I'll beat you to death, you unfilial son, you unfilial son!

"What are you saying, little brother?"

Lin Chen reached out, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "If Third Uncle hadn't acted in time just now, Lin Mang would've smashed me to death with one slap. If anyone should be saying thanks, it's me."

Of course, even if Lin Xiao had not stepped in, Lin Ken, who had been near the trial grounds, would also have had the chance to stop him.

That did not surprise him in the slightest.

The Lin Family itself had three Heavenly Yuan Stage experts. Aside from Lin Mang, there were Lin Zhentian and Lin Ken.

The latter's strength was in fact greater than Lin Mang's, enough to hold him off.

Sometimes, Lin Chen wondered that if Lin Xiao had not stopped Lin Mang, would Lin Ken have slapped Lin Mang flying right then and there?

After all, Lin Xiao would at most mock him verbally. He probably would not be too ruthless toward his own second brother.

Lin Ken was different. He was the eldest of the Lin Family, Lin Mang's big brother.

It was perfectly normal for an elder brother to teach a younger brother a lesson when he had done wrong.

Hadn't Lin Mang lowered his head straight away in front of Lin Ken, without any sign of arguing back or running away?

He knew full well that whether he fled or fought, it would only land him in an even worse situation, so he had not made a move.

Of course, there was also the fact that Lin Mang believed he was at the Heavenly Yuan Stage. Even if Lin Zhentian and Lin Ken were furious, they would not punish him lightly to the point of crippling his cultivation. That was why he had acted without fear.

"Brother Chen..."

Lin Dong gave a bitter smile. He understood the grudges involved far too well, so how could he easily believe Lin Chen's words? They were nothing more than comfort, meant to keep him from feeling too burdened.

"Brother Chen!"

Qing Tan hurried over to Lin Dong, looked him up and down, and only relaxed after seeing that there were no wounds. Patting her own chest, she said in relief, "That guy making a move scared me to death. Thank goodness he didn't hurt you, Brother Chen."

Lin Chen rubbed Qing Tan's head and comforted her, "Thanks. I'm fine. Let's go to the rear courtyard first, so Grandfather and the others won't have too many misgivings when handling this matter."

When the three people present heard this, their expressions changed slightly. Clearly, they had all understood something.

From the bigger picture, the Lin Family had three great Heavenly Yuan Stage experts holding the fort. Even the Lei Family, the strongest power in Qingyang Town, could not threaten them for no reason.

If they lost one Heavenly Yuan Stage expert, then the other powers that had long been eyeing them greedily would definitely be drawn in, striking at the Lin Family from the shadows and dividing up their wealth.

Considering all the consequences, even if Lin Zhentian and Lin Ken were furious, they were unlikely to easily impose the severe punishment of crippling Lin Mang's cultivation.

So Lin Chen and the others had to go to the rear courtyard to hold the line and apply a little pressure on Old Master Lin Zhentian.

If they could take this chance to eliminate the threat brought by that Heavenly Yuan Stage disaster, Lin Mang, then naturally that would be ideal.

Even if they could not take his life, they had to make his cultivation drop.

Only after it had dropped would they have a better chance of killing him!

Since Lin Mang had made a first move against him, there would be a next time, and another after that...

A trace of killing intent flashed through Lin Chen's eyes. Though he was not skilled in slaughter, when dealing with enemies, he believed in cutting the weeds and pulling out the roots!

The Lin Family's rear courtyard.

The main hall.

Basically, the direct line of the Lin Family was all present.

"Lin Mang!"

Lin Zhentian sat at the head, his face full of rage as he shouted sternly, "Do you know how many crimes you have committed?"

Lin Mang, whose head was lowered at that moment, shuddered and hurriedly replied, "Father, I know I was wrong. I won't dare do it again."

How would he dare argue with him now? If he angered Lin Zhentian further and Lin Zhentian crippled his cultivation with one slap, what then?

"Hmph!"

Lin Zhentian gave a cold snort, turned his head to look at Lin Ken, and demanded, "According to the Lin Family's laws, what crime should Lin Mang's actions be judged as?"

Lin Ken hesitated for a moment before saying in a deep voice, "Lin Mang arbitrarily disrupted the Clan Tournament, seriously blackened the Lin Family's reputation in Qingyang Town, and wantonly attacked a junior with the intent to eliminate him. For these many crimes, according to the Lin Family's laws, he should be executed immediately."

Lin Mang's face instantly turned pale. He hurriedly knelt on the ground and, in a few quick movements, had already grabbed the other man's right leg. Sobbing, he pleaded, "Big Brother, Big Brother, considering that I've managed the Lin Family's finances for so many years and made huge contributions to the Lin Family, please don't kill me. I'm your younger brother!"

Lin Hong had not expected such consequences either. He hurriedly snapped out of his memories of having been defeated by Lin Chen earlier and quickly said, "Eldest Uncle, my father has already admitted his mistake. Please don't kill him."

If his father died, then within the Lin Family, he would have no one to rely on!

When Lin Ken heard those words, he had never seen the two of them in such a state before, and he could not help feeling somewhat reluctant. But then he thought of how the person Lin Mang had tried to kill was Lin Chen, someone he valued greatly, and that he had committed an unforgivable crime.

He turned his head aside and hardened his heart as he continued to announce, "According to the principle of balancing merits and faults, and in consideration of Lin Mang's past contributions to the Lin Family, the death penalty will be waived!"

At those words, Lin Mang and Lin Hong both let out a long breath of relief.

Sure enough, if they cried and made a fuss, there would not be any real punishment.

"However, while he may be spared death, he cannot escape punishment!"

Lin Ken watched the two of them react, and inwardly shook his head.

Where was there any attitude of admitting fault? It was all fake.

In the past, there had been no chance to teach them a lesson. Now, at this point, not teaching them one was impossible.

The Clan Tournament was originally meant to bring honor to the Lin Family, yet now look at this—they had lost face completely.

Moreover, it had caused an extremely harmful effect, making the Lin Family's younger generation feel anxious and terrified, afraid that if they were careless, they might give birth to a child even more talented than Lin Hong, and then wouldn't that child be directly erased by Lin Hong's father, Lin Mang, a powerful expert at the Heavenly Yuan Stage?

The outcome of this punishment would determine, to a great extent, whether the ensuing impact could be eliminated.

Naturally, they absolutely could not go easy on them!

"Big Brother, Big Brother!"

The huge stone in Lin Mang's heart flew up once again. He was terrified beyond measure and cried out, "As long as you don't let me die, I can accept anything else to atone for my crime!"

Lin Hong, beside him, did not have that awareness. In his view, as long as the death penalty was waived, the so-called living punishment would be nothing much.

At most, they would fine him some money, lock him up for a few days, and have him reflect on himself.

Once it was over, Lin Mang would still be the Second Master who controlled the Lin Family's finances, and under his protection, Lin Hong would continue to enjoy the Lin Family's vast cultivation resources, living carefree and at ease!

At that moment, Lin Chen and the others had already sat down nearby, listening to the result of the judgment.

This made Lin Hong feel deeply humiliated, and he could not help still having the mind to pay attention to their reactions.

Lin Chen was expressionless, while beside him, Lin Dong, Lin Xia, and Qing Tan were pointing and commenting with faces full of disdain and disgust. This left Lin Hong extremely depressed and stifled.

"Dad, look at that guy Lin Chen. Should we find a chance afterward to get rid of him and bury him on the back mountain? No one would ever know, just like before..."

Lin Hong still brooded over it. He could not tolerate the existence of Lin Chen, who was even stronger than him.

Therefore, during this very judgment, he actually leaned close to Lin Mang's ear and quietly wrapped his words in Yuan Power to transmit a reminder.

This caused Lin Zhentian and Lin Ken's expressions to instantly grow even angrier.

Did he think such petty tricks could hide anything from Heavenly Yuan Stage experts like them?

Clearly, Lin Mang understood this as well.

"You reckless, unfilial son! Are you trying to get your father killed?!"

Lin Mang was instantly so frightened that his whole body trembled, his face turning livid. Furious, he slapped Lin Hong across the face and roared, "Let me tell you, your father has already acted rashly once and committed such a grave crime. If not for my contributions to the Lin Family, your father's head would already be separated from his neck by now. Do you understand?!"

He was so furious that he no longer knew what to say.

All he knew was that the chance he had originally still had to continue living comfortably in the future had now been ruined by this unfilial son whom he had valued so greatly and placed such high hopes in!

"I'll beat you to death, you unfilial son! You unfilial son!"