Soon, the news that the Yang Family of Golden Summit from the Holy Sea had deployed their Personal Guards right to the doorstep of Qiyun Road was confird throughout the city. The reason was simple: one of the Yang Family's young masters had died on Qiyun Road.
But what truly outraged everyone was that the Golden Summit Yang Family didn't just plan to hold a funeral for the deceased young master on the Lingjin River. They also ordered every single mber of the Qin Royal Family to attend, kneel before Lin Hall, and kowtow in apology.
They even demanded a living blood sacrifice!
Instantly, the entire Qiyun Road was engulfed in turmoil, a dark cloud hanging over everyone.
Qin Lie had beco the King of Qiyun Road because of his esteed virtue and high regard, leaving an irreplaceable mark on the hearts of three generations. One could say that in Qiyun Road, Qin Lie was a godlike figure.
Yet such a figure was being forced to kneel and apologize before the morial hall of a young man?
Most importantly, Yang Jin's death had no direct connection with the Qin Family or Qin Lie. This kind of tyranny was simply unheard of.
Moreover, if they actually complied, it wouldn't just be the Qin Royal Family's standing that was at stake; the entirety of Qiyun Road would be ridiculed and scorned by the whole country. It would beco synonymous with being spineless and having no backbone.
This was sothing no one could accept.
"If it weren't for those Personal Guards, your damn Golden Summit Yang Family wouldn't be worth shit!"
"They're completely unreasonable, just throwing their weight around! So what if the Yang Family is powerful? They're nothing special. I despise people like that!"
"..."
As the news spread, it incited trendous public outrage. But despite the condemnations, everyone was waiting for the Qin Royal Family's response. The Golden Summit Yang Family had made their declaration, stirring up a storm in the city. What would the final outco be?
Amidst this storm, however, the Qin Family remained unusually quiet. Regardless, the Golden Summit Yang Family had already drawn its blade. They were sharpening it eagerly, ready for slaughter, and would not rest until their demands were t.
At the sa ti, the Yin Family, Lingjin City's only ancient martial family, leaped right into the eye of the storm.
"A life for a life—that is the law of heaven and earth. Qin Lie must pay the price and give the Golden Summit Yang Family a satisfactory explanation!" the Yin brothers, Yin Zhishan and Yin Zhiqiang, publicly declared.
They announced that the Yin Family would forever stand on the side of justice. To that end, they would build a Spirit Platform in the center of the Lingjin River for the Yang Family, large enough to accommodate a thousand people, along with a Blood Sacrifice Tower. They called upon the upper echelons of Qiyun Road to co and offer their condolences.
Beyond these unreasonable demands, they continuously listed the Qin Family's various "cris," arguing how they were unworthy of their current status and must step down to allow the virtuous to take their place.
Of course, the "virtuous" ones the Yin Family spoke of were, naturally, themselves.
Imdiately, a torrent of abuse was directed at the Yin Family.
"Siding with the enemy at the first chance! As an ancient martial family, the Yin Family has thrown away all of its ancestors' dignity!"
"You have no integrity, switching sides with the wind. It's disgusting!"
"Get out of Qiyun Road!"
"..."
Faced with such harsh vitriol, the Yin Family estate was filled with joyous laughter.
"Why did our Yin Family want a marriage alliance with the Qin Family? To elevate our status, of course! Now that the Qin Family's great mansion is about to collapse, it's only natural that we give it a final push." In the front courtyard of the Yin estate, the core family mbers clinked their glasses as Yin Zhiqiang bead. "Faced with our enthusiastic efforts to curry favor, the Golden Summit Yang Family can't possibly remain indifferent. Once the Qin Family is toppled, who is more suitable to take their place than us?"
"Exactly!" Yin Zhishan snapped his fingers. "As for all this slander from the outside, why should we care? Once our Yin Family is in charge of Qiyun Road, who will dare to gossip?"
"Those people are just blowing off steam, and they have short mories anyway. In a little while, will they even rember any of this? anwhile, our Yin Family will be living the high life, standing at the very pinnacle of Qiyun Road."
"The sa way the Qin Family has been revered all these years—so shall our Yin Family be!"
As the two brothers spoke, the others chid in with their agreent, each one more smug than the last, as if the Qin Family had already fallen and the Yin Family was monts from ascending the throne.
"What's the progress on the Spirit Platform and Blood Sacrifice Tower in the river?" asked the middle-aged man in the seat of honor. He was the Yin Family Head, Yin Tianxiong. He held his teacup, and though his face was expressionless, his eyes betrayed his smug satisfaction.
For years, his Yin Family had tried every possible thod to latch onto the great tree that was the Qin Family, expending imnse effort. He thought the marriage alliance would finally succeed, but instead, their ancestral golden signboard was torn down. It was a huge loss of face. Not only did Qin Lie fail to offer condolences, but he also directly canceled their eligibility. Well, as the saying goes, you were unkind, so I will be unjust. At a critical ti like this, he shouldn't bla the Yin Family for stabbing him in the back.
"The piles have been driven into the ground. We just need to lay the steel plates and add so decorations, and it'll be done," Yin Zhiqiang responded. "I estimate it'll be finished before nightfall."
"Very good!" Yin Tianxiong slowly set down his teacup with a faint smile. "This ti, we are ahead of everyone! The first one to eat the crab reaps the greatest reward. The position of the Qiyun Road Royal Family will be ours and ours alone."
"You two brothers go to the Lingjin River and supervise the work personally. This must be done ticulously." After saying this, Yin Tianxiong paused in thought for a mont before standing up. "On second thought, I'll go with you."
...
The sunlight was perfect.
Chen Yang had taken his family on an outing.
By the banks of the Lingjin River, Chen Yang, Yang Hu, and Qin Gang each sat on a small stool, fishing rod in hand, engaged in a battle of wits with the fish.
Qin Qiu and Qin Mo strolled hand in hand along the riverbank, sotis chasing butterflies, other tis picking a small wildflower. Luo Sulan, however, stood alone and silent by the river's edge.
Having received the latest intelligence, Yang Hu recounted the rumors spreading through Qiyun Road to Chen Yang, leaving out no detail.
"This Yang Family is certainly arrogant," Chen Yang said with a light shake of his head and a laugh.
Upon deeper reflection, he realized he had inadvertently dragged the Qin Family into this. After all, he was the one who had killed Yang Jin; it had nothing to do with Qin Lie or the Qin Family. The true culprit hadn't even been found, yet an entire city was being dragged into it. Forcing the entire Qin Family to kowtow in apology? Treating that arrogant rich kid, Yang Jin, like so kind of hero? What a joke.
"The Yin Family's ancestors had so honorable n among them. How did this generation turn out so pathetic?" Chen Yang shook his head in pity, though he felt nothing but contempt for those who would kick a man when he's down just to climb on his head.
"That Yang Family is ridiculous for even thinking of a blood sacrifice using my sister-in-law," Yang Hu said, shaking his head with a laugh. "And the Yin Family, acting like a dog, is actually building the Spirit Platform and Blood Sacrifice Tower in the middle of the river."
Chen Yang glanced at Qin Qiu not far away, a tender smile gracing his lips.
A blood sacrifice using my wife? Do they take for a pushover?
Yang Hu bared his teeth in a grin. "Boss, shall we go knock over the tower?"
"No rush. Let them play for a while longer." Chen Yang glanced at the ti, his smile unwavering as he focused on his fishing float.
"..."
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