Ling Xiao had only taken out some silver, yet it could save thousands of lives. He saw it as an act of virtue, nothing improper about it.
Besides, silver was practically useless to him now.
“Thank you, Master Ling!”
Led by the elder, the people solemnly knelt and bowed to Ling Xiao.
He didn’t stop them.
If he prevented their kneeling, they might actually become more afraid.
After all, his status as a Moonlight Sect disciple, capable of slaying the Plague Demon King, was intimidating.
“Junior Brother Ling, though the plague outside has been cleared, many animals mutated by the plague remain. If they’re not dealt with, these people won’t survive,” Shangguan Lei reminded.
“Simple, leave it to me!”
Ling Xiao smiled faintly, instructing Shangguan Lei to lead the others to pack and prepare to leave the underground demon palace, while he went to handle the animals.
The infected animals didn’t need to be killed.
They had turned ferocious due to the plague virus. Removing the plague poison would easily resolve the issue.
In just a quarter of an hour, while Shangguan Lei and the others were still packing, Ling Xiao returned.
“Done?” Shangguan Lei looked at him in astonishment, finding it unbelievable.
“Yes, it’s done. I also contacted the Bei Han Kingdom’s garrison outside. They’ve entered the valley to help the residents build temporary shelters. As for this demon lair, we should inform the sect and let them handle it.”
Ling Xiao had already taken what he wanted, so handing the place over to Moonlight Sect was no issue.
“Everything as Junior Brother Ling commands.”
Shangguan Lei now admired Ling Xiao completely, without a trace of doubt.
“May I ask something?” Ling Xiao said suddenly as they led the residents out of the demon lair. “Were you three really instigated by Hei Suo and Meng Yuan to kill me?”
Though Ling Xiao was almost certain, it was still his speculation. He needed a definitive answer.
Shangguan Lei nodded, “You’re right, Junior Brother Ling. The three of us are close to Hei Suo. This time, he and Meng Yuan offered a hefty reward to have us kill you during the mission.”
“As expected.”
Ling Xiao sneered inwardly. The disciple of Demon Flame Heavenly Lord had gone to great lengths to deal with him, but their schemes would never succeed.
“Did Meng Yuan know how difficult this mission was?” Ling Xiao asked.
“At first, we three thought it was just a standard level-three mission. With us handling it, killing you would be a side task,” Shangguan Lei replied. “But thinking back, Meng Yuan’s attitude was ambiguous. His words subtly hinted at uncertainties in the mission. I suspect he knew it could reach level four or even five but didn’t tell us, fearing we’d back out.”
“Hmph, what a piece of work, betraying even his own people?” Ling Xiao sneered.
“His own people?” Shangguan Lei shook his head. “No, Junior Brother Ling, you’re mistaken. In Meng Yuan’s eyes, we’re just three disposable pawns. Only his brothers and master count as his own.”
“Understandable,” Ling Xiao nodded.
“Honestly, if not for you turning the tide and taking control, I’d surely be dead,” Shangguan Lei sighed. “Surviving this is already a miracle. You can take all the mission rewards.”
Ling Xiao didn’t refuse. What was his was his. He had already done Shangguan Lei plenty of favours. If Shangguan Lei didn’t appreciate it, Ling Xiao would find a way to deal with him.
From start to finish, Ling Xiao had carried the mission. Shangguan Lei helped a little, while Wanyan Jun and Chen Zui were utterly useless.
Taking all the rewards was only fair.
“Senior Brother Shangguan, head back to the sect to report. I’ll stay here to prevent other sect disciples from seizing the place.”
With the plague fully eradicated, other sect disciples might come. Ling Xiao staying to wait for Moonlight Sect experts was the safer choice.
“No problem.”
Shangguan Lei understood Ling Xiao’s intent.
First, his strength was inferior, and staying might invite more trouble.
Second, this was a test to see how he’d report to the sect.
This junior brother was truly meticulous.
After Shangguan Lei left, Ling Xiao didn’t idle. He continued searching the valley.
Though he had taken most of the Plague Demon King’s treasures from the vault, he still found fragments of spirit stones from past battles and many unharvested natural treasures in the valley.
These could be consumed directly but were better for refining pills. He stored them in his Mountain River World for now.
He also collected numerous remnants and fragments of precious artifacts.
These would be useful for upgrading his thirty-six Tiangang Flying Swords.
All in all, Ling Xiao had struck it rich.
As an outer disciple, while most inner disciples of Moonlight Sect received a monthly stipend of just a hundred low-grade spirit stones, Ling Xiao had acquired over ten thousand low-grade spirit stones, incredibly useful for formations or cultivation.
Not to mention over a thousand mid-grade spirit stones and a hundred high-grade ones, which only core disciples could obtain. Even then, they might get two or three mid-grade stones a month and perhaps one high-grade stone a year.
He was now a bona fide tycoon.
After scavenging, Ling Xiao returned to the plague manor, only to find three Beast King Palace disciples standing there.
The manor’s gate was sealed with a notice reading “Beast King Palace Seal.”
The two sons of the Green Valley Lord, whom Ling Xiao had just rescued, lay on the ground, beaten black and blue, groaning in pain.
Seeing this, Ling Xiao’s brows furrowed.
Though sect rules discouraged conflict between the twelve sects, if someone was this shameless, Ling Xiao wouldn’t care about rules.
“Master Ling!”
The two young valley lords, seeing Ling Xiao return, lit up with joy and hurried over.
“It’s fine, leave it to me.”
Though Ling Xiao had no deep ties to Green Valley, these people were under his protection. For someone to harm them was like slapping his face.
The two young valley lords were injured but still mobile. This was an affront to him.
He was not pleased!
