Wild cultivation begins with wielding the Taiyin talisman.

Shi Chongshan.

When those two words struck his eyes like a brand, the deathly silence in Old Curry was instantly shattered.

"Nonsense! This is slander!"

Shi Cheng'an reacted violently, vehemently denying the allegations. He snatched the file, crumpling the parchment into a ball, his eyes darting nervously between Ning Che and Shi Zhongyu.

"This is absolutely a misunderstanding! Someone framed us! Patriarch... how could the Patriarch do such a thing!"

Shi Zhongyu stood still, motionless.

"This must be a misunderstanding."

"Someone framed me."

"How could the patriarch do such a thing?"

Shi Zhongyu stood still, motionless.

Her pupils contracted slightly.

That arrogant face was expressionless at the moment.

The image of the dignified and just patriarch she had admired since childhood was shattered in her heart.

Ning Che's expression was normal.

He didn't even glance at the name; this outcome seemed to be exactly what he had expected.

His gaze shifted from Shi Cheng'an's sweat-covered face to Shi Zhongyu's profile.

"Even if it was a misunderstanding," Ning Che said calmly, "it did happen."

Shi Cheng'an suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot.

"Guest Master Xing, this matter concerns the reputation of the Patriarch."

"You can't convict someone based on just a signature."

"No one has seen this file today, except for you and me..."

"As long as I keep quiet, the Shi family can pretend nothing happened, right?" Ning Che interrupted him.

The corner of his mouth curled up in a smile that sent a chill down Shi Cheng'an's spine.

"Manager Shi, you've misunderstood three things."

Ning Che extended one finger.

"First, I'm here to seek justice for Senior Ishitani, and also to keep my own promise."

He extended his second finger.

"Secondly, do you think the head of the family is acting out of personal grudges?"

Thirty years ago, Shi Gu was the most dazzling genius in the collateral branch and the most promising candidate to reach the seventh rank.

"A seventh-rank expert who is not directly controlled by the eldest branch of the family will cause a redistribution of family resources, and power may also change."

"Sacrificing a genius is a cheap and effective way to maintain the balance within the family."

These words sent a chill down Shi Zhongyu's spine.

She suddenly understood.

This is the cruelest side of large families.

Shi Cheng'an's lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

Because what Ning Che said was true.

Ning Che's gaze sharpened, and he extended a third finger.

Third, do you think you have the right to negotiate with me?

A sense of pressure emanated from Ning Che.

That wasn't a fluctuation of magical power, but rather an aura that only comes from countless life-and-death battles.

Shi Cheng'an was forced back half a step by this imposing aura, and cold sweat kept pouring down his forehead.

He then realized that the one-armed boy in front of him was not a guest who could be easily manipulated.

He was Yu Congrong's man, the one who dared to overturn Mu Qingming's table in Xishan.

"What... what does Guest Elder Xing want?" Shi Cheng'an's voice was hoarse, no longer holding any hope.

"It's very simple." Ning Che withdrew his hand and looked at the file. "I'll give the Shi family some face."

Shi Zhongyu suddenly looked at Ning Che, completely bewildered.

She thought Ning Che would make a big fuss about this, and even report it to the leader of the mountain guardians.

"This matter can remain confidential," Ning Che said, "but I want two things."

"Please speak," Shi Cheng'an said, as if grasping at a straw.

"First, I want the Shi family to take out a Danxin Xumai Pill and send it to Shizhu Village to give to Senior Shigu."

"At the same time, have the head of the third branch, Shi Bingzhu, along with the family elders, personally visit to apologize for the accident thirty years ago."

Danxin Xumai Pill.

Shi Cheng'an gasped.

That was a seventh-grade elixir that could restore meridians and replenish the loss of one's essence. It was extremely precious, and even if the Shi family wanted to obtain one, it would inevitably be a painful and costly ordeal.

But compared to the patriarch's disgrace and the family's division, a single pill is nothing.

"Okay, I... I'll report to the head of the family right away," Shi Cheng'an agreed through gritted teeth.

"What's the second thing?" Shi Zhongyu couldn't help but ask, his mind in turmoil.

Ning Che's gaze fell on her, a deep gaze that seemed to see through her pride and confusion.

"Secondly, I want the third branch of the Shi family to be my allies in the Shi family from today onwards."

"When I investigate cases and review files, the three departments must cooperate."

"If I need anything in the city, the third branch of the family should be the first to step forward."

"In return, this scandal is buried here."

"and……"

Ning Che paused, then said meaningfully, "In a family with internal problems, the power shift will be swift."

"Chief Shi has made great contributions, and Miss Shi is also very talented. She may well have a chance to take over the Shi family in the future."

Shi Zhongyu knew this was just empty promises.

But this cake was exactly what she wanted most.

She looked at Ning Che, this man had given her a way out, and also a path to the pinnacle of family power.

"Why should I believe you?" Shi Zhongyu bit her lip, but her voice was somewhat excited.

"As far as I know, there's more than what's in this file."

After Ning Che finished speaking, he did something that no one expected.

He extended his intact left hand, gathering a wisp of almost tangible magical power at his fingertips, and gently and precisely traced the signature "Shi Chongshan" on the dossier.

The ink was scraped away by the sword energy, turning into powder, but the paper underneath remained intact.

"What are you doing?" Shi Cheng'an shouted.

Ning Che ignored him, only looking at the indentation left after the signature disappeared.

"This signature is forged."

Shi Zhongyu and Shi Chengan were both stunned, their minds blank.

"The imitation is very similar, but a true master of the seventh rank has excellent control over the force, and the strokes are very light, leaving no marks."

"And this signature, with its excessive force and pauses at the turning points, shows that the imitator was feeling guilty."

Ning Che's voice echoed in the old warehouse, each word striking a chord in the hearts of Shi Zhongyu and Shi Cheng'an.

"Back then, there were very few people in the Shi family who had access to this file, were capable of switching it out, and even dared to forge the patriarch's signature."

Ning Che's gaze was deep, as if he could see through thirty years. "Moreover, he must have a very good relationship with the person in charge of the pill store."

Shi Cheng'an's body trembled, and a name he had almost forgotten appeared uncontrollably in his mind.

That person... that person was indeed very close to Sun Fu from the pill shop back then.

Moreover, he had the motivation and the status to do so.

"Who is it?" Shi Zhongyu asked anxiously, feeling like she was going crazy from all these twists and turns.

Ning Che shook his head, rolled up the file again, and put it back in its original place.

"It doesn't matter anymore."

He turned and walked towards the outside of Old Ku.

"The deal has been reached."

"I only want the results; you three families can investigate the process yourselves."

"It turns out that you were the ones cleaning house."

"If we can't find out, then let the name Shi Chongshan carry this burden forever."

He walked to the door, stopped, and looked back at Shi Zhongyu, who was standing there with a complicated expression.

"I want to go back to Shizhu Village and tell Senior Shigu about this result in person."

"I hope to see the Shi family's sincerity when I return."

After saying that, Ning Che's figure disappeared into the light at the doorway.