The two people kneeling below were both from the Prefecture City Chen Clan, and both were core members of the clan.
The middle-aged man was named Chen Wenhe. He was the third younger brother of the head of the Prefecture City Chen Clan. He was at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining and held a certain position in the clan.
The other, slightly younger one, was his nephew, named Chen Wenli, who had come along to broaden his horizons.
Hearing Chen Shuangbai's question, which revealed neither joy nor anger, Chen Wenhe's heart tightened even more. His eyes darted around nervously as he lowered his head, feigning fear, and recited the prepared explanation:
"It has been agreed within the clan that now that Shangxiu has Foundation Establishment, he will be the pillar of our Chen Clan clan. The family is willing to open its treasury, and will fully support Shangxiu in any cultivation needs or suggestions for the development of the Lineage."
Old Master Chen and Chen Moyan listened with a mocking sneer on their faces.
The White Water Chen Clan has been rooted in White Water County for decades. The lord of the county town has not provided much assistance. In earlier years, whenever there was a sacrificial ceremony, they would send people to invite Old Master Chen back to participate. However, there has been no news of him for the past twenty years.
On the contrary, the annual offerings have never ceased, with people being arranged to personally escort them into the county town every year.
In recent years, he even harbored ambitions to seize the White Water Chen Clan... Although he didn't actually make a move, the relationship was damaged, and now it's difficult for him to return.
Chen Shuangbai smiled slightly and said, "It is kind of you, Master, to think of my White Water Chen Clan... However, I cannot accept undeserved rewards. Now that I have established my Dao foundation and become Foundation Establishment cultivator, all my cultivation resources are provided by the clan, so I will not trouble you, Master."
Upon hearing this, Chen Wenhe became anxious. He hurriedly dragged himself forward a few steps, still kowtowing, and said:
"The clan knows that it must be something that happened a few years ago that caused a rift between the White Water Chen Clan and the Prefecture City Chen Clan... The clan will not shy away from this point. Now the patriarch has changed, and the elders have personally come out of seclusion to deal with those clansmen who coveted the White Water Chen Clan's foundation."
"Our two families, though noble, ultimately worship the same ancestral tablet; blood is thicker than water."
"I have come here not to restore harmony between the upper echelons and the clan, but only to ensure that the blood ties between our two families are not severed by the past actions of petty individuals."
That's a very eloquent statement.
That's why they would send this person.
But Chen Shuangbai didn't speak. Chen Wenhe seemed to remember something, and moved a few steps towards Old Master Chen. He knelt down before a mortal, despite being Sixth Layer of Qi Refining cultivator, and said in a sorrowful tone:
"Third Uncle! Your nephew Chen Wenhe, on behalf of the family, begs your forgiveness!"
His voice was choked with sobs, his eyes instantly turned red, and his forehead struck the bluestone floor with a dull thud. When he looked up again, his forehead was covered in bruises and red marks.
Several core members of the White Water Chen Clan were stunned.
In terms of seniority, Chen Wenhe was indeed his cousin, but the other party was a cultivator at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, and a powerful figure in the county lord's family. Such a grand gift was only because of him, a mere mortal...
Old Master Chen was caught off guard and instinctively wanted to get up to help her, but he stopped himself and looked up at his Zhangsun. He saw Chen Shuangbai standing in a moon-white pool of water, her expression indifferent and her eyes devoid of emotion.
Chen Moyan frowned, inwardly cursing Chen Wenhe for being so cunning, actually trying to play the emotional card.
If his own father were to speak, Chen Shuangbai, as the Zhangsun... really wouldn't know what to say.
Seeing the Old Master Chen's moved expression, Chen Wenhe felt a little more at ease and continued, tears streaming down his face:
"Third Uncle! What happened back then was indeed a disgrace to the Bai Shui lineage! Some people in the clan were blinded by greed and committed such heartless acts!"
"Upon learning of this, the clan was heartbroken and has expelled those fools from the clan, stripped them of their cultivation, and sent them to do hard labor in the mines!"
"It is often said that we are connected by blood and share the same breath; how can we sever this bond of hundreds of years because of the meddling of a few petty people?"
As he spoke, he took out another brocade box from his bosom, presented it to Old Master Chen, and wept, saying:
"Third Uncle! The clan knows we owe the Bai Shui lineage a debt. This is Life-Extension Pill, which can extend one's life by five years. There are three in total, brought back from our ancestral home by my Chen Clan all the way south!"
"We earnestly hope that you, Third Uncle, will accept this elixir. Consider it a small token of our filial piety from your nephews..."
Life-Extension Pill!
Chen Shuangbai's eyes flickered slightly, and her expression changed again. Su Lan understood and stepped forward to examine it with her spiritual sense. She then returned and nodded to indicate that it was indeed genuine.
This apology gift really touched Chen Shuangbai's heart.
He then looked at his grandfather and saw that Old Master Chen was looking at the jade box, his breath hitched slightly, and his eyes were also subconsciously looking at him.
a long time.
Chen Shuangbai had just put down his teacup when the porcelain collided with the table, making a crisp, light sound.
"Alright."
Chen Wenhe stopped crying and, along with his nephew Chen Wenli, knelt down again with utmost respect. Then they heard the noble and handsome scholar above speak softly:
"Please rise and speak. Such a grand gesture is beyond the capacity of my grandfather, a mere mortal."
He was about to say something more, but he felt as if his body was being supported by a strange force, and he stood up out of thin air. He had a real feeling about the strength of the Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"The jade ruyi, the elixirs, and other apologies... I, the White Water Chen Clan, have accepted them all."
Upon hearing this, Chen Wenhe's face lit up with joy, but Chen Shuangbai's continued words made him slightly disappointed.
"Let bygones be bygones, but from now on..."
Chen Shuangbai stood up, walked to him, and looked down at him with a calm yet undeniably authoritative gaze. " The White Water Chen Clan and the Prefecture City Chen Clan share the same origin but have diverged. They can be friendly neighbors in the future, but there will be no longer a master-servant relationship between them."
"The tribute arrangements made years ago are hereby cancelled, effective today. Our two families may resume normal relations, which my White Water Chen Clan family welcomes. However, if anyone harbors any other ulterior motives... hehe, they should understand the implications."
That's all.
Su Lan understood immediately and, disregarding any other explanations Chen Wenhe might have, stepped forward and invited him into the guest courtyard.
The two went downstairs, half joyful and half sorrowful.
Chen Shuangbai knew what the clan in the county was thinking, and she also knew that her grandfather still cared about the main family in the county, since they were of the same lineage. It was impossible for him to take action against them. The current result was already the best possible outcome.
Chen Moyan and Old Master Chen sighed deeply, exchanged a glance, feeling both relieved and enlightened.
The handsome Daoist priest stood in the middle, his gaze finally falling on the two aunts who had returned despite their hardships. A slight smile appeared on his face as he spoke gently:
"My two aunts have been away from home for so long, you must be tired from your journey... Please stay home a little longer so that I can have a good look at you and ease my longing for my daughters!"
The eldest aunt, Chen Wanru, naturally agreed.
However, Chen Wanying, the younger sister-in-law, hesitated slightly, but when she met Chen Shuangbai's gaze, she dared not say anything and could only sigh softly.
[PS: This is the third update today! I'm still asking for five-star reviews to improve the rating! If you enjoyed it, please consider a donation! Thank you!]