Shang Xinci was a kind-hearted woman by nature, yet at this moment, her actions were overwhelmingly powerful — in a single instant, she had subdued the entire situation.
The world of Gu Cultivators was simply like that: the strong were respected.
But although Shang Xinci had confined everyone, she did not mete out punishment. Instead, she once more made a public promise: she would compensate them all at double the price.
And though she understood there were those among them with hidden agendas, she did not move against them either, releasing every single one.
"Shang Xinci actually let them all go!"
"Hmph, the mercy of a fool."
"She didn't even strike. If it were me, I'd rather kill a thousand by mistake than let a single one go."
Shang Yazi and the others whispered among themselves in the shadows, all expressing disdain to mask the unease in their hearts.
Shang Qiuniu, however, wore a complicated expression. "Perhaps this is exactly what makes Shang Xinci different from us. And why Father valued her enough to make her Clan Leader."
"Shang Qiuniu, what kind of talk is that?" someone immediately shot back.
Shang Qiuniu spoke calmly. "You all just saw it with your own eyes — Shang Xinci's strength is far greater than any of ours. When she took the position of Clan Leader before, she held the Shang Clan firmly in place, and every branch of business flourished under her management. True, she abolished the slave trade, but the Clan's income only dipped for a short time before climbing back — even surpassing what it had been before."
"We must admit one thing: Shang Xinci's abilities exceed ours, and now her reputation for benevolence spreads even further. Father valued precisely this and passed the position of Clan Leader to her — it was not favoritism or indulgence."
Shang Qiuniu had died and come back to life, and that brush with death had become an invaluable asset, allowing him to view matters with greater rationality and composure.
But then Shang Yifan let out a cold laugh. "Elder Qiuniu, even if what you say is true — so what? Whoever takes the position of Clan Leader will be cultivated by the family into an Immortal. This is an Immortal Fortune! Even if Shang Xinci's ability and virtue far surpass ours, what of it? This Immortal Fortune — will you fight for it or not?"
Shang Qiuniu was silent for a long while before he nodded, his expression grave, and uttered a single word: "Fight."
After Shang Xinci had released the troublemaking Gu Cultivators, she went on to comfort the sellers in the shops.
An elderly man tottered up to Shang Xinci and offered his thanks. "If you, Clan Leader, had not come here personally today, this old man would surely have been done for. Sigh — it was all my own failing. Blinded by greed, I listened to rumors and purchased a large batch of cheap goods. I never imagined they would all turn out to be fakes."
Xiaodie pursed her lips. "You, old man — you've been doing business in Shangliang Mountain for several years now. You've run your shop for long enough. How can you still be so short-sighted?"
The old man's face flushed with shame.
"Xiaodie." Shang Xinci, on the contrary, was understanding. "The Gu Cultivators living here mostly have it hard. If I were the one running this business, naturally I would want to earn more as well. That's only human nature."
Xiaodie huffed at the old man. "You old fossil, count yourself lucky you ran into our Miss. From now on, keep your eyes open and stop chasing petty bargains — got it?"
"Got it, got it," the old man replied hurriedly.
"Miss, let's go — looking at these people just makes me angry. If they hadn't been greedy for cheap prices, how could counterfeit goods have flooded the market?" Xiaodie turned to face Shang Xinci.
But the old man suddenly spoke up. "Please, Clan Leader, wait one moment."
Shang Xinci asked, "What else did you wish to say, old man?"
The old man hemmed and hawed before speaking. "I'm ashamed, truly deeply ashamed! I bought such a huge batch of counterfeit goods — I can never sell them now. But if I simply destroy them, I'll have lost everything! Clan Leader, didn't you just promise to provide compensation?"
"WHAT?!" Xiaodie exploded upon hearing this, pointing her finger straight at the old man's nose. "You old thing! How can you be so shameless? You made the mistake yourself, our Clan Leader protected you, and instead of being grateful, you want to extort us?!"
Xiaolan, standing nearby, was equally disgusted by such behavior and added, "You're so old, yet you act with no decency whatsoever. So all the losses are supposed to fall on our Shang Clan? There's no such rule in this world!"
But Shang Xinci stopped her two maids' reproaches. She looked at the old man before her, then at the group of sellers behind him.
Shang Xinci's gentle tone remained unchanged. "The old man raises a good point. Since I, Shang Xinci, am the Clan Leader of the Shang Clan, and since I made a public promise, I certainly will not go back on my word. Since I promised double compensation, I will absolutely see it through. The counterfeit goods you purchased can all be exchanged for double compensation."
"Thank you, Clan Leader!"
"Clan Leader, you are the most benevolent leader I have ever seen!"
"Clan Leader, you have saved my entire family! Without this compensation, we would all be thrown out on the street."
In the next moment, the various Gu Masters spoke up one after another. Some wept, some knelt on the spot, bowing in gratitude to Shang Xinci.
"Let's go." Shang Xinci took her two maids by the hand and left the area, walking to the street corner.
The two maids were still indignant.
Xiaodie complained, "Miss, you're too easygoing. You not only let those troublemaking Gu Cultivators go, but you're also compensating them double."
Xiaolan added, "Miss, I know you have a good heart and feel sympathy for those poor people. But among both buyers and sellers, there are certainly bad people hiding in the ranks. You're compensating everyone double now — I'm afraid we've already fallen into the scheme of the mastermind behind this. They want to drain our reserves of Yuan Stones first."
But Shang Xinci shook her head. "A few Yuan Stones — we lose a sum now, but in the future we can earn two sums, three sums, or even more. But if the Shang Clan's reputation is damaged, who knows how much effort and time it would take to restore."
"If I were reluctant to part with these Yuan Stones, then I truly would have fallen into the trap of those masterminds behind the scenes. Losing Yuan Stones is not a grave matter — damaging the Shang Clan's reputation is far more serious. It would mean I, Shang Xinci, have failed as Clan Leader. They could then seize on that to undermine my position."
Shang Xinci's voice was soft, her words measured and unhurried, giving the impression of a warm breeze brushing across one's face.
Both maids understood now.
Xiaolan said with genuine admiration, "So that's how it is. Miss, you truly are remarkable — you see everything so clearly!"
Xiaodie pouted. "What Miss says is right, it's just that this whole affair is so infuriating. Maybe that old man isn't a bad person, but he latched onto our weakness to profit at our expense! They won't go after the actual villains who cheated them — instead they pick on us, the good people! If Lord Fang Yuan were here, those people would be so scared they'd soil themselves and collapse on the ground. They'd never dare mess with us!"
Xiaolan glared fiercely at Xiaodie and stamped her foot, stepping hard on Xiaodie's toes.
Xiaodie yelped in pain, quickly stuck out her tongue, and begged Shang Xinci's pardon. "Miss, I'm sorry — I spoke out of turn."
Ever since Fang Yuan's battle with Lu Weiyin, when he had been struck by the Three Lives Dream Crossing Fate Gu attack, Shang Xinci had returned to Shangliang Mountain, and every time she heard Fang Yuan's name, she could not help but be plunged into grief and sorrow.
And so the name "Fang Yuan" had gradually become a taboo among those around Shang Xinci.
On the way back, the three of them — mistress and maids — walked in silence.