The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife-Chapter 853: At His Age, He Naturally Acts with Caution

Qingwu led his disciples to surround the Shi family.

The grand display drew the townsfolk of Jiuzhou Town to linger nearby, eager to see what was happening.

Qingwu didn’t barge in directly. Instead, he stood with his hands behind his back before the massive gates of the Shi family estate.

Before long, Shi Miaomiao emerged with a group of trusted retainers.

Though a woman, her presence was no less imposing than Qingwu’s. Following custom, she cupped her hands in greeting and said, "Venerable Master, since you’ve come to visit the Shi family, why bring so many people? Those unaware might think you’re here to wage war against us."

Qingwu’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. "Someone claims your Shi family has captured a few monks from the Divine Buddha Sect. Thus, I’m here to take them away."

He offered courtesy before force, giving Shi Miaomiao a chance.

Shi Miaomiao raised an eyebrow. "Who’s spouting nonsense? The Shi family, from top to bottom, is focused on refining pills—where would we find time to meddle in other affairs?"

Qingwu had expected her to be ungrateful.

His expression darkened, and he gave a subtle signal.

Soon, a man was brought forward—it was Shi Qian’s son, Shi Taotao.

Standing beside Qingwu, he puffed out his chest and glared at Shi Miaomiao. "I saw with my own eyes you sheltered and treated those monks. The Venerable Master has already given you a chance, yet you still dare to deny it?!"

The Shi family members’ faces changed at his accusation.

Shi Honghong shouted in fury, "Shi Taotao, you’d betray my sister?! From this day, you’re no longer part of the Shi family!"

Shi Miaomiao nearly spat blood, glaring at her troublesome brother. "What’s it to you? Step back!"

Shi Honghong realized his blunder, his face paling with fear.

He quickly shrank back.

Shi Taotao burst into laughter. "Did you all hear that? He’s confessed without prompting!"

Shi Miaomiao remained utterly calm, not sparing him a glance. "My brother hasn’t read much—he’s accusing you of slandering me, nothing more."

Qingwu snorted. "Lord Shi, are you set on shielding those monks?"

Shi Miaomiao didn’t fall into his trap, smiling as she replied, "Venerable Master, they harmed their own sect leader and offended you—I’d love to catch them to please you. But... the Shi family truly hasn’t captured anyone."

"You’re still lying through your teeth!" Shi Taotao pointed and cursed.

Shi Miaomiao didn’t indulge him. With a flick of her sleeve, a wave of spiritual energy sent Shi Taotao tumbling.

Looking down at him, she said slowly, "Everyone in Jiuzhou Town knows your father failed to seize the family head position and you’ve held a grudge against me. Shi Taotao, you want to use the Venerable Master’s hand against me—but have you considered that with his magnanimity, if you utter a single lie, you won’t survive?"

Her words subtly mocked Qingwu’s pettiness.

His face darkened instantly.

Shi Taotao, enduring the pain, shouted, "Venerable Master, I really saw it—I’m not lying! I swear on my family’s lives, I’m not lying!"

Seeing him make such a dire oath, Qingwu checked and found no deception.

He said, "Lord Shi, since he’s testified like this, let my people search inside. It’ll clear your Shi family’s name."

Shi Miaomiao didn’t budge an inch, her voice cold.

"The Shi family holds many secrets. What’s your true intent with this, Venerable Master?"

"If one of your men has sticky fingers and takes a pill or a recipe, it’d be a catastrophe for the Shi family!"

"Venerable Master, you can’t push us too far!"

As Shi Miaomiao spoke, the Shi family members aligned themselves in formation.

The onlookers buzzed with discussion, their gazes toward Qingwu turning unfriendly.

Relying solely on Shi Taotao’s word to search the Shi family seemed too flimsy.

Someone muttered, "What Venerable Master? He’s not worth a finger of Jifeng Celestial Sovereign. Isn’t it obvious he wants to steal pills and recipes from the Shi family? Utterly shameless!"

Qingwu’s expression hardened.

With a flash, he seized the speaker—an independent cultivator.

The cultivator, once scornful, now trembled under Qingwu’s ruthless glare.

"Venerable Master, mercy..."

Qingwu despised such remarks most.

Clearly, it was he who’d saved the Upper Realm—without him, where would their spiritual qi for cultivation come from?

Yet these people showed no gratitude!

With a fierce grip, he nearly crushed the cultivator’s throat.

Seeing this, Shi Miaomiao acted immediately.

But with her cultivation, she was knocked back several steps by Qingwu’s palm, her chest roiling with blood and qi.

A sharp crack rang out.

Qingwu snapped the independent cultivator’s neck.

The body slumped lifelessly.

The crowd paled in fear, retreating a few steps.

Wiping his hands with a cloth, Qingwu said, "Siheng was bewitched by the Evil Girl and is no longer fit to rule the Immortal World. Because of his Sky-Tearing Sword and the Divine Buddha Sect’s Sky Plough Pearl, that Evil Girl broke the array’s barrier! Now, the Upper Realm’s spiritual qi is scattering, and northern beasts are invading ashore. Our Upper Realm hangs by a thread!"

A few simple words stirred the crowd’s emotions.

This directly threatened their interests!

Spiritual qi was already scarce—now, with the barrier broken, it was even thinner.

How could they cultivate like this?!

Realizing this, the townsfolk shouted, "The Evil Girl must die! Cinian must die!"

Qingwu was pleased, continuing, "Lord Shi, I’m only worried you’ve been swayed by a few words, jeopardizing the Shi family’s foundation—not coveting your pills or recipes." freёweɓnovel.com

"I’ll say it again: the Shi family isn’t hiding Divine Buddha Sect monks," Shi Miaomiao said, clutching her chest.

"Whether you’re hiding them or not, I’ll know once I search," Qingwu said, riling the crowd again. "After all, they’re with the Evil Girl. If we don’t catch them soon, who knows what they’ll do next?"

The townsfolk now fully sided with Qingwu, some accusing, others urging.

Hearing the clamor and seeing Qingwu’s smug certainty, Shi Miaomiao clenched her fists secretly.

At this point, she had no choice.

She said, "Then allow me to tidy up. Venerable Master can search afterward."

Qingwu knew she’d hide critical recipes, pills, and herbs, but he warned, "I’ve set an array around the Shi family. For the next hour, no Talisman will work."

Shi Miaomiao’s face stiffened, but she turned back into the estate without a word.

"Venerable Master, why give her time? Why not rush in and search now?" Shi Taotao said resentfully.

Qingwu glared at him, whispering, "With so many watching, do you want my reputation ruined?"

If he stormed in now, people would think a Venerable Master like him was just looting the Shi family.

With the array in place, if those monks were inside, they couldn’t escape.

Once he caught them, he’d have grounds to take down the entire Shi family—would he lack their treasures then?

At his age, he naturally acted with caution, leaving no room for criticism!