Forcing the Palace

Xie Zhi's finger wagged back and forth right in front of Xie Yuan's face, pointing and gesturing.

Xie Yuan looked at Xie Zhi's somewhat excited, somewhat smug expression. He said nothing and made no attempt to defend himself.

He knew that since Xie Zhi had dared to suddenly launch an attack, it could not have come out of thin air.

With Xie Yuan's current influence and adaptability, it was not as though he lacked ways to stall things for now or find a way to conceal them. But Xie Yuan did not wish to do that.

He watched Xie Zhi calmly, watching his confident, well-prepared demeanor.

Sure enough, Xie Wen asked again:

"Xie Zhi, what basis do you have for saying this?"

"Of course I have one."

Xie Zhi stroked his beard and smiled.

"If you all go to the Ancestral Hall and inspect the Family Tree, you will discover that Xie Yuan, this dignified current family head, was supposedly the 'son' and 'nephew' of the previous two family heads—yet he has never been entered into the Family Tree, nor is his name listed under Xie Xuan's branch.

"A family head enters other clansmen into the Family Tree, yet his own name is absent from it. Is that not laughable?"

The moment those words were spoken, many elders were greatly shocked.

Some even felt the urge to immediately go and verify it.

Yet everyone knew that since Xie Zhi had dared to say this to Xie Yuan's face and openly make trouble, he could not possibly be talking nonsense about something so easily verified.

There was actually such a matter?

The elders whispered among themselves and exchanged glances. The banquet hall gradually grew noisy.

Xie Lei, ever forthright and bold, frowned and said in a deep, booming voice:

"That proves nothing. Perhaps Xie Yi had other considerations at the time. Right, what did Fifth Granduncle say?"

"Xie Lei, you are right. Fifth Granduncle said the very same thing!"

Xie Zhi pointed at Xie Lei, who had clearly meant to speak on Xie Yuan's behalf, and laughed loudly. His confident bearing instantly suppressed Xie Lei's momentum.

"Fifth Granduncle said Xie Yi found an excuse not to enter him into the Family Tree at the time, and afterward never mentioned it again. Even Fifth Granduncle found it rather strange."

"Then that settles it, does it not? It means they all knew, and they did not hide it from anyone. They must have had their own reasons. Xie Yi is lying there now and cannot be questioned. We can discuss it once he wakes up!"

Xie Lei said with a stiff expression.

Xie Zhi looked at him with a half-smile.

"Xie Lei, can this truly be dragged out like that? Fine. Even if there were a thousand reasons for delaying his entry into the Family Tree, that indeed cannot directly prove that this Xie Yuan is an impostor.

"But not long ago, when the family head killed Ji Xuan, the genius Grandmaster of the Demon Sect's Ji Family, it was at Wei County North Mountain Village. Do you know what kind of place that is?"

Many elders frowned slightly. Most had no idea where it was.

Xie Lingyun's delicate body trembled, and she murmured instinctively:

"That is my brother's adoptive parents' homeland..."

Xie Zhi turned toward her, stroking his beard with a smile.

"Lingyun is entirely correct."

Xie Lingyun suddenly realized what she had said. Her face immediately flushed crimson, and she gritted her teeth.

"No, that is not what I meant..."

She stammered a few times, then pressed her lips tightly together.

Xie Yuan waved a hand at her. She froze, and her expression instantly became incomparably complicated.

Xie Zhi smiled.

"North Mountain Village was precisely where the distant relatives who took away Xie Yuan and Xie Lun, the two brothers, lived. Of course, this 'distant' relation was so distant that no one knew just how distant. Search through eight hundred years of Family Trees, and you will find no record of North Mountain Village. Yet they were indeed surnamed Xie. Perhaps they had some connection to the Yu Province North Xie Family that split off twelve hundred years ago. Perhaps.

"That husband and wife had naturally shown immense kindness to the Xie Yuan brothers, and they had rendered great service to our Xie clan as well. Needless to say, a grand tomb was built for them in North Mountain Village. Xie Yuan was a filial son. During Qingming, festivals, and death anniversaries, he offered sacrifices three times a year, never missing one.

"And he had never gone even once beyond those occasions."

By this point, everyone vaguely understood.

Xie Zhi continued:

"Yet when he encountered Ji Xuan, it was neither Qingming, nor a festival, nor a death anniversary, and still he suddenly went there and encountered a powerful enemy. The Ji Family had clearly been targeting our clan all this time. Given Xie Yuan's usual steadiness and meticulousness, why would he suddenly take such a risk and leave at a time like this? And he truly encountered an enemy.

"Unless he had a reason he could not avoid.

"That was when I first found it somewhat strange. Later, I happened to discover that Xie Yuan had gone to the Ancestral Hall to inspect the Family Tree around those same days—

"Likewise, he normally either cultivated diligently, serving as a model for the clan's younger generation, or handled clan affairs, putting us all to shame. For over two years, he had never done anything else. So why did he suddenly go to the Ancestral Hall to look through the Family Tree?

"When I asked Fifth Granduncle, I learned that Xie Yi had actually left something for him. And after Xie Yuan read it and looked through the Family Tree, he was stunned for quite some time."

Having said this, Xie Zhi paused his beard-stroking and smiled, allowing everyone to ponder it for themselves.

There were no fools among the elders. Even those inclined toward Xie Yuan now sensed that something was amiss, and all fell silent.

Xie Wen secretly shook his head and muttered:

"You really are a dog's tail, following others so closely."

"The same to you."

Xie Zhi smiled pleasantly. He looked lean and scholarly, like a private tutor, but a glint of shrewdness showed in his eyes.

Like Xie Wen, he had initially been very interested in the position of family head and had made a point of thoroughly studying Xie Yuan.

Whether it was Xie Yuan's adoptive parents or his movements and habits, Xie Zhi and Xie Wen had both investigated quite a bit.

Thus, Xie Wen knew there was nothing wrong with what Xie Zhi had said.

"But even so, that cannot prove Xie Yuan must be the biological son of those two."

No one else spoke, yet it was Xie Zhi himself who said it.

But everyone knew that what he was about to say next was the true crux of the matter.

"So I sent people to carefully investigate North Mountain Village, to see what those two had been like before the great disaster twenty years ago, whether they had children, and whether they had other relatives.

"And what do you think I found? Those two 'great benefactors' of our clan had no prior records whatsoever in the local county annals, Household Registration records, or archives. Anything involving events from over twenty years ago had all been erased.

"And according to my subordinates, it should have been erased only within the last two years.

"I wonder who possessed such audacity, daring to cover up the life histories of the benefactors of our Chen Commandery Xie clan?"

Xie Zhi smiled without smiling, his tone strange.

No one spoke, but everyone thought of the same name.

Xie Zhi put on an act of sighing.

"Though it was done so obviously, the trail was cut off, and I truly had no way forward. Yet Heaven took pity on me. When that couple's graves were moved back in such splendor, many old acquaintances naturally still remembered them.

"Following that lead, I swiftly found an Old Midwife in a neighboring village. She was already in her eighties, yet she still vividly remembered the matter of the couple having a child all those years ago.

"Why did she remember it so vividly? Because those days happened to coincide with the joyous occasion when the family head at the time gained a qilin child. Messengers of our Xie clan traveled in all directions, spreading the good news among the branches throughout Yu Province. Anyone living nearby could share in the joy, and North Mountain Village was no exception.

"That mother was just about to give birth when she heard that the Xie clan's family head had also had a child, named Yuan, and that red eggs had been distributed.

"So, in order to share in the auspiciousness, the couple likewise named their yet-unborn child Xie Yuan. Perhaps they truly received the protection of our Chen Commandery Xie clan. The midwife said that after delivering babies her entire life, she had never seen a birth go so smoothly. Moreover, the child born was red-lipped and white-toothed, with features that gathered only the finest essence of his parents—unbelievably handsome. In her experience, he was the kind of child who would not grow crooked, someone who would be handsome from childhood through adulthood.

"Most strange of all, that child did not cry or fuss at first. He was born calm, and for an instant there seemed to be confusion in his eyes. Only then did he burst into loud cries like an ignorant infant. When the Old Midwife spoke of this, she described it vividly and still wore an expression of wonder. It could not have been false.

"Elders, do you think this Xie Yuan of North Mountain Village resembles someone?"

Xie Zhi stroked his beard, smiling pleasantly.

Whoosh—whoosh...

Wind and snow raged without pause beyond the corridor, while the hall was silent as death.

Countless eyes, openly or covertly, turned toward Xie Yuan. Yet Xie Yuan remained calm and did not utter a word.

Xie Zhi swept his gaze around the room. Knowing the overall situation had been decided, he felt somewhat excited.

He slowly said:

"If you still feel this is insufficient, then I ask the family head to dispel everyone's doubts by opening the coffins and examining the bodies, using our Xie clan's inherited secret art to confirm that he shares no bloodline with them..."

"Xie Zhi, there is no need for that."

Xie Yuan shook his head and interrupted him.

His expression was calm. Clutching a jade goblet in his hand, he spoke slowly.

"What you said is all true. I only learned of it recently as well."

Hearing him personally admit it, everyone's mouths fell slightly open, their expressions shaken.

No one had expected such a complicated story behind it all!

This Xie Yuan was actually not even a member of the Chen Commandery Xie clan?

Xie Wen, Xie Bing, Xie Lei, and all the other elders wore grave expressions, their astonishment mixed with absurdity.

The difference was that some looked conflicted and burdened, while others' expressions shifted in an instant, their minds beginning to turn.

Xie Lingyun stared blankly at Xie Yuan, her mind completely empty. She only thought instinctively:

He is not actually my elder brother? What is Father doing? What is he doing? Heavens, he is not my elder brother. We were not family after all...

Xie Lingyun instinctively felt sorrowful and reluctant to let go. Even her nose stung.

But just as tears were about to fall, she suddenly thought of something and abruptly stopped.

Wait...

Mu Chaoyun merely watched Xie Yuan's figure. She showed no surprise, only gave a faint sigh as pity surfaced in her eyes.

Seeing Xie Yuan admit it so readily, Xie Zhi was somewhat taken aback. But delight climbed into his brows, and he merely chuckled.

"Since you admit it, that makes things easy. Considering that you caused no trouble while in office and rendered service to the Xie Family, I will let bygones be bygones. Hand over the signet ring and step down yourself.

"But Xie Yuan, it is not that this elder does not wish to help you. The truth is, after searching through eight hundred years of Family Trees, we cannot find the name of your ancestor. Even if the Chen Commandery Xie clan puts the capable first, you must first belong to the Chen Commandery Xie clan, must you not?

"Unfortunately, you are ultimately not a clansman of our Chen Commandery Xie clan. Even though we all bear the surname Xie, if we speak of blood relations, you may be less closely related to the clansmen living in our ancestral territory than the ordinary people who have dwelled in Chen Commandery for generations."

Their bloodline was so distant that it was not even as close as that of any random old resident of Chen Commandery...

Xie Lingyun heard nothing else. She only noticed that sentence and continued staring blankly.

"Xie Yuan, step down. Leave yourself some dignity."

Xie Zhi stared fixedly at Xie Yuan, at the signet ring on Xie Yuan's hand.

Xie Yuan unconsciously rubbed the signet ring and silently sighed.

After listening to Xie Zhi speak for so long, he had long anticipated what was coming.

From the moment he learned his true origins, Xie Yuan had anticipated this scene.

But he had not expected it to arrive so quickly.

If he had not known, he would not have made those moves, and perhaps no one else would ever have known.

But once he learned the truth, even his unconscious actions had revealed a clue to someone who watched him closely. What a coincidence.

Perhaps this was fate.

Yet Xie Yuan was still grateful to Xie Yi for telling him the truth of his origins.

In truth, this did not serve Xie Yi's interests in wanting him to remain family head forever. As long as Xie Yi never told him, Xie Yuan himself would not know, and the possibility of others discovering it would likewise be reduced to the lowest point.

Yet Xie Yi had not wished to deceive him forever either.

It was a pity that he was not Xie Yuan's true second uncle, but he was undoubtedly a close and worthy elder.

Xie Yuan was not deeply attached to this position.

By comparison, he actually preferred cultivating freely and unrestrainedly. He did not enjoy carrying such a heavy burden on his shoulders.

It certainly brought many benefits, but it also brought equally enormous pressure—something Xie Yuan did not like.

But...

Xie Yuan shook his head.

"Elders, tomorrow we will convene the Full Elder Council and discuss the matter of who will take the position of family head.

"Today is New Year's Eve, the end of the year. It is a day for reunion and celebration. Since everyone has gathered together, eat first."

He raised his cup and drained it in one gulp.

Xie Zhi looked at him and had originally intended to say something. However, he sharply noticed the reactions of the surrounding elders. He merely sneered, returned to his seat, and began eating with deliberate leisure.

It was delicious.

The other elders all looked complicated. Without speaking, they silently dealt with the delicacies before them.

Yet some were absent-minded, while others had their brows tightly furrowed. What had been a reunion banquet with a rather pleasant atmosphere now tasted like chewing wax.

The elders had no heart for feasting. Burdened with thoughts, they left one after another, and the banquet hall soon became empty and desolate.

Only Xie Yuan, Xie Lingyun, and Mu Chaoyun remained seated at the front, along with a group of servants standing nearby to attend them despite being uncomfortable all over.

Xie Lingyun's expression remained complicated and unfocused when Xie Yuan's voice came from beside her:

"What are you spacing out for? Eat."

"Huh?"

Xie Lingyun turned her head instinctively and asked, somewhat bewildered:

"You can still be in the mood to eat at a time like this..."

"It is already like this anyway. We might as well eat first."

Xie Yuan glanced at the two rows of empty tables. Most of the sumptuous dishes had barely been touched, and he could not help shaking his head.

"What a waste."

"This South Sea Giant Crab tastes quite good."

Mu Chaoyun gently tore open a snow-white crab leg with her slender hand, put the meat into her mouth, and spoke blandly.

Xie Yuan smiled faintly and likewise began breaking apart the crab, which was even larger than a human face.

Xie Lingyun found them somewhat incomprehensible, yet she also somewhat admired Xie Yuan's composure.

But she could not hold back her impatience and could not resist nudging Xie Yuan twice with her elbow.

"Hey, you really are not my brother?"

"Stop thinking about it."

Xie Yuan shot her a glance and said:

"I will always be your brother."

Xie Lingyun's eyes widened at once.

"But you clearly are not!"

"I am. Brother for a day, brother for life. Have you never heard that?"

Xie Lingyun's willow brows shot upward.

"Stop making things up! I have never learned that saying."

"Now you have."

Xie Yuan handed over a crab leg nearly as thick as a child's forearm:

"Here, have a leg."

Xie Lingyun gritted her teeth at his words, but when she looked at the peeled crab leg, she could not help taking it and lowering her head to eat.

No matter what, he was no longer her elder brother.

After the meal, Xie Yuan and Xie Lingyun went to find Cui Pingjun first.

"So there was such a thing..."

After hearing it, Cui Pingjun also revealed a surprised expression.

She turned toward Xie Yi, who lay quietly on the bed. Her expression was complicated as she shook her head and sighed inwardly:

"You really did put the children in a difficult position..."

Cui Pingjun looked at Xie Yuan again and asked:

"Yuan'er, then what do you plan to do?"

Her expression remained as usual, as though she did not feel at all that the person before her was not truly her nephew.

Xie Yuan was not surprised. He merely said:

"I'll fight for it once more at tomorrow's Elders' Council. If it doesn't work... we'll see then."

Upon hearing this, Cui Pingjun sighed and silently nodded.

Xie Yuan cupped his hands and left beneath the complicated gazes of Cui Pingjun and Xie Lingyun.

When he returned to his own courtyard, Xie Yuan still smiled and greeted Shi Jian and Yun Zhu as they came forward, not letting them sense the slightest abnormality.

Only when he was alone with Mu Chaoyun did his expression dim slightly, and he let out a long sigh.

Mu Chaoyun's eyes, tranquil as Mirror Lake, quietly watched him. She tugged at his hand and softly asked:

"What do you plan to do?"

Xie Yuan said in a deep voice:

"I'll fight for it once more. Second Uncle... he entrusted the Lineage to me. I'm not at ease handing it over to anyone else. I truly am not at ease."

Whether it was Xie Wen or Xie Zhi, one had limited vision while the other chased profit alone. Neither was suited to control the entire Lineage.

As for the other elders, either their influence was insufficient or their hearts were elsewhere. Looking around, there was not a single suitable person.

Xie Yuan had only just managed to stabilize the Chen Commandery Xie. If others were allowed to stir it into chaos again, he feared the situation would become an avalanche once the snowball started rolling, and he would fail Xie Yi's trust.

If he truly could simply walk away, that would be fine...

Xie Yuan sighed.

Mu Chaoyun looked at him, her tone somewhat ethereal as she said:

"I'm afraid it will be difficult.

"And in the end, you will not remain here forever."

Xie Yuan glanced at Mu Chaoyun and asked thoughtfully:

"What did you see?"

Mu Chaoyun nodded.

Tap.

Xie Yuan lightly flicked her delicate, porcelain-like forehead and threatened:

"Didn't I tell you not to use Heaven's Secret Art?"

Mu Chaoyun was completely stunned. Her delicate, translucent-white forehead visibly reddened.

She instinctively touched her forehead, unable to believe Xie Yuan actually dared to be so arrogant!

He used to call her Master, and now he treated her like a child. She did not dare imagine what would happen in the future.

Yet Mu Chaoyun merely lowered her head slightly and said softly. The female Grandmaster even looked somewhat pitiful:

"That was something I saw before. I haven't used it recently."

"Oh? Then I wronged you."

Hearing that, Xie Yuan smiled apologetically and gently rubbed Mu Chaoyun's forehead, earning a soft snort from her.

"Then what else did you see?"

Xie Yuan asked casually.

Mu Chaoyun paused for an instant, then immediately became gentle and casual again:

"Not telling you."

"Who cares?"

Xie Yuan did not mind. He merely smiled and said:

"We successors only believe that man can conquer heaven."

"That would be best."

Mu Chaoyun said seriously.

New Year's Eve was meant to be a night of reunion.

Yet news from the banquet hall at noon had spread without wings, or perhaps such news had simply never been possible to conceal.

The entire clan land knew that once the new year arrived, the Lineage would hold an elders' assembly concerning the choice of its family head.

As for why...

There were rumors that no one believed, such as Xie Yuan being an impostor.

Anyone with even a shred of reason scoffed at that.

More people believed it was an internal dispute, or perhaps something related to strength. For a time, opinions flew in every direction. Aside from those of high status and close to the elders, no one believed that absurd rumor.

Until the new year arrived, and the first ray of fresh sunlight shone upon the pavilions and towers of Creek Water Council Hall, making them glitter brilliantly.

Everyone inside had already arrived.

On the first day of the new year, the number of Xie clan elders who came to Creek Water Council Hall was second only to the first time Xie Yuan had convened the Elders' Council.

And the difference between this gathering and that one was merely one or two elders who truly could not come, such as Xie Yu, who had vanished without a trace after entering seclusion.

As sunlight passed through the ornate window lattices and cleverly designed skylight vents, shafts of light streamed into the hall, reflecting upon the murmuring creek and sending rippling glimmers across the water.

Unfortunately, such a beautiful sight could not change the solemn and heavy atmosphere.

Xie Yuan entered the council hall together with the first ray of sunlight and still took his seat at the head.

However, everyone noticed that he was not wearing the elaborate Mystic Robe of the family head.

Xie Yuan swept his gaze over every elder silently watching him, pausing on each face to study their expressions.

He let out a breath, then his calm voice rang through the hall:

"I believe all elders know the purpose of today's assembly.

"To ensure that any elder who was absent yesterday understands the details, I will explain them here.

"I, Xie Yuan, am not the biological son of the former family head, Xie Xuan, and share no blood relation with him. My ancestral home is Wei County North Mountain Village. I should be a descendant of the Yu Province North Xie Family, which split from the Lineage twelve hundred years ago, and then of another Xie branch that split away an unknown number of years ago.

"I learned of this matter recently. I originally had no intention of making it public, but Elder Xie Zhi saw through every detail, discovered it, and revealed it to everyone.

"Though it is improper by etiquette, I still wish to defend myself and Family Head Xie Yi. Neither of us harbored selfish intentions.

"Especially Family Head Xie Yi. After all, I am not even his nephew, so where could selfish motives have come from? Family Head Xie Yi made this decision purely for the Lineage."

"If it was truly for the Lineage, how could he do something so contrary to the rules and so disrespectful to the ancestors? Our Chen Commandery Xie nearly had its inheritance stolen by an outsider's bloodline!"

Xie Zhi slammed his palm upon the desk and shouted.

At those words, many elders became incomparably grave.

That was right. If no one had ever discovered this matter, if Xie Yuan had said nothing and continued occupying the position of family head...

A hundred years from now, would the Xie Family members in the Xie Family Clan Land still carry the bloodline of the Chen Commandery Xie?

Perhaps they had been one family a thousand years ago, but their blood relation was so distant that they merely shared a surname. In truth, they were complete strangers.

If such a thing truly happened, how would they face their ancestors?

Xie Yuan glanced at Xie Zhi, fell silent for a moment, and said:

"Because the Lineage had reached a crisis of life and death. Two successive family heads had died in battle. The Xie clan was swaying amid wind and rain, under tremendous pressure. Extraordinary times called for extraordinary measures. That was what Family Head Xie Yi told me before he fell asleep.

"At the time, I did not fully understand the meaning behind his words. But without modesty, I can say that I still carried them out conscientiously and meticulously, ceaselessly striving for the stability and safety of the Chen Commandery Xie.

"I believe every one of you has a scale in your heart and can make your own judgment on that point.

"By now, all of you have likewise seen clearly how I have performed in this position—

"The Lineage's situation has now been preliminarily stabilized. Following Family Head Xie Yi's strategy of holding firm, we have suffered minimal losses in facing outside challenges. Even without a Great Grandmaster, we have gradually returned to a stalemate with the Wang Family and the Cui Family.

"Given only a little more time, once the Lineage—or let me say it directly, once I become a Great Grandmaster, I will reclaim every territory, business, secret realm, and benefit the Lineage has lost over these years.

"No matter my origins, because of Family Head Xie Yi's life-saving grace and care, I have devoted myself wholeheartedly to fighting for the Chen Commandery Xie, with absolutely no other intentions.

"I can swear here that once the time is right, I will pass the position of family head to the next direct descendant of the Chen Commandery Xie—to a suitable candidate. Neither I nor my descendants will ever lay a hand upon the honored position of family head of the Chen Commandery Xie.

"But before then, I hope you will still agree to let me remain in this position, to unite with everyone in resisting foreign enemies until the Lineage truly has no more hidden dangers. At that time, there will be no need to convene the Elders' Council. I will step down of my own accord."

After Xie Yuan finished saying all this in one breath, he leaned back slightly and quietly observed everyone's reactions.

Many elders seemed moved, their eyes revealing deep thought.

"Then, everyone, begin expressing your opinions."

Xie Zhi was the first to speak, raising his hand high:

"I oppose Xie Yuan continuing to serve as family head.

"First, he is not a member of the Chen Commandery Xie at all. How absurd is it to let an outsider occupy this position?

"Second, Xie Yuan is young, reckless, and naïve. He handles affairs foolishly and immaturely, and his abilities are extremely limited. He is utterly unfit for the position of family head.

"During his tenure, the Lineage has run into walls everywhere, suffered repeated crises, and sustained tremendous losses.

"Xinglong Hall alone has lost twenty percent of its affiliated merchant associations. Thirty percent of its caravans were disbanded and reorganized, while its total annual income fell by thirty percent!

"Yet the family head remained unmoved and powerless. He let powerful enemies suppress and pressure us, and could only cede cities and land, repeatedly seeking peace without a shred of the Xie clan's spirit. Xinglong Hall is merely one example. I believe everyone else feels the same.

"Not only did Xie Yuan fail to resolve powerful enemies, he provoked them. Our clan had always kept to our own waters with the Demon Sect, yet he insisted on provoking the Ji Family of the Demon Sect, causing them to retaliate against our clan without regard for consequences. The losses were devastating, all because of his personal desires.

"Such muddleheaded incompetence truly makes him unfit to serve as family head. I propose that Xie Yuan be directly stripped of his position as family head and that a new family head be elected. As for Xie Yuan, his punishment can be decided afterward."

After Xie Zhi finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent, leaving only the sound of the creek.

After a moment, Xie Wen slowly spoke:

"Xie Zhi, don't use this as an excuse to make trouble. Everyone knows your own level well enough, so don't blame it on Xie Yuan."

"Is the pharmacy in a good situation? Who nearly emptied the medicine stores? Or are you saying that you support Xie Yuan staying on? Xie Wen, you need only answer these few questions."

Xie Zhi pressed aggressively.

Xie Wen was silent for a moment, then said coldly:

"Although I do not support him continuing—"

"Then that settles it. Time is limited. Next."

Xie Zhi directly cut Xie Wen off and looked toward Xie Bing:

"Elder Bing, what is your opinion?"

Xie Bing's square, solemn face was utterly grave. His burly body appeared towering even while seated, and his imposing aura was astonishing.

Everyone looked toward this foremost figure of Dragon Martial Academy, whose strength and status were both exceedingly high.

He slowly spoke:

"First, I do not agree with that nonsense you just spouted. Most of Xinglong Hall's losses resulted from your own incompetence, and only a small portion came from the broader situation. As for the rest, they have even less to do with Xie Yuan. He has already done very well."

Xie Zhi knew Xie Bing had always been forceful, but he had not expected him to give so little face, nor did he expect him to seemingly stand on Xie Yuan's side. His expression could not help changing slightly.

Xie Bing continued:

"Second, I do not support Xie Yuan continuing to serve as family head."

At those words, everyone's expressions became complicated, yet they also seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Xie Zhi in particular immediately beamed with delight, completely unconcerned by Xie Bing's earlier rebuke.

Because the three veteran elders with the greatest influence and tremendous strength, all high-level Grandmasters, had expressed the same view, Xie Yuan's position as family head was essentially finished.

"Third."

Xie Bing looked at Xie Yuan:

"The position of Dragon Martial Academy Vice-Dean will be kept for you. I suggest you enter Dragon Martial Academy directly."

At those words, the elders' expressions became somewhat subtle again.

But after Xie Bing said that, he offered no further words. He closed his mouth, looking at his nose and his nose at his heart.

Xie Yuan nodded faintly toward him and looked at the others.

Xie Lei had kept his eyes closed all this while. At this moment, he opened them, his voice rumbling like muffled thunder:

"Although Xie Yuan is indeed no longer suited to be family head, he should still be given an elder's position. It would be good for us to cultivate peacefully."

Though Xie Lei held no official position, he was immensely powerful and likewise a high-level Grandmaster.

These powerful Grandmasters all held the same opinion, so there were no further changes afterward.

The elders voiced their stances one after another, all expressing opposition just like the four before them, even some elders who had always strongly supported Xie Yuan or been won over by him.

But given that Xie Yuan did not belong to the Chen Commandery Xie at all, at most he could serve as a guest elder. They truly could not accept an outsider as family head.

Xie Yuan quietly looked across them and understood in his heart that they had actually convened beforehand.

When he saw that even Xie Tiexin, though lowering his head and refusing to look at him, had clearly expressed his stance, he took a deep breath and said:

"Elders, I understand your difficulties. But if I step down, who will take my place?

"Elder Xie Wen is powerful, yet his will is not firm. His vision extends only to a single plot and a single room, and he cannot command the whole situation;

"Elder Xie Zhi possesses profound cultivation, but forgive my bluntness, his vision is shallow and he pursues profit alone. Though his ambition is high, he does not see himself clearly. He is not a candidate capable of bearing the main beam."

He bluntly pointed out the two men's problems, then looked toward Xie Bing:

"As for Elder Bing, do you have the ambition to contend for the position of family head? Elder Xie Lei, I presume the same is true of you."

The two powerful elders both shook their heads.

Xie Zhi's face darkened slightly. He gave a muffled snort and said:

"That is none of your concern. You are an outsider—mind your own affairs."

Seeing little reaction from the others, Xie Yuan sighed and looked toward Xie Qian—though this was Xie Fu's son, Steward Xie Qian, not the external affairs elder of the same name. When the two were named, their two branches had been too far apart to communicate, and so they chose the same name. Such things happened often in great aristocratic families.

Steward Xie Qian represented Xie Fu. Xie Yuan looked at him and asked:

"Does Elder Fu have any instructions?"

Xie Qian hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

Xie Yuan's heart immediately became clear.

With Xie Fu's status, having no objections was itself an objection.

Xie Zhi's heart finally settled, and he laughed aloud.

"Since that is the case, Xie Yuan, why don't you hurry up and take off the ring, yielding your position to one more worthy!"

Xie Yuan's eyes snapped toward Xie Zhi.

But who was Xie Zhi? What was his cultivation? He was not afraid in the slightest. He merely sneered back, his eyes gleaming as his imposing aura became even more oppressive, placing immense pressure on Xie Yuan.

Under the pressure of Xie Zhi's gaze and the watching eyes of the many Grandmaster elders, Xie Yuan said nothing.

He looked beyond the hall.

At this moment, only Xie Yi waking up could help him.

Yet Xie Yuan immediately mocked himself. How could Xie Yi possibly wake up at such a convenient time?

And if he did wake up, then there would truly be even less reason for him to remain in this position.

As though he were terribly reluctant to let it go.

The sunlight outside the hall was dazzling.

Though sunlight streamed into the council hall and made it quite bright, it still could not compare to outside. Even when he looked out, all he saw was a vast expanse of white, impossible to make out clearly.

Xie Yuan stared outside, narrowing his eyes slightly.

He focused his gaze.

There was nothing.

Xie Yuan withdrew his gaze. Starting with Xie Zhi, he swept his eyes over every Grandmaster elder, lingering briefly on each face.

He suddenly sighed, feeling a sense of release.

With a thought, he erased all the lingering aura and Spiritual Sense from the Blood Jade Ring. Xie Yuan took off the ring, feeling as though he had cast off some shackles.

He placed the ring on the table before him, drawing the unblinking stares of many eyes.

A supreme-grade artifact, and also a symbol of supreme power.

Xie Yuan silently rose to his feet and walked outside.

Xie Lei did not look at the ring. He merely watched Xie Yuan, then suddenly frowned.

"Xie Yuan, wait! Before you go, why don't we discuss what elder position to give you?"

Xie Bing tilted his head slightly and looked at Xie Yuan's back as he said gravely:

"Dragon Martial Academy Vice-Dean. It is settled.

"No, you will be the dean! I will be an idle elder and contend for this great position."

He stared at Xie Zhi.

"I will support Xie Wen. I will not let you wear a monkey's cap and call yourself king."

Xie Zhi's expression changed as he said coldly:

"Elder Bing, why go to such lengths?"

"You are unworthy."

Xie Bing replied blandly.

Yet Xie Wen was not particularly delighted by the news. He merely looked at the ring on the table, then turned to Xie Yuan, his brows tightly furrowed.

He called out:

"Xie Yuan, the pharmacy will keep your benefits reserved for you."

"Thank you for your kindness. My affairs are not urgent. It is better to settle the Family Head Position first. I only hope that none of you will allow the Xie clan to fall into conflict again. Stability must come first."

At the doorway, Xie Yuan cupped his hands, his tone sincere.

After saying that, he turned around and left completely without looking back.

The elders all felt that something was off, but there were more important matters at hand, so they did not investigate further.

Back in the main courtyard.

Xie Yuan looked at the two pretty maidservants who had come to greet him. He smiled and greeted them, then thought for a moment before saying:

"Yun Zhu, practice martial arts with Shi Jian more often from now on. In this world, there is no harm in practicing martial arts. In other matters, I believe you can handle things better than Shi Jian.

"Shi Jian, I prepared a secret manual for you. It contains some of my insights into martial arts. Go take it from the study later. Work hard from now on. If you encounter a fortunate opportunity, perhaps you might become a Grandmaster."

The two maidservants had already heard some rumors and were feeling uneasy. Upon hearing this, they froze for a moment.

"Young Master, I'll go with you!"

Yun Zhu suddenly said.

Shi Jian blanked for a moment, seeming only then to understand. She nodded repeatedly.

"Young Master, how about taking me as your disciple?"

Xie Yuan did not know whether to laugh or cry.

"What are you talking about? Other than teaching Yun Zhu martial arts, you will listen to her in everything from now on!"

He shook his head.

"I cannot take you with me. Stay here. They will not make things difficult for you. When you wish to leave, just tell Lingyun, and you can naturally go. Make use of the pills and Spiritual Qi here. There is no harm in that."

"Then why won't you stay here, Young Master? Are they driving you away?"

Yun Zhu asked with a conflicted expression. She had always been gentle, intelligent, and proper, yet she had never shown such undisguised emotion before.

Because she knew that if Xie Yuan left, she would probably never meet such a good young master again in her lifetime.

Xie Yuan merely shook his head, patted both maidservants on their shoulders, and then went to find Mu Chaoyun.

"Have you left?"

Mu Chaoyun asked quietly, as though she had expected it all along.

Seeing that she had even packed her things, Xie Yuan sighed.

"You still calculated it more accurately. Let's go bid farewell to Aunt."

After thinking it over, Xie Yuan packed a small bundle with two changes of clothes, leaving behind all the other pills and magical treasures.

Including the Dragon Soul.

Though he was extremely reluctant to part with it, this was not a weapon that belonged to this Xie Yuan.

Xie Yuan gave the divine spear one final caress, then placed it on the weapon rack and left without looking back.

The Dragon Soul trembled slightly, lighting up with crystalline Dark Blue radiance, as though the mysterious weapon possessed a spirit.

Yet as Xie Yuan withdrew the aura and Spiritual Sense within it, the divine spear gradually dimmed and returned to its ordinary appearance.

"This... Yuan'er, why must you leave?"

In the Family Head's courtyard, Cui Pingjun widened her eyes upon hearing Xie Yuan's farewell.

Xie Yuan sighed.

"Aunt, to be honest, after laying down this burden, I only feel as though shackles have suddenly fallen away. My whole body is light, and I am actually in a good mood. The only bad thing is my guilt. I failed to fulfill Second Uncle's instructions..."

He paused, then nodded.

"If the Xie Family faces some unavoidable disaster in the future, I will certainly do all I can. Before then, I will cultivate diligently and strive for the day when I can help the Xie clan."

Since this family did not need him, why should Xie Yuan stubbornly cling on?

Besides, clinging on would be useless. He had already done everything he could.

Xie Yuan glanced at the peaceful Xie Yi and silently apologized.

"Second Uncle, I'm sorry. I failed to protect the Xie Family from the position of family head. But I will cultivate with all my strength. Perhaps one day, I too can shelter the Xie clan and fulfill your instructions."

Seeing that Xie Yuan had made up his mind to leave, Cui Pingjun could not help shaking her head repeatedly and sighing.

"The Xie Family looks as though it will face difficult times.

"Enough, Yuan'er. Follow your heart. Your Second Uncle certainly does not blame you, and neither do I. You have already done your best at your age. Come back often in the future. At the very least, this courtyard is still your home. Your Second Uncle, me, your younger sister, and your elder brother are all here."

Warmth surged through Xie Yuan's heart, and he nodded heavily.

He gave Xie Yi a deep bow, then bade Cui Pingjun farewell. Just as he was about to find Xie Lingyun, he collided head-on with the twin-tailed girl who had rushed over after hearing the news.

"What? Leave? Where to? Take me with you!"

Xie Lingyun was concise and direct.

Xie Yuan once again did not know whether to laugh or cry. He grabbed Xie Lingyun by the back of her collar and set her aside, just as she carried the rabbit in her hand by its scruff.

"Stay and keep your mother and father company. I will come back to see you."

"What do you mean, come back to see me? Have you forgotten what you promised me?"

Xie Lingyun immediately cried out.

Xie Yuan froze for a moment and stammered.

"This..."

"Where are you going?"

Xie Lingyun held Xie Yuan's hands with both of hers and leaned backward, as though trying to pull him back.

Helpless, Xie Yuan could only tell her a place.

Only then did Xie Lingyun think for a moment and ask suspiciously:

"You're not lying to me?"

"Mm."

"Fine, go first. I'll be there shortly after."

"What do you mean, shortly after?"

Xie Yuan knocked her on the head, then waved his hand and left hand in hand with Mu Chaoyun.

Xie Lingyun watched their retreating backs and could not help pouting.

After thinking it over, she entered the room and looked at her mother.

"Madam, in a few days, I'm going to find Xie Yuan."

"Madam still hopes that you can stay home and keep your father and me company."

Cui Pingjun said calmly.

Xie Lingyun looked at her mother thoughtfully.

"But you have to watch over Father. If I secretly run away, you cannot abandon Father to come find me."

"That is true enough."

Cui Pingjun nodded slightly.

"I understand!"

Xie Lingyun's eyes immediately lit up. She nodded again and again, her twin ponytails bouncing.

Cui Pingjun said helplessly:

"You understand far too much. At the very least, even if you do not share blood, you still bear the same surname and belong to the same clan. That will not do. Your father would not agree either."

"Then we'll talk about it after Father wakes up!"

Xie Lingyun turned her head, her twin ponytails spinning in an arc as she left directly.

If Cui Pingjun truly wished to stop her, would a dignified Grandmaster and the mistress of the family, who knew her daughter inside out, really let her get away?

In Xie Yuan's courtyard.

Shi Jian and Yun Zhu were cleaning the empty courtyard, their hearts feeling equally empty.

Suddenly, wind rose from the flat ground in the courtyard, and a figure appeared out of nowhere.

The two maidservants looked over, only to discover that the newcomer was an inconspicuous, gaunt old man they did not recognize.

"Where is Xie Yuan?"

The old man asked with a frown, his tone seeming somewhat urgent.

The two maidservants exchanged a glance. Though they did not know him, they still lowered their heads respectfully.

"Reporting to Elder, Young Master has already left."

"Left? Where did he go?"

The old man's brows knotted into the character for river, and his voice rose sharply.

The whirlwind around them grew increasingly violent. Shi Jian and Yun Zhu did not dare move at all and lowered their heads even further.

"Young Master said he was leaving Chen Commandery to travel the world..."

"Travel the world?"

The old man repeated under his breath. Then he suddenly threw back his head and let out a long sigh, beating his chest and stamping his feet.

"Laughable! Laughable!

"The mighty Chen Commandery Xie clan was blind as bats, driving away a true qilin child!"

His voice was like muffled thunder, rumbling and booming as it echoed throughout the Xie Family Clan Land.