First in Line to Embezzle

"The Master Secret Emissary!" "The Master Secret Emissary!" ... Zhou Qing'ang's voice was not loud, but when it fell upon the ears of He Zhenghao and Gao Yuan, it struck like a clap of thunder. He Zhenghao froze for an instant before his face turned ashen. "The Master Secret Emissary has emerged from seclusion? How could I not know?" Gao Yuan was also thoroughly horrified, an expression of utter disbelief on his face. Yet what Zhou Qing'ang said next eased their tension slightly. "The Master Secret Emissary has not yet emerged from seclusion..." Zhou Qing'ang said flatly. "However, if certain people believe their little schemes can be kept from him while he is in seclusion, that would be rather laughable..." There was a pointed undertone to Zhou Qing'ang's words as his gaze swept over the two men before him. His conscience guilty, He Zhenghao said sheepishly, "We all know the Master Secret Emissary commands heaven-reaching methods. We would never dare deceive his esteemed self!" Gao Yuan, too, no longer bore his earlier posture of calm confidence. His mind turned quickly, and seeing Zhou Qing'ang's unusual demeanor upon emerging this time, he inferred far more. Cold sweat immediately drenched his back as alarm seized his heart. His thoughts raced to devise a counterstrategy, yet his body mechanically echoed He Zhenghao's words. Seeing the two still obstinately talking their way out, Li Fan sneered inwardly. He abruptly raised his voice several notches and berated them harshly, "The two of you embezzled fundraising principal behind the Secret Emissary's back! You acted with reckless abandon while he was away! You treated the Alliance's laws as nothing, trafficking offices and titles for exorbitant personal profit..." "All of these things—did you truly think you could hide them from the omnipotent Master Secret Emissary?" "How could you be so foolish!" As if struck by lightning, He Zhenghao began to tremble uncontrollably, shaking like a sieve. Gao Yuan's face turned deathly pale as well; he opened his mouth, but not a single word could come out. "Hmph, never mind that the Secret Emissary appears on the surface to be merely of the Golden Core realm—you should both know full well how terrifying he truly is." "While it might be an exaggeration to say he knows all affairs under heaven without stepping outside, how could the sordid deeds in this tiny Congyun Sea escape his discerning eye?" Li Fan boasted shamelessly on his own behalf. "Ever since you pocketed that unclaimed fundraising principal back then, Fellow Daoist He, the Master Secret Emissary has had his eye on you." Upon hearing this, He Zhenghao's legs turned to jelly, and he collapsed limp onto the floor. "I..." He Zhenghao opened his mouth to defend himself, but his throat was full of bitterness, leaving him utterly tongue-tied. "Zhou Qing'ang" sighed faintly. "However, his esteemed self does not care about such petty contribution points. Furthermore, you were the very first cultivator to follow him ever since he awakened. Thus, the Master Secret Emissary turned a blind eye to it." "Treating it merely as compensation for your hard labor and toil, He Zhenghao." "Yet what you have done over the past two years has disappointed him to the extreme." "Zhou Qing'ang" adopted a chilling tone and continued, "Trafficking offices and ranks—is it a crime? Countless people in the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals do the very same thing. The Master Secret Emissary is hardly ignorant of worldly ways, so why would he have stopped you?" "Had you been open and honest, applying directly to the Master Secret Emissary to use this avenue to amass wealth, his esteemed self might even have lent you a helping hand!" "Yet of all things you should not have done, you acted entirely on your own initiative in every matter. The proceeds you gained from selling various posts must surely exceed a million contribution points by now." "Did you report it to the Master Secret Emissary even once? These actions violate the Alliance's laws after all. If the secret ever leaks out one day and punishment comes down from above, the blame will inevitably fall upon the highest-ranking official in Congyun City—the Master Secret Emissary!" "Embezzling is one thing, but you actually sought to use the Master Secret Emissary as your scapegoat! Your intentions deserve death!" Zhou Qing'ang barked sharply. Slumped on the floor, He Zhenghao felt aggrieved beyond measure. He wanted to retort: Hadn't the Master Secret Emissary repeatedly exhorted him before departing never to disturb him unless something truly critical occurred? Besides, when had there ever been reason to report corrupt and illegal dealings to one's superior? Would that not be rushing to one's own death? Yet no matter how helpless he felt, saying it aloud now would accomplish nothing. Looking back on his conduct over the past two years, He Zhenghao felt as though he had been drifting through a dream. Those contribution points he had once earned through bitter hardship and treasured above all else had turned into mere strings of numbers in his eyes. They had lost all meaning as a measure of practical value. Even if he spent over a hundred thousand contribution points in the blink of an eye, he felt not the slightest twinge of pain. Possessing such vast sums of contribution points had subtly altered his mindset without his realizing it. Originally, he had sworn to follow the Secret Emissary—who was very likely a Longevity Heavenly Venerable who had fallen in cultivation realm—to forge a grand career. To return to Tianyu Province in glorious triumph and reconcile with Heng Ruoshui... Yet as time wore on, amidst the flattery of the crowd and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of contribution points, he had lost his way. He had forgotten his grand aspirations, thinking only of employing ever more underhanded schemes to embezzle as many contribution points as possible. All for his own indulgence and pleasure. With so many female cultivators across the world, why must it be Heng Ruoshui alone? With enough contribution points, what kind of female cultivator could I not obtain? Back then, such thoughts had occasionally crossed his mind. Reflecting upon it now, it seemed truly ridiculous. Yet at the time, he had been trapped deep within it, unable to extricate himself. As scene after scene flashed through his mind, He Zhenghao felt as though he had just been pulled from the water, his entire body drenched in cold sweat. How did I become like this? He Zhenghao's heart was flooded with confusion and remorse. The Master Secret Emissary surely won't spare me, will he? A shiver ran through him, as if he could already envision himself being executed by Li Fan, his body broken and his Dao extinguished. Even so, a tiny sliver of hope still lingered in He Zhenghao's heart. The reason was simple: if the affair had already come to light and the Secret Emissary had decided to execute him, then judging by his past style, he would not have sent Zhou Qing'ang to deliver such a lengthy speech. Furthermore, Fellow Daoist Zhou had spoken with such earnest admonition, and just moments ago, he had even declared that the price should be doubled to one hundred and sixty thousand contribution points... At this thought, He Zhenghao could not help but raise his head and look toward Zhou Qing'ang. Watching He Zhenghao—who had remained silent for so long with despair and defeat written across his eyes—suddenly look up, Li Fan smiled faintly in his heart. Finally, he spoke once more: "Though your crimes are heinous, you are nonetheless part of the first batch of veterans who followed the Master Secret Emissary." "Therefore, his esteemed self has decided to grant you another chance to redeem yourselves through service." The moment these words left his mouth, a striking gleam burst forth in the eyes of both He Zhenghao and Gao Yuan. "Could Fellow Daoist please enlighten us?" Gao Yuan hurriedly bowed and asked. "As I mentioned just moments ago, the battle in Tianling Province is nearing its end." "Thus, what the Master Secret Emissary means is..." Li Fan paused briefly. "Seize this final opportunity." "And rake in one massive haul!" His resolute, unwavering words echoed through the Administration Hall, lingering for a long time. Hearing this, the two men exchanged bewildered glances. Turning back toward Zhou Qing'ang, they could not help but wear expressions of suspicion.