C384 Poor and Laughable!

Yan Qiling always felt at ease around Yu Yuan. Whenever he lent a hand to Yu Yuan, he knew that Yu Yuan would reciprocate when the time was right. Thus, incurring a favor from Yu Yuan seemed like a sound investment with promising long-term returns. His experiences in the Serpent Spine Mountains, the Forgotten Ruins, and the Moonfall Sanctuary had confirmed this multiple times.

Originally one of the suppressed alien souls within the Moonfall Sanctuary, Yan Qiling had been freed thanks to Yu Yuan's control over the Soulforge Matrix. Subsequently, in both the Serpent Spine Mountains and the Forgotten Ruins, he had reaped benefits from his association with Yu Yuan.

Upon hearing from Zhou Cangmin about potential troubles facing the Yu family, Yan Qiling proactively offered to join Yu Yuan on his journey. With no pressing matters at hand and no threats to his safety in Asvetaesi City, accompanying Yu Yuan and extending a favor seemed like a pleasant endeavor.

With a whoosh, Yan Qiling, in his semi-spiritual form, glided into the Huang family's hall and came to a ghostly halt beside Yu Yuan. Lee Yu, perched atop a stone pillar, caught sight of him and his eyes sparkled with recognition, signaling that their predicament was about to be resolved.

Yan Qiling had demonstrated remarkable abilities within the Forgotten Ruins, proving himself to be a formidable force on par with Xu Zixi and Zhou Cangmin. His presence alone was enough to turn the tide in Asvetaesi City.

"Do you need my help to speed up her recovery?" Yan Qiling asked nonchalantly, his hands clasped behind his back as he glanced at the female general whose vitality was waning.

His voice materialized his presence, casting a pall over Van Chaoguan and Lin Hanyu, who sensed impending doom.

"Just as I thought! He does have a powerful ally!" they realized in shock. But before they could process the thought, Lee Yuchan's Lunar Spirit seized the moment to penetrate their defenses. Shadows swirled in their eyes and blood trickled from the corners of their mouths.

"Didn't you send the message?" Lin Hanyu cried out. But before he could get an answer, he bolted from the hall.

He was determined to make haste to the Keep to seek out Lin Mu, informing Su Kui and Su Kang of the unfolding events so they could swiftly restore order amidst the chaos.

"Could any news possibly leak out with me standing guard?" Yan Qiling watched Lin Hanyu's attempted escape with a detached air and remarked, "Besides, even if that elder from the Van family were to arrive, it would be to no avail."

With a dismissive snort, he added, "A mere Lunar Spirit, what significant waves could it possibly create?"

While speaking, he casually formed a spell with his hands clasped behind his back.

Boom!

Lin Hanyu, in his flight, rebounded from the hall's entrance as if he had struck an invisible barrier.

The space around Lin Hanyu contracted and then abruptly expanded.

His form was compressed and then suddenly inflated, leaving Lin Hanyu feeling as though his organs were being twisted into knots. The excruciating pain caused him to cough up blood ceaselessly, sapping him of all strength to resist.

At the early stage of Subtlety, Lin Hanyu stood no chance against Yan Qiling, who wielded the power of a Spirit Walk.

"Leave Van Chaoguan to me!"

Lee Yuchan's Lunar Spirit released a soul vibration that all could perceive, signaling Yan Qiling to stand down.

Yan Qiling cast a brief glance at Yu Yuan, who had risen from his seated position and was now limbering up. He approached the fallen Lin Hanyu, who lay there, spitting blood.

With a congenial smile, Yu Yuan spoke, "Father-in-law, I have always held you in high esteem. Why persist in these needless confrontations? It's one thing for you to come alone, but to involve the Lin family's sole Lunar Spirit? What's the motive? Do you wish to see more of your kin perish?"

Lin Hanyu, with his bones shattered and organs ruptured, wiped the blood from his mouth and glared fiercely. "Enough! Yu Yuan, don't delude yourself into thinking you can act with impunity in the Empire just because you have support. You're utterly clueless about the current state of affairs! Not even the Empress can shield you now!"

At his words, Yan Qiling couldn't help but let out a peculiar chuckle.

Shaking his head, Yan Qiling responded, "It seems you're the one who's out of the loop. Indeed, the Empress has been taken captive and can no longer influence the course of events. And this reborn Shadowlight Empire is not at your beck and call, nor is it a place where you can issue commands as you please."

He couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity and amusement for the patriarch of the Lin family, Yu Yuan, who was only his father-in-law in name.

Was he aware of the tumultuous upheaval that had occurred within the Forgotten Ruins? Did he realize the pivotal role Yu Yuan had played there?

"Father-in-law."

Yu Yuan stood before Lin Hanyu, bowing his head to look at the bleeding master of the Lin family, and was struck by a wave of emotion.

Just a year ago, when his earthly soul and heaven soul had been restored, it was this very man who had orchestrated his persecution through Yin Jue.

After Yin Jue's death, it was Lin Hanyu who had come to the Yu family, wielding his clan's superior status in the Shadowlight Empire to coerce his grandfather into breaking off the engagement.

Time had flown; in just over a year, Lin Fengyan was dead, and Lin Hanyu, now grievously wounded, lay at his feet.

Life and death hung on his decision alone.

Such is the unpredictable nature of the world, ever-changing and complex.

"I'm not afraid to kill you, because I can handle the consequences," he said, thoughtfully stroking his chin while gazing at Lin Hanyu. "But I will let you live. You will witness the downfall of your Lin family within the Empire. And your treasured daughter, despite the favor she has found with Winter's Bite, will still find herself prostrate before me in the future."

His eyes held a chilling mirth as he continued, "Just because the Chief Elder of Winter's Bite has taken her as his hand-chosen disciple, she thinks she can effortlessly ascend to greatness, transform into a phoenix, and look down upon me."

With a sardonic laugh, he turned his back on Lin Hanyu and walked away.

Lin Hanyu watched him go, his face a mixture of astonishment and bewilderment, suddenly unsure of what to do next.

Where did Yu Yuan get such confidence?

To live and see the Lin family's decline, to hear that his beloved daughter would one day kneel before him?

"You," he thought, "are only fit for a minor empire like Aetherius."

Yan Qiling softly made her judgment and then ceased to pay any further attention to Lin Hanyu. She leisurely turned and followed Yu Yuan, leaving the Huang family's hall behind them.

As soon as he stepped outside, the force that had been restraining Lee Yu vanished.

Lee Yu was the first to break free, regaining his liberty.

Now free from the golden threads and the binding silver fish, and with the Stormcage Rune shattered, Lee Yuchan had expended a great deal of her vitality but managed to keep her physical body alive.

Her Lunar Spirit continued to shadow Van Chaoguan, poised to strike.

With Lin Hanyu gravely wounded and Van Chaoguan no match for her Lunar Spirit, and with Su Yin dead, the crisis in the palace had been averted.

"Yu Yuan, the real action is at the Keep with the Zhao family. I can sense several Lunar Spirits inside the mansion," Yan Qiling said in a measured tone, following behind him. "Your grandfather and some people from the Zhao family are all there. The turmoil within your empire is unfolding in many cities. What's your plan?"

"I can't stay in Asvetaesi for long," Yu Yuan replied.

"I'm well aware," Yan Qiling acknowledged with a nod, indicating her understanding. "From the Moonfall Sanctuary to the Serpent Spine Mountains, and then the Forgotten Ruins, your many actions have surely drawn the attention of certain interested parties. You're right to avoid drawing too much attention and need to leave for a time. If you're not keen on the location the state preceptor has in mind, I do have an alternative for you."

"Another place?" Yu Yuan mused, not immediately dismissing the idea. "I'll wait to hear where the state preceptor suggests I go, then I'll weigh my options and decide."

"Indeed, that's the sensible approach," Yan Qiling responded promptly.

Asvetaesi wasn't large, and Yu Yuan was familiar with the Keep's dynamics, confident it wouldn't spiral out of control, so he wasn't overly concerned.

Before long, he found himself standing in the familiar Keep, accompanied by Yan Qiling.

As they entered the estate, he could hear Lin Mu's icy interrogation, "That wretched Yu Yuan, I must capture him and let the Lunar Spirit wander through his soul and consciousness!"

...