Chapter 17 Forceful Intimidation
“Abolish xuan strength and expulsion from the Ling Family!”
These words were like an ancient funeral toll, causing Fifth Elder Ling Yan’s eyes to twitch as an uneasy feeling to fill his heart.
Ling Xiao straightened his back and looked around at all the elders before finally looking at Ling Yan to ask indifferently, “May I ask Fifth Elder whether I am the Patriarch’s grandson or not?”
Fifth Elder’s eyebrows rose up and then nodded his head matter-of-factly, “Naturally. But how is this related to what you said earlier?”
“Of course this is related, and it’s of vital importance.” Ling Xiao kept everyone in suspense.
Second Elder Ling Mo said impatiently, “Get to the point.”
Ling Xiao glanced at the Second Elder before looking at the Fifth Elder and continued, “May I ask Fifth Elder if Cousin Ling Rui is your grandson?”
Fifth Elder Ling Yan remained silent, “Of course. All the elders present were there when he was born.”
“What if someone calls Ling Rui a son of a bitch? This…” Ling Xiao said indifferently.
Before he finished, Ling Yan slammed the table and roared angrily, “Who dares to be so brazen? I’ll exterminate his whole family!”
“There’s no need to get angry Fifth Elder; I only said what if. In fact, no one dares to offend Fifth Elder inside the family.” Ling Xiao laughed and said.
Ling Yan glared angrily at Ling Xiao and said, “Are you finished or not? Don’t go off on a tangent.”
At this moment, Fourth Elder Ling Wei said in a deep voice, “Ling Xiao, if you have something to say, just say it. Do not beat around the bush.”
Ling Xiao agreed with Fourth Elder, “Yes,” and then sternly said, “When Honor Guard Ling Tao and I entered the inner court just now, Cousin Ling Rui insulted me by calling me a son of a bitch. Fifth Elder also just acknowledged that I am the patriarch’s grandson. I would like to request that all of you esteemed Elders bear witness. May I ask Fourth Elder and Fifth Elder, is this disrespectful to the Patriarch or not?”
Upon hearing these words, the Elders’ expression changed. Ling Yan, in particular, looked as if he wanted to tear Ling Xiao apart alive.
“Nonsense! I’m not convinced that my young grandson will speak such reprehensible words!” Ling Yan stood up and thundered.
“Honor Guard Ling Tao can attest to this incident.” Ling Xiao said as he pointed to Ling Tao standing in the corner.
At this time, Ling Tao stood out and said. “That’s right. Ling Rui did call Ling Xiao a son of a bitch.”
He had been very careful with his choice of words. He only confirmed that Ling Rui called Ling Xiao a son of a bitch and didn’t say that the Patriarch was insulted. His confirmation was supposed to be fair and impartial, but all the Elders know that the implications are self-evident.
“That’s outrageous, unexpectedly speaking such obscenity!” Third Elder Ling Yuan opened his narrow eyes and said insipidly.
Ling Yan looked at Ling Yuan and did not dare to speak further as he returned to his seat, but both of his fists were clenched tightly.
At this moment, Ling Mo opened his mouth to speak, “Xiao’er was just joking. He didn’t mean what he said.”
When Ling Mo said these words, none of the Elders spoke any further. Third Elder only cast a glance at Ling Cang before closing his eyes again.
Ling Xiao suddenly burst into loud laughter, “Haha…haha…”
His voice resounded throughout the entire residence.
Ling Wei coldly snorted, “Do not make a racket during proceedings in this hall!”
Ling Xiao restrained himself and said to Ling Wei, “I have heard that Fourth Elder is the most impartial and righteous elder in the family, and now I’ll be able to witness this for myself. I asked Fifth Elder just now if insulting Ling Rui as a son of a bitch is disrespectful to Fifth Elder. His response was to exterminate the entire family of the accused. And now Ling Rui calls me a son of a bitch? Is this not disrespectful to the Patriarch? Fourth Elder said a moment ago, the sentence for such a crime is abolishing the culprit’s xuan strength and expulsion from the family. However, the Second Elder makes one statement, and now you don’t dare convict? I naturally won’t argue with Ling Rui if he’s just a child, but he’s already an adult who has held his coming of age ceremony. He must be held accountable for the things he says.”
Ling Xiao’s powerful words resounded in the air, each sentence was thought provoking, and each sentence was like a punch to the gut to all the elders present.
“You’re right. He should have his xuan strength abolished and be expelled from the family.” Third Elder Ling Yuan’s eyes opened wide and watched Ling Xiao with a smile of approval, but this smile was a bit unsightly since he was just too fat.
“Yes, Ling Rui should be punished severely.” The second to speak is the Sixth Elder.
After that, Seventh Elder and Ninth Elder also echoed in agreement.
Only Eighth Elder cast a meaningful glance at Second Elder but remained silent.
Fourth Elder Ling Wei and Fifth Elder Ling Yan stared closely at Ling Xiao. The former had a thoughtful expression and seemed to want to see through Ling Xiao. The latter was gnashing his teeth; his hatred appears as deep as the sea.
Second Elder merely looked at Ling Xiao as he continued to tap on his chair with his fingers, and remained silent.
Patriarch Ling Cang still had not said a word, peacefully sitting in his position above, as if he had fallen asleep, oblivious to the events around him.
After a long time, Fourth Elder let out a long breath and said, “According to family regulation’s nineteenth sentence, Ling Rui will abolish his xuan strength and be expelled from the family for disrespecting the Patriarch.”
When these words came out, Fifth Elder’s body shook before he swallowed a belly full of anger and stood up. He proceeded to bow to Ling Cang before speaking, “Patriarch. I failed to raise my grandson properly. I ask Patriarch to show mercy and give a lenient sentence.”
At this moment, Ling Cang looked up and finally opened his mouth to speak, “Considering this as Ling Rui’s youthful indiscretion, I’ll exempt abolishing his xuan strength. Instead of expulsion from the family, he must accept punishment by doing penance behind the mountain for six months.”
Fifth Elder filled with joy and immediately clasps his hands and bow in thanks.
“All right, the reason I convened the elders today is to propose Ling Xiao’s return to the inner court. Everyone, please express your views.” Ling Cang struck while the iron is hot and asked.
Ling Cang had barely finished speaking when Third Elder Ling Yuan immediately agreed, “I approve.”
Afterward, Second Elder Ling Mo also spoke, “I have no objection.”
The rest of the Elders consented shortly after that, and no one opposed—no one dared to express a different view at this time.
He had planned on making things difficult for Ling Xiao today, but Ling Xiao had gained the initiative by striking first and left him with almost no room to retreat. He will not so quickly forget this debt.
“Good, we’ll consider this matter finished. Henceforth, Ling Xiao is free to go in and out of the inner court, allowed to peruse the xuan skills on the first and second floor of the Xuan Skill Pavilion, receive a first-grade weapon of his choice, and permitted to participate in next month’s family test. Today’s meeting will end here.” After Ling Cang announced Ling Xiao’s arrangements, he immediately waved his hands and continued, “Ling Xiao is to stay behind.”
Ling Xiao, who was planning to turn around and leave, stopped in his tracks. After all the elders have vacated the hall, Ling Cang lightly waved his hand causing the doors to close.
Ling Xiao greatly appreciates Ling Cang’s skill, which requires at least the realm of xuan strength projection to accomplish. But more importantly, only a spirit master may be able to display this level of complete control over his power!
Ling Cang came down from his seat above to gaze at Ling Xiao and said, “Child, do you hate your grandfather?”
At this moment, Ling Cang did not have the dignified are of a superior, but only had the peaceful and calm qualities of a loving grandfather.
Ling Xiao did not know why his heart felt sour and immediately said, “At the beginning, there was hate. I hated how Grandfather was so heartless to cast aside our family and not look back. I hated how Grandfather had not visited me even once in two years. I hated myself for not being born into an ordinary family so that I can grow up with happy memories playing with Grandfather.”
By this point in his speech, Ling Cang let out a long sigh and turned his face away, not letting his old tears flow out from his eyes.
Afterward, Ling Xiao continued, “But after seeing Grandfather today, I don’t hate you anymore. As the head of the family, Grandfather naturally has to prioritize the family’s interests. As a major family of Falling Stone City, the other families eye the Ling Family covetously and wish to take our family’s place. Grandfather needed to give consideration to everyone and it was necessary to throw us away. To say nothing of our family’s internal problems nowadays, how would Grandfather have the time to attend to our family? Therefore, Xiao’er no longer hates Grandfather.”
As Ling Cang watches Ling Xiao speak candidly, his old tears finally started to well up. Fortunately, he promptly regained his composure and did not allow it to flow out.
Ling Cang went over to Ling Xiao’s side and heavily patted him on the back. “Having a sensible grandson like you really makes me feel relieved in my heart.”
“Grandfather is being too hard on yourself. I still hope that Grandfather can take the time to visit my parents. They had been unhappy all these years.” Ling Xiao murmured.
Ling Cang nodded and said, “Your family has suffered these years. I hope Zhan’er and Xi Yun don’t blame this old man. Grandfather also wants to unload the heavy burden of being patriarch and enjoy loving family gatherings in my later years.”
Ling Xiao then said, “Don’t. I still want a patriarch grandfather. This is too cool!”
“You little punk, speak up. What do you want for compensation?” Ling Cang said snappily.
“What…what compensation?” Ling Xiao was a little confused and asked.
“It’s compensation for treating you coldly these past two years. So long as it’s within my abilities, I’ll meet any of your demands.” Ling Cang said with both hands behind his back.
“This…let me think about it.” Ling Xiao filled with joy. Afterward, he rubbed his nose and thought for a moment before answering, “Just give me a hundred thousand gold coins and a dozen or so second-grade Crow King Ginseng, the older the age, the better.”
“A hundred thousand gold coins? You think your grandfather grows money on trees?” Ling Cang said angrily, and then asked, “Why on earth do you want second-grade Crow King Ginseng? You can’t even completely absorb the Crow King Ginseng’s medicinal properties as a ninth-rank martial apprentice. It will only be a waste of resources.”
“I need to use it to break through martial apprentice and become a xuan practitioner.” Ling Xiao said.
“Xiao’er, there are several flaws to your idea. Although Crow King Ginseng can increase xuan strength, it’s still just an external force and won’t help you break through ranks. If you want to break through ranks, it would be better to use a second-grade Xuan Increasing Pill. Unfortunately, your foundation will be unstable if you rely on medicinal pills to break through to xuan practitioner and will be detrimental to your future growth. Therefore, you should still pick something else.” Ling Cang explained.
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Thereupon, Ling Xiao explained to Ling Cang the same the “immortal dream” he had told Ling Zhan before, and then revealed his body’s current situation.
Ling Cang wore a shocked expression as he looked at Ling Xiao, “You…you’re speaking the truth?”
Ling Xiao nodded and said assuredly, “It’s true. Otherwise, how can I restore my xuan strength? Back then, Elder Taishang determined that nothing short of a fifth-grade heaven-defying medicinal pill would allow me to restore me to cultivate again.”
Ling Cang pondered for a while and then said solemnly, “Who else knows this?”
“Only my father.” Ling Xiao replied.
“Good. You can’t reveal this matter to anyone from now on, not even those closest to you. Do you understand?” Ling Cang exhorted seriously.
Ling Xiao nodded heavily.
After that, Ling Cang started to laugh and said, “Heaven must have blessed my Ling Family to gift Xiao’er this opportunity. Oh that’s right, can your father open his meridians just like you?”
“Of course, it won’t be long before Father will become a xuan practitioner once more.” Ling Xiao said assuredly.
“Good. Good. I’ll give you the two 1000 years old Crow King Ginseng in my collection.” Ling Cang cheered repeatedly as an exuberant smile appeared on his old face, making him look ten years younger.