Mu Li looked over to Long Sha who sighed and spoke;

"I suspected you guys at first, but I decided not to say anything, so it won't ruin what we have built here…"

​​

"Moreover, you are allies with my clan, so I have no issues with you guys…"

Mu Li breathed a sigh of relief at that, because whilst their clans might be allies, it doesn't mean every one of their members would like them, and now he just confirmed Long Sha was not one of their petty members…

He didn't doubt that Long Sha had already discovered who they were from the first time they met, after all, they also had information about the hidden monster that laid within the mansion of the Long Super Clan Head…

No one knew when or how, but they were so drawn into the story that they subconsciously accepted a cup each of chilled Spirit Fruit Drink from Min Rou without even noticing it, as they were plunged deeper and more comfortable into Mu Bai's tale…

"What you earned when you had your death match was him keeping a low profile, if he wanted to dent the entire sect in half a day, he absolutely can…"

Min Hong looked at Mu Li whose eyes were now red and was nearly pushed to tears…

In actuality, Mu Li never knew Mu Bai held him in such regard despite how they both bickered at each other in every possible situation, and this was the first time he heard Mu Bai pour his heart out to anyone, because ever since Mu Bai got lost in his acting, not even their father could get him to talk if he didn't want to…

Furthermore, with his rank within the clan even made it surer that no one came to ask him anything out of deep respect, thus, that had finally made him grow up to be reserved and observing rather than his own deceptively emotional and needy self…

Thus, the very fact that Mu Bai was actually pouring his mind out now, made him confirm that he was really into this group of family they have found themselves in, and that only made him affirm his decision to serve the group with all his heart…

"So, you have known all about us, let's get back to the matter at hand…"

Mu Bai spoke as he downed the rest of the juice which was spurring and subtly stabilizing the foundation of his cultivation, as Min Rou refilled his cup with a slightly doting smile…

No one noticed this, but Mu Li did as he sighed at how good his brother was at his job;

"Just a little bit of our story and he had already swooned them all, what if he told them about our second mission"

"Spy god indeed…"

Mu Li helplessly but respectfully gave his brother the exaltation he was due…

"I will get you as many attention as you want, and I would also ensure that my 'rats' slip into the crowd and make as much bets as possible, but the cost and stakes would definitely be larger than the time of your death match…"

Min Rou heard Mu Li's statement and frowned as she gazed at her son,

"This boy is already getting reckless…"

"Having a death match? Isn't he concerned about his life, or is the grief from the death of the family clouding his judgement?"

She wasn't being naggy or anything, she was just being concerned like a true mother should…

After all, going on an adventure of having a spar has at least a chance of survival if the person chose to escape and flee…

But a death match was a 50-50 chance of surviving, what if something happens, maybe like a speck of dust entered his eyes and the opponent sunk his or her blade straight through his heart?

But, she couldn't be blamed, because she didn't know that even if they split Min Hong open right now, there was no way they could find his vital organs in there…

Only patches of spatial pockets!

"Nevermind, we won't go beyond our current wealth and twenty percent of the rewards would go out to your minions…"

"How much do we have in our treasure vault?"

Min Hong looked over to Min Qing who replied instantly;

"50,000 Mid-grade Spirit Stones and 138,000 Merit points…"

"Fantastic, we will use the spirit stones to bet against the outsiders and we will use the merit points to bet within the sect…"

"Alright, I will get on with it…"

"Mu Bai, I would need you to find enough trustworthy disciples, about five to ten, who can keep the recruitment process going whilst we are within the inner sect…"

"You only have two weeks to do that also… I have a surprise for everyone if we accomplish our tasks impeccably…" Min Hong grinned as he spoke;

"If anyone has anything more to say, let us hear it…"

Min Hong relaxed into his chair as the rest of them looked at each other checking if anyone had other additions;

"Alright, since no one has any addition, then we would like to get on with our tasks…"

Mu Bai and Mu Li stood up and left as the rest also began to leave one after the other…

Kun Lin pulled her brother by the ears as she dragged him out of the room with Kun Chao struggling to look over to Min Rou, and when he did and saw her smile back, he turned around with a satisfied grinned before snorting at his sister;

"Hmph! You are willing to get on with Fei Hong, but you won't let me get on with whoever I want… Hmph!"

Kun Chao ended with another snort as he left Kun Lin behind who was blushing so intensely that she nearly fainted…

She looked back at Min Hong who was busy conversing with Long Sha and hesitated a bit, but after a while, she left dispiritedly…

Long Sha conversed a little bit more with Min Hong before saying his thanks to Min Rou, seemingly the only person who thanked her for her hospitality, and then left…

Min Qing helped Min Rou as they both cleared the cups on the table back to the kitchen, and suddenly, only Min Hong and Qing Tan were left within the room, and just from looking at her little figure from behind, Min Hong could tell that she had something weighing down on her mind…

Then he saw the blush on the back of her neck and instantly, Min Hong knew what was going on… It was a topic he would love to avoid, but if he knew he can't do so for long, lest Qing Tan feel unwanted and leave the group, so with a deep but soft sigh, he asked;

"Little Qing, are you okay?"

Qing Tan jolted slightly as it seemed Min Hong had asked her about what was on her mind before she could fully figure out how to put it so the conversation won't be awkward…

"Fei Hong, do you think we can ever-"

"Don't worry about that for now, because I am not thinking about it also…"

"You just get stronger and help the group in every way you can…"

"No one knows what fate holds for them, so I can't give you an answer now…"

"But don't bring it up again, or else it might affect our mental state and that of the group, and that would be bad for our group's future, if you understand what I mean?"

Min Hong gave her a true and a false hope simultaneously, and he didn't do it on purpose, because truly, he didn't know what the future held for him, thus, it would be a naïve thing to be making such plans in this kind of situation…

"I understand!"

Contrary to his expectation, Qing Tan was actually happy with his response and even went to the extent of planting a kiss on his cheeks which stunned Min Hong for a moment, and as he watched her run out of the room with a blushed face…

Sighing with a helpless smile, Min Hong turned around only to see two ladies glaring at him…

"Hmph!"

The two ladies simultaneously snorted with a pout and walked away leaving Min Hong stunned speechless and rooted to the spot…

"I need to be more careful of attracting more women in the future…"

"Ah, being handsome and talented is truly a burden…"

Min Hong gloated as a voice echoed within his head;

"Beach please!"