In a luxurious residence outside the True Martial Academy.
Sun Wenzong leaned back in a chair, holding a book and quietly turning its pages.
Sun Wenyuan paced back and forth in the courtyard without stopping.
It was clear that he was extremely agitated, as though he were waiting for something.
"Elder brother, aren't you anxious at all?"
Sun Wenyuan could not help asking.
"What good would worrying do?"
Sun Wenzong gave him a calm reply and lowered his head to continue reading.
In truth, only he knew that he could not take in a single word. He was anxious too; he simply did not show it.
Just then, hurried footsteps rang out, and a Sun Clan warrior soon entered the courtyard.
Both brothers turned to look at him.
"Where's Sun Tianci?"
Sun Wenyuan asked impatiently when he saw the newcomer.
"Reporting to you, Second Young Master, Brother Tianci... he's dead." Grief showed on the newcomer's face.
Sun Wenyuan's eyes widened at those words.
Sun Wenzong stood up, the book in his hand falling to the ground.
"How is that possible?"
Unable to remain calm any longer, Sun Wenzong immediately demanded angrily,
"Sun Tianci was a Tenth-Stage Martial Master, and he had even cultivated the profound-grade martial skill, the Cold Claw Art. He was also steady by nature and always planned before acting. Even an ordinary Great Martial Master could fall into his trap with a moment's carelessness. How could he possibly have died at the hands of a newly advanced Martial Master? Especially with so many Blackwater Bandits helping him!"
"That's right, what about those Blackwater Bandits? More than twenty Martial Masters couldn't all have died, could they?" Sun Wenyuan also came to his senses.
"They did all die."
The Sun Clan warrior nodded helplessly. "And after examining them, I found that all of them died at Wei Yi's hands."
Hearing his words, Sun Wenzong and Sun Wenyuan could not help exchanging a look.
Like Sun Tianci, this man was a hereditary servant born into the Sun Clan, utterly loyal to it. There was naturally no way he would deceive them.
Could it all be true?
More than twenty Martial Masters had died, all at Wei Yi's hands?
How was that possible...
For a moment, both men were utterly shocked, and threads of cold dread crept into their hearts.
Indeed, the ambush on Wei Yi and his companion during their journey had been plotted by the two brothers.
"Elder brother, what should we do?" Sun Wenyuan was timid after all. Hearing that so many people had failed to deal with Wei Yi, his face drained of all color, and he immediately asked, trembling.
"What are you panicking for!"
Sun Wenzong collected himself and barked at him. Being older, he soon regained his composure.
"Sun Tianci was disguised as a Blackwater Bandit. Even if Wei Yi killed him, he would only mistakenly think the Blackwater Bandits were responsible. What does that have to do with us?"
"But... what if he finds out one day?"
Sun Wenyuan was still terrified. He was truly afraid of Wei Yi now.
"That day will never come!"
A vicious look appeared in Sun Wenzong's eyes. The conflict between him and Wei Yi ran too deep, and there was no way to resolve it. The greater Wei Yi's talent and strength, the greater the threat he posed to him.
"Sun Tianlin." He abruptly turned toward the Sun Clan warrior.
"At your service."
"Take my letter to the lineage later and invite Third Uncle Dong and Leader Liu here. I'll explain the details in the letter."
"Elder brother, are you going to...?"
Sun Wenyuan's eyes widened at his words.
"Exactly. Third Uncle Dong and Leader Liu are both Great Martial Masters. When the two of them strike together, along with a group of Martial Masters, I'd like to see whether Wei Yi can still escape!" Sun Wenzong's eyes brimmed with chilling murderous intent. Even Sun Wenyuan, his own younger brother, could not help shuddering at the sight.
Since more than twenty Martial Masters had not been enough.
What about two Great Martial Masters attacking together with a group of Martial Masters?
At that moment, Wei Yi naturally knew nothing of Sun Wenzong's vicious scheme.
Although he had guessed that Sun Tianci might have ties to the Sun Clan, he had no time to trouble the Sun brothers just yet, because he had something more important to do: contend for the position of the Sun Clan's young master.
The Sun brothers would still be there and would not run away. He could take revenge whenever he pleased. Besides, his strength was improving rapidly, so the later he sought revenge, the greater his chances would be. He was in no hurry at all.
But the contest for the position of Wei Clan Young Master could not wait that long.
If he stayed away and delayed for a few days, the position might belong to someone else. Taking it back then would not be so simple. How could the three elders easily spit out meat they had already put in their mouths?
That was why Wei Yi had chosen without hesitation to return to the lineage immediately.
The Wei Clan was one of the foremost great clans in Jinling City, possessing formidable strength and immense power. Calling it a regional overlord was no exaggeration; even the city lord of Jinling had to treat it courteously.
The Wei Lineage's direct and collateral branches numbered over a thousand members in total.
Including its affiliated warriors, servants, and menials, the Wei Clan's total population approached ten thousand.
Wei Yi and Uncle Wu's conspicuous return to the lineage undoubtedly drew considerable attention. Anyone could guess that Wei Yi's return had to do with the contest for the position of Wei Clan Young Master.
Although word had reached them that Wei Yi had resolved his severed meridians and could cultivate, not everyone knew it. The news was largely confined to the middle and upper ranks, while ordinary clan members were mostly unaware. In their eyes, Wei Yi was still that useless cripple who could not cultivate.
So they were all curious. What had Wei Yi come back to compete for?
Who could a useless cripple unable to cultivate possibly win against?
Did he think he could still hold on to his position as young master...
At that thought, quite a few people could not help sneering to themselves.
In this world where warriors ruled and strength reigned supreme, only genuine power could command respect. As the clan head's only son, Wei Yi held a lofty status, but without strength, no one would accept him.
"Young Master, let's hurry. The master said it might begin today."
Uncle Wu spoke anxiously.
Had time not been so pressing, he would not have reached the True Martial Academy early that morning. Working backward, he must have left the Wei Clan in the middle of the night.
It had been hard on him to rush about at his age.
But such a matter could only be entrusted to someone utterly trustworthy. Otherwise, a deliberate delay along the way would make everything too late.
Hearing Uncle Wu's words, Wei Yi nodded.
It was already afternoon. Time was indeed pressing.
"Where are the clan head and the three elders now?"
Wei Yi caught hold of a Wei Lineage disciple beside him and asked.
Who would have thought that this would make the disciple push his luck and start cursing outright? "Wei Yi, who do you think you're grabbing? Have you no manners or respect for the rules? Strictly speaking, I'm your older cousin."
Wei Yi's face immediately darkened.
He finally understood why the former "Wei Yi" had not wanted to return to the lineage. He had truly been a pathetic young master if just anyone dared defy him.
"Wei Qing, what are you doing? The young master is still the Wei Clan Young Master. How dare you defy your superior? Apologize to him at once!"
Uncle Wu scolded angrily.
But Wei Qing showed no fear at all, instead raising his head arrogantly.
"Hmph, he used to be the Wei Clan Young Master, but he won't be for much longer. I'm a Ninth-Stage Martial Apprentice, after all. Why would I bow to a useless cripple who can't cultivate..."
Smack!
Before he could finish, Wei Yi sent him flying with a slap.
At the sight, the entire square instantly fell silent.
Countless people were so shocked that their eyeballs practically littered the ground.
Wei Yi could not be bothered with what they thought. He turned straight to another person nearby and asked coldly, "Where are the clan head and the three elders now?"
Although Wei Yi's voice was level, to that person's ears, it was like a soul-seizing sound.
One more look at Wei Qing lying on the ground, completely dazed by the blow, and he dared not hesitate in the slightest. He hurriedly answered,
"The clan head and the three elders are all in the Eastern Origin Pavilion. They seem to be discussing the choice of young master..."
"Thanks."
Wei Yi nodded.
Without another word, he headed straight for the Eastern Origin Pavilion.