Chapter 581: What is Owed Should Be Repaid

Listening to National Advisor Du, his words not only conveyed the gravity of the situation but also implied that if this chance was missed, he would no longer be willing to help. Xiao Du and Xiao Ling exchanged silent glances. Xiao Ling, as the son, rarely witnessed such bewilderment and panic in his father's eyes.

Strictly speaking, unlike his father Xiao Du, Xiao Ling had truly seen demons and gods, and experienced extraordinary powers. He understood how vulnerable mortals were in the presence of such beings. Under the current circumstances, it was best to simply stick to the facts and avoid any unnecessary actions.

“Father, we have no choice!”

Xiao Ling’s gaze was firm as he nodded to Xiao Du. He then stood and bowed deeply to Du Changsheng, who was seated in a chair.

“Thank you, National Advisor, for your help. We will go to Tongtian River immediately and begin preparing livestock and other items for the sacrifice to Old Turtle and the River God Lady.”

“Ah, do it as soon as possible. I will accompany you,” Du Changsheng sighed.

Du Changsheng sighed; he could only offer this verbal assurance. If anything truly went wrong, he would be helpless. While he was still sighing, Xiao Du snapped back to reality and leaned closer to ask in a low voice.

“National Advisor, you also saw the River God Lady, so about my son’s health…”

Du Changsheng’s hand, holding the teacup, trembled. He mentally chastised himself for almost forgetting this crucial detail, then quickly reminded Xiao Du with a serious expression.

“If you are able to see the River God Lady at that time, absolutely do not, under any circumstances, bring this matter up. The River God Lady had mildly punished Young Master Xiao back then, and he would have fully recovered after a period of rest. However, in just two short years, Young Master Xiao took on two more concubines, depleting his vital essence before his original vitality had even recovered. He effectively damaged his own foundation. If he rested properly for another ten or eight years, there might still be hope for his recovery. But if you mention this in front of the River God Lady…”

Du Changsheng sneered.

“Hmph, hmph, originally the River God Lady might not have bothered with a mortal like you. At most, she would have dismissed Young Master Xiao’s talk of ‘love stronger than gold’ as mere mortal pretense. But if you bring this up, you will inadvertently provoke Lady Ying’s wrath. Even if you escape this calamity with the Old Turtle, you’d be inviting your own demise. Furthermore, it would needlessly cause Lady Ying to dislike me. Do not harm me!”

Hearing Du Changsheng speak with such gravity, Xiao Du felt a hint of regret, while Xiao Ling’s face grew flushed. The father and son nodded repeatedly, understanding the serious implications and not daring to utter another word.

Du Changsheng subtly exhaled in relief, thinking to himself, “I, the National Advisor, am truly saving you all. What I said wasn't entirely true, but the outcome would likely be much the same.”

Many servants of the Xiao family were mobilized. As they had already been preparing for Xiao Ling's concubine marriage, their household was well-stocked with sacrificial items. They also procured and slaughtered some livestock. In a flurry of activity, they spent most of the morning getting everything ready, by which time the sun was already close to setting.

That day, aside from a small bite before the morning court, the Xiao family father and son had barely eaten anything, lacking both the desire and the appetite. Du Changsheng, too, had not had a proper meal, instead busying himself alongside the Xiao family, arranging the items for the sacrifice.

In the Xiao family's guest hall, Du Changsheng was sipping tea with some pastries when Xiao Ling hurried in from outside.

“National Advisor, everything is ready!”

Xiao Du followed, asking cautiously.

“National Advisor, it’s getting late, and the sun has begun to set. Should we go tomorrow morning instead?”

Du Changsheng clapped his hands, stood up, and with a flick of his sleeve, walked towards the main hall entrance with his hands clasped behind his back.

“There’s no time to lose. We depart immediately!”

By now, the Xiao family regarded Du Changsheng as their linchpin. Since he insisted on immediate departure, they bit the bullet and gave the order, despite their trepidation.

Du Changsheng walked with his hands clasped behind his back, arriving at the Xiao mansion's gate to find his three disciples unexpectedly waiting there.

“Master! We are here!”

“Hmm? Your injuries haven’t healed. Why are you here? What happens today might not be safer than the previous Bagua Star-Guiding Formation.”

Du Changsheng mentally added: *At least the level of fright will certainly be greater.*

“Master, aren’t your serious injuries also unhealed? Subduing demons and vanquishing evil is our duty as cultivators. How could your disciples be absent?”

Du Changsheng grimaced. This wasn’t exactly about subduing demons and vanquishing evil.

“If things go smoothly, there won’t be much of a confrontation. It’s good for you to come along; consider it a chance to see the world!”

As he spoke, Du Changsheng instinctively glanced towards the street corner opposite, where an old eunuch was bowing slightly towards him. It was Li Jingchun, one of Emperor Hongwu Yang Hao’s personal eunuchs.

Li Jingchun, having witnessed Du Changsheng’s abilities firsthand, knew he couldn’t evade the National Advisor’s discerning gaze. So, he simply and openly saluted him from the street corner, knowing full well that the National Advisor was astute enough to understand the implications of his presence. Indeed, Du Changsheng merely gave a slight nod, neither returning the bow nor speaking.

Upon seeing Li Jingchun, Du Changsheng realized the Emperor knew something was amiss with the Xiao family, though he certainly didn't know the specifics. Perhaps he was even suspecting it to be a tactic employed by a rival faction.

‘Hmph, it’s good for the Emperor to see this. This is the Xiao family’s calamity, but how could it be unrelated to the Yang clan?’

Of course, Du Changsheng had to admit that Xiao Jing, the Xiao family ancestor, had ultimately brought about his own spectacular demise, and this was entirely unrelated to the Yang clan; there was no denying that.

One by one, carriages were led by Xiao family servants to the main gate. The Xiao father and son, now cloaked in greatcoats and fur capes, had also emerged. After glancing at the servants loading sacrificial items onto the carriages, they approached Du Changsheng, specifically cupping their hands in greeting towards Wang Xiao and his two fellow disciples.

“The National Advisor’s three esteemed disciples have also arrived? Please, everyone, get in the carriages. We will depart the city immediately.”

Du Changsheng did not glance at the street corner again. After a nod, he led his three disciples into a carriage. One Xiao family member entered a carriage, while the other mounted a horse. Less than fifteen minutes later, the Xiao family convoy, consisting of three carriages and accompanied by only four old servants including the coachmen, set off towards the East Gate of the capital city.

The fewer people who knew about this matter, the better; thus, the Xiao family brought only a small retinue, understanding that this was not a situation to be resolved by numbers or influence.

Each of the three carriages was pulled by two horses, with Xiao Ling riding alone in front. In the setting sun, the capital city was bustling with people heading home, but upon seeing the three carriages and the lone rider, they would still make way. As the last carriage was heavily laden with sacrificial items, the convoy's overall pace was not very fast.

Xiao Ling glanced up at the sky, muttering as he rode.

“I hope it can be over before dark. Fortunately, the weather is clear today, so even if night falls, it won’t be too dark.”

At this very moment, by the secluded bank of Tongtian River, Ying Ruoli, seated at a desk, picked up her teacup and lightly tossed its contents towards the sky. The water from the cup soared higher and higher, causing wind and clouds to gather in the high heavens.

“Rumble, rumble…”

Thunder rumbled, and within a short time, a vast expanse of cumulonimbus clouds had blotted out the last rays of the setting sun. Whether in the city, on the roads, or among those who had been strolling by the river, everyone hastily ran back to their boats or the docks to seek shelter from the impending rain.

Before long, torrential rain poured down with a heavy drumming sound. The sky, which moments ago had been bathed in the twilight of sunset, suddenly plunged into an early night due to the downpour. The sky turned gray and murky, and visibility rapidly diminished.

The Xiao family party had no choice; having come this far, they had to press on regardless of the rain. Fearing the thunder might spook the horses, several servants simply dismounted and led the horses on foot.

Through mud and cold, heavy rain and lightning, raging winds and waves, the Xiao family party spent over half an hour navigating the harsh weather after leaving the city. Finally, led by Du Changsheng, who had already dismounted, they reached the relatively secluded riverbank. In the distance, the lights of the dock could still be faintly and blurrily seen through the furious storm.

“National Advisor, is this the place?”

Xiao Ling leaned close to Du Changsheng, shouting loudly to ask, as he wouldn't be heard over the storm otherwise.

“This is it!”

Du Changsheng scanned the river surface, looking into the distance where Ji Yuan remained engrossed in a game of chess at a table. The Dragon Girl sat, her chin resting on the back of one hand, watching their group. The raging wind and rain seemed to bypass the two of them, parting as they drew near, and even without artificial light, there was a faint luminescence about them. Naturally, the Xiao family party could not see them.

“Master, Master, be careful!”

Xiao Du was also dismounting the carriage, but as soon as he emerged, before he could steady himself, his cape was caught by the fierce wind, almost throwing him into the river. Startled, a servant quickly grabbed hold of his master.

An old servant tried to open an umbrella for Xiao Du, but barely had it opened when its ribs snapped. The thought of finding a lantern was an even more futile dream.

“Whoosh… whoosh… whoosh…”

The fierce wind howled, and the three carriages creaked and swayed with it. Giant waves surged in Tongtian River, periodically crashing onto this part of the bank, sending up endless spray that enveloped the Xiao family party.

To mortals, such a storm already seemed like demonic wind and rain. The Xiao family instinctively felt it must be connected to the giant turtle.

“Fellow Daoist Wu—Fellow Daoist Wu—the Xiao family lord has arrived! We hope Fellow Daoist Wu will appear and meet us!”

“Whoosh… whoosh…”

The river surface was pitch black, with visibility only momentarily piercing through during flashes of lightning.

“Rumble, rumble…”

Thunder roared, and lightning illuminated Tongtian River. The Xiao family party saw a colossal whirlpool emerge on the river surface just a few yards away, with a massive dark shadow lurking within it, revealed by the flashes.

“Whoosh, crash, splash…”

As the river waves surged and lightning flashed, the terrifying dark shadow slowly rose from the whirlpool on the river surface.

“Hehehehe… hahahahahaha… Two hundred years! Xiao Jing almost made me lose my cultivation foundation back then, yet his descendants live so comfortably!”

“Rumble, rumble…”

The giant turtle sprawled on the riverbank, its monstrous form illuminated by the lightning as it emitted a terrifying sound. Wisps of black, smoky substance rose from it, and its eyes glowed with an enchanting, soul-stirring light.

Du Changsheng was somewhat startled himself, but quickly recovered. Seeing the Xiao family party frozen in terror, he immediately spoke up to remind them.

“Fellow Daoist Wu, the Xiao family lord has arrived. Please understand that the descendants are unaware of their ancestors’ transgressions… And you! Hurry and kowtow! Not one of the three hundred kowtows can be missed!”

Hearing this, the Xiao family father and son did not hesitate. They immediately knelt on the rainy riverbank and began kowtowing onto the muddy ground.

“Our ancestor’s mistakes were unknown to us, his descendants! Please, Old Turtle, be merciful!”

“Please, Old Turtle, be merciful!”

“Thud, thud, thud, thud…”

The father and son repeatedly struck their heads against the muddy ground, splashing mud with each impact. Though not overtly painful, they gradually grew dizzy. The servants behind them, not daring to stand, also joined in the kowtowing.

Throughout the entire process, Old Turtle simply gazed down at the Xiao family group without uttering a word. The Dragon Girl and even Du Changsheng also watched in silence, while only Ji Yuan remained completely engrossed in his chessboard.

It was unclear how much time had passed, but the Xiao family party had kowtowed until they were dizzy and unsteady on their knees. They had completed no less than three hundred kowtows, perhaps even more. Xiao Du, in particular, had collapsed directly into the mud and had to be helped up by Du Changsheng.

“Hoo… hoo… Master Turtle, what else do you require?”

Xiao Ling spoke on behalf of his father, bravely looking at the terrifying giant turtle. At this moment, Ji Yuan also looked up at Old Turtle.

Old Turtle, out of the corner of his eye, could see Ji Yuan looking up. He knew that Master Ji was perhaps observing him at this very moment, but his heart was no longer apprehensive. He simply spoke to the Xiao family with a smile.

“Your Xiao family ancestor was human, yet lacked human righteousness. I, Old Turtle Wuchong, am a demon, yet I understand right from wrong. I do indeed hold two centuries of resentment against the Xiao family, but seeing you now, how utterly laughable it all seems, how utterly laughable! Hahahaha… Ah hahahahahaha…”

Old Turtle’s laughter drowned out the thunder, the wind, and the rain, echoing far across Tongtian River and along its banks. In the distance, it sounded like an eerie howl, making the scalp of anyone who heard it crawl.

“Hoo… rest assured, I, Old Turtle, will not take lives today. The Xiao family merely needs to return what is owed. From this day forward, the Xiao family shall not serve as officials, and you must gather the Hundred Family Lights from benevolent households for me, and release lanterns into the Spring Mu River!”

“No, not serve as officials…”

Xiao Du stammered tremblingly, while Xiao Ling, however, asked loudly.

“Hundred Family Lights? Only a hundred families?”

“Hehehehe, precisely. Just like two hundred years ago, only the Hundred Family Lights! You may now leave!”

Old Turtle knew the Xiao family was destined to have no male descendants and did not wish to commit further slaughter. The Hundred Family Lights held little practical use for him now, yet he still considered it their rightful due.

“Rumble…”

A giant wave crashed over them, throwing Xiao Du, Xiao Ling, and the others backward. When they looked again, the giant turtle was gone from the lightning-illuminated river surface.