you to say that since they didn't touch a single hair on your members' heads.'
"We shall continue the matches!" Hei Wuya declared coldly. He then turned his mount around, his black cape fluttering in the wind, and quickly led his subordinates away.
"Let's go back!" Yun Feiyang said joyfully. He shot a wink over to Miao Yi, then turned his mount around and led his subordinates away.
"Oh, Yue Yao!" Feng Ruxiu smiled bitterly at Yue Yao, shaking his head as he led his men away as well. His words and actions made it seem as though he was extremely close to Yue Yao.