Chapter 72: Without Fear

The sharp words instantly drew a frown from Shao Siming. Gazing at his eldest daughter, whom he hadn't seen for more than a decade, he realized that everything seemed to have changed.

When Xie Qingtang was a child, she had no ability to resist. After her mother passed away, Shao Siming had sent her off to a remote, neglected village. He had assumed that such an environment would nurture a timid and incompetent character in her. Yet reality far surpassed his expectations—the daughter standing before him had not grown up as he had predicted. Instead, she had become even stronger and braver than he could have imagined.

“Qingtang, you seem a little different from the girl I remember,” Shao Siming said, deciding to bide his time. His words carried a hint of probing.

Xie Qingtang let out a cold snort, her hands moving once more as she ground the herbs in the clay mortar. Without pausing, she spoke slowly, “Of course I’m different now. After losing my mother, being abandoned by my father, and then having my grandfather imprisoned, how could I possibly remain the same as before? That would be far too foolish.”

“I used to wonder why people capable of great deeds always had tragic pasts. Now I understand—it’s because suffering makes people stronger and braver, better able to face the even greater hardships yet to come.”

“Now that I’ve developed this kind of character, I imagine as my father you must feel very proud of me. In fact, I really ought to thank you for that.”

Once her words fell, Shao Siming’s expression remained unchanged, but the look in his eyes as he regarded Xie Qingtang was no longer that of a father toward his own child. Instead, it was as if he were sizing up a wary adversary.

His gaze swept across the entire Hall of Benevolence and finally landed on the door leading to the rear courtyard. His tone was icy as he said, “Your grandfather must be in the back, isn’t he?”

At the mention of her grandfather, anger surged within Xie Qingtang, her eyes ablaze with fury. She replied to Shao Siming, “You needn’t concern yourself with my grandfather. Now that I’ve returned, I will never again allow you to imprison him or try to reduce him to a fool.”

Hearing this, Shao Siming’s face darkened as he dropped all pretense, revealing his true self. In a harsh voice, he demanded, “Just how much do you know?”

“Oh? Shao Siming, are you afraid now that your mask has been torn away? Let me tell you, I know everything I should know. From this day forward, I will never allow you to harm my grandfather again.” With a loud bang, Xie Qingtang set the clay mortar aside, her resolve unwavering.

Shao Siming snorted, his anger mounting, shredding the last of his false gentility and exposing his greedy, ferocious visage. “And what are you, Xie Qingtang? Do you think I’ll show you mercy just because you’re my daughter? I’m warning you: bring your grandfather out now and get yourself back to that village. Don’t ever return, or you’ll face consequences you cannot bear.”

Faced with the man threatening her, Xie Qingtang found it difficult to acknowledge him as her father. Fortunately, she had never placed her hopes in this bond, and so she could look him in the eye without flinching.

“Oh? Do you truly think threats like these will work on me? If they did, I would never have stormed into the sanatorium to rescue my grandfather. Shao Siming, someone as heartless as you doesn’t deserve to be my father. As for the title of daughter, I have no use for it.”

Her gaze was laced with contempt, her words dripped with disdain; there was not the slightest hint of filial affection toward Shao Siming.

In that instant, the overhead light of the Hall of Benevolence shone upon Xie Qingtang’s face, illuminating her delicate features with a clear, radiant glow. Her eyes were tranquil and cold—a pair of icy pools, so frigid that Shao Siming’s heart trembled.

There was no denying that Xie Qingtang’s appearance was exceptional. She had inherited the finest features from both Shao Siming and Xie Wan, perfectly blended together into an ethereal, otherworldly beauty.

For a fleeting moment, upon seeing that unparalleled face, Shao Siming was dazed, as if he were glimpsing once more the sunny, sunflower-like girl of years past, and his heart quivered.

Yet it was only a brief flash. He quickly regained his composure, his expression turning cold again as he stared at Xie Qingtang. “You think you can stand against me? Utterly delusional. Because you are my daughter, I will give you one last chance: bring your grandfather out and this whole incident will be forgotten. Return to your mountain village.”

“So long as you go back, I promise you’ll come to no harm. Stay out of Su City’s affairs, and you can keep your life.”

Xie Qingtang stood her ground, unyielding. “Shao Siming, let me say this one last time: leave my grandfather alone, and you will answer for what you did all those years ago. That’s my promise.”

“Xie Qingtang, what makes you think you can threaten me?” Shao Siming narrowed his eyes, a dangerous aura emanating from him, meeting Xie Qingtang’s own steely presence head-on.

The atmosphere between father and daughter was more tense than that between mortal enemies—another moment and it seemed a battle would erupt.

“So you refuse the wine of courtesy in favor of the wine of punishment. It seems I must teach you a lesson today.” With a cold snort, Shao Siming gave a signal. Immediately, a group of men clad in black burst in, slamming the doors of the Hall of Benevolence shut and, without a word, began to wreak havoc, toppling the shelves and smashing everything in sight.

At this, Xie Qingtang’s eyes widened in fury, bloodshot with rage. Seeing her so incensed, Shao Siming’s face twisted into a look of satisfaction.

“Stop this at once!” Xie Qingtang shouted through gritted teeth, but the black-clad men paid her no heed, continuing to destroy everything in the front hall.

Hearing the commotion, Zhou Jin Fan’s heart pounded with dread. Gritting his teeth, he seized a stick from the firewood pile, let out a yell, and ran toward the chaos.

“Sister, help me up—I want to go help Dr. Xie!” Even the man suffering from schistosomiasis struggled to his feet, determined to go to Xie Qingtang’s aid.

Tears welled again at the corners of Yun Niang’s eyes. She, too, wanted to help Xie Qingtang, but seeing her brother’s frail condition, she said, “Brother, your health won’t allow it. Let me go help Dr. Xie instead.”