I Just Wanted to Teach Cultivation, But Goddesses Keep Coming!

Chapter 164: Chapter 164 The Phoenix Empress’s Pink Rubies Are Harder Than My Spirit Sword!

One should know that this was the very first time something like this had happened to Su Muyao.

A large gathering of clan elders did not visit just anyone’s home in the Su clan without a significant reason.

What she did not expect, however, was what the leading elder said next.

His voice was steady, full of authority and solemnity, yet tinged with a rare warmth.

“Lady Su, we will not take long, so we will stay here only for the moment,” he began.

“On behalf of the clan and its elders, I offer my deepest apologies for this delayed action. Your husband was a hero who gave his life for the clan, and yet his wife had to endure such indignity. From this day forward, the clan will strive to do better.”

He paused briefly, as if weighing his words carefully, then continued.

“The clan will grant you a mansion within the main estate, fully furnished and complete with all the maids, servants, and helpers you may require. You will be provided with everything necessary to live in comfort and dignity. Furthermore, the clan will provide…”

The list went on and on, extending into every corner of Su Muyao’s life… wealth, protection, privileges, and honors that she had never dared to hope for.

The sheer magnitude of it was dizzying.

She felt her head spin, her mind struggling to process the enormity of the clan’s promises.

It was more than generosity. It was a profound acknowledgment of her husband’s sacrifice and of her own suffering.

Yet something about it felt strange.

Her husband had only been a low-level cultivator, barely reaching the 5th stage of the Body Refining Realm.

By all accounts, someone of his rank should not have received this level of attention, especially so many years after his death.

She had never heard of a cultivator at his level being granted such rewards, and the delay only deepened her curiosity.

Still, Su Muyao was wise enough to know that this was not the time for questions or doubts.

She set aside her suspicions and listened intently to the elders, absorbing every word, every promise, and every gift with patience and composure, taking it all in without interruption.

Ten minutes after the lengthy list of unexpected rewards and privileges had been presented, the lead elder spoke again, his tone carrying a weight that immediately made Su Muyao’s heart tighten.

“Our deepest apologies once again, Lady Su,” he began, his voice measured but heavy with solemnity.

“This tragedy occurred because of one man’s greed. What should have been your husband’s rightful rewards, earned through his heroic service and ultimate sacrifice, were stolen by the avarice of another. The honor and recognition that should have been his were taken, and for that, the clan offers its profound apologies.”

Su Muyao’s eyes widened slightly.

The gravity of the situation was clear, and she could feel the tension radiating from the gathered elders.

“Bring the traitor here!” the lead elder commanded, his voice sharp and resonant, echoing across the courtyard.

His anger was unmistakable, and the other elders quickly moved to carry out his orders.

Moments later, two elderly men appeared, struggling to hold a bulky, strong man by the arms.

He was roughly pushed to the ground, his body failing to rise under their grip.

His face was swollen and covered in blood, and his robes were torn and stained.

Su Muyao’s instincts screamed at her, warning that what was about to happen would be horrifying.

A cold dread washed over her, and her mind immediately turned to her daughter, Su Wanwan.

She could not allow the child to witness the brutal punishment that was about to unfold.

Without hesitation, Su Muyao quickly returned inside her house and found Su Wanwan drawing once again.

She gently led her to the bedroom that she and Lin Feng had used earlier.

Her voice was firm yet soothing, a careful balance of authority and reassurance.

“Stay inside for a while, Wanwan. You can use the table and draw there for now. Mama will be with you shortly. Do not go out, okay?” she instructed, guiding her daughter gently but decisively to the safety of the room.

“Hmmm…” Su Wanwan nodded, her face lighting up with a big smile.

“Wanwan will listen to Mama,” the little girl added, skipping happily to the table before plunging into her drawing with eager enthusiasm.

Her innocence still protected her from the harsh and ugly realities of the world outside.

Then, with practiced precision, Su Muyao activated the sound dampening array in her room.

Within this protective barrier, Su Wanwan would hear nothing of the violence or chaos that would soon unfold outside.

Su Muyao stepped back outside, and the scene resumed immediately thereafter.

“This man deserves death!” the leading elder bellowed, his voice cutting through the tense silence like a thunderclap.

He waved his hand sharply, a motion that carried both authority and judgment.

Pak!

The sound of a crisp, stinging slap landed squarely across the prisoner’s face, echoing off the stone walls of the courtyard.

The force was enough to make his head jerk sideways, leaving a red mark that burned painfully against his skin.

“Death!” the surrounding clan elders joined in unison, their voices rising together in a grim chorus.

Each syllable felt like a hammer driving the sentence into the prisoner’s mind, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

Pak!

Another slap followed immediately, striking the opposite side of the prisoner’s face.

Red palm prints now mirrored each other on either cheek, stark against the pale skin.

Yet instead of trembling, wailing, or begging for mercy, the prisoner stared back at the elders with wide-eyed shock.

His brain struggled to reconcile the scene before him and what was supposed to be a harmless performance had turned into a life-or-death situation in an instant.

Hey old man! I thought this was just an act. Why are you suddenly screaming for my death? The prisoner thought desperately.

His heart pounded in his chest, and a cold sweat broke out across his back.

I shouldn’t have volunteered for this… why do terrible things happen to good men like me?