Chapter 1677: Chapter 864: Repeated Crimes Go Unpunished (Part 3) Master Xia raised his eyes and glanced at Official Xia, "What do you want to do?" Official Xia was silent for a moment, resolutely said, "Convict him, have him executed." Master Xia breathed a deep sigh. He looked away, gazing out the window at the mighty Mistwater River. His eyes were somewhat obscure, "There are no others here, some things I can tell you clearly..." "Xiao Tianquan must not die." Official Xia bit his lip, his fingers white from strain, his voice was a bit hoarse and disappointed, "Has committed such a serious crime and yet cannot die?" Master Xia replied, "Committed such a serious crime, deserves a thousand deaths. But, his identity stands here." "If he dies, then the Xiao family, both emotionally and rationally, could not possibly follow our Xia family, serving us loyally." "Here in Qian Learning State Boundary, we are the powerful dragons, but if we want to suppress the local snakes, there must be a snake willing to serve us. The Xiao family is this snake, without them, our future plans will be hard to implement." "This is the bigger picture! Xiao Tianquan’s life or death may seem unimportant, but it involves too much power and network operations; it cannot be simply wasted away." "What about Hua Ruyu?" Official Xia asked. Master Xia’s eyes slightly narrowed, somewhat displeased, but still said: "That woman has someone above her, someone with significant influence, I must return their favor." Official Xia sneered coldly, said bitterly: "Do we, these noble families, even consider the ’Taoist Law’ anymore?" Seeing Official Xia still not understanding, Master Xia sighed: "You have been with the Taoist Court for too long, only seeing the surface, not knowing power itself is just a game, and ’Taoist Law’ is only one of the rules. Since it is a rule, it’s meant to be utilized. And in this game of fame and fortune, if you want to win, the first thing to learn is ’compromise’ and ’trade’." "Then..." Official Xia’s heart grew colder, "Is my marriage simply for compromise, to facilitate the family in its transactions?" Master Xia paused, somewhat speechless. Official Xia said, "Uncle, at this point, you wouldn’t still want me... to be engaged to Xiao Tianquan, right?" Master Xia said nothing, only looking silently at Official Xia. Official Xia’s face turned increasingly pale, increasingly disappointed. Master Xia was somewhat unable to meet Official Xia’s gaze, said slowly: "A person’s life is inherently burdened with sins, and the human heart is originally filthy, only that your nature is pure, and you distinguish between good and evil, not knowing it." "You don’t know, but the behavior of someone like Xiao Tianquan is not rare among noble family’s sons." "In the Taoist State, those who appear glamorous and unparalleled, noble family Heavenly Prides, indulge in luxury in secret, possibly behaving more excessively than Xiao Tianquan." "Not only the men, those women who appear pure and beautiful, revered as ’Fairies’ and ’Goddesses’, adored by many, may equally be debauched in secret." "Judging by appearance is a foolishness humans can never rid themselves of." "Social interactions within noble families are a fame and fortune arena, also a filthy dyepot; few within it are clean." "But because the offspring of noble families often have a fine appearance, outsiders mistakenly think them beautiful." "Your mind is simple, focused solely on affairs of the Taoist Court, so you haven’t entered this dyepot, therefore you have some shallow thoughts." "In noble families, truly self-preserving men are very few." "Hence..." Master Xia glanced at Official Xia, "If you understand this, you’ll find that Xiao Tianquan’s behavior is not intolerable." "These filthy acts of his, at least you knew beforehand, better than marrying a superficially glamorous, secretly more debauched noble family’s son." "Moreover, I have taught you not to act rashly but to learn to calculate and to take control." "If you know of his past, and can still marry him, he will surely be eternally grateful, never defying your will for life." "Afterwards, I will work on it, make him the next designated Family Head of the Xiao family, given time, the whole Xiao family will be under your say." No matter what he said, Official Xia ignored it, with an increasingly cold demeanor and a heart filled with despair. Previously she often heard people speak of the coldness of noble families, but did not take it to heart. But at this moment, she personally experienced this bone-deep coldness. The descendants of noble families are not "people", but have long been alienated into "tools", mere "chess pieces". Official Xia looked blankly at Master Xia, her gaze became resolute after its initial disappointment: "Uncle, I will not marry a beast like Xiao Tianquan. Even if the family abandons me, I will not agree to this marriage alliance." "If compelled, I will... first kill Xiao Tianquan, then kill myself." Official Xia appeared desolate. Master Xia momentarily froze. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖 He knew his niece’s nature, outwardly cold but inwardly kind, with a strong sense of responsibility. She had always respected him, never disobeyed his wishes. But he hadn’t expected her to be able to speak such resolute words to him now. Master Xia’s mood was complex for a while, finally he sighed deeply, "I won’t force you, you, take care of yourself..." "I’ve kept Xiao Tianquan’s people, you should no longer concern yourself with family matters..." Official Xia left the Spirit Boat alone. Gu Changhuai, Mo Hua, and Ye Hong were all waiting outside the Spirit Boat. Gu Changhuai saw Official Xia, suppressed his anger, thinking coldly of asking something, but seeing her pale, lost appearance, felt a small twinge of pain, understanding somewhat, and he refrained from asking. "Sister Xia..." Mo Hua sympathetically said. Official Xia gave a bitter smile, shook her head. The group realized not only Hua Ruyu, even Xiao Tianquan, wouldn’t die. Afterwards, the Xia family’s Spirit Boat carried Xiao Tianquan, leaving the dock. Xiao Tianquan might not even enter the Taoist Court, much less the Taoist Prison. Mo Hua and the others could only quietly return to the Qian Learning State Boundary. Passing through Mistwater City, Ye Hong mustered his spirits, bitterly smiled at them: "Though things did not go as wished, Ye still appreciates everyone’s kindness and virtues. Since we’ve reached Mistwater City, let Ye act a host’s duty to entertain you all." Mo Hua and the others intended to decline, but seeing Ye Hong pale-faced, in poor spirits, nodded in agreement. Ye Hong then arranged some wine and food at a tavern, hosted Mo Hua and three others. But this banquet was dull, everyone was heavy-hearted. Ye Hong wanted to express gratitude, but after a few cups of wine, tasting nothing, feeling unspeakable bitterness, tears welled up as he murmured: "Committed such a crime, yet cannot die..." "Is it that once holding high positions, having power and influence, their lives are different from ours? Our lowly lives end without notice, but theirs are different, even breaching Taoist Law, there’s still protection. Committing a capital crime, yet can roam freely..." "Will I spend a lifetime... never avenging?" Gu Changhuai felt ashamed for a moment, unable to respond. Official Xia also looked pale. Moments later, the ever-silent Mo Hua said, "It’s alright..." Ye Hong was taken aback, Official Xia couldn’t help but look at Mo Hua. Mo Hua said, "Those who deserve death will die." Gu Changhuai frowned, "You..." Mo Hua shook his head, "I’m a Foundation Building Cultivator, of low realm, certainly can’t do much, but..." Mo Hua pointed to the sky, seriously said: "Man acts, Heaven watches, the Howling Celestial Dog does many injustices, maybe one day Heaven will punish, and it will suddenly die." This statement was somewhat naive, somewhat presumptuous. Gu Changhuai, Official Xia, and Ye Hong just listened at that moment, not taking it to heart.