Chapter 396 Settling the Cause and Effect

「Three days later.」

「Profound Ice Island.」

Liang Cheng set foot on the island at high noon.

The sunlight reflected off the ice and snow, blindingly bright.

According to Elder Huang, the descendants of the Cold Pool Wanderer, the Tan Family, had settled in Ice Wind Valley on the eastern side of Profound Ice Island.

「One hour later.」

At the mouth of Ice Wind Valley stood a stone monument, upon which were carved three words: Tan Family Village.

The inscription was weathered and mottled, but it was clear that someone maintained it regularly.

‘Looks like this trip won’t be for nothing.’

Liang Cheng stepped into the valley.

After walking for about three li, the view suddenly opened up before him.

Deep within the gorge was a flat valley floor where dozens of stone houses were scattered about, with smoke curling up from their chimneys.

People were coming and going at the village entrance—carrying water, chopping wood, and driving sleds across the snow. It was an ordinary village, yet it felt like a hidden paradise.

Liang Cheng swept the area with his Divine Sense.

There were about five hundred people in the village. It had a good number of able-bodied adults, and children were chasing each other and playing in the snow. The strongest aura, located in the center of the village, was merely at the Transformation Force Late Stage.

He walked toward the village.

At the entrance, a young boy was building something out of snow. Upon seeing a stranger, he turned and ran.

A few young men looked over, their eyes filled with caution and a hint of hostility.

Before long, a white-haired elder leaning on a cane walked over. His back was stooped, but his eyes were still clear.

The young men behind him were on high alert.

“Sir, what brings you to our Tan Family Village?”

The elder cupped his fist. His tone was polite, but his gaze remained wary.

‘This elder is only at the Transformation Force, but his aura is unstable. He’s clearly injured. The rest are at the Bright Force or Dark Force, and there are a few women and children with no Cultivation at all.’

“Elder, I’d like to ask you about someone.”

“Who?”

“Did Tan Family Village have an ancestor by the name of Tan Qingshan?”

The elder froze at his words, then shook his head repeatedly.

“Tan Family Village has no ancestor named Tan Qingshan. You must have the wrong place, Sir.”

Liang Cheng suddenly smiled.

“Elder, I come with no ill intent.”

Liang Cheng then took a palm-sized Jade Pendant from his Storage Pouch. It was engraved with the character for “Cold.”

He had found it next to the remains of the Cold Pool Wanderer.

The moment the elder saw the Jade Pendant, his pupils contracted.

“This…”

He reached out for it, but Liang Cheng pulled it back.

“Elder, can you be honest with me now?”

The elder took a deep breath and stared at Liang Cheng for a long time.

“Please follow me, Sir.”

…

Inside the largest stone house in the village, the elder closed the door and turned to face Liang Cheng.

“My ancestor was indeed Tan Qingshan. Where did you get that Jade Pendant, Sir?”

Liang Cheng looked at him.

“Why were you unwilling to admit it earlier, Elder?”

The elder shook his head with a bitter smile.

“The Tan Family has been in decline for two hundred years and is used to being bullied. How could I dare to trust a stranger who shows up at our door?”

He paused.

“Don’t take it personally, Sir. Over the past decade, several groups have come here, all claiming to be old friends of the Tan Family. But they were just trying to get information, thinking Tan Family Village still has some ancestral treasure. If we had any treasure, would we be in this state?”

Liang Cheng nodded and handed the Jade Pendant to him.

“I received a favor from a senior in a Secret Realm. This Jade Pendant was the token he left behind, asking me to look after the Tan Family’s descendants if I ever had the chance.”

The elder took the Jade Pendant, turning it over and over in his hands.

Then he looked up, his eyes red-rimmed.

“This is indeed a family heirloom. To think that our ancestor left behind such a legacy…”

But he quickly suppressed his emotions and looked at Liang Cheng, his eyes still filled with doubt.

“Sir, it’s not that I don’t believe you, but the Tan Family has long since fallen. Are you really willing to repay this favor without asking for anything in return?”

Liang Cheng fell silent.

‘It’s true I didn’t come here right away, and I do have another purpose for this visit.’

Just then—

BANG!

A loud crash came from outside, followed by the screams of women and the cries of children.

The Village Chief’s expression changed, and he shoved the door open and rushed out.

Liang Cheng followed behind him.

…

At the village entrance, seven or eight men in gray robes were kicking over several of the young villagers. Their leader, a fat man with large ears, had his foot planted on one of the young men’s hands.

“Stop!”

The Village Chief rushed forward but was blocked by two of the gray-robed men.

“Well, well, look who’s here. The old coot finally came out.”

The fat man grinned and lifted his foot.

The young man’s hand was a bloody mess, and he was sweating profusely from the pain.

“Tan Wenjie, where’s this month’s tribute? If you can’t hand it over, don’t blame us for what happens next!”

The Village Chief’s face turned ashen.

“Steward Xu, we just paid last month’s. Why are you here again this month?”

“Last month was last month. This month is now!”

The fat man sneered. “My master said so. The Xu Family allows you to work the mines of Ice Wind Valley and only takes fifty percent of the income. Aren’t you satisfied? You don’t know what’s good for you!”

The Village Chief trembled with anger. “You’re trying to drive us to our deaths!”

“So what if we are?”

The fat man glanced at the surrounding Tan Family men. “You think a bunch of trash like you are worthy of opposing the Xu Family?”

Behind him, the seven or eight gray-robed men stepped forward in unison, all releasing their auras.

Their leader, the fat man, was in the True Qi Realm, while the rest were at the Transformation Force and Dark Force.

The young men of the Tan Family gritted their teeth and clenched their fists, but none dared to make a move.

The gap in power was just too great.

The fat man retracted his gaze, satisfied, then suddenly looked behind the Village Chief.

Liang Cheng was standing there quietly.

“Hm? Who’s this? He’s not one of you Tan Family people, is he?”

The Village Chief’s heart tightened. Just as he was about to speak, Liang Cheng had already stepped forward.

The fat man sized him up and down. He couldn’t gauge Liang Cheng’s depth but thought nothing of it. In this territory, who would dare to offend the Xu Family?

“Let me give you some advice, outsider. Mind your own business and get lost!”

Liang Cheng didn’t move.

The fat man grew impatient. “Who the hell are you? If you don’t leave now, we’ll beat you up too!”

The words had barely left his mouth when, before the fat man could even react, his vision blurred.

SLAP!

A hand struck him across the face.