Chapter 14: Unfair

The discussion in Tang Wan's team was getting heated. Among them was also the Zi Xiao Sect disciple who had led the troublemaking incident at the entrance of Zi Xiao Pavilion last time. He said, "It's indeed unfair. This observation event is meant to train cultivators—to develop perseverance through personally gathering resources with spiritual power."

Tang Wan took the opportunity to speak up, "It's true that the rules didn't explicitly forbid the use of magic tools. My younger cousin Tang Yue likely just wanted to rank high and didn't consider the potential unfairness to others. But I think Senior Brother Fu has a point."

Fu Caifa's master was the younger brother of the Zi Xiao Sect Leader, so Fu held a respected position in the sect. He had also led the earlier trouble at Qionghua Hall. He said solemnly, "Junior Sister Tang, I understand your concern for your cousin, but we can't tolerate such unfairness. It's also for her own good—so she doesn't go astray at such a young age."

Meng Yangxing echoed, "Yes, we should report this to the mission leader."

Zhou Huaisu, a tenth-stage Qi Refining cultivator, was the eldest and most senior in the team, and thus the team leader. Seeing that the mood was just right, she said to the others, "Then let's go to the leader and report it."

When Tang Yue's group was called in by the mission leader, they thought something serious had happened. But upon arrival, they found it was Tang Wan's team filing a complaint that their efficient use of magical tools was unfair to others. They demanded the team's collected resources be confiscated and that they be banned from using tools again.

Tang Yue frowned. What was wrong with these Zi Xiao Sect people?

"Senior Sister Zhou," she asked directly, "was there any mention before this event that magical tools couldn't be used? Or is it just that I've offended you and you're looking for an excuse?"

Since transmigrating, she had embraced her role as the City Lord's daughter. She didn't act arrogant or bully others, but she also wasn't one to endure being bullied. Her words had become much more direct—especially when it came to the Zi Xiao Sect, with whom she had already torn all pretense of civility. No need to waste time being polite.

Meng Yangxing frowned. "Little Sister Tang, we're only speaking out for fairness. It's not about personal grudges."

Tang Yue responded bluntly, "Senior Brother Meng, I didn't expect that no matter where you go, you'll still chase 'fairness.' Fine then, let's talk fairness."

Meng Yangxing was still a bit traumatized from their last encounter—he'd spent half a month recovering from being demoted to a servant, beaten and scolded daily. He thought Tang Yue was about to strike again and stepped back in alarm. Thankfully, several Golden Core supervisors had been called over, including Chu Tianshu, who leaned toward Tang Wan's side due to their relationship.

Chu Tianshu also thought Tang Yue was about to act out and warned, "Tang Yue, we're on a mission. Don't be reckless."

But Tang Yue had no interest in him anymore and mocked him instead, "Senior Brother, I merely said I want to talk about fairness. I didn't say I'd fight. Are you siding with Tang Wan's team just because you're close with the Zi Xiao Sect and don't want to hear me speak?"

Chu Tianshu was stunned. This was the first time Tang Yue had talked back to him. Both of his junior sisters used to be all smiles when he spoke to them. Even though he favored Tang Wan, Tang Yue used to treat him more and more warmly—never like this.

Tang Wan spoke gently, "Sister, Senior Brother only means well. He just doesn't want you to be impulsive."

Tang Yue now had the spirit of a professional arguer. She quickened her speech. "Sister, I'm not being impulsive. I just want the chance to speak."

"Fellow cultivators," she said, facing everyone now, "this observation mission never specified what kinds of spiritual tools or pills were allowed or not. Preparing properly should be part of the test too. Those who came well-equipped naturally have the advantage."

"The tools I'm using were designed by me and forged by others. They were made specifically for this event. Why can't using tools count as part of the trial? If so, why are you all allowed to carry swords and magic artifacts? Aren't those also tools used in battle? Why is it only my tools that are unfair?"

"Or… is this trial specially set up just to target me? Are you all displeased with the new order in the city and using this chance to warn my mother and Qionghua Hall?"

She turned to the lead supervisor—not Chu Tianshu, who was just the deputy.

The supervisor felt a headache coming. How could he dare offend the City Lord's wife? He tried to smooth things over. "All cultivators here are fellow disciples of the academy. We shouldn't be arguing over such a matter."

Zhou Huaisu stepped forward. "It's not that we insist on quarreling. It's just that this situation is clearly unfair."

Tang Yue smiled, "Senior Sister Zhou, if you're willing to take the lead and discard all your spiritual tools and artifacts, and if the supervisor agrees that no Qi Refining cultivator should use magic tools at all, I'll gladly put mine away and gather resources by hand. Oh, and storage pouches are magical tools too—so let's all carry our materials back manually."

Zhou Huaisu could no longer maintain her composed expression. "Tang Yue, how can you be so unreasonable?!"

"Senior Sister Zhou, weren't you the one who started this? How come now I'm the one being unreasonable? If you dislike me so much, how about we settle this with a duel?"

Chen Jinbao quickly interjected, "Senior Sister! Don't duel her—she has too many magic tools!"

Zhou Huaisu's face darkened. She remembered Chen Jinbao's defeat and humiliation. She, Zhou Huaisu, was a highly respected senior sister in the Zi Xiao Sect—no one in her peer group ever dared contradict her. Now this so-called useless good-for-nothing Tang Yue was standing her ground and talking back!

The lead supervisor, recalling Tang Yue's past "feats," quickly stepped in, "Please, let's not fight. We're still in the Orchid Spring Ravine—there's danger all around. We should stay united. Besides, fighting among cultivators during the mission is forbidden."

Tang Yue understood the supervisor's dilemma but wouldn't back down. "Supervisor, I understand your position. But this Qiankun Net and Herbal Digger were designed precisely for this trial. They are part of how I'm completing the mission. If I surrender them, it would be unfair to my whole team."

"If everything that Senior Sister Zhou's team doesn't agree with must be banned, then is this mission just tailored for them? Are they the rule-makers now? If other teams come up with effective methods to gather more resources, will they be suppressed as well?"

Zhou Huaisu was enraged. "Tang Yue, you're slandering us!"

Tang Yue calmly replied, "Senior Sister Zhou, you must understand that your opinion is not absolute truth. Others don't have to obey you."

Zhou Huaisu almost lost control.

The lead supervisor quickly interrupted, "Alright, I think Junior Sister Tang makes a good point. The academy did inform me that proper preparation is part of the evaluation. Her tools are legitimate, and the resources she collected are hers by right."

Tang Yue immediately followed up, "Thank you, Supervisor, for your fairness. We still have work to do tomorrow, so we'll head back to rest. I won't disturb you all further."

She didn't want to waste another word on Tang Wan or Zhou Huaisu—just looking at them was irritating.

Yue Yanling, Shang Fangling, and Mu Chongyun were a little stunned. Tang Yue's eloquence had improved so much! Before they could even speak, the matter had been resolved.

They had been angry upon hearing the complaint. Someone had said their spiritual tools were "too effective" and "unfair." But when had there ever been a rule against tools? Seeing Tang Yue shut them all down was deeply satisfying.

As Tang Yue's team walked away, Meng Yangxing muttered resentfully, "Outrageous!"

Tang Wan sighed to her team, "That's just how my sister is. Lady Shui gave her so many artifacts, not even the elders can control her. What can we do?"

Zhou Huaisu added with disapproval, "Lady Shui is too biased toward her daughter—giving her all those treasures and letting her bully her fellow disciples."

She conveniently didn't mention that the tools were designed by Tang Yue herself. She refused to believe such effective artifacts were her work—Lady Shui must have specially commissioned them to ensure her daughter could take first place.

The beast-hunting mission would last three days. They would act during the day and rest at night. Tang Yue's team chose a camp site far away from Tang Wan and Zhou Huaisu's group.

Little Mu Chongyun was still fuming. "The Zi Xiao Sect people went too far! Just because we might win first place, they want to ban us from using tools. But we still have to use our spiritual power to activate them!"

He still had some lingering affection for Senior Sister Tang Wan, hoping she was just being pressured by her sect.

Tang Yue reassured him, "That just means we have to win first place now—to really make them mad."

Yue Yanling and Shang Fangling agreed. They were also fed up with the Zi Xiao Sect's arrogance. The sect's disciples were always trying to dominate others, and now they were trying to suppress their team? Everyone had connections—what made Zi Xiao people so special?

So the next day, the three worked even harder at gathering materials. The moment the Foundation Establishment cultivators finished slaying beasts, the Qiankun Net would sweep in—fortunately, it didn't collect living beings.

Tang Yue calmly continued gathering as usual, not angry at all. She even had time to mimic the Foundation Establishment cultivators' sword techniques.

She wasn't surprised by the Zi Xiao Sect's behavior. In the original novel, its disciples and their allied noble clans showered Tang Wan with affection and gave her all the best things.

But thinking deeper, one could see the truth—they were robbing others and giving a fraction of the spoils to Tang Wan, pocketing most of it themselves.

The Zi Xiao Sect was the true bully of unaffiliated cultivators. Their power made them impossible to defy, even if others harbored resentment in silence.

The original Tang Yue had tried to curry favor with them too. She had a vague sense that her father leaned toward the Zi Xiao Sect and subtly helped Senior Brother Cao Yanjun grow his influence. But she hadn't realized it was part of a larger plan to undermine her mother.

Tang Yue sighed. "The human heart is a sinister thing."

A sudden voice interrupted her musing. "Little girl, what do you know about the sinister human heart at your age?"

It was an elderly voice, coming from the nearby bamboo grove.