Starting Sign-In from a Billionaire God Chapter 1252 - 1251

"Ah?"

At this moment, Yun Qingyao's voice broke the silence, drawing all eyes toward her. It was universally known that Yun Qingyao, being the direct disciple of Yun Zhongzheng, held a prestigious position within the Yun Sect. Whispers even suggested she might ascend to the role of sect leader in the future.

Consequently, Yun Qingyao's pronouncements carried considerable weight.

Hearing his disciple speak, Yun Zhongzheng couldn't help but turn his gaze. The earnest look in Yun Qingyao's eyes amplified the distress on Yun Zhongzheng's face, deepening his internal conflict.

"Qingyao, what are you saying? Please stop!"

The elder woman beside Yun Qingyao gasped in shock. She was stunned to realize Yun Qingyao could even speak, attributing it immediately to Lin Fan's intervention. She swiftly moved to seal Yun Qingyao's acupoints, viewing her as a valuable last resort and unwilling to let her become the center of attention. Her desperate wish was for Yun Qingyao to simply vanish.

However, before her hand could reach Yun Qingyao, she felt a sharp prick on her body. Her limbs instantly went limp, rendering her unable to control Yun Qingyao and leaving her utterly immobile.

Lin Fan!

The elder woman was overcome with shock and fury; Lin Fan had subdued her!

Lin Fan offered a smile. "She still seems to have something to say, so let her speak."

The elder woman shot a venomous glare at Lin Fan, but the attention of the entire assembly was already fixed upon them. She could not openly confront Lin Fan, as she still needed him, and their shared secret must remain hidden!

The square-faced man indeed shifted his focus to Yun Qingyao, a mocking chuckle escaping his lips. "Finally, someone with a clear head. Sect Leader Yun, heed your disciple's words and consider them carefully."

Yun Qingyao then addressed her master. "Master, I do not know what this person desires. However, whatever it is, it is merely an external influence. I had always believed the Yun Clan would face annihilation rather than yield to enemies. But witnessing the child's cries and the mother's sorrow, my conviction wavers. I now believe life is paramount; the lives of our Yun Clan members are the most important."

Yun Zhongzheng listened with a grave expression, remaining silent after his disciple concluded.

The square-faced man's impatience flared. "Sect Leader Yun, this insignificant creature's wailing irritates me. If you do not decide soon, I will be forced to silence him myself. Truthfully, I have no desire to crush such a minor pest, but if Sect Leader Yun commands it, I shall obey."

Yun Zhongzheng finally broke his silence, his voice laced with ice. "Our Yun Sect has endured for a millennium, surviving to this day through sheer resilience. In the martial world, we may not be the most dominant force, but rather a middle-tier power. Yet, while other influential families have fallen, we have persisted. What fueled our survival? An indomitable spirit. We carved our path through rivers of blood. Securing a temporary existence is not the way of our Yun Sect. From eighty to three years old, as long as they are members of the Yun Clan, they need not fear death! If today marks the end of our Yun Sect, then we shall fight until the very last breath!"

Iron-blooded resolve!

Yun Zhongzheng proved to be a leader of unyielding determination. Candidly, Yun Qingyao's words had slightly disappointed him. Being female, perhaps seeing the infant's plight had softened her heart.

She was not qualified to be the Yun Sect Leader.

Yun Qingyao fell silent upon hearing these words, despair clouding her eyes, realizing she could not sway her master's decision.

The mother's mouth fell open, her face etched with despair, understanding that the sect leader had just condemned her child to death.

The square-faced man's fury surged. "I never expected your Yun Sect to be so obstinate. Very well, if you do not concern yourself with a mere three-year-old, why should I? Let's see how many disciples Sect Leader Yun is willing to sacrifice before you change your mind!"

The square-faced man raised his palm, preparing to strike the child's head.

Given his prowess, not only a three-year-old child but even Yun Zhongzheng himself could not withstand a single blow from him.

The terrified mother collapsed onto the ground, gazing at her child in utter helplessness.

The members of the Yun Clan watched in outrage as the square-faced man moved to strike, utterly powerless to intervene.

Even Yun Zhongzheng, whose heart was usually as hard as stone, and who was resolved to sacrifice everything for the Yun Clan, trembled at the sight of the child's impending doom.

Yun Qingyao's eyes welled up with tears, knowing she could do nothing, save shedding two drops of sorrowful tears.

Just as the square-faced man was about to deliver the fatal blow, at the very moment the three-year-old child faced imminent death.

"Wait a moment."

A gentle voice called out.

Everyone's gaze followed the sound, revealing Lin Fan standing to his feet.

Lin Fan, finally unable to bear the situation, had risen.

Though numerous Yun Sect disciples had fallen, Lin Fan had remained uninvolved. However, the sight of the three-year-old child finally compelled him to act.

Initially, Lin Fan had no intention of interfering, but his decision shifted due to a small child, merely three years of age.

The primary reason for Lin Fan's change of heart was this very child, with Yun Qingyao’s tearful gaze serving as the secondary catalyst. The unspoken plea in Yun Qingyao’s eyes earlier had deeply moved him.

A child of three, unaware of the world, incapable of thought or self-determination, cannot choose their own path. The determination of their life or death rests in the hands of adults, a seeming injustice to such an innocent existence.

Within human society, cherishing the young and respecting the old is a cherished virtue precisely because children lack the ability to survive independently. It is therefore incumbent upon adults to nurture them, a fundamental aspect of human procreation, supported by an innate protective instinct towards the vulnerable.

This protective instinct extends beyond humanity; all creatures on Earth, even wolves, possess an instinct to safeguard the weak. In the unforgiving natural world, the failure to protect the young invariably leads to a species' extinction.

In contrast to humans, the animal kingdom often appears more straightforward. For example, a mother monkey, upon witnessing her infant seized by a leopard, will instantly and without reservation attempt a rescue, acting purely on instinct without any complex cognitive deliberation.

Humans, however, are distinct; our complexity surpasses that of any animal because, unlike other creatures, humans possess the capacity for thought. This thinking ability introduces considerations of self-interest, and when interests are factored in, actions are no longer solely guided by instinct. At times, to attain specific objectives, even instinct and humane principles can be cast aside.

Consequently, human society is significantly more intricate than the realm of animals.

In his pursuit of safeguarding inherited treasures, Yun Zhongzheng was capable of hardening his heart, disregarding the plight of a three-year-old, and strategically abandoning the vulnerable, effectively suppressing his innate instincts. His decision was solely the product of calculated self-interest.

This observation is not intended as a condemnation of Yun Zhongzheng. Rather, it reflects a burden inherent to humanity. Yet, humans cannot be entirely blamed for this. Human intellect has enabled us to thrive in the relentless struggle for survival, and the self-serving calculations born from this wisdom represent the unavoidable cost of intelligent existence, much like how a shadow inevitably accompanies light.

Yet, fortunately, within humanity, there will always be courageous individuals who step forward, individuals who rise to dispel the encroaching darkness.