: Resigning from All Duties

Author: Gu Zhenren

Date: 2024-07-31

Ning Family Battle Hall.

Ning Xiangqian, a branch family member, stood with a furious expression. "Elders, I refuse to accept this!"

"Removing me from my position as Battle Hall steward without any reason goes against the family rules!"

The two elders smiled faintly. One of them said, "Ning Xiangqian, calm down. Would the family strip you of your stewardship so casually?"

"According to family rules, the position of Battle Hall steward is awarded based on combat prowess. To ensure the quality of personnel, steward positions have always been limited and follow an elimination policy. Those who wish to take the position must challenge the current steward and win it through proven combat strength."

Ning Xiangqian nodded. "Of course, I know that."

"But no one challenged me."

"I didn't even have a single fight, yet I lost my position. It seems the main family holds a grudge against me for helping Ning Zhuo yesterday."

The elder smiled lightly. "Ning Xiangqian, you misunderstand us. We are actually thinking of your well-being, worried that you might get injured in a fight. Recovery would only delay your progress."

Ning Xiangqian chuckled coldly. "You assume I'd lose before I even fight? How absurd! Who exactly is after my position?"

"I won't rest until I've fought."

"Otherwise, I won't yield. I'll take this matter to the Ancestral Hall!"

Hearing the mention of the Ancestral Hall, the two elders' expressions darkened.

One of them snorted coldly. "Causing a disturbance in the Ancestral Hall over such a trivial matter? As a descendant, you show no respect for our ancestors' peace. Truly unfilial!"

"Ning Xiangqian, you judge others by your own petty standards. Fine, we'll let you know who your opponent is."

With that, the elder signaled to a subordinate nearby.

The subordinate left and soon returned with someone.

This person had a rather slender build, handsome features, flowing white hair, white eyebrows, and the appearance of a young man.

But when Ning Xiangqian saw him, his expression changed drastically. "Ning Qingqiao?!"

Ning Qingqiao raised an eyebrow and sneered at Ning Xiangqian. "You should thank the elders. They did this for your own good. Step down quietly and save everyone some time."

Ning Xiangqian clenched his fists, his face full of anger.

Ning Qingqiao was at the Foundation Establishment stage, possessing the innate talent "Frostfall Without a Sound." If Ning Xiaohui was the sole standout among the Ning Family's Qi Refining cultivators, then Ning Qingqiao was one of the geniuses among the Ning Family's Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Ning Xiangqian gritted his teeth. "Fine, fine! The main family sends a genius to push me out and take my position. Quite the extravagant move!"

Ning Qingqiao sneered. "Naive! You supported Ning Zhuo yesterday, shouting the loudest. You should've expected this. Did you think it was a game?"

"Hurry up and get lost!"

Ning Xiangqian threw his head back and laughed, his anger driving him to make an irrational decision. "Get lost? Impossible!"

"Come on, let's fight."

"I want to see what gives a long-renowned genius like you the right to be so arrogant!"

The fight was one-sided from the start.

Ning Qingqiao held an absolute advantage, thoroughly beating Ning Xiangqian from beginning to end.

"Don't kill him," the elder watching nearby reminded, seeing Ning Xiangqian covered in blood.

"Tch, boring." Ning Qingqiao stopped in time, knocking Ning Xiangqian to the ground.

He walked over to Ning Xiangqian and stepped on his head. "How does it feel now?"

"This really was for your own good. Too bad you didn't appreciate it. You refused the easy way and chose the hard way."

"Pah!" Ning Xiangqian struggled futilely and spat a mouthful of blood at Ning Qingqiao.

A cold glint flashed in Ning Qingqiao's eyes as he pressed down slightly, knocking Ning Xiangqian unconscious.

"Someone, take this branch family trash away!"

Almost simultaneously, in the Talisman Hall.

An elder pointed at a low-quality talisman and said to Ning Xiangguo, "This was under your responsibility. You'd better have a perfect explanation, or else..."

Ning Xiangguo smiled faintly. "An explanation? I don't need one."

He took a letter from his pocket and handed it to the elder. "I resign from my position as Talisman Hall steward."

The elder was taken aback, then his expression softened as he sighed deeply. "Xiangguo, it's because you're from the branch family. And yesterday, you spoke up to support Ning Zhuo."

"Ah, I feel it's unfair to you."

"Ning Zhuo received an extremely generous reward, while you? You lost the steward position you worked nearly ten years to obtain."

Ning Xiangguo shook his head. "If I had to do it again, even knowing this would be the outcome, I would still do the same."

"Farewell."

With that, he turned and left without hesitation.

Watching Ning Xiangguo's retreating figure, the elder's expression turned grim.

Ning Xiangqian, Ning Xiangguo... It wasn't just them. Many stewards from the branch family were approached by the main family and dismissed for various reasons.

The news spread throughout the clan.

The branch family members, who had been exhilarated by yesterday's victory in the Ancestral Hall, felt as if they had been struck hard. The morale they had just mustered began to scatter.

With morale low, opinions varied widely.

"I told you not to go, not to go! Now look, you lost your steward position."

"The main family is going too far! All the stewards dismissed or driven out today are from our branch family. Clearly, this is retaliation for yesterday's events."

"The key is they have valid reasons, acting according to family rules. We can't refute them."

"Just as Elder Ning Houjun often says, our branch family lacks an elder. If we had just one elder, this wouldn't have happened!"

If the marginalized and dismissed stewards had an elder from the branch family to turn to, they wouldn't be reduced to ordinary clan members as they are now.

Some branch family members who lost their steward positions sought help from Ning Youfu or Ning Houjun.

Ning Youfu closed his doors and refused visitors, while Ning Houjun agreed to meet them.

Ning Houjun said, "The young clan leader was even ousted. The main family's retaliation isn't entirely unexpected."

"Can we follow Ning Zhuo's example and gather at the Ancestral Hall?" a clan member asked.

Ning Houjun snorted coldly. "What do you think the Ancestral Hall is? Do you want to be thrown into the dungeon? The main family would love nothing more than for you to cause trouble there."

Someone asked, "Then how could Ning Zhuo do it and succeed?"

"He had solid evidence—witnesses and physical proof. Even the main family couldn't refute it. Do you have any?" Ning Houjun glared. "You have nothing!"

He pointed at the clan members seeking help. "The main family found valid reasons to dismiss each of you."

"Who told you to cut corners in your work? Now that they've caught you, you lost your positions, and you have the nerve to come to me?"

The branch family members looked at each other.

One complained, "Elder, you don't understand. Life is hard for us branch family members. We have to cultivate and support large families. If we don't use our positions to gain advantages, how can we get enough resources?"

"The main family, even their idle members, never lack cultivation resources, even if they do nothing all year."

Ning Houjun sighed. "That's why I stepped in to help Ning Zhuo."

"He has talent. If he grows, he will surely become an elder."

"Only when our branch family has an elder can we slightly resist the main family."

Someone sneered disdainfully. "Elder, you said the same thing yesterday, which is why I got involved in the Ancestral Hall matter. But now, it seems we backed the wrong person."

Ning Houjun asked, "What do you mean?"

Another person said, "Ning Zhuo received an extremely generous reward, far exceeding the previous standards. Yet, he's incredibly stingy. Even when his cousins asked to borrow from him, he refused outright."

"Someone like him is easy to share hardships with but hard to share wealth with. Is it right to pin our hopes on him?"

Ning Houjun snorted coldly. "If not him, then who? You?"

"Do any of you have talent?"

The crowd fell silent.

A clan member defended Ning Zhuo, "He's only sixteen, still young. Expecting him to have the same awareness as you isn't realistic."

Hearing this, Ning Houjun furrowed his brow.

He recalled last night's banquet, where Ning Zhuo's performance had left a deep impression on him. On his way home, he had been delighted, believing Ning Zhuo had both talent and a mature mindset, a blessing for the branch family.

But today, Ning Zhuo's behavior disappointed him greatly. "How can someone so stingy win people over or achieve great things?"

Feeling uneasy, Ning Houjun decided to advise Ning Zhuo.

"Someone," he called a servant. "Take a message to Ning Zhuo. Tell him I want those two taels of Ice Jade Wine as thanks for my help yesterday. Go quickly."

Hearing this, the branch family members decided to stay and see how Ning Zhuo would respond.

Ning Zhuo was inspecting the family's rewards.

The richness of the rewards surprised him slightly.

"The Whirlwind Chariot must be placed close to the middle dantian. Once activated, it can stir waves in the energy sea, creating a mana whirlwind that speeds up mana refinement and slightly purifies mana."

"The Five Elements Ruler, when held, can quickly distinguish the five elements in spiritual energy, mana, etc. It's originally a tool for crafting, but since I'm practicing the Five Elements Qi Rhythm Art, using it to separate five-elements mana will greatly aid my spell practice."

"The Tranquil Mind Bell, when rung, helps one enter meditation quickly. Ringing it continuously allows deeper meditation."

"The Mystic Ice Waist Token is an identity badge, but wearing it gathers spiritual energy continuously, helping Ning family members refine mana."

Ning Zhuo carefully examined these four artifacts and found no issues.

To be safe, he planned to show them to Sun Lingtong. With her Spirit Eye, status as a disciple of a major sect, and experience managing the black market, her insight was broad.

Not just the artifacts, but the pills, talismans, and other items also needed inspection.

After bringing down Ning Xiaoren, Ning Zhuo's conflict with the main family was irreconcilable. He couldn't afford to be careless with anything from the main family.

Just then, Ning Houjun's servant arrived with the elder's request.

Ning Zhuo listened and sighed softly. "The elder is reminding me to share wealth to retain people. The main family's differential treatment aims to dismantle my support."

"Please convey my gratitude to Elder Ning Houjun."

"I know the elder wants me to use the Ice Jade Wine to show everyone they didn't back the wrong person—that I'm not stingy."

"But I have my own thoughts."

"There's no need to give the Ice Jade Wine. Take this letter back to the elder."

The servant returned with the letter.

Ning Houjun opened it with a furrowed brow.

After reading it, his expression relaxed, and he laughed heartily. "Ning Zhuo, Ning Zhuo—clumsy on the outside, sharp on the inside! I worried for nothing. Read this letter."

The former stewards passed the letter around. Some looked relieved, while others remained doubtful. "Will this... really work?"

(End of )