Chapter 452

Chapter 452: Avenge the Wrong

"I—I said he’s just some nobody, not worthy to meet the Sect Leader, and told him to get lost…" Third Brother stammered, trembling.

"Fool!" Mo Qianxun nearly exploded with rage. "How dare you speak to him like that?"

"He’s just a Qi Sea cultivator—a mere child!" Third Brother mumbled, lowering his head.

"A child?" Mo Qianxun scoffed bitterly. "That ‘child’ controls the Great Concentric Secret’s teachings, decides one-third of the sect’s spirit pills, manages the White Jade Divine Fish distribution, oversees top-grade Spirit Liquid production, and commands Iron-Walled Jin City. Even Thunder Tribulation Immortals and Token Lords hold less sway! And you—a gatekeeper—dare mock him?"

"Forgive me, Family Head!" Third Brother dropped to his knees. "I’ll never repeat this!"

Deep down, he knew authority wasn’t the real issue. The true danger lay in the Eight Steeds Carriage’s reappearance—a relic tied to Mo family bloodshed, branch conflicts, and a powerful eighth-rank treasure. Fang Lie could trade that carriage for his life, and that realization terrified him.

Ignoring the man’s pleas, Mo Qianxun turned to Mo Wanfang. "What did Fang Lie say?"

"Furious. My apologies meant nothing." Mo Wanfang grimaced. "He drank one sip of tea, then threw me out. After bringing us the Eight Steeds Carriage out of goodwill, only to be insulted… even a stone statue would rebel, let alone hot-tempered Fang Lie!"

"Useless!" Mo Qianxun’s face darkened. "Why are you still here? Drag him back—or die trying!"

Third Brother froze.

"Disobeying me?" Mo Qianxun’s voice turned lethal.

Trembling, Third Brother wailed, "Fang Lie swore he’d only return if I kneeled at his door, slapping myself publicly! But if I do that… the Mo family’s honor—"

Mo Qianxun stiffened. Forcing a public apology would shame the clan, yet Fang Lie’s stubbornness left no room for compromise. The Fang Family rule demanded unyielding resolve—even the Sect Leader couldn’t sway them.

"You idiot!" Mo Qianxun roared. "Why provoke that mule-headed pest?"

Turning to Mo Wanfang, he sighed, "We can’t humiliate the family. Can you reason with him?"

Mo Wanfang shrugged. "The Fang Family would rather smash through the South Wall than retreat. You think I can change his mind?"

"Fine." Mo Qianxun stood abruptly. "The Sect Leader himself will clean up this mess!"

Meanwhile, Fang Lie waited calmly at home. Soon enough, Mo Qianxun materialized in his parlor.

After serving tea, Fang Lie smiled. "What brings the Sect Leader here today?"

Mo Qianxun opened his mouth to dissemble, but the simmering wrath in Fang Lie’s eyes stopped him. No lies would work here.

With a flick of his sleeve, Mo Qianxun summoned Third Brother into the sealed room.

"Well?" Mo Qianxun glared at the quivering man. "Kneel. Slap yourself. Beg."

Third Brother froze briefly before comprehension dawned. With a pitiful expression, he dropped to his knees before Fang Lie, striking his own face repeatedly. "I was wrong! I looked down on others like a dog! Begging VIP Sir Fang for merciful forgiveness with your boundless generosity!"

Fang Lie stared at Mo Qianxun with mixed amusement. "Sect Leader, your cleverness astounds me."

Originally demanding the offender kneel at his doorstep, Fang Lie now watched Mo Qianxun’s semantic manipulation unfold. Though both involved self-punishment, public humiliation at the threshold would’ve shamed the Mo family name – utterly unacceptable for their Family Head.

But within these secret chamber walls? No witnesses meant no disgrace. The sharp slap sounds carried no consequence if never heard beyond this room.

Mo Qianxun’s awkward chuckle acknowledged Fang Lie’s discovery. "This fool acted alone," the Family Head pleaded. "Surely you won’t condemn our entire clan? Have I ever mistreated you personally?"

"Truly?" Fang Lie’s smirk held mischief.

Flushing crimson, Mo Qianxun amended hastily, "Perhaps earlier oversights occurred, but these past years I’ve shown utmost sincerity! Even gifted our sect’s final Spirit Awakening Immortal Talisman!"

Seeing genuine contrition and Third Brother’s swollen cheeks, Fang Lie’s anger ebbed. "Enough. Today I’ll preserve your face – let that wretch vanish from my sight."

"Consider it done!" Mo Qianxun waved, teleporting Third Brother mid-air. "No more gate duties! Exile him to northwest border winds!"

The desolate northwest frontier lay hundreds of thousands of miles distant – Mo Sect territory’s barren edge. This harsh relocation from central power marked severe punishment.

"Well?" Mo Qianxun offered an ingratiating smile. "Satisfied?"

A grunt of approval came from Fang Lie.

"Excellent!" The Sect Leader’s demeanor shifted. "Now – regarding the Eight Steeds Carriage…"

Fang Lie summoned the artifact with casual flourish.

Mo Qianxun’s eyes narrowed. "Our clan’s lost treasured item! Where did you acquire this?"

"Ghost Realm Sect’s treasure vault." Fang Lie’s grin widened. "Relieved them of storage duties."

The Sect Leader’s forced laughter died quickly. "Poor jest."

Undeterred, Fang Lie began producing artifacts like festival streamers.

"The Lotus Dharma Sect’s missing Semi-Immortal scripture?"

"Xuan Sect’s Taiyi Qingxu Cauldron?"

"Twelve Eighth-rank Netherworld Ghost Fire Flags?"

"By heaven! Ghost Realm Sect’s peak eighth-rank large treasures? You actually robbed them?"

Mo Qianxun gaped at the accumulating Eighth-rank Treasures. When the display concluded, he rasped, "How?"

Fang Lie shrugged. "Secret. But expect news of their vault’s plundering within hours."

"You died returning?" Mo Qianxun’s eyes bulged. "But their protective array… Even corpses couldn’t breach…"

"Trade secret." Fang Lie gestured at the Eight Steeds Carriage. "I’m here to fence goods. Name your offer."

"Offer?" Mo Qianxun feigned ignorance. "Returning stolen property needs compensation?"

"Absolutely." Fang Lie’s smile turned wolfish. "Spare the theatrics. Show me your real treasures."