C37 Pavilion Master Jiang

"The past is behind us; why bring it up again?" Lin Yurou spoke to Lin Wentian with a serene composure, betraying no signs of turmoil. "Patriarch, you know I never ask favors of anyone. But today, I implore you, if you spare Yuer, I am ready to pay whatever it takes!"

"What price could you possibly pay?" The mention of bygone days also stoked the flames of Lin Wentian's anger.

His expression turned stern as he addressed Lin Yurou with a frosty tone, "Years ago, you left the family without a second thought. Only when you lost your powers did you return with Xiao Yu in tow! Had the Lin Family not generously overlooked your past and taken you both in, you and Yuer might well have ended up destitute. And now you speak of a price?"

"The Lin Family's shelter was a grace beyond measure. It's one thing to be ungrateful, but to repeatedly offend the Wang Family—do you not understand the deep ties between them and us?" Lin Wentian's voice was icy, leaving no room for discussion. "Xiao Yu has committed a grave error and must face severe punishment. No one's intercession will change that."

"Patriarch, can you truly be so merciless?" Lin Yurou's face turned ashen.

For her, everything in the world could be forsaken, but not Xiao Yu. She was determined to save him at all costs.

"No more words!" Lin Wentian dismissed her with a wave of his hand and turned away, detached.

"Mother, don't plead with him!"

Lin Yurou was about to speak again but Xiao Yu cut her off.

Having listened to the exchange, Xiao Yu could no longer contain his fury. He glared at Lin Wentian and declared, "I'll remember today's events. Lin Family Master, for the sake of appeasing the Wang Family, you've treated us with such disdain. Even though I don't bear the Lin name, the way you've treated my mother is unforgivable. I only hope you won't live to regret your actions today!"

"Regret? What could I possibly regret about a failure like you? My only regret is not having punished you to death when I had the chance!" Lin Wentian sneered coldly.

"Heh, I suspect that back then, it wasn't that you didn't want to kill me, but rather you didn't anticipate that I could survive, did you?" Xiao Yu scoffed.

It certainly wasn't a matter of Lin Wentian showing any mercy last time; instead, Xiao Yu's body had undergone an anomaly, and amidst a life-and-death crisis, he unexpectedly regained his memories.

Indeed, Lin Wentian had been intent on killing him outright!

"Why say so much when you're on the brink of death?" Wang Yue, already growing impatient, stood up and declared, "Enough with the delays. This one has reduced Fei'er to such a state. We'll break his legs first, make him kneel and bow to Fei'er, then strip him of his cultivation!"

With a commanding gesture from Wang Yue, the Wang Family servants advanced toward Xiao Yu once more.

"Patriarch, can you truly disregard the bonds of kinship? Are you willing to treat your own kin this way for the sake of the Wang Family?" Lin Yurou appealed to Lin Wentian, attempting one final plea.

"This is all Xiao Yu's doing!" Lin Wentian turned his back, dismissing Lin Yurou.

Lin Yurou gave a wry smile, never having imagined the Lin Family could be so merciless.

She resolved in secret that if the Wang Family indeed took action, even with the Six Soul Lock Heart Incantation afflicting her, she would risk everything to use her cultivation and escape with Xiao Yu.

As the Wang Family members drew nearer, the chill in Xiao Yu's eyes grew more pronounced.

"Lin Family, must you really push me to this extent?" Xiao Yu was still hesitant to use the Dragon Transformation Talisman.

After all, Lin Yurou was of the Lin Family's blood. If he were to kill any member of the Lin Family, it would inevitably put Lin Yurou in a difficult position and potentially brand her as a traitor. Thus, he was loath to resort to violence unless absolutely necessary.

"The issue at hand must be resolved. Brother Wang, proceed!" Lin Wentian responded with icy detachment.

"Mother, forgive me if I end up causing you to be labeled a traitor," Xiao Yu said, his gaze filled with regret as he looked at Lin Yurou.

With the situation at hand, he was left with no choice. Should he perish, Lin Yurou's life would undoubtedly become unbearable. What's more, there would be no one left to lift the Six Soul Lock Heart Incantation that afflicted her.

"Yuer, what are you planning to do?" Lin Yurou was at a loss, unable to grasp the implications of Xiao Yu's words.

Truth be told, Lin Yurou had long seen through the Lin Family's callousness. Her sole focus now was to rescue Xiao Yu. Had she not been afflicted by the Six Soul Lock Heart Incantation, she might have already taken action.

"Hmph, what can you possibly do at this point? Today, no one can save you, no matter who they are!" Lin Wentian dismissed Xiao Yu's words as inconsequential.

In his view, a third-level cripple from the Spirit Origin Stage was hardly a threat.

"Pavilion Master... it's urgent... outside... outside..."

While everyone anticipated Xiao Yu's legs being broken, a servant burst into the hall in a panic. He rushed to Lin Wentian and began to speak in a disjointed and frantic manner.

"We can discuss this later!" Lin Wentian said, his frown betraying his annoyance.

The servant's panicked state irked him. After all, what could be more pressing than dealing with Xiao Yu and appeasing Wang Yue?

"But, Master, it's a grave matter. Pavilion Master Jiang has arrived!" The servant managed to articulate a complete sentence after gulping nervously.

"I told you, we'll talk later!" Lin Wentian was on the verge of anger, incredulous that a servant would defy him. But then he paused, a sudden realization dawning on him. "Pavilion Master Jiang? Which Pavilion Master Jiang?"

The Lin Family servant, stuttering and sweating profusely, clarified, "It's... the current Pavilion Master of the Tianming Pavilion!"

The room fell into a hushed silence at his words, leaving even Wang Yue momentarily dumbfounded.

The Pavilion Master of the Tianming Pavilion was a figure of immense stature. Even Wang Yue, head of the Wang Family, struggled to secure an audience with him. Lin Wentian, by comparison, was far less significant, lacking even the credentials to meet Jiang Yuanhong. He had only heard of him by reputation.

Why would such an esteemed individual take the initiative to visit the Lin Family?

In that moment, Lin Wentian grasped the reason for the servant's distress. The arrival of such a dignitary was enough to unsettle even him.

Upon the arrival of the Pavilion Master of Tianming Pavilion, Lin Wentian knew better than to delay, promptly instructing, "Lead me out to greet him!"

Consequently, the issue with Xiao Yu was temporarily shelved, and not even Wang Yue dared to express any discontent.

With Tianming Pavilion's might towering over the Wang Family, who would dare to busy themselves with other matters and risk making the Pavilion Master wait outside?

Wang Yue, too, followed closely behind Lin Wentian, joining him in the reception.

"The Pavilion Master of Tianming Pavilion?" Lin Xuehan couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease upon hearing this.

Her gaze shifted to Xiao Yu, recalling how he had effortlessly produced a Spirit-gathering Talisman. Yet, these talismans were tightly controlled by Tianming Pavilion, virtually inaccessible to the average person.

What could Jiang Yuanhong's purpose be for arriving at such a time?

Wang Fei, lying on the stretcher, pondered the same question as Lin Xuehan. His concerns were even greater, given his past experience of being expelled from Tianming Pavilion, leading him to suspect more.

In that moment, Wang Fei's complexion shifted visibly, a sense of foreboding overwhelming him.

Inside the hall, those not privileged enough to join the welcoming party fell silent, their attention diverted from Xiao Yu, still reeling from the impact of the Pavilion Master's presence.

Xiao Yu, meanwhile, dismissed the notion of using the Dragon Transformation Talisman. Avoiding conflict was preferable, as any confrontation would surely place Lin Yurou between a rock and a hard place.