Wiping the Slate Clean

Su Zhan's words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky, exploding in everyone's ears.

Silence.

After a deathly silence, an uncontrollable uproar erupted from the Yuan Family Main Branch family.

"Outrageous! Who does he think he is?"

"You expect us to take his orders? An outsider, does he even have the right to command the Yuan Family Main Branch?"

"Elder, we mustn't agree to his request! This is an utter disgrace!"

Angry voices rang out, and the faces of the hot-blooded young members of the Yuan Lineage were filled with humiliation and resentment. They were the high and mighty scions of the main branch, and they had never suffered such humiliation. To be pointed at by an outsider and asked to be treated as a subordinate was worse than death for them.

The White-haired Elder's face was extremely grim; the muscles in his face twitched incessantly, and his clenched fists were so tight that his knuckles turned white. Su Zhan's conditions were a hundred times more demanding than he had imagined, even in the worst-case scenario. This was no longer cooperation; it was annexation.

As the dignified Supreme Elder of the Yuan Household, he was to take orders from a young man in his early twenties? If word got out, he would lose all face, as would the entire Yuan Family Main Branch.

Yuan Yuan, watching from the side, felt extremely satisfied. She secretly made a face at Yuan Chou beside her and whispered, "Brother Chou, look at that old man's face, it's like a color palette, truly spectacular!"

Yuan Chou, on the other hand, was more composed. Although he also felt that Su Zhan's actions were gratifying, he was more concerned with the deeper meaning behind them. Su Zhan did this not simply to humiliate the other party, but to completely seize the initiative and avoid being stabbed in the back by these "allies" with ulterior motives.

Su Zhan didn't urge him; he simply stood there quietly, his gaze calm as he looked at the White-haired Elder, as if he were looking at an insignificant passerby. He had given his terms; whether the elder accepted them was up to him. He had enough patience and enough confidence.

Time ticked by, and the pressure in the air increased.

Finally, amidst the angry and expectant gazes of the clansmen, the White-haired Elder slowly loosened his clenched fist. He seemed to have all his strength drained away, his spine slumped slightly, and he uttered three hoarse words. "I... agree."

"Elder!"

"No, Elder!"

The clansmen behind him exclaimed in surprise and tried to dissuade him, but the White-haired Elder raised his hand to stop them.

He raised his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Su Zhan: "Young Master Su, I hope you remember your words today. After the Black Demon Sect is eradicated, all our grudges will be wiped clean!"

"Fragmented?" Su Zhan laughed, a mocking laugh. "Elder, you seem to have misunderstood something. From beginning to end, you were the ones actively seeking trouble for me. I was merely acting in self-defense. So, it's not a matter of 'framing' the past, but rather, you shouldn't provoke me again."

The White-haired Elder's face twitched violently, but he finally nodded in humiliation. "Fine... as you wish."

"Very good." Su Zhan nodded in satisfaction. "Now that you're all on the same side, don't stand outside anymore, come in. Perfect timing, I have some questions for you."

As he spoke, he turned and walked into the Palace.

The Yuan Family Main Branch looked at each other in bewilderment, and finally could only follow in dejectedly under the leadership of the White-haired Elder. They looked more like prisoners of war than allies.

Upon entering the Palace hall, Su Zhan casually sat down in the main seat, with Yuan Yuan and Yuan Chou standing on either side of him like two loyal guards.

The White-haired Elder and the others could only stand awkwardly in the center of the hall, without even a seat.