When Qu Ying saw Ma Liang, the first thing that came to mind was the recent rumors about the Grand Sky Sect's debt-collecting duo, and Ma Liang was one of them.
So Qu Ying's expression changed drastically. Could it be that the Grand Sky Sect plans to take something from our Tianwu Sect too?
If that's the case, it seems our Tianwu Sect would have no choice but to give in...
But before Qu Ying could feel troubled, Chu Xinghe spoke up.
When Chu Xinghe said he wasn't here to collect debts but to repay them, Qu Ying's face changed dramatically!
What the heck?
Not collecting money? Repaying money?
Repaying money is scarier than collecting money, isn't it?
Qu Ying was completely bewildered... Did our Tianwu Sect do something wrong recently? Otherwise, why would the Grand Sky Sect come to repay us?
Is the Grand Sky Sect planning to stop us from being their vassal sect?What should we do now!
With caution, Qu Ying welcomed Chu Xinghe into the largest hall of the sect, the Tianwu Hall. Upon receiving the news, Sect Master Zhao She of the Tianwu Sect also brought many elders to wait in the hall.
Faced with the warm reception from the Tianwu Sect, Chu Xinghe chose to be straightforward and took out all the resources owed by the Grand Sky Sect from his Space Ring.
He didn't even spare the interest, taking everything out in one go.
But after presenting these resources and benefits, Chu Xinghe realized something was off...
Damn it, logically speaking, shouldn't the Tianwu Sect be happy and excited to see us repaying the debt?
Yet, everyone in the Tianwu Sect looked as if their sect master had just died. Isn't your expression a bit too much?
Especially Sect Master Zhao She, what's with that look as if someone died?
Are you addicted to being owed money?
While Chu Xinghe was bewildered, Zhao She cautiously looked at him and spoke, "Xinghe... I don't know what my Tianwu Sect did wrong... Please enlighten us, Xinghe, we can change... But please take these resources back..."
Chu Xinghe: "???"
Chu Xinghe was dumbfounded... What the heck is this? I'm here to repay the debt, and you're not happy, but what do you mean by that?
Not only was Senior Brother Xinghe confused, but Ma Liang was also bewildered.
What the heck is this? When I, Ma Liang, go to collect debts, people shamelessly refuse to pay, but when Senior Brother Xinghe goes to repay debts, people refuse to accept?
Isn't this a bit too ridiculous?
Look at Zhao She's pained expression, it's even worse than those who owed us debts from the Grand Sky Sect recently. What the heck is going on?
But soon, Zhao She's words made Chu Xinghe and Ma Liang understand why Zhao She was acting this way and why the Great Elder and other elders had said that the debts owed by the Grand Sky Sect were not simple...
As the number one sect in the world, the Grand Sky Sect naturally had countless vassal sects under its command.
These vassal sects usually received various benefits from the Grand Sky Sect, and it was precisely because of the Grand Sky Sect that these small sects could maintain their status and gradually rise.
But becoming a vassal wasn't as simple as just expressing a desire to be one; the Grand Sky Sect wouldn't just agree.
So vassal sects usually had to show some sincerity.
Only when the Grand Sky Sect saw your sincerity would they consider accepting you, and this was also an opportunity for vassal sects to showcase their strength.
Not just any random sect could become a vassal of the Grand Sky Sect.
The Tianwu Sect was one such sect, and the so-called resources owed by the Grand Sky Sect were actually the sincerity the Tianwu Sect had offered back then. The number one sect in the world wouldn't accept sincerity for nothing, so it was accepted as a loan of resources.
Don't think the Tianwu Sect gave a lot, but over the years, they've gained even more by following the Grand Sky Sect.
If the Tianwu Sect hadn't gone all out to offer sincerity to become a vassal of the Grand Sky Sect back then, they wouldn't have their current status.
If today Chu Xinghe really asked the Tianwu Sect to offer another batch of sincerity, the Tianwu Sect would be pained but would definitely do it. But when they heard Chu Xinghe was here to return the sincerity from back then, the Tianwu Sect panicked on the spot.
What does this mean? Is the Grand Sky Sect planning to stop us from being their vassal?
Are they trying to clear us out? We haven't done anything too excessive over the years... If we're cleared out by the Grand Sky Sect this time, how will our Tianwu Sect survive!
"Xinghe... Is it because of that batch of Spirit Stones last time... I'll be honest with you, it was our Tianwu Sect's greed, we took an extra ten percent... We didn't report it to the Grand Sky Sect, we know we were wrong..."
"Or is it because of that batch of herbs? I, Zhao She, swear to the heavens, I only took an extra five percent of that batch..."
"Could it be because of the meteorite iron? Although we inflated the price a bit, we weren't the only ones, we're willing to make up for it..."
Zhao She was so overwhelmed that he dared to say anything...
Listening to Zhao She's words, Chu Xinghe was baffled. What the heck is all this?
I'm just here to repay the debt, Zhao She, you're overthinking... And as for what you just said, not only am I not dissatisfied, I even hope you can keep it up, it's fine to be a bit bolder...
He quickly explained that the repayment had no other meaning, it was simply because the Grand Sky Sect was virtuous and didn't need those so-called guarantees of sincerity. Chu Xinghe just wanted to repay the debt, is that not okay?
Turns out, it's not okay!
Led by Zhao She, the elders of the Tianwu Sect were crying their hearts out, insisting that Chu Xinghe wasn't repaying a debt but forcing them to their doom, begging Xinghe to give them a way out, pleading for him to take back the debt and tear up the IOU from the Grand Sky Sect.
Our Tianwu Sect would rather die than accept the Grand Sky Sect's repayment!
The scene was chaotic, extremely chaotic...
Ma Liang's mind was also in chaos... extremely chaotic...
You wouldn't believe this scene if you didn't see it with your own eyes.
One side desperately trying to repay, the other side desperately refusing...
This wasn't just politeness, they genuinely didn't want it.
Look at the Great Elder of the Tianwu Sect, he even drew his sword, saying if Chu Xinghe dared to repay, he would die at the Grand Sky Sect's doorstep...
Chu Xinghe was so angry he could spit blood!
Is there no one normal when it comes to the Grand Sky Sect?
I'm just here to repay the debt... You can remain a vassal, not only will everything stay the same, but I'll also open a back door for you in the future, is that not okay?
Turns out, it's not okay... Chu Xinghe's mouth was dry from talking, but the Tianwu Sect insisted that he take the resources back, they couldn't accept even a bit...
And could he burn the IOU as well, they would never admit the Grand Sky Sect owed them a penny!
Ma Liang was dumbfounded watching.
He couldn't collect debts, and Senior Brother Xinghe couldn't give money away...
But Ma Liang knew, the Tianwu Sect wasn't indifferent to resources, they just didn't dare to take them... Though these resources were abundant, compared to the benefits of being a vassal of the Grand Sky Sect, they were nothing.
Seeing the scene getting out of control, Chu Xinghe quickly signaled to Ma Liang.
Why did you come along, Ma Liang? Quickly help me persuade them!
Seeing Senior Brother Xinghe's signal, Ma Liang was initially confused, then immediately understood and spoke up.
"Sect Master Zhao, Senior Brother Xinghe is indeed here to return these resources today, with no other intentions, so Sect Master Zhao, please feel free to accept them."
Hearing Ma Liang speak, Chu Xinghe breathed a sigh of relief, finally, Ma Liang was being helpful.
"However, starting next year, our Grand Sky Sect will increase all cooperation shares between our two sects by twenty percent!"
Hearing Ma Liang's words, the scene, which was about to spiral out of control, instantly quieted down.
Zhao She nodded in agreement with a look of ecstasy, and the other elders were overjoyed, all exclaiming, "God Bless Grand Sky!"
Chu Xinghe was dumbfounded.
What the heck is this? Ma Liang, you said you'd be helpful, is this what you call helpful?
You're a scoundrel!
Ma Liang, what nonsense are you spouting? Is this what I meant by signaling you?
I just wanted to repay the debt, I wanted you to help me repay it, what are you doing?
I never intended to ask for a higher share...
Is this helping me? You're trying to make the sect profit, Ma Liang!
But before Chu Xinghe could say more, Zhao She ordered the Tianwu Sect to accept all the resources Chu Xinghe brought and declared the debt cleared. As for what Ma Liang said, they wouldn't wait until next year, they'd start this year!
Ma Liang nodded in satisfaction, while looking at Senior Brother Xinghe with admiration. At this moment, Ma Liang had newfound respect for Senior Brother Xinghe.
Initially, Ma Liang thought this visit was just about repaying the debt, but when he saw Senior Brother Xinghe signaling him, he realized he was too naive!
Listen to what Zhao She just said, who knows how much the Tianwu Sect has been skimming off every year!
Senior Brother Xinghe knew the Tianwu Sect was skimming so much under the Grand Sky Sect's name, could he tolerate it?
With Senior Brother Xinghe's personality of not allowing the sect to lose a single penny, wouldn't he make them cough it all up?
I'm too slow-witted, Senior Brother Xinghe, I have a long way to go to reach the level of a Great Elder.
I didn't consider Senior Brother Xinghe's true intentions right away, I needed him to keep signaling me to understand...
I'm still too dull, Ma Liang!
I said I'd play the bad guy, and the first time I almost messed it up...
Look at the disappointment on Senior Brother Xinghe's face, that's disappointment in me, Ma Liang! The Tianwu Sect agreed to the twenty percent so easily, it surely didn't meet Senior Brother Xinghe's expectations!
But rest assured, Senior Brother Xinghe, it won't happen again!
I, Ma Liang, now understand your intentions, for sects like the Tianwu Sect, enjoying the benefits of the Grand Sky Sect while harboring ulterior motives, I, Ma Liang, will definitely give them a hard blow!
Indeed, the gap between me and Senior Brother Xinghe is still too wide, Senior Brother Xinghe is always thinking about how to make the sect profit, even when repaying debts, he can make it profitable!