Chapter Seventy-Five: Confrontation

At noon, Wen Rong, weighed down with her own troubles, slowly stepped through her front door. The fact that Ye Xin could now begin to gather his elemental energy meant that, someday in the future, he might become a prodigy like Li Shichuan, the founder of the Empire of Law. Although the chances were slim, they were not nonexistent.

Wen Rong was a precocious child. For other students at the academy, even if they were privy to the truth, they might at most feel jealousy or shock toward Ye Xin. But Wen Rong saw the hidden danger. Wolf Commander Ye Guanhai had been killed by the cultivators of the Qingyuan Sect. No matter how the sovereign Tiexin Sheng tried to clear himself, he could not dispel the suspicions of his ministers. In a sense, Tiexin Sheng was nothing more than a dog for the Qingyuan Sect, not to guard the house but to scavenge for food. Tiexin Sheng was useful to them; if he staunchly defended Ye Guanhai, the Qingyuan Sect would certainly take his stance into account. Given these circumstances, could Tiexin Sheng truly tolerate Ye Xin?

Unfortunately, Wen Rong had no chance to intervene at the time. If she had known in advance, she would have sought out Ye Xin for a private, careful discussion, laying out the risks and benefits in plain terms. In her view, Ye Xin’s best response would have been to hide his abilities, or even leave Jiuding City altogether to hone his skills elsewhere. Tianyuan City, for instance, was an ideal place. Once he achieved the strength of a Grand Pillar, he could restore the Ye family’s former glory.

But now, it was too late for regrets. Wen Rong decided to discuss Ye Xin’s situation with her father. Ever since attending Ye Xin’s wedding, she had noticed something strange in her father’s attitude—he seemed unusually interested in Ye Xin, asking for news of him almost daily. Her father, after all, was an experienced official and might offer insights she hadn’t considered.

No sooner had she stepped into the courtyard than Wen Rong saw the household maids and old servant women rushing about in a panic, their faces pale and their expressions frantic, as if some great calamity had befallen them.

“What’s happened?” Wen Rong demanded.

“Miss, it’s terrible!” cried one maid, rushing to Wen Rong. “The old master has arrived and is about to punish the master according to family law! Miss, please hurry! If you’re any later, the master will be beaten to death!”

Wen Rong was horrified. Led by two maids, she dashed toward the rear courtyard.

Moments later, she burst into the scene to find nearly all of the family’s prominent members assembled. Her father, Wen Hongren, was suspended from a wooden frame; behind him stood several warriors gripping bloodstained whips. From Wen Rong’s vantage, she could not judge her father’s injuries, but blood dripped ceaselessly from his toes.

Her mother, Shen Yunling, was weeping and pleading desperately for mercy from the old patriarch, who sat impassively in the center. Shen Yunling had resented Wen Hongren for not consulting her when thrusting Wen Rong into peril, but he was still her husband. Seeing him beaten so mercilessly, she forgot all else and thought only of saving him.

Wen Rong felt as if her scalp might explode. Months ago, even when trapped in desperate straits in Tianyuan City, she had managed to stay calm. But now, she could not control herself.

“What is going on?!” Wen Rong shouted in fury.

Everyone turned to look at her, each with their own expression. Though Wen Rong’s seniority within the Wen family was not high, her status was exceptional. A year earlier, cultivators from Luoxia Mountain had visited and lavished praise upon her; the family believed she had a strong chance to excel in the next selection and win direct entry into a sect. Her opinions were seldom ignored.

Perhaps the only exception was the old patriarch, Wen Yuanren. He merely glanced at her before coldly declaring, “Strike this unfilial son from our records and banish him from Jiuding City! As long as I live, he is never to set foot here again! Yuanling, you and your daughter are to pack your things and move into the old Wen residence immediately. There will be no more academy for either of you. Without my permission, neither of you are to leave the old house.”

Then Wen Yuanren beckoned to a steward. “Go at once to the Zong family and inform Zong Zhentang to immediately propose marriage. The girl is of age and should not linger here. Who knows what trouble she might bring in the future? The sooner she marries over, the sooner she becomes their concern.”

“Old Master Wen, is this not a bit excessive?” A voice interjected.

Wen Yuanren turned, surprised. The Grand Chamberlain, Shen Wangji, had appeared from the rear hall, having overheard Wen Yuanren’s last words. Behind him stood more than a dozen family guards, and Shen Miao was with him. She rushed forward, grasped Wen Rong’s hand, and pulled her behind her. Wen Rong, now utterly lost, let herself be dragged away.

Though Shen Yunling, Wen Hongren’s wife, had little worldly experience, at this crucial moment she made the right decision. She knew her husband had few powerful friends among the court ministers, with Shen Wangji being the most influential. So when Wen Hongren was bound by the family warriors, she had already dispatched a steward to the Shen household for help.

“This is an internal family matter, Chamberlain. There’s no need for your intervention,” Wen Yuanren said with a frown.

“If I heard correctly, you’ve already struck Hongren from the family register. You are no longer father and son; in that case, it truly is your family’s business, and I will not meddle.” Shen Wangji’s tone was icy. “But the lady and Wen Rong ought to leave with Hongren as well. Or do you take them as your personal property, Old Master Wen?”

Wen Yuanren hesitated, at a loss for words. While he searched for a reply, Shen Wangji added, “Old man, have you no shame at your age?”

Wen Yuanren was livid, rising to his feet. One of Shen Wangji’s warriors stepped forward, carrying the sword case—Shen Wangji’s own! Wen Yuanren froze and drew a sharp breath, realizing that Shen Wangji was truly angered.

“Shen Wangji, ever the smiling schemer,” people said; “Wen Yuanren, who never takes sides.” Their nicknames revealed their natures: Shen Wangji never clashed openly, even if he bore hatred or plotted against someone, he always maintained a cordial façade. As for Wen Yuanren, when the second generation of the Wen family failed to become Grand Pillars, he chose to keep a low profile and quietly await the rise of the third generation. For decades, he avoided conflict with other noble families, always seeking cooperation.

In truth, Shen Wangji’s visit was only meant to lend support to Wen Hongren, but Wen Yuanren’s machinations had thoroughly enraged him. To expel Wen Hongren, Shen Yunling, and even Wen Rong from the family was one thing; Wen Hongren lived by his principles and would pay the price, enduring suffering but at least surviving with his dignity. But to expel only Wen Hongren, leaving his wife and daughter behind and forcing Wen Rong into marriage with the Zong family, would make Wen Hongren a laughingstock. Shen Wangji knew Wen Hongren well—he could never bear such disgrace and would likely waste away within a month or two.

“It seems I must petition the sovereign for justice,” Wen Yuanren snarled.

“By all means, do as you wish.” Shen Wangji showed him no courtesy today. “On the court floor today, Hongren asked me to be Wen Rong’s marriage sponsor, and I agreed. Now you turn around and seek a match with the Zong family—tell me, Old Master Wen, what do you take me for?”

“Well, well, Grand Chamberlain Shen!” Wen Yuanren laughed in fury.

“Men, take Hongren down and bring him to my house to recover.” Shen Wangji ordered, “Not allowed in Jiuding City? Hongren is a high official—do you really think your family law supersedes the law of the land?”

The Shen family guards stepped forward. Wen Yuanren braced himself and barked, “Who dares?!” The Wen family warriors immediately moved to block their path.

Wen Yuanren could retreat no further; any more and his reputation would be in tatters. Shen Wangji frowned—he merely wanted to take the wounded man away, not escalate matters. Besides, Shen’s people could not strike first.

Just then, a furious roar echoed from outside. “Who the hell dares make trouble in my house?!” A burly man, wielding a massive axe, stormed in.

“Shanpao! Go rescue my father!” Wen Rong cried, her spirits lifting at the sight. Though she had only known Shanpao for a few months, she was aware of his formidable strength—possibly nearing that of a Grand Pillar.

Shanpao had often said that in all of Tianyuan City, there were only four or five people he truly feared or could not figure out. Wen Rong, who had spent much time training there, knew the city’s dangers well. Its population was small—just a few hundred thousand, far less than Jiuding City—but all its major faction leaders were terrifying, with over a dozen Grand Pillar-level experts. For Shanpao to speak so boldly meant he possessed some special means of countering such power, or he had concealed his true abilities all along.

Shanpao scanned the crowd without a word and strode purposefully toward the suspended Wen Hongren.

The Wen warriors did not yield. Their leader stared coldly at Shanpao.

Shanpao walked right up to the lead warrior, studied him for a moment, then suddenly grinned. “Brother, step aside.”

The warrior pointed aside, about to order Shanpao away, but the giant axe flashed like lightning toward his head.

The lead warrior broke out in a cold sweat; he had never dreamed the man would strike so suddenly. Luckily, he had the skill of an advanced innate warrior and reacted quickly, leaping back. The other warriors were equally caught off guard, and several were sent sprawling by his charge.

Wen Yuanren snorted in anger, already channeling his inner energy. Shanpao, sensing this, glanced in his direction and then drawled, “I can’t beat the old man, but as for you lot—none of you could withstand three of my swings. Get the hell out of my way!”

Shen Wangji took up his sword case and advanced a few steps; the tension in the courtyard was palpable, especially between Wen Yuanren and Shen Wangji, both ready to test their strength against one another.