Lin Shu's voice wasn't loud, but it fell into the hall like a pebble into a still lake—sending ripples spreading through the silence.
Everyone froze. Even Lin Xiaotian's expression stiffened slightly.
Lin Shu's tone was firm and clear. "The Lin family abandoned me before I was even old enough to remember anything. It was His Highness who saved me at my lowest point, who taught me cultivation, protected me, and raised me to where I am now. If I were to betray him just to return to the Lin family, that would be truly heartless—worse than a beast."
"Outrageous!"
Lin Hui slammed his teacup onto the table, the sharp crack cutting through the air. "If not for the Lin family giving you your bloodline, you wouldn't have even been born! What right do you have to talk about despair? As a child of a noble clan, your duty is to put your family first. But you—you treat the Lin family like your enemy all because of some childish affection. Third Brother, Sister-in-law—what kind of thing did you even raise?"
"Then what are you supposed to be?"
Yang Cheng's voice wasn't loud, but it exploded through the hall like a thunderclap—cold and sharp, cutting through every murmur.
That detached, scornful tone hit Lin Hui like a slap to the face—clear and loud.
The room went dead silent. Even the sound of breathing seemed to vanish.
Every gaze locked on Yang Cheng, their expressions stunned.
This young man from the Wasteland Realm—he had really just insulted the Lin family's Second Master to his face.
Lin Hui's cheeks flushed an ugly, liver-red color. His whole body trembled with fury as he pointed a shaking finger at Yang Cheng. "You—you dare insult me?"
"So what if I insult you?"
Yang Cheng stepped forward slowly, his gaze calm and unyielding. His voice was quiet, yet every word carried the weight of iron. "The sages of old once said: If kin protect me with their flesh and blood, I shall repay them with my life. If kin treat me as a stranger, I shall return the same. If kin abandon me as worthless, then I shall cast them aside in turn."
He swept his gaze across the hall, pausing on Lin Jiao, Lin Hui, and every face that had looked at Lin Shu with disdain. "When Lin Shu was five years old, lost in the Wasteland Realm and chased by wild dogs, where were you? When she was locked in a woodshed by human traffickers, beaten day and night, where was your so-called family bond then? And now that she's finally returned, instead of trying to make amends, you use 'bloodline' as chains to shackle her, to force her to betray her savior. Where do you find the face to demand her gratitude?"
"You—"
Lin Hui's throat worked soundlessly. His words caught like a lump of cotton stuck in his throat—he couldn't force out a single proper sentence.
"Hmm?"
Yang Cheng's cold eyes shifted toward him.
Lin Hui, humiliated and enraged, suddenly raised his voice, trying to overpower him with sheer momentum. "This is a matter of the Lin family! Since when does an outsider like you get to speak?"
"An outsider?"
Yang Cheng gave a short, cold laugh. He turned slightly, glancing at Lin Shu beside him. His voice carried unshakable certainty. "Lin Shu is, first and foremost, my attendant. Only after that could she barely count as part of your Lin family. You'd better remember that clearly."
Then he turned back to Lin Hui, his eyes flashing with a blade-like chill. "Besides, if not for the fact that you're her elder, for calling her a 'thing' just now, do you really think you'd still be standing here?"
The instant those words dropped, a killing intent flared like ice.
Though it vanished in a blink, it struck Lin Hui like a plunge into a frozen lake. His body stiffened, and he instinctively took half a step back, cold sweat soaking through his robes.
He didn't doubt Yang Cheng's threat for a second. This was the man who had crippled Lu Guan—a Martial Emperor-level cultivator. Compared to Lu Guan, he himself wasn't even close. He had no right to provoke this monster.
He opened his mouth, but no words came out. He could only glare at Yang Cheng, chest heaving, powerless to speak another word.
"What a sharp-tongued brat."
At last, Lin Xiaotian, seated at the head of the hall, could no longer hold back. He slammed a palm on the table. The redwood surface cracked instantly, spiderweb-like fissures spreading from his hand.
"Yang Cheng, you'd better remember—this is the Lin family. Not your lawless Wasteland Realm, and certainly not that so-called Great Zhou of yours!"
"Lin family?"
Yang Cheng cast him a lazy glance, his tone dripping with open contempt. "In my eyes, that name isn't worth much. If not for Lin Shu's sake, do you really think I'd bother stepping into this place?"
"Outrageous!"
"Too arrogant!"
"Does he think my Lin family has no one left?"
The Lin family's disciples immediately erupted in anger. They shouted and cursed, glaring at Yang Cheng as if they wanted to burn him alive with their eyes.
But Yang Cheng didn't even look their way. His expression stayed calm and detached as he looked straight at Lin Xiaotian. "What's this? You're angry already? Then tell me—what does the Lin family have that deserves my respect? Can you suppress the Meng family's influence? Can you withstand the Lu family's blade? Or do you think, with just this level of strength, you can make me, Yang Cheng, bow my head?"
His series of questions struck like hammer blows, leaving the Lin family silent once again.
They were strong, yes—but far from being one of the Southern Region's true giants. They didn't have the power, nor the prestige, to back such pride.
Lin Xiaotian's face darkened, his expression turning stormy. For a brief moment, anger flickered in his eyes, but he managed to swallow it back down.
He knew well that trading words with Yang Cheng was pointless. The real confrontation of the day hadn't even begun yet.
"Yang Cheng," Lin Xiaotian finally said, taking a slow, steady breath, his tone regaining some calm, "this old man has no interest in arguing with someone of your generation. But your real enemies today aren't the Lin family. You'd better think about how to handle your own trouble first."
Just as his words fell, the sound of heavy, deliberate footsteps echoed from outside the banquet hall—steady, powerful, and filled with killing intent.
"Hahaha! brother Lin, I wouldn't say that. Young friend Yang Cheng is bold indeed. This old man can't help but admire his courage!"
A deep, elderly voice rang out, still strong and full of energy despite its age.
Moments later, a group of people entered the hall in an orderly line.
At their head was an old man with white hair and beard, dressed in an ink-black brocade robe—it was none other than Old Master Lu Canglan of the Lu family. Behind him walked Lu Ting and three elderly men radiating strong, oppressive auras. They were clearly the top experts of the Lu clan.
Lin Xiaotian immediately stood up and forced a polite smile onto his face. "Brother Lu, forgive me for letting you witness this embarrassing scene."
Lu Canglan only nodded slightly, his gaze passing right over Lin Xiaotian and landing squarely on Yang Cheng. His eyes gleamed with a complex mix of emotions—anger, hatred, and faint fear.
He studied Yang Cheng from head to toe for a moment, then spoke in a cold, steady tone. "Crown Prince of Great Zhou, Yang Cheng. You did keep your word by coming here today. For that alone, this old man will call you a man of your word."
Yang Cheng's expression didn't change. His tone was calm and indifferent. "When I, Yang Cheng, give my word, it counts."
That unruffled attitude only made the Lu clan's younger generation bristle. Lu Ting's eyes burned with fury. If not for Lu Canglan's restraining hand, he would have already rushed forward to strike.
Even Lu Canglan's own face darkened further, his anger barely contained beneath his calm voice. "I am Lu Canglan of the Lu family. The one whose limbs were destroyed by the woman beside you—Lu Guan—is my grandson."
He deliberately emphasized the words 'woman beside you', his hawk-like eyes narrowing on Yang Cheng. "Before all the guests of the Southern Region today, I want to ask you, Yang Cheng—why were you so vicious? Why would you order a woman to cripple my grandson so ruthlessly?"
"Who said His Highness ordered me to do anything?"
Lin Shu stepped forward immediately, her voice sharp and cold. "It was Lu Guan who repeatedly insulted His Highness. I acted on my own to punish him. It had nothing to do with His Highness—this was entirely my decision."