C385 It Was Taken away and Beaten to Death!
Inside the Keep, a standoff was brewing.
Su Kui and Van Xuan had arrived with a clear purpose: to unravel the mysteries of the Forgotten Ruins. Their goal was to learn about the Silvermoon Queen's plight through Yuan Lianyao and to persuade her to join them in a strike against the Lee family.
Yuan Lianyao, as the mayor of Asvetaesi, had the support of the Ruby Hand and was considered an ally in their cause.
They had learned through various sources about the dramatic changes in the Forgotten Ruins and rumors of a Mysterious Realm within, coveted by the seven lower sects.
The Ethereal Void Sect had even constructed an expansive teleportation circle to bridge the gap to the Euwrea Continent.
Asvetaesi, due to its proximity to the Forgotten Ruins, was poised to become a strategic stronghold.
Should they secure Yuan Lianyao's commitment, they planned to establish a significant presence of their kin in Asvetaesi, enabling them to explore the Forgotten Ruins extensively and seize the opportunity to align with the seven lower sects.
Lin Mu harbored similar intentions.
Moreover, he had his own agenda: to take advantage of the regime change to assist Winter's Bite and the Lin family in eliminating Yu Yuan and the Yu family nuisance.
Winter's Bite had already made their move, arranging a marriage for Lin Zhuyun with a disciple from the Sunlit Order.
A mishandled marriage for Lin Zhuyun would leave a blemish that could hinder the proceedings.
Lin Mu, the venerable figure of the Lin family, had long been opposed to Lin Zhuyun's betrothal to Yu Yuan and had made his objections clear.
Despite his disdain for Lin Hanyu, he had a soft spot for Lin Zhuyun, a rising star within the family's third generation. His agreement to meet with Lin Hanyu and endorse him as the new clan leader was influenced not only by commitments from Winter's Bite but also because Lin Hanyu was Lin Zhuyun's father.
Lin Zhuyun was the Lin family's beacon of hope, the one most likely to ascend to the Lunar Spirit realm and even attain the Spirit Walk state after him.
Lin Mu was determined to smooth Lin Zhuyun's path in Aetherius, refusing to let a setback like Yu Yuan's tarnish her bright future.
After Su Kui, Su Kang, and Van Xuan had come to an understanding regarding the Lee family's situation, Lin Mu once again raised the issue of Yu Yuan's whereabouts. Confronted by Lin Mu's relentless questioning, Yu Cen's expression grew somber. With his head bowed, he could only admit that the person was untraceable.
Zhao Zhenghao, the head of the Zhao family, inwardly sighed, recognizing that the Yu family's greatest weakness was the lack of explicit support from any sect. The Zhao family, having gained favor due to Zhao Yafu's emergence and the Moonfang Tiger's selection, found themselves linked to Shadow's Keep. This alliance gave Zhao Zhenghao the confidence he needed to assert his presence within the hall. Su Kui and the others wouldn't dare cross Shadow's Keep, treating him with a measure of respect. Similarly, due to the backing of the Ruby Hand, they refrained from openly criticizing Yuan Lianyao.
Only when it came to Yu Cen did Lin Mu dare to display such arrogance. Su Kui, Su Kang, and Van Xuan, all at the Lunar Spirit Stage, withheld their opinions, likely deeming the matter trivial.
"Yu Yuan is in the Forgotten Ruins. You're free to search for him there," Yuan Lianyao said with a smile, once again coming to Yu Cen's defense. She gently urged, "Elder Lin, we are in Asvetaesi, and I am the mayor. I ask that you abide by our rules!"
"Rules?" Lin Mu scoffed. "The empire is in disarray. People die day and night! Without a new emperor, there are no rules to speak of! Rules are made by the sovereign of a nation! Without him stepping forward and claiming the throne, what new rules could there possibly be?"
Yuan Lianyao had the Ruby Hand's support, which earned her some consideration from Lin Mu. But as someone merely in the Subtlety Realm without a fully formed Lunar Spirit, she lacked the standing to be his equal or the power to shield the Yu family and Yu Cen.
"The Yu family is hardly worth your concern," Van Xuan interjected with a wry smile. "The female general, your equal in the empire, is now in the Huang family's custody, bound by my own hands. The Lee family will soon be stricken from the empire's records. In these tumultuous times, minor losses are to be expected."
The words carried an implicit threat.
Yuan Lianyao's face showed a flicker of concern.
Lee Yuchan, with her Lunar Spirit Realm cultivation and her dedication to the Shadow Curse, had been subdued by them?
Could the renowned Lee family really be brought to ruin in a mere moment due to Lee Yupan's actions?
The empire would surely be weakened by this. How would it stand against the might of the Crimson Sun Empire and the neighboring Sunblessed Empire in the future?
"Eh?"
All of a sudden, Su Kui's brow quivered, and he turned to glance over his shoulder.
One by one, the others in the room began to pick up on the same sensation.
Su Xiangtian, acting head of the Su family, inhaled deeply, steadying himself before turning his expectant gaze toward the threshold.
"Yu Yuan has arrived!"
Dressed in a flowing red gown, Yuan Lianyao caught his scent and her eyes sparkled with delight. Her smile was seductive and radiant.
She seemed to instantly unwind.
Conversely, Yu Cen was a picture of distress, his head snapping up after being bowed.
The elder's face and eyes were riddled with anxiety and tension, his hands involuntarily tightening into fists.
"Why now, of all times? What brings you here at this late hour?"
The elder was frantic, his heart crying out in desperation. He fixed his pleading gaze on Yuan Lianyao, gently shaking his head, imploring the mayor to use her spiritual sense to warn Yu Yuan away.
"What's there to fear?"
Yuan Lianyao understood his thoughts and his apprehensions. She smiled softly, her beauty radiant as a field of blossoming flowers, and reassured him, "Your grandson is incredibly skilled! If he can survive the perils of the Forgotten Ruins, then the small city of Asvetaesi is hardly a challenge. This situation is nothing for him."
At her words, Yu Cen looked utterly bewildered, wondering if the mayor had lost her mind.
Zhao Zhenghao was astounded, his belief wavering between doubt and hope.
The Lunar Spirits, however, remained unimpressed. They found no significance or foundation in Yuan Lianyao's statement.
Yu Yuan, could she really stir up a storm in the Forgotten Ruins?
Among the crowd, only Su Xiangtian, who had previously encountered Yu Yuan at the Moonfall Sanctuary and the Forgotten Ruins, believed her words.
Remaining silent until now, Su Xiangtian straightened up slightly and watched the doorway with a look of expectancy.
Yu Yuan entered with a relaxed stride, under the watchful eyes of everyone present.
"I could hear my name being called out from a distance, with demands to scrutinize my Mindscape using Lunar Spirit." He sauntered in, scanning the room and casting glances at Su Kui, Van Xuan, and Lin Mu.
Finally, his gaze settled on Lin Mu, and he smiled, "It was you, wasn't it?"
With a malicious grin, Lin Mu responded, "Yes, it's me, haha, indeed it's me! I've been searching for you for some time. Your timing couldn't be better!"
"Apologies, I was held up at the Huang family for a bit, or I would have arrived sooner," Yu Yuan said with a smile, bowing through the crowd to Yu Cen, then added earnestly, "Grandfather, there's no need to worry about me."
What else could Yu Cen do but offer a wry smile?
"The Huang family!" Su Xiangtian exclaimed softly, his expression shifting. "What business did you have there? Did you encounter Su Yin, Van Chaoguan, and Lin Hanyu at the Huang family?"
Su Kui and the others frowned upon hearing this.
If Yu Yuan had indeed visited the Huang family and met Su Yin, Van Chaoguan, and Lin Hanyu, not to mention seen the captured Lee Yuchan, how could he have possibly made it here?
Those three were the promising young members they were counting on, certainly not saints. How could they just let Yu Yuan walk free?
Shouldn't they have detained him along with Lee Yuchan and the rest at the Huang family, then informed Lin Mu to use Lunar Spirit to probe Yu Yuan's Mindscape?
"I've met with all of them," Yu Yuan confirmed with a nod. "As for Su Yin, he's repeatedly disgraced our Yu family. When I appeared at the Huang family, he couldn't resist attacking me."
"I'm sorry about that," he said, turning to Su Xiangtian with an apologetic look. "I lost my temper and ended up killing Su Yin."
Su Kui and Su Kang were at a loss for words, their expressions a mix of amusement and disbelief.
They didn't put any stock in Yu Yuan's claims.
Su Xiangtian inhaled deeply, scrutinizing Yu Yuan for a few seconds before asking in a grave tone, "Was it you?"
Yu Yuan nodded in confirmation.
"The youth are to be feared," Su Xiangtian remarked admiringly, then added, "Su Yin is, after all, a member of our Su family. We will not turn a blind eye to this matter."
"Xiangtian, you actually believe him?" Su Kang couldn't contain his incredulous laughter. "Su Yin may not have been the most talented, but he was still a practitioner of the Veil Breaking Realm. This young man is merely at the Golden Sanctum level. How could he possibly have killed Su Yin?"
"If he says he killed him, then he did," Su Xiangtian stated with a stern face, showing no signs of jest. "Elder Lin, Yu Yuan is right before you. If you wish to deal with him, please, by all means, go ahead."
"You really are terrible," Yuan Lianyao said, giving him a reproachful look.
Su Xiangtian, seizing the crucial moment, suggested Lin Mu act first, well aware that Yu Yuan wouldn't have dared to enter without a substantial backing.
Should Lin Mu strike, it was certain he'd be at a disadvantage.
"Xiangtian! You actually believe him?" Su Kang exclaimed in desperation.
Su Xiangtian stepped back and extended his hand, gently pulling Su Kang and Su Kui back, clearing the area between Yu Yuan and Lin Mu.
His intentions were clear—he was giving Lin Mu the green light to proceed.
