Chapter 270

The young masters sit astonished at the word “daughter.” Shang Ya Zi is first to work it out, striking his own forehead: this is why his father has treated the two guests with such courtesy. His fear of them drops away, replaced by great hatred hidden in his gaze, and he resolves to slowly deal with these two scoundrels once the evaluation season passes and he has his footing back. Shang Yan Fei confirms it: the Lady Zhang the two escorted through the caravan is his daughter, her bloodline detected the moment she entered Shang clan city, and both guests deserve a toast as her benefactors. ^{ch. 270}

The gate opens as Tian Lan, the young Gu Master serving Xin Ci under the name Xiao Die, pushes it and returns nervously to her mistress’s side. Xin Ci breathes out calmly and walks into the courtyard herself, and her steps stop short at the sight of Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing, her face lit with surprise. Bai Ning Bing’s shock, though, is not at seeing Xin Ci, but at understanding in that instant what Fang Yuan’s true motive for saving her had been all along. If Zhang Xin Ci is truly Shang Xin Ci, then he protected her knowing exactly who she was, and Bai Ning Bing cannot work out how, or whether the whole rescue had been part of a scheme. Xin Ci greets Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing by their false names and bows to her father, calling this the happiest day since she arrived in Shang clan city. She explains to Fang Yuan that she never lied on purpose, that her mother’s instruction sent her to Shang clan city after her mother’s passing, and that she understood the reason only after meeting her father. Bai Ning Bing’s confusion deepens further: even Xin Ci did not know her own parentage, yet Fang Yuan did, and Bai Ning Bing cannot see how. ^{ch. 270}

Fang Yuan sighs that this explains Shang clan’s good treatment, admits Hei Tu and Bai Yun were false names, then gives Gu Yue Fang Zheng and Bai Ning Bing as their true ones. Xin Ci repeats the name to memorize it, and Shang Yan Fei’s smile widens at the honesty, though he had already learned the same names from investigating Jia clan. That investigation found Gu Yue Fang Zheng carried A grade aptitude and was a young clan leader candidate, Bai Ning Bing the same for Bai clan, and both wanted after killing Bai clan’s young masters and taking half an inheritance from Bai Gu mountain. The gathered young masters, recovering from the shock of a new sister, offer their welcomes, while privately weighing what her sudden claim on the young master competition means for each of them. ^{ch. 270}

Shang Yan Fei seats Xin Ci beside himself and turns back to Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing, calling them the saviors of his daughter and promising to grant whatever they ask. Fang Yuan declines, saying the debt for Xin Ci’s earlier kindness during the caravan trip is already repaid and owes nothing further. Xin Ci presses her father on Fang Yuan’s behalf, mentioning the assets he lost on the road, and Shang Yan Fei offers a million primeval stones in thanks. Fang Yuan again declines, saying the recipe sale has already left him with no shortage of primeval stones, and Shang Yan Fei turns a meaningful look on Shang Ya Zi, whose heart nearly leaps from his chest as his mouth goes dry and cold sweat beads on his forehead. ^{ch. 270}