‘And the rest of you! You dare gather here to bully my son together? Do you truly not place this Ye Tianpeng in your eyes anymore?’
Patriarch Ye Tianpeng swept his stern gaze across the members of the Ye Family gathered in the courtyard.
Most lowered their heads, not daring to meet Ye Tianpeng's eyes. After all, he was the head of the Ye Family.
‘Ye Tianpeng, don't try to intimidate us now. We are all gathered here today for the sake of the Ye Family's safety,’ the lean, white-robed elder stepped forward from the crowd and spoke with a frigid tone. ‘The series of events that occurred today… even without me saying it, you should be aware, should you not? The current situation is extremely unfavorable for our Ye Family. And this situation was caused solely by your son, Ye Yunfei!’
‘Just moments ago, both the Qin Family and the Shi Family sent messengers demanding an explanation from our Ye Family. Otherwise, they await the full fury of those two great families. The trouble was provoked by Ye Yunfei alone. Why should our entire Ye Family shoulder the consequences for him? This is unfair to the rest of us!’
‘Even if you are the patriarch, Ye Tianpeng, you cannot be so biased and selfish, blindly shielding your own son! Otherwise, how can the members of our Ye Family respect you?! How can you have the face to remain in the position of patriarch?!’
This elder was named Ye Chaoxian. He was a respected senior clansman who had long been won over by Ye Zhongnian and sided firmly with him.
‘So… according to you, what should be done with my son?’ Ye Tianpeng's eyes simmered with rage as he asked word by word.
‘It’s very simple,’ Ye Chaoxian replied coldly. ‘Capture Ye Yunfei and send him under guard to the Qin and Shi Families to plead for mercy. Let those two families decide his fate, however they see fit. No matter the cost, we must obtain the forgiveness of the Qin and Shi Families and pacify their wrath. Only by sacrificing Ye Yunfei can our Ye Family survive unscathed!’
‘I share this opinion,’ Ye Zhongnian also spoke up. ‘The one who caused the trouble should face the consequences alone. The calamity brought upon us by Ye Yunfei should not be borne by our entire clan.’
‘Hold your tongues!’ Ye Tianpeng exploded with fury, a killing aura erupting from him and his powerful Yuan Power billowing out, enveloping the entire courtyard. ‘While I, Ye Tianpeng, stand here, who dares to hand over my son?! I am the patriarch! For now, the Ye Family is still under my command! If anyone brings this up again, don't blame me for being ruthless!’
Ye Chaoxian was so frightened he retreated several steps, his face flushed with stifled anger. His own strength was only at the Early Stage Earth Realm, while Ye Tianpeng was at the Mid Stage Earth Realm. As for Ye Zhongnian, while he was also at the Mid Stage Earth Realm, he had reached that realm only recently. In terms of combat power, he was far inferior to Ye Tianpeng.
As Ye Tianpeng erupted, silence fell over the scene. Everyone gaped slightly, looking at him with fearful eyes, not daring to utter another word.
‘Hmph! Fine, Ye Tianpeng, you win!’ Ye Chaoxian snorted coldly. ‘In three days, at the clan assembly, I believe the Council of Elders, for the sake of the Ye Family's safety, will unanimously agree to hand Ye Yunfei over! At that time, let's see what you have to say, Ye Tianpeng!’
With a flick of his sleeve, Ye Chaoxian turned and left. The Family's Council of Elders had the power to deliberate and decide on major clan affairs. When it came to matters concerning the clan's very survival, its authority could surpass even that of the patriarch. The others also followed Ye Chaoxian, turning to leave.
‘Stop right there, Ye Zhongnian, you old dog!’
Suddenly, Ye Yunfei's voice rang out.
Everyone halted in their tracks.
‘Old dog Ye Zhongnian,’ Ye Yunfei continued, his gaze deep and penetrating. ‘After all this scheming and posturing, isn't your true goal to seize the patriarch’s position? Furthermore, in your ambition for that position, you’ve secretly colluded with the Qin and Shi Families, planning to team up against my father. Did you think no one knew?
‘Old dog, let me give you a piece of advice. The Qin and Shi Families are like wolves with insatiable greed. You should be careful of inviting wolves into your own house. You’re playing with fire, and you’ll end up burned by the flames you play with, destroying yourself in the end.’
Ye Yunfei spoke slowly, word by word. In his previous life, Ye Zhongnian had indeed conspired with the Qin and Shi Families against Ye Tianpeng. Later, when the Ye Family was destroyed, Ye Zhongnian and his two sons were also killed by Qin Family experts—a classic case of inviting the wolf into the house.
‘What?!’
Ye Yunfei's words exploded like a bombshell in the courtyard, causing everyone’s minds to buzz uncontrollably.
Ye Zhongnian… secretly colluded with the Qin and Shi Families?!
Everyone was utterly shocked. Even Ye Tianpeng was stunned, hardly able to believe what his son had said.
‘Ye Yunfei! How dare you accuse me falsely!’ Ye Zhongnian’s face flushed crimson as he roared in fury. His eyes locked onto Ye Yunfei, containing endless, seething killing intent. However, an observant person would have noticed his hands trembling slightly.
‘How is this possible? Impossible! How could this waste know about this?!’
In reality, stormy waves of shock churned in his heart.
‘Ye Tianpeng, I consider myself dedicated to the clan’s welfare, with nothing to feel guilty towards the family,’ Ye Zhongnian said, the killing intent in his eyes so intense it seemed palpable. ‘But for your son to slander me so maliciously… I will demand justice!’
‘Hahaha…! Dedicated to the clan’s welfare?’ Ye Yunfei let out a cold laugh. ‘Hearing that phrase come from your mouth, old dog, is the biggest joke of all!
‘If you don’t want anyone to know, you shouldn’t have done it in the first place! That newly hired steward in your residence—Xiao Wanzu. Is his surname really ‘Xiao’, or is it actually ‘Qin’? I think you know the answer better than anyone!’
Hearing this, a trace of panic flashed through Ye Zhongnian's eyes. ‘No! That’s impossible! How could he possibly know this?!’ His inner shock was like overturning rivers and seas.
‘Hmm?’
At this moment, Ye Tianpeng, looking sharply at Ye Zhongnian, keenly caught that flicker of panic in his eyes, and his heart tightened.
Could it be…?
Ye Tianpeng's gaze grew sharp, like two piercing swords staring at Ye Zhongnian. Even Ye Chaoxian looked at Ye Zhongnian with a hint of doubt.
‘Ye Yunfei, you slander me so recklessly—I will report this to the Council of Elders!’ Ye Zhongnian declared, unwilling to linger any longer. He feared what else Ye Yunfei might reveal about his affairs. ‘Ye Tianpeng! Ye Yunfei! I hope the two of you can give me a proper explanation! Furthermore, the trouble Ye Yunfei has caused should definitely not be borne by our entire clan! Ye Yunfei, I will have you expelled from the Ye Family! Let’s go!’
With that, Ye Zhongnian quickly departed, followed by all the others.
Within moments, the courtyard was left with only Ye Yunfei, his father, and Xiao Yue.
‘Fei'er…’ Ye Tianpeng’s gaze swept over Ye Yunfei, filled with astonishment and hope. ‘Has your… Martial Meridian really been restored?’
‘That’s right, Father. All Eight Meridians have reappeared within my body, and my cultivation base has been restored as well.’ Ye Yunfei extended his palm, and a wisp of spiritual power rippled forth from its center.
‘Hahaha! Excellent! Truly excellent! You are worthy of being my son!’ Ye Tianpeng’s doubts were completely dispelled. He was so excited his whole body trembled, letting out a hearty laugh. The wild joy he felt was almost indescribable.
He had nearly given up all hope regarding his son's martial path. Never had he expected this sudden reversal of fortune.
Martial Meridian restored! Cultivation regained!
This meant his son was no longer a waste. From now on, he could cultivate normally once more!
‘Father, rest assured,’ Ye Yunfei said, feeling his father's overwhelming joy and feeling immensely happy himself. ‘From now on, no one will dare call me a waste again.’
Although Ye Yunfei had once been a Heavenly Emperor, facing this bond of father-and-son affection, his feelings in this moment weren't much different from those of any ordinary young man.