Meanwhile, elsewhere.
Supported by two subordinates, the young master of the Tiansha Sect returned to the inn where their sect was staying.
“Xu’er, what’s with the bloodstains on you?” the Tiansha Sect leader asked immediately upon seeing the blood on his son.
“Father, I was beaten! I even announced I was from the Tiansha Sect, but he still attacked. It’s an outright insult to our sect! I can endure personal humiliation, but how can our mighty Tiansha Sect tolerate such an affront? Father, you must restore our sect’s honour!” the young master of the Tiansha Sect said urgently.
“Who dares provoke our Tiansha Sect? What’s their background, and what’s their strength?” the Tiansha Sect leader asked coldly.
“Father, I don’t know his origins. When he hit me, he didn’t use any inner energy, so I couldn’t gauge his realm,” the young master replied.
“Oh? No inner energy?”
The Tiansha Sect leader showed a hint of surprise, “It seems this person’s strength is considerable.”
Then, he ordered the two subordinates who had brought his son back, “You two, go investigate this person’s background.”
“Yes!” the subordinates responded.
The Tiansha Sect leader turned to his son, “Xu’er, come with me to the prefectural palace for the banquet. We’ll leave now and deal with this matter later.”
“Alright, Father!” the young master quickly agreed.
With that, the two left the inn.
…
After returning to the prefectural palace, Lin Yun changed into his official prefectural lord robes and went to his study, flipping through ancient texts while awaiting the start of the banquet.
Guests began arriving one after another, and Liang Yuan was responsible for receiving and guiding them to the banquet hall.
At six in the evening, Huo Zhen came to the study.
“Big Brother, everyone’s here, in the banquet hall!” Huo Zhen said.
“Good, let’s go.”
Lin Yun stood and walked out…
In the banquet hall.
Over thirty tables were set up, with representatives from various families and sects seated.
As the prefectural lord, Lin Yun had personally invited them, so they dared not be absent.
The banquet hadn’t officially started, and the guests were gathered in groups, chatting.
“This new prefectural lord invited us, likely for the great purge.”
“Probably, but implementing that idea successfully is far too difficult.”
“He can’t force us to risk our lives. The law doesn’t punish the masses. Even as the prefectural lord, if we all refuse, he can’t do anything. He can’t possibly wipe out all our families and sects, can he?”
“Of course not. So, the prefectural lord’s plan is simply impossible to achieve.”
…
Many were whispering among themselves.
Those present were from the top hundred families and sects in Dongyuan Prefecture, including the most powerful ones.
Sect Leader Niyin of the Ziqing Sect was also there, but as a minor faction, her sect was barely noticeable, seated far back from the main platform.
Each family or sect attending the banquet sent at least one representative, with a maximum of three, so Niyin had brought one elder.
“Our Ziqing Sect is somewhat prominent in our county, but here, we’re just an insignificant faction,” Niyin said, her beautiful eyes flickering with a sigh.
“Sect Leader, it seems the young master of the Tiansha Sect is coming our way,” the Ziqing Sect elder whispered.
Niyin looked up and saw the young master of the Tiansha Sect striding towards them, reaching their table in no time.
Their table was filled with representatives from small sects and families, who were naturally uneasy seeing the young master approach.
“Young Master Xu!”
The sect leaders and family heads at the table stood and bowed.
Fang Xu, the young master of the Tiansha Sect, folded his arms and looked down at Niyin arrogantly, “Niyin, be honest. What’s the name and background of the guy who hit me today?”
“I don’t know him,” Niyin replied coldly.
Slap!
Fang Xu slapped Niyin across the face.
“You filthy wench, don’t play dumb. He stepped in to save you, and you expect me to believe you don’t know him?” Fang Xu glared at Niyin, lashing out.
“This Ziqing Sect leader has really stirred trouble with the young master of the Tiansha Sect. She’s truly unlucky.”
The other guests at the table sighed but dared not intervene.
“Sect Leader!”
The Ziqing Sect elder, alarmed, quickly helped Niyin up.
Her delicate face now bore five clear finger marks.
“Young Master Fang Xu, aren’t you going too far? This is the prefectural palace, and I’m one of the prefectural lord’s invited guests. By attacking me, you’re disrespecting the prefectural lord. Aren’t you afraid of angering him?” Niyin said firmly.
“Haha, believe me, even if the prefectural lord were here, he’d side with me. The value of my Tiansha Sect far outweighs your pathetic Ziqing Sect. In his eyes, a small sect like yours isn’t worth his attention,” Fang Xu sneered.
“The prefectural lord is arriving. All take your seats!”
A resonant voice echoed through the hall.
Fang Xu, who had been about to continue his outburst, immediately quieted down.
“Sect Leader Niyin, just you wait. I’ll make your Ziqing Sect pay!”
With that, Fang Xu hurried back to his seat.
The guests, who had been chatting in groups, quickly returned to their seats, and the hall fell silent, awaiting the prefectural lord’s arrival.
“Sect Leader, what do we do? If Young Master Fang Xu continues to target us, it could spell disaster for our Ziqing Sect!” the Ziqing Sect elder said anxiously.
Niyin didn’t respond, but she grew more determined to find a chance to ask the prefectural lord to mediate, or her Ziqing Sect was doomed!
But would she even get a chance to speak with the prefectural lord face-to-face?
And if she did, would he be willing to help her Ziqing Sect? Or, as Fang Xu had just said, would the prefectural lord side with the Tiansha Sect even if he knew? Niyin was deeply worried and utterly uncertain.
“The prefectural lord has arrived! All rise!”
The resonant voice sounded again.
The guests stood, turning towards the entrance.
Niyin also stood, looking towards the door.
A young figure in official prefectural lord robes strode into the hall under the gaze of everyone present.
“It’s… him!?”
When Niyin saw the figure, she was stunned, frozen in shock.
Wasn’t this the person who had saved her that afternoon?
After Lin Yun had left, Niyin had regretted not asking his name, as he had rescued her.
“He… he’s the new prefectural lord of Dongyuan Prefecture, Lin Yun?” Niyin covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes gleaming with disbelief, her heart surging with waves of shock.
