Tang San and his group had ducked behind a boulder, where they had to kill two snakes, as they waited. Since they were on the weaker end, mostly consisting of Seventh-Stage or Eighth-Stage Body Strengthening Realm cultivation bases, they knew best to avoid trouble.
Soon, the scout returned, and they could see visible excitement on his face. He paused for a second, taking time to calm his nerves and suppress his excitement.
"What happened?" Tang Sui asked. "You look so happy as if you’ve found a treasure."
"I have!" the scout almost screamed, but quickly suppressed his voice. "I mean, I’ve discovered something huge. Our luck is simply too great."
"Tell us everything clearly," Tang San insisted.
The scout took a deep breath and nodded. Then he recounted everything he heard from Ye Jun and Rong Hua’s conversation. He was still shocked to hear everything and couldn’t believe it.
"No wonder we’ve never seen that young man before," Tang San muttered in disbelief. "He’s from the central lands. It also explains why someone like him chose to mingle with the likes of Ye Jun."
"That’s probably why Song Liangxue is also associating with him," his brother snorted. "I dare to bet that there’s something even more valuable hidden there. They just didn’t wish Ye Jun to know. They’re using that trash."
"Perhaps. Who cares about him?" Tang Sui waved her hand and said, her eyes shining. "They’ll take some time before they go there, but what if we do it?"
"As much as I would like this to be our contribution entirely, we can’t deal with it alone," Tang San said. "Let’s find our cousins and ask them to retrieve that treasure. If our Tang Clan gets something like that, we’re bound to rise."
"Then, we’ll be the sole rulers of Bright Star City," his brother grinned. "Perhaps even more. A Tier 4 Treasure will make those Vassal Sects respect us too."
"Shh!" Tang San silenced them. "This should remain among us only. If anyone else finds out about it, it’ll get chaotic."
"Let’s find the others first and then head towards the Whispering Valley. They’ll need Body Strengthening Realm Martial Artists, so we’ll get more contribution points."
"Haha! Our Clan will tower over those peasants of the Ye and Xia Clans."
...
Ye Jun watched everything with a smile on his face. He really found it funny how they believed him so easily, but it was the nature of humans. If they wanted to believe something, they would find all reasons to make it the truth.
Aside from the treasure, they also believed that Ye Jun was just a chess piece for others. So this fit their delusions perfectly. Meihui’s sudden mysterious presence was the final nail in the coffin.
As for the reason he did all of this, it was also pretty simple. The Whispering Valley was far away from Bright Star City and also quite desolated.
Anyone heading there was just wasting their time and effort, something they could use to kill more Spiritual Beasts and earn more points.
"It’s a good strategy," Meihui smiled, her legs dangling from the branch. She was in a happy mood. "If you can’t out-earn them, then just bring them down."
"They have a whole clan backing them," Ye Jun shrugged. "All of them will help the top one farm points, while we’re all alone."
"Poor us," Meihui chuckled.
"Indeed. Poor us," Ye Jun replied lightly.
"You’re in a good mood," Ye Jun said, turning towards her. "Is it related to the stunt you pulled earlier?"
"What are you talking about?" Meihui looked away.
"Don’t feign ignorance," Ye Jun narrowed his eyes. "We clearly didn’t discuss the part about Liangxue, yet you added it."
"I just wanted to make it more legit. It’ll make more sense if a young master is interested in her," Meihui didn’t look at him in the eyes at all. "Hmph! I help you and you treat me like this."
Ye Jun smiled and leaned closer to her, his face inches away from hers, and whispered, "Are you jealous?"
Meihui squealed in surprise and tried to back away, but Ye Jun held her hands and said, still having a mischievous smile on his face, "Show me your face. You’re very cute in your jealous mode."
"S-Stop flattering yourself," Meihui tried to get out of his grip but failed. She could overpower him, but didn’t want to. She hated that feeling.
Ye Jun continued to look at her for a few seconds, which made her sink slightly at the knees as her face turned entirely red from the proximity.
He laughed and backed away. "You’re really fun to tease. Seriously, I thought it only happened in animes. Face red as a tomato."
"Anime?" Meihui muttered before shaking her head. "Scratch that. Don’t do this again, otherwise I’ll blow your head off. I’m serious."
"Yes, milady!" Ye Jun chuckled as he looked down. "They’re going away. Soon, half of the Tang Clan will be heading towards the Whispering Valley for the treasure with all their elites."
"Or maybe not?" Meihui said. "They don’t need that many people. Besides, wouldn’t they want to confirm it first?"
"As much as this is clan competition, it is also individual competition," Ye Jun said, standing up. "They know if they waste time, others can take it. Even if they are from their own clan. They want the contribution points for themselves."
He smiled and said, "Anyone who brings a Tier 4 Treasure might even enter the line of Young Masters. It’s too valuable to let pass."
"This would alert other clans and participants," Meihui suddenly realized. "You want it!"
"Exactly!" Ye Jun laughed. "What’s the fun if only one clan goes there? Let them fight and find the treasure while we farm points here. By the time they realize the truth, it’ll be too late."
"You’re devious."
"You get it after being born in such a pathetic clan," Ye Jun said. "Let’s go. We need to trim down the Ye Clan today. There are many who followed my dear brother and tormented me."
A glint passed through his eyes as he said,
"I will destroy all of his subordinates first before destroying him."