“You have wronged too many, but you have wronged yourself the most – the dreamer, the righteous, the kind you used to be.”
“Your Supreme Dao technique is guardianship; I understand that. You deeply love your family and the land that bore you. I am willing to entrust the South Border to your protection, hoping you will grasp the true meaning of guardianship.
But now, it seems we were mistaken. Power only corrupts you. You are not suited for a life of ease.
Today, relinquish your position as clan leader. Appoint a suitable successor. For the position of Sovereign of the Guiyi Alliance, invite Senior Ziyang to continue serving; let him bear the burden a while longer.
Tomorrow morning, report to the Five Elements Hall and find Wan Hong. He will arrange for your entry into the Far Expeditionary Army of the Bitter Sea.
Go and fight the demons. Through the life-and-death struggle with the enemy, understand the meaning of protecting your homeland, and realize your Saintly Way. The South Border still lacks a true Sage to protect it. If we are always the ones looking out for it, the South Border will never be truly respected by others.”
“Your subordinate… obeys…”
Bai Hanjie’s face streamed with tears, deeply moved.
“When you seek to understand the Saintly Way, do not forget what a Saint is.
A Saint is not defined by immense power or authority, but by being genuinely hailed as a Saint by all the common people.
To educate the ignorant, to protect the populace, to shield them and provide them with a haven where they can truly live under protection – these are the qualities of a true Saint.
If you fail to understand this, you will never become a Saint.”
“I shall heed your teachings.”
Xia Dayu spoke with profound sincerity, and Bai Hanjie listened, filled with shame. Wan Lei watched with a solemn expression, appearing to listen attentively to the elder’s teachings, though his heart was already bursting with joy.
*Heh heh, little old thief, so you’ve had your day. Weren’t you so arrogant just now? Didn’t you say the Five Elements Hall couldn’t control you? Didn’t you claim you were the law and the sky in the South Border?*
*Still so proud, are we?*
*The more you boasted then, the more painful the fall now. Didn’t expect this, did you? All three big shots who showed up are on my side.*
*Haha, this little guy is dying of laughter.*
Xia Dayu suddenly looked at Wan Lei, glaring at him,
“What are you smiling about? I haven’t dealt with your matters yet.”
Wan Lei’s face paled in shock.
*No, Big Brother, you’re an Immortal Venerable. Is it really that interesting to constantly eavesdrop on the thoughts of juniors through cheating?*
“It is interesting, very interesting,”
Xia Dayu replied.
“Your visit to the South Border this time has allowed you to taste what it’s like to be humiliated. Others, relying on their background and strength, bully you. You are upholding justice, but they seek personal revenge. What can you do?
Are you feeling stifled? Are you feeling wronged?
Don’t forget that these are things you’ve done to others. Weren’t you so powerful? Didn’t you like to act like a profligate, relying on your background? Now, what you did to others has been repaid to you in full. See if you’ll still bring those few children to cause trouble in the Five Elements Hall, bullying men and women alike.”
“This junior admits his mistake.”
*No, Big Brother, can we talk reasonably? Those kids’ lifelong dream was to be profligates. What does that have to do with me teaching them…*
*Wait, what the hell, this guy can read people’s inner thoughts. Control myself, control myself…*
“Hmph, stubborn and unrepentant.”
Xia Dayu turned to everyone and said,
“Alright, let this farce end. You two girls, take the prisoners back to the Five Elements Hall for trial. Wan Jianyi, Wan Qingyi, escort them back. Wan Lei, you come with me.”
“Alright, that… Immortal Venerable, I’ll just say a few words and leave, to settle a matter.”
Wan Lei scurried to Bai Hanjie’s side. Just as everyone expected the profligate kid, whom the Immortal Venerable had mentioned, to seize the opportunity to humiliate Bai Hanjie, Wan Lei’s words stunned them all.
“Uh, Patriarch Bai, hello, hello. You accidentally tore up one of our airships just now, so shouldn’t you compensate us? This junior is just a poor disciple, I have no money, I can’t afford an airship at all…”
Everyone was speechless. *Seriously, in such a solemn occasion, is this appropriate to say? The Immortal Venerable is watching. Even if you came to the Bai family another day to ask, you could have. Does the Bai family lack that little bit of money for you?*
Bai Hanjie’s face darkened. He took out a storage pouch and threw it to Wan Lei.
“The money in here is enough for you to buy a top-tier flying ship.”
“Oh, thank you, Boss Bai. Boss Bai is generous, Boss Bai is truly a significant figure, truly magnanimous. This junior expresses his deep gratitude to Boss Bai.”
Wan Lei took the storage pouch and slipped it into Yuan Jun’s hand, simultaneously instructing,
“Our airship was damaged during a mission. According to the regulations of the Five Elements Hall, it can be reimbursed. Remember to report it when you submit the mission back, and ask for another airship.”
Yuan Jun and Qing Wu immediately nodded obediently.
The surrounding crowd was stunned. *Seriously, the Immortal Venerable is watching, and you’re so brazenly profiting from both sides?*
*What, you can’t go out on a mission without making a fortune? Where did you learn this skill of plucking feathers from a passing goose?*
As for Wan Jianyi and Wan Qingyi, their gazes towards Wan Lei grew brighter, and they both gave him a thumbs-up.
*Good, this kid’s shamelessness has a bit of the Wan family’s style. That’s how it should be. If you don’t pick it up when it’s there, you’re losing out. You’ve truly learned the ancestral teachings of the Wan family.*
“Immortal Venerable, I’m done. Where are we going now? Let’s go.”
Wan Lei cheerfully ran to Xia Dayu’s side.
“I suddenly have little desire to speak to you. Why are all of you surnamed Wan like this?”
“Such are the ancestral teachings, we dare not neglect them.”
Wan Qingyi and Wan Jianyi escorted the two girls and the prisoners back to the Five Elements Hall. Xia Dayu, with Wan Lei, vanished amidst the respectful farewells of the Bai family.
They reappeared moments later in a quiet, secluded mountain village, stopping at the entrance of a courtyard.
Wan Lei was somewhat bewildered. He sensed the concentration of spiritual energy here and then looked at the sky.
*Hmm, the moon is in the north. They are still in the South Border.*
*The sun and moon on the Immortal Realm continent both orbit the center of the Immortal Realm continent from east to west. This means that the sun and moon seen in the South Border are in the north, and those seen in the North Sea are in the south. The closer one gets to the center, the more the sun and moon position shifts towards the middle. When in the Five Elements Hall, the sun and moon were directly overhead.*
In the courtyard, there was a dusty reclining chair, a stone table, and a peach tree in full bloom.
The tranquil courtyard, bathed in moonlight, appeared serene and peaceful.
Xia Dayu looked at the courtyard with a hint of emotion, a touch of nostalgia.
Wan Lei immediately understood. He had always heard that the Golden Immortal Venerable’s hometown was in the South Border. This courtyard, this small mountain village, must be Xia Dayu’s home.
“My parents passed away early. When I was eleven, they all left me. My father was a scholar. He hoped I could pass the imperial examinations, not necessarily to achieve great success, but at least to be able to earn a living.”
Xia Dayu chuckled at this point.
“But I would get drowsy whenever I tried to read, and I was naturally fond of playing. I often stole wine from old man Li’s house next door.”