Chapter 277 - 272: Unworthy of Learning the Sword

"My young friend, what business brings you to my mansion?" Jiang Wang asked directly as he led Du Youqian toward the Duke’s Mansion.

Du Youqian hesitated for a moment. Sensing the hunchbacked old man’s frank and open nature, he decided to be blunt. "I am looking for someone—the enemy who murdered my entire family."

"Oh?" Jiang Wang stopped in his tracks, a strange look on his face. "Could this be my grandson’s handiwork? That boy... ever since my son died, he’s been so secretive and radical. I don’t know what he’s been plotting in the shadows."

He paused, then stamped his foot. "Ai! Seeing you, my young friend—so handsome and distinguished, with such outstanding character—I was even thinking of playing matchmaker for my unwed granddaughter. A pity, a true pity. If there’s such a deep-seated hatred between you, I’m afraid a marriage is out of the question."

Du Youqian carefully extended his Divine Sense to perceive the other’s emotions and thoughts. He discovered the hunchbacked old man was genuinely just regretful, without a single trace of malicious intent.

’Isn’t he afraid I’ll kill his grandson for revenge?’

Du Youqian said in a low voice, "Elder Jiang, I have come here to confront that person face-to-face. If your grandson is truly the one who harmed my family, then I can only offer you my apologies."

"Ai, what are you saying, my young friend? A debt must be paid, and a life for a life—that is the law of heaven and earth. However, everyone has the will to live; no one will just sit and wait for death. If you truly mean to kill my grandson, he is my family’s only heir. I can’t just let you kill him. Even if I know I’m no match for you, I’ll have to fight you. But let’s not talk about that now. Come back with me first and have a few drinks. It’s rare to see someone of your caliber in the Human World, so brilliant and impressive. This calls for a grand toast! My grandson should be back tonight. We can settle any grievances then."

Just listening to the old man speak, you might think he was schizophrenic.

’I’ve come to kill your grandson, yet you want to drink with me...’ Du Youqian could sense that he wasn’t trying to trick him or poison him in secret. The old man was genuinely magnanimous, wanting to make a friend and share a drink even before a life-or-death battle.

Before coming, Du Youqian hadn’t done much investigation, only asking around a little.

It was said that this Duke Ju was a local heroic figure in his youth. Later, through some unknown means, he befriended a Prince.

As fate would have it, the Crown Prince of the Qi Kingdom passed away from illness, and the Prince he knew later inherited the throne.

After middle age, Jiang Wang began to study diligently, assisting that Prince in governing the country. He was known for being upright and magnanimous, and he had a good reputation among the officials.

Because he was favored by the emperor, he was enfeoffed as the Duke Ju without having to perform any great deeds.

After becoming the Duke, he didn’t abandon his Jianghu ways. It was said he had only two or three old servants at home and lived a simple, modest, and unextravagant life.

Most of the rooms in the vast Duke’s Mansion were left empty. If anyone from the Jianghu fell on hard times, Jiang Wang wouldn’t hesitate to lend a hand and let them stay for a while, whether he knew them or not.

’That was more or less the gist of it.’

The hunchbacked old man pulled Du Youqian along to the Duke Ju’s Mansion. As soon as he stepped through the main gate, he happily held up his fish basket and shouted, "Yun’Er, come see my catch for the day!"

An old woman with white hair, but still full of spirit and dressed in a simple cotton robe, walked out, her face wreathed in smiles. "Old man, you didn’t go and buy these fish, did you? I’ve never seen you catch this many before."

The hunchbacked old man’s eyes went wide. "Nonsense! When have I ever bought fish? How can one be dishonest about fishing? Don’t say such things that ruin my reputation in front of a guest!"

The old woman then looked at Du Youqian with a smile. "This handsome young man, I wonder which family’s young master he is? Are you married?"

"Right, I forgot to ask. What is your esteemed surname, my young friend?" the hunchbacked old man suddenly remembered to ask Du Youqian’s identity.

Du Youqian bowed to the old woman. "I am the National Guardian Celestial Master of the Wu Kingdom, Baili Jianxin."

The old woman’s expression changed instantly.

Her eyes filled with deep vigilance.

’It seems she knows something.’

But soon, the old woman gave a bitter smile. She invited Du Youqian to sit inside, then took the fish from her husband’s hands and said, "You chat with Brother Baili. I’ll go prepare the fish. And while you’re at it, figure out the family seniority. Don’t be fooled by his youth; he might just be from your grandfather’s generation."

By the end, the old woman was already laughing.

Du Youqian naturally sensed her mental state as well.

Optimistic and cheerful, but currently tinged with some sadness and wariness.

But there was no intent to harm.

If a mighty Foundation Establishment Cultivator could be harmed by Mortals, it would be a joke. Unafraid, Du Youqian followed Jiang Wang into the living room.

An old man who looked even a few years older than Jiang Wang came out, trembling. Jiang Wang called out loudly, "Old He, we have a guest! Help us boil some water and brew a pot of tea."

"Oh, alright, alright." The old man, who may or may not have understood, tremblingly went off to make tea.

Jiang Wang had Du Youqian sit down and said with a laugh, "I never expected someone so young to already be the National Guardian Celestial Master of the Wu Kingdom. What rank of official is that? I remember the family holds the title of a First-class Marquis, don’t they? What about the title now?"

"I have inherited that as well. The title of National Guardian Celestial Master just sounds intimidating; it’s nothing special. Elder, from what you and the Lady have said, could it be that the Jiang Family and the Baili Family share a common ancestor?" Du Youqian asked, all while surveying the room and sweeping his Divine Sense across the entire Duke’s Mansion.

Including him, there were currently only five people in the entire Duke’s Mansion.

Jiang Wang, his wife, the old servant, and a middle-aged woman who was in the kitchen helping Lady Jiang with the fish.

The grandson and granddaughter Jiang Wang had mentioned were not present.

Jiang Wang laughed heartily. "That’s right! Our branch of the family descends from a son of our ancestor, Baili Shang, born to a concubine. For some unknown reason, he came to the Qi Kingdom to make his way and changed his name."

Du Youqian said with a smile, "Elder Jiang, your swordsmanship is brilliant. It must be from a Sword Manual left behind by the ancestor, Baili Shang."

Jiang Wang shook his head. "No. We have an ancestral decree that our descendants must not practice the sword unless they are a genius of the Sword Dao. My swordsmanship comes from another fortunate encounter."

"Why is that?"

"What?"

"Why must they not practice the sword unless they are a genius of the Sword Dao?"

Jiang Wang looked at Du Youqian in surprise. "Your elders never told you? Well, forget it, I’ll tell you. There’s a legend, though I don’t know if it’s true or not. It’s said that ancestor Baili Shang once studied the sword under a true master of the Sword Dao. Later, that master became dissatisfied with him, feeling that our ancestor hadn’t grasped his true skills, so he drove him away, saying that ancestor Baili Shang was unworthy of using a sword. But he also left behind a token, saying that if a true sword genius ever appeared among the descendants of the Baili Family, they could use this token to find him and renew their connection."

Du Youqian asked with a smile, "Elder Jiang, you could be considered a genius of the Sword Dao, couldn’t you? Why didn’t you go to the Baili Family in the Wu Kingdom, ask for the token, and seek out our ancestor’s master to learn from him?"

Jiang Wang shook his head. "Even if that story were true, ancestor Baili Shang lived three hundred years ago. How old would his master be? It’s impossible for a person to live that long."

Du Youqian carefully sensed his emotions and found that he was indeed quite ignorant about the Cultivation Realm.

He might have had some slight contact with the Immortal Sect behind the Qi Kingdom, but his understanding was definitely insufficient.

Suddenly, Jiang Wang froze. "That’s it... the token. You said my grandson killed your whole family... could he have been after that token?"

Jiang Wang looked utterly regretful and slapped his thigh hard. "I never should have told him about all that old history!"

Seeing him like this, Du Youqian surprisingly felt a slight urge to comfort him. "It might not have been your grandson."

Jiang Wang’s face was filled with remorse. "After my son died, I paid less attention to the boy’s discipline, leading to this terrible mistake."

Du Youqian fell silent.

Forgiveness was impossible, but he couldn’t bring himself to blame the old man too harshly.

It was clear that Jiang Wang had a bold and straightforward personality. People like him often overlooked details and lacked a delicate touch, which usually made them less successful at raising children and younger generations.

If they were lucky and their children took after them, it would be fine.

If they were unlucky, they were simply helpless with their descendants.

Jiang Wang deliberately changed the subject, clearly not wanting to discuss it further.

He began telling Du Youqian stories about the Jianghu with great relish, an old man reminiscing with youthful vigor.

By the time his old wife and the middle-aged woman had finished cooking the fish, it was already evening, but Jiang Wang’s grandson and granddaughter had not yet returned.

Jiang Wang didn’t wait any longer, simply inviting Du Youqian to eat fish and drink wine.

The middle-aged woman was his daughter-in-law. She was cautious, even a little withdrawn.

His wife, on the other hand, was a sharp and perceptive woman, but with age, her energy had waned. Even if she had the mind for things, she lacked the strength to act.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Jiang Wang told his wife and daughter-in-law to go rest.

After his daughter-in-law left, his wife did not leave. She just stared at him blankly, her eyes filled with a pleading look.

Jiang Wang asked, "Do you know something?"

His wife shook her head, then nodded.

Jiang Wang sighed. "You know very well what kind of man I am."

His wife lowered her head and sobbed. "If anything happens to Yu’er, I don’t want to live anymore."

Jiang Wang chuckled. "Yu’er did something wrong, so naturally, he must pay the price. It’s unavoidable. Say no more. If you don’t want to leave, then don’t. Stay and have a couple more drinks with me. Later, we can depart on our journey together."

His wife thought for a moment, sat back down at the table, picked up his wine cup, filled it to the brim, and tilted her head back to drain it in one go.

She filled the cup again and raised it to Du Youqian. "I have heard a little about what Yu’er did. Had I known sooner, I would have certainly tried to stop him. A pity... I cannot ask you to let go of your hatred. I can only beg you, as his grandmother, please... don’t let him suffer too much."