Martial Cultivator

Chapter 120: Candles and Luminous Pearls

Chen Chao's identity was indeed something many people both high and low wanted to know. Many had already spent time investigating, but they had not been able to uncover anything.

Tonight, taking advantage of Chen Chao's presence at the banquet, many in the Xie Family naturally wanted to know his true identity. So it was only natural for them to probe during the meal.

The old man looked at Chen Chao, dissatisfied with his previous answer. He said calmly, "Lying has always been a great taboo in the Xie Family."

Chen Chao smiled and said, "This junior isn't someone who enjoys lying either. However, in this mansion, it seems that lighting up a single candle isn't enough to illuminate the entire house."

The old man responded coldly, "In the Xie Family, we don't need candles for illumination."

Only after hearing the old man say this, did Chen Chao belatedly look around and noticed that there was not a single candle in this Xie Family's great hall. Instead, it was full of uniform-sized luminous pearls. The light from those luminous pearls was too gentle and it actually made the hall seem as bright as day. This was the fundamental detail Chen Chao had failed to notice earlier.

Chen Chao lowered his head and picked up a bamboo shoot with his chopsticks. Placing it in his mouth, he chewed it quietly, savoring its freshness before he said softly, "This junior doesn't know what you mean exactly."

After saying these words, even Chen Chao himself sighed quietly.

In front of this old man, he had been defeated. The old man had lived for so long and it was not in vain. When it came to people's hearts and scheming, he was definitely stronger.

Now that it was made clear, Chen Chao could be considered to have conceded in the initial stage.

The old man was reluctant to clarify the matter and instead said, "Candles are something that would never appear in the Xie Family."

Chen Chao glanced at Xie Nandu. The latter remained silent as if she had not heard anything.

Chen Chao could only say, "If the candles were large enough, perhaps one day, they could illuminate this hall like the luminous pearls."

"I've already said that candles won't appear here."

The old man remained emotionless, like a towering mountain that could not be moved no matter how strong the wind and rain.

He was actually just like the Xie Family behind him; too massive to be shaken by one or two individuals. The so-called prestigious and powerful families might appear colossal on the surface, but their roots ran deep underground. If one were to truly see it, it would be jaw-dropping.

That was a true foundation.

In the face of this colossal entity, Chen Chao still seemed too insignificant.

Just like until now, he still did not know this old man's identity or his position within the Xie Family. The old man did not look like he wanted to tell him either.

Chen Chao suddenly said with an emotional sigh, "The Divine Capital's Xie Family should have emerged alongside the Great Liang Dynasty. But seeing it today, why does it exude such a sense of ancient vicissitudes?"

His words had a profound meaning.

The old man could discern it too. His facial wrinkles twitched slightly, but that was all.

This was the one and only emotional fluctuation he had displayed tonight.

The old man quietly observed Chen Chao and this place became very quiet again. It was even a little scarily quiet.

Chen Chao was silent for a long time before saying, "I feel that the Xie Family is too big. There are too many people, but it feels suffocating here. I don't really like it here."

"A teenager who hasn't experienced it naturally wouldn't understand the essence of it."

The old man said calmly, "After a few years, you'll understand that it's these kinds of days that bring peace of mind."

Chen Chao smiled and said, "But this junior will still come."

This was the most serious statement he made tonight and his only declaration too.

Why did he come and why would he come again?

The old man said, "I'm afraid it would be difficult for such a thing to happen."

The old man's voice was very bland, like a cup of tea that had been brewed countless times; unable to taste any flavor after being rinsed with hot water repeatedly. Just like this person, he had experienced so much that no one knew what kind of personality he originally had.

"This junior has already come here once."

Chen Chao surveyed his surroundings and expressed some satisfaction, "It's my first time eating these dishes, but I have seen these luminous pearls before. The ones in the Virtuous Sun Palace seem to be a little better than the ones here."

The old man smiled and said, "By looking at the scenery in the mountains from the vantage point of the wind and you think of yourself as someone in the mountains? That's not good."

After saying this, the old man continued, "If you've always been a person from the mountains, why bother pretending to be like this now?"

When it came down to it, the old man still wanted to know Chen Chao's identity. This might be something that the entire Xie Family wanted to know.

This was also their main goal tonight.

Currently, they were attempting to provoke the young man in front of them because emotions like anger could lead to significant actions. This was especially true for young people who often acted irrationally when they lost control of their emotions.

For example, when you have always been looked down upon, you subconsciously want to bring out your strongest trump card to counterattack.

Perhaps other young men would become angry tonight because of these things, but Chen Chao would not.

Although he was a little uncomfortable at first too, he had prepared himself before coming here. How could things go so smoothly tonight?

Although he had just had an argument by the lake during the day.

"I grew up next to Wei River, there's nothing special."

Chen Chao looked at the old man and repeated it again, which seemed somewhat redundant. However, at this moment, they had no other evidence to prove that Chen Chao was not like that, so there was nothing more to say.

Chen Chao suddenly felt a bit tired. But thinking about what Xie Nandu had said earlier, he sighed and said, "Next time, this junior will bring candles in."

After saying this, Chen Chao put down his chopsticks. Standing up, he looked at the old man and said with a smile, "The next time this junior comes, I will enter through the main gate. Perhaps by then, you won't even have a chance to speak."

His demeanor indicated that he was taking his leave.

The old man looked at him without any emotional fluctuations. He just extended his hand and soon, a maid came to collect all the dishes on the table and took them away. The old man stood up and the dragon-headed cane was naturally placed in his hand by someone.

The old man smiled and said, "If that day really comes, this old man will naturally apologize to you."

After saying this, the old man turned to Xie Nandu and smiled, "Bring him out, lass."

Xie Nandu nodded slightly and continued to bow respectfully.

The old man walked away, moving slowly but eventually disappearing from everyone's sight.

Xie Ling who had been silent all this time looked at Chen Chao and said, "Good luck to you. I hope you achieve a good ranking at the Myriad Willow Convention."

After saying this, he clasped his hands in salute and also left.

As Chen Chao watched these two leave one after another, he finally felt a bit tired and looked at Xie Nandu. The latter was also looking back at him.

……

……

When they arrived, someone led them in. But when they left, it was only him and Xie Nandu two people.

And also a maid leading the way.

A lantern slowly moved forward.

Chen Chao looked at Xie Nandu and said, "Tonight's argument was pretty tough."

At first, he was not quite accustomed to it, thinking that Xie Family had helped him after all. But later, the old man showed that he did not really care about that, so Chen Chao let go of it as well.

Seeing Chen Chao's expression, Xie Nandu knew what he was thinking and said with a frown. "Let me say it one last time, you should be thankful to me."

Seeing Chen Chao's puzzled look, Xie Nandu took the opportunity to explain the cause and effect to him.

Only then, did it suddenly dawned on Chen Chao and he said, "So that's how it is. I thought you were trying to bring us closer."

His words were straightforward, expressing his true thoughts.

Xie Nandu shook her head and said, "Do I look that lame to you?"

Chen Chao shook his head and said, "But they were really quite lame. However, I can understand it. As a talented junior of a prestigious family, your choice of spouse isn't up to you. But you're the dean's disciple after all, don't you have the right to make your own choice?"

The conversation with the old man actually revolved around this topic.

"Honestly speaking, weren't my final words quite exciting?"

As he brought this up, Chen Chao raised an eyebrow, appearing somewhat excited.

Xie Nandu said rather helplessly, "You went a little too far. I didn't expect such a strong reaction from you."

Recalling the way this young man behaved during the dinner, Xie Nandu could not help but find it somewhat inexplicably endearing.

"But you were quite amazing too. Not many people dare to speak like that in Xie Family. If they sat in that chair, they would probably be very nervous and not as articulate as you."

Xie Nandu praised, "From this point of view, you were pretty good."

Chen Chao said, "I was just thinking about the incident at the lakeside and treated him like one of those foreign cultivators."

At this point, Chen Chao frowned and said, "Since you didn't want me to be so intense, why didn't you stop me at that time?"

His face was a little red and he lowered his voice, saying, "Now that I think about it, it's really not easy to make Xie Family open their main gate and welcome me in."

Xie Nandu replied, "I saw that you were getting carried away and I didn't stop you."

Chen Chao sighed and said, "After tonight's matter spreads, if that day really comes, it will surely be a topic of discussion among the people for a long time."

It would definitely be a great spectacle.

Xie Nandu shook her head and said, "Even if such a day comes, it won't be as you imagine. You underestimate the capabilities of the Xie Family. Moreover, if they truly wanted you dead, you'd find it very difficult to carry on living."

Although Chen Chao was already the deputy commander of the Left Guard, if it really came to a point of losing all decorum with the Xie Family, he would still appear overly insignificant.

Chen Chao did not care much and just continued walking outside.

Xie Nandu asked, "You don't seem to really mind?"

"People who want me dead are not in short supply now. Adding the Xie Family to the list is no big deal. Moreover, I'm well aware that for a behemoth like the Xie Family to have survived for so long is no easy feat. They naturally have remarkable qualities. Just like now, I walked out of that place. Although I still feel somewhat uncomfortable, I don't harbor much disgust towards your Xie Family."

Chen Chao said softly, "This feeling is really strange. Perhaps it's the so-called foundation?"

The so-called thousand-year family meant knowing when to do something and would not act recklessly.

Even if they caused some trouble, they would quickly find a way to rectify it.

……

……

The old man walked deeper into the Xie Family. The dragon-headed cane was held in his hand, but it never touched the ground. It seemed that whether he had the cane or not, it held no significance to him.

He walked all the way and at some point, the cane was discarded somewhere. Finally, he arrived in front of the ancestral hall.

That old man sat on the most dilapidated chair, quietly gazing at the stars.

That old man gave a serious and respectful bow to this old man.

Then, he arrived in front of the small house next to the ancestral hall.

Under that tree.