"Is Shang Xin Ci fine?" Shang Yan Fei asked, when he couldn't get an answer to any of his other questions.
"She is fine, though I think she's still shaken up by the incident," Wei Yang said.
"That was a rather foolish thing she did, even if she was within the confines of Shang Clan City. A Rank One Gu Master antagonizing a Rank Five Gu Master like that directly...even if we could deal with Liu Nan, it would have been after he had already killed her if he decided to act."
This also, of course, revealed something about Liu Nan's character. He was not short-tempered, at least. However, Shang Xin Ci would have to be more careful in the future. If he had harmed her, Shang Yan Fei would have, without a doubt, kicked him out of the city. He still had half a mind to do so.
However, there was something tugging on the back of his mind: the fact that Liu Nan was not wrong when it came to who Fang Yuan was. Why would someone throw out accusations of another person being a demonic Gu Master for no reason? If it could be assumed that Liu Nan was truly righteous, then Fang Yuan was truly demonic. Yet, Fang Yuan had not given any sort of indication that he was such, either through thought or action.
He could still throw Liu Nan out. It wasn't like he had contributed in any significant way to the economy as one would've hoped a Rank 5 Gu Master would've. But, a fight could potentially break out if not handled correctly and the destruction could be significant.
***
Shang Xin Ci was within her room, along with her maid Xiao Die, who was combing her hair.
"Missy, are you sure you should have done something like that? I mean... you could have gotten hurt!" Xiao Die actually couldn't believe how Shang Xin Ci had acted. She had gone up to a Rank Five Gu Master and told him to essentially keep his mouth shut! It was playing with fire! She would not have done something within Zhang Clan Village, that was for sure, being a mortal.
However, Shang Xin Ci couldn't help it.
"It would have been one thing if that man had said something wrong about me, but how could I stand by while he insulted my teacher like that?" She was used to others looking down on her, that was only within what she had come to expect from the crowd, but an irrational anger had erupted within her when that man had said such vile, mendacious things about her hero Fang Yuan?
Before her maid could say anything, Shang Yan Fei knocked on the door.
"Father, please come in," Shang Xin Ci said with a warm smile on her face.
It was still taking time for her to get used to the fact that Shang Yan Fei was her father. For one, the resentment of the fact that he had basically abandoned her mother still nestled itself deep within her heart, and by extension, he had abandoned her as well, leaving her to grow up in an environment of ridicule and scorn.
On the flip side, however, she could understand why he had to do so. She was no longer the idealistic young girl she had been before. Her kindness still remained, but traveling along the merchant caravan and making the journey from Zhang Clan Village had opened her eyes to the world and how it worked.
Her teachings with Fang Yuan had only cemented this new understanding of hers, and ultimately, above all, he was still her father - the only blood relative she currently had who was close to her in this world. How much longer could she possibly stay mad at him?
"Shang Xin Ci," Shang Yan Fei, said. "How have your studies been going?"
"Oh, very good. I advanced to Rank One Middle Stage last week! I don't know if you knew..."
He did know - how couldn't he? But he still pretended to be pleasantly surprised by it. "That is good, that is good," Shang Yan Fei said. "Any other problems with your stay or accommodations?"
"No," Shang Xin Ci said, shaking her head.
"I wanted to talk to you about what had happened in the gambling den today." Shang Xin Ci's smile faded a little. She had a feeling that her father was here to reprimand her.
"What you did, I can understand why you did it," Shang Yan Fei began. This momentarily surprised her. She had not expected those kinds of words from him. "He is your teacher, and to see someone slander him right in front of you, especially given the fact that he is one of the Shang Clan's guests? You cannot have tolerated that." Her feelings for Fang Yuan ran deeper than that of simple master and student. However, she did not reveal this as she nodded.
"However, while I understand what you did, it was still a reckless, foolish decision," Shang Yan Fei said. "I need you to understand that, although you are my daughter and part of the Shang Clan now, there are times when the name of the Shang Clan will not be able to save you. If you go outside into the outer world, you must be careful about such things and about confronting people who are stronger than yourself. Rank Five Gu Masters can cause quite a considerable amount of damage if they go on a rampage. During that time, you had your teacher with you, so he likely hesitated to act because of that. But if you are out alone, you must be careful not to court death. It is not that I do not wish to protect you, but you must realize that simply being my daughter has its limits in this world. I don't want to see you doing something so reckless again."
Shang Xin Ci sunk into her chair for a moment as she pondered her father's words. "Father, what you are saying is correct. In such a case..." she trailed off. "Is it alright with you if I join the Shang Clan Young Master competition then?"
This response knocked Shang Yan Fei off his comfort zone. He had not been expecting her to say something like that. "The Young Master Competition?" he questioned.
"Yes," Shang Xin Ci said. "If the only way that I can protect others within this world is by going to become more powerful, then I'll do it." She clenched her hands into tight fists.
For the past few days, she had been mostly relaxing under the umbrella of her father, as well as cultivating under the guidance of Fang Yuan. However, how long would she continue to sit in comfort like this?
For that matter, how long would Shang Yan Fei remain the Shang Clan leader? She also had to think about that. Her father might end up ascending to become an Immortal, in which case he would be a Supreme Elder and her fate would still be secure - she hoped. Other tragedies could also befall him; he could end up assassinated or slain in combat.
She hated to think about such things, but she couldn't help but remember her uncle's dying face. In this world, who could guarantee that they would see the next morning? The stronger one was, the stronger one's adversaries usually were as well. In such a case, she could only rely on her own strength. She was now a Gu Master, which allowed her to somewhat protect herself, but that was only a fraction of the power a true Shang Clan Young Master could possess.
Fang Yuan had been right about one thing when he had helped her become a Gu Master. To her, who had once been an ordinary mortal, becoming a Gu Master seemed like such a massive step up. But, at the same time, she recognized that she had just become a small fish in a much larger pond. If she did not do anything, sooner or later she would be swallowed. She had to get stronger before then.