Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1333: 859: Aren't They Afraid of Angering the Xuanqing Sect? (2)
Previously on Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather...
“Back then, that Yang disciple was also there. Apparently, the Wang family resented him for sabotaging the marriage alliance between their two clans, so now they seek to expel this Yang disciple!”
Elder Lu had no interest in the Sect's internal gossip, leaving him clueless about the full story.
Lu Yang's clarification soon brought Elder Lu up to speed.
A frown creased his face, his eyes brimming with disapproval as they fixed on Yang Qinting.
The Wang family was clearly at fault here, yet Yang Qinting had no business causing a public uproar; breaching Sect rules like this demanded the Law Enforcement Hall's intervention, not a showdown at the mountain gate.
Detecting his irritation, Yang Chengye moved ahead, positioning himself protectively in front of Yang Qinting.
“Elder Lu, are you here to ensure justice?”
“And who might you be?”
“I am Yang Chengye from the Yang family!”
“Ha~~ Why would a senior like me bother with a junior like you?” Elder Lu's displeasure mounted steadily.
Undaunted, Yang Chengye declared firmly, “The Yang family places faith in the Xuanqing Sect, sending our young ones here for cultivation. But this bullying of fellow disciples inside Xuanqing Sect leaves the Yang family utterly baffled!”
“With a three-thousand-year legacy and ironclad rules, Xuanqing Sect earns our trust. Still, we hope Xuanqing Sect won't shatter that trust!”
Elder Lu's brows knitted tightly. “What are you implying? That Xuanqing Sect's rules lack rigor?”
“Isn't it obvious? Sect members assault a fellow disciple—one from the Yang family, no less. Hehe, doesn't your Sect owe the Yang family some answers?” Yang Chengye retorted.
“Answers? Must Xuanqing Sect explain itself to your Yang family?” Elder Lu's face darkened noticeably.
“Why not? Is your Sect resorting to brute force, or refusing to follow its own regulations?”
Yang Chengye offered no quarter, his provocative words stirring the onlookers into a buzzing frenzy.
Elder Lu's annoyance boiled over. He despised the Wang family's tactics, but he absolutely refused to let anyone undermine the Sect's dignity right at the mountain gate.
“Insolent!” Enraged, Elder Lu swept his sleeve, barely restraining the urge to strike at Yang Chengye.
Lu Yang rushed in to intercept, whispering urgently, “Elder, hold back!”
Elder Lu turned to Lu Yang, who swiftly added, “Why let anger cloud your judgment, Elder? The Wang family ignited this mess—they should clean it up. Striking now would only pin the fault on you for their deeds.”
Elder Lu had zero desire to shoulder the Wang family's guilt; Yang Chengye's barbs had simply provoked him into near-rash action.
“So, what's the plan?”
“Summon an Elder from the Law Enforcement Hall to deal with it!” Lu Yang murmured.
Elder Lu pondered briefly, shot Yang Chengye a glance, and let out a cold snort. “Hmph, the Law Enforcement Hall will sort this out. Stay put!”
With a sharp flick of his sleeve, he stormed off.
Watching his retreating back, Yang Chengye gripped his gun rod, a sly grin creeping across his features.
This played right into his plans, proving Xuanqing Sect harbored deep rifts and divisions among its elders—not a united front.
Yet Lu Yang piqued his curiosity. Their eyes met, and they exchanged subtle nods of acknowledgment.
“Men!” Yang Chengye barked icily.
“Present!”
“These wretched curs ambushed and slaughtered Yang family disciples. They merit execution, but as Xuanqing Sect affiliates, I'll grant your Sect some face. No death, but punishment is inevitable.”
“Thrash them! Beat them to the brink of death first, then settle the rest!”
A chilling gleam flashed in Yang Chengye's eyes.
The Yang family needed to land a crushing blow on the Wang family today, wielding Xuanqing Sect's own hand to devastate them.
How to force Xuanqing Sect against the Wang family?
By ruthlessly trampling Xuanqing Sect's prestige, of course.
The Yang family held the righteous edge here; barring overreach, Xuanqing Sect couldn't retaliate against them.
Batterings, disturbances, taunts—as long as the Yang family skirted Xuanqing Sect's limits, the Sect would swallow the insult and back down.
Should Xuanqing Sect snap and refuse to yield?
A clash it would be!
“Understood!”
Luo Bo, Song Jie, and eight more answered sharply, wasting no time as they slammed Wang Shanhu and six others face-down, flipping their long guns to wield the rods for savage beatings.
Wang Shanhu and his six companions, already teetering on death's door with faint breaths, could only wail feebly under the rod strikes, too weak for proper cries.
The brutal spectacle made the spectators wince, feeling phantom pains in their own rears.
“They're actually doing it!”
“They're beating them senseless!”
“Tsk tsk, the Yang family sure is tyrannical, pulling this off right before Xuanqing Sect’s mountain gate?”
“Aren’t they afraid of angering Xuanqing Sect?”
The onlookers buzzed with fervent chatter.
Amid the throng, Yu Qingyi blurted, “Aren’t you afraid of angering Xuanqing Sect?”
Yang Zhenshan twirled his beard casually. “Fear? Why would I?”
“Our power falls far short of Xuanqing Sect’s?” Yu Qingyi whispered.
“True, we lag behind Xuanqing Sect in might, but that's precisely why we must flaunt our strength.” Yang Zhenshan responded.
Yang Chengye's bravado wasn't meant to ignite Xuanqing Sect's fury.
The provocation aimed to demonstrate the Yang family's backing and fearlessness toward Xuanqing Sect.
All to avert needless headaches.
Lately, the Yang family had reaped a fortune from the Sea of Spirit—equivalent to roughly eight million spirit stones.
As the proverb warns, “Wealth draws envy like jade tempts thieves”; such gains inevitably sparked greedy eyes.
Lesser foes posed no threat to Yang Zhenshan, but the Sea of Spirit's Three Sects demanded caution.
Wuxiang Sect especially, with its ominous hints.
Battered by repeated conflicts, Wuxiang Sect's ranks had thinned drastically, its profits gutted; a big score was essential to recover.
No wonder they'd eye the Yang family.
The challenge lay in deterring war with Wuxiang Sect.
Best approach: Instill fear in Wuxiang Sect, staving off attacks for now.
Thus, Yang Zhenshan borrowed Xuanqing Sect's fame to boost the Yang family's fearsome image—like climbing by stomping on Xuanqing Sect, crudely put.
Wuxiang Sect chased raw power sans reputation worries, but Xuanqing Sect bore three millennia of honored name.
Xuanqing Sect would tread carefully, least of all now, shunning Sea of Spirit turmoil.
Such was Yang Zhenshan's scheme to project dominance.
Deep down, he yearned for Xuanqing Sect to strike, unveiling Spirit Source Land's prowess to cement the Yang family's Sea of Spirit foothold.
…
Law Enforcement Hall.
A Law Enforcement Hall disciple hurried to Law Enforcement Elder Jiang Baichuan, murmuring, “Elder, Lake Garden's Yang family demands Sect justice at the mountain gate!”
The disciple swiftly detailed the mountain gate chaos, spotlighting the Wang family's deeds.
Jiang Baichuan's visage soured at the news.
“It's definitely the Wang family's doing?”
“Yes. Proof is ironclad; Wang Shanhu of the Wang family remains captive with Lake Garden's Yang family.”
“Wang Qiutang imagines his age excuses lawlessness!” Jiang Baichuan shot to his feet, bellowing furiously, “Issue the command—assemble three hundred Sword Holding Disciples from the Law Enforcement Hall!”
Xuanqing Sect's Law Enforcement Hall was no empty shell; absolute equity might elude it, yet it stood as the Sect's fairest pillar.
Law Enforcement Elder Jiang Baichuan earned fame for his unyielding justice.
At his order, the Law Enforcement Hall's copper bell tolled sharply, its resonant peals echoing across Sword Holding Peak.
Sword Holding Peak's Law Enforcement Hall commanded three hundred Sword Holding Disciples—elite Inner Sect talents, every one steeped in Sword Dao.
Soon, three hundred clad in somber fitted robes, swords in grip and eyes piercing, assembled before the Hall.
Sword in hand, Jiang Baichuan marched out purposefully, giving a faint nod to the orderly enforcers.
“Move out!”
Surging ahead, he spearheaded the three hundred toward Qingyun Peak.