A sharp glint flashed across Lu Canglan's eyes. "You mean…"
"We should target Yang Cheng."
Huang Yuan's tone was calm yet calculating. "He's just some native from the Wasteland Realm. Killing him won't give either the Lin or Huang family any excuse to blame us. Besides, Lin Shu obeys his every word. Once he's dead, that'll be the best revenge on her as well."
He paused for a moment before tossing out a tempting bait. "I can guarantee that if the Lu family decides to move against Yang Cheng, the Huang family will fully support you."
Lu Ting's expression slowly eased. After hearing Huang Yuan's reasoning, even he had to admit it made sense.
What Huang Yuan said was right—he should hate the one manipulating things from the shadows.
Killing Yang Cheng would avenge his son, and there would be no risk of offending either the Lin or Huang families. It was indeed the most favorable solution.
Lu Canglan stayed silent for a while, tapping his fingers lightly against the table. At last, he gave a cold snort. "You're right, nephew. I was being foolish. This debt should be settled with Yang Cheng."
A murderous light gleamed in his eyes. "A native from the Wasteland Realm dares to act so arrogantly in the Southern Region? Does he really think my Lu family can be bullied so easily?"
Huang Yuan's heart leaped with delight, though his face remained solemn. "With your word, Old Master, I can rest easy. Three days from now, at the Lin family's birthday banquet, Yang Cheng said he'd take full responsibility for any trouble that comes his way. That'll be the perfect chance to strike."
"Good!"
Lu Canglan rose to his feet, his voice booming with fury. "Three days later, I want to see just how capable this Yang Cheng truly is."
Seeing his chance, Huang Yuan quickly cupped his hands. "Old Master, Uncle Lu, I'll take my leave now. Three days later, the Huang family will definitely send men to assist."
"No need to see him off," Lu Canglan said, waving his hand dismissively.
Once Huang Yuan left, Lu Ting turned anxiously toward his father. "Father, do we really have to wait three days?"
"What's the rush?" Lu Canglan replied coldly. "Let that brat enjoy his arrogance for three more days. When the time comes, I'll make sure he doesn't even have a corpse left to bury."
Outside, after stepping out of the Lu family estate, the solemn mask on Huang Yuan's face instantly vanished. What replaced it was a chilling smirk.
A marriage alliance that should've gone smoothly had been ruined by Lin Shu and Yang Cheng. He had been forced to run around, humiliated again and again.
"Yang Cheng, just you wait."
Huang Yuan's voice was low and venomous. "Three days from now will be your death day. And Lin Shu—once he's gone, I'll see how proud you can still act."
He clenched his fists tightly, eyes glinting with cruelty. Lin Shu's defiance had only made him more obsessed. Even if he had to marry her by force, he would make her his—only to torment her afterward.
The night wind blew cold, sweeping across the fallen leaves on the ground. The sound of rustling carried like a whisper of death, foretelling the bloody storm that would erupt at the Lin family's banquet three days later.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
The Lin family's ancestral manor was decorated grandly. Red silk banners hung everywhere, lanterns lined the walkways, and the sound of drums and flutes filled the air—it was even livelier than before.
From dawn onward, countless luxurious flying boats descended continuously outside the gates of Fengming Mountain. Each one was engraved with the insignia of a major sect or noble family.
Every prominent clan and sect from the Southern Region had sent their representatives.
Only the top forces were allowed entry into the Lin family's gates.
Smaller sects and local powers weren't even qualified to send greeting cards; they could only stand far from the mountain gate, watching enviously.
Inside Lin Shu's courtyard, she had changed into a crimson long dress. Compared to her usual calm appearance, she looked far more radiant and dazzling.
Yang Cheng, as always, wore his plain robe, his expression serene—like he was heading to a casual gathering rather than walking into a den of tigers and dragons.
Just as the two stepped out of the courtyard, they ran into Lin Jiao, who wore a smirk of open mockery.
"Well, if it isn't little sister Lin Shu," Lin Jiao said with a sneer full of false sweetness. "I thought you two would've packed up and run away by now. Didn't expect you'd still dare to show your faces at the banquet hall."
The people behind her burst into quiet laughter, their eyes full of schadenfreude, as if they were waiting eagerly for a good show.
Lin Shu and Yang Cheng both gave Lin Jiao an indifferent glance, their eyes cold and distant. They didn't even bother to respond. Without pausing, they simply walked past her.
To them, Lin Jiao was nothing more than a puff of air.
"You two…"
Lin Jiao's face twisted with anger, but in the end, she didn't dare block their path. She could only stamp her foot and mutter through clenched teeth, "Arrogant fools. You'll be crying soon enough."
Inside the banquet hall, the noise was overwhelming.
Even though everyone present was from major sects or noble families, there were still dozens of long tables carved from purple sandalwood.
On each table were rare delicacies and fine jade cups filled with fragrant immortal wine.
The heads and core disciples of the Southern Region's top forces sat in neat rows, exchanging polite words, though their gazes occasionally flicked toward the entrance—each one filled with curiosity and expectation.
The supposed guest of honor today was the Lin family's ancestor, Lin Xiaotian. Yet everyone knew the truth. The real center of attention was the young man from the Wasteland Realm who had publicly declared that he would take on half the Southern Region—and the woman standing beside him, Lin Shu.
"Did you hear? Old Master Lu himself came today."
"I heard the Meng family and several other big families sent important figures too. This banquet will be lively."
"That Yang Cheng bragged so much before. Let's see how he cleans up the mess this time."
As discussions buzzed around the room, a small stir rippled through the entrance.
Everyone turned toward the commotion. There stood Lin Shu, dressed in a scarlet gown that complemented her slender figure. Her poise was elegant, every step calm and deliberate.
Beside her was Yang Cheng—his plain white robe gleamed like fresh snow. His face was handsome, expression tranquil like still water, untouched by the countless curious gazes around him.
As the two walked side by side into the hall, an invisible pressure seemed to follow. The once-loud banquet hall fell noticeably quieter.
"They're here!"
Someone whispered the words, and in an instant, countless gazes turned toward them—curious, probing, hostile, disdainful, and even faintly expectant.
Yang Cheng and Lin Shu ignored them all.
Amid the tense atmosphere, the birthday banquet officially began.
Music filled the air. Lin Xiaotian sat proudly in the seat of honor, accepting bows and birthday wishes from the gathered guests.
One after another, members of the Lin family stepped forward to offer their gifts and speak their blessings.
"Grandson Lin Kun wishes Grandfather boundless fortune and a lifespan as vast as the stars."
"Granddaughter Lin Jiao wishes Grandfather eternal Dao attainment and endless years of longevity."
"…"
Soon, it was Lin Shu's turn. She stepped forward gracefully, bowed slightly to Lin Xiaotian, and spoke clearly. "Junior Lin Shu greets the Old Master of the Lin family and wishes you longevity and peace."
Her words had barely left her lips when Lin Jiao seized the chance to sneer. "Little sister Lin Shu, isn't that a bit wrong of you? You're Grandfather's own granddaughter—how can you call him 'Old Master of the Lin family' and 'junior'? Sounds awfully distant, doesn't it? Don't tell me… you never saw yourself as part of the Lin family?"
Lin Xiaotian's brow furrowed slightly at that, his gaze shifting toward Lin Shu.
But Lin Shu's expression didn't change. She turned calmly toward Lin Jiao and said flatly, "With how you keep targeting me every chance you get, do you really think anyone here believes you see me as family?"
Lin Jiao's face turned red with embarrassment. She pointed at Lin Shu, stammering, "You—"
She wanted to argue back but found she had nothing to say.
"Enough."
Lin Xiaotian raised his hand, cutting the tension short. His gaze settled on Lin Shu once more. "Lin Shu, did you think over what your mother told you yesterday?"
The "matter" he referred to was clear to everyone present—it was his order for Lin Shu to sever ties with Yang Cheng and remain in the Lin family.
A faint, mocking smile tugged at Lin Shu's lips. "Think about it? There's nothing to think about."
For a brief moment, Lin Xiaotian's eyes softened. He thought she had finally come to her senses. His tone eased, and he turned to Yang Cheng, clearly intending to dismiss him. "In that case, Yang Cheng…"
He hadn't yet finished the sentence—"you're no longer welcome here"—when Lin Shu's cold voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Between His Highness and the Lin family, of course, I choose His Highness."