Chapter 280: Being Reported

She eyed Jiang Fan suspiciously and muttered, "Is this Junior Brother Jiang perhaps from an important background?" Her mind was already racing, searching for information about powerful disciples from various sects, to see if any of them had the surname Jiang.

Jiang Fan, however, interrupted her with a wry smile, "The four of us are helping each other; there's no question of one 'patronizing' the others. Please, Senior Sister Yu, be flexible and let us hand in the mission items as soon as possible."

Yu Zijing nodded. She held out her fair hand and said, "The jade slip and identity token."

All four, familiar with the process, handed over their items. Yu Zijing opened the registration book and began to record.

"Yi Lianxing, Spirit Beast Sect disciple.""Qin Caihe, Myriad Sword Gate disciple.""Chu Xingmeng, Supreme Sect disciple.""Jiang Fan, Azure Cloud Sect disciple..."

"Oh? You are Jiang Fan of the Azure Cloud Sect?" Yu Zijing looked at Jiang Fan in surprise; clearly, she had heard of him before.

Jiang Fan gave a bitter smile, "It's just some undeserved notoriety, Senior Sister Yu, please don't laugh."

Yu Zijing stroked her chin, scrutinizing him, and nodded. "Although you have no spirit root, you understand social dynamics, and you are humble and polite. Much better than the rumors suggest."

Jiang Fan was dumbfounded. "Then I should thank Senior Sister Yu for seeing me in a new light."

Yu Zijing teased, "It's not that I'm seeing you in a new light. Lianxing is such an arrogant person; normally, no matter how hard you tried, you wouldn't catch her eye. Yet not only did she bring you along for the mission, but she also spoke well of you just now, saying that you were 'patronizing' them. I've known her for so many years, and I've never seen her care so much about any man. So, you must possess some remarkable quality that makes her so compliant."

Hearing the last sentence, Jiang Fan pursed his lips. This woman really dared to say anything!

Chu Xingmeng blinked, leaned into Qin Caihe's ear, and whispered, "Did Senior Sister use the wrong word? I've only heard of 'outstanding qualities,' but what does 'long qualities' mean?"

Qin Caihe's face reddened. She poked Chu Xingmeng's forehead and said, "Children shouldn't ask too many questions! The Pleasure Sect really isn't a place to stay long. If we stay any longer, Chu Xingmeng, a blank slate, will surely be corrupted."

Chu Xingmeng rubbed her forehead, looking wronged, completely unaware of what she had said wrong.

Yi Lianxing clenched her fists, annoyed and embarrassed. "Yu Zijing, are you looking for a beating?"

Yu Zijing chuckled incessantly, "Lies don't hurt people, but the truth is a sharp knife. Lianxing, you're flustered."

Yi Lianxing was utterly mortified and wished she could open Yu Zijing's head and thoroughly rinse it out with clean water. What on earth was inside that person's head?

"Stop chattering and quickly sign off on the mission items!"

Having teased her sufficiently, Yu Zijing was quite pleased. She immediately picked up the jade slip, preparing to register the mission.

But just then, a tall, beautiful woman in palace attire, accompanied by several disciples, gracefully approached.

Upon seeing her, Yu Zijing's expression changed. She quickly put down what she was doing and, along with the other Pleasure Sect disciples, stepped forward and bowed in greeting. "Greetings, Grand Elder Ling."

Jiang Fan looked. He saw a middle-aged woman in her forties. Her complexion was rosy, and her face was exceptionally well-preserved. She wore a demure palace gown and had her hair styled in a 'falling horse' bun, appearing quite dignified and poised.

However, her expression at the moment seemed troubled.

"Someone has reported that a disciple of our sect accepted bribes and signed off on inferior mission items as legitimate. Is this true?"

Yu Zijing's heart sank. She had a premonition that something bad was happening.

Her peripheral vision swept towards the male disciple who had previously assisted Jiang Fan's group. The latter looked innocent and quickly waved his hand, indicating that he was not the one who reported it.

Just then, from a group stopped by the roadside, a sturdy young man, missing his right arm, jumped out of a carriage. His vitality was incredibly strong; a faint, blood-colored mist could be vaguely seen around his body.

Jiang Fan recognized this person. It was Sun Chaozong, the second disciple of Giant Sect's Grand Elder Tie Bubai. His right arm had been severed by Jiang Fan. However, Jiang Fan was wearing a mask at the time, so the other party didn't recognize him.

"Grand Elder Ling, the person I'm referring to is your sect's disciple, Yu Zijing! And the one who bribed her is that disciple from the Azure Cloud Sect, Jiang Fan!" Sun Chaozong looked at Jiang Fan with a mocking expression.

Originally, he couldn't be bothered with other people's business. But upon learning that Jiang Fan was an Azure Cloud Sect disciple, hatred surged in his heart! His master's cultivation had been crippled by the Azure Cloud Sect Master, which led to him being ambushed and killed by a mysterious person! Now that he had encountered someone from the Azure Cloud Sect, how could he let them off easily?

Grand Elder Ling's beautiful eyes widened as she stared at Yu Zijing, "Is this true?" As a high-ranking elder, she naturally knew that her disciples often engaged in corruption. She had merely turned a blind eye because Pleasure Sect disciples also faced similar difficulties when carrying out missions. Why should Pleasure Sect disciples honestly suffer losses? However, accepting bribes was fine, but signing off on inferior goods as legitimate was absolutely not! The beast tide was imminent, and strategic supplies could not tolerate the slightest carelessness, otherwise, lives would be lost.

Yu Zijing immediately broke out in a cold sweat and said guiltily, "Grand Elder, this disciple admits her mistake. But, the mission items delivered by Yi Lianxing's group are not subpar. Grand Elder, you'll see for yourself."

Grand Elder Ling followed her gaze and immediately focused on the ten Thousand-Mile Eagles. Her eyes immediately lit up with joy. Clearly, she knew how valuable these ten Thousand-Mile Eagles were as strategic resources. Seeing that all of them were present and unharmed, she was delighted and no longer felt any difficulty. She exonerated Yu Zijing and Jiang Fan's group, saying, "Indeed, there's nothing seriously wrong. The Spirit Beast Sect is a thousand miles from here; it's perfectly normal for these Thousand-Mile Eagles to be fatigued from the journey. They will recover after a few days of rest. Yu Zijing, sign for them immediately and take them back for proper care."

Yu Zijing was overjoyed. Although she didn't know why the Grand Elder valued these eagles so much, she had, at least, escaped a calamity. She glanced triumphantly at Sun Chaozong, who had reported them, and then picked up the jade slip and registration book again.

Sun Chaozong was not pleased. Even if he couldn't do anything to Jiang Fan, Yu Zijing, who was helping Jiang Fan so much, should at least receive some punishment, right? He said in a deep voice, "Grand Elder Ling? Your sect's disciple openly accepted a bribe. If you don't impose severe punishment, how will other sects view this? How will the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets view this?"

As for how other sects would view it, Grand Elder Ling truly didn't care. Everyone did the same, so no one could criticize anyone else. But if it reached the ears of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets, it would give her cause for concern. After a brief consideration, she said with authority, "Yu Zijing, return all the spirit stones you received."

Yu Zijing hadn't originally intended to profit from Jiang Fan. She promptly returned them to Jiang Fan.

Sun Chaozong, however, pushed his luck, saying, "Is that all?"

Grand Elder Ling glared at him, "Sun Chaozong, this is the Pleasure Sect. This Elder will decide how to deal with her disciples." Her meaning was clear: know when to stop.

Sun Chaozong, undeterred, snorted, "Then I will write a letter right now to the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets to report Yu Zijing, and also to report you, Elder, for protecting your disciple!"

Grand Elder Ling's beautiful face showed a flicker of anger. Yet, she had to handle it cautiously. If exposed, the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets would surely impose punishment.

Yu Zijing's pretty face was clouded with anger, and she knelt on one knee, saying, "Grand Elder Ling, this disciple is willing to accept punishment!" She didn't want to make things difficult for Grand Elder Ling.

Only then did Sun Chaozong reveal a cold, triumphant smirk.

Grand Elder Ling's face showed hesitation. Finally, gritting her teeth, just as she was about to decide on the punishment, Jiang Fan stepped forward and said, "Grand Elder Ling, these spirit stones are merely a greeting gift between friends, not a bribe. If the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets imposes punishment, this disciple, Jiang Fan, will bear full responsibility." Yu Zijing was being punished for helping him; there was no reason for him to stand by idly.

Sun Chaozong sneered, "You'll bear responsibility? Who do you think you are? Can you afford to bear it?"

However, as soon as he finished speaking, Grand Elder Ling's beautiful face subtly changed, and she asked with some surprise, "Wait! What's your name?" She remembered the Sect Master's recent instructions.