Xie Daozhi’s face showed no expression whatsoever. In fact, he was quite calm.

Calm to a heart-stopping degree.

His father died when he was a year and a half old. At eight, he was driven from the Yan family. From a lonely widow and orphan depending on each other, to now being surrounded by children and grandchildren. From having no place to settle, to now living in a grand mansion…

How much he had sacrificed, how arduous this journey had been, how much blood stained his hands, how many corpses he had stepped over…

He knew clearly in his heart, plainly and distinctly.

What was all this for? Wasn’t it all for the children and grandchildren of the Xie family?

When the old lady was young, for his sake, she could kowtow to people, could take Yan Xing as her husband, could kneel in the snow for an entire night. How could he not do the same?

You should be able to.

Xie Daozhi told himself in his heart.

Look—

Your eldest son is so outstanding, a complete replica of yourself.

The second son, though reserved and not particularly likeable, is filial and obedient.

As for the third—there’s no need to even mention him. He suffered so much from bitter medicines since childhood and nearly lost his life. Could you bear to see him face misfortune again?

And your daughter, your grandchildren…

He couldn’t bear to see harm come to any of them!

Xie Daozhi sighed softly: Even for their sake, you should let go. You can only let go!

“Eldest son, do you know how the Yan family was destroyed?”

Xie Erli shook his head.

“That man was arrogant and conceited, his eyes atop his head, completely unable to see others or tolerate them.”

To this day, Xie Daozhi couldn’t forget the way that person’s gaze would drift over, the contempt and disdain in those eyes making six-year-old Xie Daozhi feel that even his soul had become humble in that presence.

“Back then, the Yan family kept several retainers. One of them wanted to go to the capital to become a minor official and asked Yan Xing for help writing a letter of recommendation.”

“Yan Xing didn’t write it?”

“Not writing it would have been one thing. But he actually lectured the man in front of everyone. The man left in shame and anger, immediately joined Yan Xing’s political enemy, and soon brought about his downfall.”

Xie Daozhi raised his head with a cold laugh.

“So despite starting at such a high point in life, he ended up like this—simply put, it’s karmic retribution. This retribution didn’t just fall on him, but on his children and grandchildren as well.”

“Father is right. Leaving others a way out is leaving yourself a way out, and also leaving one for your children and descendants…”

Xie Erli’s words suddenly cut off, his eyes showing surprise. “Father…”

“Parents in this world are mostly the same. Even if not for the old lady’s sake, I should do this for you siblings.”

Xie Daozhi walked to the window and suddenly pushed it open. Cold wind rushed in, making Xie Erli shiver involuntarily.

“Son!”

Xie Daozhi pointed at Yan Sanhe’s thin figure outside the window, pronouncing each word distinctly.

“Remember this firmly: the best revenge isn’t murder or arson—it’s you forever standing on high ground, your children and grandchildren forever standing on high ground.”

Xie Erli felt a surge of warmth rising from his eye sockets.

He swept his robe aside and knelt down. “Father, your son has memorized it!”

“Go tell her that I will let go.”

“Yes!”

Xie Erli climbed to his feet and secretly wiped away tears as he turned his back.

…

The candles were lit once more.

Thinking of his father’s endurance of humiliation, then looking at Yan Sanhe’s nearly cold and indifferent face, even the usually mild-mannered Xie Erli couldn’t help but say:

“When this is over, you need to kowtow properly to my father several times.”

Yan Sanhe: “Should I also set up a longevity tablet for him?”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Xie Erli sneered coldly. “Just never step through my Xie family’s door again!”

“That’s simple.”

Yan Sanhe handed the incense stick to Xie Daozhi and stepped aside.

Xie Erli bit his teeth, looking worriedly at Xie Daozhi. “Father?”

“You step back as well!”

“Yes!”

Xie Erli strode briskly to Yan Sanhe’s side, clasped his hands behind his back, and said in a suppressed voice: “You’d better keep your word, otherwise…”

Yan Sanhe suddenly raised her eyes, both pupils cold as ice.

Xie Erli, seized by her gaze, felt his heart jolt violently.