Even though no one in the family had personally met Pei Qingxuan, the fame of the Nine Phoenix Sword was known by countless people.
Although few in the younger generation recognized the name nowadays, after Xu Ping’an’s seemingly joking words yesterday, combined with the sword in the woman’s hand today—
No matter how furious he was, at this moment, Wan Ji Cang was completely stunned.
He held the Family Disciplinary Rod high in his hand, caught between whether to strike or hold back.
Seeing the old man freeze like that, Xu Ping’an walked forward with a smile, casually took the rod from his hand, and then reached out to steady him.
“Master Wan, what I promised yesterday, I’m fulfilling today. In the spirit of keeping my word, I ask that you please calm down, no matter what.”
Grinning, he placed the Family Disciplinary Rod on the nearby counter, then glanced at Pei Qingxuan and gave her a subtle signal before supporting the old man as they walked inside.
Pei Qingxuan’s expression remained calm and silent as she followed Xu Ping’an.
At this moment, there were quite a few people in the Medicine Hall, and Qingxuan couldn’t reveal her true identity or connection to Xu Ping’an; she had no choice but to feign composure.
Once they entered the back hall, just as Xu Ping’an was about to introduce himself, the old man suddenly grabbed his arm from behind, pulling him deeper inside.
“This isn’t a place to talk. This way!”
The Hall of Ten Thousand Harmonies was a large pharmacy; the entire Three-Section Compound, even the Outer Courtyard, was considered part of the Medicine Hall.
The Second Courtyard was not only the Wan Family’s ancestral home but also where guests were received and disciples resided.
Only the Three-Section Compound was where the Wan family’s inner women lived.
Passing the Second Courtyard, they followed the corridor to the gate of the Three-Section Compound.
As soon as they entered, the old man ordered the gatekeeper,
“Don’t let anyone in. Tell them the old man is resting.”
He dragged Xu Ping’an’s arm and headed toward a side room in the backyard.
Xu Ping’an smiled helplessly, glanced back at Pei Qingxuan, and seeing her close behind, said nothing, letting the old man pull him all the way to the side room.
Once inside, the old man turned to look at Pei Qingxuan but said nothing.
He first glanced left and right near the door to ensure no one was around, then casually shut the door, plunging the room into darkness.
With a sharp “seng” sound, a firestick sparked to life, and one by one, candles were lit, brightening the room somewhat.
Then the old man turned, looked up and down at Pei Qingxuan, suddenly clasped his hands together, and bowed deeply.
“I am Wan Ji Cang, seventh-generation heir of the Hall of Ten Thousand Harmonies. Greetings, Sect Leader Pei. My Wan family has long been grateful for your initial guidance. Without your support, there would be no Wan Family today.”
Xu Ping’an was taken aback and instinctively glanced at Pei Qingxuan for an explanation.
But Qingxuan also wore a confused expression, her eyes filled with puzzlement.
“Back then, my Great Ancestor was but a humble fisherman from a remote fishing village. That day, the village was attacked by cultivators from the Demonic Sect. Of the 173 villagers, only he survived. According to the ancestral instructions left by the Great Ancestor, just as the Demonic Sect cultivators were about to kill him, Sect Leader Pei descended from the sky and saved his life.”
So that was it.
The seventh-generation ancestor?
Xu Ping’an stroked his chin, thinking it over: father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, heavenly ancestor, ancient ancestor… Great Ancestor.
That meant seven generations back.
Even by the fastest reckoning of this era, that was at least over a hundred years ago.
If calculated at twenty years per generation, that was roughly 140 to 150 years ago.
“Seventh-generation ancestor?”
Pei Qingxuan was somewhat surprised.
“You are… the descendant of that young man?”
Descendant of that young man?
It seemed she remembered what had happened back then.
But… this didn’t seem quite right.
Her own wife called the man she regarded as her master ‘the descendant of that young man’—the generational order was a bit mixed up.
Xu Ping’an twitched the corner of his mouth.
He had often read cultivation novels before, and many of them blurred the lines of generational hierarchy.
But now, this was reality.
To cultivators, such matters might not be significant, but he was just an ordinary person.
He had thought that even if he married Pei Qingxuan, he wouldn’t encounter something like this.
Unexpectedly, by coincidence, the half-master he recognized was actually an old acquaintance of Pei Qingxuan’s descendant.
Wasn’t this going to cause chaos?
“Master Wan, is what you say true?”
Xu Ping’an looked at Wan Ji Cang with doubt, only to receive a sharp glare in return.
“If it weren’t true, would I have lost my temper so badly yesterday?”
Ah?
So that was why he had raised the Family Disciplinary Rod to hit him yesterday!
Well, this was going to be complicated.
At this, Wan Ji Cang turned his gaze to Pei Qingxuan.
“Sect Leader Pei, my young one is somewhat disrespectful. If he has offended you in any way, I hope you will pardon him for his youth, as his medical talents are exceptional.”
The phrase “my young one” was practically equivalent to acknowledging Xu Ping’an as his son.
And for him to say this directly to Pei Qingxuan showed he truly stood up for Xu Ping’an.
Only… the old man seemed to have misunderstood something.
“No, Master Wan, you seem to be mistaken. This is my wife.”
“Your wife, my foot! Sect Leader Pei is right here, and you dare to talk nonsense? Today, I’ll beat you to death, you scoundrel!”
Clearly, the old man didn’t believe Pei Qingxuan was Xu Ping’an’s wife, only thinking they were acquainted and that Xu Ping’an, being young and brash, was speaking nonsense.
That’s why he stepped in to defend her.
Perhaps out of protectiveness, the old man’s eyes turned red. He looked down and realized the Family Disciplinary Rod was still on the counter in the front courtyard.
Looking around and seeing no other suitable weapon, he rolled up his sleeves and raised his hand to strike.
“I’ll beat you to death, scoundrel! How dare you speak so insolently and blabber nonsense!”
Seeing the fist about to land, Xu Ping’an was no fool waiting to be hit.
He dodged the heavy punch with a tilt of his head, then spun and ran.
“No, old man, please listen to me! It’s not what you think! She really is my wife!”
“You scoundrel! Sect Leader Pei is right here, and you still dare to blabber! Today… today I’ll clear the family gate! Don’t run!”
Seeing the old man truly enraged, his aged face flushed red, Xu Ping’an kicked into high gear, running with his head covered, and in a few quick strides, reached behind Pei Qingxuan.
“Wife! Stop watching! If you keep looking, Master Wan will beat me to death!”
“How dare you keep talking nonsense! Hah! Hah! Scoundrel, scoundrel!!!”
“Wait!!”
Seeing the old man on the verge of losing control, Pei Qingxuan finally set aside her amusement and spoke up to block Wan Ji Cang.
Wan Ji Cang immediately turned around respectfully and bowed.
“Sect Leader Pei, my failure to teach my son properly is my fault alone. If you wish to punish him today, I will bear it all. Please spare this scoundrel just this once…”
“Master Wan, you misunderstand… she really is my husband’s wife.”
“Ah~ Then I can rest assured.”
Hearing this, the old man visibly relaxed, but then his eyes suddenly widened as he stared at Pei Qingxuan.
“That… what did you just say?”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.