Yu Yunheâs heart trembled as he met Lin Xunâs eyes.
He looked at the blood and flesh all over the ground and fiercely clenched his jaws. âBrother Lin, you fought so that I can have an opportunity. No matter what the consequences will be, I swear to keep you safe with my life!â
His voice was resolute.
âLetâs go.â Lin Xun shot toward the mountain gate without looking back.
â¦â¦
On Jiuhua Sacred Mountain, in front of a huge platform surrounded by drifting haze, there was a huge light screen that broadcast what was happening outside the mountain gate.
âPatriarch, why did you activate the Clan Protective Formation?â
âThose juniors are still out there!â
âPatriarchâ¦â
A group of high-ranking figures of the Yu Clan had gathered on the platform, all of them fidgeting around with shocked and angry expressions.
Their eyes were all bloodshot after watching the gruesome slaughter outside the mountain gate.
âWhy did you all say nothing earlier to stop those juniors when they carried out an ambush at the entrance?â said Yu Bikong indifferently with his hands crossed behind his back, his gaze deep.
He was tall and majestic. With beard and hair like ink and clad in a blue robe, he exuded an oppressing might by just standing there casually.
He was the current head of the Yu Clan, Yu Yunheâs father, a figure of great talent and preeminent authority.
The expressions of the Yu Clanâs seniors froze upon Yu Bikongâs question. How could they have predicted that an unknown young man would be so powerful and savage in battle?
Yu Bikongâs voice was heavy, âThis is the first time that my incompetent son has returned in so long, yet those juniors blocked him outside the clan. I, his father, havenât even said anything yet, and yet you all canât sit still?â
An gray-haired elder anxiously defended them, âPatriarch, as you could see, the juniors werenât trying to stop Yunhe from returning home, they were targeting that outsider!â
The others also nodded.
Yu Bikongâs lips curled up with a hint of mockery. âQuit playing dumb, everyone. With the clan competition beginning soon, do you think I have no idea about the sordid things you have done just for the sake of the future clan head position?â
Hearing this, the elders instantly looked uncomfortable.
Yu Bikong turned around suddenly, his eyes like zapping electricity with a horrifying might as he coldly scanned the crowd and said:
âBut you should never be this underhanded! Even if my son is a waste, he should not be bullied like this, otherwise, what will people make of me, his father?â
His voice was thunderous, echoing through the clouds shrouding the mountain top.
A personage with extremely high seniority took a deep breath and said, âPatriarch, we have indeed done wrong in this matter with Yunhe, and we will give you an explanation.â
After a pause, he continued, âBut our current problem is that an outsider just brutally murdered many clansmen right before our gate. How can this be tolerated?â
The others quickly nodded in agreement, gritting their teeth with hatred as they desperately wanted Lin Xun dead.
Yu Bikong suddenly said, âDo you know why I activated the Clan Protective Formation?â
Everyone was stunned as this question came back.
Someone couldnât help but say, âDonât tell me you think that that outsider can threaten the safety of our clan, Patriarch?â
Yu Bikongâs expression was frosty. âNo, I just didnât want you all to interfere. Even if Yunhe hadnât brought this person here, leading to him killing those idiots, then I would do it myself before the clan competition and spare myself from having to deal with their despicable and shameless actions ever again.â
His remark was like a bone-chilling knife, making the blood of the people run cold.
Only now did they realize that Yu Bikong had prepared a butcher knife long ago, but before he could use it, an outsider had appeared and helped him eliminate some of his targets.
âYou probably are dissatisfied with me, wondering about how a waste like my son can possibly qualify to compete for the position of the next clan head.â
Yu Bikongâs gaze returned to the light screen. On it, Yu Yunhe and Lin Xun were striding up the steps, chasing after their fleeing opponents.
No one noticed the touch of relief flashing in the depths of Yu Bikongâs eyes when he saw this scene.
âUnfortunately, you never knew that Yunhe has never wanted to become the next patriarch. He dislikes infighting with the other juniors. And yet, youâve always seen him as a thorn in your side and resorted to every means possible to besmirch him.
âDo you guys think that an uneducated, unruly playboy can be the first in the clanâs young generation to become a supreme Big Saint?â
As his frustrated voice echoed through the field, the atmosphere was dead quiet, and everyoneâs expression flickered dimly.
âThis is happening because you forced his hands.â Yu Bikongâs voice grew ice-cold. âBut then again, I actually have to thank you all. If it wasnât for you making efforts to bully him all these years, how would my child even think of returning to take part in the upcoming competition?â
The crowdâs complexion became even more unsightly.
A muddy, old voice suddenly rang out, âBikong, too many people have died today. This is where it should stop!â
It lifted everyoneâs spirits. Ancestor Xuelin!
A bony, gray-clad figure then appeared out of thin air. The old man had hollow eyes and looked unremarkable.
But everyone present bowed and saluted.
Yu Xuelin!
He was an ancestor figure of the Imperial Yu Clan who had secluded himself for ages. According to seniority, Yu Bikong had to respectfully address him as âclan uncle.â
Yu Bikong frowned, and after a moment of silence, he said, âGood.â
As soon as he gave the order, the protective formation covering Jiuhua Sacred Mountain was deactivated.
This allowed everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.
âThird Brother, go bring Yunhe and the others over,â ordered Yu Bikong.
âAlright.â A brocade-robed, middle-aged man stepped out before teleporting away.
â¦â¦
Before the mountain path.
Yu Yunzhengâs group were panic-stricken, their faces all wearing desperate expressions.
One of them roared, âOld Sixth, do you really want to kill us all?â
A distance behind them, Yu Yunhe, striding shoulder to shoulder with Lin Xun, indifferently said, âYou brought this on yourselves.â
Lin Xun was just about to make a move when â
Clatter~
The Clan Protective Formation covering the mountain path fluctuated violently and vanished.
âWeâre saved!â
âHurry!â
Yu Yunzhengâs group looked like they had found life at deathâs door, and they were so excited that they almost burst into tears as they ran in fear.
âYunhe, tell your friend to stop.â A burly figure appeared from thin air no later than the grand formation disappeared.
âThird Uncle?â Yu Yunhe was stunned as the burly man was none other than his third uncle, Yu Biyuan, who had the best relationship with his father in the clan.
Yu Biyuan chuckled, his voice thick, âYour father and I have seen everything. You did well.â
He then turned to Lin Xun, an odd look flashing through his face. âLittle friend, do you dare to walk with me?â
Lin Xun raised his brows. âThis place isnât a dragonâs lair, so why wouldnât I dare?â
Yu Biyuan burst out laughing. âYouâve made a great friend, Yunhe. Letâs go, donât make your father wait.â
He turned around and led the way.
At the same time, Yu Yunhe transmitted, âBrother Lin, rest assured that I, Yu Yunhe, will protect you even if I have to risk my life!â
Lin Xun smiled and didnât say anything.
Soon, the group arrived at the platform at the top of the huge mountain, where Yu Bikong and a group of the Yu Clanâs high-ranking personnel were waiting.
Yu Yunzheng, Yu Yunlong, and the other seniors were also present. When they saw Lin Xun, the hatred in their hearts was so intense that they clenched their jaws tightly.
âElders, itâs that bastard who brutally murdered our clansmen right before our gate!â someone screamed, and many chimed in to agree.
âDonât worry, I believe the patriarch will give everyone a satisfactory explanation,â said an old man coldly.
âFather!â Yu Yunhe looked at Yu Bikong, wanting to say something.
Yu Bikong looked delighted as he reassured his son, âAs long as you are back. Iâve seen everything that just happened. Your father definitely wonât let you be wronged.â
A warm stream flowed through Yu Yunheâs heart, and he responded with a muffled âYes.â
âYunheâs grievances aside, Patriarch, now that the murderer is right in front of us, how do you intend to punish him?â A bigwig stepped forward with a somber expression.
Before Yu Bikong could speak, someone else jumped ahead, âHe must be executed, of course! His hands are stained with the blood of our clansmen. If he gets to live, how can our hatred and resentment be resolved?â
Other seniors also agreed, âThatâs right, if we let him off, how will our fellow cultivators in the Great Yu World take us seriously in the future?â
They apparently hated Lin Xunâs guts, believing that without him, a waste like Yu Yunhe wouldnât have been anything to worry about, and such a bloody event would never have happened.
At this moment, Lin Xun had become public enemy number one with all the fingers pointing at him.
His expression was calm as though he had turned a blind eye to it all. From the moment he had made his move, he had already expected this outcome.
âFather, if it wasnât for Brother Lin, your son wouldnât have been able to return to the clan at all! I wonât agree to him being punished because of this!â shouted an anxious Yu Yunhe.
An elder instantly chided, âYunhe, your friend murdered our clansmen and youâre defending him? Simply outrageous!â
Yu Bikong, however, nonchalantly pointed at Lin Xun and said, âHe was acting under my orders to use this opportunity to eradicate some of the scum from our clan. If you want to blame someone, then just come at me.â
Yu Yunhe was dumbfounded, then he immediately understood. He was ecstatic, knowing that his father was protecting Lin Xun.
Lin Xun was stunned as well, inwardly lamenting that if Yu Yunhe just had thirty percent of his fatherâs wisdom, then he wouldnât have been pushed into such a situation.
Meanwhile, the other eldersâ faces sank upon Yu Bikongâs declaration. They were not stupid, so how could they not see that the clan head was clearly trying to protect Lin Xun?
But under this circumstance, they were powerless to refute him.
Lin Xun had indeed killed many people, but who could say anything if he had been acting under Yu Bikongâs banner?
Unless they dared to openly oppose the patriarch!
All the Yu Clanâs bigwigs were suffocated by fury as none of them had expected such a trick move from Yu Bikong.
Even Yu Yunzheng and the other youngsters were stupefied... The patriarch was using an outsiderâs hand to eliminate them asâ¦scum?
How did they become scum?
They only needed to move their brains a little to know that this was only an excuse.
As such, they realized that the patriarch was determined to protect Lin Xun this time!