Chapter 5210: Settling The Matter Editor: Misty Cloud Translations The youth’s face instantly drained of color. He hadn’t expected... that he actually knew... Upon hearing this, the elders of the Shen family also grew solemn. Shen Family Second Master felt a heavy weight in his heart. He stepped forward, grabbed his son’s shoulders, and hoisted him up. His voice was deep and stern as he demanded, "You intended to kill a junior of the Xiao family? And at the lantern festival on the street?" "Father, I... I..." His voice trembled, unable to form words. Shen Shiqi walked slowly to the main seat and sat down. "Those who cultivate immortality are not forbidden from killing or fighting. However, even if one must kill, it should be done with honor and integrity. And you? Hiding needles in your fists, plotting a hidden assassination—such methods are shameful. And you were foolish enough to do it. Even if that Xiao family youth hadn’t died on the spot, had he died after returning home, the Xiao family would still have held the Shen family responsible." He looked at the youth in the hall and continued, "If Xiao Junyan had exposed the matter on the street, how could the Shen family ever establish itself in Mountain Vista City again? If word spreads that the Shen family’s young heir is treacherous and vicious, striking down his victims in the dark, how will the world view my Shen family?" At this point, he lifted his teacup and took a sip. "I said I would give the Xiao family an explanation. You decide among yourselves how to provide it!" With that, he fell silent. By now, the faces of the Shen family members had darkened to the point of being pitch black. This was especially true for the Shen family Patriarch. He had finally gotten someone sent over from the main family—the highly regarded Seventeenth Young Master—hoping to make a good impression. Yet, his subordinates had only managed to cause trouble. "Strip him of his cultivation. Tomorrow, in front of the entire clan, administer thirty severe lashes. Then send him to a village in the countryside!" declared the Shen family Patriarch in a deep, measured voice. Hearing this, the youth’s face drained of all color. He immediately began wailing and pleading, "Patriarch, Seventeen Young Master, I’ll never dare again! I beg you, please don’t strip me of my cultivation! I beg you, I beg you! I’ll never dare again..." Upon hearing the Patriarch’s words, the Second Master of the Shen family also paled. He immediately knelt down and said, "Patriarch, Seventeenth Young Master, esteemed elders, it is all my fault for failing to guide him properly, leading this wicked son to commit such an act. But he is only seventeen. If his cultivation is stripped, he will never again have any hope of treading the path of cultivation. Patriarch, Seventeenth Young Master, esteemed elders, I beg you to show leniency!" One elder, unable to bear the sight, looked at the Patriarch and said, "Patriarch, stripping his cultivation is not a bit too harsh?" The Patriarch glanced at the two kneeling figures, his gaze flickering. He turned to Shen Shiqi and asked, "Young Master Shiqi, do you think stripping his cultivation is acceptable?" Shen Shiqi set down his teacup, not answering the Patriarch. Instead, he looked at the youth below and said, " Had Xiao Junyan and I not intervened, you would have taken the life of a young member of the Xiao family. Now, we strip you of your cultivation to spare your life. Do you consider this punishment too harsh?" The youth’s lips trembled, and he finally slumped to the ground. He knew his cultivation was lost forever today... The Second Master of the Shen family had intended to plead for mercy, but upon hearing Shen Shiqi’s words, the plea died on his lips. Though his cultivation was stripped, at least his life remained. If he lived quietly and obediently, a hundred years or more was still possible. The Patriarch watched this unfold before instructing an elder to strip the youth of his cultivation. He was then led away to be imprisoned, with thirty lashes awaiting him tomorrow. Seeing the matter settled, Shen Shiqi rose and walked away, thinking to himself that he would pay another visit to the Xiao family tomorrow...