Xia Tianze saw that these fellows were putting on sour faces, and his heart grew displeased as well.
"You lot really think the Grand Sovereign had it out for you? Do you even realize that your great cultivations being buried in the Sealing Devil War — would that truly be a worthy end? The Sealing Devil War wouldn't have been any different with a few more of you, nor would it have suffered with a few fewer. But the Grand Sovereign kept you alive to this day, and you think there was never any chance to join the fight against the devils? The Sealing Devil War was, at most, about sealing the demon race away. The demons were never destroyed. Now that the demon war has begun again, you have every opportunity — you can even play a more important role than in the ancient era. So why are you putting on this affected act?"
Tian Kun Shang Ren sighed. "Friend Xia, that may be so, but the Grand Sovereign went against our wishes. That wasn't exactly above-board, was it?"
"Hmph, you ossified relics. When the greater situation is at stake, do you really think everything must follow rigid rules and be perfectly above-board? If that were the case, the ten human domains would have been destroyed by the demon race long ago. When circumstances are dire, making accommodations for the greater good — that takes vision and the courage of true destiny."
Xia Tianze's scolding was far from finished. He pressed on: "Back then, the Grand Sovereign never expected you to understand his good intentions. And now, two hundred thousand years later, you still can't grasp it. Do you know what that proves? It proves that your thinking lags behind the Grand Sovereign's by more than two hundred thousand years!"
Jiang Chen smiled faintly as well. "Seniors, if you were to leave my side now, where would you go? Would you seek out the demon race for a final stand, sacrificing yourselves for your sects? That might be glorious, but how much meaning would it truly carry?"
The five exchanged glances.
The reason they had been hemming and hawing, unable to speak frankly, was not because they had any objections toward Jiang Chen. They were simply still nursing old grudges over what had happened back then.
If they were truly asked to leave, they honestly had nowhere to go.
After all, the world they had returned to was no longer the world they had known. The world they were familiar with had vanished completely. Returning to the human domain now, they were entirely out of step with this era. They likely wouldn't be able to fit in at all.
Jiang Chen understood their thoughts perfectly well, and he smiled. "Seniors..."
Chongxiao Zunzhe hastily spoke up. "Young friend, you can't call us seniors anymore. You are the new master of the Glazed Palace — in terms of standing in the jianghu, you already surpass us. Moreover, you are the sect master of our ancient Danxiao Sect. Your position is higher than mine, old as I am. To call me senior would be far too much."
The others nodded in agreement as well.
This title of "senior" was already something they could barely accept. And besides, judging by the way Xia Tianze was glaring with fury and gritting his teeth — if they calmly accepted Jiang Chen calling them senior, and Xia Tianze in turn had to call Jiang Chen "Young Master," then wouldn't Xia Tianze have to call them senior as well?
Truthfully, before Xia Tianze, they were somewhat inferior — whether in strength or in their standing back in the day. Putting on airs before him was something they simply couldn't do.
Jiang Chen smiled leisurely and said, "Since that's how all of you feel, then this junior will be so bold as to address you all as elder brothers. You are all great figures of the ancient era, and today's world has been turned completely upside down. However, having been suppressed within the Six Heritage Palaces for so many years, you must be eager to go out and get some fresh air. I wouldn't dare keep you here. In that case, the doors of the Glazed Palace are always open to you. You may go out first and experience what it feels like to be free again — enjoy some time without a care."
The five, seeing Jiang Chen's courtesy, felt a measure of shame.
Chongxiao Zunzhe cupped his fists. "Young Master Jiang, since you are the young master of the Danxiao Sect, it is only right that Chongxiao serves you as his lord. Give me a little time to ease my heart. I will certainly return."
Tian Kun Shang Ren sighed as well. "I hold Young Master Jiang in the highest regard. The frustration of these years needs to be washed away by a breath of fresh air. After some time, I too will return to fulfill my oath and serve Young Master Jiang."
"I, Hong Hou, will not go back on my word."
That mad old hermit nodded too. "I need to go out and see for myself what the human domain looks like now — to see what has become of our old homeland."
Danfu Laoren sighed. "Let us go, then. Young Master Jiang is merciful. We shall not fail him."
The five stepped forward to bow to Jiang Chen. Jiang Chen did not stand on ceremony but returned the salute, smiling as he watched them depart.
This left Xia Tianze quite perplexed.
"Young Master, these fellows once gave their word to the Glazed Grand Sovereign. Even with a new successor, they would have been obligated to serve you for a long while. There was absolutely no need for you to be so courteous to them. Experts of the ancient era value their oaths above all else. They wouldn't dare break them."
Jiang Chen smiled. "If I pressed them with their oath, the resentment in their hearts would be very hard to dispel. I'm letting them go to clear their heads and relax. Give it a year or half a year — three to five years at most — and they'll come back. Don't worry. They won't get far, and they won't be gone for long."
"Not necessarily. What if they find the outside world so fascinating that they never return? Or what if they deliberately drag their feet?" Xia Tianze seemed unconvinced.
"Senior..."
"Don't call me senior!" Xia Tianze waved his hand hurriedly. "Call me Old Xia, or just Tianze. I am the Young Master's attendant. I wouldn't dare presume to be called senior."
Seeing Xia Tianze's earnest expression, Jiang Chen knew this was no joke. He sighed softly. "Very well, then. I'll call you Brother Xia."
"Fine, fine. Young Master, your benevolence and kindness are not necessarily a good thing," Xia Tianze lamented.
"Ha ha. If you expect me to be an exact replica of the Glazed Grand Sovereign, that's simply unrealistic. After all, my temperament differs greatly from his. But sometimes, benevolence isn't necessarily a bad thing — it depends on the person. Take those five, for example. They've been suppressed inside the Six Heritage Palaces for so long that they're already frustrated. If I were to press them with their oath on top of that, their resentment would only grow. Even if they submitted to me, they would hardly do so wholeheartedly. But if I let them leave for a time, when they find the outside world tedious and themselves at a loss, they'll come back of their own accord. And when they realize that I can bring them more enjoyment and a greater sense of purpose, they will truly pledge themselves to me."
"At a loss? Bored?" Xia Tianze looked utterly confused.
"Brother Xia, you've been cooped up here for so long that you don't understand just how much the outside world has changed. I can guarantee you that once they step out, they will be completely at a loss. The human domain of today and the human domain of the ancient era are no longer the same world. They don't operate on the same wavelength. Once they go out, they'll only become more frustrated."
(End of Chapter)