“Four years apart, and I never expected your cultivation to progress so quickly. Back then, you were far behind your peers,” Ling Hu grinned. Ling Ping had been one of his closer friends, someone who supported his father’s lineage, and Ling Hu held a rather good impression of him.
“Let’s not talk about that now. The higher-ups are holding a family meeting, so you’d better hide. Although you’ve been gone for four years, Ling Xun has never stopped targeting you, even sending people to keep tabs on your whereabouts. Now, Ling Lie is the family head. If they see you, they won’t let you off,” Ling Ping said anxiously.
“Good brother, thanks!” Ling Hu said gratefully. Ling Ping’s character hadn’t changed, unaffected by Ling Xun and his son’s control over the Ling family.
As for the family being controlled by Ling Xun and his son, he had long expected it.
“We’re brothers, no need for thanks. You’d better hide now, come with me quickly,” Ling Ping said hurriedly, turning to lead the way. He didn’t pay much attention to Lin Xiao and the other, assuming that since Ling Hu brought them, they must be on his side, so there was no need for suspicion.
Though the woman’s stunning beauty caught his eye, now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. His mind was focused on worrying about Ling Hu’s safety.
Returning so openly was bound to get him noticed.
Ling Hu shook his head, “No need to hide. Since the family’s higher-ups are all here, it’s perfect timing. Ling Ping, come with me to the family meeting hall.”
“What?” Ling Ping was taken aback, “Storming the meeting hall would break family rules, Ling Hu. I know you have a grudge against Ling Xun and his son, but rushing in like this will only give them leverage to use against you.”
“Oh, and four years ago, Ling Lie’s cultivation had already reached the first level of Martial Monarch. If they decide to act, even Elder Ling Zhongqian won’t be able to protect you.”
Ling Ping added, having been involved in helping Ling Hu escape back then and knowing a bit about who was on his side.
“First level of Martial Monarch? They can’t do anything to me. Ling Ping, trust me, today I’ll definitely get justice for what happened back then,” Ling Hu said firmly.
“Hm?” Hearing Ling Hu’s words and seeing his confident expression, Ling Ping couldn’t help but pause, “Are you serious?”
Though he didn’t know what trump card Ling Hu had, he knew him well.
Back then, Ling Hu wasn’t particularly wise and acted impulsively due to his youth.
Yet, after learning about the Black Seal Poison, the usually brash Ling Hu managed to restrain himself and leave, showing he wasn’t reckless.
Four years had passed, and after such setbacks, Ling Hu must have grown further. He wouldn’t be foolishly confronting Ling Xun and his son without a plan.
“Alright! I’ll go with you!” Ling Ping finally nodded.
“Let’s go!” Ling Hu then strode forward, leading Lin Xiao.
“Wait, they’re coming too?” Ling Ping was stunned. Even if Ling Hu confronted Ling Lie, it was an internal family matter, but bringing outsiders changed the nature of it.
Bringing outsiders into the family meeting hall was a major taboo and would provoke the other elders’ disapproval.
“They’re my trump card,” Ling Hu said without elaborating, continuing forward.
Ling Ping was puzzled, even wondering, “Could they be from some major family or force?”
Though confused, he ultimately followed Ling Hu’s steps. If Ling Hu didn’t get some justice, he’d face punishment too, but he chose to trust him.
At this moment, in the Ling family’s meeting hall, twenty-three people sat upright. A gaunt, black-haired elder sat at the head, with twenty-two others seated in two rows below.
Forty percent were elders, sixty percent middle-aged, and among them was a young man in his early twenties.
This young man was the Ling family’s next-generation heir, Ling Xun, and the head of the family was his father, Ling Lie.
At this time, Ling Lie slammed an invitation onto the table, saying gravely, “Su Yun, the young master of the Su family, and Guo Qianqian, the direct daughter of the Guo family, are to be married in half a month at the Su family, inviting the Ling family to the banquet. Elders, what are your thoughts on this?”
The expressions of those present were grim.
Su Yun was the top figure among the Su family’s younger generation, their heir, while Guo Qianqian was the second genius of the Guo family’s younger generation. Their marriage signaled a deep alliance between the two families.
“The Guo family is separated from our Ling family by the Su family, ten thousand miles apart. The Guo and Su families have always been rivals. Why would they suddenly form a marriage alliance?” one elder spoke up.
“They must be eyeing our Ling family, planning to join forces to swallow our territory. This banquet is surely a trap. We mustn’t go, or we’ll never return,” another elder said.
“It’s also possible they’re targeting the Cai family further north. The Cai family and the Guo family have been fiercely competitive in recent years,” another elder speculated.
“In my view, whether it’s the Cai family or our Ling family, they want to deal with both, just a matter of who’s first. Our Ling family and the Cai family are too far apart, separated by the Su and Guo families, making trust and cooperation difficult. The Su and Guo families must have seized this opportunity to plan a marriage alliance and encroach on both our territories,” another said.
Others nodded, strongly agreeing with this elder’s view.
“Hmph, so what if they join forces? Our Ling family isn’t a pushover. If they want to wage war on us, let them bleed heavily. Then we’ll see how they fend off the northern Cai family!” a hot-tempered elder declared.
“Exactly. Though the Cai family is hard to contact, if the Guo family sends a large force south, the Cai family will surely act. Then, neither family will gain much. Conversely, if the Su family sends a large force to deal with the Cai family, we can take the chance to strike at the Su family.”
“That’s the logic, but the Su and Guo families aren’t fools. Even so, they’re still forming an alliance, which puts them in the driver’s seat.”
“In my opinion, we should first secretly contact the Cai family before making further plans.”
A flurry of discussions arose, each elder voicing their own opinions.
But just as the debate grew heated, a loud young voice came from outside the meeting hall, “No need for such trouble. In half a month, the two families won’t be forming an alliance at all!”
Hearing this, everyone was stunned, then turned furious gazes towards the meeting hall’s entrance.
The Ling family’s greatest taboo was juniors interrupting when the family’s higher-ups were discussing important matters.
At this moment, as opinions were being exchanged, some junior dared to barge in, claiming the two families wouldn’t ally, with a tone utterly lacking the respect expected of a junior.
Under their angry gazes, the meeting hall’s doors were forcefully opened, and four young figures appeared in their sight.
The four walked towards the group, unhurried.
