Forgiveness

"Lin Langtian?"

Upon hearing this name, both unfamiliar and familiar, the entire Lin Family hall immediately fell into an atmosphere of utter silence.

Lin Xiao and the others had never expected that the owner of this Azure Wood Spirit Pill would actually be Lin Langtian, the man who had once driven the Qingyang Town branch into complete despair.

Lin Xiao's expression was similarly complicated. His initial delight had turned into deep conflict.

Beside Lin Xiao, upon hearing the name he had hated for years, Lin Dong unconsciously clenched his fists tightly, intense hatred flashing in his eyes.

However, when he saw Lin Xiao's recovered injuries and recalled the origin of the Azure Wood Spirit Pill, he hurriedly asked the Gray-robed Old Man before him.

"Elder Tao, what exactly is going on? Could it be that the Azure Wood Spirit Pill that healed my father's injuries was given by Lin Langtian?"

As his words fell, an incomparably complicated expression also emerged on Lin Dong's young and handsome face.

When he thought of how the man he had always deeply hated was actually the benefactor who had healed his father's injuries, his feelings became even more tangled.

After all, Lin Xiao's injuries had been caused by Lin Langtian, yet they had now been healed because of Lin Langtian. It left him utterly at a loss, unsure of what to do.

At this moment, Lin Zhentian and the others were also staring intently at Elder Tao, awaiting his answer.

Lin Langtian was the foremost figure of the Main Family's Young Generation. Even though they had lived for most of their lives, they knew what kind of weight this name carried within the Great Yan Empire.

"That's right. Elder Langtian personally entrusted this Azure Wood Spirit Pill to me and instructed this old man to deliver it to the Qingyang Town branch, to help Nephew Lin Xiao recover from his injuries."

Seeing everyone's gazes turn toward him, Elder Tao did not keep them in suspense and simply nodded.

"So it really was him..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao's expression froze. After a moment, he let out a sigh.

He recalled the clan gathering from several years ago. Back then, he had been full of spirit, hoping to win an opportunity for his family to return to the Inner Clan. Yet in the very first match of the gathering, he had encountered that Youth.

Even now, he still remembered that Lin Langtian had only been a teenager at the time, his face cold and arrogant, as though he regarded Lin Xiao as an ant.

As one of Qingyang Town's top geniuses at the time, Lin Xiao had naturally been extremely unwilling to accept this.

Yet just as he was preparing to show the Main Family's genius the strength of the branch, what happened next became something he would never forget.

Because with only a single move, he had been defeated by Lin Langtian.

Not only that, his body had been devastated in an utterly miserable state, as though he had been crippled.

"Father..."

Seeing Lin Xiao's pained expression, Lin Dong knew that his father must have recalled those painful memories and hurriedly tried to comfort him.

"Nephew Lin Xiao, I understand your circumstances as well. Langtian was at fault in this matter. If he had not struck too heavily back then, your cultivation would not have been delayed for so many years.

However, you also know that the clan has always been rather permissive when it comes to matches at the clan gathering. Although your case was severe, it was not an isolated one. Furthermore, Langtian was young and hot-blooded back then, so he did not know how to hold back.

Now, Langtian has been promoted by the Patriarch to Law Enforcement Elder, and he has also recognized his past mistake. Thus, he specially sent this old man here to apologize, in the hope that you can forgive his transgression from back then.

Oh, and besides the Azure Wood Spirit Pill, Langtian also specifically entrusted me with some items as compensation for what happened that year."

After speaking, Elder Tao took a Cosmic Bag and a token from his robe, placed them before Lin Xiao, and said, "This Cosmic Bag contains ten thousand Pure Yuan Pills. As for this token, it is Langtian's identity token. With it, your Qingyang Town branch can not only mobilize a portion of the Main Family's resources, but even returning to the Inner Clan would be no problem.

These gifts of compensation were specifically ordered by Langtian to be placed in Nephew Lin Xiao's hands. He only hopes that you can forgive his past mistake."

"What!?"

As Elder Tao's words fell, Lin Mang's face immediately revealed a look of shock.

"Ten thousand Pure Yuan Pills, and even an opportunity to return directly to the Inner Clan!?" Upon hearing of Lin Langtian's compensation for his apology, Lin Mang said in delight.

One had to know that in Qingyang Town and even Yan City, Yang Yuan Stones were all that most people used. Yang Yuan Pills were more precious, and only the top forces of Yan City used them.

As for Pure Yuan Pills, they were even more exceedingly precious. These ten thousand Pure Yuan Pills would be more than enough to buy their entire Qingyang Town branch.

And that identity token representing Lin Langtian could directly allow their Qingyang Town branch to return to the Inner Clan. This had been the hope of their family for three generations.

"Father, Elder Lin Langtian is such an important figure. He has already admitted his mistake to us and even helped Third Brother recover from his injuries. If we continue clinging to that matter, it would only make our Qingyang Town branch seem too petty and incapable of seeing the bigger picture."

His gaze sweeping over the Cosmic Bag, Lin Mang smiled on his lean face.

"No. My father's humiliation cannot be measured by a mere handful of Pure Yuan Pills!"

Hearing the implication in Lin Mang's words, Lin Dong immediately retorted, a flash of stubbornness passing through his resolute black eyes.

"Why is a child interrupting when adults are speaking?" Lin Mang frowned slightly as he looked toward Lin Dong. Just as he was about to say something, Lin Zhentian suddenly stopped him with a wave of his hand.

At this moment, a complicated expression also appeared on Lin Zhentian's aged face. Looking toward Lin Xiao, he said, "You are the victim in this matter. Whatever you decide—whether to forgive him or not—your father will support you, even if the person we offend is Lin Langtian!"

"Father..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao was slightly moved. He knew exactly what those words meant.

For his sake, Lin Zhentian was even willing to risk offending Lin Langtian, the Lin Clan's number one genius!

He also knew that even after being crippled for so many years, he had always remained his father's most beloved son.

Thinking of this, Lin Xiao finally let go of the knot that had bound his heart for years. He calmly looked at Elder Tao and said, "Let dust return to dust, and earth to earth. As for what happened back then, I can choose to let go of all grudges and debts.

However, our Qingyang Town Lin Family has no need for this compensation. I hope Elder Tao can take it back and return it to its rightful owner."

"Third Brother..."

Hearing that they were actually going to return all these precious gifts, Lin Mang said anxiously, but before he could finish, Lin Zhentian silenced him with a glare.

"Hehe, Father, Big Brother, Second Brother, I know what you're worried about. But rest assured, even without this token, our Lin Family Branch of Qingyang Town can still return to the Inner Clan..." Lin Xiao said with a light laugh as he looked at everyone's expressions.

"Hmph. And what will you use to return to the Inner Clan? You, with your recovered strength? Too bad you've already passed the age to participate in the clan assembly."

Seeing such precious wealth being refused by the stubborn Lin Xiao, Lin Mang was extremely displeased and spoke with some disdain.

Lin Xiao paid no heed to Lin Mang's mockery. His gaze slowly shifted to the Youth beside him, and he rubbed the latter's head as he spoke with firm confidence.

"I may not be able to do it, but my son, Dong'er... can!"