Chapter 126: That Is Indeed My Wayward Disciple

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For a long while, more than half of the sun had already dipped below the other side of the mountain.

"Um, Master, I have something I need your help with," Baili Mo said after hesitating for a long time.

"Speak," Jinxuanzi replied, his tone as unhurried as ever.

"Master, do you know of the Zhao Manor in Chang'an City?" Baili Mo asked cautiously.

"I know a thing or two. Zhao Yuan of the Zhao Manor has some ability for a mortal; he is considered a fierce general under the city lord here," Jinxuanzi said, somewhat puzzled as to why his disciple was bringing up the Zhao Manor, yet he remained patient.

"Well, if I were to say that I’ve formed a tiny bit of a grudge with this Zhao Manor, would you choose the Zhao Manor or your cute, kind, upright, brave, handsome, and charming disciple?" Baili Mo asked, still treading carefully.

Although he still did not know exactly what had happened, Jinxuanzi took a deep breath first, just to ensure he wouldn't be driven to anger later.

"It depends on the situation!" After a long pause, Jinxuanzi finally squeezed out these words.

"Then, um, there’s a spoiled brat in the Zhao Manor named Zhao Wenshang. Do you know of him, Master?"

"I don't know much about him. The affairs of mortals are far removed from us, but from what others say, he is Zhao Yuan's only son."

"Oh~ an only son, huh? Well, to put it briefly, I think I’ve left the Zhao Manor without an heir," Baili Mo said, organizing his thoughts.

"??? What? What did you just say?" It took a long time for Jinxuanzi to recover. Whether it was Zhao Yuan or Zhao Wenshang, they were mere mortals; normally, this wouldn't be a major issue.

However, cutting off someone's lineage causes a loss of merit and lifespan. This is especially true for those who cultivate immortality. Taoism emphasizes "wu wei" (non-action) and remaining untainted by the red dust of the world; cutting off another's lineage is a grave taboo, something that must never be done.

If one does this without cause or enmity, the perpetrator may become entangled in endless karma and fall into negative karmic retribution, often leading to a regression in cultivation rather than progress.

"What exactly happened?" Jinxuanzi asked.

"It wasn't a big deal. I just happened upon him trying to molest a woman, so I punished him severely and castrated him," Baili Mo replied.

"Sigh, you brat, you never let me have a moment of peace," Jinxuanzi shook his head, though there was a hint of approval in his eyes. In this case, the matter was easier to resolve.

Though those who cultivate the Tao do not wish to be entangled in karma, they are not necessarily afraid of it. If a cultivator were to act against their own conscience, being timid and indifferent while others were bullied, they would likely not make it far on the path of cultivation.

"Master, did I cause you trouble?" Baili Mo scratched his head.

"You brat, who else's master would I be? Let's go. We'll head to the Zhao Manor, settle this, and cut off this thread of karma," Jinxuanzi said, sounding annoyed.

"Got it!" Baili Mo smiled.

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Sunset fades, night emerges, and the stars begin to twinkle.

At the Zhao Manor.

In the main hall, a man sat in the seat of honor. He was bearded, broad-shouldered, and thick-waisted, with an aura of slaughter clinging to him—the kind only earned by someone who has lived a life stained by the blade. It was enough to deter petty thieves, and common ghosts dared not approach him.

"Speak! Why has my son become like this? Who wants to end my Zhao family line!" Zhao Yuan questioned with a ferocious expression, looking at the two black-clad guards kneeling below.

"This... it was a junior, but..." one of the guards stammered.

"A junior! You couldn't even handle a junior! And you let my son suffer such pain! What use is the Zhao Manor in keeping you!" Zhao Yuan roared in fury.

"But, but that junior is..." the guard continued, only to be interrupted by the enraged Zhao Yuan.

"That junior? He’s just a bastard! An ill-bred, death-defying piece of trash! Daring to bully the son of Zhao Yuan! I will make him wish he were dead! I will exterminate his entire clan!"

Zhao Yuan smashed a vase to pieces and pointed at the trembling guards, shouting, "Search! Search for him! Call everyone in the manor who has hands and feet and grab your weapons! I want everyone to know that I, Zhao Yuan, am the one in charge here!"

"That person, we know his background," after a while, the guard, dazed from the scolding, remembered he hadn't finished his sentence. He knew that if Zhao Yuan found out the boy was a disciple of Jinxuanzi, he would only vent his anger on them.

Outside the manor.

*Slap!* Jinxuanzi tapped his horsetail whisk against Baili Mo's head.

"How many times must I tell you? Do not use your spiritual sense to pry into others unless it is necessary," Jinxuanzi said calmly.

"Haha, Master, I couldn't help it," Baili Mo chuckled sheepishly. Of course, he had done it on purpose. With Jinxuanzi there, even if his spiritual sense was detected, he had nothing to fear.

He had originally wanted to see the condition of the crippled Zhao Wenshang and whether he would seek trouble with Lotus again, but he hadn't expected Jinxuanzi to notice and interrupt him so quickly.

"But Master, they were calling your cute, kind, upright, brave, handsome, and charming disciple names. Don't you have any thoughts on that?" Baili Mo peeked at Jinxuanzi, knowing that with his master's power, everything happening inside couldn't be hidden from him.

"Thoughts? What thoughts should I have?" Jinxuanzi said, appearing indifferent, which left Baili Mo quite dejected.

"Let's go. Time to solve your mess," Jinxuanzi said casually.

Then, with a loud *boom*, the gates of the Zhao Manor were shattered, and the side walls collapsed. Jinxuanzi walked in with calm composure, leaving Baili Mo stunned behind him.

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Clearly, Jinxuanzi was angry. One thing was to lecture his disciple himself, but it was another for others to threaten to exterminate his family.

A disciple can be tolerant, but a master cannot!

"Who! Who dares break into my Zhao Manor! Have you grown tired of living?" A roar erupted from within. Zhao Yuan, broad-shouldered and fierce-faced, stormed out, looking as if he intended to tear the intruders to pieces.

The Zhao Manor was in an uproar. Several cultivators leaped onto the rooftops, their bodies radiating thick spiritual energy as they looked down at Jinxuanzi and Baili Mo with an air of condescension.

As a fierce general under the Lord of Chang'an, he naturally had cultivators as guest retainers. After all, not all cultivators are willing to endure the hardships of ascetic practice. Some have various reasons; powerful mortals provide them with all the conveniences of the mortal world, and in exchange, these cultivators agree to intervene when necessary.

"Today! My Zhao Manor has truly gone through a series of misfortunes! First my son is crippled, and then my manor is stormed. Do you really think my Zhao Manor is defenseless and can be bullied at will?" Zhao Yuan sneered.

"Honored Immortals, my manor has been bullied to this extent today. I beg you, do not refuse to act; help me slay these two who know nothing of the height of the sky or the depth of the earth!" Zhao Yuan turned and bowed to the cultivators on the roof.

"General Zhao, you are too polite. We have been guests of yours for some time now; leave such trivial matters to us," one of the cultivators spoke first, his arrogant demeanor showing he didn't hold the two below in any regard—the typical pride of an immortal cultivator.

As soon as he spoke, they leaped down, rushing toward Jinxuanzi and unleashing their signature techniques. In an instant, the Zhao Manor was illuminated by the flashing lights of various spells.

"General, General, you must not!" A black-clad guard, having just arrived nearby, saw the scene and his face turned deathly pale. Realizing the implications, he rushed to shout at Zhao Yuan.

"What? What must I not do?" Zhao Yuan heard the guard and turned, only to see the man's ashen face, feeling utterly confused.

The next moment, *bang, bang, bang!* Several figures blurred past Zhao Yuan's eyes at blinding speed, followed by loud crashes. Large sections of the Zhao Manor collapsed into a pile of rubble.

Regaining his composure, Zhao Yuan looked forward and saw the previously arrogant cultivators now groaning in the ruins. Even in his recklessness, he realized he had kicked a hard rock. If this wasn't handled well, it would mean big trouble.

"Master, didn't we strike a bit too fast? We forgot to introduce ourselves," Baili Mo said from behind him.

"It doesn't matter. It's the same to announce it now," Jinxuanzi said, looking at the wailing cultivators, feeling slightly more satisfied.

"This... Daoist, I swear I have never known you, nor have I offended you. Why have you destroyed my Zhao Manor?" His voice was significantly weaker than before.

"I am Jinxuanzi of the Nanxuan Sect. The 'junior,' 'bastard,' and 'ill-bred piece of trash' you spoke of earlier is my own unworthy disciple," Jinxuanzi said, looking up with calm indifference.