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.

That such an eminent figure would come to the Jiaang family's doorstep to apologize was unfathomable.

"This... Elder Hua, forgive my confusion, but I truly do not grasp the meaning behind your words."

After a moment of stunned silence, Jiaang Zhengzu finally spoke, seeking clarification.

An apology?

For what reason would the Dao Artifact Hall need to apologize to the Jiaang family?

"Oh! Recently, one of my Dao Artifact Hall disciples, in their ignorance, rashly offended Young Master Jiaang. Therefore, I've come today with my people to apologize!" Hua Yuru declared earnestly.

As he finished speaking, the Dao Artifact Hall Experts behind him promptly brought several disciples into the Jiaang Family Main Hall. Among them were Tang Tian and Tang Bei, as well as other disciples who had previously attempted to bully Jiaang Lin but ended up on the receiving end of a harsh beating from him.

"Kneel down!" The Dao Artifact Hall Experts commanded, escorting Tang Tian, Tang Bei, and the others to Jiaang Lin. With a firm kick, they forced them to kneel before him.

"Why haven't you apologized to Young Master Jiaang?" one of the experts demanded sternly.

Shaken, Tang Tian, Tang Bei, and the others quickly bowed deeply to Jiaang Lin. "We're sorry, Young Master Jiaang. We've offended you before; please forgive us," they said with genuine remorse.

This turn of events left Jiaang Zhengzu and the other Jiaang family high-level members in shock. Jiaang Zhengshan and Jiaang Xiang, who had been eager to see Jiaang Lin suffer, were particularly taken aback, their faces contorted with displeasure as if they had swallowed something vile.

They had assumed Hua Yuru was here to stand up for Tang Bei and to reprimand Jiaang Lin. Instead, the situation had taken a dramatic and favorable turn for Jiaang Lin.

Far from seeking retribution for Tang Bei, the visitors had come to offer an apology to Jiaang Lin. This left Jiaang Zhengshan and Jiaang Xiang feeling incredibly frustrated and irate.

By publicly apologizing to Jiaang Lin, Hua Yuru inadvertently elevated Jiaang Lin's stature within the family. Jiaang Zhengshan and Jiaang Xiang realized that following this incident, many of the Jiaang family high-level members would undoubtedly regard Jiaang Lin with newfound respect. And as for Jiaang Lin's prospects of becoming the next Young Patriarch, they had just become even brighter.

In Clear Water Town, there wasn't a single young man who could compel a person of Hua Yuru's stature to personally come and offer an apology.

"Why? Why is this happening?" Jiaang Xiang's face was pale, his mind swirling with confusion. He couldn't fathom why Hua Yuru would suddenly arrive with his men to apologize to Jiaang Lin. Wasn't he supposed to come on behalf of the Dao Artifact Hall disciples to reprimand Jiaang Lin?

Jiaang Zhengshan was equally baffled. He wondered what Jiaang Lin could possibly have done to warrant an apology from someone as influential as Hua Yuru. The other Jiaang family high-level members had also recovered from their initial shock, each wearing a look of surprise and bewilderment as they turned their gaze toward Jiaang Lin, their curiosity piqued.

Even Jiaang Zhengzu and Jiaang Xue were taken aback, their faces etched with curiosity as they looked at Jiaang Lin. They too were at a loss as to what Jiaang Lin could have done to prompt Hua Yuru to make such a gesture.

Among them, it seemed only Jiaang Lin might have an inkling of the reason. "It looks like it must have been Duoge's doing!" Jiaang Lin watched Tang Tian and the others kneeling and bowing before him, a smile creeping onto his lips. He was well aware of Hua Yuru's protective nature. If Hua Yuru learned that one of his Dao Artifact Hall disciples had been humiliated and beaten by Jiaang Lin, he would typically seek retribution, regardless of the disciple's fault.

Yet, Hua Yuru had not reacted as expected. Instead, he had sent Tang Bei and the others to the Jiaang family to publicly apologize. Jiaang Lin was certain that only Shaang Duoge could have influenced Hua Yuru to act in such a manner.

Jiaang Lin was confident that the Yang Fire Pill he had crafted for Shaang Duoge was taking effect. Over the past ten days, the dark energy within Shaang Duoge must have been significantly purged, signaling that a full restoration of his powers and talents was imminent.

Hua Yuru undoubtedly understood the implications of Shaang Duoge's impending return. With the revival of such an unparalleled genius, Shaang Duoge's standing and prestige within the Dao Artifact Hall were destined to soar.

He wanted Hua Yuru, Tang Bei, and the others to come to the Jiaang family and apologize to him. It was only a matter of speaking the words!

"Forget it, I can't be bothered to hold a grudge."

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.