Chapter 51: Han Cheng Humbly Thanks the Daoist Master for His Guidance!

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Even Du Yuan could only shake his head as he looked at Han Cheng and said,

“You—honestly!”

Han Cheng was too ashamed to meet his eyes. In a low voice, he pleaded,

“Please, Daoist, take pity on my child and point her toward a way forward. She must not have half her life ruined because of my foolish hesitation!”

Han Cheng had rushed to the shrine for two reasons. First, he truly wished to secure this heaven-sent opportunity for the Han clan.

Second, he had finally realized just how miserable a state he had brought his daughter to—the very daughter who had devoted herself wholeheartedly to planning for the sake of the Han clan.

He still remembered how the several renowned physicians at his residence had needed only one glance before shaking their heads again and again, declaring that no medicine could cure such an illness.

The shrine had become the last straw he could cling to for salvation.

Yet after hearing him out, Du Yuan merely lifted his eyes and gave him a faint glance.

“Half sincere, half false. Why put on this performance?”

“Daoist?!”

Han Cheng raised his head in horror, then froze where he stood, his face filled with bewilderment.

Why was he so terrified?

It took only a moment for Han Cheng to understand the crux of the matter.

He had brought Han Tang here not only because he sincerely hoped the shrine could cure his daughter’s affliction, but also because, hidden beneath that hope, he wished to use this ruse of suffering—to use Han Tang’s miserable condition as leverage and bind the Han clan’s connection with the shrine even more tightly and deeply.

Once he saw through his own scheme, Han Cheng felt as though his throat had been sealed shut. He could no longer utter a word and simply stood there, disoriented and dejected.

His daughter had been worked to exhaustion for the sake of the Han clan, and yet he had still regarded her as a pawn without even realizing it.

Could a man like him truly deserve to be called a father?

Seeing that he was at least capable of reflecting upon his own thoughts and actions, Du Yuan smiled and said,

“Well, there may yet be hope for you.”

At those words, Han Cheng instinctively looked toward Du Yuan, but the other man was not looking at him.

After hesitating for a moment, Han Cheng removed his official hat and opened his official robes.

He folded them neatly and placed them to one side. Clad only in a plain white inner garment, he no longer possessed even a trace of the dignity of Qingzhou’s Vice Governor. He bowed deeply at Du Yuan’s feet until his forehead touched the ground.

“Han Cheng humbly begs the Daoist for mercy. Please help my daughter!”

This time, the man begging Du Yuan was no longer the Han clan’s Vice Governor of Qingzhou, but Han Tang’s father, Han Cheng.

Du Yuan still paid him no attention. Instead, he looked toward Han Tang, who was growing increasingly anxious.

“What happened?”

“What is going on?”

“Father? Father, what happened to you? Did you offend the Daoist?!”

Unable to see anything at all, Han Tang was frantic and helpless. Only after a long while did she react and seize her maid’s hand.

“Quickly—quickly, help me to the Daoist!”

With the maid supporting her, Han Tang finally reached Du Yuan. After having the maid confirm that she was facing the Daoist, Han Tang pushed her away. Relying on years of habit, she straightened her clothing and knelt precisely half a body’s length behind her father.

“Han Tang has failed to heed the Daoist’s guidance and has come today to atone. I only beg you not to blame my father. He is merely too deeply concerned for the Han clan.”

Du Yuan smiled.

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“I have already built the bridge and made the introductions. Whether it succeeds or fails is a matter for your Han clan alone. I have no reason to blame you. Naturally, neither do I have any reason to help you or your clan.”

His gaze passed over Han Tang and swept toward the group of Han clansmen behind them.

When Du Yuan looked their way, even those among them who held high office hurriedly bowed and retreated in terror, their shame impossible to conceal.

An opportunity had been delivered straight to their doorstep, yet they had kicked it away because of their internal struggle.

It was stupidity taken to the extreme. Before long, they would likely become the laughingstock of all Qingzhou.

Han Cheng cried out in desperation,

“Daoist, if my Han clan has no affinity with this opportunity, no one else can be blamed. But my daughter was dragged into this by us. She absolutely should not have suffered such a fate!”

“Father, Han Tang is also a member of the Han clan. If the Han clan has done wrong, then Han Tang has done wrong as well. Please say no more!”

On this matter, Han Tang was remarkably resolute.

She had had a chance to succeed—and a very good chance at that. If her own stupidity had ruined it, then there was no need for her father to make excuses on her behalf.

Yet moments later, grief welled up within her once more.

She had come all this way to confess her error. Had the Daoist blamed her, at least there would have been something she could do.

But now...

On the surface, nothing had happened. Yet that was precisely what proved that the Han clan’s immortal opportunity had been severed.

Her father had led everyone out of the city in such haste today. Though they had tried to conceal their purpose, they might not truly have escaped the notice of those with keen eyes.

Given enough time, the great clans of other regions—and even the imperial family—would likely come once they heard the news.

After all, who would be willing to give up a genuine immortal opportunity?

It was true that the great clans of distant provinces might dismiss it as yet another ridiculous rumor because of the long journey.

But what of the local clans? Qingzhou did not belong to the Han clan alone!

One wrong step led to another. There was no hope left.

“Have you finished?”

Du Yuan’s voice sounded above her head.

Han Tang’s expression grew even more bitter.

“Han Tang has nothing more to say.”

Du Yuan nodded, then beckoned to the old village chief and the others.

“In the future, many more people may come seeking the roof tiles in your possession. Since they were given to you as gifts, it is only right that you decide what to do with them yourselves.”

“Whether you trade them for an opportunity or keep them to protect your homes and bring peace to your families is entirely up to you, good villagers.”

The villagers nodded repeatedly, their faces showing a measure of relief.

At first, they had been overjoyed to receive such treasures. But after the distinguished members of the Han clan arrived, they realized that they might not be able to keep them.

They had even worried that handing the tiles over rashly might displease the mountain god.

Now, at last, the Daoist had given them his assurance.

Still...

Many of the villagers gazed at the tiles in their hands with reluctance.

What could money compare to the health and blessings of their children and grandchildren?

After all, they had heard that a monster had appeared that day!

Meanwhile, the members of the Han clan grew increasingly excited.

Did this mean they could trade for an opportunity after all?

But before their thoughts could run any further, they heard Du Yuan say with an enigmatic smile,

“You need not fear anyone forcing a sale—or even simply taking them by force. That one will never agree to it.”

Everyone followed the direction of Du Yuan’s finger and saw the statue of the deity.

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Though the statue remained dilapidated, the moment the Han clansmen looked toward it, they all suddenly felt as if Mount Tai were pressing down upon them. They nearly collapsed beneath the weight.

They understood that the Daoist was warning them about what had just happened. The old man had handed over his roof tile entirely because he feared the prestige and power of the Han clan.

This was a warning not to act foolishly.

Thus, the Han clansmen could only nod repeatedly and murmur their agreement.

Before long, however, they all turned their eyes toward the few roof tiles still lying on the ground.

The Daoist had distributed them here just now. Could those be precious tiles from the shrine as well?

But before they could devise any plans, Du Yuan heard the voice continue in his ear.

“Use the little seal I gave you and touch it to them.”

Du Yuan did as instructed. He took out the small seal engraved with the archaic characters meaning “By decree, suppress the earth and encompass the world,” and tapped it lightly against the remaining roof tiles.

In the next instant, all the tiles were drawn into the seal.

Du Yuan’s eyes lit up.

Wonderful. Cleaning things up would be so much easier from now on!

Beside him, the members of the Han clan stared at the divine feat in astonishment, then lamented even more bitterly.

As expected, they truly had no fate with it!

After nodding, Du Yuan said to everyone,

“Since that is settled, this poor Daoist shall take his leave.”

The matter here was over. It was time to continue on to the next destination.

The members of the Han clan did not dare stop him and hurriedly cleared a path. The villagers likewise rushed forward to offer their thanks. The Daoist had shown them great kindness that day.

He had given them treasures and offered them guidance.

A transcendent master was indeed nothing less than this!

Only Han Tang and her father remained kneeling blankly where they were.

The Daoist truly was unwilling to intervene.

And rightly so. The Daoist owed them nothing. If anything, it was the Han clan that owed the Daoist.

Though they understood this in their hearts, they could not conceal the bitterness on their faces.

“Han Tang bids the Daoist farewell!”

Swallowing down the bitterness in their hearts, Han Tang and Han Cheng turned toward Du Yuan’s departing figure and bowed once more.

Du Yuan did not bid farewell to the one within the shrine. That voice still lingered and echoed softly in his ears.

A true farewell would come only when he stepped beyond this mountain.

Just as he was about to leave the sight of the others, Du Yuan suddenly stopped.

With the tip of his foot, he casually nudged a stubborn stone beside the road into a shallow depression.

Then he stepped on it twice, tamping down the earth and leveling the path before drifting away.

To everyone else, it appeared to be nothing more than a casual effort to smooth the road, and no one gave it much thought.

Only Han Cheng, who stood nearby in a daze after his daughter’s blindness had left him utterly distraught, remained blankly frozen for a moment before suddenly awakening as though struck by lightning.

He abruptly turned toward the direction in which Du Yuan had departed, then bowed deeply to the ground. His voice trembled with barely contained excitement and gratitude.

“Han Zaiyuan bows in thanks for the Daoist’s guidance!”