Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect-Chapter 158: Actually, I’m a Good Person

Although the Master of Heaven Mending Peak had perished in a failed breakthrough, the gossip surrounding his wife and children lingered within the Stain Sect for months.

It wasn’t just the Perfected Persons; even ordinary disciples were secretly gossiping about it.

The chatter intensified after Lü Yang was seen visiting Heaven Mending Peak every few days, personally welcomed at the door by either Lady Ruoxiang or Chen Shuqian.

In response, most of the Perfected Persons in the Stain Sect would curse them as a "shameless pair."

Sea of Clouds, within Heaven Mending Peak.

"The appointment from Holy Fire Cliff is out." Lü Yang placed a decree on the table and sighed. "I wasn’t appointed as the Master of Heaven Mending Peak."

The Inner Sect Four Peaks held an exceptionally high status in the Stain Sect. Even with Lady Ruoxiang personally vouching for him, the sect would never let a Perfected Person who had not cultivated the Heaven-Mending Skill serve as a Peak Master. Thus, Lady Ruoxiang became the new Peak Master, and Lü Yang was granted the title of Honored Guest Elder.

In other words, Lady Ruoxiang hadn’t kept her earlier promise.

At this thought, Lü Yang’s temper flared. It wasn’t until a jolt like an electric shock coursed through him that the flames of his anger were doused.

"Hooo..."

He lowered his gaze, only to meet a pair of beautiful eyes as clear and deep as autumn pools.

Even now, her dignified air remained unchanged. If anything, her slightly disheveled hair only served to accentuate her charm.

"I’m... sorry..."

Lady Ruoxiang meekly apologized.

「One day later.」

Lü Yang straightened his robes, his "Dao discussion" with Lady Ruoxiang having concluded.

Then, as Lady Ruoxiang languidly stretched her fine, jade-like figure, she took out a black-and-white token and handed it to Lü Yang.

"This is the Heaven Repairing Decree, the token of every Peak Master," Lady Ruoxiang said, leaning against Lü Yang. Her voice was soft. "With this in hand, my dear Daoist, and with me to vouch for you, you can exercise the authority of the Peak Master. This way, I haven’t broken my word. Besides... you’ve already punished me for it, haven’t you?"

Lü Yang shot her a look, his lips curved in an unreadable smile.

When all was said and done, this was merely delegated authority, not true control of Heaven Mending Peak. If Lady Ruoxiang were to have a change of heart, she could revoke the decree at any moment.

’So she wants to keep me on a leash,’ he thought. ’Afraid I’ll pull a Cuckoo’s Nest?’

But that was normal. There were no true feelings within the Stain Sect. It was impossible to gain someone’s trust unless you gave them some kind of leverage over you.

Thus, Lü Yang didn’t mind, allowing her to have this leverage over him.

’As long as I get the benefits, that’s all that matters.’

Just then, a graceful figure appeared at the doorway. She lacked Lady Ruoxiang’s dignified and noble air, but she radiated the unique energy of youth.

"Elder Yuantu...!"

Chen Shuqian walked in with a smile on her face, but it vanished the moment she saw Lady Ruoxiang standing beside Lü Yang.

"...It’s you."

Thanks to Lü Yang, the mother and daughter had finally talked things through, and Chen Shuqian now understood that her mother had no intention of killing her.

Be that as it may, Lady Ruoxiang still viewed her as nothing more than an asset.

Thus, the two still couldn’t stand the sight of each other.

........

Several days later, Lü Yang left Heaven Mending Peak.

He wasn’t actually interested in most of the items on the peak. After all, he had no shortage of Spiritual Treasures, Qi Pills, or Cultivation Techniques and Abilities.

There was only one thing he truly valued.

’The successive Peak Masters of the Inner Sect Four Peaks can use the decree to visit Holy Fire Cliff and borrow a Daoist Scripture written by a Perfected Lord... one that concerns Seeking Gold and ascending to the next stage...’

’Now *that* was a real prize!’

What Foundation-Stage Cultivator didn’t dream of Seeking Gold? Who didn’t dream of ascending to that supreme Fruit and becoming a Supreme Great Power, capable of commanding Heaven and Earth?

One had to understand, only a place like the Stain Sect possessed a Gold-Seeking Technique. Out in the wider world, the sects and Immortal Races whose Dao Lineages stopped at Foundation Establishment had no path forward. For them, attempting the Seeking Gold Ascension Position was like blind men describing an elephant; generation after generation of cultivators could only sacrifice their lives in futile attempts.

Lost in thought, Lü Yang flew toward Holy Fire Cliff.

Along the way, he keenly felt the gazes of many Perfected Persons. There was curiosity, admiration, and also apprehension—a clear sign of how high his profile had become.

Lü Yang could only sigh helplessly at this.

’The world misunderstands me so deeply!’

’It was clearly the Master of Heaven Mending Peak himself who acted so perversely that he lost the support of his own family, which is why Lady Ruoxiang, Chen Shuqian, and Chen Xin’an chose to seek my protection.’

’I merely accepted their plea for help and offered a little assistance.’

’Strictly speaking, I helped them escape the clutches of the Master of Heaven Mending Peak. They say saving a life brings immense merit—what I did was a good deed!’

He was almost moved by his own righteousness.

’On the surface, I might look like a peerless Demon who acts recklessly and pulled a Cuckoo’s Nest, but deep down, I think I’m actually a good person!’

........

Sea of Clouds, Holy Fire Cliff.

Perfected Chong Guang sat on his meditation cushion, sizing up Lü Yang with a strange expression. The man before him sat prim and proper, his handsome features arranged in an expression of utmost righteousness.

"...This matter. You handled it well."

Perfected Chong Guang spoke deliberately, pausing between each word. "With Lady Ruoxiang herself vouching for you, the affair with Chen Taihe can be considered an internal matter of Heaven Mending Peak."

Lü Yang cupped his hands respectfully. "Thank you for your leniency, Martial Uncle."

"No need for modesty. It’s a credit to your own ability."

At this, Perfected Chong Guang looked at Lü Yang, and after a moment’s thought, he lowered his voice. "However, you must remember that strength is the foundation of the Stain Sect."

"Don’t lose sight of what’s truly important. Too much scheming will cause you to neglect your cultivation."

"I understand. In fact, that is why I have come."

Lü Yang nodded and took out the decree Lady Ruoxiang had given him, presenting it to Perfected Chong Guang. "Ruoxiang knows her own cultivation is lacking, so she entrusted this to my care. She has permitted me to temporarily exercise the authority of the Peak Master. I wish to use this privilege to view the Perfected Lord’s Daoist Scripture, and I must trouble you for your assistance, Martial Uncle."

"A small matter."

Perfected Chong Guang smiled and nodded. Strictly speaking, Lü Yang was not the Master of Heaven Mending Peak, so this "delegated authority" was not exactly by the book.

However, who in the entire Stain Sect didn’t know about the relationship between Lü Yang and Lady Ruoxiang?

The two were as thick as thieves.

So, Perfected Chong Guang couldn’t be bothered to quibble over such a small detail. He took the Heaven Repairing Decree from Lü Yang and, with a flick of his finger, conjured a ray of golden light.

Lü Yang held out his hand. The golden light landed in his palm and instantly solidified into a book. Three large, ornate words, written in a script like Dragon and Phoenix Seal, appeared on the cover:

Observing the Golden Core