Chapter 7: The Family Head’s Might

Chapter 7: The Family Head’s Might

The people had all left, and the rundown small courtyard now only held Qin Li and his mother. Qin Hanyue frowned deeply, her eyes tinged with confusion.

“Mother, what’s wrong?” Qin Li asked softly, his eyes full of concern.

He knew that no matter what, this extremely beautiful woman before him would never give up on him! The thought of a gentle woman rushing forward fearlessly to face a bloody blade made Qin Li think of nothing but a mother’s love.

“Let’s go back inside to talk.” Qin Hanyue’s voice held a tone of weariness, not quite as moved or happy as one might expect.

Qin Li was slightly startled. His memories of his grandfather Qin Hongyuan were so scarce he hardly had any impression at all. But watching his mother Qin Hanyue, it seemed… not very positive!

Qin Hanyue walked into the room, pulled Qin Li to sit down, and then fixed her beautiful eyes on his. She slowly said, “Xiao Li, there are some things I originally planned to tell you when you grew up. For a young child, it’s better not to know certain things. But today, your actions took me by surprise!”

Qin Hanyue looked meaningfully at Qin Li.

Qin Li’s heart skipped a beat. He thought, was I too calm when I killed, and did she notice something?

Qin Hanyue didn’t seem suspicious. She went on, “A change has made you more mature. I am very pleased! Do you know why I named you Qin Li?”

Qin Li shook his head. In his memory, Qin Hanyue had never talked about this. Of course, the old Qin Li never had this kind of conversation with Qin Hanyue, and he would never have acted as he did today.

“I hoped that one day you would stand tall like a true man! I wanted everyone who looked down on you to know that you are my son, Qin Hanyue’s son!” As she said this, Qin Hanyue’s eyes welled up with tears. “For that, I would willingly suffer any hardship!”

“Mother…” Qin Li’s voice choked up a little. Qin Hanyue’s words carried endless love for him. That love was like warm sunlight, enveloping Qin Li completely. It was a feeling Qin Li had never experienced before.

“Alright, I know you understand things now, and you know how to protect me! I’m very happy!” Qin Hanyue gently wiped the corner of Qin Li’s eye and said, “My father is a very capable man, full of ambition! Under his leadership, the Qin Family rose step by step from a medium-sized family to what it is today! In Huangsha City, there are the Three Great Families: the Shangguan Family, the Fang Family, and our Qin Family. Among them, the Shangguan Family is the strongest! They almost monopolize all service-related industries. The Fang Family mainly deals in Alchemical Pills. Our Qin Family is an adventure family; some call us a hunter family! Whether it is herbs, Spirit Beasts, or even treasure hunting, those are within the Qin Family’s scope.”

This was the first time Qin Li had heard his mother speak of this. The old Qin Li only knew how to practice martial arts all day and never bothered with other matters.

“What is a Spirit Beast?”

Qin Hanyue smiled bitterly and looked at Qin Li affectionately. “My dear son, you really have been practicing too hard and muddled your mind. Spirit Beasts are born in the mountains and forests; they are nature’s favorites! Spirit Beasts possess special abilities. Many Spirit Beasts are highly aggressive. It’s said there are Spirit Beasts beyond the Heavenly Rank that can even take human form and appear among us!”

“That’s terrifying!” Qin Li gasped inwardly, thinking it sounded like the tales in ‘Strange Stories’.

Qin Hanyue continued, “I know your grandfather very well. He has a very hard heart! If he could ignore us for thirteen years, he could keep on ignoring us. Perhaps, without any surprises, he would not even glance at me until the day he died!”

Seeing the sadness on his mother’s face, Qin Li slowly asked, “Mother, are you saying… that his visit today, and all his behavior, had nothing to do with family feeling?”

Qin Hanyue was taken aback. She stared at Qin Li for a long time, then suddenly gave a faint smile, touched with relief. “My dear son, you’ve finally grown up! I never thought you would realize that!”

Her tone suddenly lightened a bit. “I was afraid you wouldn’t understand and would think I didn’t want you to have a better life.”

Qin Li smiled and said, “Probably some people wouldn’t see it that way. They might be feeling pretty miserable inside. Mother, don’t worry. Even if we leave the Qin Family now, I can support you. I promise I won’t let you suffer any more grievances!”

What in the world could bring a mother more joy than having a sensible son?

Qin Hanyue felt that her thirteen years of sacrifices had finally received the best reward. She couldn’t help but hug Qin Li, weeping softly as she said, “I believe in you. In my heart, you are the best in the world!”

…

The atmosphere in the Qin Family’s great meeting hall was heavy. Qin Hongyuan sat calmly in the main seat, while Qin Feng knelt before him. The three Elders, so old they were frail, didn’t even get seats and stood behind Qin Feng, their expressions grim.

The wives of the main line who had come so fiercely to demand an explanation now huddled silently in the back, heads bowed, not daring to breathe loudly.

As for the stewards and branch family members who wanted to see the excitement, they didn’t even have the right to enter the room. They were all kneeling outside! This wasn’t a willing gesture of respect to Family Head Qin Hongyuan. Just moments ago, Qin Hongyuan had suddenly erupted in thunderous anger, instantly crushing the confidence of all who had come.

Even the few Elders hadn’t received the slightest hint of favor from Qin Hongyuan! Normally, Family Head Qin Hongyuan was quite courteous to these Elders.

“Grandfather, one person’s deeds are their own responsibility! I was the one who called the Elder great-grandfathers. I don’t understand why we have to give them Zichen Garden! What contributions have they made to the Qin Family?”

Perhaps Qin Hongyuan’s constant doting had made this young boy, showered with favor from an early age, less afraid of the stern Family Head. Even now, though kneeling, Qin Feng spoke boldly.

“Hongyuan, it’s been about ten years or more since I last came to this great meeting hall. When you’re old, if you don’t want to be disliked, you naturally speak less and meddle less!” A thin, wrinkled silver-haired Elder slowly said. “Thirteen years ago, when you dealt with your daughter’s matter, most of the family was very dissatisfied. A woman who committed such shameful acts deserved to be drowned in a pig cage! The Qin Family’s reputation was ruined by her! Even if she wasn’t killed, she should have been expelled from the Qin Family!”

“Exactly, little Hongyuan. I watched you grow up. You are a capable man! Over the years, the family has indeed progressed under your leadership. But this matter alone, your handling of it… was unfair!” Another plump Elder said regretfully.

“He’s the Family Head now. We old folks… are halfway into the grave. Where’s our status? Look, we’re here now and can’t even get seats!” Another tall, thin Elder thumped his cane hard on the floor and said resentfully.

Qin Feng’s mother, Mo Lan, the principal wife of the Qin Family’s eldest son of the main line, stood in the back. Her heart ached seeing her son kneel there. Seeing the three Elders clearly express their dissatisfaction, she couldn’t resist adding fuel to the fire, to see how her father-in-law would decide.

“Father, I don’t really have the right to speak, but this matter has caused discontent throughout the family. I think, for both public and private reasons, you should explain the reasons for doing this…” Mo Lan was a clever woman. She didn’t directly criticize Qin Hanyue and her son, but used the whole family as leverage. Her intent was clear: Even if you are the Family Head, shouldn’t you consider the feelings of the clan?

Qin Hongyuan’s face was expressionless. He looked at the crowd below and suddenly slapped the armrest of his expensive chair made of thousand-year-old pearwood… With a crisp crack, the incredibly hard armrest shattered under his palm, scattering on the floor. Qin Hongyuan sprang to his feet, and a massive aura, like a mountain, pressed down on those below.

Now, people seemed to remember that this Family Head, who never used martial force, was still a Martial Artist of the Mysterious Rank, eighth stage! A true expert!

“How dare you defy me!” Qin Hongyuan pointed at Qin Feng. “Get out of here! Reflect on your actions! No food for three days! This family is not yours to rule yet! Out! Get out!”

From a young age, Qin Feng had been surrounded by glory. He had never seen his grandfather act so violently. His face turned pale with fear, tears welling in his eyes. He stood up and rushed out of the room.

Bang!

The meeting hall door slammed shut heavily.

Everyone’s heart jumped.

Qin Hongyuan’s gaze fell on the wives standing in the back. He said coldly, “Explanation? Why should I explain anything to you?”

He took a slight breath and looked at the three Elders. His tone softened a little. “Three uncles, in this matter, I’m sorry, but I can’t explain in detail right now. In short, please believe that my heart, Qin Hongyuan’s heart, is without shame toward the Qin Family! I would never do anything to harm the Qin Family! In the future… you will know my good intentions!”

Qin Hongyuan gave a faint smile. “When I step down as Family Head, I’ll raise flowers and plants, go fishing, play with birds… That is what an old man should do.”

Though the three Elders were old and frail, none were foolish. They clearly understood the implication in Qin Hongyuan’s words. They were furious but could not vent it, since he was only speaking about himself. Finally, the tall, thin Elder sneered, “Well then, we old relics will wait to see the Family Head’s good intentions!”

With that, the three old men leaned on their canes and tottered away. Perhaps in their youth they had been influential, but now their aged backs were full of desolation.

Now only the wives of the Qin Family’s main line remained in the room. Qin Hongyuan snorted through his nose and said, “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. I’m not dead yet! All of you, behave! From now on, if I hear any gossip from any of you about that mother and son… don’t blame me for being harsh!”

Qin Hongyuan finished, opened the door, and left, leaving behind a room full of Qin Family wives with livid faces.