Xie Xi scanned the group and spoke first: "Before we accept any mission, let's make the reward distribution clear upfront to avoid unpleasantness later."
The air froze for a moment.
Xu Hao looked startled upon hearing this, his eyes darting away.
Feng Jue remained expressionless as ever, though his gaze seemed slightly uncomfortable.
Su Zhan immediately understood the situation upon seeing this.
Young people hated talking about money most of all.
Discussing money hurt feelings, and talking about academic credits hurt even more.
It was as if discussing distribution in advance questioned each other's trust, implying someone might greedily take more than their share.
This unspoken awkwardness plunged Feng Jue and Xu Hao into brief silence.
This wasn't about distrust, but rather the greatest responsibility to the team.
Rather than arguing over credit distribution afterward, it was better to set the rules firmly in advance.
As for Liu Ziming, he showed no discomfort whatsoever.
Because he was the rich kid who wouldn't care about such small amounts.
"I agree."
Su Zhan broke the stalemate: "It's better to clarify things first. There are five of us, and any amount can be divided by five—I'm talking division accurate to three decimal places."
Xie Xi nodded slightly, giving Su Zhan an appreciative glance.
Xu Hao laughed as if relieved: "Haha... right! I think that's quite good."
Feng Jue gave a brief "Mm" of agreement.
But just then.
Xie Xi looked around at everyone and said, word by word: "I don't want a single credit from this mission's rewards."
Xu Hao stared in shock, thinking someone had offended her, and stammered: "Xie, Sister Xie, are you... are you unhappy about something? We can discuss the distribution plan again..."
Feng Jue slowly looked up, eyebrows furrowed: "Reason."
Su Zhan looked thoughtfully at Xie Xi: "This decision... what's your thinking behind it?"
"Hey hey! Miss Xie, that's not very sporting of you!"
Liu Ziming had already understood Xie Xi's intention and dramatically spread his hands: "Showing off right before I could! This kind of spotlight-stealing should be my thing!"
Xie Xi crossed her arms, her tone flat: "My family doesn't need money. You all need these credits more to improve your cultivation."
"But... but..."
Xu Hao anxiously rubbed his hands, his gaze shifting between everyone's faces: "This isn't proper! We're all a team, how can we..."
Xie Xi pulled a black card with gold trim from her tactical waist pack: "My father's secondary card—spend freely. I definitely won't lack this small amount."
She looked at Liu Ziming: "His family doesn't need it either. Our purpose in accepting missions is to gain combat experience and grow stronger through battle."
"Exactly, my dad's the same."
Liu Ziming pulled out a similar-looking black card from his inner pocket: "Aiya! Xie Xi, you totally stole my thunder! I don't want credits either—you three can split the money."
Feng Jue remained silent for a long time.
So long that Xu Hao thought he wouldn't speak again, when he suddenly said: "Credits aren't just currency—they're proof of honor. We're a team..."
"You three need this money far more than we two do."
Xie Xi interrupted him: "If you still consider us your teammates, then agree to my proposal."
"Stone-face."
Liu Ziming patted Feng Jue's shoulder: "Stop overthinking it. What's money good for? For us, it's just for buying cultivation resources, and honestly? Xie Xi and I will never lack cultivation resources. So the mission reward credits are useless to us, understand?"
Xu Hao's eyes reddened with anxiety: "But, but..."
Su Zhan had remained silent until now.
Seeing Xie Xi and Liu Ziming renounce their mission rewards, warmth rose in his heart.
These two abandoning credits wasn't some impulsive whim.
Xie Xi had always been rational to the point of coldness.
Liu Ziming, though seemingly flamboyant, was definitely not someone who would make a losing deal.
They were doing this precisely because they knew he, Feng Jue, and Xu Hao needed these resources more.
For awakeners, cultivation resources were life itself.
And Xie Xi and Liu Ziming—they simply didn't lack cultivation resources.
The three of them were the ones who lacked.
But Feng Jue and Xu Hao's reactions made Su Zhan shake his head inwardly.
They were unwilling to accept this kindness.
It was just ridiculous youthful pride at work—preferring to grit their teeth and refuse rather than owe a favor.
This was foolish behavior.
They needed to seize every opportunity to grow stronger, even if it meant temporarily lowering their heads.
When their strength became sufficient, they could repay it tenfold, a hundredfold.
Su Zhan stepped between the arguing group and made a calming motion with downward-pressed hands: "Alright alright, I see how it is."
He first pointed at Liu Ziming: "This one's family owns mines."
Then pointed at Xie Xi: "This one's family lives in the mines."
Finally patted Xu Hao and Feng Jue's shoulders: "And we few—our families are waiting for us to dig the mines."
The corner of Xie Xi's mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.
Liu Ziming immediately picked up: "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! So it's settled—you three split the credits, and Xie Xi and I will just accompany you princes in your studies."
Feng Jue pressed his lips into a tight line.
After a long moment, he solemnly stepped forward and made a fist-and-palm salute to Xie Xi and Liu Ziming: "Today's kindness, Feng Jue will remember it in my heart. In days to come, if..."
"Stop stop stop!"
Liu Ziming dramatically covered his ears: "Stone-face, don't do this! Just know it in your heart."
Xie Xi rolled her eyes: "What use do I have for your favor? If you really want to repay me, just don't go easy on me during our future sparring sessions."
Xu Hao was still making a final struggle: "This... this... I don't even know how to repay..."
"Little Haohao~"
Liu Ziming hooked an arm around his neck: "If you keep refusing, believe me, I'll call my dad right now and place a fifty-million order with your family's factory?"
"Don't don't don't!"
Xu Hao waved his hands in panic: "Our small factory couldn't handle an order from Young Master Liu like that! I'll accept, alright!"
Su Zhan watched this farce with an amused head shake: "Alright, since our two tycoons insist on poverty alleviation, we'll gratefully accept rather than refuse. Some things just need to be remembered in our hearts."
Xie Xi showed a satisfied expression: "Then it's settled."
Su Zhan's lips also carried a smile.
In a word, these people had limitless futures.
This money might seem like a lot to the three of them now, but in the future... it would be a drop in the bucket.
However...
This money's importance to them right now was undoubtedly enormous.
They could just repay it later.
Today's kindness—he would remember it.
"Alright, alright, now let's discuss which mission to choose."
Su Zhan pointed at Liu Ziming's phone screen: "These three missions—one medium difficulty, one high difficulty, one top difficulty. Which does everyone think would be most suitable?"