Chapter 42: Reconciliation

Wang Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Although major marital decisions were typically made by parents, he still wished to marry a woman with whom he shared a deep affinity.

Wang Mingyuan, looking somewhat tired, instructed, "There's a lot to learn about dealing with people over drinks. I'll teach you another day. It's getting late, so you should go back and rest."

"Yes, son. I'll take my leave."

Back in his dwelling, Wang Changsheng sat cross-legged on his wooden bed and began circulating his spiritual energy to refine the vast amount of spiritual qi within him.

Cultivators advance either by spending a lot of time meditating or by using external resources. These resources come in many forms; elixirs are the most common, but banquets prepared with spiritual ingredients can also enhance cultivation.

The food served at the banquet earlier was made from first-tier spiritual ingredients and imbued with spiritual qi.

It took Wang Changsheng more than half an hour to refine the considerable spiritual energy within his body.

This meal was equivalent to several days of his strenuous cultivation, but unfortunately, he couldn't enjoy it every day.

For the next five days, Wang Changsheng spent his days touring Butterfly Valley with the Zhao Ningxuan siblings and his evenings cultivating in his dwelling. Every meal included white-scaled fish.

Steamed white-scaled fish, braised white-scaled fish, white-scaled fish soup...

He was utterly tired of it; now, the mere smell of fish made him feel nauseous.

One midday, a lean, capable-looking middle-aged man flew into Butterfly Valley and entered Liu Huai'en's residence.

"Huaijie, how was it? What's the situation at the quarry?" Liu Huai'en asked eagerly. The middle-aged man was his fourth brother, Liu Huaijie.

"Elder Brother, I personally led people to inspect it. There is indeed a first-tier mid-grade spiritual vein there. The Wang family has cultivated several acres of spiritual fields and planted first-tier mid-grade spiritual grains. Song Ziyang tricked us; he used us as a pawn to strengthen his Song family," Liu Huaijie said bitterly.

Liu Huai'en frowned and pressed, "Are you sure you weren't mistaken? Could it be a deliberate illusion created by the Wang family?"

"Impossible. Without a spiritual vein, the soil in the spiritual fields wouldn't have spiritual qi at all. I personally walked around the spiritual fields and even grabbed a handful of soil; it was indeed full of spiritual qi. There must be a first-tier mid-grade spiritual vein there. As for a mineral vein, I didn't see one. Perhaps the Wang family has hidden it, but I think it's more likely that the Song family played us for fools."

Liu Huai'en's brows were tightly furrowed. He pondered for a long while before asking, "Could the Wang family have set up a first-tier mid-grade Spirit Gathering Formation and then cultivated some spiritual fields to deliberately create a false impression for us?"

"Probably not. I asked Eighth Uncle, and he's a first-tier mid-grade formation master. According to him, setting up a first-tier mid-grade Spirit Gathering Formation spanning several acres would cost at least four to five thousand spirit stones. Would the Wang family spend four or five thousand spirit stones just to put on a show for us? Most importantly, Qing Shi Town is a secular area with thin spiritual qi. If a Spirit Gathering Formation were set up there, it would take at least half a year for the soil to be completely filled with spiritual qi. As far as we know, the formation at the quarry has been in place for less than half a year. Also, I got Wang Yaozu's permission to pull out a spiritual grain seedling; its roots were deeply embedded in the soil and difficult to pull out. Newly transplanted spiritual grain seedlings wouldn't be like that."

Upon hearing this, Liu Huai'en no longer harbored any doubts.

"Elder Brother, Song Ziyang used us as a pawn. We cannot fall for it."

Liu Huai'en nodded and said, "I understand. I will go and negotiate with Wang Yaozu and the others. It's better to resolve enmity than to foster it, but Eleventh Brother cannot have died in vain."

Liu Huaijie's expression shifted as he asked, "Elder Brother, do you mean to extort a sum from the Wang family? The Wang family lost three clansmen; they won't agree easily, will they?"

Liu Huai'en glared, saying, "What are you thinking? If we extort them, would that still be reconciliation? The Wang family has several shops in Xian'yuan City. I intend for them to transfer one shop to us. We've planted many Golden Lychee trees, and the Golden Lychee fruit is almost ripe. Golden Lychee ripens every five years and doesn't fetch a good price in Ningzhou. Xian'yuan City is a prosperous commercial hub with many cultivators coming and going, but unfortunately, we don't have a shop there. The Wang family's ancestors had extensive connections and several shops in Xian'yuan City, so it shouldn't be difficult for them to transfer one shop to us. Of course, we'll only know the outcome after I meet and discuss it with Wang Mingyuan. This matter involves our private affairs, so Aunt doesn't need to participate."

In a certain courtyard, Zhao Ziheng was reporting something to Zhao Yuhui.

"Mother, Huai'en wouldn't let us be present, and I don't know what they discussed. I always feel that cousin Mingyuan wasn't entirely truthful. We cannot solely believe cousin Mingyuan's side of the story."

Zhao Yuhui slightly furrowed her brow and asked, "Then what do you want to do?"

"Your son believes we can get a share. The Wang family is currently in a difficult position. Whether it's the spiritual vein or other things, we should have a part. Of course, we won't take it for free; we can help the Wang family guard that spiritual vein."

"Foolish! Leaving aside whether Mingyuan told the truth, one must know how to be grateful. Seventy years ago, your maternal grandfather was ambushed while traveling. Our Zhao family had only the elderly and the young, with no Foundation Establishment cultivators to oversee things. Unknown cultivators lingered near Butterfly Valley, and some even caused trouble at our shops. It was the Wang family's Old Master who bravely intervened, and only then did those scoundrels restrain themselves. To ensure a safe environment for our family's survival, your Second Grand-Uncle made the decision to marry Yuzhi to Yaozu. The two families allied, and with the prestige of the Wang family's Old Master, we had an easier time."

"Your father and the others went to the Black River Small Gathering to sell the spiritual fish we raised, and they were ambushed on the way back. Everyone but your father died in battle. Everyone else was waiting to mock us. We sought help everywhere and faced so many cold shoulders. It was the Wang Old Master who stepped forward, leading your Second Uncle and Fifth Uncle to hunt down the culprits. Although they couldn't catch the villains, those scoundrels also restrained themselves. Of course, the Wang family also took some of our profits, but that was something we offered willingly. If not for the Wang family, the Zhao family would have been exterminated seventy years ago. The Wang family is now offering a silkworm-rearing technique—isn't that enough? What more do you want?"

"Now, your Fifth Uncle and I are in charge of the clan, but the younger generation is lacking. Besides Ningxiang, are there any other outstanding clan members? The Wang family is in trouble, and you're trying to take advantage of their misfortune. If our Zhao family faces difficulties in the future, will the Wang family still help us? For a family to develop and grow stronger, it's not by taking advantage of in-laws' misfortunes, but by everyone working together with one heart, making many friends, and incurring few enmities, developing honorably. If you continue to harbor such thoughts, it seems you are not suitable to be the clan head. Otherwise, after your Fifth Uncle and I are gone, our Zhao family might not last long."

Zhao Yuhui sighed deeply. Although the Zhao family now had two Foundation Establishment cultivators, the younger generation's aptitude was too poor, and they would certainly face a situation where new talent was scarce in the future. That's why she wanted to keep Ningxiang within the clan to oversee the family in the future.

Zhao Ziheng was Zhao Yuhui's youngest son, and because she doted on him, he was able to become the Zhao family's head.

Through this incident involving the Wang family, Zhao Yuhui realized that Zhao Ziheng was not suitable to be the clan head. It seemed she would need to find an opportunity to select a new head.