57: Chapter 58 Jiang Gu's Promise

Shen Huaiqing's expression finally changed.

Shen Zhaowei was the Shen Clan's greatest hope at present.

A Chengtian Sect inner Disciple with a very high chance of reaching Foundation Establishment was far more important than a momentary victory in a verbal spat.

The Shen Clan could shirk responsibility, could claim a lack of strict supervision, but they absolutely could not pin this entire blame on Shen Zhaowei and then present the matter before the Chengtian Sect.

If the Chengtian Sect truly investigated and found that Shen Zhaowei had privately participated in local Family feuds, or even used the Canghu Pavilion to plant seals and hunt down auction guests, Shen Zhaowei might not die, but he would certainly be punished by the sect, damaging his future.

The Shen Clan could not afford to gamble.

Shen Huaiqing remained silent for a few breaths, then finally changed his tune.

"Saint Child of Cangya Ridge, there is no need for this."

He raised his head, his expression much graver than before.

"No matter what, Shen Zhaowei carries the surname Shen; his roots are in the Shen Clan. If this matter is truly related to the Shen Clan's Qi, then the Shen Clan should accept the fault and bear the guilt."

"As for the truth, the Shen Clan will take the initiative to send people and resources to investigate thoroughly. That such a large-scale interception occurred outside the market last night while the Shen Clan remained indifferent is a crime in itself."

"Now that similar marks have implicated a Disciple of the Shen Clan, and a guest was tracked by a seal planted within the market and nearly lost their life, the Shen Clan should naturally accept punishment."

Jiang Yuhe watched this scene quietly.

She quickly understood the intent behind Shen Huaiqing's concession.

The Shen Clan had cleverly shifted the conflict.

It was originally: "The Shen Clan, as the co-owners of the market, led the interception of the Gu Family's Young Lord, violating the rules of Canghu Market."

Now, it had become: "The Shen Clan Disciple Shen Zhaowei may have acted privately, the Shen Clan lacked strict supervision, and there was a lapse in the market's handover process."

The designation changed from "compensation for interception" to "lack of strict supervision."

The charges were much lighter.

More importantly, the Shen Clan had regained the initiative to "investigate the truth." As long as they accepted the punishment quickly enough, the Saint Child of Cangya Ridge would have no need to escalate the matter further.

What the Saint Child of Cangya Ridge truly wanted on this trip was not to exterminate the Shen Clan on behalf of the Gu Family.

Cangya Ridge needed the market's credibility; they needed to strike a blow against the Shen Clan and conveniently reclaim more authority over Canghu Market.

If the punishment were too severe, the balance between the Shen and Gu Clans would collapse, and the areas around Baishi River and Jinglan Lake would fall into chaos instead.

The Saint Child of Cangya Ridge seemed quite satisfied with Shen Huaiqing's good sense.

He nodded.

"Since the Shen Clan Master is willing to accept punishment, things will be much easier to handle."

He held up one finger.

"First, the Shen Clan's share of the revenue from Canghu Market for the next three years will go to Cangya Ridge."

The expressions of the few Shen Clan members shifted slightly.

The Saint Child of Cangya Ridge held up a second finger.

"Second, the deacon and attendant responsible for the Canghu Pavilion private room handover last night must be thoroughly investigated by the Shen Clan, and they must provide this Young Miss with an explanation within three days."

A third finger was raised.

"Third, this Young Miss was planted with a seal in Canghu Pavilion and hunted down after leaving the market, nearly losing her life. The Shen Clan must produce a compensation of sufficient weight."

The Saint Child of Cangya Ridge's smile vanished.

"If there is a next time, and if such incidents have even the slightest connection to the Shen Clan, then the Shen Clan will have nothing more to do with the share of Canghu Market."

When these words fell, the expressions of the few Shen clansmen behind Shen Huaiqing changed drastically, yet not one dared to make a sound.

Shen Huaiqing cupped his hands in a salute.

"The Shen Clan accepts the punishment."

After rising, he took a jade box from his Storage Pouch.

The jade box opened to reveal a cyan spirit bead. The surface of the bead floated with faint rain patterns, and inside, it seemed as if a fine rain was falling into a valley; though the sound was faint, it was continuous and unending.

Holding the jade box, Shen Huaiqing said: "I observe that this Young Miss's Qi path belongs to the Grain Rain lineage. This object is called the 'Valley-Echoing Rain Bead,' a High Grade spirit resource of Grain Rain, which can nourish Grain Rain Qi and serve as an aid for high-level spell cultivation."

"This spirit resource shall serve as the Shen Clan's compensation to calm this Young Miss's shock."

The Saint Child of Cangya Ridge reached out to take the jade box, glanced at it, and nodded in satisfaction.

"The Shen Clan Master is certainly generous."

He turned and handed the jade box to Jiang Yuhe.

Jiang Yuhe took the jade box, her expression unmoved, and merely bowed to both the Saint Child of Cangya Ridge and Shen Huaiqing.

"Many thanks, Shen Clan Master."

Seeing that the matter was concluded, the Saint Child of Cangya Ridge waved his hand.

The golden cicada wing unfolded once more, suspended in the lake breeze, with fine golden light flowing between its veins.

Young Master Gu Xingzhi looked at Shen Huaiqing with a cold gaze.

Shen Huaiqing still cupped his hands politely.

"Safe travels, Saint Child of Cangya Ridge, Young Master Gu Xingzhi, and Young Miss Jiang Yuhe."

The three of them stepped onto the cicada wing.

The golden light vibrated, and the flying Magical Artifact left the Shen Clan village on the west bank of the river, heading back in the direction of Cangya Ridge.

Behind them, Shen Huaiqing stood at the village entrance the entire time, and only lowered his hand slowly after the golden wing disappeared into the clouds.

On the flying Magical Artifact, the lake breeze stirred Jiang Yuhe's sleeves.

She looked down at the jade box in her hands.

The rain-intent of the Valley-Echoing Rain Bead could still be heard through the jade box, fine and dense, like an unknown spring rain deep in a valley.

The Saint Child of Cangya Ridge stood in front and suddenly let out a laugh.

"Young Miss Jiang Yuhe."

Jiang Yuhe raised her eyes.

The Saint Child of Cangya Ridge looked back at her, his pale golden eyes carrying a hint of playfulness.

"Do you know why I was willing to extract some benefits for you?"

Hearing this, Jiang Yuhe fell into deep thought and did not answer immediately.

The golden cicada wing pierced through the thin mist on the lake; the Baishi River wound its way below, its surface reflecting layers of silvery white in the morning light.

In the distance, the villages on the east and west banks of the river were scattered like chess pieces amidst the mountains and waters; the Gu Clan, Shen Clan, Luo Family, and Yao Family, and even Baili Mountain further to the south, each occupied a small spot in this landscape.

The Saint Child of Cangya Ridge stood at the very front, his pale golden robes billowing slightly in the wind. He asked casually, but the compensation this Saint Child of Cangya Ridge had just extracted from the Shen Clan was no ordinary gift.

A High Grade Grain Rain spirit resource was, for the current Jiang Family, a treasure significant enough to alter their cultivation progress for several years.

Jiang Yuhe gripped the jade box and said calmly: "I do not know."

The Saint Child of Cangya Ridge looked back at her.

The smile remained on his face, but there was a rare hint of seriousness in his eyes.

"Because your value is no lower than Gu Xingzhi's."

Upon hearing this, Gu Xingzhi's brows twitched slightly.

Jiang Yuhe also looked at the Saint Child of Cangya Ridge.

The Saint Child of Cangya Ridge did not elaborate, only tapping the edge of the golden wing lightly.

"Gu Xingzhi is like a cuckoo brushing its feathers; he hears the sound before the rain arrives, naturally prone to encountering Opportunity. As for you..."

He paused there, his gaze lingering on Jiang Yuhe for a moment, unwilling to spell it out.

"You are not bad either."

He turned to look at Gu Xingzhi, his smile returning, though it carried a hint of warning.

"Gu Xingzhi, let me state this first. Within ten years, the Gu Family and Shen Clan are not allowed to kill each other, and it would be best to improve your relationship."

"In the future, there will be times when I have need of you both; you would do well to conduct yourselves properly and not cause me any more trouble."

Gu Xingzhi's expression turned solemn.

"Rest assured, Brother Gao."

The Saint Child of Cangya Ridge waved his hand.

"Whether I am reassured or not is not important; what matters is that you do not make me feel troubled."

Having said this, he stepped directly off the golden wing, his figure suspended in mid-air, and another, smaller golden cicada wing appeared beneath his feet.

The Saint Child of Cangya Ridge turned back and said: "I will not disturb the two of you any longer. I am returning to Cangya Ridge first."

He pointed to the golden wing beneath his feet that was carrying Jiang Yuhe and Gu Xingzhi.

"You can control this Magical Artifact yourselves; once it delivers you back, it will return to find me on its own, so there is no need to worry."

As his voice fell, the golden light beneath him vibrated, and his entire figure transformed into a pale golden stream of light, darting off in the direction of Cangya Ridge. Within a few breaths, only a speck of golden light remained, sinking into the clouds until it could no longer be seen.

Silence immediately fell upon the golden wing.

The lake breeze passed between the two, carrying water mist and the chill of early morning.

Gu Xingzhi glanced at the direction where the Saint Child of Cangya Ridge had left, then turned his head to look at Jiang Yuhe.

"I do not yet know your name."

Jiang Yuhe said: "Jiang Family, Jiang Yuhe."

Gu Xingzhi nodded, as if carefully committing the name to memory.

"Jiang Yuhe."

He recited it once, then asked: "As for the matter of the marriage alliance, how have you considered it?"

Jiang Yuhe was not surprised.

This person had always been blunt; he was like this at the tea stall before, and he remained so now. It was just that compared to his rash proposal then, his tone now held a bit more gravity.

"Apologies." Jiang Yuhe shook her head and said, "At present, I am the only one barely holding the Family together."

"The Jiang Family has newly relocated to Baili Mountain; the spirit fields are not yet stable, and the clansmen are not yet settled. If I were to enter the Gu Clan, the Jiang Family's Foundation would be left largely empty."

"I am afraid I cannot fulfill Young Master Gu Xingzhi's wish."

Gu Xingzhi was silent for a moment; he was not angry, nor did he try to persuade her further.

He merely asked: "Then what does Young Miss Jiang Yuhe desire?"

Jiang Yuhe looked at him and said in a steady tone: "I have another proposal."

"Please, speak."

Jiang Yuhe said: "If the Jiang Family expands among the Qi Refining families in the future, the Gu Clan must not interfere."

Gu Xingzhi's brows raised slightly.

Jiang Yuhe continued: "In return, the Jiang Family will pledge allegiance to the Gu Clan and help the Gu Clan consolidate the Qi Refining families on both sides of the river."

"The Gu Clan on the east bank and the Shen Clan on the west bank currently dare not easily cross the border to take action themselves, so they use Qi Refining families like the Yao and Luo families to probe one another."

"The Yao Family climbed up to the Gu Clan, swallowed two other families, and is now pressuring the Luo Family; it seems glorious, but in the end, they are not of one Family. The Gu Clan may not be able to truly control the situation, and instead, it will give the Shen Clan an Opportunity to intervene amidst the chaos."

She paused.

"The Jiang Family can do this for the Gu Clan."

Gu Xingzhi looked at her.

"The Jiang Family consolidating the Qi Refining families can better establish a buffer zone for the Gu Clan," Jiang Yuhe continued.

"If these small families listen to the Jiang Family in the future, it is equivalent to adding another layer of defense between the Gu Clan and the Shen Clan. The Gu Clan will not need to enter the fray personally, yet can still compress the Shen Clan's room for expansion."

"Likewise, the Jiang Family, having obtained the protection of the Gu Clan's name, can also gain a firm foothold at Baili Mountain."

Gu Xingzhi said slowly: "You want to borrow the Gu Clan's influence."

Jiang Yuhe did not deny it.

"The Gu Clan can also borrow the Jiang Family's hand."

Gu Xingzhi looked at her and suddenly smiled.

"As expected of you; you are far better than some of the fools in the Gu Family."

Jiang Yuhe said: "If the Jiang Family only knew how to live by the rules of a Cold Household, we would have died elsewhere long ago."

Gu Xingzhi was silent for a while.

The Saint Child of Cangya Ridge's words from earlier were still ringing in his ears.

Within ten years, the Gu Family and Shen Clan must not kill each other, and must even improve their relationship.

This statement was a warning, but it also left room for both sides to maneuver.

Having the Jiang Family consolidate the Qi Refining families for the Gu Clan had, instead, become a suitable path.

"Agreed."

Gu Xingzhi finally nodded.

"If the Jiang Family intends to consolidate other Qi Refining families, the Gu Clan will not hinder you. If the Shen Clan intervenes to block you, I will solve it, but you must nominally acknowledge the Gu Clan as your superior."

He looked at Jiang Yuhe.

Jiang Yuhe did not hesitate and said: "Agreed."

Gu Xingzhi added: "The Gu Clan will not interfere in the Jiang Family's internal affairs. However, there are some decisions where the Gu Clan needs to intervene to ensure that when we pressure the Shen Clan in the future, the Jiang Family can stand on the Gu Clan's side."

Jiang Yuhe nodded.

"Agreed."

The golden wing swept past, blowing away the mist on the river.

In the distance, the silhouette of Baili Mountain gradually emerged; the mountain color was grayish-white, the vegetation sparse, and it still did not look like a place capable of nurturing a Family.

Gu Xingzhi also looked in that direction, and after a moment, he said: "Then it is settled."

Jiang Yuhe put away the jade box.

"Very well."