37 Three days (2/2)
The bird chirped at him and Zhao Fanyu gave it a nod. It turned towards the other cultivators and opened its beak, allowing a stream of light to come pouring out. Colors bent and painted a scene. A hologram of Zhao Fanyu and Peng Jipei emerged.
”You do realize that her fate has run out, right? What you wish to achieve will be costly,” the illusion of Zhao Fanyu hummed, stroking his sleeves and looking as detached as ever.
”I don't care! Just do what you must,” Peng Jipei's voice was high and desperate, clutching at his mother's robes with teary eyes. It was questionable if he was even paying attention to the words coming out of Zhao Fanyu's mouth.
”The price to alter fates,” Sect Leader Zhao paused, ”that would be ten thousand Divine Spirit Stones,” he mused, as though what he just demanded wasn't some sort of absurd price that would even make the affluent Ascending Dawn Sect choke.
”I don't care…I don't care…as long as you can help my mother…” Peng Jipei sobbed, head bowed.
And Zhao Fanyu nodded, summoning something out of his interspatial ring. Whatever it was, the item was cut out from the illusion. ”Very well then, ten thousand Divine Spirit Stones it shall be.”
And when it ended, the hall was quiet. Everyone eyed Peng Jipei who was still held there by the disciples in front of his brother. And his brother was about a moment away from beating Peng Jipei black and blue. ”I had no choice,” the younger Peng brother said, pleading now. And when anger seemed to rise even farther on Peng Zhugen's face he tried another tactic, ”My mother, my mother, she's not even getting better. Zhao Fanyu is a scammer.”
Zhao Fanyu only sighed, ”I extended her fate by three whole months and made her final days peaceful and comfortable. What more could you want from me? And it was you who agreed to the price.”
”These are not her final days!” Peng Jipei roared only to break down into tears, ”The Supreme Yin Pill, if only I still had the Supreme Yin Pill. Damn that thief. I'll kill that thief…”
He was muttering now and when the disciples released their hold on him, he crumbled on the ground, sobbing like a lunatic. Peng Zhugen kicked him. And Liu Sumeng felt Yuan Xuelan tense under his hold, so he decided to speak up, ”That's enough, Sect Leader Peng.”
”So you as well,” Peng Zhugen glared at the Ivory Sword Saint, ”wish to interfere with my family affairs? Who do you think you are?”
”...” Liu Sumeng was never the kind of person who knew how to speak eloquently or ease social tension, but he was quite skilled at being respectful in formal situations. He bowed and said, ”It is not my place. But beating your brother will not help solve the problem.”
Peng Zhugen, though angered, was a man that was both logical and reasonable. He tilted his chin upwards and his eyes narrowed into a glare, ”So what do you propose, oh wise Ivory Sword Saint? Where am I to find these ten thousand Divine Spirit Stones without emptying my coffers out to the last copper?”
Liu Sumeng turned his attention to Zhao Fanyu and spoke, ”Is there a way to lower the price? Ten thousand Divine Spirit Stones is steep.”
The way the Wayward Wind Sect Leader continuously sighed was becoming a little grating, ”Even if I lowered the price to nine thousand Divine Spirit Stones, it would be considered a loss on my side. Do you think that altering a person's destiny is a trivial thing?”
”Perhaps a different price. Something else,” Liu Sumeng suggested.
Everyone watched the way Zhao Fanyu hummed, petting his sleeves in thought. The little green bird hopped onto his shoulder and snuggled against his neck, unaware and unconcerned with the unfolding drama. ”Allow me to think about it...”
He closed his eyes in thought and for a moment it seemed as though he'd fallen asleep. They waited until finally, the man spoke, ”Oh I know, how about the spiritual core of a divine beast?”
He smiled, as though he was being kind. But who was Zhao Fanyu kidding?! How was this price any less or easier to obtain than the last? Unfortunately, Peng Zhugen was not the least bit merciful. ”Very well,” his commanding voice boomed, ”Then Peng Jipei shall go and collect the spiritual core of a divine beast. Fail to do so and I will have both you and your mother thrown out of these gates. You have three days.”