Chapter 35

C35 – They Came to Apologize

“Patriarch Jiaang, what are you saying? It was I who had the audacity to disturb you.”

Hua Yuru rose to his feet and approached Jiaang Zhengzu, his hands clasped in a respectful fist, his face adorned with a congenial smile.

“May I inquire as to the purpose of Elder Hua’s visit today?”

Jiaang Zhengzu inquired.

“Big brother, are you pretending not to know? It’s common knowledge throughout Clear Water Town that Jiaang Lin has injured a disciple of the Dao Artifact Hall and has severely wounded Tang Bei.”

“What else could Elder Hua’s visit possibly be about?”

Before Hua Yuru could respond, Jiaang Zhengshan interjected abruptly.

A sly glint passed through his eyes as he glanced at Jiaang Lin.

In the same vein, Jiaang Xiang’s gaze landed on Jiaang Lin with a trace of mockery.

The Jiaang family high-level men accompanying Jiaang Zhengshan couldn’t help but sneer to themselves, convinced that Jiaang Lin was bound to face the Dao Artifact Hall’s retribution today!

“Who gave you the right to interrupt while I’m speaking with Elder Hua?”

Jiaang Zhengzu’s brow furrowed, his expression turning icy as he barked in anger.

He was deeply displeased; Jiaang Zhengshan’s remarks were clearly meant to provoke a confrontation.

“Hmph!”

Chastised publicly by Jiaang Zhengzu, Jiaang Zhengshan was visibly upset. He huffed disdainfully and fell silent.

“Let me be frank with you, Patriarch Jiaang. My visit today is to offer an apology.”

Out of the blue, Hua Yuru declared with a chuckle.

The room fell into a collective shock at his words.

Jiaang Zhengzu was taken aback, and so were all the Jiaang family high-level men.

Even Jiaang Zhengshan and Jiaang Xiang stood frozen, questioning whether they had misheard.

An apology?

Hua Yuru, as a high-ranking official of the Dao Artifact Hall, held a prestigious position and was one of the most formidable figures in Clear Water Town, held in high esteem by all.

After a while, Jiaang Lin waved his hand dismissively, clearly impatient.

“Aren’t you going to thank Young Master Jiaang for his mercy?”

Upon hearing Jiaang Lin’s words, Hua Yuru, with an impassive face, cast a glance at Tang Bei, Tang Tian, and the rest, and barked a command.

At this, Tang Bei and the others quickly bowed their heads in gratitude and then scrambled away in disarray.

From now on, they wouldn’t dare cross Jiaang Lin again.

They were well aware of one thing: the once deemed worthless Young Lord of the Dao Artifact Hall, Shaang Duoge, had inexplicably begun a powerful ascent. His cultivation was steadily returning, and he was reclaiming his status as a prodigy!

Should they provoke Jiaang Lin again, they feared they wouldn’t just be apologizing; they’d likely end up dismembered and fed to the dogs by Shaang Duoge.

“Young Master Jiaang, this is a modest gift from the Dao Artifact Hall. Please accept it with our compliments!”

Suddenly, Hua Yuru addressed Jiaang Lin with a beaming smile.

Shortly thereafter, a Dao Artifact Hall Expert presented a Pill Refining Furnace.

Around them, the Jiaang family’s senior members gaped at the sight of the Pill Refining Furnace.

Though they were not versed in the Pill Dao, they had enough insight to recognize that the Pill Refining Furnace was the Dao Artifact Hall’s treasured artifact from Clear Water Town—a High Grade Yellow Rank Pill Furnace of considerable worth!

The Jiaang family’s top brass were utterly astounded.

Hua Yuru was actually offering such a prized pill furnace to Jiaang Lin?!

Jiaang Zhengshan and Jiaang Xiang, father and son, were green with envy.

They were at a loss, completely unable to fathom what Jiaang Lin had done to merit not only avoiding punishment from Hua Yuru but also receiving such a lavish gift.

What on earth had that man done to earn Hua Yuru’s profound respect?

“Well then, I shall humbly accept your generous gift. My thanks to you, Elder Hua.”

​Jiaang Lin gratefully accepted the pill furnace, his face alight with a smile. Even though the quality of the pill furnace wouldn’t impact his Pill Formation Rate or the quality of his creations, given his expertise in Pill Refining Arts from his past life, he was nonetheless pleased to work with a superior tool. There was absolutely no reason to decline such a gift.

​”Young Master Jiaang, your words are too generous. Truth be told, the Dao Artifact Hall owes you a tremendous debt of gratitude. This pill furnace is but a small token of my appreciation; there’s no need for thanks,” Hua Yuru said with a chuckle.

​He was well-informed about Jiaang Lin’s success in healing Shaang Duoge’s longstanding ailments, enabling Shaang Duoge to swiftly regain his former prowess and status as the preeminent prodigy of the Dragon Abyss Empire. To Hua Yuru, Shaang Duoge’s resurgence was far more valuable than any Yellow Rank High Grade pill furnace.

​In Jiaang Lin’s view, whether it was the Dao Artifact Hall in Clear Water Town or the one in the Imperial City, both had been immensely favored by him. Such a debt of gratitude was immeasurable and impossible to repay. How could he, then, presume to accept Jiaang Lin’s thanks?

Beyond that, Hua Yuru was also deeply impressed by Jiaang Lin’s exceptional talent and capabilities. Offering a Yellow Rank High Grade Pill Furnace was his way of forging a bond with a genius of Jiaang Lin’s caliber. After all, someone capable of healing Shaang Duoge’s chronic condition was certainly no ordinary individual. Hua Yuru was acutely aware that even the current president of the Imperial City Pill Refining Master Guild had been unable to treat Shaang Duoge’s illness.