Chapter 079: Back When I Was Still Human

When the man from the Ren family collapsed across the threshold of the Lord’s manor, Shen Fangxu was only a few paces away from reaching the main entrance.

“Oh dear, Master Ren, how could you die like this at the doors of my Lord’s residence? Isn’t your death here a slap in the face to the Dao Lord of Immortality?” Shen Fangxu cried out loudly. “The Dao Lord of Immortality has just revealed your family’s involvement in inciting the beast tide, and now your head of house comes to a city near the Dao Lord’s seat to take his own life. What are we to make of this?”

“We have all come to atone for our sins,” another elder of the Ren family replied. “Our family has done wrong, and we must give an explanation to the Dao Lord of Immortality, to the Shen family, and to all of Panlong City.”

“Yes, since we cannot enter the Dao Lord’s hall, we can only come here to make our apology. Please forgive the ignorance of our younger generation. It is our failure as elders not to have disciplined them. Please, spare the children, spare the Ren family.

We have come to make amends, to seek forgiveness.” The elder with the triangular eyes finished speaking and, without hesitation, shattered his own skull, ending his life.

Another elder followed suit, taking his own life as well.

As they died one after another at the Lord’s manor gates, Shen Fangxu’s face turned ashen.

After their suicides, the other members of the Ren family drew their weapons, intent on following them in death, but Shen Fangxu and Shen Qingjin hurriedly intervened and called for others to restrain them.

“Whatever the case, the Ren family is at fault. As for how they should be dealt with, we will report to the Dao Lord of Immortality,” was all Shen Fangxu could say.

By now, word had begun to spread throughout Panlong City that the underwater sanctuary was called the Hall of Immortality, and its master referred to as the Dao Lord of Immortality.

Outside the Lord’s manor, the crowd was cloaked in silence, a sense of sorrow at another’s misfortune. Though the Ren family had produced an unfilial descendant, the patriarch and elders had come to take their own lives. Panlong Territory had suffered no real loss—in fact, they had profited handsomely from the sale of the beasts’ flesh.

By comparison, if the Ren family was to be held heavily accountable, even their elders and children would be doomed. It was truly pitiable.

People naturally side with the weak.

Thus, from this moment, the Ren family began to gain the upper hand in the battle for public sentiment.

Was it right for an entire clan to bear the punishment for the sins of one black sheep?

Everyone turned their gaze toward the Shen family, toward Shen Fangxu and Shen Qingjin.

“Could we ask the Dao Lord of Immortality to show mercy to the Ren family?”

“Shouldn’t we petition the Dao Court? If not, I’ll go and beg the Dao Court myself.”

“As long as the Dao Lord of Immortality doesn’t press the issue, the Dao Court could show leniency, couldn’t they?”

“The Ren family is truly wretched—should the whole clan perish for one wrongdoer?”

“Let’s hope the Shen family will plead on behalf of the Ren family’s old, weak, women, and children.”

“Please, say a word for them, or else this will be too cruel…”

Shen Fangxu, his face dark as thunderclouds, ordered the bodies of the Ren patriarch and elders to be collected, and the rest of the Ren family to be kept under close watch, before leading his son back into the manor.

Once again, all were summoned to gather, even Ning Qi was invited.

Qingjin recounted the entire affair with the Ren family from the beginning.

“At first, the Ren patriarch came for control and profit over the new Panlong City. But when their plot—stirring the beast tide—was exposed, he resorted to this vicious method of dying at our door,” Qingjin said with a bitter smile. “They were desperate; there was nothing we could do.”

“So it really was the Ren family? They hired outsiders to use the Soul-Scattering Incense to incite the beast tide?” Ning Qi asked.

“I learned of this when I sought help at the sanctuary—Senior Brother Jin Yuanzi told me himself. It was the Ren family, as well as the Heavenly Ghosts. But the latter are harder to deal with. The Ren family is weaker and easier to handle.”

“Is there firm evidence?” asked Ning Qi.

“Yes, Senior Brother Tao is still holding several members of the Seven Demons of the Eastern Wastes who incited the beast tide.”

Hearing this, Qinghu realized that when she’d asked the earthen jar to take care of things, it had simply locked the culprits away.

“Then, Qingjin, find whichever senior brother you like, take the Seven Demons and the corpses of the Ren family elders, along with their cultivator guards, to Meishan. Let the Meishan magistrate deal with it. Just say the Dao Lord leaves it to their discretion.

The Ren family may have lost lives, but the beast tide was real. If it had swept into Panlong City, tens of thousands might have died. There must be consequences, right?” Ning Qi said.

Shen Fangzhu nodded. “That’s reasonable.”

“I’d heard the Ren patriarch was a formidable man, but this is the first time I’ve seen someone so ruthless even to himself,” said Shen Fangxu.

The next day, the Meishan magistrate saw three enormous coffins, three hundred cultivator guards, several unconscious wandering cultivators, and Shen Qingjin accompanied by a middle-aged man in black robes with pale skin. The magistrate felt his legs go numb, his mind blank, and was filled with despair.

Qingjin first introduced Tao Yutian as a guest of the sanctuary, then explained the Ren family’s case. At last, he said, “My master’s view is that, though the Ren family has lost people and seems pitiable, they did commit a grave offense. Had the beast tide broken into Panlong City, tens of thousands would have died.

So shouldn’t the Ren family be punished?”

“Did the Dao Lord of Immortality specify the degree of punishment?” the Meishan magistrate asked.

Qingjin was silent.

“How could the Dao Lord know every detail? He doesn’t know how the court handles such cases,” said Tao Yutian smoothly. “But it’s always the same: able-bodied men are sent to the army to earn merit and atone for their crimes, while the women, children, and elderly pay annual levies to support the military.”

“Yes, yes, that’s a good approach,” the magistrate said, instantly pleased.

“We do understand your difficulties. Every cultivation family has served and sacrificed for the human race in the army, at the Dao Court’s command. If they hadn’t incited the beast tide—committed such a grave offense—our Dao Lord would not pursue them so relentlessly.”

“Mr. Tao, you are truly understanding,” the magistrate smiled.

“Then let’s call it settled. The specifics are for the Dao Court to decide. All we want is an attitude. Surely you don’t expect our Dao Lord to let them die at his own doorstep without a word in his defense, do you?” Tao Yutian said cheerfully to the magistrate.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it,” the magistrate pledged, patting his chest.

Tao Yutian and Qingjin left together. On the way, Qingjin frowned. Tao Yutian noticed and asked, “What’s troubling you? Is something unclear?”

“Our family and the Ren family are mortal enemies. Isn’t it too easy to let the rest of them go? I keep thinking we should destroy them once and for all—leave them no chance to rise again,” Qingjin said.

“When I was still human, I thought as you do,” said Tao Yutian. “But as the years passed and I remade my body, my thoughts changed. The Ren family, like your Shen family, is divided into many branches.

Only the patriarch’s line is at odds with your family. Now the patriarch is dead, and his son is branded with infamy.

How will the rest of the Ren clan, those who have suffered punishment and lost their kin, view that branch of the family? How will they treat them?”