After the Fairy Maidens Fell to Darkness, They Captured Me to Ruthlessly 'Repay' Their Gratitude-Chapter 29 - The Gentleman: Wang Yuan

“He Ange, y-you better stop slandering me! When have I ever said such threatening words?”

Wang Yuan’s face turned ashen as he stammered, his composure unraveling at the sight of the recording stone.

How could he not be afraid?

He could already imagine the scene: if this recording stone were presented in the Enforcement Court, the law-abiding elders would glare at him as if he were the scum of the sect.

Even if the evidence wasn’t ironclad, the accusation of “True Disciple Wang Yuan bullying and threatening commoners to kneel” would be impossible to shake off.

If the scandal spread, the Shengxu Sect might strip Wang Yuan of his true disciple status to appease public opinion.

And without his title as a true disciple, Wang Yuan would be nothing.

“Senior Brother Wang Yuan, I’m not slandering you. You heard it yourself just now—he said I should kneel to you and beg for mercy,” He Ange said, shrugging innocently.

That expression—so innocent yet so infuriating—made Wang Yuan’s blood boil. He wanted to punch He Ange, but he didn’t dare, nor did he have the means to do so.

Besides, this time, He Ange had him cornered.

No matter how much Wang Yuan hated him, he understood the stakes. No personal grudge was worth risking his position as a true disciple.

His status as a true disciple was the foundation of his influence in Yong’an City’s elite circles. Without it, he’d lose everything.

“You! Get over here! When did I ever say such a thing? What gives you the right to speak on my behalf?”

Wang Yuan grabbed the arrogant young master by the collar, lifting him off the ground as he shouted.

He was panicking now.

Today was just not his day.

He had walked into this mess without even knowing what had happened, only to be dragged into a scandal by his own foolish lackey.

These idiots had no sense, speaking recklessly and painting Wang Yuan—a true disciple—as some kind of thug.

It was one thing to intimidate a rogue cultivator, but today, of all days, they had to provoke He Ange.

This wasn’t just bad luck—it was a disaster.

He Ange had already humiliated Wang Yuan during the swordsmanship class, using An Luo Yi’s intervention to turn the tables.

And now, if Wang Yuan tried to silence He Ange, he’d have to contend with An Luo Yi’s sword.

Since the Empress of Longchao had unified the Nine Provinces and ushered in an era of peace, countless laws had been enacted to protect commoners.

Among them, the righteous sects were particularly strict about cultivators abusing their power to bully mortals. Such scandals could attract the attention of the imperial guards, who would waste no time hauling Wang Yuan in for questioning.

The young master Wang Yuan was holding didn’t seem to grasp the gravity of the situation.

“Senior Brother Wang, why are you mad at me? He’s just a rogue cultivator. You’re a true disciple. What’s there to be afraid of? Even if he has a recording stone, we can just kill him and have someone in the black market clean it up. Who would ever know?”

“Shut your damn mouth!”

Before the young master could finish, Wang Yuan slapped him hard across the face. The sound echoed through the courtyard, sharp and clear.

This idiot had even mentioned the “black market” out loud. If Wang Yuan didn’t shut him up now, he’d be digging his own grave!

Meanwhile, He Ange watched the scene unfold with a smirk, clapping softly.

“Senior Brother Wang, what a righteous slap! It seems I misunderstood you earlier. A man of your stature, a true gentleman, would never be involved with the black market or demonic cultivators.”

“You...”

Wang Yuan glared at He Ange, his fists trembling with suppressed rage. He wanted to curse him out, but the recording stone in He Ange’s hand stopped him.

Taking a deep breath, Wang Yuan forced a strained smile. “Of course. As disciples of the righteous sects, how could we ever associate with such filth? That man was speaking nonsense.”

In theory, the young master wasn’t wrong. If Wang Yuan could seize the recording stone, he wouldn’t have to worry about his misdeeds being exposed.

But the problem was, he didn’t know who He Ange really was.

He had no idea that He Ange was an inner disciple of the Shengxu Sect.

And he certainly didn’t know about He Ange’s connection to An Luo Yi.

Wang Yuan might be able to overpower He Ange, but he couldn’t handle An Luo Yi.

With her involved, trying to take the recording stone was a pipe dream.

Besides, Wang Yuan hadn’t actually said anything incriminating. Why should he clean up someone else’s mess and risk getting burned?

“Senior Brother Wang, why are you siding with him...”

The young master who had been slapped looked at Wang Yuan with confusion.

On one side was He Ange, radiating a chilling killing intent. On the other was Wang Yuan, seething with barely contained fury.

Caught between these two forces, the young masters realized they had made enemies on both sides.

“Can’t you see? They’re my junior brother and sister from the Shengxu Sect!” Wang Yuan hissed through gritted teeth.

His voice was low, but his frustration was palpable. He wished more than anything that He Ange wasn’t from the sect. It would’ve made things so much simpler.

The realization dawned on the group.

This was a classic case of a dragon temple being burned down by its own kin. They had unknowingly picked a fight with their benefactor’s sect members.

The atmosphere grew awkward.

“Senior Brother Wang, let’s not drag this out. I won’t press the matter further, but I do hope these people will apologize to me and Senior Sister Xu Xin. They’ve been insulting us nonstop, and this is a matter of dignity,” He Ange said calmly, sitting down and addressing Wang Yuan.

But the He Ange speaking now was a far cry from the humble figure at the swordsmanship class. Outside the Shengxu Sect, his gaze carried a sharp, ruthless edge.

Wang Yuan stared at him for a long moment before deciding not to get involved.

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This wasn’t his mess to clean up. Whoever caused the trouble should deal with it.

“You lot, go apologize to my junior brother and sister,” Wang Yuan ordered coldly.

The young masters hesitated. They were all from wealthy families and had never bowed their heads to anyone, let alone commoners.

“Didn’t you hear me?” Wang Yuan barked, slapping one of them on the back of the head.

The man winced, rubbing his head as he reluctantly muttered an apology to He Ange and Xu Xin.

With their leader giving in, the others followed suit, bowing their heads and mumbling apologies like ostriches burying their heads in the sand.

He Ange didn’t push the matter further.

After all, this was someone else’s restaurant. If they caused too much trouble, it might bring unnecessary problems to The Old Nine Gates.

“Senior Brother Wang, your sense of justice is truly admirable. That settles it. I’ll continue my meal now. Please don’t let me keep you,” He Ange said, picking up his chopsticks and placing a slice of lamb into the bubbling hotpot.

Xu Xin, still shaken from the earlier confrontation, watched in silence. But when He Ange placed a piece of cooked lamb into her bowl, she snapped out of it.

“Eat,” he said with a reassuring smile.

Looking at the tender lamb in her bowl, Xu Xin swallowed nervously before taking a bite.

“This is so good!” she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.

He Ange chuckled and pushed two bowls of dipping sauce toward her. “Try it with these. It’s even better.”

He seemed completely unaffected by the earlier commotion, enjoying his meal as if nothing had happened.

Xu Xin, who had been starving all morning, quickly followed his lead.

Their cheerful atmosphere stood in stark contrast to Wang Yuan’s mood.

The so-called “gathering” Wang Yuan had planned was thoroughly ruined.

Unlike He Ange, Wang Yuan couldn’t simply brush off the humiliation. Furious and humiliated, he stormed out of the restaurant, his lackeys scrambling to follow.

With the troublemakers gone, the courtyard of The Old Nine Gates finally returned to peace.

At some point, the old chef emerged from the kitchen, carrying a plate of freshly cleaned tripe.

“You brat, it’s been years since you left. You couldn’t even stop by to visit The Old Nine Gates? Take this as my treat,” the old man grumbled, placing the plate on the table.

Though his tone was gruff, Xu Xin could sense the warmth behind his words. It was as if he were scolding a wayward grandson.

He Ange, however, didn’t read too much into it. Looking at the plate of dark tripe, he grinned.

“Old man, you’re finally willing to serve tripe?”

“Back then, when I suggested using it for hotpot, you all said it was disgusting offal!”