The Jinlin Yuan family, while not a lineage stretching back a thousand years, still possessed a history spanning a century. However, within this clan, no truly formidable masters had ever emerged, and their ancestral home was situated close to the outskirts of Zhengtong Commandery, meaning that in terms of sheer regional influence, the Yuan family lagged behind the He family in Taicang County. Yet, precisely because of this geographical placement, coupled with their consistently low profile, the Yuan family had cultivated considerable connections—though regrettably, these networks proved insufficient to shield them from the threats posed by powerful experts.

In the wilderness just outside Zhengtong Commandery’s city limits, the thunderous gallop of several fast horses suddenly broke the silence near a vast estate. Moments later, eight magnificent steeds arrived at the main gate. Among them, one horse stood out as exceptionally noble. This creature was entirely crimson, without a single stray hair, the deep color of a perfectly ripe jujube; anyone who saw it would surely offer praise.

The gate swung open swiftly, and an aged servant emerged, bowing respectfully, “My Lord, you have finally returned.”

Yuan Chengzhi’s expression flickered slightly. With a subtle shift of his form, his feet found solid ground instantly, and he demanded sharply, “What has happened at home?”

The old servant shook his head, his gaze drifting toward He Quanxin behind Yuan Chengzhi. As for He Yitian and He Yiming, the old man unconsciously dismissed them from his immediate attention.

Yuan Chengzhi stated gravely, “Do not worry. This is Elder He Quanxin of the Taicang He family. With him present, even if Fan Shuhe himself were to arrive, he would be nothing to fear.”

His words were spoken with absolute certainty, ringing out clearly and forcefully, possessing a magnetic quality that seemed to stir the very soul. Since the Fan family had cast covetous eyes upon the Yuan family, Yuan Chengzhi had been suppressed for too long; this was the moment for his pent-up tension to erupt, and simultaneously, a declaration that the Yuan family now possessed the capital required to resist the Fan family.

The servant’s face instantly brightened, and his look toward He Quanxin filled with profound reverence. The current head of the Fan family, Fan Shuhe, was a widely acknowledged master of the Tenth Layer Inner Strength. If this Elder from the He family could contend with him, he must, at the very least, be of the same caliber. Facing such a powerhouse, the old servant felt a thrill of excitement.

News of Yuan Chengzhi’s return quickly spread throughout the entire estate. More importantly, he had brought back a grand master of the Tenth Layer Inner Strength. This news acted as an immediate anchor, galvanizing the confidence of everyone within the compound.

When Yuan Chengzhi led He Quanxin into the main hall, others were already waiting. A portly elder stood upon the dais of the hall, his face alight with relief and joy. The moment he spotted the figures of He Quanxin and his companions, he strode forward immediately to greet them.

“Haha! Fifty years ago, Old Man He and I roamed the Tianluo Kingdom together for a full decade. Later, Elder He settled in Taicang County, while I returned to the clan. Who would have thought such a parting would last over forty years?” The old man laughed heartily, full of poignant reflection, before asking, “After all these years, Elder He, are you well?”

He Yiming and the others immediately understood that this must be Yuan Zezhu, the current master of the Yuan family, an elder with decades of shared history with He Wude.

He Quanxin quickly stepped forward and performed a deep bow, “Uncle Yuan, my father is in good health, though he misses you greatly, Elder.”

Yuan Zezhu hastened to help him up. “Our two families are old allies, Nephew He. You must not be so formal.”

He Yiming lingered behind them, muttering to himself: Decades ago, perhaps your father and you were allies, but after so many years of separation, the current bond between our two families rests entirely upon mutual transactions. If my uncle weren't useful to you right now, I doubt you'd be this cordial.

However, these thoughts remained strictly confined to his mind; there was absolutely no chance of voicing them aloud.

After exchanging a few words outside the hall, Yuan Zezhu ushered them inside with solicitous welcome.

Servants appeared with tea. Yuan Zezhu’s gaze settled upon He Yitian and He Yiming. He smiled and remarked, “Not seeing Elder He for decades, and he has already spread his branches and leaves, with even his third-generation disciples reaching this level.” He sighed softly, “Li Ling has cultivated diligently for over twenty years, yet only reached the peak of the Sixth Layer, but Nephew Yitian has already advanced to the Seventh Layer. Truly a favored son of heaven!”

He Yitian rose and bowed deeply to the elder. “Grandfather Yuan, you flatter me.”

Yuan Zezhu chuckled, but his gaze toward He Yiming was hesitant. He inquired, “Chengzhi, which descendant of the He family is this?”

Yuan Chengzhi immediately replied, “Father, this is He Yiming, the second son of Brother Quan-yi.”

Yuan Zezhu gave a slight nod. He assumed this was merely an ordinary disciple sent by the He family for exposure, and after a brief acknowledgment, he paid him no further attention.

In Taicang County, He Yiming was already quite famous, not only being hailed as the foremost master among the younger generation of the Three Great Families but also widely believed to be a figure comparable to some seniors from the established great houses. After all, on the marriage challenge stage of the Cheng family, He Yiming had fought Lin Taoli to a draw, and Lin Taoli had previously defeated Xu Xiangqian.

However, Taicang County was merely a small locale. The fame of its figures often suffered a severe discount when traveling to other regions and was generally disregarded by experts from the major clans. Furthermore, Lin Taoli had not boasted widely after his single defeat, meaning He Yiming’s renown hadn't even fully permeated the Linlang Commandery of Tianluo, let alone the Jinlin Kingdom.

Yuan Chengzhi’s expression shifted slightly. While he wasn't entirely familiar with He Yiming’s reputation, he had personally witnessed He Yiming’s strength during this journey. Whether it was the effortless way he hefted the massive Guan Dao, or the subsequent simple toss and catch, both actions contained a power that he himself could barely hope to reach. Although He Yitian was a Seventh Layer Inner Strength master, anyone not blind could see that the gap between him and He Yiming was far more than trivial.

Clearing his throat, Yuan Chengzhi looked slightly embarrassed. “Father, Nephew He Yiming is actually the top master among the younger generation of the He Estate.”

Only then did Yuan Zezhu turn his attention over, examining He Yiming seriously. After a moment, Yuan Zezhu’s expression changed subtly, for in his eyes, He Yiming resembled a well, bottomless and unfathomable.

Yuan Chengzhi added fuel to the fire, “Father, Uncle He has even passed down the great Guan Dao—the very weapon he became famous with—to Nephew Yiming.”

Yuan Zezhu’s eyes instantly sharpened. The moment he recalled that fearsome Guan Dao, weighing over three hundred catties, a tremor ran through him. Could anyone, apart from a man born with Herculean strength like He Wude, wield such a weapon with ease? Yet, looking at He Yiming, he showed no signs of being a strongman.

But since Yuan Chengzhi had said it, and both He Quanxin and his son maintained such calm expressions, the matter must be true. He took a deep breath. “Good. Truly a young hero rising up; even this old man has misjudged.”

He Quanxin smiled faintly. “Uncle Yuan, since we are here, you may now speak frankly about the current situation.”

The smile on Yuan Zezhu’s face froze slightly. He gave a wry laugh. “This matter is a long tale, and moreover, a misfortune for our Yuan family, to have such a shameful affair occur.”

He Quanxin and the other two exchanged a slight look of alarm, sensing that the situation was perhaps more complicated than they had initially imagined.

Yuan Zezhu waved his voluminous sleeve and boomed suddenly, “Prepare a banquet! I must welcome Nephews He and his companions with proper hospitality.”

That evening, the Yuan family hosted a grand feast. Not only were the core disciples scattered across the clan summoned, but even some of the estate’s key stewards returned to the manor for the occasion. Yuan Zezhu clearly intended to leverage the abilities of He Quanxin and his party to suppress the restless members of the clan.

Although He Quanxin and his companions were well aware of the old man’s intentions, those intentions perfectly aligned with why they had come. Consequently, even He Yiming, who was usually averse to public display, had no choice but to sit at the head table, forcing a smile, like a painted statue alongside his uncle, He Quanxin. He Yitian, conversely, seemed quite adapted to such formality, handling the social exchanges gracefully, earning goodwill.

During the banquet, Yuan Zezhu solemnly introduced He Quanxin. When the gathered crowd heard that this man, appearing to be in his fifties, was a master at the peak of the Tenth Layer Inner Strength, expressions of mingled surprise and joy broke out on every face. These past weeks, being harassed and cornered by the Fan family, they had felt as if a giant boulder weighed on their hearts. Only now did they feel a sense of release. A master of the Tenth Layer Inner Strength was like an insurmountable mountain to them, imposing immense pressure they could barely comprehend.

However, not everyone displayed unrestrained delight. On the second seat, several older and younger members of the Yuan family showed peculiar expressions, tinged with confusion and alarm.

Yuan Zezhu glanced toward them and spoke loudly, “Brother, please travel to the city tomorrow and convey this message to Mr. Fan Shuhe. I have considered the matter. The shops in the city and the surrounding farmlands are the very foundation of our Yuan family. No matter how much they offer, we will not sell them.”

From the second seat, an elder slowly stood up. He was close in age to Yuan Zezhu, and their faces held a faint resemblance, but this man possessed a pair of triangular eyes whose gaze, cold and venomous like a viper's, sent a chill down the spine.

“Second Brother, Mr. Fan only meant well. As for the fields surrounding the estate, that can be set aside. But the shops in the city are losing money daily—opening them is simply losing more. If that’s the case, why not liquidate the assets?”

Yuan Zezhu snorted coldly. “Brother, do you truly not know why the shops in the city are losing money?” He paused, then sighed. “Those shops are century-old establishments handed down by the first generation of the Yuan family. Under no circumstances can they be allowed to vanish under my watch.”

Suddenly, a young man stood up from the second row. Barely twenty, he was encased in a long mole-skin coat, wearing rabbit-fur gloves and enormous beaver-fur boots. As he stood, he exuded a sharp, intense aura. He stepped forward. “Second Grandfather, even if the family shops are old brands, if they are poorly managed, why not sell them temporarily? We can buy them back later when we have funds.”

Yuan Zezhu glared at him furiously, finally rising to his feet. Under his intimidating stare, everyone in the second row lowered their heads, including the first elder who had spoken.

Yuan Zezhu suddenly sighed deeply. “I have matters to discuss with the members of the First Branch. The rest of you may take your leave.”

A stir rustled through the assembled company, and within moments, everyone had departed, leaving only those seated at the head table and the second row.

He Quanxin and his companions were about to leave when Yuan Chengzhi firmly held them back. He shook his head slightly, and they instantly understood there was a deeper story unfolding.

Once the others were gone, Yuan Zezhu spoke, “Yuan Zewei, I know you have long desired my position as family head. But even so, you should not employ outsiders to seize the family assets.”

The elder suddenly looked up, his triangular eyes flashing with icy malice. He let out two cold chuckles. “Second Brother, since you don’t even call me Elder Brother anymore, are you intending a complete break?”

Yuan Zezhu sighed wearily. “The century-old shops in the city have posted continuous losses under your management, forcing the estate to subsidize your household expenses. Out of respect for our deceased parents, I have tolerated it. But now you have gone too far, even sending our Yuan granddaughter into the Fan family and using the Fan family’s power to threaten me. With matters come to this, how can I still acknowledge you as my elder brother?”

He Quanxin and the others finally understood everything. It explained why the Yuan family, with its hundred-year foundation, could not find a Tenth Layer Inner Strength master nearby to address the emergency, instead having to travel all the way to Taicang County to seek help from Elder He. It also explained the greed of the newly risen Fan family, which dared to target a family with centuries of heritage. All the previous inconsistencies were now perfectly clear. An internal enemy is the hardest to guard against; since a direct relative of the Yuan family was involved, the rest of the clan was understandably reluctant to interfere freely.

He Yitian shook his head slightly and suddenly spoke. “Old Master Yuan, I have a question I wish to ask.”

Yuan Zewei’s eyes flashed fiercely, but knowing He Yitian was He Quanxin’s son, and He Quanxin was a peak Tenth Layer Inner Strength expert, he dared not show disrespect. He merely cupped his hands from a distance and said, “Mr. He, please ask.”

He Yitian picked up his wine cup, downed the contents, and asked, “Old Master Yuan, if I’m not mistaken, you struck an agreement with the Fan family: once the shops and fields are formally transferred to the Fan family’s name, they will eventually be returned to you, correct?”

Yuan Zewei hesitated for a moment but ultimately said nothing. However, his expression implied tacit agreement.

He Yitian sighed deeply. “Old Master Yuan, you are an eighty-year-old man. Do you truly believe the words of the Fan family? Or did the Fan family offer you some assurance that makes you confident they will honor their promise after acquiring the shops and fields?”

He Quanxin and He Yiming exchanged glances, both sighing inwardly. Their entire focus had been dedicated to cultivation, leaving them somewhat lacking in other areas. He Yitian possessed the insight to see the crux of the problem and express it clearly, while they could only serve as his strong backing.

Yuan Zewei’s face flushed, but the young man behind him rushed forward. “Of course, we believe what Brother-in-law says! Don't try to sow discord.”

He Yitian laughed heartily, offering no further rebuttal, merely glancing toward the young man with a look of utter contempt that even an idiot could grasp.

The youth instantly became enraged. He strode forward. “Mr. He Yitian, I hear your esteemed father is a peak Tenth Layer Inner Strength expert. I certainly dare not offend him, but I wonder how much genuine teaching you have received from your father? Might you be willing to offer some instruction?”

He Yitian’s eyes narrowed, and an aura vastly stronger than the young man’s instantly erupted. His movement was like lightning; he flashed to the youth’s side and struck out with his hand, swift as a thunderbolt.

Crack…

Four impossibly fast slaps instantly turned the young man’s face into a swollen mess. He opened his mouth, spitting out a mouthful of blood mixed with several teeth. Only then did he fully react. His eyes turned scarlet as he tried to fight back, but He Yitian had already returned to his original spot, not even deigning to look at him directly.

Yuan Zewei’s expression shifted slightly. He pulled the young man back. “Excellent skill. Truly, a tiger fathers no weak son. We have experienced the martial arts of the He family’s young master.”

The youth tried to speak again, but Yuan Zewei pulled him back and urged him away, whereupon others stepped forward and forcefully dragged him off for treatment.

Yuan Zewei’s eyes gleamed with sharp light. He said slowly, “Second Brother, if you hadn't charmed Father with sweet words back then, how could he have passed the position of family head to you? Heh heh. You manage the family shops merely to avoid criticism that you are utterly ruthless.”

Yuan Zezhu shook his head slightly and sighed. “Brother, Father passed the leadership to me precisely because of your narrow-mindedness. He feared that handing over the reins of the clan to you would instead lead to the Yuan family’s decline…”

Yuan Zewei suddenly roared with laughter. “Second Brother, there is no need to dwell on old matters. Whether that was true or not is irrelevant now. Whoever ultimately secures power over the Yuan family will depend on their own strength!”

Saying this, he waved his hand, and the men from the second row immediately gathered behind him, intending to escort him away.

Yuan Zezhu’s face grew utterly grim. He suddenly shouted, “Yuan Zewei, even if you ultimately win, do you dare guarantee that Fan Shuhe will hand the Yuan family back to you?”

Yuan Zewei stopped, his voice sinister, chilling the very marrow of the bone. “The Yuan family was mine to begin with. If I cannot have it, then no other Yuan family member shall possess it either…”