Reconciliation

Wang Changsheng felt a weight lift from his heart upon hearing this.

Though marriage was a matter decided by one's parents, he still wished to marry a woman with whom he was truly of one mind.

A trace of weariness showed on Wang Mingyuan's face as he instructed, "There is a great deal to learn at the wine table! I'll teach you another day. It's getting late, so go back and rest!"

"Yes, Father. Your son takes his leave."

After returning to his quarters, Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on the wooden bed and circulated his cultivation technique to refine the immense spiritual energy within his body.

If a Cultivator wished to advance, they either had to spend vast amounts of time meditating and cultivating or rely on external aids. There were many kinds of external aids, with spiritual herbs being the most common. Banquets made from spiritual ingredients could also improve one's cultivation.

The food served at the banquet earlier had all been prepared from Tier 1 spiritual ingredients and contained spiritual energy.

It took Wang Changsheng more than half an hour to refine the immense spiritual energy within his body.

That one meal was worth several days of his bitter cultivation. Unfortunately, he could not enjoy such meals every day.

For the next five days, Wang Changsheng spent his days touring Butterfly Valley with Zhao Ningxuan and his sister, while cultivating in his quarters at night. Every meal included White Scale Fish.

Steamed White Scale Fish, braised White Scale Fish, White Scale Fish soup...

He had eaten so much of it that he was sick of it. Now, the mere smell of fish made him want to vomit.

At noon that day, a sharp-featured Middle-Aged Man flew into Butterfly Valley and entered Liu HuaiRen's residence.

"HuaiJie, how did it go? What is the situation at the Quarry?"

Liu HuaiRen asked impatiently. The Middle-Aged Man was his fourth brother, Liu Huaijie.

"Big Brother, I personally led men to inspect it. There really is a First-Order Mid-Grade Spirit Vein there. The Wang Family has cleared several mu of Spirit Fields and planted First-Order Mid-Grade Spirit Grain. Song Ziyang played us for fools. He used us as a spear to strengthen his Song Family."

Liu Huaijie spoke through gritted teeth.

Liu HuaiRen frowned and pressed, "You didn't see wrong, did you? Could the Wang Family have deliberately created a false front?"

"Impossible. Without a Spirit Vein, the soil in those Spirit Fields could not contain spiritual energy. I personally walked through the fields and even grabbed a handful of dirt. The soil was indeed brimming with spiritual energy. There must be a First-Order Mid-Grade Spirit Vein there. As for a mineral vein, I didn't see one. Perhaps the Wang Family hid it, but I think it is more likely that the Song Family played us for fools."

Liu HuaiRen knitted his brows tightly. After pondering for a long while, he asked, "Could the Wang Family have set up a First-Order Mid-Grade Spirit-Gathering Formation, then cleared some Spirit Fields to deliberately put on a show for us?"

"Probably not. I asked Eighth Uncle. Eighth Uncle is a First-Order Mid-Grade Formation Master. According to him, setting up a First-Order Mid-Grade Spirit-Gathering Formation covering several mu would cost at least four or five thousand Spirit Stones. Would the Wang Family spend four or five thousand Spirit Stones just to put on a show for us? More importantly, Green Stone Town is a mortal settlement with thin spiritual energy. If a Spirit-Gathering Formation were set up there, it would take at least half a year before the soil could be filled with spiritual energy. As far as we know, the Formation at the Quarry has been in place for less than half a year. There is one more point: with Wang Yaozu's permission, I pulled up a Spirit Grain seedling. Its roots were deeply embedded in the soil, and it took some effort to pull it out. A temporarily transplanted Spirit Grain seedling could never be like that."

After hearing this, Liu HuaiRen no longer had the slightest doubt.

"Big Brother, Song Ziyang used us as a spear. We cannot fall for it."

Liu HuaiRen nodded. "I understand. I'll discuss matters with Wang Yaozu and the others right away. Enemies Should Be Reconciled, Not Deepened, but Eleventh Brother cannot have died for nothing."

Liu Huaijie's expression shifted. "Big Brother, do you mean to extort compensation from the Wang Family? Three members of the Wang Family died. They will not agree so easily, will they?"

Liu HuaiRen glared at him. "What are you thinking? If we extort compensation from the Wang Family, can that still be called reconciliation? The Wang Family has several shops in the City of Immortal Fate. I want them to transfer one shop to us. We have planted quite a few Golden Lychee Fruit trees, and the Golden Lychee Fruits will soon ripen. Golden Lychee Fruits ripen once every five years, but they cannot fetch much of a price in Ning Province. The City of Immortal Fate has thriving commerce and countless Cultivators coming and going. Unfortunately, we have no shop there. The Wang Family's ancestors had wide connections and acquired several shops in the City of Immortal Fate. Asking them to transfer one to us should not be difficult. Of course, we will only know the outcome after discussing it with Wang Mingyuan in person. This matter concerns our private affairs, so Aunt need not participate."

In a certain courtyard, Zhao Ziheng was reporting something to Zhao Yuhui.

"Mother, HuaiRen would not let us be present, and we do not know what they discussed. I always feel that Cousin Mingyuan has not told the truth. We cannot trust Cousin Mingyuan's side of the story alone."

Zhao Yuhui frowned slightly. "Then what do you intend to do?"

"Your son believes we can take a share of the spoils. The Wang Family is in a difficult position now. Whether it is the Spirit Vein or something else, we should have a share. Of course, we would not take it for nothing. We could help the Wang Family defend that Spirit Vein."

"Foolish! Never mind whether Mingyuan told the truth—one must know gratitude. Seventy years ago, your grandfather was ambushed while away from home. Our Zhao Family was full of the old and the young, without a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to hold the fort. Strange cultivators lingered near Butterfly Valley, and people came to cause trouble at our shops. It was the Wang Family's Old Master who stepped forward in righteousness, making those petty villains restrain themselves somewhat. For the Lineage to have a safe environment in which to survive, your Second Granduncle made the decision to marry Yuzhi to Yaozu. With the two families joined by marriage and the Wang Family Old Master's reputation to lean on, our days became somewhat easier."

"Your father and the others went to the Black River Assembly to sell the Spirit Fish we raised, only to be attacked and killed on their way back. Apart from your father, everyone else died in battle. Others were all waiting to see us make fools of ourselves. We sought help everywhere and suffered who knew how many cold stares. It was Old Master Wang who came forward, leading your Second Granduncle, Fifth Uncle, and the others to hunt down the culprits. Though they failed to capture the bandits, those petty villains restrained themselves somewhat. Of course, the Wang Family also took a portion of our benefits, but we gave that willingly. If not for the Wang Family, the Zhao Family would have been wiped out seventy years ago. The Wang Family is now offering us a Sericulture Art. Is that not enough? What more do you want?"

"Your Fifth Uncle and I are now holding down the fort in the family, but our younger generation is failing to carry on the line. Besides Ningxiang, are there any clan members worth mentioning? The Wang Family is in trouble, yet you want to kick them while they are down. When our Zhao Family faces trouble, will the Wang Family still help us? For a Lineage to grow strong, it cannot rely on exploiting marital relatives when they are in need. It requires everyone to work as one, make many friends, forge few enmities, and develop openly and honorably. If you still cling to such thoughts, then it seems you are unfit to be Family Head. Otherwise, after your Fifth Uncle and I are gone, I fear our Zhao Family will not last much longer."

Zhao Yuhui Sighed. Though the Zhao Family now had two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the younger generation was too poorly endowed. In the future, they would surely face a gap in succession. That was why she wanted to keep Ningxiang within the family, so Ningxiang could guard the Lineage in the future.

Zhao Ziheng was Zhao Yuhui's youngest son and had always been greatly favored by her. That was why he had been able to become the Zhao Family's Family Head.

Through the Wang Family incident, Zhao Yuhui realized that Zhao Ziheng was not suited to be Family Head. It seemed she needed to find an opportunity to choose another Family Head.

Losing weight delayed the update. Sorry.