"You two, go outside and watch the door. Don't let anyone near."
Old Master Chen opened his eyes and dismissed Uncle Li and Chen Zhuang.
"Yes, sir, young master."
The two bowed and withdrew, closing the door behind them.
Only the grandfather and grandson remained in the hall, the flickering candlelight casting long Shadow.
"Grandpa... aren't you being cruel enough?"
Looking at his eldest Old Master Chen's eyes faded, leaving only deep weariness.
Chen Shuangbai walked to her grandfather's side, took the old man's somewhat withered and cold hand, and said softly, "Since ancient times, family matters have been the most difficult to resolve. For you to do this, Grandpa, you have already shown great courage."
Old Master Chen remained silent for a long time, then sighed deeply, "You're right. What a misfortune for our family to produce such a rebellious son... Never mind, let's not talk about him anymore."
"Your return home now clearly indicates that you have achieved some success in your cultivation, haven't you?"
Chen Shuangbai condensed his cultivation over the past few years into a few sentences, interspersed with a few amusing anecdotes, which made Old Master Chen quite happy.
Old Master Chen took his hand and asked, "How many days will you stay at home this time?"
Chen Shuangbai truthfully replied, "I can only stay home for three or four days this time. Soon I will be heading to Wind Howling Ford in Wind Province to guard that place for the sect for a few years and make some contributions. Only then will I be qualified to strive for advancement when I return to the sect."
Old Master Chen paused for a moment before saying, "I, a mere mortal, don't know much about matters concerning immortals. In short, it's good that you, my child, are shrewd... It would be good if you could stay home for three or four days."
"You don't need to worry about family matters anymore. With Grandpa here and Uncle Li and the others assisting your second uncle, there won't be any major trouble. You only need to focus on your Immortal Dao and protect the peace of this region."
Chen Shuangbai nodded slightly, her gaze turning colder, and then said, "Master, next up are the Meng Household and the main family?"
Mentioning these two companies, Old Master Chen couldn't help but sigh.
The White Water Chen Clan is a branch of the Jingxuan Chen Clan.
The old master's father's family branched off from the Jingxuan Chen Clan and traveled a long distance to White Water County. Through the hard work of two generations, they finally built this huge family business.
The Meng Household is another Lineage in White Water County.
The Meng Household, the Chen Household, and the county government together constituted the basic power structure of White Water County.
However, after the two heads of the main branch of the Chen Household met with misfortune, the family went on a downward spiral. Later, the Meng Household took a liking to the Chen Household's assets and used various underhanded tactics, causing the Chen Household to fall into even greater decline.
But all of that became irrelevant after Chen Shuangbai returned.
Seeing his eldest grandson's cold expression and recalling his decisive and ruthless demeanor during the day, Old Master Chen knew that the Meng Household was definitely in for a bad time.
But he still offered a word of advice, "Grandson, although you are still an immortal now, there is a difference between immortals and mortals. Don't interfere too much in mortal affairs, and don't go to such extremes."
Chen Shuangbai did not refute, but simply nodded, indicating that she understood.
That evening.
At the other end of White Water County, in a large mansion, the words "Meng Mansion" were written on the wall.
Several key members of the Meng Household surrounded an elderly woman with silver hair who was holding a dragon-headed cane. They all looked anxious and paced back and forth, as if a great disaster was about to befall them.
The old woman, annoyed by her sons pacing back and forth, slammed her cane down hard and roared in a booming voice, "What's the rush? Sit down, all of you!"
"Mother!"
Meng Huaiyuan, the eldest son of the Meng Household, stopped in his tracks, his fat face jiggling, his expression mournful. "I can't sit still! That brat from the Chen Household is back! He actually became a Celestial Master, and the moment he returned, he instigated that Old Chen to kill his own son, cripple him, and cripple everyone in the entire third branch of the Chen Household... Our family's instigation of Chen the Third this time is a real weakness! Do you think the Chen Household will let us off the hook?"
"Yes, Mother!"
The second son, Meng Huaide, also exclaimed urgently, "That's a cultivator!!!"
yes.
There is an insurmountable chasm between mortals and cultivators.
A cultivator could easily kill hundreds or thousands of mortals with a casual move.
Although the Meng Household wields some power in their small territory of White Water County, compared to Chen Shuangbai, who has become a cultivator, it's like heaven and earth.
Other key members of the Meng Household in the hall echoed their sentiments, expressing their deep concern.
They all understood that once the third son of the Chen Household got into trouble, all their previous actions would be exposed.
The fact that Chen Shuangbai could disregard family ties so much, publicly killing his third uncle's wife and forcing Old Master Chen to abolish the third branch of the family, shows how ruthless he was and how decisive he was in taking action!
It seems... the Meng Household only has one night left.
While the Meng Household family was in a state of panic, Old Madam Meng, the pillar of the Meng Household, remained serious and showed no fear whatsoever.
She listened calmly to her children and grandchildren's panicked words, but gripped her dragon-headed cane even tighter.
"What's the panic?!"
She shouted again, her gaze sweeping over the crowd, "The sky hasn't fallen yet!"
"Our Meng Household still has leverage!"
Upon hearing this, Meng Huaiyuan, the eldest son of the Meng Household, immediately understood his mother's meaning and lowered his voice, asking, "Mother, are you referring to... that Immortal Master Withered Wood?"
Immortal Master Withered Wood a Middle Qi Refining Stage Rogue Cultivator in the county town. He is a rogue cultivator who cultivates in Withered Wood Valley outside the city. He has several lay disciples who, although lacking Spirit Root and unable to cultivate immortality, have connections in the county town and even several counties under its jurisdiction due to their talismans and pills.
The Meng Household secured the favor of the third disciple of the Rogue Person Withered Wood by paying tribute with precious medicinal herbs and large sums of money every year, which gave them the confidence to scheme against the Chen Household.
The second brother, Meng Huaide, was somewhat pessimistic. He said, "But... we've never even met that Immortal Master Withered Wood. Would he really help our Meng Household deal with a disciple of the Jade Spring Sect?"
Old Madam Meng said coldly, "As long as you can afford the price, there's no one we can't deal with!"
Old Madam Meng is shrewd and experienced. She comes from a family with some background and knows a lot about the rules of cultivators. She also knows the greed of those Rogue Cultivator. As long as you can afford it, even a disciple of the Jade Spring Sect can be stopped.
Furthermore, she didn't expect the Rogue Person Withered Wood to kill Chen Shuangbai; she was simply hoping he would repel the enemy.
She knew that Chen Shuangbai would not stay long after coming down the mountain, and she also had to make a show of submission, appearing to be subservient to the Chen Household. Kneeling down would be a way to get the matter done!
A sharp and resolute glint flashed in Old Madam Meng's eyes as she looked at her eldest son and said, "Immediately send someone to the county town to find the third disciple of the Rogue Person Withered Wood Sect and present him with double... no, triple the amount of gifts! Also, send my jade ruyi as a gift! Make sure they come here immediately to give this Chen Household family brat a hard time!"
"Please convey this message: After this matter, my Meng Household and the lineage of the Rogue Person Withered Wood shall have no further connection, and all past offerings shall be wiped clean!"
"Will this... even work...?"
Some people are worried.