Chapter 193: Chapter 192: Family Law
One day, Zhang Hua came to the rear courtyard.
Zhang Hua looked at Jie Jiachun, who stood before him, and asked tentatively, "Master Jie, is Young Master Wen in?"
"The Young Master is cultivating. You should wait," Jie Jiachun said, his face devoid of expression.
Zhang Hua quickly replied, "Of course, of course. I’ll wait, I’ll wait."
Zhang Hua gazed at the room and sighed internally. ’If only I had been more decisive back then. Why did I even bother trying to curry favor with the Wen Family?’
After an unknown amount of time, Wen Qingye slowly pushed open the door.
"Young Master," Jie Jiachun said with a slight bow.
Wen Qingye nodded, then looked at Zhang Hua. Pointing to a stone chair ahead, he said, "Let’s go over there and talk."
Zhang Hua nodded repeatedly, perching on just the edge of his seat as he sat down.
Jie Jiachun brought over two cups of tea and placed them in front of Zhang Hua and Wen Qingye.
Zhang Hua accepted his cup with utmost care, while Wen Qingye casually picked up his own and took a slow sip.
Zhang Hua watched Wen Qingye, who remained as calm and indifferent as ever. The sight was so familiar. Before, Zhang Hua had merely thought Wen Qingye was young and arrogant due to his talent. But now... Zhang Hua couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
Zhang Hua looked up at Wen Qingye and said, "I came here today mainly to ask about Xiaoyun."
"Xiaoyun was taken away by the Taiyi Pavilion," Wen Qingye said, then continued to sip his tea.
Zhang Hua asked awkwardly, "May I ask what kind of Sect this Taiyi Pavilion is?"
"I’m not entirely sure myself. It’s a very large Sect." Wen Qingye put down his teacup and said with determination, "I will bring her back."
"That’s good, that’s good," Zhang Hua said, nodding.
After a moment, Zhang Hua seemed to want to say something more. His mouth opened slightly, but the words wouldn’t come out.
Wen Qingye said, "Just say what’s on your mind."
Zhang Hua was silent for a moment before saying, "The Thousand Rivers Secret Land is about to open. The death rate there has always been extremely high. You must be careful. Surviving is what truly matters."
Wen Qingye just gave a small smile and a nod, saying nothing more.
Wen Qingye’s feelings toward Zhang Hua were mostly indifferent; his deeper emotions were connected to Zhang Xiaoyun.
Before Wen Qingye’s arrival, Zhang Hua had largely ignored Zhang Xiaoyun and her mother. Although he later tried desperately to make amends, wasn’t it all for personal gain?
But things were different now. The Zhang Family had been brutally suppressed by the Wen Family, who were backed by the Yao Family. The world was a cold place. Zhang Hua’s words now seemed to come from the heart, a gesture of genuine closeness.
’The Zhang Family?’ A sense of melancholy arose in Wen Qingye’s heart.
Having said his piece, Zhang Hua stood up and took his leave.
Jie Jiachun watched Zhang Hua’s departing figure, then turned to Wen Qingye. "Young Master, this is an Imperial Decree. The current Emperor of the Celestial Martial Country invites you to the Imperial City to prepare for the Thousand Rivers Secret Land."
The Thousand Rivers Secret Land served as a trial for the Celestial Profound Sect, as well as an assessment for the various nations to allocate resources. The outcome would affect the national strength of each country, so the royal families had no choice but to take the trial seriously.
"Mm, I know. We’ll set off tomorrow." Wen Qingye nodded, then said to Jie Jiachun, "This afternoon, we’re making a trip to the Wen Family."
...
The Wen Family estate. In the residence of the Liu Clan.
"You bitch! Look at what you’ve raised Wen Qingye to be!" Wen Gui glared at the Liu Clan and roared.
The Liu Clan looked at the surrounding group of Wen Family members, all of whom looked ready to condemn her. Her face couldn’t help but turn pale.
Looking at the crowd, the Liu Clan calmed herself and said, "I don’t believe Qingye has done anything wrong."
"Nothing wrong?" Seeing that the Liu Clan dared to talk back, Wen Gui’s beard practically flew up in anger. His eyes bulged. "Do you have any idea that he killed Yao Chijian of the Yao Family? Do you know that he completely disregarded the interests of our Wen Family? Do you know that he doesn’t even intend to acknowledge himself as a member of the Wen Family?"
Wen Gui paused, then continued, "Was it wrong for our Wen Family to raise him for decades? A heartless, ungrateful wretch like that... let me ask you, Liu Clan, just how did you raise him?"
Wen Gui’s words flowed without end, his tone aggressive and accusatory.
"Exactly! Wen Qingye is simply despicable!"
"To not even admit he’s one of us... Has he forgotten how many years he lived in our Wen Family?"
"Liu Clan, did you incite Wen Qingye to do this?"
The members of the Wen Family all spoke harshly, staring coldly at the Liu Clan.
Wen Qingye was now renowned throughout the Celestial Martial Country, but the Wen Family had gained nothing from it. How could they be at ease?
Facing the rebukes of the Wen Family, the Liu Clan struggled to remain calm. She took a deep breath, then said slowly, "I’d like to ask, who was it that sent Qingye to the Zhang Family? I’d like to ask, when Qingye was leaving, who was it that said he no longer belonged to the Wen Family? And I’d like to ask, when Qingye was facing hardship at the Zhang Mansion, who reached out a hand to help him, even once?"
The Liu Clan’s voice was soft, but her words struck with force, ringing in everyone’s ears.
The Wen Family members were stunned by her words. They looked at one another, at a loss for what to say.
Wen Gui snorted coldly. "Hmph! I’ve already said it. Wen Qingye went to the Zhang Mansion for the sake of the Wen Family! Was it not worthwhile for him to make such a sacrifice?"
The Liu Clan refused to back down. "Sacrifice? Then why not let Wen Tongyu make a sacrifice? Why did it have to be Qingye?"
"How could Wen Qingye possibly compare to my son? Tongyu is the one who will revive the Wen Family!"
Just then, a woman walked in from outside. It was Wen Tongyu’s mother, the Yao Clan.
As soon as the Yao Clan entered, she fixed the Liu Clan with a venomous glare, the hatred in her heart written all over her face.
The Liu Clan couldn’t help but sneer. "Yao Clan, don’t think so highly of Wen Tongyu. I’m afraid the greater your hopes, the greater your disappointment will be."
Wen Gui took a sudden step forward and bellowed, "Insolence! Tongyu is the one who will revive our Wen Family! How dare you slander him?"
The Liu Clan raised an eyebrow. "What, am I not even allowed to speak now? Slander? And how exactly did I slander him?"
Wen Gui sneered. "What right do you have to speak? What contributions have you, Liu Clan, made to our Wen Family? Was it just giving birth to an ungrateful viper we couldn’t tame?"
Fury flashed in the Liu Clan’s eyes. "Wen Gui, I used to respect you as an elder, but don’t think for a second that I’m afraid of you! You keep calling him an ’ungrateful viper’ and a ’heartless wretch.’ Have you ever stopped to ask yourself what you’ve done?"
The Yao Clan fanned the flames from the side. "Liu Clan, do you know Uncle Gui’s status? He is your elder. How dare you speak to him like that?"
Hearing the Yao Clan’s words, Wen Gui grew even more enraged. "Good! So good, you Liu Clan! You actually dare to speak to me this way! I see you’ve got a death wish!"
"Men! Serve her the family punishment!"
The Liu Clan lifted her head and said fearlessly, "Family punishment? What grounds do you have to use it on me?"
Wen Gui shouted, "On the grounds that you disrespect your elders! On the grounds that you raised Wen Qingye to be what he is! You won’t escape this punishment! Men!"
"I’d like to see who dares to move," the Liu Clan said coldly, her gaze sweeping over the Wen Family members.
The surrounding Wen Family members, who had been eager to act, all froze when they heard her icy voice.
No matter what, the Liu Clan was the sister of the Liu Family Patriarch, and she was also the wife of the Wen Family Patriarch. On top of all that, she had a son, Wen Qingye, whose name was now feared and respected.
"If you’re too afraid, I’ll do it myself!" Wen Gui roared when he saw everyone standing motionless.
Wen Gui strode over, snatched a leather whip from Wen Jie’s hands, and charged toward the Liu Clan.
Wen Gui’s eyes were filled with rage. He showed no mercy, lashing out with the whip.
CRACK!
The Liu Clan had no time to react. A bloody welt appeared on her arm, and a searing pain shot through her entire body.
The Liu Clan hadn’t expected Wen Gui to actually strike her. Her eyes filled with shock and fear.
"See if I dare," Wen Gui sneered. "Today, I will carry out the family punishment and teach you the rules of the Wen Family."
As he spoke, Wen Gui advanced on the Liu Clan, his eyes sharp and bloodshot.
The Yao Clan watched from the side, gloating internally. ’Liu Clan, this is what you get for opposing me.’
Seeing Wen Gui’s murderous expression, the Liu Clan clenched her jaw and couldn’t help but stumble backward.
