Chapter 55: Settling the Grudges

Bai Xian'er sat down resentfully as soon as she finished speaking, head lowered, ignoring everyone.

Seeing this, Bai Yu Chan rebuked her: "Ever since you left home, you've been willful and reckless; I've seen it all. Do you think you've done nothing wrong?"

Bai Xian'er lifted her head and talked back to her father: "I've been acting chivalrously and upholding justice; I want to become a great heroine. Besides, where exactly did I go wrong?"

Bai Yu Chan shook his head and said: "These past days, you've done quite a few things, but all were left unfinished, with no resolution — you cared neither for cause and effect nor for how much trouble you caused others. Leaving the rest aside for now, take the matter of the Liu family's daughter being married off — do you think you set it right?"

Bai Xian'er refused to accept this in a thousand ways and hurriedly retorted: "The Liu family, in order to curry favor with the Wang family, disregarded the fact that the Wang boy was a sickly ghost and forcibly married off the Liu family's young lady. If I hadn't intervened, that young lady's life would have been ruined.

Moreover, the Liu family's young lady and her family guard had long been mutually in love. Fortunately I was quick-witted; I disguised myself as her and helped the two elope. This is accumulating merit through good deeds.

And Father, you don't know how disgusting the Wang family head is — his son died that very night, yet he still wanted to consummate the marriage in his son's place. It was only my kick that rid him of those depraved thoughts forever. Father, tell me, where exactly was I wrong?"

Bai Yu Chan was quite helpless: "If you want to help the Liu family's daughter, Father doesn't object, but you must also have the discernment to know people.

Do you know that the Liu family's guard actually harbored malicious intentions? After taking the young lady away from Qingyuan Prefecture, he not only coveted the valuables she carried but even wanted to sell her into a brothel. Xian'er, ask yourself — a chaste woman entering a brothel is like entering hell; your so-called merit is merely adding to your own sins."

Hearing this, Bai Xian'er's face turned deathly pale. She had taken pride in this matter, thinking she would surely win her father's praise; who knew her good intentions had committed a grave error. The thought of that poor girl suffering humiliation because of her made Bai Xian'er's body tremble involuntarily.

Unable to bear seeing his daughter blame herself so, Bai Yu Chan explained: "Rest assured, I had people watching them from the start. Sure enough, we discovered the guard was about to commit that evil deed and stopped him in time. The guard has already reaped what he sowed, and the Liu family's young lady has been sent to her maternal uncle's home for the time being. As for her fate thereafter, it depends on her luck."

Hearing Bai Yu Chan's words, Bai Xian'er let out a long breath, and her complexion finally regained a hint of color.

Bai Yu Chan continued: "As for these several heroes — I was also at the city gate at the time. This young brother was clearly helping you, yet you yourself gave yourself away. Who would have thought you'd confuse right and wrong and blame him instead?

First a night ambush — fortunately you didn't intend to take his life. But today's framing and false accusation is truly going too far.

Martial sects value their own secret manuals above all, and the sect master is not to be insulted. You placed the secret manual and command token in the young brother's carriage. Fortunately it was the Yandang Sect today; if it had been any other sect, it would inevitably have led to a full-scale clash. I ask you — if someone had been injured or killed because of this, would that sin not be on your head?

Poor judgment of character, inability to distinguish right from wrong, willful recklessness, arrogance and rudeness — all the teachings Father gave you daily have gone to waste."

Under Bai Yu Chan's scolding, Bai Xian'er was already on the verge of tears, no longer showing the defiant look from before.

Lu Dage at the side hurriedly smoothed things over: "Daoist, your thousand-gold daughter only wanted to do good deeds; she merely lacks some experience. As for today's matter, no consequences resulted in the end. Please don't continue to reproach her."

Once Lu Zhiyi finished speaking, he also knew he couldn't actually decide for Wu Chengyu — after all, Bai Xian'er had been targeting Wu Chengyu all along — so he opened his mouth to explain to Wu Chengyu.

"Brother Chengyu, Daoist Bai has shown great kindness to our Yue Family Army.

Back when Yue Grandpa was murdered, the Yue Family Army descendants were hunted by the Imperial Court, hiding east and west, not a single day of peace.

Especially the Imperial Guards dispatched by the Court — they pursued us to the death; our Yue Family Army descendants were on the brink of annihilation.

At the critical moment, it was Daoist Bai who acted, driving off those experts and saving us.

Later, Daoist Bai also had an audience with the Emperor, accepted the Emperor's investiture, and actively interceded for our Yue Family Army, ultimately persuading the Emperor to posthumously clear Yue Grandpa's name.

Our lives are nothing, but being able to avenge Yue Grandpa's injustice is a kindness greater than heaven to us. The Yue Family Army descendants feel profound gratitude, wishing we could erect a longevity tablet for Daoist Bai and worship day and night.

After Yue Grandpa's vindication, there was also Yue Second Uncle's northern campaign. Some of us descendants returned to the Court, while others like our four families hid in the marketplace. Fortunately we gained some peaceful days. Although the Court still sends people to trouble us, at least we have peaceful days now.

It can be said that without Daoist Bai, we Yue Family Army descendants would have been slaughtered to the last man long ago.

I know I cannot decide for my brother, but I hope for the sake of our face, you'll let this matter drop. Count it as us owing you another favor. In the future, if there's any task, just send a letter — through fire, through water, we won't say a second word."

Lu Zhiyi spoke with genuine feeling; Niu Dajie and the others at the side also bowed one after another, hoping Wu Chengyu would let go of the grudge.

Things having been said to this extent, Wu Chengyu could not disregard Lu Dage and the others' entreaties. Fortunately, although Bai Xian'er's framing was serious, no consequences resulted in the end; it was more like a joke. Moreover, Wu Chengyu had even taken the opportunity to obtain a cultivation method.

Most importantly, Wu Chengyu complained inwardly: Bai Yu Chan was sitting right next to Bai Xian'er. Conservatively estimated, his martial arts were definitely at the Five Absolutes level. What could Wu Chengyu do if he didn't let it go? Offending a willful Bai Xian'er was nothing, but offending Bai Yu Chan — Wu Chengyu couldn't imagine any way he could survive.

"Where are these words coming from, several big brothers? Originally Miss Bai only misunderstood me; it was my good intentions gone wrong. I never wanted to do anything to Miss Bai in the first place.

Besides, not only do you all revere Daoist Bai, I have long admired Daoist Bai as well. Today's chance meeting is a three-lifetime fortune — where is any grudge I can't let go?"

Finishing his words, Wu Chengyu picked up his teacup and drained it in one gulp, considering the matter settled with a smile.

Bai Yu Chan at the side nodded slightly and said with a smile: "I see this young brother's internal cultivation is quite remarkable. Although it's a Confucian School mental method, it strangely connects the Twelve Regular Meridians, carrying a few notes of our Taoist School mental methods' charm. He must come from a famous clan."

Good fellow — a simple observation revealed Wu Chengyu's foundation. The Green Wave Mental Method was originally a Confucian technique, but after Wu Chengyu modified it based on the Bamboo Slips, the Bamboo Slips' evaluation was also that it imitated a Taoist technique. Truly a supreme expert.

"This junior has indeed learned some mental methods, but I have already left the sect and count as no one's disciple."

Bai Yu Chan didn't inquire further: "My little girl acted recklessly and caused trouble for young brother. Seeing young brother is still young in years, her bullying the small with the great was truly improper. Although these worthy nephews of the Yue Family Army spoke for my daughter, wrong is wrong."

Finishing his words, Bai Yu Chan took out a small booklet and handed it to Wu Chengyu: "Taoist School techniques cannot be lightly transmitted. This is a body movement technique I obtained in my early years; it has some marvel to it. I gift it to young brother as an apology."

Wu Chengyu received the booklet; on it were written the two characters "Yu Steps". He didn't have time to flip through it, but anything Bai Yu Chan produced could not be ordinary, and Wu Chengyu truly lacked a good body movement technique.

"A gift from an elder cannot be refused. Many thanks, Daoist Bai." With this, Wu Chengyu's heart was completely calm.

There were simply too many voters; the author says there's no room to write them all here, so I won't thank each one individually.

Wishing everyone a happy May 1st holiday, and thanking everyone for your support over the past month.

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(Chapter End)