"Bai Wei, you and I originally had no enmity, but because of a cultivation technique, you declared you would sever my limbs. Today, we fought a fair battle, and I severed your tendons. Do you submit?"
Chu Hao asked.
Bai Wei's battle intent had completely vanished. Defeated in one sword strike by Chu Hao, who was three stages lower than him, what else could he say?
"I submit!"
Bai Wei closed his eyes, sadness in his heart.
"Many thanks, Young Master, for your merciful hand."
Bai Luo quickly stepped forward and cupped his hands, saying, given the situation, Chu Hao could very well have killed Bai Wei. Merely severing his tendons was already the best possible outcome.
For a cultivator, even if tendons were severed, with some healing medicine and the body's self-healing capabilities, a full recovery could be made in one or two months.
"Hmph, Bai Wei is, after all, a subordinate of my Liu family. In a mere spar, to sever someone's tendons—don't you think that's going too far?"
Suddenly, Liu Qian raised her eyebrows. She hadn't forgotten Chu Hao's defiance towards her earlier.
Moreover, within the Liu family, she and Liu Ji Ya weren't exactly compatible. Her speaking up now also carried a hint of targeting Liu Ji Ya.
"Just now, he wanted to sever my limbs. Why didn't I hear you say a word?"
Chu Hao's gaze swept over.
"What happened?"
Liu Ji Ya noticed that the two seemed to have a conflict. Ning Peng hesitated before quickly explaining what had just occurred.
"Liu Qian, Liu Qian, you truly disappoint me."
After listening, Liu Ji Ya shook her head.
"I know that within the Liu family, you still hold grievances against me."
"You always wanted to surpass me. In truth, this time you had an opportunity. If you had befriended this Young Master Chu, perhaps in just a few months, you could have left me far behind. Alas, you were blind to Mount Tai."
From Ning Peng's words, Liu Ji Ya already knew Chu Hao's name. Her face was etched with disappointment.
"This time, you have offended Young Master Chu. As punishment, for the next year, the spiritual stones for your cultivation will not be issued by the Liu family. Furthermore, upon your return, you will be confined to seclusion for one month."
"Liu Ji Ya, why must you?!" Liu Qian's expression changed drastically, her eyes burning with anger.
"Because I now command the Silver Guard Battalion!"
Liu Ji Ya spoke that one sentence, then no longer paid mind to the shocked Liu Qian. She looked at Bai Luo and said calmly.
"Bai Luo, go back and prepare. I will send someone to take over your position."
"Yes."
Bai Luo sighed inwardly, not daring to disobey. He hadn't expected Liu Ji Ya to have already taken command of the Silver Guard Battalion.
With Liu Ji Ya's power today, she was no different from a half-clan leader.
To her, she could almost represent the will of the Liu family.
Around them, everyone fell silent.
Because of a single Chu Hao, Liu Ji Ya had successively punished Liu Qian and Bai Luo. One could imagine how important Chu Hao was in Liu Ji Ya's mind.
"There's no need. I've always been clear about grievances and gratitude. My conflict was with Bai Wei, and it has nothing to do with him. There's no need to implicate him."
Chu Hao said calmly. After the incident, Bai Luo had remained exceptionally deferential.
"Still not thanking Young Master Chu?"
Liu Ji Ya said.
"Many thanks, Young Master Chu, for your magnanimity."
Bai Luo took a deep breath, cupped his hands towards Chu Hao once more. In his voice, reverence emerged. If his previous respect for Chu Hao stemmed from Liu Ji Ya, then now it was genuinely swayed by Chu Hao's generosity.
If it were him, he could never have shown such magnanimity as Chu Hao.
Liu Ji Ya secretly praised him even more. From beginning to end, Chu Hao had displayed no arrogance, no impatience. It was hard to imagine that a sixteen-year-old youth could possess such a temperament.
"Young Master Chu, please allow my Liu family to demonstrate a bit of host hospitality."
Liu Ji Ya wished to invite Chu Hao to her clan.
Chu Hao nodded. Liu Ji Ya had invited him with such sincerity; if he refused, it would appear heartless.
"Ning Peng, from now on, if you have any trouble, remember to find me at Drunken Immortal Pavilion. I will help you."
Chu Hao patted Ning Peng's shoulder. He hadn't forgotten that when Bai Wei was targeting him earlier, it was Ning Peng who stood up for him. Even when bowing his head to Bai Wei, Ning Peng had insisted that Chu Hao was his friend.
Perhaps this stout, ugly-faced man was countless times better than the "friends" the former Chu Hao had foolishly associated with.
Ever since Chu Hao was poisoned, those so-called friends had distanced themselves, treating him like misfortune itself. How sorrowful was that?
Ning Peng hadn't expected Chu Hao to speak to him now. He was stunned for a moment before nodding and saying.
"Mm."
"I will help you." Perhaps Ning Peng didn't understand the weight of these four words, but many years ago, countless individuals longed to hear these four words from Chu Hao's mouth.
In that era, who didn't know Chu Hao valued sentiment and righteousness? To make a Heavenly Venerate Realm cultivator owe a favor was harder than ascending to the heavens!
He, a single person, dared to point his sword at a God Realm cultivator.
His single promise weighed heavier than mountains!
Very quickly, guided by Liu Ji Ya, Chu Hao walked out of the street.
"If I had befriended him, I could surpass you in a few months?"
Liu Qian clenched her fists. Compared to the punishment, these words had a far greater impact on her heart.
"I don't believe it, I absolutely don't believe it! Perhaps he truly has some capability, but I don't believe he can do that. Is he… Zhou Zi Ya?"
"Liu Ji Ya, don't think you can disturb my heart."
A moment later, Liu Qian's eyes showed resolve.
People are like this; when others tell you that you've missed a stroke of good fortune, most people at that moment will not admit they were wrong.
Liu Qian also left the area, completely disregarding Xia Hou Ming and Chen Quan, who were off to the side.
"Phew, finally gone."
Bai Luo let out a long breath, helping the fallen Bai Wei to his feet.
"Younger brother, I'll have someone treat your injuries. Oh, he seemed to mention Drunken Immortal Pavilion, didn't he? Tonight, I'll make a trip to Drunken Immortal Pavilion and offer him a proper apology."