My Name Is Xuan Bing! . . .
Song Jue possessed a keen sense of sensitivity and observed the peculiar behavior of his clan members. He addressed them with a loud, assertive voice, "My sworn brother is merely my sworn brother. He and I are brothers, and it has no bearing on the Song Clan. I do not require any special treatment on his account. I do not desire it, nor do I care for it. This is who I am. Do not look at me differently! I have never been concerned with the clan's affairs. It holds no significance for me. It's all meaningless."
The elders found themselves at a loss for words, rendered speechless by Song Jue's vehement outburst. They felt a deep sense of embarrassment as his words amounted to a blatant display of disrespect for the clan's elders. However, they recognized that there was little they could do, for they had, in truth, let down Song Jue's group in the past.
Song Jue, in his righteous stance, occupied the higher moral ground, granting him the freedom to be either courteous or otherwise. No one had the authority to challenge him on this matter.
Everyone present understood this, well aware of the lingering resentment that Song Jue harbored.
Cha Eun Xiao, speaking in a subdued tone, offered his perspective, "Uncle Song, it is far too easy to exact vengeance. After all, they are your kin. Perhaps it's time to let bygones be bygones. Besides, Song Wuyang and his group have all been eliminated. I believe that the past is unlikely to repeat itself. Perhaps it's time to release your grip on this grudge... At the very least, the Song Clan is in need of your leadership. I believe that your clan is destined to rise again."
With these words, Cha Eun Xiao unequivocally signaled Song Jue's impending leadership, a fact that no one could contest.
It became apparent that Song Jue was on the path to assume control of the clan. He grumbled with a deep-rooted bitterness, saying, "Because of Brother Cha, these individuals not only considered their own safety but also struck us while we were down... Did they ever remember that we are family?"
Before he could complete his thought, Cha Eun Xiao interjected, "Uncle Song, I won't offer different advice. Let's move forward. We need to ensure that the Song Clan doesn't repeat the same mistakes. Isn't that far more constructive than dwelling on the past?"
Song Jue let out a heavy sigh and a scornful humph. The flames of anger in his eyes blazed as he glared at the elders. In the end, he turned away and remained silent.
Cha Eun Xiao sighed as he contemplated the impact of his father's actions, which affected not only the Cha Clan but also the Song Clan. His commitment to assisting the Song Clan stemmed from his desire to help Song Jue. The members of the Song Clan held no significance to him, and he wouldn't have cared if they had met an unfortunate fate. However, he felt obligated to act because of the debt that his father, Cha Nantian, owed to Song Jue.
Song Jue, although unforgiving towards the elders, didn't show any overt kindness. The elders, on the other hand, maintained strained smiles, their expressions revealing a profound sense of regret. Song Jue led Cha Eun Xiao to his personal quarters.
For the remaining members of the Song Clan, their overwhelming emotion was one of deep remorse.
"I would never have acted this way had I foreseen things reaching such a point," one elder lamented, "We stood idly by as Song Wuyang and his associates committed those heinous acts. Our only concern was our own safety... Now, we have finally tasted the bitter fruit we sowed. We have no one to blame but ourselves."
"This is not the end; it is far from over. Regardless of the turmoil, the Song Clan has found its resolution," one elder remarked thoughtfully. "Song Jue and his companions may still harbor grievances, but they remain within the clan's fold. This indicates that their ties to the clan persist. We ought to collaborate with them, offering our support in whatever ways we can in the days to come."
"Taking a deeper perspective, today's events might very well be the catalyst for the resurgence of our clan. With Song Jue and Song Sheng, the brothers, poised to lead the clan, it's possible that we will experience a resurgence soon," another elder mused.
"Indeed, today may become a memorial day marking the revival of the Song Clan!" a third elder added.
The fourth elder concurred, saying, "You are absolutely right. We, the elderly, may lack the profound insights and daring hearts of our younger days. It is time for Song Jue and Song Sheng to shoulder the responsibility. Although challenging days may lie ahead, we must embrace them. Everything we do should be for the betterment of our clan. We cannot build the Song Clan anew on our own... We must act in the best interest of our clan."
With these words, the elders, their hair now gray, let out a collective sigh and slowly departed. They once stood tall and strong but now walked with stooped shoulders. Yet, they carried with them the weight of a heavy burden in their hearts, comforted by the knowledge that the crisis posed by Song Wuyang was now a thing of the past. The future was left to the uncertainties of time.
Perhaps the elders would no longer be among the living when the Song Clan faced its next trial. Their actions were driven by a profound sense of selflessness, motivated by a dedication to their clan's well-being. It was this selflessness that allowed the clan to endure and be passed down from one generation to the next, but it also gave rise to recurring tragedies. The line between right and wrong became increasingly blurred, making it challenging to judge in the grand scheme of a tradition that spanned thousands of years.
In Song Jue's modest courtyard, he embraced his elder brother, exclaiming with joy, "Brother, you've recovered! This is fantastic!"
After receiving Cha Eun Xiao's supreme dan bead and benefiting from Han Bingxue's high-level Dao Origin Stage abilities, Song Sheng had made a full recovery in the span of a single meal. This was exhilarating news for Song Jue.
Song Jue had carried Cha Eun Xiao's supreme dan beads with him for a considerable period, but he had refrained from using them, fearing the attention it might attract. However, with Cha Eun Xiao and Han Bingxue by his side, there was no threat that couldn't be countered, and Song Sheng's swift recovery was a testament to this fact.
With his brother's revival, Song Jue's worries dissipated. He also knew that Song Xuan's ailment had been cured, and his cultivation had received a significant boost, ensuring a brighter future for him.
Song Jue, who had been plagued by doubts since his return, now found himself brimming with energy. He had been perplexed by the identity of the man who had been taking orders like a subordinate from Cha Eun Xiao. [When did Xiao Xiao acquire such capabilities?] He looked at Xuan Bing, who remained silent on the sidelines, as if she were invisible, and his confusion deepened. [Who is this woman? Why does Han Bingxue, a supremely powerful cultivator, fear her? Why is she traveling with Cha Eun Xiao?]
Clearly, Song Jue held Xuan Bing in high regard. Approaching her, he began, "Well, I made a mistake, thinking you were someone else. I apologize. May I have your name, madam..."
Xuan Bing responded stoically, "Xuan Bing."
"Ah, Xuan Bing, what a beautiful name! 'Xuan' like a goddess, with exquisite features as pure as ice..." He couldn't help but heap praise on her initially, until he finally realized her true identity. At that moment, he reacted as though he had been stung by a bee, nearly leaping to the ceiling in surprise.