Chapter 693: Entering Hesong Hall: What Wrong Has Xie Guan Done!

Qiu Yue’s expression turned strange as she watched the rain seemingly not falling upon Xie Guan.

She was also a maid of one of the Nine Surnames, naturally familiar with tales of Primordial Spirit and martial ways—this was nothing unusual.

Servants or guards who showed wisdom were sometimes rewarded with cultivation methods by the household.

But how could a mere illegitimate son possibly have the qualification to learn such profound and exalted martial and Primordial Spirit cultivation techniques?

At the lake’s edge, Qiu Yue led the servants aboard the front boat. You boarded another small skiff alone, and two black-clad, muscular men with conical hats stood silently behind you. Their frames were like pines; merely stepping aboard made the boat sink half a foot, revealing their bones had been hardened through rigorous training.

A brief sensing confirmed it: both were Upper Three Realms martial cultivators, “Snow Mountain” level—even in the dragon-and-tiger-filled capital of Bianjing, they qualified as true experts, capable of dominating their regions across the Thirteen Provinces.

It seems the several ladies of the Xie household had long prepared for your martial abilities, ever since the incident with Xie Renfeng.

The masked men also looked startled; though they could steam the rain aside, they still had to stir their blood and qi, unable to achieve your effortless ease.

This Xie Guan is far more complex than he appears!

Crossed the lake!

Inside Daguanyuan, three paths lay ahead: Hongjing Courtyard, Dengchun Tower, and straight ahead, “Hesong Hall,” where the Xie family’s matriarch resided.

The group moved inward.

Qiu Yue led the way, each step precise as if measured by a ruler. This was the matriarch’s rule: anyone approaching Hesong Hall must tread without the slightest deviation. Throughout the entire household, except for the two masters, all ladies, when paying respects, were required to walk along specific patterns on the blue-brick floor.

The matriarch’s rules were the Xie household’s rules—no one dared defy them.

Not long after walking!

Five annexed halls emerged through the rain. The crab-shell-green gate bore gilded bronze door rings shaped like five bats cradling longevity, clinking softly in the wind. A green-clad old maid bowed deeply beneath the eaves. The blackwood plaque above bore three gold-inlaid small seal script characters: “Hesong Hall.”

In the front courtyard, an ancient pine leaned sharply toward the blue sky, its cracked bark darkened with a deep bluish-green hue; though old, it stood tall and unyielding.

Passing through the ornamental gate, maids stood silently along the curved corridor, holding lanterns.

Though it was midday, the sky had darkened as if it were afternoon.

“Young Master Guan, wait here.”

Qiu Yue halted abruptly before the central hall’s stone steps. “Allow this servant to announce your arrival.”

You paused slowly, your gaze taking in the hall: though lacking gilded splendor, every detail radiated the stern discipline of an ancient noble house.

The placement of every furnishing, the height of every threshold, perfectly conformed to ancient rites—no deviation.

Inside, the light was dim. Your eyes swept the shadows around you.

At least eight or nine qi signatures flickered faintly—stronger than the two old guards who had previously blocked you after you crippled Xie Renfeng.

Deeper still lurked several obscure, indistinct qi signatures—even your perception and cultivation base could not discern them clearly.

This is the true depth of the Nine Surnames.

The world speaks only of the Nine Surnames’ wealth rivaling nations and their control of imperial posts, but few realize these martial cultivators and Daoists they harbor are their true foundation.

You suddenly recalled the White Bone Daoist you met on the lake—if the Xie household had not tacitly permitted it, such a heretical cultivator could not have even touched the edge of Daguanyuan, let alone stirred trouble within.

He would have been obliterated on the spot by hidden experts the moment he raised a hand.

As you pondered, your gaze fell upon a couplet before the central hall’s door.

“Crane cries pierce the nine heavens, lifting the family’s name.”

“Pine endures a thousand years, anchoring the household’s gate.”

A rare, cold smile curled your lips.

A drawn-out voice rang out: “Xie Guan, the matriarch summons you in.”

Without hesitation, you stepped forward slowly.

～

Half a quarter-hour later—

Inside Hesong Hall, not even a pin could drop. The matriarch sat with closed eyes, turning prayer beads as sandalwood smoke coiled into a single thread from the bronze censer.

Suddenly, the bead curtain chimed softly; Qiu Yue entered with precise, tiny steps.

“Your Excellency, Xie Guan has arrived.”

The matriarch slowly opened her eyes. “Let him in.”

All eyes of the Xie clan instantly pierced toward the door.

Xie Qi’s face was anxious, yet she dared not move. Where was Xie Yuan? If he didn’t come soon, it would be too late.

Xie Yu turned his head unconsciously, recalling their first meeting last year, when the matriarch hosted a banquet and all Nine Surnames gathered in Daguanyuan.

Now, they met again under such circumstances.

Xie Xuan stood nearby, his expression neither joyful nor sorrowful. In truth, he had learned the news even earlier than Xie Yuan.

He could have warned Xie Guan—or sought help from Su Yun. Given Su Yun’s high regard for Xie Guan, Su Yun would surely have appeared today.

But!

Xie Xuan did nothing at all, like a spectator watching a play in the pear garden: knowing the actor on stage was doomed, he merely waited for the drama to unfold.

Xie Xuan silently shook his head. A tree that towers above the forest invites the wind’s destruction.

Master himself long ago said: “The Middle Way lies between the wild geese.”

At Qunfang Garden, a mere illegitimate son of the Xie household should never have gained such fame.

Fame can lift one to the clouds—or become a flood or a beast.

Lady Zhao’s fingers dug deep into the yellow rosewood armrest, her hatred no longer concealed.

Lady Yuan, however, calmly folded her sleeves, revealing cloud-patterned embroidery as she gazed calmly toward the door.

Li Qinlan’s face showed worry; today’s danger facing Xie Guan was fiercer than the hidden currents during his sword dance.

Li Nantian gazed calmly toward the door.

A green-clad figure passed through layers of bead curtains and stepped across the threshold.

The youth wore plain green robes and simple sandals, his sleeves still damp with rain, yet not a trace of disarray.

He bowed to the hall, his voice clear and resonant: “Greetings, Your Excellency, Ladies.”

Li Tiannan subtly furrowed his brow.

Rain mist lingered; the hall’s light was hazy, yet the youth stood tall and elegant, radiating an innate nobility—he was clearly a true scholar.

The matriarch’s aged knuckles whitened slightly.

She raised her eyes to examine him, her gaze growing colder and sharper.

～

～

You stepped slowly into the central hall, your steps steady, unhurried.

Sandalwood incense curled through the hall; at its center hung a painting of cranes and pines symbolizing longevity.

The Xie matriarch sat at the head, leaning on her cane, yet her spine remained perfectly straight.

On either side sat dozens of ladies from the Xie family’s various branches, dozens of eyes pricking your back.

Some curious, some probing, most openly cold.

Your expression remained unchanged, as if unaware of their stares.

“Xie Guan, you little brat!”

Lady Zhao could no longer contain herself, leaping to her feet and slamming her hand on the table; hot tea splashed onto her brocade sleeve, a scene like a jealous wife.

The matriarch tapped her cane lightly, frowning slightly: “Observe the rules.”

Three simple words silenced Lady Zhao.

This matriarch, who had ruled the Xie household for decades, commanded awe beyond measure.

Lady Yuan rose gracefully. “Sister, this is Hesong Hall—the ancestral hall of the Xie family. We must uphold propriety.”

Lady Zhao sat back down, her eyes now two poisoned daggers fixed on Xie Guan.

Lady Yuan’s gaze swept over you, then she ordered the servants: “Bring Young Master Renfeng forward.”

From behind the central hall, a youth stepped out.

Xie Renfeng’s face was ashen, his once-handsome features now reduced to skin stretched over bone. His pale robe hung loosely on him, like a paper effigy.

When his eyes met yours, his breath hitched; his chest heaved several times before he forcibly steadied himself.

He struggled to kneel and bow his forehead to the floor, voice hoarse: “Grandson… pays respects to Your Excellency, Mother, Lady Da, and all honored elders.”

Lady Zhao’s eyes shimmered with tears: “My child…”

Her voice choked: “He has been ruined by Xie Guan’s poison—his meridians and bones shattered. From now on… he will never again be able to cultivate martial arts.”

Lady Yuan studied Xie Renfeng with a touch of pity: “Young Master Feng, you’ve grown so thin.”

Then her tone sharpened: “Xie Renfeng, do you acknowledge your guilt?”

“Intruding into another’s residence and destroying property.”

Xie Renfeng immediately pressed his forehead to the ground: “Xie Renfeng acted recklessly! I beg Lady Da to punish me!”

Lady Yuan nodded slightly. “You are, after all, the young master of the Second Courtyard. Your father has long been absent. Even if I wished to discipline you, I lack proper authority.”

“The Second Courtyard has its own mistress to oversee you. I cannot impose heavy punishment. But household rules cannot be abandoned…”

She paused briefly. “Considering you have admitted fault, and this is your first offense, and the offense is not grave, you are sentenced to confinement for half a month, to copy the family rules fifty times in the ancestral hall. For the next three months, you are forbidden to leave the household without permission, and fined forty taels of silver.”

Her words were spoken softly, yet the entire hall held its breath—no one dared speak.

After finishing, Lady Yuan’s gaze subtly shifted toward the matriarch, as if seeking approval.

The matriarch nodded.

Only then did Lady Yuan say: “Xie Renfeng, do you have any complaints?”

“Xie Renfeng has no complaints!”

“Rise. You may collect elixirs from the family treasury for your injuries.”

"Thank you, Madam, for your grace; thank you, Grandmatriarch, for your mercy."

Madam Yuan nodded in satisfaction, but when her gaze suddenly turned to you, all warmth vanished from her eyes.

"Xie Guan, do you know what you've done wrong?" This voice was no longer the calm tone she used when interrogating Xie Renfeng; each word pierced like an ice needle, carrying the unyielding authority of the mistress of the household.

The hall fell utterly silent.

Even Xie Xuan, standing nearby, unconsciously straightened his spine; with the two masters away, Madam Yuan had governed the household for years, and every young master and miss trembled before her.

At this moment, all the other ladies lowered their heads and averted their eyes, daring not to meet her gaze.

Xie Qi Yue’s palms were slick with cold sweat. She knew all too well Madam Yuan’s methods—no one in the household was not afraid of her.

Xie Yu raised an eyebrow, watching how you would answer.

To everyone’s surprise, this Yixiang meek and submissive bastard son slowly lifted his head.

In Madam Yuan’s memory, this was the first time Xie Guan had looked directly into her eyes.

Everyone expected Xie Guan to kneel and confess his fault without hesitation, as Xie Renfeng had, perhaps earning the mistress’s leniency.

But came an unexpected reply—

In the suffocating silence, your voice rang out clearly:

"Xie Guan... does not know what sin he has committed?"

"What sin is there at all!"

The words were spoken softly, yet like a boulder cast into still water.

The Grandmatriarch’s cane slammed heavily to the ground; Madam Yuan’s face darkened.

(End of Chapter)