Fostering Goodwill

Big Black responded and turned to leave the main hall.

Shen Jingchuan looked down at the pile of things on the ground, then looked at the woman.

"Put all of these back into the Ring."

"Then erase the Divine Sense from the Ring, and give it to me, Ring and all the items."

Ru'er responded and squatted down to tidy up, her face slightly flushed.

Inside the Ring were some of her personal belongings, things women use, but at that moment, she couldn't care less about anything else.

Seeing her expression, Shen Jingchuan understood and waved his hand.

"You don't need to put your women's personal belongings in there."

Ru'er blushed, responded softly, picked out the few personal items, and handed them to her daughter beside her.

The girl, her eyes red, reached out and took it, then put it away.

Ru'er stuffed the rest of the items into the Ring, then wiped her hand across the Ring, erasing all traces of her Divine Sense imprint.

She held the Ring in both hands and presented it to her from a distance.

The Ring slowly floated to Shen Jingchuan's front.

Shen Jingchuan reached out and took it, twirling it between his fingers.

He looked up at the woman, a half-smile playing on his lips.

"That's enough."

"My dog, Big Black, smelled a scent he liked among all this stuff of yours. We're destined to meet."

"It was this that made me let you go."

Shen Jingchuan accepted the Ring and looked at the woman kneeling on the ground.

"Logically, if I kill you, everything on you should be mine."

He paused, his tone softening.

"But who gave you this fortuitous opportunity?"

He pointed to the family of four, then looked at the clan chief.

"You, go too."

The clan chief stood up, walked a few steps to his wife's side, and firmly put his arm around her shoulder. The couple stood side by side, looking at Shen Jingchuan together.

Shen Jingchuan looked at them and spoke slowly.

"Alright."

"I'm happy today. And with you all, it seems we're destined to Big Black."

"Don't think it's just a spirit beast."

His tone became more serious.

"In my heart, it's no different from my friends, my family."

"You five, right here, swear a solemn oath to me using the Heavenly Dao."

"You know perfectly well how to make this oath."

"I'm satisfied. I'll let you go today."

Upon hearing this, the woman's body went limp, and she immediately knelt down and kowtowed to Shen Jingchuan.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist, for sparing my life."

She looked up, her eyes red-rimmed, but her voice was steady.

"This was entirely the fault of my Wang Household."

"I never intended to avenge them, nor did I intend to involve my son and daughter in this."

"This cycle of revenge will not only implicate me, but also the Zhao Household."

"I am willing, and I hereby swear this oath."

She closed her eyes, raised her hand, and swore an oath, word by word, before heaven and earth, making a solemn vow.

As soon as the oath was uttered, as if by some the Unseen force, everyone in the hall felt a chill run down their spines.

Behind her, the clan chief, along with his two sons and daughter, also knelt down.

The family of five, together facing the Heavenly Dao, swore an oath never to seek revenge or retaliate.

Zhao Jiufeng watched from the sidelines, and breathed a long sigh of relief when he saw that the matter was finally resolved.

He stepped forward a few paces and solemnly cupped his hands in greeting to Shen Jingchuan.

"Thank you for your kindness, fellow Daoist."

"If you need anything in the future, please feel free to contact the Zhao Household. Although we are a small Lineage, we still have some influence in this area."

He paused, then continued.

"We dare not blame you in the slightest for this matter, fellow Daoist."

"The Wang Household has gone too far. Their greed brought about their annihilation, which is a taboo in the cultivation world."

"This is the last thing a Lineage should ever do."

He turned around and faced the clansmen in the hall, his expression solemn.

"Listen up, everyone. Our Zhao Household must take this as a warning."

"No one is allowed to be greedy for short-term gains and bring disaster upon the Lineage."

Everyone in the hall responded in unison.

The reason Shen Jingchuan let Ru'er go was because he was sitting up there watching what had just happened, and he felt a mix of emotions.

His parents had long since passed away. Looking at the mother and her children below, the mother protecting her children and the children vying to die in their mother's place—it was no joke—his old habits of modern behavior resurfaced.

Having been in this strange world for so long, he had long since adapted to the survival Principle here, knowing that the strong prey on the weak and that it's time to eliminate any threat at all.

But when it came to actually doing it, he still showed some mercy.

He knew that releasing the man was somewhat of a saintly act. But he had his own moral compass.

Zhao Jiufeng has already pledged his loyalty by personally killing the remaining members of the Wang Household; this feud is now set in stone.

The woman then offered the great fortuitous opportunity of Big Black, and the family of five made a solemn oath to Heavenly Dao, so there was no reason for any backlash.

Since that's the case, rather than pushing someone to the brink, it's better to forge a good relationship.

He made up his mind and looked up at Zhao Jiufeng.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao."

"Since you have this intention, my Shen Household is not one to exterminate everyone."

Our family motto is to be kind to others.

"You are responsible for cleaning up the Wang Household's territory. Take over everything left there, including the Wang Household's fields and properties."

Zhao Jiufeng was taken aback, then overjoyed, and quickly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist!"

"Rest assured, fellow Daoist, we will handle this matter perfectly."

Shen Jingchuan stood up and waved his hand.

"Alright, that's settled. I should be going now."

Zhao Jiufeng dared not linger and led the entire clan to escort him to the gate.

Shen Jingchuan walked outside, mounted his horse, and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhao Jiufeng.

"Wait."

Having said that, he spurred his horse, and Big Black galloped away in a flash, retracing its steps.

The Zhao Household family stood at the door, watching the man and horse disappear at the end of the mountain path before returning to their village.

Only then did the Zhao Household family members realize the feeling of surviving a calamity.

What just happened was no different from walking through the gates of hell.

Zhao Jiufeng turned around and looked at the people filling the courtyard.

"Go, everyone, and gather all the clan members at the old house."

The men below responded and went off in different directions.

Within minutes, the clansmen had all gathered, filling most of the courtyard.

Those mortals who were unable to cultivate themselves also stood far away outside.

Zhao Jiufeng stood on the steps, remained silent for a moment, and then looked up.

"You've all heard about the Wang Household's affairs to some extent."

"Several unfilial descendants of the Wang Household have become thieves outside the market, ambushing and killing others."

"And what happened? They kicked a hornet's nest, got wiped out, and their entire Lineage was ruined."

He glanced at the crowd, his voice turning somber.

"You are fortunate to be standing here safe and sound today."

"Even I got caught up in it and almost didn't get out."

"We all need to reflect on this matter."