Seeing that the man was still clinging to hope and trying to argue, Ian Song said calmly, "You've been selling vegetables here for three years now, haven't you? In those three years, I've bought from you sixty-five times. You've overcharged me for a total of eight hundred twenty-five taels and three mace of silver. With interest, you owe me nine hundred taels. If you pay it back, I'll let bygones be bygones. Otherwise, I'll show you just how foolish it is to cheat the Jade Maiden Sect out of its silver!"
By the end, Ian's tone had turned extremely severe, even carrying a trace of true essence.
At that, the vegetable vendor's face turned especially ugly. But coughing up nine hundred taels all at once was a real headache, so he tried to argue again: "Little immortal master, don't talk nonsense! I never cheated you out of silver. Are you trying to bully us common folk and rob us just because of your status?"
"Heh, you even dare to bite back? You really don't know what's good for you!"
Ian Song just smiled instead of getting angry, then said to the Oxhorse, "Kill him!"
"Thud!"
As soon as Ian finished speaking, the Oxhorse's massive hoof came down on the vegetable vendor's head, which burst open like a watermelon, scattering red and white everywhere.
Seeing this, the noisy marketplace instantly went dead silent—you could hear a pin drop.
Ian's voice rang out again: "I know exactly who among you has cheated me and how much. Now, I'm giving you one chance to come clean and hand over the silver you stole. If you do, I'll let it go. But if you want to try your luck, you'll end up just like him!"
Hearing Ian's words, all the vegetable and meat vendors shivered. Especially after seeing the dead vendor's fate, terror filled their eyes.
Suddenly, a burly young vegetable vendor dropped to his knees and begged, "Little immortal master, I was wrong all these years. I've cheated you out of over five hundred taels. I'm willing to pay back six hundred taels—please, spare my life!"
"Fine!" Ian nodded.
"But little immortal master, I don't have that much cash on me. Can I go home and get it?" the young vendor pleaded again.
"Granted!"
Overjoyed, the young vendor kowtowed to Ian twice, then ran out of the marketplace with a look of delight. Once outside, he spat toward the market and sneered, "That little immortal master is full of crap—he actually fell for it! You think I'm coming back with the silver? Once I get it, I'm leaving Cloudflower Town for good! Ha!"
"Is that really what you think?"
Suddenly, a voice sounded right next to the young vendor's ear, cutting him off mid-sentence. He turned around and found Ian Song standing there, smiling at him.
A moment later, Ian dragged the young vendor back into the marketplace and, in front of everyone, broke both his legs. Then he said, "This guy tried to run, so I broke his legs. Anyone else thinking of escaping?"
After witnessing Ian's ruthless methods, the vendors who had cheated him no longer dared to try anything else. They all hurried to return the silver they'd taken over the years—plus some interest. The total came to more than thirty thousand taels.
Around eleven o'clock, Ian rode his Oxhorse back up to Jade Maiden Peak.
He found Steward Faye Ling standing outside the canteen, her face cold.
Ian Song quickly dismounted and bowed to her. "Greetings, Steward Faye Ling."
A flash of disgust crossed Faye Ling's eyes as she pulled out a banknote and tossed it to him. "This is the food budget for the final three months. Keep it safe."
As soon as she finished speaking, she turned to leave. Ian hurriedly called out to her.
"Steward Faye Ling, please accept this as well!"
Ian handed over the stack of banknotes totaling more than thirty thousand taels.
"What, are you trying to bribe me?"
Faye Ling glanced at the stack of banknotes, her eyes full of contempt. For cultivators, silver is just a worldly thing; a single spirit crystal or a pill can buy tens of thousands of taels.
"Steward Faye Ling, this isn't a bribe. It's like this..."
Ian quickly explained how he'd been cheated by the vegetable and meat vendors over the years, and how he reclaimed all the silver with interest today.
"Is that really true?" Faye Ling stared at Ian in surprise, still a bit suspicious of his story.
"I wouldn't dare hide anything from you, Steward. You can go to town and investigate if you wish!" Ian replied calmly.
"Fine, I'll take these banknotes. If I find out you lied, you'll regret it!" Faye Ling took the thirty thousand taels and left in a swirl.
After leaving the canteen, Faye Ling sent a junior sister to investigate the marketplace in Cloudflower Town. She confirmed Ian's story was true, and for the first time, regarded him with a bit more respect.
Noon.
Groups of Jade Maiden Sect disciples strolled toward the canteen.
For lunch today, Ian cooked five dishes: three vegetable plates, one meat dish, and a soup.
He chose three vegetable dishes because women usually prefer lighter meals.
As soon as the female disciples stepped into the canteen, the mouthwatering aroma of the food hit them, making their mouths water uncontrollably.
With abundant spiritual energy in this world, even the rice, vegetables, and fruit taste far better than in the main world. Add Ian's cooking skills, and every dish was absolutely delicious.
Among the disciples eating in the canteen was Leah Ling.
"Eggy, give me a bit of all three vegetable dishes—and the vegetable soup too!" Leah Ling ordered Ian.
"Coming right up!"
Ian quickly packed up three dishes and a soup, handed the tray to Leah Ling.
"Thank you."
Leah Ling eagerly carried her tray to a seat—the aroma was simply irresistible.
She picked up her chopsticks and took a bite of stir-fried greens.
"Mmm!" Leah Ling's eyes narrowed into two crescents as she couldn't help but praise in her heart: "So delicious! This is the best stir-fried greens I've ever tasted!"
Soon, Leah Ling polished off the plate of stir-fried greens, then eyed the other two vegetable dishes. If the greens were this good, surely the others wouldn't disappoint!
A little skeptical, Leah Ling sampled the other two plates—only to be amazed and delighted. Both were just as tasty as the greens.
Soon, both plates joined the greens in her stomach, but she still wasn't satisfied. She picked up the soup with anticipation and took a sip—the fresh flavor exploded in her mouth.
A blissful smile appeared on her face. "Oh wow, this soup is incredible! I swear, it's the best vegetable soup I've ever tasted!"