Wang Qin sat on horseback, with Jiang Che steadying her himself, as the family of three headed toward Willow Source County's seat.
However astonished or bewildered they were, Jiang He and Wang Qin had followed their son.
There was really nothing more to be said.
They had been expelled from the lineage, and their son had come into his own. What else could they do but follow him? Stay with the clan and keep swallowing insults?
After leaving the fields, they walked along the path toward the river for about half an hour before the sound of hoofbeats suddenly came from behind.
Jiang Che stopped and looked back.
A cloud of yellow dust rose at the far end of the main road. Several riders galloped toward them, then reined in together some thirty meters away.
Among them, Jiang Che recognized Jiang Weichuan and Jiang Weisheng. The other two looked quite elderly.
He could see the concern on Jiang Weichuan's face, but Jiang Weichuan was not the first to approach.
Clan elder Jiang Zongmao swung down from his horse and hurried forward, his expression earnest.
"Che! This old man came too late and let your parents suffer!"
Jiang Che did not move. He simply watched him in silence.
Jiang Zongmao maintained his concerned expression. "The clan has investigated everything! Not only are you innocent, you have rendered a great service! This is a joyous occasion that brings glory to our name. The clan will post an announcement, and everyone will celebrate!"
Jiang He looked at his son, joy in his eyes.
Bringing glory to their name... That was what he had hoped his son would do all his life. Was it finally about to come true?
But he remembered what Jiang Che had said on their way here, so he held back all his thoughts and waited for his son to answer.
Jiang Zongmao struck while the iron was hot, seeing Jiang He as a promising opening. "Third Brother, you have suffered these past few years. As a clan elder, I failed to look into matters properly. From today onward, your branch will be restored to the genealogy. You will formally take the name Weihe and join the main branch, with a residence bestowed upon you, fertile farmland..."
"Elder," Jiang Che interrupted him. "You just said I rendered a service, brought glory to our name, and deserved a celebration by the entire clan... But that wasn't what I heard when I first entered the estate."
Behind them, Jiang Weisheng shuddered.
He gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and bowed with his hands clasped. "Che, I was a fool earlier. I didn't know the full story and said some rotten things. Please don't hold it against me."
His apology was genuinely sincere.
After Jiang Che had left, he had felt somewhat uneasy, so he went back to ask about it. Only then did he learn how astonishing the news Jiang Weichuan had brought back was.
When Jiang Weichuan and the clan elders learned that Jiang Che had returned, only to be driven away by him, they all blanched. After giving him a thorough tongue-lashing, they hurried onto their horses to give chase.
Once Jiang Weisheng learned what had happened in Willow Source, he understood that he had made a mistake. Being scolded was only to be expected.
Yet inwardly, he was unconvinced. He did not think it was his fault.
Jiang Che had been angry enough to leave because his parents had been driven out. Although Jiang Weisheng had carried out their expulsion, the order had come from the main branch, which wanted to sever ties. He had merely obeyed.
Besides, if they really wanted to assign responsibility, shouldn't it fall on the elders who ran the main branch?
Brother Weichuan had returned yesterday, yet they had assumed he had come to plead for mercy. They refused even to see him, lodging him in a side courtyard and then ignoring him.
After waiting half a day, Jiang Weichuan realized something was wrong. Unable to see anyone in charge and left with no other choice, he shouted in the side courtyard, letting everyone know that Che had redeemed his offense through meritorious service, caught a True Disciple's eye, and gained a chance to enter Azure Mystic's Main Gate.
Even then, the clan remained doubtful, dismissing it as nonsense. They insisted on sending someone to Willow Source to verify the news before believing it.
That round trip had taken quite some time.
That alone might have been forgivable. But once the news was confirmed, why hadn't they hurried to invite Jiang He and his wife back before Jiang Che arrived?
Instead, they had held a closed-door meeting to discuss what treatment to offer Jiang Che.
Discussing it was one thing, but they had not breathed a word to Jiang Weisheng, the steward of the outer branch.
The clan elders had overlooked mundane affairs. Jiang Weichuan did not know that the clan had already expelled Jiang Che's parents. Jiang Weisheng knew about the expulsion, but knew nothing of Jiang Che's situation... And so, a serious problem had arisen.
It was too late for regret.
Yet upon hearing his apology, Jiang Che showed no intention of giving him a way to save face.
"There's no need for that. Jiang Weisheng, I remember everything you said earlier. My branch was never entered in the genealogy, so we don't count as members of the Jiang clan, and my family is forbidden to set foot on Jiang land ever again. Quite right. I'm leaving, then. I simply won't set foot there."
The two clan elders' expressions turned exceedingly ugly.
Jiang Che was needling Jiang Weisheng, but who could fail to hear that his barbs were aimed at the entire Jiang Household?
Jiang Zongmao snapped, "Jiang Weisheng! Who gave you the nerve to expel clan members without authorization? The elders had yet to reach a decision, and you drove Jiang He's family out of the estate. What sort of conduct is that?! Go back and report to the ancestral hall for punishment. Six months' confinement, and removal from your post as steward of the outer branch!"
After scolding him, he turned back to Jiang Che and softened his tone. "Che, the clan was indeed in the wrong. This old man won't shirk responsibility. The senior elders have also given their word: so long as you're willing to return, the clan will spare no effort to support your cultivation at Azure Mystic. As for your parents, we'll bring them into the main branch and provide for them. Someone will attend to them every day, leaving you without the slightest worry..."
Jiang Che shook his head. "No need. My parents are coming to the county seat with me. I'll take care of them myself. I can no longer afford to accept the Jiang clan's kindness."
"Che, whatever you want, just say it. Even if you want Jiang Weisheng to kneel and kowtow to your parents in apology, we'll agree."
Jiang Weisheng shuddered at those words and raised his head. Humiliation filled his eyes, but he showed no intention of resisting.
He understood what was at stake.
Jiang Che shook his head again. "My family doesn't need him to kneel. Please go back, all of you. From today onward, I, Jiang Che, have no further ties to the Jiang clan of Willow Source."
With that, he led the horse onward with his parents, continuing toward Willow Source without looking back.
Jiang Zongmao kept following, trying to persuade him along the way. But from that point on, no matter what he said, Jiang Che did not utter another word in reply.
Half an hour later, Jiang Zongmao finally gave up and turned back.
Before leaving, he told Jiang Weichuan to stay with Jiang Che and try to persuade him.
He need not have said anything. Jiang Weichuan followed them, giving his horse to Jiang He, and said little along the way.
After returning to the county seat, Jiang Weichuan and Jiang Che settled Jiang He and Wang Qin in a small courtyard residence in the east of town. Only after bustling about and finishing all the arrangements did uncle and nephew find time to exchange a few words.
Jiang Che had no grievance with Jiang Weichuan. He remembered how well Uncle Weichuan had treated him.
"Che, I still want to try to persuade you... What happened today was all a misunderstanding, because the lineage didn't know about your situation. Once they found out, their attitude was quite sincere..."
"Uncle Weichuan, there's no need to try to persuade me."
Jiang Weichuan persisted. "As I said before, you won't get far relying solely on yourself while cultivating at Azure Mystic. The clan may not be wealthy, but it can still afford to support a Main Gate disciple. And they're willing to treat your parents well. Isn't that a good thing?"
Jiang Che shook his head again. This time, he finally gave his reason.
"Uncle Weichuan, I'll be frank about my thinking. It's true that what happened today angered me. But more importantly, I have no respect for the Jiang clan."
"The Jiang clan may not be powerful or wealthy, but they're still your own kin. Surely they're better than outsiders..."
"No, you misunderstand. It isn't their lack of power or wealth that I look down on. It's this sort of conduct."
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