Steward Hu, born Hu Laogen, was called Xiaogen in his youth and Laogen in his old age.
He was indeed a paternal uncle of Hu Shaomeng, though not particularly close.
Unlike the Hu father and son, who spoke the official language of Great Qi, he had never managed to shed his rustic accent, which made it no surprise that he never seemed like a member of the upper class.
Among the elite of Yang State, speaking the official tongue of Great Qi had become fashionable, sometimes even serving as a symbol of status.
His feelings toward Jiang Chen were complex. At first, he had felt this cultivator lord was different from others, treating him with respect. This led him to believe that the man was good, refusing to harm him even when threatened by Ge Heng.
Later, when Jiang Chen revealed his identity and allowed the mine to continue operating while still entrusting him with its management, Steward Hu felt a surge of gratitude.
Now, however, with Jiang Chen and the Hu Shaomeng faction on the verge of a complete fallout, he was left standing there in awkward indecision.
He stood silently to the side, watching Jiang Chen speak with Su Xiuxing.
"My lord, how should we handle those people?" Su Xiuxing quickly settled into his role, attending to Jiang Chen’s every need with great tact.
He was naturally referring to the heads of those minor families.
In his mind, the obvious solution was to simply execute them. But Jiang Chen was the boss now, and the decision was his to make.
"What do you think, Steward Hu?" Jiang Chen asked.
Steward Hu was taken aback, then replied respectfully, "I have no thoughts of my own, I shall do as you wish."
Earlier, Jiang Chen had asked Steward Hu to call him 'A'An' because he did not stand on ceremony. But now that he controlled a territory, rules and decorum had to be established.
However, Jiang Chen had no intention of making him choose a side.
There was no need to involve such a common, frail old man in the conflicts of the transcendent world.
Back when Jiang Chen had first entered the mine under the alias Dugu An, it was in this very room that Steward Hu had hired him.
The patched hole he had seen back then had been mended once again, and now it was hard to spot.
"Some holes are patched up. No matter how meticulously you fix them, leaving no trace, they are never quite the same as before."
Jiang Chen sighed, rising to his feet. "I will deal with them myself."
The Hu family’s mine had originally constructed six small courtyards for transcendent cultivators, two of which had been drawing empty salaries for years, defrauding the Chongxuan family of Dao Essence Stones.
Now, Su Xiuxing occupied one, while the other held the five men sent over by Xi Zichu.
When Jiang Chen walked in, they all looked terrified.
Having been sent by Xi Zichu, they had a premonition of their own end. But with their entire families held hostage by him, they dared not speak out of turn.
Under Su Xiuxing’s interrogation, they had only been able to confess what they believed to be the "truth" in their own hearts.
Hiring assassins to strike at the Chongxuan family’s envoy and framing the Xi family was a plan that seemed incredibly bold in hindsight. Yet, influenced by the Dream-Recall Incense, it was indeed the decision they had made in their hearts.
Ten lives would not be enough to pay for it.
Their only hope now was that Xi Zichu would keep his promise and not wipe out their families. And that Jiang Chen would be quick and merciful, not subjecting them to torture.
"I have no interest in your lives," Jiang Chen said as soon as he entered the courtyard.
The five men kneeling on the ground looked up.
"I know you hired assassins to strike at me, that you wanted to frame the Xi family, and to cause friction between the Chongxuan family and the Xi family. I know all of this... but I intend to forgive you."
Jiang Chen smiled gently. "After all, you caused me no actual harm, did you?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"My lord is magnanimous!"
"You are truly kind-hearted."
The five were ecstatic, ignoring their pain and rushing to flatter him. Had they not been tightly bound, they likely would have tried to kiss the soles of Jiang Chen’s shoes.
Only Su Xiuxing’s heart skipped a beat at the word "forgive."
"But," Jiang Chen shifted his tone. "How exactly should I forgive you? Personally, I don’t care, but your actions have already challenged the dignity of the Chongxuan family. If I just send you back like this, people will think the Chongxuan family are clay statues without any fire in their bellies."
The five looked at one another in dismay.
Su Xiuxing hardened his scalp and spoke up, "My lord is indeed kind-hearted. If I were them, I would be willing to give up my life for you!"
These heads of minor families suddenly understood. The sharpest among them blurted out, "Compensation! We will certainly compensate! However you want! We will give up everything!"
As he shouted, he began to cry. "As long as you don’t kill me, don’t kill my whole family, you can have everything."
The moment these words left his mouth, the room was filled with weeping.
They were terrified. Those who have never truly faced death can hardly imagine such fear.
"Enough, enough." Jiang Chen had to cut them off, speaking as gently as he could. "If I don’t even plan to kill you, why would I kill your families? You don’t need to give up everything either. I am not a greedy man."
"Let’s make it a deal. Three is a lucky number. Thirty percent. I only want thirty percent of each of your family fortunes to appease the anger of the Chongxuan family. How about that?"
There was no need to hesitate.
"Yes! Absolutely!"
"My lord, not a single coin will be missing."
The five nodded like pounding garlic.
"As for me personally..." Jiang Chen drawled. "Do you have any unique secret arts? They don’t need to be particularly strong, as long as they have unique insights. I personally enjoy collecting unique secret arts; they improve my mood greatly."
"Yes! I will have them sent to you immediately!"
"My family doesn’t have any, but I know where to find them. Within three days, I will definitely get them for you."
"..."
Jiang Chen nodded, satisfied.
It felt like he was getting better at this.
"Xiuxing, let them all go. The money should be converted into Dao Essence Stones, and along with the secret arts, they can be delivered later." Jiang Chen gave the five a smile. "I trust you all."
"We will not disappoint you, my lord!"
"A good man is rewarded!"
Leaving the tide of flattery and vows behind, he left all the affairs in the courtyard to Su Xiuxing.
It was a waste not to use a capable subordinate when one was at hand.
Jiang Chen turned and walked away.
He didn't expect these minor families to possess any powerful secret arts; what he cared about was their rarity and uniqueness. Offering them to the Deduction Platform would generate more dharma, which could be used for unsealing.
Of course, his goal of not proactively helping the Xi family eliminate their rivals did not need to be spoken aloud.
He believed Xi Zichu was perceptive enough to see through it and understand his warning.
The rest was simply a matter of choice.
...
Back in his courtyard, he summoned Xiaoxiao.
Without worrying about Zhu Biqiong standing nearby, Jiang Chen asked directly, "Do you have any other relatives you can go to?"
Xiaoxiao immediately dropped to her knees, on the verge of tears. "My lord, are you... are you sending me away?"
Jiang Chen casually lifted her up and said gently, "It’s not that. It’s just that things here might become very dangerous soon. It won’t be safe for you to stay."
"My lord, I don’t want to go. I’m not afraid of danger. Please don’t send me away..." Xiaoxiao sobbed.
It was only after meeting Jiang Chen that she had finally lived a somewhat normal life.
Like a drowning person desperately trying to grab onto a life-saving straw, she simply could not let go.
"If she doesn’t want to go, just let her stay," Zhu Biqiong said from the side, unable to bear the sight.
Jiang Chen rolled his eyes at her. "If she stays, will you stay and protect her if any danger arises?"
"I will protect her then!" Zhu Biqiong retorted.
"Good. It’s a deal."
Zhu Biqiong: "..."
She suddenly had the feeling she had been tricked.
At that moment, Jiang Chen spoke again, "Are you still interested in trading your Mirage Pearl? I can trade you my Tiger Bind. But you must promise me that you will never spread it to anyone else."
Tiger Bind was indeed precious, but it was not unique. Trading it for the Mirage Pearl, which could immediately boost his combat strength, was a profitable deal.
"Of course!" Zhu Biqiong replied crisply. She hurriedly took out the Mirage Pearl and handed it to Jiang Chen. "Here!"
She said it as if she were afraid he might change his mind.
For Zhu Biqiong, the Mirage Pearl was a treasure, but she could still find a way to get a new one at the Diaohai Building. An opportunity to acquire a Dao art as powerful as Tiger Bind was rare. She had experienced its power firsthand, and it was undoubtedly a brilliant combat technique.
Jiang Chen handed her the copy he had long since prepared, completing this mutually beneficial exchange. With the combination of the Mirage Pearl, how much power would the Blossom Sea Dao art be able to display? He was quite looking forward to it.