The Lin Family’s Threat

Not long after, the members of the Su family, led by Yan Kun, arrived at the entrance of Su Muyu’s residence.

However, upon seeing them again after more than a decade, Su Muyu’s expression was utterly cold. The family members simply gazed at each other across the courtyard fence, a prolonged silence hanging between them.

Yan Yun, too, had been closely watching her mother’s demeanor, and the atmosphere grew incredibly rigid.

Yet, after a tense standoff, it was finally a member of the Su family who broke the silence.

“Yu’er,” Su Muyu’s mother, Xue Zi, began, her voice hesitant after a moment of pause, “It’s… it’s been a very long time.”

Su Muyu pursed her lips, a dismissive gesture as she turned her head away, her face contorted in a furious scowl. “You all sold me out for the sake of family interests,” she retorted. “Why are you coming to find me now? Is it because you suddenly think I have value, and you wish to curry favor once more?”

Her words struck the Su family members dumb, leaving them momentarily speechless. After all, they had indeed ‘sold’ Su Muyu for the sake of their family’s interests all those years ago.

Now, to shamelessly appear at her doorstep, didn’t they find it utterly hypocritical?

“Sister,” a handsome young man interjected, “I know that nothing we say will earn your forgiveness. However, we truly came this time to congratulate Yun’er on his marriage. The one beside you must be Yun’er, correct? He truly bears an uncanny resemblance to you.”

This man was Su Mufeng, Su Muyu’s elder brother and Yan Yun’s maternal uncle.

“Since you already know, why bother coming?” Su Muyu shot back. “You’re simply here to infuriate me. I would rather spend the rest of my life never seeing any of you again. Do you truly possess no self-awareness at all?”

“Furthermore,” she continued, “if you are here to partake in the wedding feast, you are welcome. But should your intentions be anything else, please feel free to take your leave; I shall not indulge you. Yun’er, let us go inside.” Having delivered her ultimatum, Su Muyu pulled Yan Yun, ready to retreat into the house.

But just as they turned, Su Muyu’s father, Su Ming, hastily interjected.

“Muyu,” Su Ming pleaded, “if there had been any other recourse back then, how could your father have possibly sent you, his legitimate daughter, to the Yan family as a concubine? Did your father not value his own standing? It was truly a matter of the Su family’s very survival at that time; I, I had no other choice but to resort to such a desperate measure.”

Upon hearing his words, Su Muyu bit down hard on her lip.

Back then, the Su family had provoked a formidable power, one they could not afford to offend, and faced near annihilation.

Yet, they possessed no means to offer adequate compensation for aid. Su Muyu, however, possessed a low-grade Water Spirit Root, and those endowed with Water Spirit Roots were inherently suited for dual cultivation.

Coincidentally, Yan Long was then at a critical juncture, facing a bottleneck in his cultivation breakthrough. It was for this reason that he agreed to accept Su Muyu. Through the harmonization of Yin and Yang, he was able to safely navigate and overcome his bottleneck.

The Yan family, in turn, leveraged their influence to persuade that hostile power to retreat, as the force in question conveniently maintained cooperative relations with them.

Yet, from Su Muyu’s perspective, it was nothing less than the collapse of her entire world. She could never erase the memory of her father, heedless of her desperate cries and pleas, forcibly delivering her to the Yan family’s doorstep.

Even after all these years, the trauma lingered, manifesting as a recurring nightmare.

“What I owed the Su family, I have long since repaid,” Su Muyu spat, trembling with indignation. “So why are you still here?”

This revelation was entirely new to Yan Yun; it was the first time she had ever heard her mother recount such a tale.

She had always believed her mother’s resentment stemmed merely from being coerced by the family into becoming Yan Long’s concubine. Never had she imagined such a harrowing ordeal lay beneath her bitterness.

Truth be told, if she had been in her position, she would have chosen death over enduring such a repulsive fate.

“Leave! Get out of here!” Yan Yun suddenly roared, her voice seething with anger at the Su family. “My wedding does not welcome your presence!”

She cared not for the Su family’s justifications; their reasons were their own concern. But for this matter to have caused her mother such profound pain, that was simply unforgivable.

As Su Muyu’s son, she saw no reason to forgive anyone on her mother’s behalf.

“Wait, Muyu, Yun’er…” The Su family members attempted to speak further.

However, Yan Yun had already gently but firmly guided Su Muyu back inside the house.

Witnessing this scene, Yan Kun, who had been standing to the side, let out a helpless sigh.

From the rigid perspective of a family, sacrificing one individual to preserve the entire lineage was undeniably a necessary evil. Yet, from a personal standpoint, it was nothing short of an indelible stain of humiliation.

“Alas, everyone, please.” Yan Kun could only gesture to the gathered Su family members, inviting them to depart.

For a moment, the Su family members’ faces were etched with profound disappointment and helplessness before they finally turned and departed.

As for Su Muyu, the instant she stepped inside, she clutched Yan Yun in a tight embrace and dissolved into heart-wrenching sobs.

She wept, as though seeking to purge every ounce of sorrow and injustice that had festered within her for years.

This, in truth, was Yan Yun’s underlying reason for allowing Su Muyu to confront her family. Having suppressed her emotions for so many years, constantly presenting a facade of strength before the Yan family, it was finally time for her to unleash her pent-up anguish.

Meanwhile, at the grand entrance of the Yan family’s estate, yet another disturbance loomed.

There, Lin Yuan appeared, leading Family Head Zhou and Family Head Song to their doorstep.

“Lin Yuan of the Royal Capital’s Lin family,” a booming voice announced, “accompanied by the Zhou and Song families, has arrived to extend congratulations on the grand wedding of the Yan family’s Third Young Master!”

The declaration was remarkably loud, carrying clearly to the ears of every guest present.

“What is happening?” guests whispered amongst themselves. “Why has the Lin family come to offer congratulations? Didn’t they just try to suppress the Yan family not long ago?”

“They likely regret their actions after seeing Fairy Yunshuang take the Yan family’s Seventh Madam as her disciple,” another speculated. “Do you think the Yan family will accept their congratulations?”

A flurry of murmurs immediately swept through the assembled guests.

The Yan family members, as if confronting a formidable foe, immediately converged at the main entrance, each of their faces grim as they fixed their gazes upon Lin Yuan and his retinue.

It was not solely the Yan family who found themselves in an awkward predicament; the Jiang family, too, shared their discomfiture.

For Lin Mo, that fellow, had inexplicably arrived to offer congratulations on behalf of the Lin family.

“Senior Brother Lin?” a disciple from the Yunhua Sect queried, his brow furrowed in confusion. “Why are you here?”

They had been dispatched to protect Jiang Yao, and they were all keenly aware that Lin Mo’s presence boded ill.

“What, am I not permitted to be here?” Lin Mo challenged, his gaze sweeping toward Jiang Yuan. “Family Head Jiang, do you not welcome our Lin family?”

Jiang Yuan, observing the overbearing Lin Mo, clenched his fists tightly. Yet, for the sake of ensuring the wedding’s flawless completion, he managed to rein in his simmering fury.

“Young Master Lin, please, come in,” Jiang Yuan conceded.

Lin Mo immediately curled his lips into a cold sneer before striding confidently into the Jiang family’s estate.

On the Yan family’s side, however, Yan Long remained unyielding.

After a brief moment of deliberation, he finally addressed Lin Yuan.

“The Yan family appreciates the Lin family’s good intentions,” Yan Long stated in a deep, resonant voice. “We shall forgo the gifts. If you wish to partake in the wedding feast, you may enter. As for Family Head Zhou and Family Head Song, I apologize, but you are not welcome here.”

Family Head Zhou and Family Head Song, hearing his unequivocal declaration, instantly understood that this matter would not be resolved amicably.

Yet, Lin Yuan remained undeterred.

“Family Head Yan,” Lin Yuan pressed, “the Zhou family and the Song family have already pledged allegiance to our Lin family, becoming our subordinate forces. The previous conflicts must surely have been a misunderstanding. How about we put aside our differences and transform hostility into friendship right here and now?”

This was an infuriating proposition.

The implied threat in his words was all too obvious.

Essentially, he was telling Yan Long to either let the matter rest or face the Lin family as an enemy.

The Yan family members were nearly driven to madness by such an egregious insult. This was a monumental disgrace.

“You may leave. We will not see you out.” Yan Long’s eyes blazed with fury.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yuan erupted into boisterous laughter.

“Hahaha! It seems the Yan family has suddenly grown a backbone, daring to challenge our Lin family! You will regret this decision today. Let’s go!”

Lin Yuan departed, leaving behind a clear threat, and led the Zhou and Song families away.

The Lin family’s arrogance was truly unbearable. To strike someone repeatedly and then expect them to smile in gratitude was something no one could accept. Even more so when it was done in front of so many influential powers of the Jiang Kingdom. If the Yan family had conceded, despite their connection to the Yunhua Sect, they would likely have been isolated by all other factions.

Only by demonstrating a resolute stance could they compel others to continue observing their strength.

“Utterly outrageous! What makes the Royal Capital’s Lin family so formidable? They will surely face a grim end!” Those who disapproved of the Lin family’s actions secretly cursed and condemned them.

The primary reason for the Lin family’s overbearing behavior was that one of their daughters was a concubine of the current Jiang King.

The Royal Family held ultimate sway in the mortal realm, and even the Yunhua Sect had to outwardly show respect to the monarchy.

Despite the two unpleasant incidents, Yan Yun’s wedding was finally about to begin.