Chapter 490: Compromise

Valley Master Nie said angrily: “What exactly do you want to do?”

Nie Qianxiu also showed signs of tearing all pretenses apart and said: “Father naturally knows my temperament. I have always been someone who won’t stop until I achieve my goal. If Father only lets that fellow go to the Incense Spreading Sect, then don’t blame your daughter for secretly informing the people of the Incense Spreading Sect.”

After hearing this, Valley Master Nie did not erupt in the furious rage Nie Qianxiu had imagined. Instead, he merely smiled faintly. “This old man never intended to conceal Nephew Ren’s identity. Even if the envoys of the Incense Spreading Sect learn of it, they won’t place any blame.”

“Is that so, Father?” Nie Qianxiu smiled like a little cat. “Father will certainly say that he is Little Yu’s future husband. With such an identity, the Incense Spreading Sect naturally wouldn’t blame him. But what if they were to learn that this ‘husband’ is nothing more than a pretense, and has not the slightest relationship with our Little Yu?”

“Oh right—he’s also someone of unknown origin.”

“You—” Valley Master Nie was finally enraged. He roared, “You dare!”

“What is there that I wouldn’t dare?” Nie Qianxiu lifted her chin. “Father isn’t even willing to lend a hand for such a tiny favor. Your daughter truly has no face left to return to the Giant Whale Gang.”

At this moment, Qiang Sheng stood up at just the right time and shouted reproachfully: “Xiu, how can you speak to Father like that?”

Then he bowed toward Valley Master Nie and said: “Father-in-law, please don’t be angry. Xiu has always had this sort of temper. You know well that what she says is all said in anger. If such matters were really to reach the ears of the Incense Spreading Sect, wouldn’t that become a serious affair? At the very least, they would sever their ties with our Spring Rebirth Valley; at worst, they might even take action to teach our Spring Rebirth Valley a lesson. The wrath of the Incense Spreading Sect is not something our Spring Rebirth Valley—or the Yuli Alliance—can withstand. Isn’t that right, Brother-in-law?”

Yue Zhonglin had been listening with rapt attention. Suddenly hearing himself addressed, he snapped back to attention as if startled awake. “Oh—yes, Second Brother-in-law is correct.”

Nie Qianyu, who was seated below her two senior brothers, also looked at her father with a face full of worry. What her second sister and second brother-in-law said was not wrong. Letting Zhang Xiaohua enter the Incense Spreading Sect indeed carried such risks. However, on that day, she had only thought that the matter of Zhang Xiaohua going to the Incense Spreading Sect was known solely to Valley Master Nie, Yue Yan, several chiefs of the Yuli Alliance, and herself. There would certainly be no leak in the future, and thus no risk to speak of.

Yet she had not expected that her second sister would return to the valley late at night several days earlier and propose that Qiang Shi enter the Incense Spreading Sect to seek a bright future. This sort of thing was not without precedent. Most recently, even Brother-in-law Yue Zhonglin’s cousin had made a similar request, only to be flatly refused by her father. What she had not anticipated was that her second sister had investigated matters in such detail. For a time, she truly had nothing she could say to persuade anyone.

Valley Master Nie was also driven to anger and embarrassment. He had never imagined that his own daughter would actually turn against him over her husband’s family affairs. As for sending Zhang Xiaohua to the Incense Spreading Sect, the idea had never originated from Zhang Xiaohua himself. Zhang Xiaohua had merely asked where the main headquarters of the Incense Spreading Sect was located. Everything that followed had been arranged personally by him and Yue Yan. Sigh—this was also Yue Yan’s fault. How had he thought of sending Zhang Xiaohua to the Incense Spreading Sect in the first place?

Yet, thinking again of Zhang Xiaohua’s influence on Spring Rebirth Valley during the past few months, Valley Master Nie could not help but secretly admire Yue Yan’s arrangement. If not for the fact that Spring Rebirth Valley was sending Zhang Xiaohua to the Incense Spreading Sect as a favor, would Zhang Xiaohua have given so many things to the valley? His pill-refining methods, the Great Evolution Five Elements Formation, and the Scarlet Flame Pill currently being refined—one pill could increase ten years of cultivation! Such a thing was truly something he would never dare dream of, even in his sleep.

“Sigh, this second daughter of mine, too—why did she have to catch this particular moment? Normally, refusing again this year would have been simple enough, but now…”

Valley Master Nie was left speechless. Everything Zhang Xiaohua had done involved the secrets of Spring Rebirth Valley. Nie Qianrong and Nie Qianxiu were both daughters who had married out, and naturally, such matters could not be revealed to them. But if he said nothing, how could they possibly know that sending Zhang Xiaohua to the Incense Spreading Sect was the price Spring Rebirth Valley paid in exchange for all those secrets?

Since he could not speak of it, yet still had to ensure Zhang Xiaohua’s journey, the only path left to Valley Master Nie was compromise.

However, looking at Nie Qianxiu, looking at Qiang Sheng, then looking at Nie Qianrong and Yue Zhonglin, Valley Master Nie felt even more conflicted. On one hand, his second daughter, having married into another family, was now completely of one mind with her husband’s side, even using his own weakness to threaten him—this was truly unforgivable. On the other hand, he had already rejected his eldest daughter and eldest son-in-law earlier, and now he was being forced to agree to letting his second daughter’s relatives enter the Incense Spreading Sect. He simply had no way to explain himself to them.

A dilemma—an absolute dilemma.

Yue Zhonglin glanced at Nie Qianrong and gave her a meaningful look. Nie Qianrong coughed lightly and said, “Father, on the way back to the Deer Cry Sect, Yan Qi’s grandfather spoke to us about this matter. He was worried that we might develop some thoughts about it. But in truth, since this matter was something his grandfather and Father discussed and agreed upon, how could we possibly have other ideas? The previous matter was also an affair of the Deer Cry Sect. Since his grandfather didn’t mind, we naturally wouldn’t mind either. His grandfather also made it very clear that this matter is of great importance and must absolutely not be spread. We took this to heart. Until today, we have never mentioned it again, nor have we said a single word about it to anyone else.”

Then she glanced at Nie Qianxiu and continued: “Moreover, this is all an internal matter of Spring Rebirth Valley. Your daughter has already married out and would never dare interfere in the affairs of the valley. This time, returning is no different from before—merely to show our faces in front of the Incense Spreading Sect, to let them know of the Deer Cry Sect. We have absolutely no other intentions. Father may simply make whatever decision he sees fit; your daughter has no objections whatsoever.”

Yue Zhonglin also smiled and echoed: “Honored Father-in-law, what Qianrong says is exactly what we are thinking as well. Before we came, Father also instructed us in the same way. You needn’t concern yourself with us.”

“Sigh, how can the difference between people be so great? They’re born of the same mother—how did they turn out so differently?” Valley Master Nie felt even more helpless.

Seeing this, Qiang Sheng immediately rose, bowed deeply, and said: “Honored Father-in-law, this son-in-law begs your indulgence. This will be the first time and also the last. In the future, I will absolutely not trouble Father-in-law with such difficult matters again.”

Nie Qianxiu also pleaded: “Father, please agree. This truly will be the last time.”

Valley Master Nie sighed helplessly and said: “Enough. You may all withdraw for now. Let me think it over carefully.”

These words were, in fact, a tactful form of consent. Apart from Nie Qianxiu and Qiang Sheng—oh, and also Nie Qianyu—everyone else was especially astonished. They had not expected Valley Master Nie to actually yield to Nie Qianxiu and Qiang Sheng for Zhang Xiaohua’s sake. Just what kind of charm did this Zhang Xiaohua possess, to make Valley Master Nie willing to take such a great risk?

Nie Qianyu was not surprised because she knew everything behind it all—she knew Zhang Xiaohua’s true weight and the role he played for Spring Rebirth Valley.

Nie Qianxiu and Qiang Sheng, on the other hand, were not surprised because they knew that once Valley Master Nie allowed Zhang Xiaohua to go to the Incense Spreading Sect, he would have no choice but to allow Qiang Shi to go as well. Otherwise… it would end in mutual destruction, a result Valley Master Nie was absolutely unwilling to see. Even so, Nie Qianxiu was still not satisfied and hurriedly said: “Father, what is there left to consider? The envoys of the Incense Spreading Sect arrived in Mochou City yesterday. For all we know, they may already be on their way to our Spring Rebirth Valley. If you hesitate any longer, even the cucumbers will be cold.”

It had to be said—Nie Qianxiu was just a little too impatient. The old man had already tacitly agreed—couldn’t she give him a bit of face?

Qiang Sheng hurriedly scolded: “Xiu, how can you speak to Father like that? Apologize to him at once!”

Valley Master Nie, furious but unable to stay angry, let out a sharp laugh. “It seems you truly have the mind for this. You even pay such close attention to the movements of the Incense Spreading Sect’s envoys. Remarkable. If you were to direct that kind of focus toward the development of the sect, the gains could be immense.”

Nie Qianxiu seemed to realize she had overstepped and quickly explained: “Father, please don’t be angry. I had already promised Father-in-law before coming, so I was afraid of losing face… that’s why I rushed…”

Valley Master Nie sneered coldly. “You’re worried about your own face? What about the face of others? And the movements of the Incense Spreading Sect’s envoys—do you think they are something we can casually track? I advise you to stop doing things beyond your means. Otherwise, if trouble falls upon you, no one can help. Even if I help you this time, next time I may not be able to.”

Hearing this, Nie Qianxiu’s eyes lit up. “Father… does this mean you’ve agreed?”

Everyone present almost had to cover their faces. After all that had been said, she still didn’t understand? Such… intelligence! Qiang Sheng tugged at Nie Qianxiu’s sleeve and stood, bowing once more. “Thank you, Father-in-law, for allowing this.”

Tonight, this young man’s courtesy alone probably surpassed all of last year’s combined.

Valley Master Nie glared at them, snorted through his nose, and rose to enter the inner hall.

Fei He and Mu Qingxuan saw their master leave and immediately got up. They cupped their hands to everyone, then turned and left the Spring Rebirth Hall. Tonight’s matter was less about Spring Rebirth Valley and more about the Valley Master’s personal affairs; staying any longer would only make their bottoms sore.

Nie Qianyu then rose, her expression dark as she glanced sideways at her second sister, feeling as if she no longer recognized her. She nodded briefly to her eldest sister and eldest brother-in-law, then directly followed Valley Master Nie.

Nie Qianrong rose, looked at her second sister, and hesitated to speak. Exchanging a glance with Yue Zhonglin, they both shook their heads, linked arms, and left the Spring Rebirth Hall.

Qiang Sheng seemed caught between the joy of having his wish fulfilled and the caution of having offended his father-in-law. He glanced at the still somewhat reluctant Nie Qianxiu and reproachfully said_ “You’re always so clever, so sharp-minded—why act so reckless today?”

Nie Qianxiu sneered. “Just look at Father’s attitude today. It’s clearly different toward us than toward our eldest sister and Little Yu. If I didn’t push, when would we ever accomplish Father’s instructions?”

“But Father-in-law has clearly already relented. You could have let him save face. Why force him to declare himself?”

“You don’t understand. Even though Father said yes, the moment Little Yu speaks plainly in front of him tonight, all my efforts this evening could be wasted. When the envoys of the Incense Spreading Sect arrive tomorrow, they only need to say he disagreed—what could we possibly argue then?”

“But still, you can’t…”

“Can’t what? This is all for the good of Spring Rebirth Valley, for the good of our Giant Whale Gang! Father is just being stubborn now. Later on, he will surely thank us…”

“Forget it. Let’s not discuss it here. We’ll talk in the room.”

The two of them looked around the quiet inner hall, rose, and left.