"I don’t know. Some time ago, because of the medicine storehouse theft, that hot-tempered old man almost had someone chop me and Ruyan up. But lately I don’t know what happened, he’s been very close with Lin Tian. I didn’t really ask in detail." Miaoqiu said.

Xv Baiping’s brows furrowed even more. "So you’re saying, he’s got some old grudge with our Xu Family?"

"Yeah, but that matter is already considered over. Even if your daughter wants revenge, she doesn’t have the ability." Miaoqiu said.

"Hmph, he’s got some nerve, still daring to come to Xu Family Stream! And he even tore down my wall!" Xv Baiping said coldly.

Miaoqiu and Xiang Ming could both tell she was really angry this time. Looks like the house was going to get lively again.

"Auntie." Lin Tian walked over with Nanqiu, scratched his head and said with a smile, "Sorry, I’m also responsible for the wall collapsing. Just now I wanted to see how my disciple would make a move, curiosity got the better of me, so I didn’t stop him."

Xv Baiping was about to say something, then suddenly stopped. She organized her words a bit and asked, "You’re saying, the Grand Elder of the Alliance of Noble Families is your disciple?"

Lin Tian nodded. "Yeah. I originally didn’t want to bring him along this trip, but he insisted on following me to learn a bit of something, so I brought him along by the way."

"..." Xv Baiping didn’t even know what to say anymore. Wasn’t this generation order a little too messed up? The dignified Grand Elder of the Alliance recognizing a young guy as his master.

If she didn’t know Lin Tian wasn’t a normal person, Xv Baiping would have thought he was trying to trick her.

"Auntie, I’m really sorry, I got hot-headed just now. Tomorrow I’ll have people come fix the wall, and while they’re at it, they’ll fix all the places at our place that need repairs." Lin Tian said.

Xv Baiping waved her hand. "It’s fine, this old wall should be renovated anyway."

This was giving Lin Tian a way to step down. Otherwise, going to the future mother‑in‑law’s house the next day as an accomplice who helped tear down a section of the family wall—how’s he supposed to show his face after that? Luckily he’d done well before this.

At this moment, the Grand Elder had also adjusted his state. He walked over, calm as a breeze and cloud, then burst out laughing: "You little brat, how is it? Convinced or not? If you拜 me as master, I’ll pass this set of palm techniques to you. How much you can comprehend will depend on yourself."

Hearing this, Xiang Ming’s eyes lit up, and he almost nodded excitedly.

What boy hasn’t dreamed, when he was little, of mastering some peerless technique and roaming the world with a sword?

Unfortunately, he’d just been scolded by his aunt, so right now it wasn’t his turn to speak.

"Grand Elder, hello. I think since you tore down my wall, shouldn’t you give me an explanation? Otherwise the neighbors are all here watching the joke." Xv Baiping asked mildly, but with a hint of fire.

Indeed, quite a lot of people had come to watch the fun now. By that broken wall, quite a few people were already standing, all quietly gossiping.

This wall had clearly been blasted open by those weapons. If you said it was "renovation," no one would believe it.

But no one dared to ask. After all, this was the Patriarch’s home. Even if the Patriarch was sick, there was still the family matriarch. Whoever went to ask would just be asking for bad luck.

The Grand Elder froze for a moment, then laughed, cupping his hands. "Miss Xv, I’m sorry, my hand slipped just now, and I did use a bit too much strength."

Xv Baiping raised an eyebrow. "’Hand slipped’?"

The Grand Elder’s brows furrowed as well. He thought, it’s just a wall. I, your father, already apologized, and you, a little girl, still pushing things this far?

With the Grand Elder’s status and Golden Core cultivation, as a Martial Sect he’d been walking around sideways for who knows how many years. This was his first time apologizing, and also his first time getting questioned even after apologizing.

"Tearing down a family’s gate wall is the same as slapping someone in the face. Grand Elder, your status is honored, so how could you do such a thing? My Xu Family may be small and weak, but we still care about our dignity. Since you come as a guest of my Xu Family, I will naturally open the gates wide to welcome you in. But if you intend to bully my Xu Family, then we will naturally use the Dog Beating Stick to invite you out!"

Don’t be fooled by Xv Baiping’s frail figure; every word she said landed with a thud, momentum full, but between the lines it was blades drawn and bows bent.

This was exactly the bearing a mother of a household ought to have.

The Grand Elder froze again. How come people nowadays just weren’t afraid of him anymore? Lin Tian wasn’t afraid, and even this skinny woman wasn’t afraid. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Where did this courage come from?

The Grand Elder couldn’t figure it out, but there was no need to.

"It’s just a wall. If I tear it down, what can you do to me?" The Grand Elder chuckled, shooting her a sidelong glance full of disdain.

"I, a mere weak woman, only know medical texts, etiquette, and painting. I can’t do anything to you." Xv Baiping suddenly took a step forward, standing less than a meter away from the Grand Elder. Her fine brows arched, big eyes wide, long hair flying: "My Xu Family resides south of the Yangtze River. We revere the Dao lineage and fear the people’s will, set our hearts for Heaven and Earth, and continue the lost teachings of the sages."

"I know you’ve cultivated a Golden Core and hold yourself above others. But you have only brute power. I really want to see just what you think you can do to my Xu Family!"

"..."

For some reason, the Grand Elder suddenly took a step back, his momentum weakened.

In this world, there were actually still people with such a fearless heart, such audacity.

Unfortunately, no matter how strong Xv Baiping’s aura was, she was still just a weak woman without the strength to truss a chicken. Her words hadn’t been heard by the Xu Family people outside the wall, otherwise a real upheaval might’ve broken out.

"Martial Sect, tearing down someone’s gate wall is just plain rude. If you should apologize, then apologize. Otherwise it’s our faces that get thrown away." Lin Tian said softly.

"Hahaha..." The Grand Elder let out a few big laughs, then once again cupped his hands toward Xv Baiping and said, "I truly am sincere in my apology. I didn’t expect a weak woman like you to have such presence. That brat Xu Shaohui really did marry a good wife. The wall is indeed my doing, but it’s fine. Tomorrow I’ll send people to fix it up for you, make it even more imposing!"

Xv Baiping instinctively glanced at Lin Tian. These two really were master and disciple—talking in exactly the same way.

"Then I’ll thank you in advance." Xv Baiping said blandly.

Seeing her tone soften, this matter could be considered settled.

"Miaoqiu, have the neighbors disperse. There’s nothing to see here." Xv Baiping said.

Miaoqiu responded, then walked toward the broken wall. The reason was naturally simple: just home renovation. Once the crowd heard that, they scattered.

"There’s one more thing. I heard you’re planning to take Xiang Ming as your disciple? That doesn’t seem too appropriate, does it?" Xv Baiping said.

The Grand Elder glanced at that silly kid, then showed a knowing smile and said, "What’s inappropriate about it? Among my Alliance, there are quite a few of your Xu Family people. Can’t I add one more? I’m old already; it’s about time I took a disciple. I think this little brat of your family is not bad. If he’s properly carved, he’s a fine piece of jade. Don’t worry, since he’ll be my Closed-door Disciple, I definitely won’t treat him poorly."

"Xiang Ming, what do you think?" Xv Baiping asked. She’d watched this little nephew grow up and doted on him like her own son. She wasn’t willing for him to拜 a master and start training so early, suffering that kind of hardship.

Judging from the Grand Elder’s posture, external kung fu was probably unavoidable. Training in the hottest days of summer and the coldest days of winter was no joke. Compared to the Xu Family’s Charming Skill, the suffering would be many times worse.