Seeing Emma Jiang leave, Sophia Xu turned to Terra Su: "Little Terra, you've come to seek refuge with your aunt, but I don't have much to offer you."
As she spoke, Sophia Xu took out a stack of banknotes from her bosom: "This is some private savings I've accumulated over the years since marrying into the Jiang Family. Take it. Buy whatever you need, don't be shy with your aunt. Cultivating at your stage is expensive, so don't hesitate to use it."
Terra Su was taken aback, not reaching out to take it immediately, looking at the banknotes with a hint of emotion welling up.
How could he almost forget? In his previous life, Sophia Xu had also given him these banknotes, and if he remembered correctly, there should be a total of ten thousand taels.
Over the years, that was all the private money Sophia Xu had saved, and she had given almost all of it to Terra Su.
Terra Su had once suggested that Sophia Xu keep some for Emma Jiang, but Sophia insisted that Emma, being a descendant of the Jiang Family, had her cultivation expenses covered by the family and didn't need her private savings.
"Little Terra, take it. If it's not enough, I have more," Sophia Xu said, seeing Terra Su's dazed look and mistaking it for concern about the amount.
"It's enough, more than enough. I will cherish these banknotes," Terra Su took a deep breath, his eyes reddening as he accepted them.
He knew that if he didn't take the money, Sophia Xu wouldn't let it go.
At the same time, Terra Su made a silent vow to ensure his aunt would live the best life possible in this lifetime.
He would not repeat the mistakes of his past life!
***
"I don't care why you suddenly showed up, but since you're staying at the Jiang residence, I expect you to behave and not cause trouble for my mother and me!"
As they walked side by side out of the Jiang Family's main gate, Emma Jiang said to Terra Su with a cold face.
Terra Su just shrugged and smiled faintly, not responding.
Emma Jiang glanced at him disdainfully. It was clear to her that this cousin was a good-for-nothing; otherwise, why would he have left the Orthodox One Sect so abruptly?
She didn't buy the story of him leaving the sect voluntarily. It was more likely that Terra Su couldn't stay in the Orthodox One Sect and had to leave.
The two arrived at the famous tailor shop, Cloud Brocade Tower, in the city to have some clothes custom-made for Terra Su.
Emma Jiang reluctantly pulled out her purse to pay, but the shop assistant informed her: "The gentleman has already paid."
Emma Jiang was surprised and looked at Terra Su. He had already paid?
Hmph, he must have used her mother's money. She knew it; this so-called Terra Cousin was just here to seek gratuitous financial help from the Jiang Family.
Emma Jiang sneered with contempt and, without giving Terra Su another glance, was about to leave Cloud Brocade Tower.
Suddenly, a group of youths escorted a coquettish girl with a mole near her right eye into the main hall of Cloud Brocade Tower, bumping right into them.
"Well, if it isn't the Second Miss Jiang?" Before Emma Jiang could say anything, the coquettish girl's sharp voice rang out, tinged with mockery.
"Olivia Wang!" Emma Jiang bit her lip. It was indeed a small world, running into her here.
Olivia Wang of the Wang Family, about the same age as Emma, had always competed with her in everything: cultivation techniques, elixirs, beautiful clothes and jewelry, even suitors.
Unfortunately, today Olivia was surrounded by admirers, while Emma only had a poor cousin who was seeking gratuitous financial help. She was bound to be ridiculed by Olivia.
As expected, when Olivia saw that Emma was only accompanied by Terra Su, she feigned a look of shock and asked, "Emma Jiang, who is this? Your new boyfriend?"
"Don't talk nonsense, he's my cousin!" Emma Jiang immediately clarified.
"Cousin? Since when did you suddenly have a cousin?"
"I know, he's Terra Su!" A slightly chubby youth pointed at Terra Su and said, "He was a disciple of the Orthodox One Sect, but he was expelled for stealing precious elixirs from an Elder!"
"Really?"
"Absolutely true. I just heard it from my distant cousin who's a disciple in the Orthodox One Sect."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, so he's a sect outcast, and for such a shameful reason too. Anyone associated with him would lose all face."
Even Olivia Wang laughed, her voice dripping with sarcasm: "Emma Jiang, your relatives are such an embarrassment. If it were me, I'd be mortified…"
"Shut up!"
Emma Jiang was furious, her eyes wide with anger and her face burning with humiliation.
She had thought Terra Su left the Orthodox One Sect because he was too useless, but she never imagined the situation was even more disgraceful.
Terra Su had been expelled for stealing from the sect!
"Terra Su, I thought you were at least a gentleman despite being useless. I didn't expect you to have such a flawed character, stealing from the sect!" Emma Jiang scolded with a flushed face.
Terra Su simply shrugged, unconcerned. He could guess that Elder Xingyun and Cooper Lu, to protect their own reputations, had twisted the truth, claiming he was expelled for theft.
But Terra Su couldn't be bothered to explain.
As the Alchemy Emperor in his past life, why would he care about the opinions of these ordinary people?
Would an elephant care about the opinion of an ant?
Clearly not.
Seeing her goal of humiliating Emma Jiang achieved, Olivia Wang smiled triumphantly and said, "Emma Jiang, you deal with your family matters. I won't disturb you. By the way, I'm hosting a banquet at Drunk Immortal Residence at noon to welcome Miles Ye. If you'd like, you're welcome to come."
After saying that, Olivia strutted off with her entourage to the second floor of Cloud Brocade Tower to try on clothes.
"A welcome banquet for Miles Ye?" Emma Jiang's expression changed. Miles Ye was the heartthrob of all the city's young women and the rich son-in-law she and Olivia Wang were both vying for.
Of course, she would attend Miles Ye's welcome banquet!
"Terra Su, I'm dining out at noon. You can go back by yourself!" Emma Jiang glanced at Terra Su with disgust. She didn't want to bring Terra Su, a burden, to dine with the man of her dreams.
Terra Su replied indifferently, "That's perfect, as I don't want to be with you either."
With that, before Emma Jiang could react, Terra Su had already left Cloud Brocade Tower with ease.
When Emma Jiang came to her senses, she was furious. That scoundrel Terra Su actually said he didn't want to be with her!
How dare he, a good-for-nothing and a thief, say such a thing to a beautiful woman like her?
"Terra Su, you wait for me!" Emma Jiang suppressed her anger, planning to settle the score with Terra Su later. Attending Miles Ye's welcome banquet was her top priority.
***
Speaking of Terra Su.
After leaving Cloud Brocade Tower, he headed straight to Five Treasures Hall, just a street away.
Five Treasures Hall was one of the largest elixir shops in Clear River City. Everyone in the city knew that Five Treasures Hall had the most comprehensive selection of elixirs and medicinal ingredients.
If there was any elixir or ingredient that couldn't be found at Five Treasures Hall, then it certainly couldn't be found anywhere else.
Proofreader & Editor:Peter Pan
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