The courtyard was alive with murmurs as the members of the Yan clan gathered, drawn by the commotion. Elders stood in dignified silence, their expressions ranging from curiosity to disapproval. Among the crowd were Yan Ling and Yan Xingtian, the children of Yan Shengtian. Yan Ling's brows furrowed as her sharp eyes assessed the scene, while Xingtian stood with his arms crossed, exuding indifference.
When Yan Ru arrived, her heart clenched painfully at the sight before her. Yan Zi stood at the center, his robes tattered and blood-stained, his face pale and streaked with dirt. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and cuts marred his golden-brown skin. His piercing blue eyes, usually so full of determination, now reflected exhaustion and defiance. Without hesitation, Yan Ru pushed through the gathered crowd, ignoring the gasps and whispers.
"Yan Zi!" she cried, falling to her knees before him. Her delicate hands cupped his face, her thumbs brushing against his bruised cheeks. "What happened to you? Who did this? Please, tell me!"
Yan Zi flinched at her touch, his resolve faltering for a moment as he saw the concern in her teary eyes. He wanted to reassure her, to tell her not to worry, but before he could utter a word, a booming voice interrupted.
"Little Bean!"
Yan Bai, Yan Zi's uncle, stormed through the crowd, his face a mix of fury and dread. He knelt beside his nephew, gripping his shoulders firmly. "Who did this to you?" he demanded, his voice shaking with anger. "Tell me, who dared to hurt you?"
Yan Zi remained silent, his jaw tightening as he struggled to hold back the pain in his chest—not just from his injuries, but from the weight of everything he had endured.
The tension was thick, and the murmurs of the crowd grew louder. Then, Elder Gong stepped forward with an air of arrogance, his lips curling into a condescending sneer.
"This spectacle," he began, his voice laced with disdain, "is entirely of his own making." He gestured toward Yan Zi with a dismissive wave. "Your nephew, Yan zi, has brought this upon himself. He accused me of vile acts, spouting baseless accusations to draw attention to himself. A desperate attempt to salvage whatever shred of dignity he thinks he has left."
Gasps rippled through the crowd as Elder Gong continued, his tone growing sharper. "Not only does he insult me, but he also tarnishes the reputation of the Yan clan. Such behavior is an affront to all of us."
Yan Bai rose to his feet, his eyes blazing with fury. "How dare you slander my nephew like this?" he roared, pointing a trembling finger at Elder Gong. "Yan Zi would never lie! He speaks the truth, and you know it! Do you think your words can erase what you've done?"
Elder Gong chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, the loyalty of a blind fool," he said mockingly. "If he speaks the truth, then let him present evidence. Where is his proof? Without it, his words are nothing more than the desperate cries of a troublemaker."
Yan Zi clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. Despite the pain coursing through his body, he forced himself to speak. "You can deny it all you want," he said, his voice steady but strained. "But the truth will come to light. No amount of lies or deceit will protect you forever."
The crowd buzzed with unease. Some glanced at Elder Gong with suspicion, while others looked at Yan Zi with pity or scorn.
Elder Guang, who had been silent until now, suddenly stepped forward. His expression was cold and unyielding as he reached for Yan Ru. Without a word, he grabbed her arm and pulled her away from Yan Zi, ignoring her protests.
"Father, stop!" Yan Ru pleaded, tears streaming down her face. "He's hurt! Let me help him!"
Elder Guang's gaze hardened. "I warned you, Yan Ru," he said sharply, his tone low but firm. "Stay away from him. You and this boy have no future together. Do you wish to disgrace yourself further? To drag my name through the mud?"
Yan Ru struggled against his grip, her voice breaking. "But he—"
"Enough!" Elder Guang barked, silencing her. He dragged her back into the crowd, leaving her sobbing quietly as she cast a final, pained glance at Yan Zi.
Yan Bai stepped forward again, his voice trembling with barely restrained fury. "Elder Gong, Elder Guang—you call yourselves leaders of this clan, yet you stand here slandering and abandoning my nephew? Have you no shame?"
Before Elder Gong could respond, Yan Shengtian's voice boomed across the courtyard.
"Enough!"
The clan leader's presence silenced everyone. His commanding tone left no room for argument as all eyes turned to him. Yan Shengtian stood tall, his expression unreadable, but his piercing gaze landed squarely on Yan Zi.
"Yan Zi," he said coldly, "do you realize the damage your actions have caused?"
Yan Zi's heart sank, but he held his ground. "Clan leader," he began, his voice wavering slightly, "I only wanted to reveal the truth—"
"Enough of your excuses!" Yan Shengtian interrupted, his tone icy. "Your baseless accusations and reckless behavior have brought shame upon this clan. Do you think your actions are justified because of your so-called truth?"
Yan Zi opened his mouth to speak, but the clan leader's next words cut through him like a blade.
"You and your family have already brought disgrace to the Yan clan," Yan Shengtian continued, his voice growing harsher. "Your mother knelt before me—begged me to let you stay. I granted her that mercy, but it seems I made a mistake."
Yan Zi's breath hitched, his vision blurring with unshed tears. The weight of his mother's sacrifice pressed heavily on his shoulders.
Yan Shengtian's gaze hardened. "You have proven that you do not deserve the leniency I have shown you. As of this moment, you are no longer a member of the Yan clan. Pack your things and leave immediately."
The crowd erupted in whispers and gasps, but Yan Shengtian raised a hand, silencing them. His decision was final.
Yan Zi stood frozen, his mind racing as the weight of his words sank in. This was it—the end of his place in the Yan clan.
Yan Zi stood rooted to the spot, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Every word spoken around him felt like a dagger to his heart, each one cutting deeper than the last.
"So, this is how it ends?" he thought bitterly, his piercing blue eyes scanning the crowd.
The disciples whispered among themselves, their voices low yet loud enough to reach his ears.
"Hmph, he deserves this," one sneered, crossing his arms with a smug expression.
"Of course," another chimed in with a nod. "He's already a disgrace to the clan. It's better for everyone if he's gone."
The words buzzed in his ears, each one sinking into his chest like a boulder. Yan Zi clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he forced himself to stay calm. His once-proud figure now seemed small and frail amidst the growing tide of rejection and judgment.
Yan Ling didn't even spare him a glance. Her lips trembled as she turned away, her face a mask of indifference, but Yan Zi caught the slight shimmer in her eyes. She didn't cry openly, but her back betrayed the weight of her emotions as she walked away.
Yan Ru, however, didn't hide her pain. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she stood frozen, her gaze locked onto Yan Zi. Her lips quivered as she whispered, "Father, please… Please ask the clan leader to reconsider. He's not a disgrace… He's not…"
But Elder Guang, her father, refused to budge. He stood stiffly, his hands clasped behind his back, his expression as cold as stone. "Enough, Yan Ru," he said sternly, not even sparing her a glance. "This matter is decided. Stop embarrassing yourself."
Yan Ru fell to her knees, sobbing quietly. Her hands trembled as she reached out toward Yan Zi, though her father's grip on her shoulder kept her from moving forward.
Yan Zi remained motionless, his head lowered as his thoughts spiraled. "So, this is what it comes to. The people I trusted, the family I shared my bloodline with, the ones I grew up alongside... They've cast me aside. Am I truly worthless in their eyes?"
His lips parted slightly as if to speak, but no words came. The lump in his throat was too heavy, his heart too shattered.
Suddenly, a booming voice broke through the crowd. "No!"
Yan Bai, his uncle, stepped forward, his face red with fury. He positioned himself between Yan Zi and the gathered elders, his broad frame shielding his nephew. "Yan Zi will not leave this clan!" he roared, pointing a defiant finger at the elders. "Let me see who dares to make him leave!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd, and the tension in the air thickened. Yan Bai's words were a direct challenge to the clan's authority, a bold act that left everyone stunned.
Several management elders stepped forward, their expressions grim. Among them was Elder Gong, who smirked coldly and stepped closer. "Yan Bai," he said, his tone dripping with mockery. "You're overstepping your bounds. Do you truly believe you can defy the clan leader's decision? Or have you forgotten your place?"
Yan Bai didn't flinch. His eyes burned with a fierce determination. "If protecting my nephew means defying the entire clan, then so be it!" he snapped, his voice unwavering.
Elder Gong chuckled darkly. "Then you leave us no choice."
The management elders surged forward, their intent clear. Yan Zi's heart raced as he watched them close in on his uncle. "No!" he shouted, taking a step forward, but his body was too weak to intervene.
The first blow landed, and Yan Bai staggered but didn't fall. Another elder struck him, and this time he dropped to one knee, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. Yet his spirit remained unbroken. "Is this the justice of the Yan clan?" he spat, glaring at the elders with disdain. "To gang up on one man who stands for what is right?"
Yan Zi's vision blurred as fury and helplessness consumed him. He tried to move forward, to stop the beating, but his injuries betrayed him. Desperation clawed at his chest as he screamed, "Stop it!" His voice, hoarse and filled with anguish, echoed through the courtyard. "I'll leave! I'll leave the clan! Just stop hurting him!"
The elders halted, their eyes narrowing as they assessed him. Yan Bai, battered and bruised, struggled to his feet. Blood trickled from a gash on his forehead, but his gaze remained defiant as he looked at his nephew. "No, Yan Zi," he said firmly. "You can't leave. I promised your mother I would protect you. I swore—"
"Uncle," Yan Zi interrupted, his voice quiet but steady. A faint smile played on his lips, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."
Yan Bai's face twisted in anguish. "Little Bean, you don't have to do this! Let me fight for you!"
Yan Zi shook his head, his expression resolute. "You've already done enough. Please, go back to Featherfall City and protect Mother. That's how you can help me."
Before Yan Bai could protest further, Yan Zi turned away. His steps were heavy, each one feeling like a nail driving into his chest. The murmurs of the crowd followed him, a chorus of judgment and disdain.
"He's finally leaving," someone muttered.
"Good riddance," another said with a shrug.
Yan Zi didn't look back. His heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the betrayal and rejection of the people he had once called family. As he walked out of the courtyard, the weight of their scorn pressed down on him.
Yan Ru's sobs echoed behind him, a haunting reminder of what he was leaving behind. Yet he didn't stop. He couldn't.
With each step, he whispered to himself, "I'll prove them wrong. One day, they'll see… They'll all see."