I Reloaded the Save File! [Transmigration] - Chapter 27

By the time the Wang Family Patriarch and the Cheng Family Patriarch arrived at the entrance, they could already hear many cultivators discussing them both.

“So, the Hu Family Patriarch offended those people because he was protecting someone from the Wang family. Patriarch Hu is truly a man of loyalty.”

“Patriarch Hu must never have imagined that while he was protecting the Wang family’s people outside, his own home would be destroyed by villains. I’ll tell you a secret: I saw these two families send people to the Hu family’s treasury. They’re probably eyeing the Hu family’s assets.”

“If that’s really the case, wouldn’t that be utterly shameless? Isn’t that repaying kindness with enmity?”

Before hearing a few more sentences, the Cheng Family Patriarch couldn’t hold back. He immediately released his Core Formation Mid-stage pressure, using it to intimidate the crowd. “I heard just now that some people claiming to be friends of the Hu Family Patriarch were looking for me? Which ones are you?”

“I’m here to find the Patriarchs of the Wang and Cheng families. Which one are you?” Yun Yu asked.

Yun Yu had changed out of her female attire and was now wearing an ordinary male white robe. A black hair tie neatly bound her hair, and a sword hung at her waist, giving the impression of a clean and efficient Sword Cultivator.

Mo Xiao’s attire was similar to Yun Yu’s, differing only slightly in the color of her clothes. Zuo Wuyi, however, was wearing a woman’s fitted uniform of the same color as Mo Xiao’s. Anyone could tell at a glance that the three of them were together.

“I am the Cheng Family Patriarch. Did the Hu Family Patriarch send you, young friends?” In front of outsiders, the two men still needed to save face, so they spoke politely. “When did the few of you meet Patriarch Hu, and where is he now?”

“As it happens, we went to the Dao-Seeking Sect a while ago to spar with a friend, and we ran into Patriarch Hu being chased down,” Yun Yu said with a stern face. “After we rescued him, we learned he had provoked some people because he saved a member of the Wang family. He specifically entrusted us to return and notify the Wang Family Patriarch to be mindful of the safety of his clan members recently.”

“We never expected that the Wang family would be fine, but Patriarch Hu’s own home would ultimately be the one to suffer.” Yun Yu summarized.

After hearing Yun Yu’s words, the Wang Family Patriarch, who hadn’t spoken, looked quite displeased. Having these words spoken so publicly was clearly implying that he, the Wang Family Patriarch, was irresponsible and ungrateful.

“Young friends, would you be willing to come inside so we can discuss the details? We want to understand the exact circumstances,” the Cheng Family Patriarch was in a slightly worse position than the Wang Family Patriarch, but he managed to force a smile.

“There’s no need. We were merely entrusted by Patriarch Hu to inform the two of you of certain matters. Now that the message has been delivered, we must move on to our next task,” Mo Xiao spoke up. “Patriarch Hu gave me some items to bring to his son. Where is Young Master Hu now?”

“Young Master Hu is currently recuperating. If you trust me, young friends, you can hand the items over to me first. Once Young Master Hu’s injuries improve, I will pass them on to him,” the Cheng Family Patriarch said, smiling ingratiatingly.

“Trust you?” Zuo Wuyi couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Elder, we don’t know you at all. How are we supposed to trust you? Besides, we heard many people on the road say that your two families had eyes on the Hu family’s assets, so you took action…”

“Little Junior Sister, those words are not appropriate to say here. The two individuals are present,” Yun Yu said, feigning a reproof to Zuo Wuyi, then looked at the two Patriarchs.

“I apologize. Patriarch Hu specifically instructed us to personally deliver the items to Young Master Hu and ensure he has used them,” Yun Yu said. Her statement fully covered both the etiquette and the principles of righteousness.

The Cheng Family Patriarch gave the Wang Family Patriarch a meaningful look, then stepped forward. “However, Young Master Hu’s injuries are quite severe. I’m afraid he cannot see outsiders.”

“Coincidentally, the items Patriarch Hu asked us to deliver include excellent healing supplies. Perhaps they can treat Young Master Hu,” a slight smile appeared on Yun Yu’s face. “The two of you should take us to him quickly. The sooner he takes it, the greater the benefit to Young Master Hu.”

The Cheng Family Patriarch’s face showed a look of difficulty. “What you say is indeed reasonable, but based on your words alone, I cannot fully trust you. May I ask if you can produce a token of the Hu family’s trust?”

“Of course. When Patriarch Hu was leaving, he also asked us to carry a personal letter,” Yun Yu replied readily, then took out the so-called personal letter. “However, the contents here are probably inconvenient for the two of you to read. You can have the Hu family’s steward verify its authenticity.”

Saying this was virtually meaningless. If the Hu family still had a steward, how could these two men be in charge of the Hu family?

“What’s wrong? Why are the two of you silent for so long? Could the rumors we heard on the road be true?” Zuo Wuyi’s face showed suspicion. “Could it be that you two are the ones who attacked the Hu family? All just to swallow the Hu family’s assets?”

“Young friend, what nonsense are you spewing!” The Cheng Family Patriarch felt his dignity crumble after hearing Zuo Wuyi’s blunt words. He could not openly strike in front of a crowd, so he mobilized all his spiritual sense and directly pressured Zuo Wuyi.

The Wang Family Patriarch, standing to the side, did not say anything, but upon seeing the Cheng Family Patriarch’s action, he silently mobilized his own spiritual sense as well. The two of them jointly attacked Zuo Wuyi’s sea of consciousness.

Overestimating yourselves, Zuo Wuyi sneered internally. She did not let Mo Xiao intervene. She directly activated the spiritual power left behind by her Master in her sea of consciousness and effortlessly deflected the two men’s spiritual sense attacks.

The onlookers only saw the Cheng and Wang Family Patriarchs suddenly spit out a mouthful of fresh blood for some unknown reason, looking as if they had suffered severe injuries.

“Enemy attack!” The surrounding guards reacted quickly, immediately looking around with alertness, ready to surround the trio.

Zuo Wuyi innocently rubbed her head and turned to Mo Xiao. “Senior… Brother, it seems like something just tried to attack me, and it activated the spiritual power Master left in my body, which returned the attack twofold.”

Zuo Wuyi spoke without any reservation. Her words clearly reached the ears of the two men spitting blood, and they also distinctly reached the ears of the crowd watching the commotion.

“Could it be that they were found out and were angered into lashing out?”

“To be able to deflect Core Formation stage damage, their Master must be at least in the Nascent Soul stage, right?”

“Could they also be from a major sect? No wonder they can spar with a disciple from the Dao-Seeking Sect…”

Seeing that the cultivators’ remarks were developing in the direction she had anticipated, Yun Yu looked at Zuo Wuyi, using her eyes to express approval of her handling of the situation.

Since the Cheng and Wang families used public opinion to shift the blame onto them, they could also guide public opinion to give the blame right back to those two families! Perfect!

“You must not slander us! You clearly ambushed me!” the Wang Family Patriarch spoke with a sinister expression. “You just claimed to have met Patriarch Hu near the Dao-Seeking Sect and sparred with a Dao-Seeking Sect disciple. Then you must have met someone from the Dao-Seeking Sect, right?”

“Naturally. We weren’t sparring with our faces covered. I wouldn’t dare say we know everyone, but we have generally met them,” Yun Yu said.

Even without much thought, she knew this person was grasping at straws, trying to use Yun He to prove they were liars, which would allow them to reverse the situation.

Sure enough, after Yun Yu finished speaking, the Cheng Family Patriarch called for his steward, ordering him to immediately invite Yun He over, claiming there was an urgent matter to discuss.

“Please wait a moment, honored guests. We happen to have an honored guest from the Dao-Seeking Sect in our residence. We’ll let this guest confirm whether you are truly friends of the Hu Family Patriarch, or if you were directed by the true perpetrator to deliberately frame us!”

Once the Cheng Family Patriarch brought up the Dao-Seeking Sect, many cultivators stopped discussing and maintained a wait-and-see attitude toward the matter. They knew the Cheng and Wang families were not good people, but these strangers claiming to be friends of Patriarch Hu also lacked credibility in their eyes.

“Go ahead,” Yun Yu was completely unfazed. They were all fellow disciples; surely their own Senior Sister wouldn’t fail to recognize them?

Mo Xiao and the other two had already coordinated with Yun He. After Yun He arrived, she quickly showed an expression of pleasant surprise.

“Fellow Daoist Mo! Long time no see!” Yun He immediately pushed past the two families’ guards and happily stood next to Mo Xiao. “You guys came here too?”

“We were entrusted by someone to come and check on the Hu family,” Mo Xiao said, looking at Yun He’s open arms and giving her a perfunctory hug.

“That’s great. I’m also investigating the Hu family’s affairs. We can work together to find the true culprit,” Yun He was very pleased that she had hugged Mo Xiao, and the smile on her face was very genuine.

Seeing the interaction between the group, the last bit of uncertainty in the hearts of the surrounding cultivators vanished. Since they knew the disciple from the Dao-Seeking Sect, what they said must be true. The Hu family’s misfortune was incurred for the sake of protecting the Wang family’s people, and the Wang family should be obligated to protect the Hu family, not kick them while they were down, as they were doing now.

“True Person Yun, who are these people?” The Cheng Family Patriarch’s expression was close to collapsing, but he still wanted to struggle a little longer.

“These are my friends. They come to the Dao-Seeking Sect to spar with me every few years. They are my dearest friends,” Yun He answered quickly. “Since they want to see Young Master Hu, the two of you should lead the way. They have plenty of good things, perhaps they can treat Young Master Hu’s injuries.”

With Yun He’s words out in the open, the Cheng and Wang families were truly stuck between a rock and a hard place. Agreeing to their request might expose their scheme, but refusing would expose their plan right now.

Choosing the lesser of two evils, and under the watchful eyes of the numerous cultivators, the Cheng Family Patriarch could only suppress his injuries and humiliation, forcing a smile. “Please wait a moment, honored guests. I will change my clothes and then take you to see Young Master Hu.”

With that, the Cheng Family Patriarch turned and walked toward the residence. At the same time, he shot a glance at his subordinate, signaling him to tamper with Young Master Hu.

He didn’t need to kill Young Master Hu; just giving him a little poison would suffice. If Young Master Hu died of poisoning while they were attempting to treat him, then the matter would still have room for reversal.

“Oh, right, you quickly go invite the City Lord to come over. Their cultivation levels are not low, and if they team up, we might not be able to oppose them,” the Wang Family Patriarch said. “Remember, only tell the City Lord that there are a few Core Formation stage cultivators; don’t tell him that their Master might be Nascent Soul.”

“Understood. I’ll arrange for a subordinate to handle it immediately,” the Cheng Family Patriarch nodded in agreement.