When the wall fell, everyone pushed it down; when the tree toppled, the monkeys scattered.
That was reality. That was human nature. Yang Lingtian was not surprised in the slightest.
He slowly rose to his feet and walked to the window, gazing at the somewhat gloomy sky outside.
"Big Brother Yang, we... what should we do?"
Lu Xue's voice was choked with tears as she tugged at Yang Lingtian's sleeve, as if she had seized the last straw keeping her alive.
Yang Lingtian turned around and reached out to pat her on the head.
In those deep-set eyes, a bone-chilling glint flickered.
"Since they want the key, let's give them a little 'surprise.'"
"A surprise?" Lu Xue and Liu Yan both froze.
"That's right."
A wicked, unrestrained smile tugged at the corners of Yang Lingtian's lips.
"Aren't they planning to hold a 'Demon Extermination Assembly'?"
"With such a lively occasion, wouldn't it be terribly rude not to show up?"
"Come on. Take me to see your father."
Lu Mansion, the main council hall.
At that moment, the atmosphere inside the hall was oppressive to the extreme, as if even the air had solidified.
Lu Tian sat in the seat of honor, seeming to have aged ten years overnight.
His once-straight back was now slightly hunched.
Below him, the few remaining core elders all wore ashen faces and sighed incessantly.
"Lord Mansion Master, why don't we... hand over the jade pendant?"
The Fourth Elder's hoarse voice broke the silence.
"As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood."
"If we truly fight to the bitter end, with our Lu family's meager foundation, I'm afraid we won't even be able to stir up a ripple."
"Hand it over? Will handing it over really keep us alive?"
Lu