darknovel Chapter 73 Sect Status
Chapter 73 Sect Status
Beside a century-old spruce tree, 15 zhang tall and 6 chi in diameter.
The lush canopy of the trees is like a giant umbrella spread out in the air, providing a shady green canopy.
This is where Fu Shuai's men usually hold their morning meetings.
At this moment, Commander Fu stood respectfully beside a foundation-building expert.
Pang Qing was a steward under General Guan Fu during the early stages of his Foundation Establishment.
He wore a magnificent robe with a pure white background and light blue cloud patterns that shimmered with light. His hands were clasped behind his back, and his expression was indifferent, exuding an imposing aura without anger.
Standing opposite him was Zhao Jianlei, a sixth-level Qi Refining cultivator.
"Deacon Pang, although the Wood-Eating Hide-and-Seek Rat caused the loss of four spirit trees, I proactively discovered and reported it. Why should I be punished like this?"
Zhao Jianlei's face was full of resentment.
This morning, during his routine inspection of the trees in his forest area, he noticed that a 30-year-old juniper was not growing well.
Using wood diagnostic techniques, it was discovered that many of its roots had been gnawed by wood-eating rats.
He was shocked to find that wood-eating rats had appeared in his forest area, a rare occurrence for Lingzhi Peak.
After a thorough investigation, he discovered three more wood-eating rats in the forest.
Four wood-eating rats damaged four spirit trees. Two of the spirit trees could be saved, but the roots of the other two were too damaged to be saved.
The wood-eating rat grows larger and faster at gnawing on roots, capable of destroying a seemingly unharmed spirit tree by eating away a large number of its roots and causing it to die within just a few days.
Zhao Jianlei informed Fu Shuai about this matter.
Logically speaking, the damage caused by these wood-eating rats was not significant, and Commander Fu did not need to report it to Pang Qing.
Of those four spirit trees, two can be saved. As for the other two, although they are difficult to save, only their roots are damaged, which does not affect the material value of the spirit trees themselves.
The matter can be resolved by simply processing the two spirit trees as materials and replanting two saplings.
However, Commander Fu insisted on blaming Zhao Jianlei for failing to properly protect the forest area and informed Pang Qing, demanding that Zhao Jianlei be severely punished.
When it came to Pang Qing, the punishment was much more severe.
Pang Qing said he would fine Zhao Jianlei one hundred spirit stones, expel him from Lingzhi Peak, and send him to the outer mountain forest farm.
The treatment at Waishan Forest Farm is vastly different from that at Lingzhi Peak.
If Zhao Jianlei is sent to an outer mountain forest farm, it will basically mean the end of his path to immortality.
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Before long, the crowd arrived one after another.
They had no idea what had happened; they only saw Pang Qing present.
"Greetings, Steward Pang."
"..."
Pang Qing nodded slightly in response. Seeing that everyone had arrived, she looked at Marshal Fu and said, "You speak."
"Yes."
Fu Shuai responded and then explained the situation: "Today, wood-eating rats were discovered in Zhao Jianlei's forest area, and four spirit trees were damaged. After you disperse, immediately check your own forest areas to see if there are any wood-eating rats. If you find any, report it immediately."
Deacon Pang summoned everyone here to punish Zhao Jianlei for his negligence in guarding the forest area, as a warning to others…
"I refuse to accept this! I won't admit it!"
Zhao Jianlei suddenly spoke up. His future was at stake; how could he willingly accept punishment?
"I originally intended to fine him one hundred spirit stones, send him out of Spirit Plant Peak, and assign him to the outer mountain forest farm."
Pang Qing glanced at Zhao Jianlei with a hint of dissatisfaction: "Since you're not convinced, explain your reasons in detail."
Zhao Jianlei argued his case: "First of all, I reported the wood-eating rat to the authorities on my own initiative and did not intend to hide it."
Secondly, I was not being lazy or neglecting my duties. I discovered it in time. Judging from the size of the four wood-eating rats, they were at most a month old and hadn't even reached maturity. It was because they grew too fast that they damaged the four spirit trees.
Thirdly, compared to the loss of the four spirit trees, the punishment was far too severe.
Pang Qing did not explain, but looked at Marshal Fu, signaling him to speak.
Fu Shuai, acting as Pang Qing's mouthpiece, rebuked, "Two of those four spirit trees are severely damaged and are beyond saving."
What do you expect if you don't report it proactively? The punishment will be even more severe if you are found to have deliberately concealed it.
Also, there are four wood-eating mice, not just one. It's not too late to discover them after a month of growth.
It seems you've become so lax in your work that you think these losses are insignificant. That's why I suggested to Deacon Pang that you be severely punished; it will serve as a warning to others.
"you!"
Zhao Jianlei abruptly changed the subject, no longer dwelling on the severity of the punishment, and said something startling: "Deacon Pang, the arrival of these four wood-eating rats is suspicious!"
There haven't been any wood-eating rats on Lingzhi Peak for years, so how come four of them suddenly appeared in my forest area? Could they have just grown out of thin air from the ground?
I suspect it was Senior Brother Fu who put it there. I didn't give him a birthday gift, so he's targeting me!
"What did you say?!"
"You're spouting nonsense, pure slander. I've always treated all my subordinates equally, so why would I be so malicious as to target you? Tell me, when and where did I release it, and what's the evidence?"
I suspect that you yourself fed those wood-eating rats, violating the sect rules to earn spirit stones.
Commander Fu said angrily.
Zhao Jianlei, not to be outdone, continued to argue: "I fed wood-eating rats? Am I stupid? Raising wood-eating rats in the forest is extremely low-profit and high-risk. Besides, I would report it if I raised them myself."
"That's because you were inexperienced and accidentally killed the spirit tree. You had no choice but to pretend to report it yourself in order to get leniency."
"..."
Seeing Fu Shuai so blatantly distorting the truth, Zhao Jianlei turned to Pang Qing: "Deacon Pang, Senior Brother Fu is using the excuse of celebrating my birthday to extort money and collect our birthday gifts. He's deliberately trying to harm me!"
"Money-making? I never held a birthday banquet, nor did I ever tell them. They gave me things as a token of their appreciation after they learned of my birthday. I never asked for anything."
The two argued endlessly, each sticking to their own version of events.
"That's enough!"
Pang Qing interrupted the two with a low shout, and the pressure of the Foundation Establishment stage spread out.
The scene fell silent.
"Tell me one by one, was it Marshal Fu who asked you to give birthday gifts, or did you give them willingly?"
His gaze swept over the crowd.
Huang Shideng spoke first: "Reporting to Deacon Pang, I learned by chance that it was Senior Brother Fu's birthday, and I voluntarily sent some gifts to express my gratitude for Senior Brother Fu's usual care for me."
Besides, I only gave a gift worth two or three spirit stones; it's a small gift but carries great meaning. How could I be trying to make money off you?
With him taking the lead, the others who were close to Fu Shuai echoed him, saying that they were giving gifts voluntarily.
"Where are the others?"
Pang Qing's gaze swept over Liu He, Su Miao, and Li Zhi.
They weren't as obsequious and ingratiating as Huang Shideng was towards Marshal Fu.
"I did it voluntarily."
Li Zhi said this.
Even if they say that someone hinted that they should give gifts, firstly, there is no evidence, and secondly, it is impossible to bring down Marshal Fu with this. It is better to go with the flow and not offend anyone.
"Me too."
Liu He then responded.
Comparing Zhao Jianlei's and Fu Shuai's statements, he was definitely more inclined to believe Zhao Jianlei. However, his voice carried little weight, and he could only follow the crowd.
Looking at the farce unfolding before him, he thought to himself: This is the true nature of sects.
In a large sect like the Qian Yuan Holy Sect, there are a large number of cultivators, and there are definitely all kinds of cultivators.
There are superiors like Wu Shao, who are neither good nor bad, and there are superiors like Fu Shuai, who are cunning, good at accumulating wealth, and good at manipulating their subordinates.
There were bound to be sycophants and flatterers like Huang Shideng.
Of course, Liu He also encountered many "good people", such as Hong Jianxiong from Wanqifeng, and Xue Guanghao who gave him violet and radish seeds.
More often, there are disciples like Liu He, who are cautious, mind their own business, don't want to get into trouble, and only want to make progress in a low-key manner.