Lu Yuan had no idea that a casual excuse of his would send the Tai Ling Ancient Clan into an internal investigation. It truly was an accidental misunderstanding.
However, Tai Ling Chen Xuan was very particular about how he handled matters.
After patiently finishing the spiritual art manual in his hands, he first exchanged looks with the other four stunned elders. Only then did he look toward Lu Yuan and, after hesitating for a moment, confirm in a deep voice, "What you said is correct, little friend. These spiritual arts truly belong to our Tai Ling Ancient Clan, and they are extremely important ones at that. Little friend, you returned what you found instead of keeping it. Our Tai Ling Ancient Clan has no way to repay such a favor..."
"Clan Leader..."
The Second Elder, seated opposite Lu Yuan, interrupted.
Although he only addressed him as Clan Leader and did not say the rest, everyone understood what he meant. Even Lu Yuan, an outsider, could read the situation.
The Second Elder was clearly asking Tai Ling Chen Xuan, the Clan Leader, whether they should kill Lu Yuan, the one who knew too much. After all, Lu Yuan had just admitted that he had read those spiritual arts. An outsider had seen their clan's inheritance in full—it was practically like Lu Yuan had seen their daughter naked. Though there was more than one path forward, there were really only two: either join the Tai Ling Ancient Clan, or die.
Though the comparison was somewhat inappropriate.
The meaning was close enough.
Yet Lu Yuan was not panicked in the slightest.
Holding his teacup, he habitually blew on it before taking a sip.
Instead, this made the originally murderous Second Elder sense that something was off. His aura inexplicably dissipated, and he began