Speaking of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, among the disciples of Taotian Palace, I fear there is no one unaware of it. This is the place responsible for managing the salaries of Taotian Palace disciples, where everyone comes to receive their wages.

Only after receiving their salaries can the disciples buy resources to support their cultivation.

When the group arrived at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, many disciples were still queuing for their salaries.

"Zhang Nanxuan isn’t here?" Ye Qingchen glanced around and frowned.

"He’s the elder of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Distributing salaries is a minor task handled by the stewards!" Sea of Zhou explained, "However, he usually stays in the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

Ye Qingchen nodded slightly.

According to Su Moran, the rewards for the selected disciples are handled by Zhang Nanxuan. The reason the rewards haven’t reached me yet must be because they were withheld by Zhang Nanxuan.

"Dare to withhold my things?"

"I want to see how bold you really are!"

Ye Qingchen sneered coldly.

However.

At that moment, something at the Ministry of Internal Affairs caught his attention.

...

"Meng Tian, weren’t you told that your salary for this month is gone? Why are you at the Ministry of Internal Affairs again?"

At the entrance.

Steward Hu looked at the disciple collecting his salary with a full face of contempt.

The disciple, named Meng Tian, trembled upon hearing this. Seeing the feigned smile of the other party, he could only accompany it with a smile, cautiously ingratiating himself: "Steward Hu, I beg you not to hold a grudge, please issue my salary. My sister is still waiting for this money!"

Meng Tian dared not be angry.

Initially, he was dissatisfied with his salary being deducted, and confronted Steward Hu. Little did he know, he would be held in contempt ever since, and even now, his salary has been completely wiped away.

Pitifully, his sister is seriously ill and is waiting for this money for treatment.

"Now you know you are wrong?" At the entrance, Steward Hu sneered sarcastically, "If you knew this was coming, why act the way you did then?"

The surrounding disciples, seeing this scene, did not dare to speak up even though they were infuriated.

As the saying goes,

The seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister’s house—these stewards, though not high in status, hold people’s lifelines. If you offend them, you may never receive your salary in this lifetime.

Meng Tian could only smile again: "Steward Hu, please let it go. If you can give me the salary, I’m willing to serve you in any way!"

"You?" Steward Hu’s expression remained unchanged, "A Celestial Venerable Third Layer cultivator, not even worthy of tying my shoes!"

"I..." Meng Tian was speechless.

"Fine, since you have begged me, I am not heartless." Steward Hu pointed to the bluestone slab at his feet and sneered, "You defied me before, consider this a slight punishment. If you kneel here for three days and nights, I might consider giving your salary back!"

Kneel for three days and nights?

Meng Tian’s eyes flashed with shame and anger. A man’s knees are as valuable as gold, how can he kneel so casually? Moreover, having reached Celestial Venerable, he also has the pride of one. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"If unwilling, then scram!" Seeing Meng Tian unmoving, Steward Hu sneered, waving him away: "Don’t bring up the salary with me again in the future!"

Meng Tian’s expression varied back and forth, thinking of his sister, he finally gritted his teeth, saying:

"Fine!"

"I’ll kneel!"

He said, and knelt with a thud, prostrating himself on the ground.

Many people around saw this and shook their heads silently, while more looked on with ridicule:

"Truly foolish!"

"Indeed, daring to challenge Steward Hu, isn’t this just asking for trouble?"

"Look, now retribution is here, right?"

Steward Hu’s eyes bore a trace of pride seeing this.

He had long memorized the data of the inner sect disciples, knowing whom he could bully and who he couldn’t offend. This Meng Tian had no background, and yet dared to confront him over a bit of deducted salary.

If he didn’t make an example, wouldn’t everyone dare to defy him in the future?

At that moment, a voice suddenly came from the side:

"He’s just reclaiming his rightful salary! He’s not your disciple or slave, why make him kneel here for three days and nights? Isn’t this too humiliating?"

"Who?"

In that instant, Steward Hu looked up sharply, displeased.

And the disciples present, all turned to face the source of the voice, seeing Ye Qingchen with a stern face, accompanied by Lu Yanwu, Lin Shifei, and Sea of Zhou, walking over with large strides.

Wherever they passed, the crowd parted.

"Who are you to meddle in my affairs?"

Steward Hu frowned, he didn’t recognize the young man but not knowing him meant he could be humiliated at will. This small fry, just needed a couple of lessons to know his place.

"This is a matter of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, how dare you interfere? Since you dare to question me, you needn’t bother coming for your salary again!"

As soon as Steward Hu said this, the surrounding disciples looked at Ye Qingchen with scorn.

"So foolish! Another one who doesn’t see the truth, daring to confront Steward Hu!"

"Indeed, do they think joining the inner sect grants them immunity? Steward Hu’s status is esteemed, how could you defy him?"

"Feeling the consequences now?"

"Haha, with a single word from Steward Hu, all his future salaries will be erased!"

The crowd immediately buzzed with discussion.

Even Meng Tian urgently lifted his head, quietly advising: "Brother, this is my issue... You shouldn’t have spoken, it will only involve you. Quickly apologize, Alchemist Hu won’t harm you!"

"Deduct my salary, just you, a mere guard? Call Zhang Nanxuan out!"

Ye Qingchen said coldly.

At these words, everyone was dumbfounded, looking at Ye Qingchen with disbelief. Steward Hu was especially stunned and frowned: "What did you say, you little brat?"

Boom!

He roared in fury, clenching his claws and lunged at Ye Qingchen.

At the moment Steward Hu’s claws approached Ye Qingchen, Ye Qingchen, not dodging or evading, simply lifted his hand and slapped hard across Steward Hu’s face.

"Crack!"

The crisp sound of a slap echoed!

With the sound of the slap, Steward Hu flew backward, even losing a few teeth.

Blood-covered Steward Hu crashed to the ground, eyes filled with disbelief and even a bit dizzy: "You fool, dare to hit me?"

The guards outside the Ministry of Internal Affairs, seeing this, frowned and prepared to step in.

But seeing this.

Ye Qingchen remained unafraid, instead stepping forward aggressively, shouting in a deep voice:

"Ye Qingchen is here! Zhang Nanxuan! Get out here!"

The voice erupted like thunder, resonating throughout the inner ward. The surrounding crowd was stirred by this thunderous voice, feeling their qi and blood churn, head dizzy.

"Ye Qingchen?"

Everyone around was utterly astonished, and Steward Hu, in particular, looked at him with shock.