In the residence of the Second Elder of Lingxiao Pavilion, Yang Kai was eating ravenously while Su Mu and the others sat nearby, chatting with him.
Of course, the group was also probing why Su Yan had struck Yang Kai so hard that night, but Yang Kai dared not speak of it.
"By the way, has Wei Zhuang stopped causing you trouble?" Yang Kai changed the subject and asked. To be honest, since leaving the Forest Prison that day, he had been unconscious and then frozen in ice. He truly didn't know how the sect had handled the matter.
"That matter is already in the past. From the elders down to us junior disciples, no one will pursue it further within the Pavilion," Su Mu replied. He then looked at Yang Kai with a hint of confusion and said, "Actually, the reason we're safe this time isn't my grandfather's doing."
"Oh?" Yang Kai looked up. "It wasn't the Second Elder's maneuvering?"
"No." Su Mu slowly shook his head, then somewhat sheepishly recounted what had happened in the Elder Hall that day. He continued, "Just as my grandfather had me immobilized, guess who arrived?"
"Who?"
"Someone you'd never guess. It was actually Manager Meng from the Contribution Hall. He brought the Sect Leader's Jade Pendant and also conveyed the Sect Leader's oral command. That's what allowed the whole matter to be blown out of proportion and then dissolved."
"Old Meng?" Yang Kai was stunned.
"Without him, Senior Brother Yang, you would likely have been severely punished by the Grand Elder by now," Su Mu said, his face filled with guilt as he spoke of this.
Yang Kai gave a carefree smile. "Junior Brother Su, don't take it to heart."
Su Mu repeatedly bowed. "I know you're magnanimous, Senior Brother. On my grandfather's behalf, I offer my apologies. What the old ghost did this time was indeed rather underhanded."
Yang Kai didn't mind. The struggles among the higher-ups always treated their subordinate disciples as chess pieces; that was only human nature.
Su Mu added, "Manager Meng has a mysterious background, and even the old ghost says his strength is unfathomable. I just wonder why he involved himself in this matter, and how he even has connections with the Sect Leader."
Yang Kai pondered. "Old Meng is the type to pluck a goose bare, never rising without profit. Putting in this much effort, he must want something. However, regardless of why, he helped us, that's a fact. We should go thank him, and also see what he really wants."
"You're right, Senior Brother. We were waiting for you to come with us," Su Mu said.
"Let's go now."
Without delay, the group made their way en masse to the Contribution Hall.
Inside the Contribution Hall, Manager Meng was rarely not asleep. Instead, he sat upright behind the counter, watching the approaching group of Yang Kai with a smile, as if he had been expecting them.
Su Mu wore a ingratiating smile and behaved respectfully. "Grandpa Meng, hello!"
In the past, this young master of a second-generation heir would have always addressed Manager Meng as "Hey, old man!" but today, how would Su Mu dare to be so rude in front of him?
Manager Meng smiled faintly. "The boy is well-behaved."
"Heh heh." Su Mu felt quite embarrassed.
"Have you come to offer thanks?" Manager Meng glanced sideways at the group.
"Mm." Everyone nodded.
"Alright then. Little Yang Kai stays. The rest of you, get lost!"
"Yes!" Su Mu and the others dared not hesitate for a moment. Before their feet had even warmed the ground, they hastily bowed and retreated. After leaving the Contribution Hall, they finally understood that Manager Meng had helped them entirely because of Yang Kai. Otherwise, why would he specifically keep Senior Brother Yang behind?
Just... why did he help Senior Brother Yang?
Inside the Contribution Hall, Yang Kai was also puzzled. "Manager Meng, what do you want from me?"