"Meng Yan!"
Xin Zhiyou's expression changed slightly before he finally fell silent.
The name Meng Yan was one that everyone in the southern region of the Horn Constellation Realm knew.
At only seventy years old, he was already a Sixth-Layer Yin God, a level of talent so rare it appeared once in a millennium. Even some of the ancient clans with ten-thousand-year legacies had tried to recruit him.
It was precisely because the Meng family had Meng Yan sitting at its helm that they could suppress the Lin and Huang families, standing as the true overlord of the southern region.
What Yang Cheng was facing wasn't just the Lu family, but a vast alliance led by the Meng family itself.
When Huang Yuan saw Xin Zhiyou struck speechless, pride crept across his face. His eyes gleamed with ridicule, full of false confidence as he looked at Yang Cheng. "Yang Cheng, now you understand, don't you? Your so-called strength means nothing in front of real power."
Yang Cheng laughed softly. The sound was calm, but his smile carried an arrogance that seemed to look down on the entire world, making Huang Yuan's heart skip a beat.
"You're using family background and connections to threaten me?"
His tone was quiet, but every word cut through the silence of the hall like steel. "Very well."
He swept his gaze slowly across the room—Huang Yuan, Meng Xuerong, Song Zhen, and all the rest—his voice sharp and resolute.
"Don't say I never gave you a chance. Three days from now, after the Lin family's birthday banquet, I'll be waiting for you."
He raised a finger, pointing directly at Huang Yuan, then motioned to the others. "You—and every one of you here—can use whatever backing, whatever power, whatever family or alliance you have. Bring them all. I'll see if any of you can make me, Yang Cheng, bow my head!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall fell into absolute silence.
Not a single person dared to breathe too loudly.
Arrogant.
Yet that arrogance carried a crushing, undeniable dominance that sent shivers down their spines.
Even those who disliked Yang Cheng couldn't help but admit it—this kind of courage, to openly challenge the most powerful alliance in the southern region, was something only a true madman—or a true sovereign—could possess.
"He's… insane," Meng Xuerong muttered under her breath. She simply couldn't comprehend how Yang Cheng believed he could face the combined might of the Meng, Lu, and Huang families.
Song Zhen's brows furrowed deeply. Yet beneath his doubt, a faint sense of unease stirred in his heart.
'Could it be,' he thought, 'that Yang Cheng really has a trump card we don't know about?'
Huang Yuan wanted to sneer, to say, "Yang Cheng, you're digging your own grave. Don't think that just because you've killed a few Insight Gods, you're untouchable. The great clans' methods are far beyond your imagination."
But he didn't dare.
The image of Lu Guan's broken body was still vivid in his mind, and the thought of angering Yang Cheng froze those words in his throat.
Yang Cheng didn't bother to waste another breath on them. He simply turned to Lin Shu and said, "Let's go."
Without hesitation, Lin Shu followed. As she passed Huang Yuan, she didn't even spare him a glance.
Their figures disappeared beyond the hall doors, leaving behind only a heavy, suffocating silence.
Xin Zhiyou watched Yang Cheng's departing back, his eyes flashing with respect—yet in the end, he only sighed and shook his head.
The Xin family might be powerful, but not even they could afford to offend the Meng, Lu, and Huang families all at once. The most he could do was remain neutral.
Once Yang Cheng's aura had completely faded from sight, Huang Yuan slammed his fist onto the table, the veins on his hand bulging. "That arrogant bastard! Let's see how long he can keep acting proud when the Lu family's revenge comes!"
The night wind swept through the quiet streets.
Lin Shu followed behind Yang Cheng, her gaze resting softly on his tall, steady figure.
"Your Highness," she said quietly, "I caused you trouble today."
Yang Cheng paused mid-step, then turned his head slightly, his eyes calm and unreadable.
"Trouble?" He gave a faint, cold smile. "They're just a bunch of noisy clowns. Nothing worth mentioning."
He paused for a moment, his voice calm yet filled with unshakable certainty. "Lin Shu, remember this. You returning to the Lin family is their honor, not your plea for acceptance. If the Lin family can't even understand that much, then they don't deserve to have you recognize them as kin."
Lin Shu's heart trembled. She lifted her head and looked at Yang Cheng, emotion welling up in her eyes.
"Yes, Your Highness."
She bowed her head respectfully.
Yang Cheng gave a faint nod and continued walking forward.
Lin Shu followed closely behind, and all the unease in her heart faded completely.
At that same moment, inside the Lin family's main hall, the air was so tense it felt like the calm before a storm.
Lin Hui slammed the table in rage, his face dark with fury. "Outrageous! What is wrong with that girl Lin Shu?! How dare she act so recklessly at Clear Breeze Manor—crippling Lu Guan and injuring Song Zhen? Does she even consider herself part of this family anymore?"
He turned sharply toward Lin Kun, who stood silently by the side, his tone even harsher. "And you! Why did you invite them to the manor in the first place? When you saw her attack, why didn't you stop her? Now look what's happened—there's no way the Lu family will let this go easily. How are we supposed to clean up this mess?"
Lin Kun opened his mouth but couldn't get a word out. The situation had spiraled so quickly that day—Lin Shu's strikes were swift and ruthless—he hadn't even had time to react. And truth be told, even if he had tried, he doubted he could have stopped her.
Standing nearby, Lin Jiao added fuel to the fire, her tone laced with false pity and hidden delight. "Second Uncle, my brother really couldn't do anything. You didn't see how terrifying Lin Shu was at that time! She crippled Lu Guan's limbs without hesitation and sent Cousin Song Zhen flying with a single punch. Honestly, if my brother had tried to stop her, she might've beaten him up too."
"That wild girl!" Lin Hui's beard trembled as he roared in anger. "Just like someone raised outside, with no sense of family rules at all! She's only just returned, and already she's caused a disaster this big! Does she think the Lin family is her personal shield, that she can do whatever she wants?"
Just then, the usually silent Lin Xiaotian finally spoke, his voice hoarse but steady. "Lin Jiao, you said Lin Shu crippled Lu Guan easily, and even Song Zhen couldn't stand against her?"
Lin Jiao nodded hurriedly, afraid he might not believe her. "Yes, Grandfather! Everyone there saw it with their own eyes. How could I possibly make something like that up?"
She expected Lin Xiaotian to explode in anger at Lin Shu, but instead, a flicker of surprise—and even faint admiration—appeared in his eyes. He muttered to himself, "Unexpected… truly unexpected. To think that both Lin Shu and that Yang Cheng possess such extraordinary talent in martial arts. Perhaps our Lin family still has hope for its future after all."
Lin Hui's heart skipped a beat. This was bad.
If Lin Shu's strength really surpassed Lin Qing's, as Lin Jiao described, and if their grandfather began to favor her… then Lin Qing's status in the family would be threatened.
Before Lin Hui could speak, Lin Jiao quickly cut in, seizing the moment. "Grandfather, please don't be fooled by that. That Yang Cheng declared publicly that three days from now, after the birthday banquet, the Lu, Huang, and any other families who hold grudges against him should come find him—he'll take them all on himself. And Lin Shu was standing right beside him, not saying a single word to object! Isn't that clearly dragging our Lin family into his mess? Do we really want to offend the Meng, Lu, and Huang families because of them?"
Lin Hui's eyes lit up, immediately following her lead. "Exactly, Father! That Yang Cheng has ambitions far too great and a temper even worse—he's completely beyond our control. If Lin Shu keeps following him, she'll eventually bring ruin upon the entire Lin family."
Silence fell.
Lin Xiaotian sat motionless, his fingers gently tapping the table. The rhythmic tok, tok echoed in the room, each sound landing heavily in everyone's chest.
After a long pause, he finally spoke slowly, his tone weary. "Lin Feng, go tell Lin Shu… that she must sever ties with Yang Cheng. As long as she agrees, I can guarantee she'll receive the same treatment within the family as Lin Qing."
Lin Feng's expression changed drastically, and he blurted out, "Father, this—"