MTLNOVEL Chapter 29: Compensation
Chapter 29: Compensation
The old man had graying temples and a face lined with rough, bark-like wrinkles, a testament to the hardships he had endured.
He wore a simple silk robe, and hunched over as he walked in step by step. His eyes swept over the surrounding chaos, growing more and more stern.
Seeing the man rolling on the ground in pain, blood gushing from his wounds, the old man quickly stepped past the crowd and formed a hand seal, stopping the bleeding.
He turned to Wu Cheng, his gaze imposing even without anger:
“Wu Cheng, you have gone too far this time.”
His tone was full of accusation. The arrogance in Wu Cheng’s expression vanished, and he bowed quickly:
“Greetings, City Lord Liu. Today’s matter…”
“Enough! Let your master explain it to me.” City Lord Liu coldly cut Wu Cheng off. He then turned to You Su, who stood there with icy eyes, and after a moment of scrutiny, asked with concern, “Are you injured?”
You Su could sense that City Lord Liu was addressing him. Since his master’s departure, he had had no interaction with the city lord, so he couldn’t help but feel flustered. “Greetings, City Lord. I’m fine.”
Wu Cheng remained bowed, his teeth clenched, the veins on his face bulging in the shadows, unseen by anyone.
“That’s good. They were just desperate to find someone and resorted to such measures. I hope you can understand that.” City Lord Liu finally released the oppressive aura, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
“I understand,” You Su replied amiably, the frost on his face melting away.
While the ice had melted on the surface, the resentment remained in his heart. You Su had already firmly etched this grudge in his mind.
Faced with City Lord Liu’s mediation, You Su could only comply on the surface. Rather than resenting the city lord’s peacemaking, You Su was more grateful that he had stopped the conflict in time. All he wanted was a peaceful environment for his junior sister and his master’s wife.
City Lord Liu stroked his beard with satisfaction, then turned to help Wu Cheng, who was still bowing, to his feet. His tone softened slightly:
“Wu Cheng, I know you’re anxious, but you shouldn’t lose your cool like this. We are cultivators, not barbarians here to loot houses. Your master holds you in such high regard; you must live up to his expectations.”
Wu Cheng glanced at City Lord Liu’s weathered face, then bowed again and said solemnly, “Thank you for your guidance, City Lord. I was wrong. I will think twice before acting in the future and not let my emotions control me.”
City Lord Liu smiled, patted Wu Cheng’s shoulder, and said:
“You are a good child, loyal and righteous. This time, your actions were understandable. Apologize to You Su, and let this matter be over. You are both of the same generation, the future of Chuyun City. You should interact more in the future.”
Before Wu Cheng could respond, Wu Ping shouted indignantly, “Apologize to him? City Lord Liu, look at what he’s done to our people! What more does he want?”
City Lord Liu glanced at Wu Ping who was leaning against the wall, then looked at the injuries on the man with the severed hands. He said softly to Wu Cheng:
“Quickly return to the sect. His hands can still be reattached.”
In an instant, a flash of sword light swept through, and the trembling hands of the fat man on the ground were shattered into pieces, turning into a pile of mangled flesh.
Everyone’s expression turned grim, and even City Lord Liu frowned. Only You Su remained expressionless, his Black Pine Sword dripping with fresh blood.
“An apology is not necessary. This is the compensation I want,” You Su said indifferently, his empty eyes filled with coldness, his handsome face calm.
The fat man was so terrified that he collapsed to the ground, wailing in despair. He had only followed Wu Ping’s orders to humiliate this blind man he had never paid attention to, expecting to receive some spirit pills as a reward. He never expected to provoke a terrifying force that he couldn’t afford to offend.
“You!” Wu Cheng’s face twisted in anger, and he reached for the sword he had just sheathed.
He felt that every swing of You Su’s sword was like a slap to his face. Of course, he didn’t care about the injuries of an insignificant subordinate, but You Su’s actions were a blatant insult to him.
City Lord Liu stepped in between the two and blocked the tension. He gently pressed down on Wu Cheng’s hand, which was about to draw his sword, and said with a faint smile:
“Alright, since You Su has accepted the compensation, let this matter end here. All of you, disperse now. Take him away for treatment.”
Even though Wu Cheng wanted to maintain a good image in front of the respected city lord, he was no longer willing to give the old man face. His eyes burned with uncontrollable fury as he gritted his teeth and said:
“City Lord Liu, You Su has repeatedly resisted the search and just admitted to meeting my Uncle He on the twelfth. I suspect that he is involved in Uncle He’s disappearance!”
Wu Ping, who was standing nearby, raised his arm in support. “That’s right! His house must be searched!”
City Lord Liu’s withered face showed a hint of sadness. He reached out and patted Wu Cheng’s back, as if soothing his emotions, and said slowly:
“I know you’re anxious to find your uncle, but his body has just been discovered on Mount Qiong, five miles away. All that remains is a skeleton. Your master has already gone there. You should go and see for yourself.”
You Su remained expressionless, but his heart skipped a beat.
If Uncle He’s body had been found, would the cause of his death be investigated? Would the sinister creature behind the cannibalistic acts be exposed and drag him into the mess? You Su suppressed his uneasiness and thought calmly: Elder Ling’s appearance was sudden, and his interactions with him were hidden. It would be extremely difficult to trace Elder Ling, so the chances of him being involved were slim.
Wu Cheng’s expression changed between dark and light. He released the hilt of his sword and once again became the polite and upright young prodigy. He bowed and said, “Thank you for informing us, City Lord. We will take our leave now and visit you another day to express our gratitude.”
City Lord Liu smiled kindly. “Go and accept my condolences.”
Wu Cheng left without looking back, with Wu Ping following close behind. The disciples of the outer sect helped each other as they trailed after them.
The group left in a bustling crowd, and the old house finally returned to its quiet state.
However, City Lord Liu did not leave. You Su couldn’t help but feel nervous.
He didn’t know the purpose of City Lord Liu’s sudden goodwill. All he knew was that this old man was likely the most powerful cultivator in the city. The longer the city lord stayed, the greater the risk of his junior sister and master’s wife being exposed.
Unaware of the storm in You Su’s heart, City Lord Liu walked over to the pile of mangled flesh, formed a hand seal, and summoned a green flame from the ground, reducing the severed hands to white ash. He then used another spell to create streams of water that washed away the spilled blood.
You Su sensed everything he did and couldn’t help but feel surprised.
“Clean up the rest yourself,” said City Lord Liu, shaking his sleeves. He walked up to You Su and sighed softly. “I’ve always wondered how your master, such a flamboyant and domineering man, could take in such a reserved disciple as you.”
“Only now do I understand that deep down, you two are actually the same.”