Chapter 5: A Grave Misunderstanding

“*Ahem!*” Qin Liang coughed twice, breaking the heavy silence. Then, with a gentle sweep of his sleeve, he brushed away the lingering dust.

“Um… apologies for disturbing all the clan elders,” he said, his face twitching slightly with embarrassment as he cupped his hands respectfully toward Jiang Hai and the other senior clan members.

“Did anyone notice the color of the last flickering light?” Jiang Hai ignored Qin Liang and turned to question the nearby elders.

One elder pondered, “It seemed like… red, no, white.”

“Don’t just guess! This is a piece of the Inquiry Stele that shattered!” Jiang Hai grew anxious.

If it were a ninth-grade Dao Root, breaking a piece of the Inquiry Stele wouldn’t be a big deal. But if shattering a piece of the stele only yielded a first-grade Dao Root, the Jiang family would have lost a great deal.

“What color was it exactly?” Jiang Hai asked seriously.

The explosion had been so sudden that even he was caught off guard and unsure.

The elders, seasoned and experienced, quickly reached a conclusion. Nodding firmly, they said, “Clan Leader, before the Inquiry Stele shattered, the final light was indeed red—a first-grade Dao Root.”

Jiang Hai opened his mouth but said nothing for a long moment, pain tightening his chest.

“Well, a first grade is a first grade. At least it’s a Dao Root,” Li Qiumei said comfortingly, supporting Jiang Hai as they left that sorrowful place.

Before leaving, she added, “According to tradition, every disciple who is identified with a Dao Root is rewarded with a medicinal herb.”

“Yes!” one elder acknowledged the order.

Li Qiumei glanced back at Qin Liang.

The young man who had emerged from the dust looked disheveled and grimy, confirming her belief that her choice—and her daughter’s—was right. She even suspected that the family patriarch had been hasty.

She decided not to waste another glance on Qin Liang.

“Young Master Qin, this is your reward for Dao Root detection—a first-grade medicinal herb. May you cultivate diligently,” an elder said as he handed Qin Liang a wooden box.

Qin Liang opened it, a fragrant aroma of herbs immediately filling the air. He smiled slightly and said, “Thank you, Elder.”

“Impossible! Absolutely impossible! How could he possibly have a Dao Root?” a sudden voice broke through.

Li Hongcai shouted, “Qin Liang, you tampered with the Inquiry Stele! Otherwise, how could a perfectly fine stele shatter?”

“I refuse to accept this!” Li Hongcai was nearly frantic.

Jiang Xuehan snapped back to reality from her shock and hurriedly stepped in front of Qin Liang, fearing Li Hongcai might strike.

“Li Hongcai, you made the bet yourself. Can you please stop being so shameless?” Jiang Xuehan’s face darkened. She never expected her cousin to behave like this.

Having grown up as a dependent in the Jiang family, Li Hongcai took advantage of his aunt’s backing to disregard rules, acting recklessly and refusing to concede.

“He tampered with the Inquiry Stele. That’s the real shamelessness,” Li Hongcai retorted coldly. “Otherwise, how could a first-grade Dao Root shatter the stele?”

His words resonated with many onlookers, who nodded in agreement.

Jiang Yutong’s sixth-grade Dao Root hadn’t shattered the Inquiry Stele; how could a first-grade one do so? It was clearly suspicious.

“First-grade?” Qin Liang frowned upon hearing this, realizing a colossal misunderstanding had occurred.

He quickly calmed himself and thought, “This might actually be a blessing in disguise, sparing me unnecessary trouble.”

A Dao Root of such a high rank would easily attract the attention of powerful outsiders, threatening to expose his secrets and making him a target—hardly conducive to his growth.

Jiang Xuehan wanted to argue further, but Qin Liang pulled her behind him.

“What will it take for you to stop?” Qin Liang asked Li Hongcai calmly.

Li Hongcai sneered, “Simple. The wedding is set for a month from now. If you can defeat me then, I’ll stop interfering with your marriage. Otherwise, you must call off the engagement.”

Jiang Xuehan’s face paled.

“Li Hongcai, you’re shameless!” she shouted. “You’ve undergone spirit refining seven times and still only have a fifth-grade Dao Root. Qin Liang hasn’t even started spirit refining yet and only has a first-grade Dao Root. How could he possibly surpass you in one month?”

She was unaware that Qin Liang had already refined his spirit twice.

“Can’t catch up? That just proves you don’t deserve her. In that case, you might as well call off the engagement now, so you don’t end up beaten to a pulp like a lost dog,” Li Hongcai said smugly, certain he had Qin Liang cornered.

Qin Liang’s heart darkened.

Apart from the direct family line, the Jiang family had many relatives and adopted branches. Having grown up as a dependent in the Jiang household, with his parents’ fates unknown, Qin Liang was indifferent to the final four words.

“Li Hongcai, watch your tongue. This isn’t your Li family’s place…” Jiang Xuehan tried to step forward to argue but was stopped by Qin Liang.

“We’ll settle this in a fight a month from now. The loser leaves the Jiang family forever,” Qin Liang left Li Hongcai with those words before walking away.

He didn’t want to use Jiang Xuehan as a wager, so he had no choice but to say it like this.

Everyone was stunned, thinking they had misheard. After a long moment, chaos erupted.

No one could believe a first-grade Dao Root had accepted the challenge—and spoken so brazenly.

“Qin Liang, you’re too reckless! Li Hongcai has already completed seven spirit refinings. Don’t even think you can catch up in a month, or even half a year for that matter!”

Back in Qin Liang’s courtyard, Jiang Xuehan was anxious, handing him a package.

“Listen to me. Find a chance to run away in the next few days. Here are some spirit coins—go as far as you can.”

“Do you have so little faith in me?” Qin Liang sighed.

Jiang Xuehan replied, “If you can improve quickly, there’s hope. But you can’t refine your spirit more than five times in six months—or your foundation will become unstable. Besides, you only have one month.”

“Don’t worry. There’s still a whole month,” Qin Liang smiled reassuringly. “If it really comes down to it, we can run on the last day. And if we run, we run together—I already promised to marry you.”

“You…” Jiang Xuehan was speechless, blushing for a long time before saying, “Keep these spirit coins. Buy whatever resources you need. Improve your strength as much as you can. If it’s not enough, I’ll ask my father for more.”

Qin Liang stared after Jiang Xuehan, lost in thought, deeply grateful and warmed by her support.

…

In the backyard.

Li Hongcai wore an innocent expression. “Aunt, he really said that.”

“Outrageous! Does he really think this is his home? How dare he speak to my nephew like that?” Li Qiumei’s teacup cracked as fury blazed in her eyes.

Even though this was the Jiang family, only she dared to reprimand Li Hongcai—after all, he was of the Li clan.

Now, an outsider named Qin Liang had the audacity to say, “Loser leaves the Jiang family.”

“Has he forgotten I am the Lady of the Jiang family? Who the Jiang family expels or keeps is none of his business!” Li Qiumei’s long-suppressed anger and resentment finally erupted.

Although Qin Liang’s parents had once done the Jiang family a favor, and taking him in could be seen as repayment, many had already lost patience after so many years.

“Madam, please calm down. Qin Liang is still young—he’s just impulsive,” Jiang Hai tried to soothe her, helplessly offering another cup of tea, feeling overwhelmed.

Li Qiumei slammed her palm on the table. “He wants to marry Xuehan? I want to see what qualifications he has! Don’t think I’ll let him succeed if his bride price is even a penny short.”