Heavenly Gate

Linghu Chong already found Wang Jingyuan's methods extremely insidious and cruel. Now, upon hearing that Wang Jingyuan also wanted to claim credit, he became somewhat annoyed. "I told you to spare his life."

Wang Jingyuan frowned. "Senior Disciple Brother, you should have said so earlier. Spared his life is one thing, letting him go is another.

However, Senior Disciple Brother, although I have a way to spare his life, the chance is extremely slim. Do you have enough time and money?"

Hearing Wang Jingyuan's words, Linghu Chong frowned. "What do you mean?"

Wang Jingyuan began to calculate again. "Too many people saw us capture Tian Boguang. Everyone knows we captured Tian Boguang.

In this situation, if we let him go, even a fool would guess we were the ones who let him go. Do we still care about the Mount Hua Sect's reputation? Do we still care about Master's reputation? Who will bear the depreciation cost of the intangible asset of the 'Gentleman Sword' title?"

So, even if we were to spare his life, it had to be done legitimately. The simplest method would be to get all the victims and their families to agree to spare Tian Boguang's life.

You also know this scoundrel is incredibly slippery. Over the years, he's been to so many places and committed so many crimes. Even if we were to visit the victims, considering horses, fodder, ferries, food, and lodging, estimating 50 taels of silver per cross-province trip, just the travel expenses would cost you 500 taels of silver. And then there's the time. Even if you traveled day and night, rain or shine, it would still take a year or two?

This is just the cost of visiting. To get people to spare Tian Boguang, the economic compensation would require at least 5,000 taels of silver. Does the Mount Hua Sect's annual expenses even reach this amount? Moreover, Tian Boguang also harmed many young ladies from wealthy families. They are much richer than our Mount Hua Sect. Can they be appeased with just money?

If they don't want money, what will you do? Be at their beck and call, begging for their forgiveness? This whole process would take at least ten years. Even if I hadn't killed Tian Boguang just now, in his condition, he wouldn't have lived for another ten years anyway. It's not worth it."

Linghu Chong had never considered any of this. He just felt that since Tian Boguang had fallen into their hands, they had the right to deal with him. But hearing Wang Jingyuan say this, he could only say sheepishly, "I think everyone would be willing to give my Mount Hua Sect some face."

Wang Jingyuan's expression stiffened, and he took two steps back. "Why should the Mount Hua Sect vouch for you? And for a rapist at that? Even I think about how to manage the Mount Hua Sect every day, and you, a damned NPC, dare to try and exploit it?!

Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I explained. Let me ask you directly: if someone defiled Junior Disciple Sister, and she felt too ashamed to live and committed suicide, do you think Master would let that person go? Would you let them go?"

Linghu Chong knew what Wang Jingyuan was referring to, but he stammered, "Junior Disciple Sister is fine, and Brother Tian is a straightforward person..."

Wang Jingyuan interrupted. "Straightforwardness is no excuse. I've also heard that Xiang Wentian of the Sun Moon Holy Cult is straightforward. Do you want to be brothers with him?"

Linghu Chong quickly shook his head. "Demonic Cult scoundrels! How can we, disciples of the righteous path..."

"Then do you know that flower-picking thieves are looked down upon even by those Demonic Cult members? And whose daughters, whose junior disciples, were harmed by him?! We, the Mount Hua Sect, what virtue or merit do we have to spare Tian Boguang on their behalf?!"

It was too easy to condemn people from a moral high ground. Wang Jingyuan watched Linghu Chong's inability to retort and felt incredibly satisfied. No wonder everyone strives to be a moral exemplar. This was simply using society's inherent order and customs to fight back. It achieved twice the result with half the effort, truly a tool for arguing in civilized society.

"Well said! Boy, why aren't you opening the gate yet?" Suddenly, a loud shout came from outside the door. Wang Jingyuan turned his head and saw the nameplates for "Heavenly Gate," "Chi Baicheng," and "Lin Pingzhi" through the door. It turned out that Wang Jingyuan had been so engrossed in mentally dominating Linghu Chong that he had ignored his surroundings. However, Wang Jingyuan hoped the other party hadn't overheard the business plan he had discussed with Linghu Chong.

Since he already knew it was Daoist Heavenly Gate outside, Wang Jingyuan went to open the door. As soon as he opened it, he saw a Daoist priest. His hair was as white as snow, tied up with a jade hairpin. His face was as resolute as if carved by a knife, with furrows like ravines between his brows. His eyes were as deep as a cold pool, and his loose, grey-blue Daoist robe hung down.

He looked exactly like the stereotypical righteous individual with a short temper and unwavering integrity. Chi Baicheng, on the other hand, followed behind him like a little chick. It seemed that after sending Tiansong back, Chi Baicheng had gone to find his Master. Lin Pingzhi followed behind with a sheepish grin.

Politeness was necessary. Wang Jingyuan cupped his fists and greeted, "Wang Jingyuan of Mount Hua, greetings, Martial Uncle Heavenly Gate."

Linghu Chong had never met Daoist Heavenly Gate before, but seeing Wang Jingyuan speak like that, he also genuinely stood up and greeted Daoist Heavenly Gate. Daoist Heavenly Gate forced a smile and nodded at Wang Jingyuan, but ignored Linghu Chong.

He simply walked in, glanced at the corpse on the ground, and said, "On my way here, I already understood everything. I was initially worried you might be in danger, but I didn't expect you to actually be able to kill this scoundrel. Although your methods were a bit... well, you are just young people. Facing a skilled thief like Tian Boguang, a frontal assault might not have been feasible."

After speaking, Daoist Heavenly Gate looked at Chi Baicheng. "Baicheng!"

Chi Baicheng jolted and stepped forward, cupping his fists. "Senior Disciple Brother Linghu, Junior Disciple Brother Wang, I wronged you just now. It turns out you wanted to learn from that Martial Uncle Liu..."

"Cough cough!" Daoist Heavenly Gate coughed abruptly.

Chi Baicheng immediately changed his tune. "You were actually feigning compliance with that lecherous thief. I was blind. I apologize to both of you!"

Wang Jingyuan smiled and immediately helped Chi Baicheng up. Chi Baicheng, seeing Tian Boguang's martial arts prowess, had intended to go help his Martial Uncle. And judging by the time, Chi Baicheng had immediately gone to find his Master after sending Daoist Tiansong back.

The two of them looked travel-worn. They had likely used Qinggong to search many places near the Huiyan Tower. People can be pedantic and dull, but they are also upright and kind. What is this? An excellent tool!

What else could Wang Jingyuan do? Of course, he had to put aside any past grievances and flatter him with a torrent of pleasing words. Before long, he had Chi Baicheng grinning from ear to ear.

Daoist Heavenly Gate observed Wang Jingyuan's calm demeanor and sincere smile, truly believing he hadn't taken the previous incident to heart. He nodded inwardly, sighing that Yue Buqun had taken in a good disciple, broad-minded and quite possessing the demeanor of his Gentleman Sword. However, this eldest disciple was somewhat lacking in discerning right from wrong.

After all, Tiansong and Chi Baicheng's previous actions were not honorable. After being saved, while the others were holding Tian Boguang, allowing Chi Baicheng to escape with Tiansong, they had spoken disrespectfully to their savior as they left.

They had encountered Lin Pingzhi downstairs earlier and learned from him what had happened. Daoist Heavenly Gate became even more annoyed. Tiansong was still recuperating, so only Chi Baicheng, as the other involved party, could apologize on his behalf.

Heavenly Gate was a man of quick temper. Seeing that Wang Jingyuan truly held no grudge against the Mount Tai Sect, he directly said, "You saved my Martial Brother Tiansong, so as an elder, it wouldn't be right for me to offer nothing.

How about this: I see that your martial arts, Martial Nephew Wang, still have some deficiencies. I will teach you a move or two. As for Senior Disciple Brother Linghu, he is quite injured. I have brought our Mount Tai Sect's secret healing medicine, which I will gift to Senior Disciple Brother Linghu."