Senior Zhu's admission along with his imposing height and otherworldly features captivated everyone in the courtroom. Now that they saw him up close, the cultivators couldn't help but speculate about his relation to Grandmaster Zhu.

As if answering the disciples' suspicions, Zhu Zhang descended from the dais and casually made his way towards Senior Zhu. He came to stand by his side, folded his arms and waited expectantly for the other man to speak.

Senior Zhu's near androgynous appearance and striking silvery hair might have looked somewhat more distinctive than Grandmaster Zhu's dark tresses and well defined square jaw, however, seeing them stand together side by side, one would have had to be blind not to notice their many similarities. Add to all that them bearing the same surname, the attending cultivators couldn't help but fear the possibility that they might suddenly be in a lot of trouble for offending this great young master.

However, their concerns were soon assuaged, thanks to his calm demeanour and benevolent words.

"The Fox Spirit is mine. I shall compensate for your losses." Senior Zhu's deep voice appealed to the masses. It was easy for the cultivators to regard him with awe, being unaware of their near-death experience just several minutes prior. Next, he spread his fingers apart and conjured a simple, worn out pouch over his palm.

Nobody noticed Grandmaster Zhu Zhang's lips twitching and his shoulders shaking from suppressed laughter. Everybody was far too fascinated by the dashing man offering to repay them!

Ah, he really overestimated this naughty child! Well, as long as he didn't kill his disciples, he wouldn't mind letting Little Qingyue play a few games, Zhu Zhang thought, enjoying the show.

Next, Senior Zhu emptied the contents of his pouch onto the ground. A few coppers scattered about. The strikingly handsome man looked down, seemingly disheartened.

"These are all my life savings. I do not have much but I am willing to work hard for the rest of my life to repay for my Fox Spirit's misdeeds." His soothing voice was tinged with heartbreak. As if on cue, the nearby female disciples whimpered in response to his genuine resolution.

"Senior Zhu is so righteous and upright."

"No wonder. He must be related to Grandmaster Zhu Zhang!"

Bai Qingyue concealed his expression with his wrist in apparent anguish and stole a glance backwards to observe Li Meirong's reaction. She looked slightly confused, her lovely countenance contorted into an irritated frown.

Hm. Why does she seem upset? Isn't he taking the blame for her? Bai Qingyue would have to increase his efforts.

Shortly after, Senior Zhu divulged his tale of woe and misfortune. "My name is Zhu Qingyue. I am Grandmaster Zhu's illegitimate son. Most of my life I have lived in a poverty-stricken settlement, brought up on humbleness and humility. It was only by sheer coincidence that my father recently discovered my existence and chose to train me in secret throughout the last few years. I have never dared to aspire for wealth or greatness, and therefore, this is all I have to my name. I will surely pay you back the moment I am able, on that you have my word!"

He bowed his head at the end of his "sincere" declaration.

Meanwhile, Bai Zhang who stood by his side was inwardly fuming, giving his son a black look. His good mood had all but disappeared.

This brat! Even with his fabricated lies, he makes his respected father sound like an uncaring devil! Hadn't he given him half of his life force?! What poverty? This boy had been living his life with a golden spoon in his mouth!

Bai Zhang scoffed. There was no way his devoted disciples would believe such nonsense. With this confident mindset, he turned towards his disciples, only for his eyes to darken further and his mouth to stretch into a long, thin line.

The sympathetic looks plastered across the seniors' faces as they gazed up at his son reflected their blind belief in his ridiculous tale. Bai Qingyue had bought the crowd with his half-assed narratives!

Bai Zhang worked so hard for all these years in order to maintain a stellar reputation. To think all his careful efforts were instantly ruined with a few fictitious words from his own flesh and blood…

Even Shopkeeper Mu no longer wished to argue but instead displayed deep sympathy for the lad's sad story. He also suffered from bad parenting and was left to struggle through life on his own. The Shopkeeper patted Bai Qingyue's shoulder, "Don't worry about the Fox Spirit. Let's put the past behind us. You seem like an upstanding young man, I'm sure you'll do great things in the future!"

"Let bygones be bygones!" A female disciple cheered.

"It was a misunderstanding like Grandmaster Zhu Zhang said…"

While Zhu Qingyue was being showered with affection from the previously murderous crowd, Li Meirong's annoyance had only increased. Keeping her face downcast, she tactfully hid her rage.

A second ago, she had harnessed all her energy in preparation to fight, willing to make this final showdown only to be interrupted by Zhu Qingyue. When he rushed to stand in front of her, she assumed he was trying to defend her and so, she dropped her defenses. Her heart warmed with the thought of this man protecting her. Maybe he wasn't as bad as she assumed him to be?

But then, he had the nerve to say that Snowball was his! Was he planning on stealing her pet?!