Longevity: Starting From Getting Down The Mountain And Marrying A Wife

"Ah~ Then don't leave! Accept your death!"

His beloved son had died, and he had been trying his best to control himself. At this moment, Zhong Yan hit him where it hurt, leaving him unable to argue back. Xue Shanhutotally lost control, his eyes turning completely red with rage.

He raised his hand, ready to activate his True Qi and kill on the spot.

But the young man in the white robe behind him hurriedly stepped forward and pulled him back. "Father! Don't act impulsively!"

Feeling the True Qi transmitted from his adopted son's arm, Xue Shanhufelt his chest heaving. He slowly calmed down his anger and only then did he notice that Bai Siyuan had stood not far behind Zhong Yan at some point.

He looked around the whole scene. Many guest cultivators from the city had arrived, including Yang Yanqing, and most of them had a mocking and sneering expression on their faces.

In addition, there were also many martial artists from the martial arts hall led by Li Shangwu, standing in formation and ready for battle.

If a fight were to break out, the entire southern district, or even Qingyang City, would descend into chaos.

At this moment, there was a commotion outside the scene.

The city lord, Qin Ben, led two military officers and arrived late. However, considering that the city lord's mansion was in the eastern district, their arrival was already quite fast.

"Master Xue!"

Qin Ben bowed to Xue Shanhut, then turned to Zhong Yan and clasped his hands. "Master Zhong!"

"Could the two of you give me some face and temporarily calm down? Let's discuss matters peacefully. There are things to be resolved."

Xue Shanhuroared, pointing at the body on the ground. "My son is dead. How can City Lord Qin expect me to calm down?!"

Zhong Yan's expression remained indifferent, not saying a word.

Qin Ben, who had already learned the whole story, looked 'surprised' as he glanced at the body, then raised his hand to summon the soldiers present.

The soldiers also took the opportunity to bring in the witnesses from the restaurant who had witnessed the whole process.

After a public description, Xue Shanhufelt his face darken and looked extremely ugly.

Qin Ben quickly waved his hand to stop them and took two steps forward towards Xue Shanhuh. "The dead cannot be brought back to life, Master Xue, please mourn."

"The situation is already irreversible. We should find a way to handle it properly. Instead of resorting to violence and fighting, which will only result in mutual destruction and a fight to the death."

Xue Shanhucoldly laughed, "Am I supposed to be afraid of him?!"

Zhong Yan sneered, "Feel free to try!"

Qin Ben also laughed, his gaze sweeping between the two of them. His tone was displeased. "You killed his wife and child, and he wiped out your entire family?"

"Both sides are at fault in this matter. With Xue Third Young Master's actions, who in the southern district can bear it?"

"Although there are reasons behind this, with the Zhong family's brutality causing death and injury, where is the law of our Yan Kingdom?"

After three consecutive questions, Qin Ben's expression softened, and he continued, "We are all prominent figures. Don't let others see us as a joke here. Let's go back to the mansion and calm down. We'll clarify the cause and effect of the matter. Qin will act as a mediator and invite the two of you to sit down and discuss a resolution together. May I ask if you can give Qin Ben this face?"

As he spoke, he looked at Zhong Yan first.

Zhong Yan cast a cold glance at his three concubines, then turned around and left, followed quickly by Dongcao and the others.

Xue Shanhuhummed coldly, took big strides and left, followed by the martial artists and Xue Peng's followers.

Qin Ben's gaze gradually turned cold as he scanned the scene. "General Liang, take the witnesses back for questioning!"

The storm temporarily subsided.

The news quickly spread throughout the city.

...

At the entrance of the Zhong residence.

Zhong Yan bowed and saluted the group of fellow cultivators. "I apologize for inconveniencing you. There are still matters to attend to in the mansion, so I won't keep you any longer. Thank you all for your help!"

Fifty-six cultivators had arrived, and it was estimated that almost all of those who were not busy in the city had come.

Apart from the usual business relationships, the main reason was that cultivators and martial artists had always been at odds with each other.

Facing a martial arts expert like Xue Shanhuh, the cultivators naturally stood together.

But being present to show support and actually taking action were two different things.

Zhong Yan was well aware of this. He specifically explained the situation to the patrolling soldiers, using them as messengers.

When he really needed their help, relying solely on his face and their usual relationship was not enough.

"Fellow Daoist Zhong, no need to be polite."

"Fellow Daoist Zhong, until we meet again."

"Let's talk if there's something."

"..."

One by one, they clasped their hands and left.

Bai Siyuan said, "The deceased is not an ordinary person. I'm afraid it won't be easy to let this matter go. Fellow Daoist, you need to handle it with caution."

Yang Yanqing laughed, "Xue Shanhuh has been arrogant for a long time. I suggest taking this opportunity to kill him!"

His words and expression seemed indifferent, with a hint of joking.

After seeing them off, Zhong Yan entered the mansion with a cold face, taking big strides.

Li Yangshi, who was coming towards him, only dared to slightly bow and looked towards her two sons behind her.

"Mother, eldest brother, you should go back to the mansion first!"

Li Shangwen quickly said, then chased after Zhong Yan, his face showing excitement.

"Shangwen!" Li Shangwu shouted, exchanged a glance with his mother, bid farewell to Qiuxiang, and led the servants to leave.

Main hall.

Zhong Yan sat at the head, took the teacup handed over by Xiaohuan, took a sip, and slammed the cup on the table.

Bang!

Xiaohuan was startled, her eyelids twitching.

In the hall, the wives, concubines, and maidservants all dared not make a sound, their breaths held.

In front of the hall, Yan Sandao, Dongcao, Tang Xiaoshu, and maidservant Xiaoqing knelt in a row, their faces turning pale.

Zhong Yan swept his gaze over each face, and finally looked at Jiang Ping, who had a big belly. "Ping'er, please sit."

"Why are you kneeling there, Xiaoshu?"

Tang Xiaoshu raised her head slightly, hesitated for a moment, and stood aside.

The air became somewhat stagnant, and it remained quiet for a while.

Zhong Yan spoke up, "Xiaoqing, you speak."

The maidservant Xiaoqing raised her head boldly, then threw herself to the ground and cried out, "Master! This servant knows her mistake, this servant deserves to die!"

"Tell me everything you saw."

"Yes... yes, Master!"

Xiaoqing trembled, her lips quivering, tears streaming down as she recounted the incident intermittently.

"Get up."

Zhong Yan calmly spoke, his voice drilling into everyone's ears like a bell and drum, knocking into their hearts. "This is what a servant should do. Xiaohuan, reward Xiaoqing with two hundred taels of silver."

After a moment of confusion, Xiaohuan hurriedly said, "Yes, Master!"

"... " Xiaoqing, who was still shedding tears, was dumbfounded and couldn't believe that there would be a reward. Shouldn't she be beaten to death with a stick or thrown into the Wei River?

The maidservants couldn't help but raise their heads and look at each other. Their mood of 'fearing being implicated' instantly turned into a 'sigh of relief'. They secretly thought that their master was truly tolerant and discerning.

Zhong Yan looked at Dongcao, "Dongcao, do you have anything to say?"

"This humble concubine is at fault, it's up to Master to decide!"

"Oh?"

Zhong Yan laughed, "Since you know your mistake, go to the courtyard and handle it yourself."

The faces of the people changed drastically.

Several concubines who were not involved couldn't help but speak up, "Master!"

Only Jiang Ping blinked her eyes, glanced at her husband's face, and felt a slight relief in her heart.

Dongcao, who was kneeling, felt as if all the strength in her body had been drained in an instant. She bit her lip hard to prevent the tears from falling.

"Dongcao admits her mistake. I hope Master can reward Shenger with a meal in the future, considering how this humble concubine has served wholeheartedly."

In this world, the mother's status was noble, and the mother and child were closely related.

Especially for a large mansion with numerous wives, concubines, and children, their fortunes were often intertwined. If one person made a mistake, both the mother and child would be driven out or even killed. There were countless examples of this.

Zhong Yan's face was indifferent as he watched her slowly get up and walk outside.

No one dared to speak in the room.

Xia He swept her gaze around, stomped her foot, and quickly stepped forward to stop Dongcao. She knelt down with a thud and argued loudly.

"Master! What mistake did Dongcao sister make?!"

"He was the one who harassed her first. Can't Dongcao sister resist and let him insult her?"

"Not to mention that Dongcao sister acted appropriately and didn't use force. If it were me, if he dared to touch me, I would have taken action myself!"

"Our purity belongs to Master. How can we allow others to touch us? How would that preserve Master's dignity?"

Zhong Yan smiled, seemingly smiling but not really. "Are you finished?"

Xia He made eye contact and assumed a posture of going to her death. "Dongcao sister is innocent!"

"And you say she's innocent!"

Zhong Yan snorted, "I didn't say anything, but she admitted her mistake first! In your eyes, am I really so unclear about right and wrong?"

Xia He blinked, quickly turned her head, and said, "Dongcao sister!"

Dongcao's hope ignited in her heart, and she hurriedly knelt down again. Her brain quickly thought, and she spoke again, "Master, please discern! This humble concubine is at fault, but not to the point of death! This humble concubine should not have taken full responsibility against her will. Also... also, this humble concubine's handling was not cautious enough. At that time, there should have been a better way to explain to Xue Peng how powerful we are and avoid conflict..."

After speaking, she cautiously raised her head.

Zhong Yan glanced at her, "You will be fined half a year's salary, the empty room for three months. Go back and think carefully. How should you handle similar situations in the future?"

"Yes! Thank you, Master, for your mercy! Thank you for not killing me!"

Dongcao prostrated herself on the ground, and tears finally burst out.

Zhong Yan shifted his gaze to Yan Sandao, "Yan Sandao, what about you?"

...