Chapter 6: Breaking Off the Engagement (1)

A spacious bedroom in Ye Manor was packed with people. Upon hearing that Ye Yuan was injured, members of the Ye Family hurried over from all directions.

“Uncle Wang, how is my father really?”

Before the sickbed, Ye Yun knelt on both knees. He tightly held Ye Yuan’s pale right hand, gazing at the unconscious and blood-covered Ye Yuan. His heart felt as if slashed by a knife. He couldn’t wait to ask the white-haired old man beside him.

The septuagenarian elder was checking Ye Yuan’s body. The room was very quiet. Everyone watched quietly as the elder examined him carefully. The room was filled with the faint, pattering sound of little jumps.

The elder immediately gave Ye Yuan a medicinal pill to take. He stood up and, facing the Ye Family members, shook his head and sighed, “The Clan Leader’s dantian was shattered by the assailant. His entire cultivation has turned to running water. Fortunately, the assailant did not deliver a killing blow. The Clan Leader managed to keep his life, but I’m afraid he will never be able to cultivate again.”

“What!” Everyone couldn’t believe it.

Ye Yun rubbed the corner of his eye, stubbornly holding back tears. He gripped Ye Yuan’s hand tightly, not even blinking.

The next day, after the heavy rain, Red Cloud City welcomed a new day of brilliant sunshine. Meanwhile, Ye Manor welcomed most of the famous people of Red Cloud City. They had come to visit Ye Yuan.

The news that Ye Yuan was severely injured, not only having his cultivation crippled but also having his dantian destroyed, exploded throughout Red Cloud City. Everyone was watching the Ye Family.

All the visitors were arranged to rest in the front courtyard. Servants were serving tea. These people didn’t seem the least bit hurried, chatting and drinking tea as they pleased.

In Ye Yuan’s room, Ye Wentian, Ye He, Ye Xinghe, and over a dozen high-ranking members of the Ye Family sat before Ye Yuan’s sickbed. Ye Yuan was leaning on Ye Yun’s shoulder. He looked as if he had aged over ten years in one night, even having white hairs. Thankfully, he was wearing a new set of clothes, so he didn’t appear too disheveled.

Ye Yuan’s face was very pale. Ye Yun was feeding him water when suddenly Ye Wentian’s angry voice rang in his ears, “Who dares lay hands on the head of our Ye Family? Ye Yuan, tell me quickly.”

Looking at this seventy-year-old man, he was still very impulsive.

Ye Xinghe, who was only around forty years old beside him, patted his shoulder, urging him to sit down and calm his anger. He immediately looked at Ye Yuan, “I went to the scene and carefully checked it over. There were no corpses, no weapons. Everything was cleaned up in a short time. It shouldn’t be ordinary people.”

“It was Heaven and Earth Gate,” Ye Yuan suddenly spoke.

“Heaven… and… Earth… Gate!” Ye Wentian and the others were shocked.

“Heaven and Earth Gate, one of the three great assassin sects!” Ye Yun’s heart tightened, filled with rage, but he also felt powerless because those three words carried too much weight.

Heaven and Earth Gate, a mysterious sect, because they only did one thing: assassination. It was one of the three great assassin sects in the world, alongside the Purple Robe Pavilion and the Rakshasa Hall. No one knew its history, and no one knew where it was located. As long as there was money, they were willing to kill.

To many people, Heaven and Earth Gate was just a legend. Whether it existed still needed proof.

Another middle-aged man frowned, “Heaven and Earth Gate, an existence comparable to Xuanwu Sect. Although it’s an assassin organization, its members and assassin disciples are all cultivators. Why would such an existence appear in Red Cloud City?”

“Brother He, one thing is clear. Heaven and Earth Gate wouldn’t appear randomly. Someone must have hired them to deal with the Ye Family. Moreover, the person who could hire Heaven and Earth Gate is no simple person. In present-day Red Cloud City, only the Qin Family and the Yan Family have that capability. Only they could possibly do it.” That middle-aged man said after thinking.

Ye He nodded, “Heaven and Earth Gate’s goal has already been achieved. We don’t need to worry about them targeting the Ye Family anymore. The most urgent matter now is to stabilize the Ye Family and not let other families take advantage. Right, Brother Xinghe?”

“Brother He is very right. Uncle Tian, you must step forward now to stabilize the Ye Family and find a new leader. Otherwise, the Ye Family will surely fall into chaos.” Ye Xinghe exchanged a look with Ye He before turning to Ye Wentian.

Ye Wentian was so angry his face turned purple. Upon hearing the words of Elders Ye Xinghe and Ye He, he suddenly calmed down. This most powerful Elder of the Ye Family pondered for a long time, glanced at Ye Yuan, and slowly said, “This concerns the foundation of the Ye Family. Indeed, we must prioritize the overall situation. Let’s go out to talk.”

Everyone followed Ye Wentian out of the room. Upon leaving, they didn’t inquire further about Ye Yuan; they simply left.

Ye Yun closed the door, immediately helped Ye Yuan lie down, and sat beside him. His face was full of indignation, but he immediately forced a smile, “Father, how about you sleep for a while? It’s very noisy outside.”

Ye Yuan suddenly looked Ye Yun over, feeling very content, “Yun’er, you’ve grown up and become sensible.”

“Father, drink some water.” Ye Yun promptly offered the water cup.

Ye Yuan laboriously pressed Ye Yun’s hand down, shaking his head, “I’ve already drunk a lot. I’m not thirsty for now. Don’t worry. Your father has experienced too much; it’s nothing. The three Elders are going to select a new Clan Leader. What they’re doing is right.”

“The Grand Elder is indeed thinking for the family. But Ye He and Ye Xinghe’s motives are very clear. They’ve always coveted the Clan Leader’s position. This is the best opportunity. Father, maybe your injury this time is related to them.”

Slap!

As soon as Ye Yun finished speaking, he felt a fiery sting on his left cheek. Ye Yuan’s stern reprimand rang in his ears, “Yun’er, what have I taught you? No matter when, never suspect your own family members. Is that clear?”

“I understand, Father!” Not wanting to worsen Ye Yuan’s condition, Ye Yun didn’t argue further. He quietly covered Ye Yuan with the quilt.

Looking at Ye Yun’s silence, Ye Yuan seemed to regret it a little. His eyes glistened with tears. For so many years, this was the first time he had gotten angry and hit Ye Yun. The last time, at Ye Yun’s coming-of-age ceremony, was out of necessity; he acted to protect Ye Yun.

To ease the atmosphere, Ye Yun changed the subject, “Father, has the Yan Family given a statement?”

Ye Yuan closed his eyes for a moment, feeling unwell inside but pretending nothing was wrong, “That Yan Zhan is very cunning. He didn’t give a clear answer. But I met Yan Linlang. She’s already a disciple of Xuanwu Sect, recommended by the Yan Family. Moreover, with the Qin Family’s help, her attitude is very firm. She insists on breaking off the engagement.”

His heart felt pierced by needles. Ye Yun restrained himself, “With Qin Ming’s talent, Xuanwu Sect would at least consider his face. What a Qin Family. Producing a Qin Ming indeed changed their status, able to talk with Xuanwu Sect.”

“Yun’er, do you know? The true genius of the Qin Family isn’t Qin Ming, but a girl. I think she’s called Qin Qing. It’s said she was taken up the mountain by Xuanwu Sect when she was six. Even the Yan Family is wary of the current Qin Family. In the Yan Family’s eyes, the greatest enemy isn’t our Ye Family, but the Qin Family. To deal with the Qin Family, the Yan Family reluctantly proposed a marriage alliance with our Ye Family. But with the emergence of Qin Qing, the Yan Family doesn’t dare to move against the Qin Family lightly. Instead, they’ve established good relations with them.”

“Qin Qing?” Ye Yun was a bit dazed. Taken up the mountain by Xuanwu Sect at six years old? What kind of concept was that? From what Ye Yun knew, Xuanwu Sect rarely took the initiative to go down the mountain to recruit disciples. Presumably, that girl called Qin Qing must have something extraordinary about her.

Ye Yuan said somewhat weakly, “I hear that Qin Qing is only fifteen now but has already successfully achieved Foundation Building, stepping into the Earth Immortal Realm and becoming a true cultivator.”