Chapter 495 — At Last, It’s Settled

Steward Yang’s expression changed drastically. He set the teacup down heavily on the table and said with a frown: “Valley Master Nie, you and I have known each other for many years. You surely understand the responsibility I bear for these two matters. If the Hall Master or the Envoy were displeased, there would be no need to report it to any higher level—either of them alone could send this old man to utter ruin. What you mentioned just now, I only agreed to with great reluctance because we have been acquainted for so many years, and because this may well be the last time I see you. Do not keep putting me in a difficult position again and again.”

Upon hearing this, Valley Master Nie’s face grew desolate. He said helplessly: “Brother Yang, it’s not that this old brother is deliberately making things hard for you. Every family has its own unspoken hardships. Please listen to what I have to say.”

He then explained the coercive circumstances in detail and asked: “That nephew of Qianxiu’s—he was standing first on the left-hand side. I wonder if Brother Yang has any impression of him?”

Steward Yang thought for a moment and said: “Mm, I do have some impression. His aptitude would count as above average.”

He then narrowed his eyes, pondered for a while, and asked: “Brother Nie, do you have confidence in your heart?”

When Valley Master Nie heard Steward Yang address him once again as “Brother Nie”, his heart filled with guilt. He said: “I’ve watched this child grow up. I know his background and character very well.”

Steward Yang let out a sigh and said: “Brother Nie, originally, you didn’t need to tell me about this at all. As for the medicine apprentices selected by your side, my Incense Spreading Sect has never examined them—we have always trusted the reputation of Spring Rebirth Valley. The fact that you spoke of it today shows that you treat me, and the Incense Spreading Sect, with complete frankness. I’ll take this as though you never said anything—how about that?”

Valley Master Nie shook his head and said: “That would not be appropriate. If things could truly be handled that way, this elder brother would never have said these words to you. I could have simply kept it from you. But doing so would be laying a trap for you, making you bear a risk for me for no reason. If something were to happen in the future, you would also be guilty of negligence. My thought is this: once you arrive at the Incense Spreading Sect, quietly inform the Hall Master of this matter, and let the Hall Master decide how to deal with it. By acting this way, I can at least say I have done right by my daughter.”

“Alas—how pitiful is the heart of parents the world over.”

Steward Yang let out a long sigh. “Brother Nie, tonight you must bring out Spring Rebirth Valley’s finest Hundred-Flower Brew.”

“Hahahaha!” Valley Master Nie burst into laughter. From several months ago up until last night, this matter had weighed heavily on his mind; now, at last, it was finally settled—how could he not be delighted? He went on: “I’ll say the same thing as before. This old brother already prepared your share long ago. It’s just that, since this may be my final visit, I’ll have someone bring out even more of the finest Hundred-Flower Brew for you later.”

“Good, good, good,” Steward Yang laughed. “That would be excellent.”

As he spoke, he picked up the jade box that Valley Master Nie had placed on the table earlier, carefully tucked it into his robes, and said with a chuckle, “The Hall Master has been thinking about this Forget-Worry Grass of yours for more than ten years. Only now has he finally gotten his wish. If he knew about the trouble you’ve lined up for him as well, who knows whether he’d be happy—or furious.”

Valley Master Nie merely gave a “heh-heh” laugh and said nothing.

The two drank tea for a while longer. Then Valley Master Nie suddenly leaned close to Steward Yang’s ear and asked softly: “Brother Yang, there’s a question that’s been in my heart all this time. I’ve wanted to ask you, but I never knew whether I should. I’ve held it in for decades. If I don’t ask today, I’m afraid I’ll never have another chance.”

Steward Yang was startled and said in surprise: “If there’s something you want to ask, then ask. But if you think it might be inappropriate, it would be better not to—chances are I wouldn’t be able to answer you anyway.”

Valley Master Nie gave another “heh-heh” laugh. “But if I don’t ask, I always feel as though there’s something weighing on my mind. I can’t put my heart at ease.”

Steward Yang said irritably, “Then ask. I’ll see whether I can answer.”

Valley Master Nie raised his eyes and glanced around before lowering his voice. “I want to ask this: every time your Incense Spreading Sect comes to our Spring Rebirth Valley, why do you always stay in Mochou City for a full day? Wouldn’t it be enough to come directly to the valley?”

Hearing this, Steward Yang’s expression changed. He lowered his voice and said: “Brother Nie, it seems your curiosity is quite strong—and your patience as well. This has been the rule for decades, and only now do you ask. Still, I’ll treat this as though you never asked it. Sigh… to be honest, I simply stay in Mochou City along with the Envoy. I know nothing at all. Affairs in Mochou City are handled by inner-sect disciples. Whatever they do, I have no knowledge of it whatsoever. So whether you ask this question or not makes no difference.”

He then lowered his voice and added: “These matters concern issues internal to our sect. When the new steward arrives, Brother Nie, you absolutely must not bring this up again—it would only invite disaster.”

Valley Master Nie smiled and said: “Many thanks for the reminder, Brother Yang. Was it not precisely because of our decades-long friendship that I dared to speak of it at all?”

“Sigh, it’s my own fault for being so talkative. If I hadn’t said so much to you, you wouldn’t have had so much trouble because of me.”

Valley Master Nie shook his head. “Even if you hadn’t said anything, within the Incense Spreading Sect, you’re the one I know best. If I didn’t come to you, who else could I possibly go to?”

Steward Yang laughed heartily. “Good! Just for that one sentence, it’s been worth all these years of friendship.”

“All right. It’s already getting late, and the banquet has been prepared. Brother, when do you think we should begin?”

Steward Yang thought for a moment and said: “Lady Kong doesn’t care for large gatherings. I expect she won’t attend the banquet.”

Then he waved his hand and said: “Forget it—since we’re doing this, we might as well see it through to the end, send the Buddha all the way to the Western Heaven. Brother Nie, you wait here for a moment. I’ll go report to Lady Kong right now, explain everything clearly, and let you and me drink with our minds at ease.”

Valley Master Nie was overjoyed when he heard this, but he immediately lowered his voice again. “Brother Yang, this will be the first time this old man has met Lady Kong. I wonder if the elder has any particular preferences? So that Spring Rebirth Valley might prepare a small token of respect.”

Steward Yang waved his hand. “That won’t be necessary. Lady Kong is an inner-sect disciple—she has always been upright in conduct and does not concern herself with worldly matters. If you were to send gifts, it might instead provoke her displeasure and even stir up unnecessary trouble. Later on, simply present some of Spring Rebirth Valley’s locally produced fruits and vegetables—that will suffice.”

Valley Master Nie smiled. “Then I’ll follow Brother Yang’s advice. I’ll have my people finish preparing the banquet first, and then send over some fresh and rare fruits and vegetables for Lord Kong.”

Steward Yang nodded, left the Spring Rebirth Hall directly, and had someone lead him to pay his respects to Lady Kong.

As soon as Steward Yang departed, Nie Qianyu hurried into the Spring Rebirth Hall and asked: “Father, has everything been arranged?”

Valley Master Nie wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, let out a long breath, and said with a sense of relief: “It can be said that nine out of ten parts are already settled.”

Nie Qianyu asked in surprise: “Then what is the remaining one part?”

Valley Master Nie did not answer directly. “Sigh. At the time, I had thought too lightly of the matter. I believed that, relying on my friendship with your Uncle Yang, I would certainly be able to help with Nephew Ren’s affair. Now it seems it was far from that simple. If this hadn’t been your Uncle Yang’s final journey through the jianghu, I’m afraid he would never have agreed to it.”

Nie Qianyu was still shaken with lingering fear. “Yes, Father. None of us expected that becoming an outer-sect disciple in the Incense Spreading Sect would be this difficult. And without being an outer-sect disciple, one can’t even take a single step outside the sect. We were truly naïve, thinking that as long as the Hall Master of the Pill-Expansion Hall loosened his grip a little, it would be enough. We almost couldn’t even justify ourselves.”

“Haha, it was also because Nephew Ren was blessed with extraordinary fortune. To think he would encounter such an opportunity. Otherwise, it’s truly hard to imagine—he would probably be complaining that we kept him in this valley for so many days.”

Nie Qianyu shook her head. “He wouldn’t. Brother Ren is the most considerate of others. If he knew our difficulties, he would surely understand.”

“Mmm, you’re quite right. However, what we must consider now is whether that Lady Kong will agree to stay one more day in our Spring Rebirth Valley tomorrow. If he doesn’t…”

Nie Qianyu said firmly, without hesitation, “If he doesn’t, then tomorrow we’ll have Brother Ren follow Uncle Yang and leave. The Scarlet Flame Pill is important, but Brother Ren’s affairs are even more important. We absolutely cannot delay someone else’s matters because of our own selfish thoughts.”

Valley Master Nie smiled. “That’s exactly what I was thinking as well.”

Nie Qianyu blinked. “In any case, Brother Ren still has a set of ingredients for the Scarlet Flame Pill in his hands. If it doesn’t work this time, next time he’ll definitely deliver a finished pill to Father. Don’t you think so?”

“You silly girl—those words shouldn’t be said out loud. It makes it sound as if your father is scheming against him.”

“But that’s how it is. This is an open stratagem—what’s there that can’t be said?”

“Alright, alright—an open stratagem it is. Hurry and go check on the fruits and vegetables being sent to Lady Kong. Serving her well is better than any yin or yang schemes.”

Nie Qianyu responded with a smile and ran out happily.

Behind her remained Valley Master Nie’s kindly gaze.

No sooner had Nie Qianyu left than the anxious-faced Nie Qianxiu and Qiang Sheng entered…

At the same time, at Lady Kong’s quarters, inside a clean and plainly furnished hall, Lady Kong was not seated on a chair. Instead, a large spotless white carpet had been spread across the hall. A low tea table sat atop the carpet, and Lord Kong sat casually upon it, occasionally picking up fruit from the table to sample. Steward Yang stood respectfully to one side, recounting in full the matter of Valley Master Nie wanting his son-in-law to serve as a medicine attendant.

Then, as if suddenly realizing something, Lady King lazily replied: “Oh—according to intelligence reports, that son-in-law of his is only fourteen or fifteen years old, yet his build is that of an adult. You’re afraid I’d notice something amiss and hold you accountable, aren’t you?”

Steward Yang smiled ingratiatingly. “You are the envoy of our sect—such matters must naturally be made known to you.”

Lady Kong waved her hand. “I have no such interest. Just do what you need to do. Oh, right—this young man actually defeated the Sword Young Master of Soaring Dragon Manor. His skills must indeed amount to something. Bring him here and let me have a look.”

Steward Yang secretly groaned inwardly. “Please allow me to explain to Lady Kong—those so-called martial artists of the jianghu only know a few superficial tricks. Their reputations are all exaggerated by others. They can’t even compare to our outer-sect disciples. Think about it—if a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old youth could defeat the famous Sword Young Master of the jianghu, how much real skill do you think that Sword Young Master truly has? This Ren Xiaoyao also comes from an obscure minor sect. How could his abilities possibly meet your discerning eye, my lord?”

Hearing this, Lady Kong’s brows knit together…