The Doting Ancestor

Chapter 45: The Protective Old Ancestor

After seeing off the Ghost Fiend, the Myriad Ghost Ancestor exchanged a few perfunctory greetings with Elder Tu. Elder Tu, having witnessed the Myriad Ghost Ancestor's ninth-level Ghost General, was exceptionally respectful towards him. Knowing that the ancestor intended to comfort his personal disciple, Elder Tu didn't linger, proposing a tea appointment before leaving on his escaping light.

Only then did the Myriad Ghost Ancestor summon his three disciples into the main hall, offering them a few gentle words of comfort. He then sent them back, keeping only Lei Dong behind.

Once everyone else had left, the Myriad Ghost Ancestor sat regally on his throne, his expression grave. He stared silently at Lei Dong, who was sweating profusely and turning pale under the ancestor's gaze.

After a long while, the Myriad Ghost Ancestor let out a cold snort, raising an eyebrow. "Lei Dong, you truly have a great deal of nerve. You even dared to kill the Ghost Fiend's son. Is there anything you wouldn't do?"

Lei Dong's mind reeled. He wondered if the Myriad Ghost Ancestor was testing him. Just as he was about to deny it, a thought inexplicably crossed his mind. He immediately knelt, sweat pouring down his face. "Reporting to the Old Ancestor, this disciple was forced to kill the Ghost Fiend's son. Although this disciple comes from a humble background, I still wished to live."

"Speak," the Myriad Ghost Ancestor said, his face ashen with anger.

Lei Dong felt a sense of relief. He had been afraid the ancestor wouldn't give him a chance to explain. Then again, he thought, if the Old Ancestor truly didn't want to protect me, he wouldn't have forcefully driven away the Ghost Fiend earlier and simply handed me over. Why would he antagonize a Golden Core Ancestor? Fundamentally, the Old Ancestor is still protecting me.

"Yes, Old Ancestor. This is what happened..." Lei Dong recounted the entire affair to the ancestor, making a slight modification to a minor detail. He claimed that he had several Middle Grade Spirit Ghosts and an Upper Grade Spirit Ghost in his Soul Nurturing Pagoda at the time. This was why he refused to let the ugly young man take them. It was a perfectly reasonable explanation; even a Golden Core Ancestor would be tempted to kill for an Upper Grade Spirit Ghost.

Gradually, the Old Ancestor's expression softened slightly. He let out a displeased grunt. "It's one thing for the Ghost Fiend himself to be arrogant, but his son is also exceedingly overbearing. Lei Dong, why did you impersonate someone from the Extreme Yin Cave? Is my name not worth a single coin?"

"Reporting to the Old Ancestor, this disciple merely wished to cause less trouble for our sect," Lei Dong replied, his heart completely relaxed but his body still feeling drenched. He said with utmost trepidation, "Old Ancestor, please forgive me. This disciple's judgment was not thorough."

"Trouble, hehe. In your heart, am I a cowardly and incompetent old man who fears trouble?" the Myriad Ghost Ancestor asked, clearly displeased. "Or do you think that when my personal disciple is bullied outside, I will only cower like a turtle?"

"Since you know your mistake, after this Small Competition, you will go to the back mountain's Small Yin Sha Cave and reflect in seclusion for a year. You are not allowed to go out." The Myriad Ghost Ancestor's expression eased somewhat upon seeing Lei Dong's timely admission of fault. He added with some indignation, "I am not punishing you for killing the Ghost Fiend's son, but for Lei Dong underestimating me too much. If I cannot even protect my own personal disciple, what's the point of establishing a cave or a manor? Now, scram!"

"Yes, this disciple takes his leave." Lei Dong bowed again before turning to leave dejectedly.

Before he had gone halfway, he heard the Myriad Ghost Ancestor call out coldly, "Wait, come back."

Lei Dong immediately stopped.

He walked back and stood with his hands clasped.

"Take some time to retrieve those Magic Items you hid. Hmph, that Ghost Fiend doted on his son so much, he must have bestowed many good things upon that brat." The Myriad Ghost Ancestor paused, his brow furrowing. "I will help you reforge them. Don't let anyone recognize them when you use them. While that Ghost Fiend is insignificant, if he ever finds out you killed his son, he certainly won't let it go. You, a mere fellow at the sixth level of Qi Refining, how can you defend yourself? However, you must give one to your Senior Sister Ding. She took the blame for you and suffered a lot of grievances."

Lei Dong was overjoyed and quickly kowtowed again. "Thank you, Old Ancestor. This disciple will go retrieve them now. As for what to give Senior Sister Ding, I will leave it to the Old Ancestor's discretion." With the Myriad Ghost Ancestor helping him reforge them, it would surely be much better than him learning Artifact Refining and changing their appearance.

After being reprimanded again by the Myriad Ghosts, Lei Dong left the Myriad Ghost Cave filled with joy, a warm and comfortable feeling spreading through him. Although the Myriad Ghost Ancestor had a fierce demeanor, he was truly protective of his disciples. He eagerly went to retrieve the treasures he had hidden. As for giving one to Senior Sister Ding, while he felt a pang of reluctance, he had to admit the Old Ancestor was right. Ding Wanyan had taken a huge blame for him, and the Ghost Fiend seemed to be focusing his attention on her.

The Myriad Ghost Ancestor took Lei Dong's looted items and was somewhat taken aback. Although he knew the Ghost Fiend doted on his son excessively, the gifts he gave were truly exceptional. Lei Dong, managing to use trickery and a sneak attack to defeat the brat under such a disadvantage, had to be admitted as quite capable. These few Magic Items were considered top-tier even among Upper Grade items.

"This Upper Grade Magic Shield will be given to Senior Sister Ding to calm her nerves," the Myriad Ghost Ancestor decided without hesitation. Still seemingly holding some displeasure towards Lei Dong, he waved his hand. "Scram back and cultivate properly. Come pick them up in three days."

Lei Dong returned to his own chambers, his heart brimming with satisfaction. The recent fear and suppressed anxiety from killing the Ghost Fiend's son had vanished. He had especially seen a different side of the Old Ancestor. He had originally thought that because the other party was the Ghost Fiend, if he ever found out Lei Dong killed his son, the Old Ancestor would hand him over for judgment to avoid damaging their relationship.

However, Lei Dong now knew he had truly underestimated the Myriad Ghost Ancestor. He had to admit that as a Golden Core master and the head of a cave, the Myriad Ghost Ancestor possessed great bearing. What moved Lei Dong was the Old Ancestor's protective nature towards his personal disciples. While he might scold and punish them at home, he would never allow outsiders to bully his disciples. Furthermore, he was firm when he needed to be and never hesitated to unleash his fury. He truly felt the Myriad Ghost Ancestor was a remarkable individual, worthy of his loyalty.

Vaguely, Lei Dong grasped some of the nuances of bearing. Whether it was an Evil Sect or a righteous faction, a grandmaster naturally possessed the bearing of a grandmaster.

However, Lei Dong knew that at his current level of only the sixth stage of Qi Refining, talking about bearing was suicidal. Gradually, he pushed the thought out of his mind.

He calmly endured the Small Competition and retrieved the Magic Items that had been re-refined by the Myriad Ghost Ancestor. Not daring to disregard the Old Ancestor's words, he packed his belongings and went directly to the Small Yin Sha Cave in the back mountain.

That place was a penal ground specifically for punishing the disciples of the Myriad Ghost Cave. Cold winds blew incessantly, and Sha Qi swirled. Even a disciple who had achieved minor success in cultivation would suffer the torment of Yin Sha Qi day and night there. As soon as Lei Dong stepped into the cave entrance, he couldn't help but shiver, goosebumps rising all over his body.