C47 I Beat You in Public!

Chu Yan was unfamiliar with the Lin Family Mansion, and it took him some time before he arrived at the solemn and strictly guarded council hall, silver scale spear in tow.

Upon entering, he was immediately struck by the heavy atmosphere.

Around him stood no fewer than twenty members of the Lin Family, with the Clan Chief, Lin Chongtian, the Deputy Chief, Lin Chongzhi, and several elders seated at the head of the room.

Chu Yan surmised that these old men must be the family elders.

Lin Liqiang, whom Chu Yan had disciplined earlier, was now sitting in a chair, bandaged and looking miserable, his eyes brimming with venom as they fixed on Chu Yan.

"Chu Yan! You've got some nerve showing up here!"

As soon as Chu Yan crossed the threshold, a sharp and angry voice cut through the air.

Turning toward the voice, Chu Yan saw a Lin Family member standing behind Lin Liqiang, bearing a resemblance to him and appearing to be in his fifties.

"What, if I didn't walk in, were you planning to carry me in?" Chu Yan retorted with a cold laugh, giving him a glance.

"You!" The Lin Family member was so enraged that his eyes bulged and his face turned crimson, but he was too flustered to form a coherent sentence.

"Big brother! Look at this Chu Yan!" Lin Chongzhi, seated at the head of the table, now spoke up, "How can we tolerate such insolence in our Lin Family? A son-in-law? No, that's not right, he hasn't even formally joined our Lin Clan, and yet he's already so arrogant and overbearing. If we were to actually let him in, would our Lin Family ever have peace? I think we should annul the engagement today and throw him out!"

An elder beside Lin Chongzhi chimed in, "I concur with the Deputy Chief. This Chu Yan's character is deplorable. He's already caused trouble between our Lin Family and the Ye Family last time. The Ye Family has yet to accept our apology, and Ye Chen, whom he injured, hasn't made a statement. And now, he's gone too far, even daring to strike a member of our own Lin Clan! Does he even consider himself a son-in-law at all?"

"He probably thinks he's the head of the household, and that our Lin Family depends on him for survival," another person said with a chilling tone.

"To come into the council chamber armed with a weapon, it's like he has no regard for us at all!"

"Utterly disrespectful!"

In an instant, the room erupted with voices, each person painting Chu Yan as a villain of the worst kind, one who disregarded rank, deceived his betters, and committed every conceivable evil. They were so filled with loathing, they wished they could tear him apart right there to quell the burning hatred in their hearts.

Amidst the rising tide of indignation, Lin Liqiang's father let out a shout, theatrically wiping away non-existent tears, and knelt in the direction of Lin Chongtian, crying out, "Please, Clan Leader, seek justice for my son Liqiang! Chu Yan has beaten him without cause, leaving him with multiple fractures and severe injuries. If we do not avenge this, what dignity will our Lin Family have left?"

Suddenly, Chu Yan found himself the target of everyone's scorn, as if he were a rat in the street that everyone wanted to strike down.

Chu Yan took note of each accuser, committing their faces to memory. Yet, his primary concern was discerning Lin Chongtian's stance.

He held a trump card, but the timing of its reveal hinged on Lin Chongtian's reaction.

Lin Chongtian appeared troubled, his fingers pressed against his brow in thought.

Once the clamor subsided and a hush fell over the crowd, Lin Chongtian's gaze settled on Chu Yan. "Chu Yan."

"I am present," Chu Yan responded, stepping forward and bowing respectfully.

"I won't delve into today's events, but I do require an explanation from you, one that will satisfy me and all the Lin Family elders here," Lin Chongtian stated sternly. "Your behavior today was excessive. Although your engagement to Miao Ran was arranged by the senior members of the Lin Family, should we find your character lacking and choose to annul the marriage, I doubt there would be any objections."

After a brief pause, Lin Chongtian added, "Your explanation must appease everyone present. Otherwise, even though you are not a Lin, I will still see to it that you are punished severely."

As he reached this point in his speech, his tone was fierce and commanding.

Lin Chongtian, a cultivator at the Pulse Condensation Period, was among the strongest in the Lin Family. When he released his aura, the atmosphere in the council hall became heavy and oppressive, as if suddenly filled with liquid mercury, making it almost impossible for anyone to breathe. Everyone present felt a sense of trepidation.

"I expect Uncle Lin will provide me with a satisfactory explanation," Chu Yan said, nodding gravely. "However, before we get to that, I have a question."

"How dare you! Is it your place to speak here?" Lin Chongzhi thundered.

Chu Yan, however, maintained his gaze on Lin Chongtian, who gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

Turning to face Lin Liqiang, Chu Yan's stare alone made the man shiver involuntarily, his sphincter twitching.

"Let me ask you, Lin Liqiang, is it? Would you come forward and answer my question?" Chu Yan asked, his smile belying the gravity of the situation.

Despite Chu Yan's seemingly friendly demeanor, Lin Liqiang felt a chill run down his spine, his blood turning to ice and his complexion paling as he quickly shook his head in refusal.

"What are you scared of? Just walk over there! Do you really think he would dare to strike you?" Lin Liqiang's father barked furiously. "I can't believe he'd be so bold!"

Spurred on by his father's angry shouts, Lin Liqiang, shaking with fear, managed to walk up to Chu Yan.

"Ha, you've got some nerve showing up," Chu Yan said with a chuckle, exhaling a breath of relief.

But in that moment, Lin Liqiang was seized by a bone-chilling cold that raced up his spine, as if a monstrous beast had fixed its gaze upon him, making his soul scream to tear free from his flesh and flee.

It was too late for Lin Liqiang to run. Chu Yan swiftly grabbed a chair beside him, hoisting it high, and with a thunderous crash, brought it down on Lin Liqiang's head and shoulders.

The chair splintered under the immense force, and Lin Liqiang collapsed without a sound, save for the sickening crunch of his shoulder bones. Blood gushed from the gash in his head as he lay motionless on the floor.

"Bastard!"

"How dare you!"

"Seeking your own death!"

In an instant, the council hall erupted with a chorus of furious shouts.

The tension in the room was like boiling water spilling into sizzling oil, teetering on the brink of explosion.

Even Lin Chongtian, seated at the head of the table, had his gaze sharpen, his eyes flashing with shock and a hint of murderous intent.

Lin Chongzhi, on the other hand, was completely stunned.

Several onlookers were ready to lash out at Chu Yan.

But Chu Yan was quicker. With a swift motion, he drew the silver scale spear from his back, pointed its tip to the ground, and thrust it down with force.

The spear vibrated with a resonant hum, sending ripples through the air around it.

His formidable aura, like a dragon unleashed or a storm cloud descending upon the city, momentarily subdued the outraged Lin family members, who now hesitated to act.

With a steely face and eyes as cold as drifting snow, Chu Yan surveyed the crowd.

"Lin Liqiang coveted my silver scale spear out of greed," Chu Yan stated icily. "By your logic, should I have simply handed it over to him?"