Chapter 531: It turns out you're a storyteller!

Xuanqing Daozhang raised his head to gaze at the sky, his face full of complex emotions, as if lost in memory; after a long while he finally spoke.

「At that time, the Prime Minister was entertaining guests; I suddenly barged in, scaring everyone in the Prime Minister's residence. 」

「After learning of my purpose, the Prime Minister not only had his daughter brought over, but also summoned Wang Ruhai. 」

「I vaguely recall that, when I questioned the Prime Minister's Daughter about why she harmed Dongzhu and her child, the Prime Minister's Daughter had not yet spoken when Wang Ruhai stepped forward, saying it was all his doing, that he had ordered the servants, and had nothing to do with the Prime Minister's Daughter... 」

「This beast! 」

Wang Lin and Zhang Guihua couldn't help but curse softly.

They knew they had raised a creature who knew faces but not hearts; through hardship, relying almost entirely on the family's blood and sweat, they barely managed to train him into talent.

On the imperial examination path he passed every test, even becoming a third-place laureate; before expecting any return from him, he sent a letter back from the capital.

Only then did they realize they were truly getting to know their child for the first time—Wang Ruhai!

However.

Listening to Xuanqing Daozhang's account, they realized their suspicions of Wang Ruhai were still too shallow; this beast Wang Ruhai was even more vicious than they imagined.

They truly hated it—how could they have given birth to such a beast back then?

Liu Dongzhu smiled, said nothing, but if you looked closely you could still see tears glimmering in her eye sockets.

Long before, Wang Ruhai had sent a letter from the capital; it was around the time she had just given birth, and it nearly drove her to report to the King of Hell; after a lengthy period of recuperation she believed she had recovered from that blow, yet upon hearing Xuanqing Daozhang mention Wang Ruhai again,

Upon mentioning Wang Ruhai's deeds, she found her heart had not been completely healed.

However.

The only one to blame is herself; she never imagined such a vicious man could exist in the world.

「Quite a clever method! 」

Luo Taiqing raised his head, glanced, and spoke at length about everything that happened when he forcefully entered the Prime Minister's residence, his face full of emotion.

It wasn't admiration; what Xuanqing Daozhang cared about was using those words to draw closer to the Wang family, the timing of his forced entry into the Prime Minister's residence, and what he said and did there.

If the slightest mistake were made, he feared not only would he be attacked on the way back, losing twenty years of his lifespan, but he might even have to sacrifice his life there.

After a lengthy account, Xuanqing Daozhang's face also showed barely concealed anger; merely repeating Wang Ruhai's deeds then, his heart erupted like a volcano—who let him never have seen such a shameless person as Wang Ruhai, he said:

「Finally, Wang Ruhai even knelt before that Prime Minister, saying he had heard that his parents, at home, had held a funeral for him.

Saying that on his way to the capital for the exams he met with mishap and lost his life, and that the present him merely shared his name, claiming his parents did not acknowledge him as their son, so he henceforth had no parents.

Saying that if the Prime Minister did not despise him, thereafter the Prime Minister would be his father, and further, if willing, he could change his surname! 」

「Beast! 」

Wang Lin could no longer hold back; he spat a mouthful of blood, went limp, and was about to collapse when Zhang Guihua timely supported him.

Zhang Guihua panicked, saying, "Old man, are you alright?"

「Old Brother Wang! 」

Xuanqing Daozhang startled, just as Wang Ping'an was about to secretly administer a healing technique to his grandfather, Xuanqing Daozhang rushed ahead to Wang Lin's side.

With a thought, an ancient small jade bottle appeared in his palm; he opened it, poured out a pill exuding medicinal fragrance, and stuffed it into Wang Lin's mouth; Wang Lin's ashen complexion then gradually recovered.

Xuanqing Daozhang said apologetically, "Old Brother Wang, it's my fault; I shouldn't have said these things in front of you!"

"Don't blame you, Daoist; don't blame you, it's our family, it's our family's retribution—to have produced such a beast, and furthermore to have caused you, Daoist, to stand up for our family and lose twenty years of your lifespan!"

Before Wang Lin could finish speaking, tears poured down like rain; his miserable sight made one's heart ache intensely.

「My father, this Chen Shimei, is born to be an official! 」

Wang Ping'an secretly snorted coldly, a flicker of chill in his eyes, and said:

「From now on you take your Yang Pass Road, I'll take my single-log bridge; if you dare harm our family, don't blame me for forgetting father-son affection! 」

In his previous life, having watched many films and TV shows, he knew many villains like his father—though not nonexistent, they were rare.

But anyone capable of reaching his father's stature inevitably could climb to high positions; yet deep down he had no intention of forming connections, seeking to exploit father-son ties for gain.

Men like his father have already become puppets of power; to rise above others they would do anything—let alone father and son, they could even abandon their own parents.

Furthermore.

This novel you have arrived at.

With his talent, wanting to rise above others, why borrow the energy of such a Chen Shimei?

「Xuanqing Daozhang, that Wang, the third-place laureate, is this year's third-place laureate—how could he do such a thing! 」

Luo Taiqing exclaimed in alarm, seeing Xuanqing Daozhang's gaze turn toward him, worried Xuanqing Daozhang would mistake him for picking a fight, he hurriedly spoke to explain:

「As officials, they care about reputation; by doing this, wouldn't he fear it spreading and affecting his career? 」

Don't look at officials—one is worse than another beast, they've done plenty of evil, yet outwardly they are better at pretending than anyone; if they couldn't pretend, they couldn't be officials, nor reach high positions.

「If it gets out, do you think what happened in the Prime Minister's residence would spread? 」

Xuanqing Daozhang smiled, not wanting to continue the topic; whoever let Wang Ruhai's deeds make him feel utterly disgusted, even if old matters are brought up, he remains full of anger toward Wang Ruhai, so he changed his tone:

「So, Elder Luo, do you still think Wang Ruhai would secretly, in Luo Quan's name, send treasures to the Wang family? 」

Wang Ruhai.

He had seen him more than once; he used to hope Wang Ruhai would be such a scholar—one glance and you'd know he was a rare talent, a golden-scaled fish not meant for the pond.

Never expected.

Wang Ruhai would become such a person!

Luo Taiqing opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the words reached his lips and he just couldn't utter them.

Who let Xuanqing Daozhang have such a storytelling talent, making his account of forcefully entering the Prime Minister's residence vivid and lifelike, so that we outsiders felt as if we were there, personally witnessing Wang Ruhai's deeds.

Luo Taiqing said:

「Xuanqing Daozhang, I was mistaken; this sort of thing, this sort of thing couldn't be done by that Wang, the third-place laureate; it's very likely, as you said, the work of the Great Sword Hero Dong Qing! 」

(Chapter Complete)