Chapter 111: Differential Treatmen
The various Family Heads seated in the first row had naturally noticed the steward running in looking highly flustered and saw the steward whispering something directly into the elderly Patriarch's ear which caused his expression to immediately change as he stood up from his seat..
"My distinguished guests, this old man needs to excuse myself for awhile." Which upon saying, he followed the steward outside without waiting to see the reaction from everyone.
"Ha ha, let's continue to watch the matches, my Father must have suddenly recalled that there was something he needed to do." The Guan Family Head said with a laugh, and brushing it off, diverting all their attention back to the stage. However, he was thinking deeply, his heart bewildered. What could have made his father's expression change just like that?
Seated together with the Guan Family's womenfolk was the newly wedded Ke Xin Ya, the new eldest daughter-in-law of the Guan Family, naturally present there to watch the competition on the stage. She was beaming as her gaze fixed on her man she married, who reigned over all that challenged him, with none being his match, and her heart soared as she looked on with pride, silently saying to herself: Her foresight had been right, and her choice had not been wrong as well.
However, when she saw the steward rushing in and the Family Patriarch leaving with him, her previous state of bliss dissipated in a moment and her mood involuntarily darkened, while her hands pulled subconsciously at her clothes as her face became slightly pale.
Because, as the steward had been leaving together with the Family Patriarch, she had caught him having cast a quick glance at her which made her heart tightened, the image of Guan Xi Lin suddenly coming into her mind.
[Did he.. did he really come? He really dares to come?!]
Guan Xi Lin and Feng Jiu had entered the main house and were making their way over to the arena when they were halted by a low and elderly sounding voice.
"Xi Lin? Is it really you?"
The old Guan Family Patriarch came walking in with large strides leaning on his cane, and when he saw the tall towering figure, he was slightly taken aback, his eyes widened in a complicated gaze mixed with doubt, however, there wasn't a trace of surprise in them.
When Guan Xi Lin noticed that, his heart turned cold as he looked at him frostily and he called out curtly: "Grandfather."
"You…"
The old man wanted to ask, "Why did you come back?" But he held back in time and instead, said: "It's good that you are back, go have a good rest in the main house first! Later, I'll have a good chat with you in the study."
"The Ke Family should have already told you that I am well and alive!"
He looked at the elderly Family Patriarch straight in the eye. "Grandfather, aren't you curious at all? Why would my cousin claim that I've died? Shouldn't you be telling me how my fiancee turned out to end up as my cousin's wife?"
As an elder, being questioned in such a manner by a junior, the old man's face sank and he furrowed his brows as he looked unhappily at Guan Xi Lin to berate him in a deep voice.
"What kind of words are you spouting? Is this how you talk to your Grandfather the moment you come back? Did you not hear me tell you to come find me in my study later? It's just been a few months and look what you've become! Have you forgotten all your manners?"
"It seems like to see me well and alive doesn't bring any joy to Grandfather."
When he heard this, the elderly Guan Family Patriarch found himself at a loss for words, and his face contorted with awkwardness.
Guan Xi Lin cast him an indifferent glance and took a wide step forward, ignoring the old man.
"Stay right there!"
The elderly Family Patriarch shifted his feet to block Guan Xi Lin and snapped with displeasure: "Where are you going?!"
"Isn't today the Family Clan's competition today? Don't I have a part in it?"
"Today's competition is for the position of the clan's Young Head. You are simply not Xi Ruan's match, so it won't matter even if you do not participate!"
The Family Patriarch continued to say in a low voice, as looking into the face of the young man in front of him: "Since you've come back, just go get some rest, and not go out there and embarrass yourself!"
Hearing that, Guan Xi Lin just smiled.
Chapter 112: Losing One’s Composure
Guan Xi Lin looked at his Grandfather and the smile on his face slowly faded, as an iron blooded and absorbing aura began to permeate the air, as an unrestrained voice with a determined tone came out from his mouth.
"No! I came back here today just to take part in the competition. Rest assured Grandfather. I have no interest in the position of the Young Head. I am only thinking to ask my cousin to teach me a few things."
The same moment his voice dropped, Guan Xi Lin strode forward taking big strides, not giving his Grandfather any opportunity to stop him another time.
The elderly Family Patriarch was a little stunned at that moment, shocked by the completely different and absorbing aura spilling out from Guan Xi Lin. That dominating and cold hard demeanor, suddenly making the old man seem to see a shadow of the boy's father, which threw the old man off to become slightly dazed for that very moment…..
Watching it all from the side, the corners of Feng Jiu's lips curled up under the face veil. She cast a glance at the dazed elderly Guan Family Patriarch and then quickly moved forward to follow behind.
Leng Shuang dressed in full black eased naturally behind Feng Jiu, protecting her Mistress quietly.
When the tall and towering Guan Xi Lin came in stepping firmly upon the ground, Guan Xi Ruan who had just won another round was smiling brightly suddenly looked like he had been struck by lightning as he exclaimed in shock in a slight loss of self control: "How….. How are you still alive?"
His face immediately turned white as a sheet, looking highly incredulous, and rather flustered, tinged with a little bit of awkward guilt.
He had thought Guan Xi Lin was dead! In such a place like the Nine Entrapment Woods, there was no way that the heavily wounded Guan Xi Lin would be able to live! But, why was he still alive? Why didn't anyone tell him that Guan Xi Lin was still alive?
Another person was similarly experiencing a loss of self control, and that was Ke Xin Ya.
At almost the very moment upon seeing Guan Xi Lin, she had instinctively jumped to her feet, shocked and angry, and feeling a tinge of narcissism.
She had assumed that Guan Xi Lin had come to the Guan's Mansion to take part in the competition only because of her. Because he wasn't able to let her go, because she still held a place in his heart, which greatly fed her vain heart.
At the same time, she was angry, feeling that by coming here, he would embarrass her, because she had originally been his betrothed spouse, but had now become Guan Xi Lin's cousin's wife.
Two men one on and one off the stage, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to bear up under the curious gazes of everyone who would be keen to watch the show being put on.
Due to the shocked exclamation from Guan Xi Ruan and also because of Ke Xin Ya's unruly reaction, everyone below the stage were finding the situation strange and they turned to look in the same direction.
With that one gaze, some were surprised, and some other ones were shocked. People were surprised by the sudden appearance of the towering, brawny and masculine man, while the latter group were shocked due to the girl in white with her face covered behind a face veil who was standing behind the man.
Not to mention all the Family Heads in the front row, but all their sons in the entire row right behind them had one by one after assessing Guan Xi Lin, immediately turned their shocked gazes upon the girl in white, their curiosity and interest evident in their eyes, completely unrestrained.
Afterall, they were all male, and they all were thinking the same thing. Upon seeing that lithe and graceful figure with such an refined air about her, they were all naturally trying to get another glimpse at her.
Especially as the girl's face was hidden behind a veil. Although unable to see her countenance clearly, but, those alluring mannerisms, and the pair of beautiful eyes revealed above the veil, were enough to tell them clearly, that the face beneath that veil was definitely one that was enchanting and moving, with a flawless complexion.
Seeking to look beautiful was human nature and all of them did not find it inappropriate to stare so blatantly at a lady like that.
Hence, the Family Heads in the front row were gauging and sizing up Guan Xi Lin, while the younger men behind were all assessing the mysterious girl in white, curious about her identity, and….. the countenance under that veil.
Chapter 113: Unworthy of Attention
Finally, it was the Guan Family Head who first recovered his senses. He stood up with a laugh and walked towards Guan Xi Lin, looking surprised and exclaiming excitedly: "Xi Lin! You're finally back! Everyone in the family has been very worried about you! Where have you been all this time and you did not even send a message back home?"
[Xi Lin? Guan Xi Lin?]
The people in the crowd were looking at each other.
[Hadn't it been said that he went to the Nine Entrapment Woods with people in his clan but had disobeyed the leader orders and stormed off in a huff, finally falling prey to the ferocious beasts there where not even his bones could be found? Why is he now returning here still well and alive?]
[They had all heard that Guan Xi Ruan's present wife was Guan Xi Lin's betrothed bride previously. What's going to happen now? He has come back, but his fiancee has already become his cousin's woman.]
Although their faces did not show it, everyone in the crowd were all prepared to watch a good show. They did not say anything but merely fixed their gazes upon the several people involved in it.
Guan Xi Lin looked at the Family Head and did not say a word, the expression on his face solemn, without even the slightest tinge of a smile.
Seeing the expressionless face, the Guan Family Head's face darkened as well, and he asked in a deepened voice: "What is it? Your Uncle is asking you a question so why are you not answering?"
Guan Xi Lin's gaze was fixed upon his cousin who was trying his hardest to suppress the panic and guilt in his heart, and he replied in a cold tone: "I am back here to take part in the competition." As he spoke, he was already walking towards the front.
The Guan Family Head was taken aback as his brows creased up to look at Guan Xi Lin. He had initially wanted to stop Guan Xi Lin but finally did not say a word. From his point of view, Guan Xi Lin would not be a match for his son, and going up onto the stage would just be asking for trouble.
Guan Xi Ruan upon the stage watched as Guan Xi Lin approached, his flustered mood slowly quientening down.
From the moment that he had appeared till now, Guan Xi Lin had not mentioned that Guan Xi Ruan had been the one who stabbed a knife into his back. He wouldn't speak of that here, as afterall, that was dirty laundry within the family and he would surely still be concerned about the Guan Family's reputation.
With that thought in mind, Guan Xi Ruan's mind relaxed, and his highly strung heart warmed up a little as his face broke into a smile: "Xi Lin, it's just great you have come back."
Guan Xi Lin stepped onto the stage and looked at him, his face darkened as he said: "I had thought you didn't want me to come back."
Upon hearing that, the smile on Guan Xi Ruan's face froze and he said rather awkwardly: "How could that be? Xi Lin, are you blaming me for having married Xin Ya? I had actually married Xin Ya based on the decision of the elders on both sides as we had all thought that you had died in the Nine Entrapment Woods and they had then….."
When the crowd of people below the stage heard those words, they nodded to themselves silently. [Mm, this Xi Lin's face isn't looking too good, it must be because his betrothed had been wedded to his cousin! Otherwise, he wouldn't be showing such a dark face to the Guan Family Head.
On the womenfolk's side, Ke Xin Ya had after hearing the words spoken on the stage had put on a face showing remorse and self reproach and she said in a soft and gentle voice: "Xi Lin, I had only annulled the betrothal under the arrangements made by the elders of both sides and married Xi Ruan after that. I hope you do not hold any animosity against your family because of me. If anything is to be blamed, you can only blame fate that we are not destined to be together."
However, upon hearing the words that Guan Xi Lin was going to say after this, her face drained completely of colour, turning to look a pale sheet and utterly humiliated.
Guan Xi Lin shot her a depreciating glance and with his arms crossed over his chest, he said scornfully: "You are thinking too highly of yourself. A girl who is so fickle minded and so hopelessly vain isn't worthy of me, Guan Xi Lin, to pay her any attention."
"Guan Xi Lin! That's being too much!" Father Ke leapt to his feet as his hand slammed onto the table. Seeing his daughter being humiliated in front of everyone like this, his face contorted with rage.
Guan Xi Lin gave Father Ke a cold smile as he turned to glance at him: "Isn't what I said all true? Hadn't she been fickle minded to only seek benefits for herself and pursued a higher position to merely satisfy her own vanity?"
Chapter 114: Retreat with Every Strike
Father Ke choked and glared angrily at him: "She had followed the decisions of the elders on both sides, right and proper, it's nowhere as deplorable as the way you put it!"
"Whether it is deplorable, I believe everyone here can judge for themselves!" Guan Xi Lin snapped curtly, unwilling to pay them anymore attention, and turned to face Guan Xi Ruan, to greet with a hand clasped over his fist.
"I seek for my cousin to teach me a few things!"
Below the stage on one side, Feng Jiu stood at a spot not very far away from the stage and watched everything that was happening above, and then noticed a man walking towards her.
"Miss, there's a seat over there, why don't you sit down to watch?" A man in a brocade robe came before Feng Jiu, blocking her view, but extended a polite gesture of invitation with his hands.
Feng Jiu frowned, her gaze falling upon the man before her and said: "There's no need." Shifting a step to her left, her gaze turned back to look upon the stage.
The various Family Heads had their attention all focused upon the activity upon the stage, but the younger men in the row behind were turning their heads to pay notice to what was going on here instead. Seeing the young lady not even giving that man the slightest attention, they all couldn't help but start to sniggle among themselves.
Although the young lady was highly attractive, but they were afterall in someone else's residence, and they could not very well step up so blatantly to hit on her. Moreover, their fathers were present as well and their every action had to be more restrained, without overstepping the boundaries of propriety.
"Mi….."
The man had just opened his mouth once again and he was about to move when a figure in all black walked up and stretched a hand out to block him, to say in warning: "Keep away from my Mistress!"
The man frowned and was about to speak when a howl of pain sounded from the stage. He turned reflexively to look and what he saw shocked him slightly.
The two people on stage had started fighting and he saw that it was Guan Xi Lin and Guan Xi Ruan. But, why was the aura on Guan Xi Lin's body so powerful? So intense that they could even feel that absorbing surge of power from here below the stage.
No wonder, Guan Xi Ruan had been punched on his eye and had retreated wretchedly with a howl. He turned to look at his father and the various Family Heads in the front row and as expected, he saw the undisguised looks of surprise on every one of their faces.
'Bam bam bam!'
As Guan Xi Ruan stepped backwards while holding his eye, Guan Xi Lin had not stopped his attack but had taken a huge stride forward, and firming up his stance with a slight dip of his lower body, Guan Xi Lin threw out three consecutive punches, the fists imbued with mystical powers landing heavily into Guan Xi Ruan's abdomen, where he did not even have a chance to retaliate. Immediately, blood spewed out from the corners of Guan Xi Ruan's mouth.
Below the stage, the Guan Family Head's face turned dark and solemn, his sharp gaze lowering slightly as he stared at Guan Xi Lin up on the stage, moving with firm and steady steps while delivering his punches with hidden power, thinking it very strange that Guan Xi Lin's powers could actually improve by such leaps and bounds in just a few short months.
[Moreover, his mystical aura had exploded out from his body in the course of the battle, and that aura was obviously one that belonged to a warrior already in his peak state!]
[Could he have come across any fortuitous encounter in the past few months? Otherwise, how could his powers have increased so quickly?]
Seeing his son being pushed back with every step he took, attacked by every strike and blood trickling down the corners of his mouth, the hands he put above his knees discreetly gripped tightly. If things continued on like this, Xi Ruan would undoubtedly be defeated!
"Whoa! How did Big Brother Xi Lin become so powerful? He wasn't a match for Big Brother Xi Ruan before, why had his powers increased by so much after just a few months we had not seen him?"
"That's right! I remember the last time they competed, he was defeated so badly by Big Brother Xi Ruan that he couldn't get out of bed for three whole days!"
The younger members of the Guan Family were discussing in hushed voices below the stage, their eyes filled with surprise as they stared at Guan Xi Lin up on the stage, and their voices of debate were then immediately silenced by the scene that occurred in the next instant.
"Guan Xi Lin!"
Having been beaten up all black and blue, Guan Xi Ruan shouted out in rage, the humiliation from being forced to retreat back from every strike causing him to lose his reason. Not knowing from where he pulled out a long sword from, Guan Xi Ruan had suddenly flicked the long sword forward, and leapt at Guan Xi Lin with a intense murderous rage.
Chapter 115: Shifting Mirage
When the people below the stage saw that scene, their expressions showed varying degrees of surprise.
The competitions within Family Clans were usually contests of mystical powers and martial arts, hence, weapons were very seldom drawn. Like Guan Xi Ruan who found himself not a match in a bare knuckle fight and had drawn arms, once a weapon was drawn, the very nature of the contest had changed.
Moreover, because he drew out his weapon, even if he won, there would be no glory. And from what everyone could see, with Guan Xi Ruan's current powers, he was simply not a match for Guan Xi Lin at all.
As the Head of a Family Clan, if they didn't even possess that level of judgement, they wouldn't have been able to hold their positions as Family Heads firmly.
Seeing his son draw out his sword, the expression on the Guan Family Head's face did not improve, but he did not utter a single word to stop him, but had just allowed the situation to continue to unfold.
[Today is the selections for the Young Head, and his son, must definitely win!]
As for Guan Xi Lin, seeing Guan Xi Ruan flash his sword, his expression remained unchanged. He clenched up his fists tightly, the joints crackling clearly, as a visible surge of mystical power flared out from his entire body.
"Whoa! Such an intense mystical aura!"
The various Family Heads below the stage were shocked when they saw that surge of mystical power flaring out from Guan Xi Lin's body where even one or two of them had immediately shot to their feet, their eyes filled with astonishment.
At Guan Xi Lin's young age and he had already possessed a mystical aura that was almost comparable to them, what did that represent? It was already clearly evident.
[This boy, was definitely not of common stock!]
Father Ke was also a man who had a keen eye. When he saw the intensity of the mystical aura and that absorbing grandeur emanating from Guan Xi Lin's body, his entire person was startled, and he mumbled to himself helplessly: "I saw it all wrong….. Saw it all wrong….."
Ke Xin Ya was also staring at Guan Xi Lin upon the stage in stunned silence, her body shaking slightly, unable to believe what her eyes were seeing.
[How did he become so strong? How did he become so very strong?]
And on another side below the stage, when the senior Patriarch Guan who had entered following behind stared at the stalwart and formidable Guan Xi Lin standing upon the stage cold and aloof, he suddenly thought of that most outstanding son of his, his old eyes startled as he gazed upon that towering and alluring figure, his heart feeling highly complicated.
It was at that same moment, that the figure of Guan Xi Lin moved to attack, his speed so fast that several figures in duplicates had morphed to be seen upon the stage.
His body had leapt forward in an instant, his hand gripping onto Guan Xi Ruan's wrist the same moment his body had surged forward. He exerted power into his hand and tugged sharply downwards, eliciting a sharp crack to ring out, and a pitiful wail immediately sounded right after.
"Oww!"
'Clang!'
The sword in Guan Xi Ruan's hand dropped onto the stage, in a loud and clear thunk.
Everyone below jumped to their feet in stunned amazement, to stare at Guan Xi Lin, their eyes disbelieving.
"Shifting Mirage!'
"He actually successfully cultivated Shifting Mirage!"
The various Family Heads' hearts were highly startled and horrified, not one of them caring that Guan Xi Ruan's hand had been broken. What they were concerned about at that moment was, that Guan Xi Lin had been able to execute the Shifting Mirage skill! A skill like that, even they themselves might not be able to successfully cultivate, but he…..
A young man that was just about twenty years of age had managed to successfully cultivate that!
In an instant, all the eyes of the various Family Heads looking at Guan Xi Lin were absolutely shining with excitement, just like a bunch of lecherous old men who had seen a beautiful woman stripped stark naked, seemingly almost desperate to immediately pounce upon Guan Xi Lin, to swallow him up whole, in order to take possession of him.
That moment, even the senior Patriarch Guan's eyes were so excited they were almost shooting out rays, his body so agitated he was trembling slightly. He thumped the wooden crutch in his hand hard onto the ground and laughed loudly in excitement.
"Ha ha ha ha! This is just great! The sons of my Guan Family are brilliant! The sons of my Guan Family are really brilliant!"
Chapter 116: Chaotic Scene
Among the crowd, the surprised were surprised, the shocked were shocked, and only the Guan Family Head's face was dark like the bottom of a claypot, some gloomy the gloom almost dripped off his face.
His hands were clenched up into fists, his gaze darkened as he stared at Guan Xi Lin upon the stage, as chilling murder flashed within his eyes.
At that moment, Guan Xi Ruan already had an arm broken, and the other twisted and held down against the raised platform, unable to move in the slightest with his face pressed against the surface of the stage, whereby he could not even make any noise.
Guan Xi Lin's gaze was rather conflicted as he looked at his cousin defeated and held down under his grip. He had intended to cripple his arm but in his mind, scenes of the times when they were younger and training together flashed through his mind and his heart helplessly softened.
"You've lost."
Guan Xi Lin released his grip and turned his eyes away to look below the competition platform. That knife stab into his back back in the Nine Entrapment Forest had already severed the brotherly bond between them and defeating Guan Xi Ruan today, was just to prove himself to all of them, and to tell them that he, Guan Xi Lin, was inferior to no one!
"Heroes are found among the youth indeed! Patriarch Guan, your grandson has really shocked all of us here! We must really congratulate Patriarch Guan, to have such an outstanding son in the family, his success in the future will surely be limitless!"
The various Family Heads saw that the match's result had already been decided and they all rushed to congratulate the senior Patriarch Guan at the side. To have such an prodigious son as a member of the family, their ascent to more power would be imminent!
"Heh heh heh, thank you, thank you."
The senior Patriarch Guan was chuckling so happily he could not close his mouth and when his joyous and delighted gaze turned to look onto the platform stage, the expression on his face immediately changed and he shouted out in shock.
"STOP!"
Surprised, everyone turned to follow his gaze, and what they saw stunned them properly.
They saw Guan Xi Ruan had climbed to his feet on the stage and having pulled out a hidden dagger from his boot, his gaze looking completely ruthless and maniacal, he rushed with his dagger thrusting out straight towards Guan Xi Lin who had his back towards him.
Guan Xi Lin whose back was facing him did not even turn his head around but just delivered a powerful roundhouse kick behind him under the surprised shouts from everyone. Guan Xi Ruan who had thrust the dagger gripped in his hand in a unbridled rush suddenly yelled out, as his entire body was sent flying several meters away, falling in a rolling heap off the competition stage.
"UGH!"
Fallen off the stage, a mouthful of blood spurted out from Guan Xi Ruan's mouth, as he fell limply to the ground, unable to even summon enough strength to get up.
"Xi Ruan!"
The Guan Family Head yelled in shock, running in a hurry to help his son up.
"Father, kill….. kill him!"
His hands grasped at his father's sleeves, the blood spewing out from his mouth making it difficult for him to even speak those words.
Ke Xin Ya was completely stunned, frozen in place and her eyes just stared blankly as the horrifying scenes just unfolded one after another before her eyes. She felt as of the entire sky had fallen down, and the unimaginable shock that wrecked at her caused an upheaval of emotions within her heart that refused to be quelled, driving a surge of blood to explode within her chest into her throat, where her throat suddenly constricted.
"Ugh!"
A mouthful of blood spurted out and her vision darkened, immediately falling into a dead faint.
"Xin….. Xin Ya!"
Father and Mother Ke screamed out, quickly grabbing at their daughter frantically.
See the entire situation descending into chaos, everyone's faces became stunned. [The Guan Family, has really fallen into one big mess…..]
[The son of the Guan Family Head lost the match in the selections for the Young Head and he retaliated by bringing weapons into the contest! ? And in the end, his powers were inadequate and got himself kicked to be sent flying far away. The power behind that one kick from Guan Xi Lin had shocked all of them there and it was thought that Guan Xi Ruan would not be getting out of bed for at least the next ten to fourteen days.]
[But, compared to Guan Xi Ruan who had every intention to kill, Guan Xi Lin had really held back on that kick, or, with the level of power he had exhibited in the match, killing Guan Xi Ruan as Guan Xi Lin turned around would not pose any difficulty for him at all.
Feng Jiu looked smilingly around as she saw the chaos erupting from all around her. As if she could not wait for it to get any messier, she was all smiles when she said: "Big Brother, didn't you mention you have something else to say? Hurry! Say it so we can go. This place is getting to be much too rowdy."
Chapter 117: Self Expulsion from Clan
When everyone heard her address Guan Xi Lin as Big Brother, they were all taken aback momentarily. They had never heard that Guan Xi Lin had a sister? Could it be, the lady was from a branch of the Guan Family?
"Miss, you're part of the Guan Family?"
A man standing beside Feng Jiu asked in curiosity, thinking to himself: [If she's really from the Guan Family, when they returned, he would definitely make his father come here to propose for marriage. That would allow them to firm up relations with the Guan Family, and let him carry a beauty back home, there is absolutely nothing to lose!]
"Why do I not remember ever having such a member like you in my Guan Family?" The senior Patriarch asked, staring at Feng Jiu, his old and raspy voice sinking lower.
Feng Jiu blinked her eyes and then said in surprise: "Don't flatter yourselves so much, when did I ever say I am part of your Guan Family?"
"Audacious!"
"Do not bully my little sister!"
The moment the senior Patriarch Guan's voice dropped, Guan Xi Lin upon the stage immediately hollered out right after, his sharp demeanour not losing a single bit to his Grandfather, stunning the entire crowd of people in shock and surprise, where everyone could not react for a moment.
[Has he lost his mind? The senior Patriarch Guan is his biological grandfather and he has actually shouted right back in such complete and utter defiance?]
The senior Patriarch Guan's gave flushed beet red, not known whether it was from embarrassment or rage, and his body trembled. The walking stick he held in his hand then thumped heavily upon the ground as he opened his mouth to admonish: "Rebelled? All of you have rebelled? One by one you're all rebelling? Does any of the rules still hold at all?"
Guan Xi Lin upon the stage did not back down from the angry glare directed at him. He puffed up his chest and his eyes filled with steely determined as he looked at his grandfather, the gaze seemingly exhibiting his readiness to severe all ties, which drove a bout of panic into the heart of the senior Patriarch Guan who had been overcome with rage.
Just as he wanted to open his mouth to ask everyone in the crowd to leave, he heard a highly booming voice filled with mystical powers within reach him, clearly reaching the ears of everyone below.
"I, Guan Xi Lin hereby announce, to expel myself from the clan! From today onwards, all the people and affairs of the Guan Family, would have nothing more to do with me!"
The male voice boomed powerfully at them, every word rocking them right in their hearts, which shocked them so hard to make them gasp out loudly at the same time, incredulous at what he had just said.
[Self expulsion from the clan! ? Has he gone mad?]
[With the protection afforded from a Family Clan and going without one would be an entirely different world. For a son who possessed such extraordinary gift to expel himself from the clan, what would that mean for him? He would be cutting off all resources for his cultivation and without the protection of a Family Clan, he would just be all alone on his own!]
Having handed his own son over to have the guards carry him back to the main house, Family Head Guan's face was dark as he stared at Guan Xi Lin on the stage, his gaze flashing slightly, not saying a word.
While the senior Patriarch Guan was completely trembling with rage as he pointed a shaking finger at him to say: "You….. You dare say that one more time!"
Guan Xi Lin's eyes were grave, his voice stiff as he said: "It will be the same even if I say it a hundred times. I, Guan Xi Lin, expels myself from the clan!"
"Big Brother Xi Lin, you have won the competition and you are now the Guan Family's young head. How can you expel yourself from the Family Clan! ?" Below the stage, a youth rushed up to shout out worriedly to Guan Xi Lin and said: "Hurry and apologise to Grandfather. Grandfather will not hold it against you."
"No matter whether all of you agrees to it, I have said my piece today. This is the only reason I returned here today. The Guan Family, is a place I will no longer continue to remain within."
Hearing those words, the senior Patriarch Guan went into a fit to shout out: "Has the Guan Family mistreated you or something? That would even make you think of self expulsion? If you do not make things clear today, don't even dream of expelling yourself from the Family Clan, I will even have the Family Clan's rules and punishments waiting to serve onto you, to properly instil some discipline on this unruly son!"
Chapter 118: Losing All Face!
Guan Xi Lin met his grandfather eyes without the slightest tinge of fear: "Whether all of you have mistreated me, are you saying none of you really don't know it in your hearts? In this Guan Family, I do not have my parents here, whether I have been treated unfairly, don't tell me no one is aware of it at all?"
Hearing the accusatory questions from Guan Xi Lin, the senior Patriarch Guan's lips shook slightly, but he could not say a single word.
Although they had fed him till this age, but, they had not spared him much attention at all. When they heard of his demise, they had not even grieved at all as they arranged for the funeral rites, before quickly annulling his marriage betrothal and letting Guan Xi Ruan marry his fiancee. Even to the point when they later knew he was not dead, they wished that he would remain outside and not return. And when he had finally come back to the Guan Mansion today, the senior Patriarch Guan had gone out to stop him, unwilling to let Guan Xi Lin participate in the selections…..
"The Guan Family raised you till this age and you actually have the cheek to set yourself against your Grandfather like this, even to the extent of saying that you want to expel yourself from the Family Clan. I think your conscience must have been eaten up by the dogs!" Family Head Guan shouted fiercely, his face indignant with self righteousness, using his prominent position as the Head of a Family Clan.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Guan Xi Lin threw his head back and laughed before suddenly stopping abruptly before giving his belt a sharp tug to throw open his robe, revealing the garish scar just above his hip.
"Do you know how this wound of mine came about?" He said as he walked down from the stage and went before the Guan Family Head, approaching him with every step while asking aggressively: "Do you know how this wound of mine came about? Let me tell you. It was from your son! My blood cousin, who left this on me when he stabbed me from behind with a knife!"
Once those words left his mouth, everybody's eyes widened in disbelief as they gasped in horror, turning so quiet you could almost hear a pin drop.
"That's pure nonsense!"
The Guan Family Head shouted sharply, his entire body shaking in anger, but a voice in his heart seemed to be telling him it was all true, or, Guan Xi Lin wouldn't reveal everything in front of so many people here.
The senior Patriarch Guan suddenly felt his vision dimming at that moment, almost fainting away from the news he was hearing. Hatching a plot to kill one's blood kin, a family disgrace! How utterly shameful!
"Nonsense?"
Guan Xi Lin resecured the belt at his hip and said: "Didn't he just try to kill me with a dagger he hid from behind me earlier? Do you really think everyone here is blind? With a Family Clan like this, do you think I can still remain here? Continuing to stay here might get me killed unknowingly any day."
He then turned to look towards the senior Patriarch Guan: "My proclamation of self expulsion today is just to inform you of it and not to ask for your approval. All that bull about your Guan Family rules and laws have nothing to do with me from this moment forth! You can very well keep it to properly discipline your own people in your Guan Family!"
immediately after that, Guan Xi Lin walked over to Feng Jiu and said: "Little Sis, let's go!"
Everyone looked at each other, never having expected that the selections at the Guan Family's today would turn out like this. They had really watched a good show today!
First it was Guan Xi Lin having executed the Shifting Mirage even though he was still so young, followed closely by the Eldest Young Master of the Guan Family sneaky enough to launch a attack from behind someone's back, and quickly after that, Guan Xi Lin had proclaimed his self expulsion from the clan together with the explosive revelation of the inside story behind the fake news of his death in the Nine Entrapment Woods.
Everything single thing they had seen and heard today, had shocked all of them right to their boots, needless to even mention the people of the Guan Family themselves.
At that moment, seeing the three people already walking away to leave with no one within the Guan Family saying a single word to stop them, seemingly still stunned and overwhelmed with shock, the people in the crowd stepped up in quick succession to clasp their fists to announce their departure, quickly leaving the premises one after another.
They had thought that a prodigy had appeared within their family, but who knew he would suddenly expel himself from their clan, and even dragging out the family's disgrace of a plot against a blood kin within the family into the open in the process. When he thought of that, the senior Patriarch Guan felt a rumble of his blood Qi in his chest, and he fell into a dead faint.
"Senior Patriarch! The Patriarch has fainted! Quick! Fetch a physician quickly….."
Hearing the chaotic commotion breaking out from behind, the various Family Heads walking out from the Guan Mansion shook their heads discreetly to themselves, thinking silently: [The Guan Family has really lost all face and any kind of reputation they held today…..]
Chapter 119: Her Grandpa
When the various Family Heads came out, they saw that an inconspicuous horse carriage was already passing before their eyes, and they watched it gradually going further from them. They clasped their hands over their fists to bid each other farewell and climbed into their respective carriages before relaying orders to pay more attention to Guan Xi Lin's actions henceforth.
They were all thinking that since he had expelled himself from his Family Clan, then they could very well attempt to poach him into their own clans. Afterall, after the battle upon the stage today, they all could see that this young son would surely be extraordinary in the future!
Ignoring the chaos that had broken out in the Guan Family, and not bothered by the gazes that others gave him, inside the horse carriage, Guan Xi Lin sat in silence and did not speak, no one knew what he was thinking.
Noticing that, Feng Jiu asked: "Big Brother, do you regret it?"
"No." He looked at her, and shook his head to say: "I do not regret expelling myself from the clan."
"Then, what's on your mind?"
He was quiet a moment before he said: "I have broken myself away from the Guan Family today by self expulsion. But, I am thinking to set up my own clan. I wish to establish a Family Clan in the Cloudy Moon City that will not be inferior to theirs."
"Sure you can! That is a very good thought."
She nodded with a wide grin on her face in agreement and then said: "Where do you want to buy a house? We can purchase it right away."
Guan Xi Lin shook his head. "Little Jiu, I do not want to use your money. I would like to earn the money based on my own ability to make this a reality."
Hearing those words, she had wanted to tell him to save himself the trouble, but when she saw him looking at her with such a determined expression on his face, his eyes flashing with determination, she made herself smile and said: "Alright. I won't help you. But, which part of the city do you intend set up shop in? I can at least help you take a look at the place, and see the location."
Seeing that she did not insist any further, Guan Xi Lin then broke into a smile and said: "Thank you Little Jiu, on that, I will ask you to help even if you do not say it. You have a much better eye for these things than I do anyway."
"That's true."
She raised her head and nodded, her face smug. Her gaze had then unconsciously looked outside the window when the wind had blown the drapes open and she had accidentally spotted a figure, causing her expression to stiffen.
"Stop the carriage."
Leng Shuang who was on the outside of the pulled back on the reins and stopped the carriage.
"What's wrong?" Guan Xi Lin was slightly puzzled as he looked at Feng Jiu who had put on her veil and stood up.
"Big Brother, you go ahead with Leng Shuang, get a few servants and go back first. I have something to attend to and will go back on my own later." As she spoke, she draw the curtain open and walked out of the horse carriage.
Guan Xi Lin was surprised and he followed outside in a hurry. "Little Jiu, let Leng Shuang accompany you. I can drive the carriage back myself."
Leng Shuang was preparing herself to get off the carriage when Feng Jiu's voice came floating over.
"No need, you guys just go! I'll be fine on my own."
Hearing that, Leng Shuang did not try to follow, but instead turned to look at Guan Xi Lin.
Guan Xi Lin was silent a moment and he decided not to insist but only said: "Since she doesn't want us following her, then let's go on ahead! She will be fine."
"Mm." Leng Shuang acknowledged, casting a glance at her Mistress who was walking away to one side before she continued to drive the horse carriage forward.
Feng Jiu went a ways backwards towards the direction the horse carriages had come and came to the front of a wine shop. Looking at the old man sitting in front of the wine shop while clasping a wine gourd before his body and refusing to leave, her eyes suddenly grew hot, an indescribable bitter feeling suddenly causing her heart to wince.
That was her Grandfather. To put it more accurately, that was her body's original owner's Grandfather. Based on reason, she wouldn't hold much feeling for the old man but somehow, when she saw the elderly figure, the emotions just surged out from her heart.
The indulgence her Grandfather had given her, his teachings and guidance, every single scene started playing over and over in her mind. Those images felt like they had all happened just yesterday, like she had experienced all of that herself.
She saw him take a gulp of the wine from the gourd and then spat it all out before exclaiming loudly: "Pui pui pui." He then poured all the wine out from the gourd in disdain and a faint lifting of the corner of her lips slowly broke into a smile upon her face.
Chapter 120: I’ll Pay for the Wine!
"What's wrong with you, old man? Haven't I already given you wine? Why did you pour it all away?"
The shopkeeper glared at the old man, his voice stiffening in helplessness. Who knew where this old man had come from, having suddenly appeared and plopped himself right at the front of his shop's entrance. He had even refused to go away, threatening he was not going to leave til he was given wine. It really infuriated him now that he was given the wine, the old man had simply poured it all onto the floor instead!
Old Patriarch Feng pouted and with a look of unmasked contempt, he said: "Who told you to not give this old man the good stuff? The wine you gave me was so diluted it was like plain water, even if you can drink it, there's no way that's going to go down my throat!"
The shopkeeper was so furious he shouted out loudly as he pointed a shaking finger at the old man: "You….. You darned old man! Which family are you from! How can you be so unreasonable! ? You're not paying a single cent yet you want superior wine! ? You should be thankful that I've even given you any wine and not be so ungrateful! I'm warning you, if you still refuse to leave, I won't be playing nice anymore!"
Feng Old Man flung the wine gourd he held in his hand and it rapped the shopkeeper upon the head as the old man said in a berating voice: "Hmph! No respect for elders at all! Didn't you father and mother teach you that you should not point your fingers at your elders? How atrocious! Simply too atrocious!"
When the surrounding crowd who had been drawn there by the ruckus heard those words, they couldn't hold themselves back and went "pfft", breaking out in stifled laughter.
The shopkeeper's face had gone completely red, to the extent he even felt like crying as he said: "Dear Old Master, take it that I'm begging you alright? Please be kind to me and leave will you! ? Go home quickly and don't stand in my way here and let me do some business. Mine's only a small little business, how can I do any business with you sitting here in the middle of my front door?"
"Go home?" The old man hugging the wine gourd tilted his head sideways as his face creased into a frown as he thought deeply and said: "Which family am this old man from? I seem to have forgotten it again."
When he heard this, the shopkeeper knelt down in resignation.
He fell forward to hug the old man's legs and pleaded in tears: "Old Master, I am begging you, you cannot just plant yourself at this spot here. I'll apologise to you, I shouldn't have shouted at you in a loud voice, I shouldn't have been disrespectful to you, your esteemed self wouldn't take offence with trivial people like me, so please go home quickly…."
Old Patriarch Feng's face was dark as he said to the shopkeeper in disdain: "What a good for nothing! Kneeling over such a small matter! And you're even crying? Don't you know that men shed blood and not tears? Look at what you look like right now! You're just an ugly sight! This old man is really too ashamed to even look at you."
Upon saying that, the old man immediately turned his face away firmly, refusing to even look at the shopkeeper and just shoved the wine gourd into the shopkeeper's arms and said: "Go. Get this old man half a gourd of good wine. I want the superior stuff. This old man will not accept inferior wine."
The surrounding crowd looked on sympathetically at the shopkeeper, with one of them even shouting out: "I'll say, why don't you just give the elderly one a mouthful of good wine eh? Judging from the old man's dress, he is definitely not an elder from any common family, which surely wouldn't shortchange you for that little bit of money for your wine right?"
"That's right, that's right. Won't owe you wine money." Old Patriarch Feng's face was a wide grin as he nodded and urged: "Quick! This old man's craving for wine is acting up again."
The shopkeeper still hesitated for a moment before he went inside with the wine gourd to draw some wine. As he was afraid that the old man would pour the wine away once again, he really took out the superior grade wine this time, his heart wincing in pain as he filled the gourd, apprehensive whether the Old Master really have the money to pay for it? And just which family he belonged to?
After filling the wine, the shopkeeper came back out and handed the wine gourd to the old man and asked: "Old Master, which family are you really from?"
Old Patriarch Feng grabbed the wine gourd from him and still glared at the shopkeeper and said: "Hadn't this old man said it already before? This old man has again forgotten which family I'm from. But rest assured that this old man will not owe you the money for the wine."
As he spoke, he stood up while taking off his clothes up and said, "This old man's clothes are worth some money, take it as compensation for the wine."
The shopkeeper's face was mournful almost in tears. "I have no use for them by taking your clothes!"
"I'll pay the money for his wine."