Everyone had left. In the dilapidated little courtyard, only Qin Li and his mother remained. Qin Hanyue's brow was furrowed, her eyes holding a trace of confusion.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Qin Li asked softly, his gaze filled with concern.
He knew that no matter what, the stunningly beautiful woman before him would never abandon him. 'What else but a mother's love could make a gentle woman fearlessly rush forward to face a blood-soaked blade?' Qin Li could think of no other reason.
"Come, let's go inside and talk." Qin Hanyue's voice was tinged with exhaustion. She didn't seem nearly as moved or happy as he had expected.
Qin Li paused. He had pitifully few memories of his maternal grandfather, Qin Hongyuan—almost none at all. 'But judging from Mom's reaction, it seems... things aren't so simple!'
Qin Hanyue led Qin Li into the room and had him sit down. Her beautiful eyes gazed into his as she spoke slowly. "Li, there are some things I had planned to tell you only when you were older. For a young child, some things are better left unknown. But what you did today... it completely surprised me!"
As she spoke, she gave Qin Li a meaningful look.
Qin Li's heart skipped a beat. 'Was I too calm when I killed those men? Did she see something was off?'
Qin Hanyue didn't seem to suspect anything and continued, "This ordeal has forced you to mature. I'm so relieved! Do you know why I named you Qin Li?"
Qin Li shook his head. As far as he could remember, Qin Hanyue had never spoken of this. Of course, the old Qin Li would never have had this kind of conversation with his mother, much less have done what he did today.
"I hoped that one day, you would grow into a man who could stand tall and proud! I want everyone who looks down on you to know that you are my son, Qin Hanyue's son!" As she spoke, her eyes glistened with tears. "For that, I am willing to endure any hardship!"
"Mom..." Qin Li's voice choked. Qin Hanyue's words were filled with an endless love for him, a love that wrapped around him like warm sunlight. It was a feeling he had never experienced before.
"Alright, I know you've grown up now. You know how to protect me! I'm so happy." Qin Hanyue gently wiped the corner of Qin Li's eye. "My father is a very capable and ambitious man. Under his leadership, the Qin Family grew step-by-step from a mid-tier family to what it is today. In Yellow Sand City, there are three great families: the Shangguan Family, the Fang Family, and our Qin Family. The Shangguan Family is the strongest, having almost monopolized all service-related industries. The Fang Family's business is mainly elixirs. As for our Qin Family, we are a family of adventurers—some even call us the Hunter Clan. Medicinal herbs, Spirit Beasts, even treasure hunting—all fall under the Qin Family's purview."
This was the first time Qin Li had heard his mother speak of such things. The old Qin Li only cared about his training and wouldn't have bothered with anything else.
"What are Spirit Beasts?"
Qin Hanyue gave a wry smile, looking at Qin Li with affection. "My dear boy, all that training has really made you muddle-headed. Spirit Beasts are born in the mountains and forests; they are nature's favored children! All Spirit Beasts have special abilities. Many are extremely aggressive, and legends say there are even some that surpass the Celestial Level. They can even take on human form and appear among us!"
"That's terrifying!" Qin Li was stunned. 'Sounds like something out of a ghost story…' he thought.
Qin Hanyue continued, "I know your grandfather very well. He's an incredibly hard-hearted man. If he could ignore us for thirteen years, he could have continued to do so indefinitely. If nothing unexpected had happened, he likely would have gone to his grave without ever seeing me again."
Looking at his mother's sorrowful expression, Qin Li slowly asked, "Are you saying... his visit today, and everything he did, had nothing to do with kinship?"
Qin Hanyue froze, staring at Qin Li in a daze for a long moment before a smile bloomed on her face, a smile tinged with gratification. "My dear boy, you've finally grown up! I didn't expect you to realize that."
Her tone suddenly grew lighter. "I was worried you wouldn't understand, that you'd think I didn't want you to have a better life."
Qin Li laughed. "I'm sure some people aren't thinking that way. They're probably feeling pretty miserable right now. Mom, don't worry. Even if we left the Qin Family right now, I can support you. I promise I'll never let you be wronged again!"
What in the world could make a mother happier than seeing her son so grown up?
Qin Hanyue felt that in this single moment, her thirteen years of hardship had been rewarded in the best possible way. She couldn't help but pull Qin Li into her arms, whispering softly through her tears, "I believe in you. In my heart, you are the most wonderful person in the world."
...
The atmosphere in the Qin Family's great hall was heavy. Qin Hongyuan, seated in the Patriarch's chair, wore a placid expression. Before him knelt Qin Feng. Behind Qin Feng stood the three octogenarian Elders, who hadn't even been offered seats. Their faces were grim.
The wives of the main family line, who had come so aggressively demanding an explanation, now cowered in the back, as silent as statues. They kept their heads bowed, not daring to even breathe too loudly.
As for the stewards and members of the side branches who had come to watch the drama, they weren't even qualified to enter the room. They were all kneeling outside. This wasn't some voluntary gesture of respect for the Patriarch, Qin Hongyuan. Just moments ago, he had erupted with thunderous fury, instantly shattering the confidence of all who had come.
Even the Elders had received no courtesy from Qin Hongyuan, which was shocking, as Patriarch Qin Hongyuan was normally very polite to them.
"Grandfather, I'll take responsibility for my actions! I was the one who went to the Grand Elders. I don't understand—on what grounds are we giving Zichen Garden to them? What have they ever contributed to the Qin Family?"
Perhaps it was because of Qin Hongyuan's constant doting that the boy, who had been showered with affection his entire life, was not particularly afraid of the imposing Patriarch. So even now, though Qin Feng was kneeling, his voice remained defiant.
"Hongyuan," a thin, silver-haired, and deeply wrinkled old man said slowly, "By my count, it's been a good ten years since I last came to this great hall. When a man gets old, he learns to speak less and mind his own business if he doesn't want to be a nuisance. Thirteen years ago, when you dealt with your daughter's affair, most of the family was deeply dissatisfied. A woman who committed such a scandalous act should have been drowned in a pig cage! She ruined the Qin Family's reputation! Even if you didn't kill her, you should have expelled her from the family!"
"That's right. Hongyuan, my boy, I watched you grow up. You're a capable man! Over the years, the family has indeed prospered under your leadership. But on this one matter, your handling... it was unjust!" another, portly old man said with a look of regret.
"He's the Patriarch now. We old relics... we've got one foot in the grave already, what status do we have left? Look at us, we can't even get a seat in here!" another tall, thin Elder said, stamping his cane forcefully on the floor twice as he spoke with resentment.
Qin Feng's mother, Mo Lan—the primary wife of the eldest son of the main branch—stood in the back, her heart aching as she watched her son kneel. Seeing that the three Elders had clearly voiced their displeasure, she could no longer hold back. She decided to add more fuel to the fire and see how her father-in-law would rule.
"Father, it is not my place to speak, but this matter has caused widespread resentment throughout the family. I feel that for the sake of both the family's reputation and our own private affairs, you should explain your reasons for this..." Mo Lan was a clever woman. She didn't directly attack Qin Hanyue and her son. Instead, she used the entire family's sentiment as leverage. Her intention was clear: 'Even as the Patriarch, you still have to consider the clan's feelings, don't you?'
Qin Hongyuan remained expressionless as he looked down at the crowd. Suddenly, with a SLAM, he struck the armrest of his priceless chair, crafted from thousand-year-old huanghuali wood. With a sharp CRACK, the incredibly hard armrest shattered and fell to the floor in pieces. Qin Hongyuan shot to his feet, his immense presence bearing down on them like a mountain.
Only then did everyone seem to remember that this Patriarch, who never displayed his martial prowess, was an eighth-stage Profound Level Martial Artist! A true master!
"You've all gone mad!" Qin Hongyuan jabbed a finger at Qin Feng. "Get out! Go face the wall and reflect on your actions! You will have no food for three days! It's not your time to run this family yet! Get out! Get out!"
Having been showered with praise his entire life, Qin Feng had never seen such a violent side to his grandfather. His face went deathly pale, and tears welled in his eyes. He scrambled to his feet, turned, and bolted from the room.
BANG!
The door to the hall was slammed shut.
Everyone's heart leaped in their chest.
Qin Hongyuan's gaze fell upon his daughters-in-law at the back. "An explanation?" he said coldly. "Why should I have to explain myself to you?"
He took a slight breath, then turned to the three Elders, his tone softening. "Three Uncles, forgive me, but I cannot explain the details of this matter to you right now. In short, please believe me when I say that my heart is true to the Qin Family. I would never do anything to harm it. In the future... you will understand the difficult position I am in."
Qin Hongyuan said this with a faint smile. "The day I step down as Patriarch, I'll tend to my garden, go fishing, and raise some birds... That is what an old man is supposed to do."
Though the three Elders were ancient and frail, none of them were senile. How could they fail to grasp the meaning behind his words? They were furious but had no way to vent their anger, as he was ostensibly talking about himself. Finally, the tall, thin Elder sneered, "Fine, then. We old fossils will just wait to see the fruits of the Patriarch's 'difficult position'!"
With that, the three old men turned and left, trembling as they leaned on their canes. Perhaps in their youth, they had been titans who commanded great authority, but now, their stooped figures looked utterly desolate as they departed.
Now, only the wives of the main family line remained in the room. Qin Hongyuan snorted. "Don't think I don't know what you're all thinking. I'm not dead yet! You'd all better behave! From now on, if I hear a single whisper of gossip about that mother and son coming from any of you... don't blame me for being merciless!"
Having said his piece, Qin Hongyuan opened the door and left, leaving the room full of ashen-faced Qin wives.