Harry just ignored the comments made by Jack.
They followed the path to the clan leader's residence. Along the way, everyone tried to greet Jack in an attempt to butter him up.
Core disciples in the clan held a high status. They were an inseparable part of the clan and contained its main power.
Jack was aloof and ignorant towards their buttering.
"Harry, aren't they irritating?" Jack asked, his tone a lot softer.
"Tch..." Harry kept quiet. His soft tone meant this guy wanted to ask something.
"Leave it... Could you tell me about Lyria? If you agree, I can send you another girl in exchange," Jack chuckled.
He was confident in his position. Though Harry was still part of the main family, no one would treat him that way. And with his power and position, he was sure that Harry would accept his offer just to get his support.
Harry paused in his tracks, staring at Jack.
"You better shut your mouth, or I will..." Harry paused.
"You will... what?" Jack chuckled. "You can't even cultivate, loser."
Harry got a sly smile on his face. "Lyria was assigned to me as a caretaker by the clan leader. Let's see how he reacts when I tell him about your plans."
Jack looked away, shuddering, but he came back to his senses in no time.
"That's all a former genius can do, wiggle his tail and ask for help."
"Soon, you will know what else I can do, and don't you ever dare to put a finger on her," Harry warned.
They had reached the main compound of the clan leader.
Two guards standing by the doors were equipped in armor that had a leaf symbol on it.
"Only Sir Harry is allowed to enter," the guards stopped Jack outside.
Harry was still part of the main family, so his position still needed to be respected by others.
Inside, Harry saw the familiar setting as a low hum echoed through the house. Beautiful paintings hung on the walls.
Tables and stools made of fine wood were spread across the waiting room.
It was separated by a curtain from the clan leader's resting area.
"Harry, come in," a heavy voice came through the curtains as the low hum stopped.
Harry entered without wasting any time. He had seen this man many times. Unlike others, he wasn't as afraid of him.
"Harry Silverleaf greets the clan leader," he said, bowing politely.
The clan leader glanced at his body, shaking his head in disappointment.
"Looks like you have made no improvement."
Harry just stood there in silence. When his eyes locked on the leader, he asked, "Did the leader find the culprit?"
The leader just sighed. He was well aware of the culprit, but saying it out loud would bring him no benefit. Harry had already been turned into waste. Losing one of the clan's main powerhouses was always a bad outcome for him.
The Grand Elder was the culprit, but he wouldn't say it.
Harry gritted his teeth, seeing his reaction. He could read the response from his face. He knew the man knew something, but Harry had nothing to offer the clan in exchange.
"You know why I asked you to be here?" the clan leader spoke in an indifferent, harsh tone. There was no sign of compassion in his voice, unlike before.
"To throw me out of the family?" It was a question, but Harry was sure of his idea.
"Hmmm..." The clan leader thought for a moment. "Not now. There will be a competition among the clan members in a month. If you can't get a satisfactory position in that competition, then your thoughts will become true. I can only buy that much time for you."
"Here, take it." The leader handed a black matte box to Harry.
"It is the Azure Rebirth Pill. Now it's up to you whether you can recover or not." The clan leader smiled.
Harry's hands trembled. It was a precious pill, so precious that even the whole wealth of the Silverleaf Clan couldn't afford it.
His eyes felt wet as he looked at the clan leader, who was smiling. He couldn't thank the old man enough.
"Ofcourse I can't get it, it was Serena who got it from her family".
"I will give my best." Harry turned around and left the place. He felt his heart beating faster, realizing that the old man and his wife Serena was still ready to put all his hope in him.
He couldn't imagine how he had managed to procure such a precious pill without making anyone suspicious. Or how anyone would let him invest so much in Harry.
This pill gave a 25% chance of recovery from injuries related to the meridians.
But he had different plans. His meridians would be repaired once he made a bond with Lyria.
So this pill was going to be used in a different way.
Outside, Jack and two other core disciples were waiting for him.
Harry had put the box in his robe, so they were eyeing him with curiosity.
"We heard some news: you will be kicked from the clan in a month," Jack laughed, grinning.
Harry was surprised to hear that. How did the news get out?
He kept walking, ignoring them. He saw someone standing farther away, leaning against a tree.
It was the Grand Elder's son, Albert.
It made sense. The Grand Elder must have told his son about it, and he had spread it among the core disciples out of jealousy.
Back then, he had been ignored in front of Harry. Being the son of the Grand Elder, he was expected to be the most talented among the younger generation, but his limelight had been stolen by a nobody.
All the resources that should have been his were being spent on fucking nobody. And it seemed his jealousy had still not vanished.
"Lyria will be mine after one month, you moron," Jack laughed his ass off, remembering how Harry had threatened him.
"When some people can't reach the heights, they start pulling the ladder down from others. But you know what? They will always be beneath those who fall from the ladders," Harry said and continued walking.
Albert gritted his teeth. If he hadn't been told not to, he would have killed Harry by now. But his father had asked him to focus on his cultivation and not bother Harry.
"Knock... knock... Lyria, it's me," Harry knocked on the door.
Opening the door, Lyria looked at him with curiosity.
"Why are you so happy?" she asked, looking at his big smile.
Harry pushed her inside, closing the door behind them. "What else could you expect from a guy who has such a beauty in front of him?"
Lyria's face turned crimson as she found herself pressed against Harry's weight.