[Option mission completed. Reward: Spirit +1] "Report!
(Report!)
(Report!)"
As soon as the system notification ended, the three Yu sisters' triple reports immediately sounded in Jiang Beiran's ears.
"You first."
Jiang Beiran once again pointed at the Yu junior sister standing in the middle. Yu Guizui pointed at the room and spread her arms to gesture: "Shouldn't inn rooms be this big? I've never seen a room like this before."
After hearing this, Jiang Beiran sighed inwardly, then looked at the other two Yu junior sisters and asked, "What about you two?
Same question?"
The two Yu junior sisters immediately shook their heads. So Jiang Beiran pointed at the junior sister on the left and asked, "Then you go first."
"Is this Senior Brother's punishment method? But we didn't do anything wrong, did we?"
"And you?"
Jiang Beiran looked at the last Yu junior sister.
"There's no dressing table in the room. Can we ask that waiter from earlier to bring one?"
Understanding the three sisters' confusion, Jiang Beiran nodded and said, "Let's go inside first. I'll give you all a proper lesson after we enter." The group entered the room.
Jiang Beiran closed the door behind them, then looked at the other five junior sisters and asked, "From now on, you can all speak freely without having to report first. But before that, I'd like to ask presumptuously—have any of you junior sisters ever gone out alone before?" Liu Zijin answered first: "Father never lets me go out alone.
Whenever I go out, he always has my eldest brother accompany me. When my eldest brother isn't available, Master Lu accompanies me instead."
"Master Lu is...?"
Jiang Beiran asked curiously.
"He's one of father's retainers, extremely capable."
"Alright, I understand."
He then turned to the three Yu sisters.
"What about you three?"
"We usually take the carriage prepared by Steward Zhou when going out. There are... thirty to fifty people accompanying us, all hired by father."
After hearing this, Jiang Beiran really wanted to facepalm. The reason he hadn't asked these questions earlier at the sect was because too much casual conversation would affect his ability to establish authority. Now that they'd been traveling together for a while, all the junior sisters except Fang Qiuyao had adapted to following orders.
So now Jiang Beiran needed to properly understand just what kind of privileged young ladies he was dealing with.
'No wonder Guardian Yu personally came to ask me to be these junior sisters' Iron Seal.
This difficulty level is just ridiculous.' A group of privileged young ladies who'd never experienced the harsh realities of society, each more beautiful than the last—if any other Iron Seal had been assigned to them, those "hungry wolves" down the mountain would have devoured them to the bone in minutes.
After the three Yu sisters answered, Jiang Beiran looked at Fang Qiuyao, but the latter immediately snorted coldly and turned her head away, clearly having nothing to say to him. Jiang Beiran didn't mind and turned back to Liu Zijin: "Is there any chance your father sent some experts to secretly protect you nearby?"
"That shouldn't be the case," Liu Zijin shook her head.
"I didn't tell my father I would be coming down the mountain for a trial today."
"Same for us. Father doesn't know we came down the mountain today either," Yu Guishui chimed in from the side.
"Hmm..."
Jiang Beiran nodded.
"So what you're saying is, other than when you were sent to the Heart Returning Sect, you've always had people accompanying you whenever you went out, right?"
"Yes," the four junior sisters answered simultaneously.
'Good heavens!
Guardian Yu really has too much faith in me!?' Jiang Beiran thought to himself that if anything happened to any of these five privileged young ladies, the Heart Returning Sect would inevitably be held accountable.
Although the sect was powerful enough that it didn't need to worry too much—after all, when accepting disciples, everything was clearly stated in black and white: if you're worried about your child being in danger, don't send them to the sect. Still, if things really escalated, it would undoubtedly cause quite a stir.
And Yu Manwen, as their master, would naturally be unable to avoid responsibility and would certainly face punishment from the sect. But since he'd already accepted the assignment, there was no point dwelling on it. After getting the answers he needed, Jiang Beiran took out the lotus leaf package from his Universe Ring and placed it on the table.
"Let's eat the buns first."
The long-anticipated Yu sisters cheered simultaneously. As soon as Jiang Beiran unwrapped the lotus leaf, they each stepped forward to pick out the pea buns that caught their eye. Meanwhile, Liu Zijin took out a pink pouch and asked, "Senior Brother, how much do these buns cost?
I'll pay you." Jiang Beiran was somewhat surprised—he hadn't expected this young lady to have such awareness. He waved his hand and said, "They're just a few buns.
Consider them my treat."
"Then thank you, Senior Brother."
Only then did Liu Zijin step forward to take a pea bun. Noticing this, the three Yu sisters belatedly chimed in together: "Thank you, Senior Brother."
"No need for formalities."
After saying this, Jiang Beiran also picked up a pea bun and took a bite. 'Mmm~ soft and sweet, with a more distinctive sweetness compared to red bean paste. Did they add osmanthus too?
Nice seasoning—I'll have to try this next time.' The three Yu sisters beside him weren't so analytical, simply repeating "delicious" over and over. Liu Zijin took a small, elegant bite, and her face immediately lit up with surprise.
She turned to Fang Qiuyao and said, "Qiuyao, these are really good. You should try one." But Fang Qiuyao stubbornly averted her gaze, muttering, "I won't eat buns bought by this cowardly senior brother."
"Qiuyao!"
Liu Zijin tugged at Fang Qiuyao's sleeve. Having already finished his entire bun, Jiang Beiran spoke up: "Junior Sister Fang, it's true that upholding justice is what people like us should do. But acting righteously isn't as simple as drawing your sword to drive off those ruffians."
"Hmph! Isn't upholding justice all about drawing your sword when you see injustice?"
Fang Qiuyao retorted defiantly.
"Then let me ask you this: do you know why this incident happened? Who do those three ruffians work for? After injuring or killing them on their turf, how would you make a clean escape? And also—" "You're just spouting nonsense! In reality, you're just afraid of trouble! If I killed them, I'd take full responsibility myself. Whatever comes after, let them come at me, Fang Qiuyao!"
Hearing this, Jiang Beiran smiled slightly and continued, "Among cultivators, there are chivalrous and benevolent people like you, Junior Sister Fang, but there's no shortage of evil scum who bully commoners and act as accomplices to tyrants. If those ruffians went back and brought a Mysterious Practitioner—or even a Mysterious Master—to seek revenge, what would you do then?"
"I... I'd fight them to the death!"
As she said this, Fang Qiuyao's confidence clearly wavered.
"Then have you considered that if you'd investigated who those three ruffians worked for before acting, or if you'd—" "I won't listen! I won't listen! I won't listen!"
Fang Qiuyao covered her ears and shook her head vigorously. Seeing this, Jiang Beiran could only shrug. He knew Fang Qiuyao was starting to understand, but her pride wouldn't let her admit it.
Giving her some time to digest things slowly was the best approach now.
(End of Chapter)