Deng Baiyi stared dumbfounded at her "stupid father."
Her mother had been ill for a long time and left this world early.
All these years, Deng Chicheng had never thought of remarrying.
When Baiyi was young enough to remember, her "father" was always alone, laboring both inside and outside, endlessly flipping through abacuses and books of accounts.
Northern County was barren, and Yuzhu Town was even more remote.
The town had very few prominent families, and the Deng Family was certainly one of them.
Deng Chicheng always said he was blessed but didn't know it.
Baiyi never felt that way.
She didn't care about these bits of silver from the Deng estate, nor did she care for the identity of a young lady born into wealth.
What kind of blessing was that?
All along, she had wanted to cultivate, to wield a Flying Sword, slay demons, and be a free-roaming Sword Immortal.
Instead, she felt that her father, with no ambition, only wanted to do small business to make a few bits of silver.
Fearing death, how could he enter the gates of immortality?
He was truly a mundane person!
The older Baiyi grew, the more she felt her father was "ordinary."
But at this moment, she suddenly realized she was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
The man she thought feared death so much was, in fact, standing in front of the Deputy City Lord of Taian City to collect a debt?
To collect a debt from Miss Shen, wasn't that the same as collecting it from Xu You?
Xu You fell completely silent.
He looked towards Xie Xuanyi by his side.
Xie Xuanyi, as usual, held his cup of wine, sipping lightly.
Interesting, indeed interesting.
No wonder Deng Chicheng had been adamant about getting Shen Yan on the car and had taken the initiative to inform him about the affairs of the Shen family of Lingluo Mountain.
So, this old fellow's initial idea was to "save people" and then "collect debts."
Xie Xuanyi set down his cup and smiled, "Lingluo Mountain's family business is so vast; they might have forgotten about this matter. But given Miss Shen's character, she surely wouldn't want to owe anyone, right?"
"Of course."
Shen Yan spoke softly, "How much does Lingluo Mountain owe you?"
"A total of three thousand seven hundred ninety-two silver taels, four percent interest."
Deng Chicheng respectfully said, "Everything is recorded in the ledger. I've reviewed every entry. If Miss Shen does not believe, she may check again..."
"No need."
Xu You cut off Deng Chicheng's words, waving his hand calmly, "Four thousand silver taels in total. Jing'er, give a silver note to Mr. Deng."
Four thousand silver taels were not much for a cultivator like Xu You.
Mundane wealth held little significance to them.
"Many thanks to Lord Xu, thank you, Miss Shen."
Since Xie Xuanyi spoke up, Deng Chicheng had stood up straight.
He tried to keep his voice calm.
But when taking the silver note, his fingers still could not stop trembling.
...
...
"Young Master Xie, I truly appreciate it."
After the banquet ended, Xu You arranged for the individuals from the Deng estate to stay overnight in a mansion...
On the way back, Deng Chicheng's voice, tinged with alcohol, expressed his thanks more than once.
Xie Xuanyi smiled and said, "Lingluo Mountain owed you money, and Xu You paid you. I merely uttered a few words. Why thank me?"
"I, Deng Chicheng, am only old, not foolish."
Deng Chicheng sincerely said, "If you hadn't spoken, those funds from Lingluo Mountain might never have been recovered in my lifetime."
"Good to know."
Baiyi chided, "All that fuss over a few bits of silver, was it worth your concern?"
"People are valorous and wealth gives courage. Following Young Master Xie, won't you need expenses to wander the world?"
Deng Chicheng helplessly said, "Not to mention anything else, even the simplest courtyard in the Imperial City costs three to four thousand silver taels. Our family in the Northern County has struggled for so many years, how much have we saved up? You spend generously and in the blink of an eye during a careless moment, you would have given away half of the family's wealth. If I don't thicken my face to recover some, will this surplus last you even a few days?"
Baiyi had nothing to say and simply shut her mouth.
She took a gentle breath, her eyes slightly moist.
No matter what, her father...
had always considered what was best for her.
"Moreover, keeping these Silver Taels is of no use to me."
Deng Chicheng laughed and said frankly, "When I die, won't all these belong to you... and Master Xie?"
"???"
Deng Baiyi caught the hidden meaning behind the old man's words and, blushing and indignant, exclaimed, "Dad, what are you talking about?!"
Xie Xuanyi also realized something was amiss.
He chuckled wryly, "No, keep the Silver Taels for Deng Baiyi; I truly cannot enjoy such fortune."
Deng Chicheng wanted to say something to rectify the situation.
The next second, he was pinched hard, grimacing in pain.
Due to his daughter's stern authority, Deng Chicheng could only grimace and change his tune, "Master Xie, please don't misunderstand, I of course know that we are not from the same world, how could I dare to think in that direction? What I meant earlier was... you can freely spend these Silver Taels. After the events in Lichao City are over, if convenient, perhaps you could keep Deng Baiyi by your side as a maid? She has always wanted to venture into the jianghu; even if she cannot become a Sword Immortal, seeing a Flying Sword would still be nice."
This time.
Deng Baiyi, unusually, did not get angry.
She quietly waited for Xie Xuanyi's response.
She was also very nervous about this matter.
"..."
Xie Xuanyi was silent for a moment.
He could clearly see the intentions of this father and daughter, especially Deng Baiyi, who during every stop for rest, could hardly wait to cast her eyes to the heavens.
"Baiyi is a good seedling, talented. If she encounters a teacher willing to instruct her, she would achieve great accomplishments."
He softly said, "… but unfortunately, that person is not me."
Just as Deng Baiyi's eyes began to light up with a glimmer of hope, they dimmed.
She silently clenched her sleeves and did not say much.
"If the trip to Lichao City goes smoothly, I will find a suitable place for her," Xie Xuanyi raised his head and smiled, "As for you, don't worry either. I will arrange for the Deng family to stay in the Imperial City... You won't need to spend a single silver note, there will naturally be a place to live, no worries about food and clothing."
Deng Chicheng was stunned for a moment.
Previously, this Master Xie had said that he would arrange a city for them to reside in, untroubled by demonic disturbances, absolutely safe.
He had wondered what kind of place could be considered absolutely safe.
Now he knew...
The Imperial City! The Great Chu Imperial City!
This truly was an immense grace!
"Thank..."
Deng Chicheng wanted to speak, but was interrupted by Xie Xuanyi.
"Tonight you have already thanked me too many times. This time if you want to thank anyone, thank yourself for having a daughter with good talent. Deng Baiyi truly has the potential to become a Sword Immortal."
Xie Xuanyi turned to look at the disheartened Deng Baiyi and encouraged, "You have laid a solid foundation in the realm of Qi Refinement; even among the major sects, you would be considered above average. Just continue to cultivate diligently, and sooner or later, you will become the person you wish to be."
Deng Baiyi did not say anything, and, oddly enough, despite her cultivation being affirmed, she was not in high spirits.
"Alright, let's not talk idly anymore. There is a very important matter right now."
Xie Xuanyi's smile gradually faded, and his voice became more serious.
The carriage had already stopped.
Ahead was the mansion arranged by Xu You.
"Once we arrive at the mansion, don't actually settle in. After the lights are out and Xu You's men have left, have everyone pack their luggage."
Xie Xuanyi calmly said, "Immediately, leave Tai'an City overnight."
"Leave Tai'an City overnight?"
Upon hearing this, Deng Chicheng suddenly sobered up.
"What, is there a problem with the mansion arranged by Xu You?"
Deng Baiyi also noticed the unusual tone in Xie Xuanyi's voice.
Xie Xuanyi did not explain, merely silently lifting the curtain of the carriage, gazing at the distant mansion under the dark night sky, the streets of Tai'an City ominously quiet.
He did not know if there was a problem with the mansion.
But he knew.
After entering Tai'an City, he had felt an unprecedented unease in his Heart Lake.
"Lingluo Mountain, Shen Yan, Tai'an City, Xu You, the Eight-Hundred Miles restriction of Qing State..."
Xie Xuanyi tried to piece these clues together.
A rough outline emerged in his mind.
But there was always something missing.