Chapter 136: The Most Expensive Bodyguard In Sect’s History

The next morning, the gentle warmth of the rising sun filtered through the white jade windows of the Jade Dew Manor. Yu Liang opened his eyes, feeling incredibly refreshed. The rich spiritual energy of the peak had actively nourished his body throughout the night, completely washing away any lingering fatigue.

Yu Liang had no idea what the elders were thinking about him. Somehow, they had already imagined a hidden family behind him that didn’t even exist, taking their wild guesses and piecing them together into their own perfect explanation.

After washing his face, Yu Liang stepped out into the spacious courtyard, intending to breathe in the fresh morning mist. However, the moment he crossed the threshold, his body stiffened.

Sitting on a stone bench near a cluster of spirit bamboo was a young woman. She was wearing the deep purple robes of a True Core Disciple, her long black hair tied back in a neat, high ponytail. Her face was incredibly beautiful, with sharp, delicate features, but her expression was entirely blank devoid of any emotion whatsoever, like a statue carved from ice.

Hearing the door open, she turned her head. Her cold eyes locked onto Yu Liang.

Before Yu Liang could even question her, she took a single, casual step forward.

Whoosh

There was not even sound of rushing wind. But in the span of a millisecond, the distance of thirty meters between them was instantly.

The sheer, suffocating pressure of a Mid Stage Core Formation Realm cultivator washed over him like a tidal wave, making him once again realize the terrifying gap between an outer sect disciple and a true elite of the sect.

The woman didn’t seem to notice his shock. She kept her deadpan, expressionless face and spoke in a cold and utterly monotonous voice.

"Core Disciple, Lin Xuehan. I have received the sect’s mission. Since you have paid for the Honorary Core status, you have the right to hire a personal bodyguard. I am the first candidate assigned to you."

Without giving Yu Liang a single second to catch his breath or speak, Lin Xuehan immediately pressed on, rattling off her conditions like a cold merchant.

"Before we finalize the contract, you must agree to my terms. First, my daily fee is 100 High Grade Spiritual Stones. Second, I will only protect you within the sect’s territory or during official travels, I will not perform any menial services, wash clothes, cook, or act as a servant. Third, if I am in the middle of a critical cultivation breakthrough, my duties will be temporarily suspended."

She stared at him, expecting him to turn mad and reject her immediately.

In truth, Lin Xuehan’s conditions were borderline extortion. In the sect, even the most powerful Core Disciple acting as a bodyguard would only charge a maximum of Fifty High Grade Spiritual Stones per day that too for only Honorary Disciple otherwise it would be Two to Five High Grade Spiritual Stones.

Asking for 100 was an absolute robbery.

But Lin Xuehan had her reasons. Unlike the other Core Disciples who came from wealthy, high and mighty cultivation clans with resources, she was a complete commoner. She had climbed her way up from the very bottom, step by step painfully, relying solely on her own talent and brutal determination to reach the Mid Stage Core Formation Realm.

Because she had no powerful background to rely on, she had to fund the incredibly resource intensive sword techniques entirely on her own.

She hated taking on bodyguard missions because that wasted her precious cultivation time. The only reason she took this job was because she desperately needed high grade spiritual stones to purchase a rare breakthrough pill.

She purposefully set her price at an absurd 100 High Grade Spiritual Stones, fully expecting this wealthy "honorary" young master to complain, reject her, and let her go back to her training in peace. To her, strength was the only permanent solution to anything in this world.

Yu Liang quickly realized what’s happening, the little initial shock faded away as he looked at this frosty, blunt woman. A amused smile slowly spread across his face.

"100 High Grade Spiritual Stones a day, and no other work..." Yu Liang murmured, rubbing his chin. He looked at her with a deeply sighing expression, shaking his head. "Well, Lin Xuehan... that is indeed a very... peculiar set of conditions."

Seeing his sigh and expressions, Lin Xuehan was happy. She let out a sigh of relief, thinking her plan had succeeded. ’As expected, this wealthy brat thinks the price is too high. Good. Now I can leave.’

"I’m sorry then, If you cannot meet these conditions, there is no need to waste each other’s time," Lin Xuehan said coldly, already preparing to turn around. "I will return to the registry and tell them to find you another guard. I’ll be going now."

"Wait a minute, who said I couldn’t pay?" Yu Liang chuckled, stopping her with a wave of his hand. He looked at her with a slight smile. "I was just thinking that 100 High Grade Spiritual Stones is far too low. How about this? I will pay you 200 High Grade Spiritual Stones every single day."

Lin Xuehan’s body froze mid turn.

The icy, expressionless mask she had worn so perfectly since entering the courtyard suddenly cracked. Her eyes widened, and her jaw parted slightly in sheer disbelief.

She slowly turned back to face him, her voice losing its coldness. "What... what did you just say?"

"I said, I will pay you 200 High Grade Spiritual Stones a day," Yu Liang repeated slowly, enjoying the look on her face. "And if your service is good, and you keep annoying flies away from me, I might even double it or triple it."

Lin Xuehan’s brain felt like it had been hit by a lightning bolt. ’T-Two Hundred High Grade Spiritual Stones a day?!’

She did the calculations at lightning speed. In a single month, that would be exactly six thousand two hundred High Grade Spiritual Stones.

To put that into perspective, the standard payout for Core Disciples by the sect was usually settled in mid grade stones amounting to roughly One Million Mid Grade Spiritual Stones a month, which was equivalent to only one hundred High Grade Spiritual Stones.

Yu Liang was offering her many times the absolute maximum rate. Even if she hunted high tier spirit beasts in the dangerous wilderness with all her might for a whole year, risking her life every single day, she couldn’t dream of earning six thousand two hundred High Grade Spiritual Stones!

Her chest heaved slightly as she tried to regain her composure. "Are you... are you playing a joke on me, Disciple Yu Liang? You cannot simply—"

"Aah," Yu Liang interrupted her, letting out a heavy, exaggerated sigh. He shook his head with a look of deep disappointment. "It seems Sister Lin is truly reluctant to take this job. How tragic. I thought we could have a mutually beneficial relationship, but since you don’t want to work for me, I suppose I’ll just have to go back to Elder and hire someone else who actually wants this jo–"

"Wait!"

Lin Xuehan didn’t even let him finish his sentence. Before the word "job" could fully leave his mouth, her head began to nod rapidly, up and down, exactly like a chicken pecking at rice.

"I will do it! I accept this mission!" she blurted out, her cold, aloof, and mighty Core Disciple persona completely shattering into a million pieces.

Shedding every single ounce of her previous frosty expression, she immediately stepped into her role. She straightened her posture, bowed her head slightly, and looked at him with eyes that were suddenly shining with absolute, unparalleled respect. "Dis— Young Master Yu Liang! Please do not worry! From this moment on, your safety is my absolute priority! Whether it is some annoying flies, an inner sect disciple, or even a beast from the abyss, if they dare to breathe in your direction without your permission, I will cut them down!"

Seeing this cold, untouchable sword goddess instantly transform into a highly motivated, sweet talking loyal bodyguard solely due to the power of money, Yu Liang couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

"Excellent. I like your attitude, Sister Lin," Yu Liang laughed.

Whoosh

A storage ring containing 62,00,000 Mid Grade Spiritual Stones was sent to her.

"Here is your first month’s payment. Paid in advance," Yu Liang said casually.

Lin Xuehan stared at the ring then looked at Yu Liang.

At this moment, she looked exactly like a mechanical doll that had run out of oil, her movements stiff and robotic as she slowly began to sweep the spiritual stones into her storage ring, one by one.

Yu Liang found her robotic, dazed state incredibly amusing and let out a hearty laugh. ’Even her thinking became cloudy.’

Hearing his laughter, Lin Xuehan finally snapped out of her trance. Realizing how unseemly she was acting, her cheeks flushed a light shade of pink, and she pouted slightly, looking at him with a mix of embarrassment and gratitude.

[ Ding! Host spent 62,00,000 Mid Grade Spiritual Stones ]

[ Multiplier Triggered: 1200x ]

[ Host Receives 7,440,000,000 Mid Grade Spiritual Stones ]

Yu Liang’s smile grew even wider. This "money devouring" honorary position was turning out to be on of the greatest investment of his life.