Pregnant Cultivator, Doted by Big Boss-Chapter 24 - 22: Villains Like Them Just Love a Group Fight
She had just been saddled with the title of "great benefactor."
Celeste Grant watched as the kind-hearted heroine’s face froze on the spot. Her expression shifted between pale and flushed, like a chameleon, which was rather comical to see.
She opened her mouth.
"You..."
Celeste Grant cut in.
"’You’ what? What’s wrong? Did you forget to bring any Spirit Stones with you?"
"It’s fine. If you forgot or don’t have enough, you can just write an IOU, and I’ll come to collect later. You really are the nicest person, willing to pay off all the Spirit Stones these people in Breezewind Town owe. I thank you on behalf of everyone. We’ll even set up a memorial tablet for you later and burn incense before it every day."
’After all, what living person needs a memorial tablet? Only a heroine like her would qualify.’
Jocelyn Grant finally snapped back to reality, a chill rising in her eyes. It was a look that could kill.
Struggling to maintain her image, Jocelyn Grant forced back her anger and said, "How dare you curse me. Who said anything about paying their Spirit Stones? I don’t even know them."
Celeste Grant simply raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"Now, now, miss female cultivator, that’s not right. Why do you think those Demon Cultivator disciples should have to build houses for the people of Breezewind Town for free? You act as if them charging a few Spirit Stones is an unforgivable sin. But when it’s your turn to help, you suddenly ’don’t know them’?"
"Haha, how amusing. It’s true that a blow doesn’t hurt unless it lands on you. You’re a perfect example of what they call a sanctimonious hypocrite—a self-righteous, meddlesome busybody who fancies herself a paragon of kindness."
At that moment, the few Immortal Sect Disciples who had been whispering earlier all lowered their heads and fell silent.
Looking at Jocelyn Grant now, they felt her so-called kindness was rather flimsy. That’s right, if she was so kind, why didn’t she just pay the Spirit Stones for those people?
As countless eyes fell upon her, Jocelyn Grant felt a pit in her stomach. ’What did I do wrong? I was only trying to do what’s best for them. Why are they all looking at me like that?’
Usually, all she had to do was cry weakly and everyone would rush to her side.
’What’s happening today? Why isn’t anyone helping me? It’s all that woman’s fault.’ Her gaze turned vicious as she glared at Celeste Grant.
"Who are you to target me like this? And you’re clearly twisting my words; that’s not what I meant at all! Those are Demon Cultivators! I was doing this for all of your own good. Getting involved with Demon Cultivators is just courting death."
Hearing this, Celeste Grant let out a theatrical, "Oh dear."
"What are you talking about? Weren’t we just discussing your kind heart? How is this twisting your words? You were the one who couldn’t bear to see others suffer. Your benevolent self found their current situation so pitiful."
"If you truly feel that way, then shouldn’t you be the one to pay back their Spirit Stones? What does it matter whether they’re dealing with Demon Cultivators or not?"
Celeste Grant stood up, her eyes scanning Jocelyn Grant from head to toe.
"Or is it that you’re all talk?"
"Just as you said, most people in Breezewind Town have been forced to sign indentured servitude contracts and now have to work off their debts. How can you bear to watch them—and their children, and their children’s children—be forced to repay this debt? You should be the one to pay their Spirit Stones."
Celeste Grant rubbed her fingers together.
"It’s not much, really. Just a few dozen Spirit Stones per person. All told, it’s only a few hundred thousand. Surely you’re not short on Spirit Stones, are you? An elder from the Bloodfiend Den is still in Breezewind Town right now. Why don’t you go pay him?"
At this point, Celeste Grant’s tone shifted as she continued, "And hey, if that’s not enough to showcase your kindness, no problem. You can always give more. After all, these people will have to marry off their sons, dower their daughters, and raise their children... those are all hefty expenses. Why don’t you just cover it all? A truly great benefactor like you is a rare breed these days."
Celeste Grant was ecstatic. ’Putting the heroine in her place feels so good.’
The bystanders couldn’t stand it any longer and began to speak up.
"Is there something wrong with that girl’s head? We’re doing just fine. Why do we need her to champion our cause?"
"Yeah, what is she thinking? These houses are great! Those lords are only charging us fifty Spirit Stones for the deed. You couldn’t buy a place like this for less than one hundred and fifty anywhere else. And the shops here? Rent starts at just three Spirit Stones."
"Exactly! Just leave! You’re not welcome here."
They had all overheard what Jocelyn Grant said.
And they truly did not welcome her.
If someone from an Immortal Sect were to start a fight with people from The Demonic Sects, the peaceful life they had just begun might be over. Besides, the Demon Cultivators from the Bloodfiend Den had genuinely saved them and even expended manpower and resources to build them new homes.
Even if they had some ulterior motive, as long as they weren’t harmed, it was completely acceptable.
"Get out! Get out! Breezewind Town doesn’t welcome you."
"Yeah, you talk a big game, so why don’t you help us pay the Spirit Stones? No matter how bad those disciples from the Bloodfiend Den are supposed to be, they’re the ones who actually saved us! If not for them, we’d have been burned to ashes by now. We wouldn’t have the lives we do now."
"We don’t really understand what you people call The Righteous Path or The Demonic Path. All we see is that they haven’t harmed us. I, Samuel Grant, am not the type to be ungrateful—to take someone’s food and shelter and then turn around and badmouth them."
"That’s right! Life is so much better now. As for the Spirit Stones we owe, if we work hard, we can eventually pay it all back. If we left here, where would we even go to make a living?"
People started pointing at her.
Jocelyn Grant felt like she was sitting on pins and needles under their gazes.
’A few hundred thousand Spirit Stones.’
’That much?’
’Where would I even get that many Spirit Stones?’
’Even if I had them, I’d never give them to these people.’
The thought infuriated her. Her eyes darted from Celeste Grant to the crowd.
"As an Immortal Sect Disciple, how could I possibly give Spirit Stones to Demon Cultivators? I see now—you’ve all been controlled by their Hex-bugs and bewitched. Such foolish, ignorant people will be killed by Demon Cultivators sooner or later!"
Celeste Grant chimed in with a sing-song, "Ohhh. You’re getting defensive, aren’t you? I thought you were the self-proclaimed benevolent champion of the people. Or does ’being their champion’ just mean making others foot the bill while you rake in the fame?"
"What gives you the right? Is it your talent for squawking nonsense, or is it your shameless audacity?"
Jocelyn Grant’s sanctimonious facade...
...finally cracked.
A sword materialized in her hand, and she pointed it at Celeste Grant.
"I think you’re looking to die. You vicious woman, twisting my words and fanning the flames. To defend those who walk such crooked paths... I bet you’ve already colluded with them."
Hearing this,
Celeste Grant leaned on the table, propping her cheek on her hand. She sat there casually, glanced at Jocelyn Grant, and smiled.
"Colluding with Demon Cultivators? Heh, you’re a pretty good judge of character."
’Not only have I colluded with them,’
’I’m also involved with the leader of The Demonic Sects.’
’And we’re about to have a son.’
’Hahaha.’
