Expose other to get stronger

In the bustling city of Qingfeng, nestled among the winding alleyways and busy markets, stood the Pavilion of Prosperity.

It was a modest building with weathered wooden beams and faded red lanterns hanging from its eaves. Within its walls, amid stacks of dusty ledgers and rows of ink-stained desks, toiled a man named Chen Yang.

Chen Yang had served as the Pavilion's accountant for thirty long years. He meticulously tallied numbers and balanced accounts with a precision that bordered on obsession.

Day in and day out, he pored over scrolls of financial records, his abacus clicking rhythmically as he calculated profits and losses with a practiced hand.

Despite his diligent efforts, Chen's life remained unremarkable. His salary—a mere two silver coins a month—barely covered the cost of his meager meals and threadbare robes.

But Chen was content with his lot, finding solace in the familiarity of his routine and the quiet satisfaction of a job well done.

However, beneath the veneer of contentment, a shadow loomed over Chen's otherwise mundane existence. His manager, Mr. Zhang, was known for his sharp tongue and even sharper temper.

From the moment Chen had stepped foot in the Pavilion, Mr. Zhang had made it his mission to make Chen's life miserable.

Chen Yang flinched as the door creaked open, revealing Manager Zhang, his perpetually pursed lips forming a disapproving sneer.

"Chen Yang, I swear, you take longer to complete an entry than a turtle crossing a desert. Are you even working, or daydreaming about those trashy cultivation novels you devour like a glutton?"

Chen Yang gritted his teeth, the familiar heat of shame rising in his cheeks. He hated confrontation, his cautious nature making him a prime target for Zhang's relentless bullying. But today, a spark of defiance flickered within him.

"I was just…" he stammered, his voice barely a whisper.

"Just what?" Zhang barked, his voice echoing in the room. "Just wasting your precious time and stealing from the pavilion owner's pocket?"

The accusation stung. Chen Yang straightened in his chair, the defiance hardening into a thin resolve. "Actually, Manager Zhang," he began, his voice surprisingly steady for once, "I think it's you lining your own pockets."

Zhang's eyes narrowed, the sneer replaced by a dangerous glint. "What do you mean, you insolent worm?"

Ignoring the tremor in his hands, Chen Yang pulled out a scroll and a small ledger, placing them on the table.

"I've been tracking discrepancies in the inventory records and the outgoing shipments for months now."

He pointed to specific entries in the ledger.

"See here, Manager Zhang? These herbs are listed as sold at a lower price than they were actually delivered for."

A tense silence descended. Zhang's face turned a shade of purple, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides.

Chen Yang held his breath, a knot of fear tightening in his stomach. Challenging a cultivator, even a low-ranked one like Zhang, was akin to poking a hornet's nest.

Just then, the heavy oak door swung open with a bang, revealing a weathered man with a neatly trimmed beard.

The pavilion of Prosperity owner, Master Lin, surveyed the scene with a frown.

"What's all this ruckus?"

Zhang, his confidence faltering under Master Lin's gaze, stammered, "Master Lin, Chen Yang here… he's not working. Just… playing around."

Chen Yang's heart pounded like a trapped bird. He knew his chances were slim, but he wouldn't let Zhang get away with this anymore. Steeling his nerves, he rushed forward and bowed low. "Master Lin, please allow me to explain."

Master Lin raised an eyebrow, a flicker of interest replacing his initial annoyance. He listened patiently as Chen Yang, his voice gaining strength with each word, detailed the discrepancies in the records, his voice rising in indignation as he presented his meticulously documented evidence.

Master Lin's expression darkened as he scanned the ledger and scrolls. Chen Yang braced himself for the possible consequences, a mixture of fear and a strange sense of vindication coursing through him.

Finally, Master Lin slammed his fist on the table. "Zhang! Is this true?"

There was a sickening silence before Zhang, his face ashen, mumbled an admission. Master Lin's fury exploded. With a tirade of insults, he swiftly terminated Zhang's employment, dismissing him with a final, menacing glare.

Chen Yang watched, stunned, as Zhang slunk out of the room, his tail between his legs. A wave of relief washed over him, so potent it almost made him dizzy. Master Lin turned to him, a flicker of something resembling respect in his eyes.

"Chen Yang," he said, his voice gruff but fair, "You did well. Go finish your work. I'll… have a talk with you later."

With a final nod, Master Lin disappeared into a back room. Chen Yang stared after him, A smile tugging at the corner of his lips, Chen Yang felt a lightness he hadn't experienced in years.

The weight of Zhang's constant berating lifted, replaced by a curious anticipation. Master Lin's words hung in the air: "I'll have a talk with you later." What could it mean? A promotion? ? "

As he was deep in thought, a sudden movement caught his eye. He looked up to see Manager Zhang staring at him with an unnervingly intense gaze.

Manager lingered, fixing them with a warning gaze before leaving.

A flicker of defiance, a spark he hadn't felt in years, had emboldened Chen Yang.

But as quickly as it ignited, a cold hand of fear squeezed his heart. Manager Zhang, that conniving weasel, wasn't alone.

He had a brother, Wei Zhang, a cultivator rumored to be in the late stages of Body Refinement. Exposing Zhang's corruption meant potentially facing his wrathful kin.

Regret gnawed at him. Why did he have to speak up today? Why couldn't he just endure Zhang's bullying like he always did? Self-blame coiled around him, a familiar and unwelcome companion.

Suddenly, a voice, clear and distinct, echoed within his head. So real, he almost flinched.

"Detect, the host has exposed other's secret... Exposer System... Awaken...1....3..10...50...88...100"

The voice trailed off, replaced by a faint hum. Chen Yang froze, eyes wide with disbelief. Did he just hear... a system announcement? Had he gone mad from years of drudgery?