Ch. 199 - Jade Pool Saintess

Jade Pool Sacred Ground’s Immortal Stone Workshop was serene and elegant, with exotic trees and rare herbs planted among the courtyards. Source stones were scattered around, resembling ornamental rock gardens, arranged with tasteful charm. Babbling springs and vine-covered pavilions dotted the landscape, blending stones seamlessly, evoking a return to nature.

“Is the fairy visiting Flatrock City from Jade Pool Sacred Ground their Saintess?” someone asked.

“I heard the Jade Pool Sacred Ground’s Saintess is touring the Northern Region. It’s likely her, or the workshop wouldn’t have closed this morning,” another replied.

Many came hoping to glimpse the Saintess, drawn by Jade Pool Sacred Ground’s fame, which spread beyond the Eastern Wilderness to Middle Continent and the Northern Reaches. Renowned as the most ethereal sacred ground, its women were said to embody the wisdom of heaven and earth. Young elites from major forces dreamed of marrying a Jade Pool Sacred Ground fairy, but few succeeded, even among ancient aristocratic clans or sacred grounds.

Jade Pool Sacred Ground disciples rarely married outside, let alone the Saintess. In countless years, only a handful of Saintesses had wed outsiders.

Ye Fan suddenly sensed someone watching him. Turning, he saw a young man in purple, surrounded like a star among followers, standing nearby. Some faces were familiar from Super Lucky Gambling House, where they’d been with Liu Cheng’en, now deferring to the purple-clad man.

“Sunset Clouds Sect,” Ye Fan noted, frowning but unconcerned. At the Other Shore Stage, he was a minor expert. Though no match for sacred ground heirs, he was a “young prodigy” in smaller sects like Sunset Clouds.

“This guy’s not weak,” Ye Fan thought, surprised. The man was also at the Other Shore Stage.

The purple-clad man glanced at him dismissively before turning away. His companions glared hostilely, whispering among themselves.

Ye Fan smirked coldly, unbothered. Even the Ancient Desolate Ji Clan and Radiant Light Sacred Ground couldn’t touch him; a Sunset Clouds “prodigy” was no threat.

“Mud monkeys, still not back at your mines? Greedy after winning so much source?” a Sunset Clouds follower approached, his tone provocative.

“Here to repay the source?” Ye Fan glanced coolly. “If not, fuck off. Don’t be an eyesore.”

This mere servant dared speak so boldly, and Ye Fan gave no courtesy. “Bold words! Causing trouble in Flatrock City, forcing Young Master Liu Cheng’en to write an IOU. You’re courting death.”

“Threatening me over owed source? Speaking for Sunset Clouds Sect?” Ye Fan eyed him. “A lowly servant spouting nonsense? Scram!”

His soft rebuke thundered in the servant’s ears, buzzing like lightning. The man collapsed, pale, stammering, “You…”

Nearby, the Sunset Clouds group was startled. The purple-clad man strolled forward, looking down at Ye Fan. “Quite imposing.”

“No need to flatter me.” Ye Fan replied casually, gazing at the workshop’s scenery.

“Think it’s praise? Just a digging laborer,” a follower sneered.

“That’s all your realm can grasp,” Ye Fan shot back, stopping Wang Shu and Er Lengzi from approaching, signaling them to stay back.

“I heard my brother Liu Cheng’en owes you ninety kilo of source. True or false?” the purple-clad man asked coolly.

“True. Here to settle his debt?” Ye Fan replied unhurriedly.

“Show me the IOU. Let’s verify it,” the man demanded, extending a hand.

Ye Fan produced a paper, holding it between two fingers. The man didn’t look, tossing it to a follower. “Check if it’s Cheng’en’s handwriting.”

“Fake! No way the second young master wrote this. Clearly forged,” the follower declared without glancing, tearing it to shreds and grinding it to dust.

“You’ve got nerve, scamming even me, slandering Cheng’en.” The purple-clad man sneered, staring at Ye Fan. “Driven mad by poverty, huh?”

“These mud monkeys can’t pick stones. Obviously a blackmail scheme. They need a lesson,” a follower added.

“Drag them out, beat them half-dead,” others barked, moving to seize Ye Fan.

“Too far!” Er Lengzi’s eyes reddened, ready to fight over the destroyed IOU.

“How can you do this?” Wang Shu fumed, helpless against Sunset Clouds Sect, far beyond their stone village’s reach.

“Debt demands repayment. Isn’t your trick shameful?” Ye Fan said coldly, restraining Er Lengzi and Wang Shu.

“Who owes you source, brat?” a follower shouted.

“Show the real IOU, or we break your legs for fraud,” another threatened.

Er Lengzi seethed, itching to attack. “Teach these mud monkeys a lesson!”

“Hand over dozens of kilo, or you’re not leaving.”

“No need to talk. Drag them out, beat them first!”

The purple-clad man’s group closed in, avoiding a fight in the courtyard to not anger Jade Pool Sacred Ground.

“Get lost,” Ye Fan snapped, scanning them. “Want the IOU?”

He produced another paper, waving it without handing it over. The man who’d shredded the first gaped, it was the real IOU. He’d destroyed a fake without checking.

The purple-clad man glanced back, making the follower tremble. Eyes flashing viciously, he lunged for the real IOU.

“Such audacity, causing trouble in Jade Pool Sacred Ground’s workshop under broad daylight. Are you disrespecting their fairy?” Ye Fan shouted, his voice carrying far.

Gamblers ahead turned, curious. “What’s happening?” a crisp, melodious voice asked from a Jade Pool Sacred Ground maiden.

“Pardon us, Jade Pool Sacred Ground fairy. We argued in a moment of impulse,” the purple-clad man bowed forward.

From distant pavilions, zither music drifted, and no further questions came.

“You’re something, mud monkey!” the purple-clad man’s group glared.

“Still want trouble? Shall we ask the Jade Pool Sacred Ground’s fairy to judge?” Ye Fan smirked.

The purple-clad man swung his sleeve, striding off, his followers trailing.

“Keep that IOU safe, kid. Don’t lose it,” one hissed menacingly.

“Oh don’t worry, I’ll hold it till you pay,” Ye Fan flicked the IOU, tucking it away.

Deeper courtyards were more tranquil. A small, clear lake lay ahead, its shores draped with ancient vines, strikingly beautiful. Source stones piled artfully along the banks added a natural charm.

By the lake, a pavilion stood, shrouded in ethereal mist, nestled among ancient trees and verdant foliage. Heavenly zither music wafted from it, stirring the soul, subtle yet graceful, endlessly enchanting.

Though veiled by greenery and mist, one could almost envision a fairy within, plucking the zither, otherworldly and untainted, her beauty breathtaking. A dreamlike scene emerged, mists swirling, celestial palaces faintly visible, a flawless maiden standing on clouds.

The music tugged at emotions, moving with its melody. Ye Fan’s heart stirred. This player’s mastery rivaled Hua Yunfei’s, nearing the Grand Dao, her zither wielding a magical power to sway hearts.

Fish in the lake gathered before the pavilion, swaying their tails as if dancing, entranced by the music.

“Even if not the Saintess, she’s a prodigy,” Ye Fan thought.

“It’s a Jade Pool Sacred Ground heir. The Saintess is here,” an elder declared. Ye Fan glanced back, recognizing the distinguished elders Er Lengzi had offended.

“How do you know?” Er Lengzi asked, but the elders ignored him, continuing their talk.

“The Jade Pool Saintess, renowned across the Eastern Wilderness, holds immense status. Her visit will draw many.”

“I saw a Ji Clan youth and a self-styled dashing Radiant Light junior, both from the Celestial City.”

“Many have come, even some bandits. Those rascals wouldn’t dare rob the Saintess, would they? That’d be amusing.”

“Jade Pool Sacred Ground’s allure is unmatched,” the elders nodded.

These elders clearly had significant backgrounds. Ye Fan was glad he hadn’t offended them. He figured their status made Er Lengzi’s jabs trivial. He was also surprised, per the elders, sacred ground prodigies had flocked, the Saintess’s magnetism evident.

Ding-dong.

The zither’s final note faded, lingering softly.

The pavilion’s door opened, and several ethereal women emerged. The last, veiled in moonlight, resembled a blooming immortal flower, hazy yet flawless, radiant and pure.

Her graceful, poised figure, cloaked in brilliance, seemed to stand upon a lunar palace, holy, distant, untouchable.

“You mud monkeys here to stir trouble?” a nearby voice mocked.

Ye Fan sighed, annoyed to find himself beside the purple-clad man’s group again.

“Is this your Sunset Clouds Sect’s turf? If not, shut the fuck up.” Ye Fan shot back.

“Fine, keep talking tough. You’ll cry soon,” a follower sneered.

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