The room was suffocating, the tension coiled like a venomous serpent ready to strike. Yan Zi stood in the shadow of his fury, his piercing blue eyes locked on Elder Gong. The elder's words echoed relentlessly in his mind, tearing at the edges of his composure.
And you should know something else," Elder Gong continued, his voice dripping with mockery. "The clan leader was so enraged by your father's actions that he didn't stop with just blaming him. He ordered your family to be expelled from the clan. Your mother, that fragile woman, and that decrepit grandfather of yours-they were thrown out like trash."
The words hit Yan Zi like a hammer, and his breathing grew shallow. Expelled? His mind reeled as Elder Gong's cruel laughter echoed in the room.
"And let me tell you one important thing," Elder Gong sneered, his voice laced with malevolence. "Your mother, that desperate woman, begged the clan leader on her knees. Yes, Yan Zi, she groveled. She shed tears, humiliating herself for you and that useless uncle of yours. She pleaded to let you stay so the disgrace wouldn't completely consume your name."
Yan Zi felt as if the ground had been yanked from under his feet. His legs felt unsteady, but he held himself upright, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. He could hear his own heartbeat thundering in his ears, drowning out all reason.
Elder Gong leaned forward, his smile mocking. "But don't get the wrong idea, boy. The clan leader didn't show mercy out of kindness. He thought leaving you here, branded as a powerless disgrace, would be punishment enough. A reminder of what your family had lost. And here you are, the last remnant of their shame."
Yan Zi's mind flashed back to the day his mother and grandfather had left. He remembered the hurried farewells, his mother's trembling hands, her tear-streaked face as she whispered for him to stay safe. The memory struck him like a dagger to the chest.
Mother... you sacrificed everything for me. You endured that humiliation to protect me. His vision blurred for a moment as a tear slid down his cheek.
Elder Gong's eyes gleamed as he noticed the tear. "Oh, look at you. Crying already? Just like your pathetic mother. You're even weaker than I thought."
Yan Zi's head snapped up, his gaze fiery. "Don't you dare insult my mother."
Elder Gong chuckled darkly, crossing his arms. "Why not? The truth hurts, doesn't it? You're just as powerless and pitiful as she was. But don't worry—soon, you'll join your father in death. Consider it a mercy."
Yan Zi's rage bubbled over, his voice trembling with anger. "You… you killed my father, betrayed the clan, and now you mock the very people who gave everything to protect me? All for power?!"
Elder Gong smirked, shrugging as if the accusations were trivial. "Power is everything, boy. Without it, you're nothing. You wouldn't understand. Weaklings like you cling to ideals like loyalty and honor, but those things won't save you when the world crushes you underfoot. Power is the only truth."
Yan Zi's lips curled into a bitter smile, his voice low and venomous. "Power... it corrupts. It turns men into monsters like you. If power is what it takes to become like you, then I want nothing to do with it."
Elder Gong raised an eyebrow, his smirk growing wider. "How noble. And how foolish. But don't worry, your ideals won't matter where you're going. I'll make this quick—"
Before the elder could finish, Yan Zi's hand darted into his pouch, pulling out a handful of small, gleaming needles. His movements were swift, his aim precise as he hurled them at Elder Gong and the mysterious man beside him.
The needles whizzed through the air. The mysterious man reacted first, his reflexes honed by years of combat. He twisted his body, avoiding the most lethal strikes, but several needles embedded themselves in his shoulder and chest. Elder Gong, startled, narrowly avoided a direct hit, though a few needles grazed his robes.
"You little rat!" Elder Gong roared, his façade of calm crumbling as he took a step back.
Yan Zi didn't wait. He bolted toward the door, his heart pounding. The poison won't do much against Spirit Awakening cultivators, but it'll buy me time.
"Catch him!" Elder Gong shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber.
The mysterious man, despite the needles embedded in his body, surged forward like a shadow, his speed terrifying. Yan Zi ran as fast as his legs could carry him, his lungs burning with effort. He could feel the man closing in, the air around him thick with killing intent.
Thinking quickly, Yan Zi scooped up a handful of dirt from the ground and flung it backward. The dust clouded the man's vision, forcing him to stumble. Seizing the opportunity, Yan Zi sprinted toward the central garden, his surroundings a blur.
The garden was bustling with disciples, their conversations halting as Yan Zi burst onto the scene. He stumbled to the ground, his body finally giving in to exhaustion. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd as disciples gathered around him, their faces filled with confusion and concern.
"Yan Zi?" one of them called out hesitantly.
"What's going on?" another asked, their eyes darting between Yan Zi and the direction he'd come from.
Yan Zi pushed himself up, swaying slightly but refusing to fall. His face was pale, his breaths ragged, but his gaze burned with defiance.
Moments later, Elder Gong appeared, his expression carefully controlled but his eyes betraying a dangerous fury. The mysterious man lingered in the shadows behind him, his injuries obvious but his demeanor still menacing.
"Ah, Yan Zi," Elder Gong said, his tone suddenly light and condescending. "Causing a commotion again, I see. Always so dramatic."
Yan Zi's fists clenched as he stepped forward, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. "Don't pretend, Elder Gong. I know the truth about you. Everything."
The crowd around them froze, their eyes wide as they exchanged shocked glances. Elder Gong's smile faltered for a brief moment before he recovered, his tone dripping with mock amusement.
"Such wild accusations, Yan Zi," he said smoothly. "Do you realize the consequences of slandering an elder of the clan? You're only making things worse for yourself."
Yan Zi's gaze didn't waver. "I'm not afraid of the consequences. You betrayed the clan, murdered my father, and caused my family's suffering. I won't let you get away with it."
A murmur rippled through the gathered disciples, their confusion turning to unease. Elder Gong's jaw tightened, and for a moment, the carefully constructed mask of control cracked.
"You're treading on dangerous ground, boy," he hissed, his voice low and threatening. "You don't know what you're talking about."
Yan Zi took another step forward, his eyes blazing. "I know enough. And I won't stop until everyone knows the truth about you."
Before Elder Gong could respond, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the garden. The crowd parted, and a tall, imposing figure stepped into view.
Yan Zi's heart skipped a beat as he turned to see none other than Yan Shengtian, the clan leader himself. His presence was commanding, his eyes sharp as they swept over the scene. The air grew heavy with tension, every disciple holding their breath in anticipation.
Elder Gong's expression froze, his words dying in his throat as Yan Shengtian's gaze landed on him.
The garden fell into a deafening silence, the confrontation hanging in the balance.
The silence in the garden was suffocating. Yan Zi stood at the center, his body battered, his eyes burning with determination, as Elder Gong towered over him, his expression one of unmasked contempt. The tension between them was palpable, but neither of them would back down. All around them, the disciples of the Yan Clan watched with bated breath, unsure of how the confrontation would unfold.
Yan Zi's chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath, but there was a fire in his eyes. "Clan Leader," he called out, his voice rising in the heavy silence. "I need you to listen to me! Elder Gong—he's the one behind everything. He's the one who killed my father, and he's the one who's been trying to destroy my family!"
Elder Gong's eyes narrowed in irritation. "Enough of this nonsense, boy. You've already humiliated yourself enough. Your accusations are nothing but the ramblings of a fool!" His voice rang out, laced with scorn, as he took a few steps forward, his presence an imposing force. "Do you really think anyone here believes you? Look at yourself! You have nothing, and you dare question me, the Third Elder of the Yan Clan?"
Yan Zi gritted his teeth, but Elder Gong's words hit like a slap. The disciples shifted uncomfortably, some exchanging uneasy glances. His heart pounded in his chest, but he held his ground. "I'm not lying, Elder Gong. You—"
"Silence!" Elder Gong barked, raising his hand to cut him off. "You dare accuse me in front of the Clan Leader, in front of the entire clan, without a shred of evidence? How dare you?"
The disciples murmured among themselves, some clearly beginning to side with Elder Gong. A few looked at Yan Zi with pity, their expressions tinged with disbelief. "How could Yan Zi say such things?" one whispered. "Isn't Elder Gong a pillar of the clan?"
Yan Zi's eyes flicked to the faces of the disciples, and a stab of bitterness pierced his chest. He could see the doubt in their eyes, the judgment written across their faces. It felt like the walls were closing in on him. But he couldn't back down—not now, not after everything he had learned.
He turned back to Elder Gong, voice trembling with emotion. "You killed my father, you—"
"Enough, Yan Zi," a deep voice interrupted.
All eyes turned to the Clan Leader, Yan Shengtian, as he stepped forward, his expression unreadable. His gaze was cold, like a blade drawn from its sheath. The weight of his authority crushed the air around them, and the murmurs died instantly.
"Enough of your nonsense, Yan Zi," Yan Shengtian's voice was calm but heavy with disappointment. "You have dishonored yourself enough already." He paused for a moment, surveying the scene with an icy gaze that seemed to take in everything, from Yan Zi's defiant stance to the uncertainty among the disciples. "You speak of lies and deceit, but all you are doing is making a fool of yourself."
Yan Zi's heart sank at the words. "Clan Leader, please! I'm telling the truth! Elder Gong—"
"Stop." Yan Shengtian's voice was firm, cutting through the air like a sharp blade. "You are nothing but a child trying to gain attention with wild accusations. Your behavior has already shamed this clan. And now you want to drag Elder Gong's name through the mud with these baseless lies?"
A wave of shock rippled through the disciples, and Yan Zi felt a cold shiver run down his spine. Was it really happening? Was his own father, the Clan Leader, turning his back on him?
Yan Shengtian turned his gaze to the crowd, his voice gaining strength. "Do you not see? This boy, your fellow clansman, has brought nothing but shame upon us. His inability to cultivate, his reckless behavior, his failure to live up to the expectations of the clan—this is what has led to his delusions. Do not let his childish antics fool you. Yan Zi has no place here."
Gasps of disbelief echoed from the disciples. Some glanced away, unable to meet his eyes, while others stood frozen, stunned by the Clan Leader's harsh words.
Yan Zi could barely hold himself together. He looked at the faces of the disciples, seeing their pity, their disdain. His heart burned with frustration, but he couldn't bring himself to speak. The world around him was spinning, and everything he thought he knew was crumbling away.
Elder Gong, standing beside Yan Shengtian, allowed a smug smile to play on his lips. He had won—he could feel it in the air. "Clan Leader, thank you for your wisdom. As always, your judgment is impeccable."
Yan Shengtian nodded, his gaze now focused entirely on Yan Zi. "Your mother, Yan Zi, pleaded with me to allow you to remain in the clan, despite your disgrace. If it were up to me, you would have been cast out with the rest of your family." His words hit Yan Zi like a physical blow. "But she begged me—knelt before me, even—to let you stay, for her sake. So I did. I allowed you to stay, though I should not have. And now, you repay me by bringing even more disgrace to the name of our clan."
Yan Zi's throat tightened. His mother—his mother had begged the Clan Leader to keep him. A tear slipped down his cheek as the weight of it all hit him. The humiliation, the despair, it all seemed so much to bear.
"You should be grateful," Yan Shengtian continued coldly. "Your mother begged for your stay, and now you repay her with these wild, unfounded accusations. I have given you a chance, but it is clear you are unfit to be a part of this clan."
The words stung, each one like a dagger to his heart. His mother—his own mother had pleaded for him, and now here he was, being humiliated in front of everyone. There was no way out.
The disciples remained silent, some of them casting furtive glances at each other, while others shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to believe. But one thing was clear—Yan Zi was alone in this battle. Even the Clan Leader, the person he thought would stand by him, had turned against him.
Yan Zi stood motionless, his heart heavy with the crushing weight of rejection. His vision blurred, the world around him twisting and shifting. He had fought for the truth, but in the end, it didn't matter. In the face of power, in the face of the clan's expectations, his voice was nothing more than a whisper lost in the wind.
Elder Gong's voice broke through the silence, filled with mocking amusement. "You've heard the Clan Leader, boy. Now leave, before you disgrace yourself further." His tone was venomous, full of mockery and disdain.
Yan Zi clenched his fists at his sides, trembling with rage, but he knew—he knew there was nothing more he could say. He had tried. He had fought for the truth. But now, it was over. The truth didn't matter in the face of power.