Inside the hall, there was a long meeting table with wooden chairs next to it.
Currently, the City Lord of Fallen Star City, Shi Chang and a group of small family leaders were sitting here and waiting for Lin Jian.
Knowing their purpose, Lin Jian purposefully made them wait for some time before entering the hall wearing luxurious golden brocade robe which perfectly matched his golden hair. It looked a bit too flashy, but no one dared to point it out. Heck, he was a Golden Core realm expert, who in their right minds in Pure Mist Country would offend him.
"I am sorry for the wait City Lord; my family's scouts came to know of a Rank-4 beast in Fallen Star Mountains. Since I was the only Golden Core realm expert nearby, I went to take care of it before the beast tide, was handling matters regarding that," said Lin Jian as if he had made a great contribution.
In fact, it was all a big fat lie. The people present knew that Lin Jian was just reminding them that he was now a Golden Core realm warrior and to be prudent during the following discussions.
"It is our fortune to have such an expert in our midst who toils for the masses. Patriarch Lin, your dedication is truly worthy of respect," praised Shi Chang. From this exchange, it was already clear that he had submitted.
"It is my duty City Lord, you don't have to give me credit for it," said Lin Jian modestly, "I wasn't expecting the City Lord to take some time from his busy schedule and come to my humble home for a visit. And not just that, you also brought a lot of friends and neighbors, it's a wonderful occasion for my Lin family. City Lord how about I arrange a feast?"
"Not necessary Patriarch Lin, we came today only to congratulate you for your advancement and discuss if you have any suggestions to improve our city and it's administration," said Shi Chang, before coming here he had already prepared himself to lose some benefits and authority. As long as it is within his bottom-line, he will agree to it. But Lin Jian's next words truly stunned him.
"None. City Lord has managed the city extremely well and I hope you will continue to support our Lin family in the future. The only thing I would like to mention is, we will not be able to return the property we seized from Ma and Yang family, I hope City Lord can understand," said Lin Jian.
"That is your spoils, we don't dare ask you for share, not even the royal family will meddle in this matter, I can guarantee that," said Shi Chang, he still couldn't believe what he had just heard. Earlier he had prepared to make sacrifices like splitting the authority, etc. but Lin Jian didn't ask for anything. It was too good to be true.
If it was under normal circumstances, Lin Jian really would have bargained for some benefits, but now with the Thousand Poisons Sect and Long Clan eyeing him, he would have to leave the city soon. So, he was planning for the future of the Lin family.
Next, the discussions continued till everyone was happy and Lin Jian began tying up City Lord mansion and Lin family so that they would help each other in his absence.
…
Inside the cave.
"Big brother Yan, what are you doing to my mother?" Xue'er shouted and drew her sword.
Xiao Yan had his eyes closed and was still concentrating on healing his aunt. He had already noticed the moment Xue'er came in. He was mentally cursing Lin Jian for his sloppy protection.
"Please, my mother is ill and cannot move, what will you gain by defiling her? You have me right? I will do whatever you want. I beg you, please let her go …" begged Xue'er while tears started flowing out of her eyes like two rivers while the sword her hands started shaking, even now she couldn't attack him.
"…" Xiao Yan couldn't spilt his attention and explain it to her as he was at a critical juncture. If something goes wrong, not only will he suffer a backlash, his aunt would also be injured heavily. Her condition was already serious, if another injury is added, it might become fatal. So, he made up his mind whatever happens, how much ever Xue'er misunderstands him or even if he suffers injuries, if he could save his aunt, all will be worth it. So, he disregarded Xue'er's shouts and started to concentrate on expelling the poison.
"I Loved You, I trusted you, how can you do this to me?"
"I understand now, it's not just your elder, you are also a Devil Cultivator, you belong to a Devil Cultivator family, that must be why your cultivation is so strong,"
Xiao Yan trembled when he heard Xue'er insult his family. His proud family that had defended the south of the continent for thousands of years, she called them Devil Cultivators. He was hurt, truly hurt, not physically, but emotionally. The one whom he truly loved was standing in front of him scolding and cursing at him and his family, but he couldn't stop her neither could he explain it to her, he could do nothing about it. It was an extremely pathetic condition for anyone.
"Big brother Yan, listen to me, please stop this or I will be forced to attack"
"Mmm …" When the last bit of poison was about to be removed, Hao Ming felt truly free and relaxed, so a low moan escaped her lips.
But to Xue'er's ears, it sounded erotic. She thought Xiao Yan must have done something to her mother.
"Die you Letcher!" she got enraged and started to attack Xiao Yan. When her sword hit Xiao Yan's naked body, it rebounded and sent Xue'er flying back. But Xue'er didn't stop, she continuously attacked and every time the attack rebounded. After tens of tries, she didn't know what to do. She just stood there like a statue in front of Xiao Yan while fear and anxiety filled her mind. She was still pointing her sword towards him. Blood could be seen dripping from the corner of her lips. She was at her wit's end, she tried thinking for a solution but couldn't find any.
When she thought all was lost, Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes and looked at her. It was just a look, but she remembered that look, it was the same she gave Yun when she defected. Disappointed and betrayed those were his feelings, same as her at that time. 'Why is he giving me that look?' Xue'er had a bad premonition that she had just made the worst decision of her life.
"Blurhh …" Xiao Yan vomited a mouthful of blood and fainted directly on Hao Ming's naked body. Coincidentally, Xiao Yan's blood flew all the way and landed on Xue'er. Some of it even landed on her face. The warm sensation of his blood caused her to feel as if her soul left her body and *bam* she fell on to her knees.
On the jade bed, Hao Ming slowly woke up. She had already regained consciousness close to an hour ago. She also knew Xiao Yan had come for her and was helping her expel poison. She also saw how Xue'er had insulted and attacked Xiao Yan. Too bad she couldn't move or else she would have slapped her daughter. Now it was too late. Xiao Yan had suffered serious injuries from backlash and the injuries from before had not healed completely. With both injuries acting up together, he had directly fainted after throwing up blood.
Hao Ming lifted Xiao Yan and placed him on the jade bed that she had been sleeping on. After putting on some clothes, she once again picked up Xiao Yan and started walking towards the cave entrance.
…
Inside the meeting hall, Lin Jian had finished his discussions with Shi Chang and the others, he was fairly satisfied with the outcome.
'It's about time. Ming'er probably woke up, I should go and check,' thought Lin Jian and rushed towards the cave.
When he reached the cave entrance, Xue'er was not there. A bad feeling emerged in his heart 'did that foolish girl enter the cave?' hoping his conjuncture to be false he entered the formation.
Inside, Hao Ming already wore new clothes and had Xiao Yan lifted in her arms. Xue'er slowly turned her face towards her mother. She should have been happy to see her mother waking but, but sadly there was no happiness or excitement on her face, 'he was trying to help mom! But because of me, all because of me, Big brother Yan got injured,' self-blame was killing her from the inside. Her eyes looked lifeless, her face was pale, half of her face was still covered in Xiao Yan's blood. She didn't even have the energy to wipe it. It seemed as if all energy had left her body.
Hao Ming hadn't even glanced at her once after waking up.
When Lin Jian arrived, "Ming'er!" he exclaimed happily upon seeing her.
"…" Hao Ming didn't even bother replying.
He knew something really bad must have happened. When he looked at unconscious Xiao Yan and the blood coved Xue'er, 'crap, this is bad!' was the only thought swirling in his head.
Hao Ming slowly turned her head towards her daughter and said in a cold, emotionless voice, "You are not worthy of his Love."
Xue'er's body trembled, seeing her mother taking Xiao Yan away, all of the buried emotions erupted choking her up. She wanted to stop her mother, but she started having difficulty breathing, she couldn't even move a muscle.
"Xue'er!" shouted Lin Jian anxiously, but before he got to her, she fell face down on the floor and she also fainted.