Seeing the way the two of them looked, what else could Shen Qi not understand?
Ji Yunzhao must have done something guilty behind his back!
Seeing Ji Yunzhao open his mouth to say something, Shen Qi directly raised his hand and cast a silencing spell on him.
Ji Yunzhao opened his mouth to speak, only to realize he couldn't make a sound. He could only widen his eyes and glare anxiously at Yuan Shu.
Shen Qi shot a warning glance at the panicked Ji Yunzhao, then gently patted Yuan Shu's back.
"Don't be afraid. Tell me the truth, no one will dare to lay a hand on you."
Hearing this, Yuan Shu seemed to make up her mind. She nodded heavily and spoke slowly.
"Fifth Senior Brother came to me asking for a spirit stone allowance, but my parents haven't sent me any spirit stones recently."
"I didn't have any spirit stones to give him, so he wanted to kill me!"
"Eldest Senior Brother, I didn't know that coming to Qingyun Peak required giving Fifth Senior Brother an allowance. I'm sorry, it's my fault for not bringing enough spirit stones."
"In a couple of days, I'll ask my parents to send more spirit stones. I will definitely make it up to Fifth Senior Brother!"
"Eldest Senior Brother, please beg Fifth Senior Brother for me. Ask him not to kill me, okay?"
Yuan Shu's scared and aggrieved expression was acted out to perfection. She looked like a completely different person from the one who had coldly slapped Ji Yunzhao flying earlier!
Ji Yunzhao and Yun Sheng, who was standing to the side, were dumbfounded.
Hearing this, Shen Qi's expression immediately darkened. "Spirit stone allowance? What spirit stone allowance do you need to give your Fifth Senior Brother?"
"I don't know. Fifth Senior Brother said I have to give him two thousand spirit stones every ten days."
"Otherwise, he would have the elders of the alchemy and talisman classes call me out in public and fail my assessments!"
"He also said that if I don't give him spirit stones, all the senior brothers, including you, Eldest Senior Brother, would listen to him, hate me, and drive me down the mountain!"
"Eldest Senior Brother, I like you so much, I don't want to be driven down the mountain. I'll hand over the spirit stones, can you please not send me away?"
Yuan Shu tugged at Shen Qi's sleeve, looking anxious about losing him, which left Shen Qi looking completely bewildered.
"Is that what he told you?"
Seeing Yuan Shu nod weakly, Shen Qi's face filled with anger, but afraid of scaring the timid girl in front of him, he reached out and gently patted her back.
"Don't worry, he doesn't have that much power. He can't influence the teaching elders' decisions."
"And he certainly can't influence the decisions of your senior brothers. We won't hate you!"
"Really?" Yuan Shu's eyes were filled with tears, looking deeply moved.
Shen Qi nodded. Meeting Yuan Shu's innocent and bright smile, his feelings were complicated for a moment.
He didn't have much contact with Yuan Shu; in the past, they only interacted during missions.
He only knew that she had a bad temper, but he never knew why.
Now, he had finally seen it!
Within Qingyun Peak, there was actually someone bullying their own junior sister like this?
"Ji Yunzhao, what else do you have to say?"
Shen Qi coldly lifted Ji Yunzhao's silencing spell and asked in an icy tone.
"I... I'm wronged! I didn't, I'm not!"
Ji Yunzhao was panicked.
He had clearly agreed with Yuan Shu that these matters would only be known to him, Yuan Shu, and at most Yun Sheng. They would absolutely not let a fourth person know!
But now, Yuan Shu had actually told Eldest Senior Brother everything!
Was she trying to get him killed?
"Fifth Senior Brother, you have been taking spirit stones from me for two years. Two thousand every ten days, that adds up to one hundred and fifty thousand low-grade spirit stones."
"And that doesn't even include the precious pills and magical artifacts you took."
"I have a list here. Over the years, you have taken twenty-three thousand six hundred treasures from me. Every single one has a name, an origin, and a date."
"They are all dowry items saved for me by my parents. Some even have my divine sense mark on them, so they can't be faked!"
"You said you were just borrowing them. I want to ask you, it's been two years, are you done using them, Fifth Senior Brother? Shouldn't you return them to me?"
Yuan Shu took out a list, unfolded it, and looked up, her beautiful little face still showing some fear.
But after turning her head to see Shen Qi behind her, she took a deep breath, seemingly gaining confidence, and her expression turned resolute.
"Fifth Senior Brother, in front of Eldest Senior Brother, you wouldn't try to deny it and refuse to return them, would you?"
"You're talking nonsense, there aren't that many!"
As soon as Yuan Shu's voice fell, Ji Yunzhao shouted.
Twenty-three thousand six hundred items?
The entire Qingyun Peak probably didn't even have that many spiritual artifacts!
However, just as he finished speaking, he heard Yuan Shu chuckle softly.
"Right, there aren't that many. Actually, there are only two hundred and thirty-six items. So, Fifth Senior Brother, you admit it."
"Yuan Shu, you tricked me!"
Ji Yunzhao came to his senses, his face flushed with anger, and he clenched his fists, wanting to rush forward and hit her.
Yuan Shu's expression changed, and she shrank back into Shen Qi's arms. "Eldest Senior Brother, he wants to hit me again..."
Shen Qi raised his eyes coldly. With just one sweep of his gaze, Ji Yunzhao didn't dare to move.
Grinding his teeth, Ji Yunzhao pulled his fists back. "..."
How come he never noticed before that Yuan Shu was actually so cunning?
And so fickle!
He never intended to return those things when he took them.
A large portion of them had recently been given by him to their new junior sister, Su Lingxi.
How was he supposed to return them?
Ji Yunzhao never expected that after he took those things, Yuan Shu would actually have a list in her hands!
She hadn't objected the previous times he took them, nor had she ever asked him to return them.
Why did she suddenly change her mind this time?
"Eldest Senior Brother, Fifth Senior Brother has admitted it. He doesn't want to refuse returning them, does he?"
Seeing Ji Yunzhao's ugly expression, as if he was thinking of how to make up a lie, Yuan Shu once again showed a pitiful look, clutching Shen Qi's lapels as she pressed the question.
Shen Qi also didn't expect that such a massive amount of spirit stones, as well as so many pills and artifacts, would be involved.
For a moment, he didn't know whether to call Yuan Shu naive or just plain foolish.
These things could easily fetch a good price if sold outside, yet she just casually lent them to someone else?
No, it should be called robbery!
Thinking of the scene he had witnessed upon entering the door, Shen Qi's heart hardened. He swept a cold gaze toward Ji Yunzhao, whose face had turned the color of dirt.
"Deceiving a fellow junior sister out of her spirit stones, robbing her of pills and artifacts, and threatening her—Ji Yunzhao, you have a lot of nerve!"
"Eldest Senior Brother..."
Ji Yunzhao wanted to say something else, but was interrupted by Shen Qi.
"There is no such rule on Qingyun Peak that a junior sister needs to provide an allowance to her senior brothers. Relying on your strength to bully a fellow disciple—I will report this matter truthfully to our Master!"
"Eldest Senior Brother!"
"Say no more!" Shen Qi cut Ji Yunzhao off, helped Yuan Shu to her feet, and spoke coldly.
"Within three days, gather everything on Junior Sister Yuan's list and deliver it here."
"Otherwise, I will report to Master and have you expelled from the mountain!"
As soon as Shen Qi said this, Ji Yunzhao's expression changed.
It wasn't easy for him to become a direct disciple of Qingyun Peak. His parents back in his hometown were only able to hold their heads high in their town because of his status.
If he were kicked out of Qingyun Peak, he would have nothing left!
He didn't dare to argue, quickly cupping his hands and softly agreeing, "Yes."
"Aren't you leaving?" Shen Qi cast a cold glance at him.
Ji Yunzhao bit his inner cheek hard. The moment he turned around, he glared coldly at Yuan Shu, who was being protected in Shen Qi's arms.
Only then did he slink away from the courtyard in disgrace.
Having taken care of Ji Yunzhao and conveniently reclaimed the original owner's belongings in the process, Yuan Shu was in an excellent mood.
Her eyes darted around and suddenly landed on Shen Qi beside her, a subtle idea flickering in her gaze.
The very next second—
"Ah..."
Yuan Shu's face twisted in pain as she let out a soft gasp.
"What's wrong? Is your wound hurting?"
Shen Qi's heart tightened, and he quickly asked.
Biting her lip, Yuan Shu gave a gentle nod.
"Come, let me help you back to your room first."
As he spoke, Shen Qi supported Yuan Shu by the arm and guided her back.
