Rumors had spread like wildfire throughout Pine City, igniting conversations in every corner of the city. The once-proud Yan and Fu families were now the subjects of hushed whispers and scandalous gossip. The funeral of Yan Ming, meant to be a somber and dignified affair, had turned into a nightmare—one that now defined the fall of two of the city's most powerful clans.
"They say the third consort exposed everything at the funeral. Her sister too—both of them in love with Yan Li," one merchant gossiped at the city square. "Imagine! A tragedy of love and betrayal, and in front of the whole city no less."
Another man shook his head. "I heard she tried to kill Yan Li with a blood sacrifice, right there in the hall. That clan is cursed. First, they lose Yan Ming, now this disgrace."
"They've closed their doors now," said an old woman in the marketplace. "No one's allowed in or out of the Yan or Fu estates. They're hiding from their shame. And good riddance! The people remember what happened during the beast invasion fourteen years ago. Those families have blood on their hands, and now it's finally catching up to them."
The silence around the Yan estate was deafening. The grand gates remained shut, and the once-bustling halls were deserted. The reclusive state of the clan gave rise to more speculation. Families who had lost loved ones in the beast invasion years ago gathered in secret, waiting for the city's elders and leaders to decide on the Yan Clan's fate.
Inside the Yan mansion, in a private room adorned with the weight of age and sorrow, Yan Bai sat opposite the patriarch. His face was pale, hollowed by grief and haunted by memories of his mother, his uncle, and now, his younger brother. The silence between the two was thick, only occasionally broken by the soft crackling of the fireplace.
The patriarch's expression was as grim as the room around them. His gaze, sharp and calculating, rested on his grandson with a mixture of sorrow and steel.
"Yan Li's fate has been sealed," the patriarch said finally, his voice deep and tired. "He will be exiled from the family and the city."
Yan Bai sat motionless, staring into the fire, his eyes hollow. "Exiled?" he muttered bitterly. "After everything he's done... that's all? He should be dead for what he did to my mother, to Yan Ming, to the clan."
The patriarch sighed, the weight of his words heavy. "The clan's reputation can no longer withstand more bloodshed from within, Bai'er. If we execute him, it will tear the family apart completely. We cannot afford another internal collapse. Exile is our only option. He will be stripped of his name, his power, and his influence. He will have nothing."
"Nothing?" Yan Bai's voice cracked. "He already took everything from me. He destroyed my mother, let Ming die in agony, and betrayed the entire clan. And now he just walks away, while the rest of us are left to pick up the pieces of his destruction?"
The patriarch leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "This decision is not made lightly. He will be cast out and made a pariah—his exile will be worse than death. He will live in shame, knowing that he has lost everything and is hated by all who once respected him. But Bai'er, do not forget the clan must come first. Always."
Yan Bai clenched his fists. "The clan... it's always the clan above all, isn't it, grandfather? Even when it's rotting from the inside."
The patriarch's face remained impassive, though a flicker of sorrow crossed his features. "I know you suffer, Bai'er. I have suffered too. But this is the only way. We cannot let sentimentality cloud our judgment. The Yan Clan must endure, even if we have to sacrifice what remains of our hearts."
Yan Bai looked away, his eyes wet with unshed tears. "Sacrifice..." he muttered, "I've sacrificed more than you'll ever know."
The patriarch stood slowly, resting a hand on his grandson's shoulder. "Your time will come, Bai'er. You are meant for greatness, and the clan will need your strength in the days ahead. Do not let this grief consume you."
As the patriarch left the room, Yan Bai sat in silence, staring into the flames. The echoes of his mother's cries, the image of Yan Ming's dying gaze, and the cold, emotionless stare of his father all played in his mind like a never-ending nightmare.
Exile... it was not enough. Nothing would ever be enough to make up for the pain that Yan Li had caused. And yet, here he was, the future of the Yan Clan, burdened with the weight of a family that seemed determined to destroy itself from within.
The tension in Pine City had reached a breaking point, and the air was thick with anticipation. The people waited for justice, for retribution, for a reckoning that seemed inevitable. The Yan Clan had become a shadow of its former self, and everyone knew it. Now, they waited to see just how far the mighty would fall.
With the revelation of the blood witches' involvement in the incidents surrounding the Yan Clan and the dark events from fourteen years ago, the leaders of Pine City were left with no choice but to take drastic measures. The safety of the city was now a top priority, and the elite families, along with the City Lord, convened an urgent meeting.
Inside the grand chamber, the atmosphere was tense. The heads of various clans sat around a long table, murmuring among themselves. The City Lord, an imposing figure with steely eyes, stood at the head of the room, waiting for silence. Once it fell, his voice cut through the air with authority.
"We can no longer ignore the threat that has been creeping into our city. The blood witches are no small matter, and their infiltration into our ranks has brought about disaster. From this moment forward, Pine City will implement a curfew for all citizens. No one is to roam the streets after sunset unless properly authorized."
There were nods of agreement from the elites present. The chaos of the past few weeks had left the city vulnerable. Disappearances, murders, and rising unrest had made it clear that something darker was lurking beneath the surface.
The City Lord continued, "Furthermore, we must increase our patrols and organize our forces more efficiently. The Golden Warriors are overwhelmed, and we cannot allow our defenses to falter. Each family will contribute their best men to the effort. This is no longer a matter of rivalry or prestige; it is about survival."
The heads of the clans murmured their agreement, recognizing the gravity of the situation. The blood witches' presence posed a threat not just to the Yan Clan but to the entire city. If not dealt with, it could lead to the fall of Pine City itself.
Amid the discussions of strategy and defense, one of the clan leaders, a middle-aged woman with sharp eyes, raised her hand. "What of Yan Jin?" she asked, her voice calm but insistent. "He has been locked up for weeks now, yet we all know he has done nothing to deserve such treatment. His talents are wasted in a cell, and if the blood witches are involved, we need every capable individual on the outside."
Several heads nodded in agreement, and the City Lord's gaze shifted toward the corner of the room where Nie Li stood silently, arms crossed. His face was tight with frustration, but he did not speak.
Another voice joined in. "The situation with the murders is grim, but Yan Jin is not responsible for any of this. He should be released immediately. We cannot afford to lose capable fighters over petty rivalries and grudges."
Nie Li's jaw clenched, his eyes flickering with anger. He had tried to keep Yan Jin imprisoned, using whatever influence he had to prolong the situation, but the tide was turning against him. The city's elite, along with the City Lord, were now demanding Yan Jin's release. He could no longer justify keeping him locked up, not with the looming threat of the blood witches and the need for every skilled fighter available.
The City Lord made his decision clear. "Yan Jin is to be released at once. We cannot afford to be divided when facing a threat as dangerous as the blood witches. Nie Li, you will see to it that this matter is resolved without further delay."
Nie Li's eyes darkened, but he nodded stiffly. " Sure, City Lord" he said through gritted teeth.
The decision was final. Despite Nie Li's best efforts to keep Yan Jin locked away, the weight of the situation had forced his hand. The city needed all the help it could get, and Yan Jin, with his intelligence and abilities, was too valuable to be kept in a cell.
As the meeting concluded and the elites dispersed, plans were already being made to prepare the city for what was to come. Patrols were organized, families sent their best men to reinforce the Golden Warriors, and the curfew was set in place. Pine City braced itself for the darkness that lurked beyond its walls, and Yan Jin would soon be free to rejoin the fray, his presence needed now more than ever.