Notes on Longevity

Chapter 178 A Humble Gentleman's Honor and Shame, An Iron-Faced Judge's Hidden Selfish Motives

Wei Shengming stood there with a frown, and then sighed helplessly. He looked at Wei Wanyao and could only wave his hand to let Chunshuang and Piyi take Wei Wanyao back to the courtyard.

Seeing this, Pi Yi helped Chun Shuang, who was kneeling on the ground, to her feet. Wei Wanyao, who was standing to the side, could not say anything more and could only obediently walk into the courtyard with the help of the two of them.

As Wei Wanyao left, she recalled the commotion in the courtyard earlier, watching countless servants and guards carrying everything that could hurt someone as they headed towards the mansion gate. This made her very worried. It was the first time in her life that she had ever seen someone lead a group of people to surround their house, especially since that person was the young master of the Qin family.

She turned around and looked at Wei Shengming, who was standing there, head down, lost in thought, and a worried expression appeared on his face.

It is said that fathers and sons are of one heart, and at this moment, this father and daughter seemed to be able to sense each other's emotions. So, Wei Shengming looked up in the direction where Wei Wanyao had left, and saw that she was also frowning and looking troubled.

Seeing Wei Wanyao's expression, Wei Shengming felt a pang of heartache, as if someone had seized his soul. He looked sadly at his daughter, who kept turning back to look at him, and tears welled up in his eyes. What a tragedy!

He thought to himself.

He was originally a half-dead soul in the underworld, with two children to his name. But now, a terrible trouble has arisen before him. If he cannot explain it clearly, he will find it difficult to move an inch in Yu'an City, even if he is the richest man in the city.

As he lost sight of his daughter, his sorrow grew stronger. He didn't know why, but he still fantasized about whether he could still have a connection with the Qin family. However, what assaulted his ears was a chaotic, terrified sound, and the jarring clash of swords. When he turned to look towards the mansion gate, his gaze fell upon Qin Xiangyu, clad in black armor, through the window of the main hall. Qin Xiangyu, sword in hand, roared at the servants and guards blocking the entrance, "Bring Wei Shengming out here right now!"

The servants and guards at the gate panicked when they saw that the newcomer was the young master of the Qin family. They had been eager to see who dared to cause trouble at the Wei residence after hearing the shouts, but their anger immediately subsided upon seeing Qin Xiangyu.

They never expected that the young master of the Qin family would gather a crowd to cause trouble. Just as they were at a loss and didn't know what to do, a voice as loud as a bell and as powerful as the Yellow River came from inside the door: "Young Master Qin, do not be angry!"

Upon hearing the sound, everyone turned towards the direction from which it came. Then, they saw the Wei family's servants and guards bowing respectfully to the person inside the door: "Head Steward."

Zhu Ruochang, the head steward of the Wei family, was sixty-one years old this year. Although he was thin as a rake, he was quite robust. He strode steadily out of the mansion, a smile plastered on his face as he approached Qin Xiangyu. When he reached Qin Xiangyu, he clasped his hands in a fist salute, bowed slightly, and said, "Please don't be angry, young master. The Wei family doesn't know what has offended you. Please speak frankly, and I will apologize. Then I will take you into the mansion to see the master, and we will leave everything to him to decide."

"Steward Zhu." Qin Xiangyu naturally recognized the man in front of him. He had heard of him back when the Qin and Wei families were still fighting over a certain market in Yu'an. Later, with the help of Taihua, he gradually became the richest man in Yu'an, and he had met him then.

This man's cunning was so great that even Taihua once said, "There are few truly intelligent people in the world; it's just a pity that such extraordinary talent often leads to treachery."

Looking into his eagle-like eyes and wolf-like brown pupils, Qin Xiangyu couldn't help but take a step back: "You can't make the decision about today's matter."

"Whether it's up to you to decide or not, we'll have to hear from you, young master." Zhu Ruochang seemed unconcerned about the purpose of Qin Xiangyu's visit. He was simply puzzled as to who within the Wei family had done what to provoke the usually humble and gentle Qin Xiangyu into this act. However, he reasoned that even if she had offended him, it wasn't something to fear. After all, as long as no one from the Qin family was harmed, it would only require a bit more explanation from him.

However, to his surprise, Taihua was like a close friend to him. When Taihua left Yu'an, he had come to see him specifically, saying he wanted to bring Luyi to live in the city and also check on Daoyisheng. However, Luyi refused, and he didn't even get to see Daoyisheng.

Qin Xiangyu regarded Taihua's words as gospel, and so did his father. Since Taihua said he would bring Green Robe to live in the city, he naturally wouldn't have any thought of refusing because Green Robe was a demon. On the contrary, Taihua also knew that Green Robe was a demon, and after he resolved the demon scourge in Yu'an, he had made a three-point agreement with the demons: as long as they could abide by it, he would not harm them again.

The first rule is that all demons must leave the city after daybreak and are not allowed to stay in the city.

But Taihua has now broken the rules himself, which shows how much he values ​​Green Robe, and also proves that in Taihua's eyes Green Robe is no longer a demon, but a human. Moreover, he has also heard the news that the Wei family is gathering Taoist priests to deal with Green Robe, which is why Qin Xiangyu is so angry today.

Now, faced with Zhu Ruochang's repeated obstruction, he knew that if things continued this way, he would only be stuck in this endless entanglement with Zhu Ruochang. So, he simply shoved him aside, drew his knife, and stormed angrily towards the Wei residence.

Seeing this, the people behind Qin Xiangyu also drew their swords and rushed towards the Wei residence with Qin Xiangyu.

Immediately, the two sides engaged in a fierce battle. Qin Xiangyu understood that her actions today had undoubtedly severed ties with the Wei family, making any future attempts at reconciliation impossible.

The Wei family was outnumbered and could not withstand the ferocity of the people Qin Xiangyu brought. They were forced to retreat in defeat and soon arrived at the Wei family's main hall.

After watching his daughter leave, Wei Shengming heard the sounds of fighting. He looked up and saw Qin Xiangyu surrounded by a crowd, arriving not far from him.

Inside the main hall, the guards quickly shielded Wei Shengming and the two young masters of the Wei family behind them, but they couldn't help but tremble when they saw Qin Xiangyu's aggressive approach.

When Qin Xiangyu arrived at the main hall, he saw that Wei Shengming had been protected, and he stopped outside the eaves of the main hall.

Seeing this, Wei Shengming quickly adjusted his mind and state of mind. He took a measured step, one hand in front of him and the other behind his back, and walked around the guards to stand in front of Qin Xiangyu. There were only three steps between them.

"Xiangyu, what are you doing here today?" Wei Shengming adopted the demeanor of an elder, but his words remained gentle. He wasn't blaming Qin Xiangyu for barging in; he simply wanted to find out the reason.

However, Qin Xiangyu was not so easy to talk to. He raised the drawn sword, pointed it at Wei Shengming, and gritted his teeth, saying, "What am I here for? Don't you know?"

Wei Shengming did know, but he wasn't sure. Instead of saying it outright, he asked tactfully, "If anyone in my household offends you, tell me, and I will deal with them according to family rules."

Qin Xiangyu sneered upon hearing this: "Wei Shengming, are you really pretending to be ignorant? You've been gathering so many Taoist priests these past few days, do you dare say you don't know what you've been doing?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Shengming frowned, thinking to himself, "Indeed, could it be that Yun Gong really left on his own to find that flower fairy?"

However, he still said, "As you know, my daughter has been bedridden for many years. I sought out these Taoist priests to treat her illness."

"Wei Shengming, are you still pretending? Do you really think I know nothing?" Seeing that Wei Shengming still refused to admit it, Qin Xiangyu's anger was uncontrollable. She pointed her knife at his nose and shouted, "Dare you say that you didn't seek out the Taoist priest because of that flower spirit outside the city? Dare you say that you didn't send anyone to cause trouble for that flower spirit today?"

Seeing that he could no longer hide it, Wei Shengming could only admit, "That's how it is, but two days ago, Immortal Taihua came to see me and told me not to bother that flower spirit anymore. After that, I sent those Taoists away." Wei Shengming already knew from Qin Xiangyu that Yun Gong had indeed gone to look for Green Robe, and judging from Qin Xiangyu's appearance, he guessed that Green Robe seemed to have been taken away or harmed by Yun Gong: "However, I really didn't send anyone to bother that flower spirit."

"If it wasn't you? Then who was it?" Qin Xiangyu's anger intensified upon hearing this. If it was the Taoist priest that Wei Shengming found, why would they go looking for trouble if it wasn't an exit?

“Nephew, you may not know this, but among the Taoists I invited, there was one named Yun Gong. This man is ambitious but unpredictable, and his thoughts are hard to fathom. Even I was used by him. If it weren't for the arrival of Immortal Taihua the other day, I might still be in the dark.”

Wei Shengming quickly explained.

Qin Xiangyu felt that the name Yun Gong sounded familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.

Suddenly, he remembered that Taihua had told him about his travels in the world and his accidental entry into the immortal realm of Kunlun to learn the Dao. In it, Taihua also mentioned a wicked Daoist who used the blood essence and inner core of demons for cultivation. That person seemed to be named Yun Gong.

Qin Xiangyu frowned as he thought of this. If it really was this person, he thought that perhaps what Wei Shengming said was true.

But fate is fickle, and life is unpredictable. Wei Wanyao, who should have been back in her courtyard, suddenly ran out, while Chunshuang and Piyi ran alongside, calling out to Wei Wanyao, "Miss."

Upon hearing this, Qin Xiangyu looked in the direction from which the sound came and saw a young girl dressed in fine clothes running out from a moss-covered artificial hill.

When Wei Shengming heard the sound and saw his daughter running towards him, he seemed to hear the sound of his own heart breaking.

"Go back!" Wei Shengming shouted angrily at Wei Wanyao.

Wei Wanyao stood there, tears streaming down her face. She looked at her father with a wronged expression, unable to believe that he would speak to her so loudly.

Qin Xiangyu seemed to have sensed something as well. He turned his gaze back to Wei Shengming, frowned, stared at him intently, and roared, "Wei Shengming, didn't you say your daughter has been bedridden for years?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Shengming realized he was in trouble!

He was only focused on explaining to Qin Xiangyu that Taihua had told him not to cause trouble for the flower spirit. Qin Xiangyu had already begun to waver, and now Wei Wanyao's appearance had dragged the situation into an irreversible predicament.

He then quickly explained, "Xiangyu, listen to me. The other day, Immortal Taihua..."

"Are you still trying to argue?" Qin Xiangyu glared at her angrily.

"Qin Xiangyu!" Finally, with his daughter barging in again, Wei Shengming could no longer bear it. He slapped the blade that Qin Xiangyu was holding up to him, knocking it to the ground, and shouted angrily, "I was only being nice to you because I thought you were my own nephew. Don't push your luck and be so aggressive."

"As I just said, I listened to Immortal Taihua's words and dispersed all the Taoists. However, I cannot control Yun Gong. As for what he did, it is none of my business!"

Qin Xiangyu looked at her sword that had been knocked away and chuckled, "Do you really think I'm a fool? You said your daughter is bedridden, then who's standing there? A ghost?"

A sharp, deafening "smack!" sent chills down the spine of everyone in the otherwise quiet hall.

Wei Shengming stared in disbelief at his outstretched hand. When he realized what had happened, he took a few steps back and then quickly walked up to Qin Xiangyu, wanting to reach out and see the face he had injured.

However, the guards behind Qin Xiangyu, who were also stunned, all rushed forward. At this moment, the vicious guard standing behind Wei Shengming also quickly stepped forward, pulled Wei Shengming behind them, and used his own body to protect him tightly.

Upon seeing this, the young scholar who had been standing behind Qin Xiangyu quickly walked to his side and looked at him with concern: "Young master, are you alright?"

Qin Xiangyu remained silent, instead looking down at the knife at her feet.

He inwardly mocked himself, saying, "Qin Xiangyu, Qin Xiangyu! You failed to handle the task Elder Taihua asked you to do, and now you've even been beaten up. When have you ever been treated like this?"

As Qin Xiangyu thought this, she noticed that his already furrowed brows were getting tighter and tighter, as if the flesh between his brows was about to be squeezed out.

He took a deep breath, slowly squatted down, picked up the knife that had fallen to the ground, and then glared angrily at Wei Shengming, whose limbs were being protected by the guards and who was in a panic.

Qin Xiangyu had murderous intent.

In Yu'an City, Qin Xiangyu was regarded by the common people and merchants as a gentleman, gentle and refined. He greeted everyone with a smile, whether they were the magistrate of Yu'an City, a wealthy merchant, or other officials who came to Yu'an. Of course, when he encountered injustice, he would not care who you were; as long as you were in Yu'an City, he would still uphold justice.

Therefore, besides being known as a refined gentleman, he was also called an incorruptible and upright official. Although he was not an official, in the eyes of the people, he was more respected than any official.

However, as long as one is human, one has selfish desires; as long as one is human, one has emotions and desires, and a sense of honor and shame.

In her twenty years in Yu'an, Qin Xiangyu had never been so humiliated in front of others as she was today.

Suddenly, a murderous intent arose within him. He picked up the knife from the ground, bypassed the guards who were trying to protect him, and rushed towards Wei Shengming.

(End of this chapter)