Chapter 30: Suppressing Fortune, Defying Fate (Part Two)

This time, Lin Yuan was truly engulfed in thunderous rage!

…

At that moment, in the southern part of the city, inside a large courtyard.

In the courtyard, a massive Ritual Altar stood, where a half-bald Daoist gripped a horsetail whisk and sat in meditation.

A faint black light coiled around him. The side rooms nearby had been converted into storerooms, now piled high with chests filled to the brim with silver.

A dazzling sea of white!

Two Daoist attendants shuttled through the rooms with beaming smiles, taking inventory.

After a moment, one of them, dressed in deep red robes, approached the Ritual Altar, bowed, and said.

“Master, the count is complete. It totals three hundred thousand taels of silver. The Lin Manor truly is an immensely wealthy household!”

“Hmph, at this time of turmoil within the Great Zhou Imperial Court, with starving refugees everywhere and corpses littering the land, the Lin Manor still hoards such vast wealth and bullies the locals. They are utterly detestable, their evils too numerous to record!”

Upon the Ritual Altar, the bald Daoist opened his eyes, a cold sneer flashing within them.

The other attendant chimed in. “Yes, we are acting on Heaven’s behalf. It’s just a pity that the Lin family’s savings, accumulated over four generations and two centuries, all fall into our master and disciples’ hands today!”

The two attendants feigned hypocritical sympathy but were brimming with delight and couldn’t contain their joy.

The bald Daoist was also pleased in his heart, but he possessed deeper cunning than his two disciples and merely said, “Failing to recognize our Orthodox Profound Gate Method, they deserved this calamity!”

Hearing this, the two attendants grew even more arrogant.

Just then, a voice tinged with amusement suddenly rang out in the courtyard!

“Master Queyun, what skillful methods! Plundering through trickery and force is as easy as taking something from a bag for you. The Lin family’s savings, nearly two centuries’ worth from four generations—even if hauled by manpower, it would take half a day. Yet with a few moves, you’ve easily gotten your hands on it!”

“However, the Lin Manor is, after all, a prominent clan. Most villages around Wenchang County bear the Lin surname. Aren’t you afraid of the backlash from their Fortune, Master?”

“Who’s there?”

The two attendants’ faces abruptly paled. They snatched up the swords beside them, looking around in terror.

On the Ritual Altar, the bald Daoist Queyun raised his head, lifted his eyelids slightly, and sneered.

“Young Master Yun, no need for theatricals here. You mentioned the Lin Manor’s wealth to this humble Daoist several times, clearly waiting for me to make a move!”

Though his words said this, Daoist Queyun was secretly astonished.

This young master of the Yun family was truly extraordinary. Having entered the Two Realms Dao Academy for barely half a month, he already possessed such cultivation. Likely within half a year, he might even pass the academy’s Dragon Gate trial and enter a Dharma Lineage.

“Master Daoist is quite skilled at shifting blame. After committing such a shocking crime, you still pin everything on me, Yun! The wealthy households I previously discussed with you, Master, were not limited to the Lin Manor alone!”

From the covered walkway beside the Ritual Altar, an elegant and dashing young master stepped out. He gazed at the side rooms on either flank, a peculiar gleam flickering in his eyes.

Seeing this, the bald Daoist inwardly sneered. This young nobleman appeared charming and refined, but his heart was full of cunning and venom. He was merely using the Daoist’s hand to eliminate the Lin family and completely seize their assets.

When it came to forcible seizure and plunder, who could match the ruthlessness of this Yun family young master!

But this was a mutually beneficial arrangement. He didn’t mind being used as a weapon by the County Magistrate’s eldest son this once.

However, hearing Yun Yi’s words, a trace of disdain flashed in his expression as he said blandly,

“As for backlash, it’s merely acting in accordance with the natural flow. The Lin Manor was already under a dark cloud, calamity imminent. This humble Daoist taking their two centuries of savings can be considered clearing their karmic obstacles for them!”

The bald Daoist lightly flicked his whisk. His beady, mung-bean-sized eyes fixed on Yun Yi, a strange light flashing as he smiled. “Alright, meeting means sharing the spoils. Since Young Master Yun provided the information, you may take three thousand taels of silver for yourself, as this humble Daoist’s compensation!”

The young man in white robes chuckled wryly.

Out of five hundred thousand taels of silver, giving him three thousand—how truly generous!

With a slight smile, he glanced at the Ritual Altar and quietly slipped away from the corner.

“Master, although Young Master Yun harbors ill intentions, the backlash from the Lin Manor’s Fortune is indeed not ordinary. After all, a starved camel is still larger than a horse!”

Worry appeared on the two attendants’ faces.

The Lin family was a major clan. Major clans possessed their own ancestral fortune. There were even gods and spirits in the underworld’s Dragon Court. The backlash from Fortune was not something to be taken lightly!

The bald Daoist waved his hand dismissively. “The Lin Manor will soon vanish like smoke, not worth mentioning. It’s this Yun Yi who is exceptionally sinister and venomous. We must be careful and guard against him!”

Targeting the Lin family, besides coveting their immense wealth, was also a deliberate show of power, to teach the Lin Manor a lesson!

Moreover, he was merely following the natural course. A bit of backlash was insignificant.

…

The Lin Manor was indeed bustling unusually at this time. Numerous carriages and horses were dispatched, and they even rented many carts from carriage services in Wenchang County, sending them racing in all directions.

Such large movements naturally couldn’t escape the notice of the many wealthy households in the Xinyi Ward.

A piece of news quickly spread.

The Lin Manor was summoning its branch families from all nearby villages to the ancestral hall for a worship ceremony!

Though the news of the Lin Manor’s lost treasury silver hadn’t spread openly, many wealthy households had already caught wind of it through various channels.

The Lin family’s actions undoubtedly confirmed the accuracy of the rumors. For a time, the entire Wenchang County buzzed with activity. Many wealthy households watched coldly from the sidelines, gloating with schadenfreude.

The Lin family, with its deep roots and flourishing branches, held many businesses in the city. Their influence was so great that even the county magistrate’s office gave them some leeway, which had long inspired jealousy!

Furthermore, many merchants who had credit dealings with the Lin Manor grew anxious and prepared to press for repayment!

Not only that, this strange situation also attracted the attention of many cultivators.

“Attempting to stabilize clan fortune through ancestral worship is merely a futile effort, like trying to put out a fire with a cup of water!” Many profound cultivators skilled in observing Fortune watched the scene and secretly shook their heads.

“Wealth doesn’t last beyond three generations; passing four is already the peak of prosperity!”

“A dying struggle!”

At the Yang Manor, several young men and women gathered. Each had a moist, lively aura swirling around them, all focusing their attention in the direction of the Lin Manor.

“The calamity is unavoidable. Fortunately, Senior Sister Yang extricated herself earlier, otherwise there would be considerable trouble!”

A young woman in white, her face covered by a light white veil, gazed silently toward the Lin family’s direction.

Logically, once Fortune was set, it was inevitably hard to change. But the death of Liu Ling gave Yang Miaozhen a faint, uneasy feeling.

At the foot of Jade Screen Mountain, inside the ancestral hall of the Lin family’s old estate.

The hall, having been renovated several times by the Lin family, was now magnificent, not inferior to those Taoist temples or Buddhist monasteries with thriving Incense Offering.

The Lin family’s numerous descendants were a glimpse of their prosperity!

“Yuan’er, has our Lin family truly reached its peak and is now declining, our Fortune exhausted, allowing that evil Daoist to seize the opportunity?” Lin Chengzong’s expression shifted between gloom and something else, a cold glint in his eyes.

Lin Yuan looked at Lin Chengzong and said, “Grandfather, you should have an idea in your heart. If I guess correctly, our Lin Manor must have been plagued by misfortunes recently!”

Lin Chengzong’s face remained impassive, but his heart sank.

Just as Lin Yuan said, many of the Lin Manor’s businesses had recently encountered problems, big or small. But he hadn’t paid it much mind, simply assuming rivals were causing trouble.

Lin Chengzong’s face turned icy as he focused intently on Lin Yuan. “Yuan’er, can this ancestral worship truly stabilize our clan’s fortune?”

“Of course not!”

Seeing Lin Chengzong’s face pale slightly, Lin Yuan chuckled again. “But with me added to the equation, it’s more than sufficient!”

On his shoulder, a Merit Golden Lamp had already quietly appeared.