The next day was uneventful in the morning. However, rumors got around good enough that it needed to be addressed first thing in the morning. A few family guards actually barged into Shen Yue's room.
*Boom!* An oppressive force was the first thing to greet them. As Runes on paper were on the ground encircling him. After knocking them all out of the room, Shen Yue stored it all away.
"Interrupting my cultivation, such idiots." Restraining himself, back to the Bronze Realm. 'Silver Realm Rank 1 is not bad. Need to go higher quicker. Demon Beasts will be the best material to use as I am getting more information on things. The Alchemy Association is defintely something needed.'
The guards knocked out of the room had know idea what hit them. They knew it was from Shen Yue but orders were orders. They had to bring him to the elder as Shen Fei ordered.
The fact he complied helped moved things along.
.
An overreaching Elder-
.
Shen Fei and Shen Yue broke into an argument the moment they met up. Shen Yue enjoyed messing with his "brother" quite a lot. The fact he ridiculed that the only way he could get a woman was with force or drugs stung when it was said so openly.
Even a few of Shen Fei's followers were grossed out a little. Some of them were just members of Aristocraft Families. They made mental notes to not engage in guy talks and bragging about any of the servants in their family around Shen Fei.
The vein on Shen Fei's forehead almost burst with how much it throbbed. A family lackey by the name of Shen Xiao wanted to make Shen Fei happy. Knowing Shen Fei wouldn't do anything with them so close to the Elders office.
"I will show you some respect!" Charging forward to strike, Shen Xiao's fingers had a strange glow. Whatever technique he was using was defintely not trained well. "Let me correct your behavior!"
Shen Yue said nothing. He took a single step forward as his posture shifted. His left hand went out like a whip as he used a Flicker Jab directly to his opponents' temple. The smallest trace of lighting gathered around the knuckle.
*Bam!* The blow was brutal as it almost cracked the skull. The lighting attacked the neural network quickly as Shen Yue right arm reached out to grab the attacking fist.
"Pathetic little vermin!" It came out almost as a snarl as his grip tightened. With a clutch, he broke the arm cleanly. "Never think yoou can teach me sniveling little rat! No wonder you hang with Shen Fei. Filth attracts filth."
"AAAhhhhh!" Shen Xiao screamed in agony as the lighting no longer interfered with his responses. He immediately felt the pain from his broken arm. "YOU BASTARD!" He should have watched what he said really.
"I need to correct you behavior. Bad dogs need to be put down." His eyes looked over to Shen Fei. "As well as bad masters."
A few people hurried over after hearing the shouting.
"Shen Yue, that is enough. Head to my study. Shen Xu will lead the way. Your brother was following my orders, but didn't pay close attention to what was said." Shen Ming, the Main Affairs Elder stated quickly. He looked over the broken arm of Shen Xiao impressed but keeping it hidden on his face. "Did you ever stop to think about the situation about the rumor you spread?"
Shen Ming was only aware of the rumor spreading. Chalking it up to arguing brothers and whatnot. However, upon heading to conduct some business he heard of a few direct problems that started from one of the rumors.
A rumor that Shen Fei had a disease from his more unsavory actions. Even the Winged Dragon Family would break the engagement if that was true.
"Not a rumor if it is true." Shen Yue looked at the elder defiantly. He faced worse and did not mind fighting with them. He did after all have a method of escape, so their was that. Considering how they were all basic cultivators made it easy. None study anything really to great. Well, Shen Fei did but he was easy to deal with. "Shen Fei is a disgrace to the family, he shouldn't be anywhere near Xiao Ninger, hell any female at that."
"Humph, what do you know about my methods?" Shen Fei raised his hand up tauntingly. Beckoning him to settle it in a fight. After all, Shen Xiao was caught off guard as far as he was concerned. "You take him out with a sneak attack and think your all that, how about we fight then?"
Shen Yue let loose a malicious smile, he did want to fight Shen Fei after all. Crippling him in the process just felt like a nice thing to do. Just shy of killing the monster. After all, if he was bedridden quite a few people would sleep easier.
"Stop and think next time. I do have reasons for my actions. Your brother is doing what is needed for the family!" Shen Ming's voice boomed in the spacing where they all were gathered. He directed it at Shen Yue that just took it with a slight strain. The old man was of the Silver Rank was nothing of note. "Go to my study now!" He barked trying to save face. The fact Shen Yue barely budged made him look bad.
Shen Yue begrudgingly let the notion of fighting Shen Fei go for now. He looked over and waited for Shen Xiao to lead the way. The gathered Sacred Family members took note in what just happened but kept quiet.
.
The Study-
.
Wanting to get this done with, Shen Yue relaxed as he waited in the study. The Scarlet Flaming Fox and Flaming Snake were bored. Both fell asleep pretty quickly. Shen Yue stored them in his Internal Space to rest. No reason to leave them out.
Shen Xu was suprised but didn't let it show on his face. He was having second thoughts now about who he followed. A lot of them did things they rather not due to the Sacred Family's Dynamics.
'I wonder if it was a good idea to come at him full throttle like that?' Shen Yue had hidden his strength well. Even during the fight, they couldn't tell what rank he was at. But the act of how he took the pressure of the Silver Rank elder with little difficulty said a lot. 'Shen Fei is not gonna let this matter go. With the Patriarch currently out in seclusion, things will be hard to handle while in the family. Best to increase the distance between us even faster. The pressure from other families will defintely make it harder for the Dark Guild to operate.'
"Shen Fei is not gonna take this lying down yah know?" Shen Xu muttered the question out. Not really sure how to go about this. He stared at Shen Yue unblinking. 'Maybe he is scared after thinking about what just happened?'
Shen Yue shrugged at the staring look. He enjoyed the unease the matter caused. 'Whatever he does next will be interesting, to say the least. I should develop some countermeasure for that time later. But I should do my job and explain to the others what is next for the time being. Any matter that can divert Nie Lie to messing with the Sacred Family will allow me to move about in finding who are the bad eggs in the group on how they react.'
After some time, Shen Ming came in with a few other Elders. The only one of importance was Shen Yan. A Black Gold Rank that does a lot of work for the family with the Dark Guild.
The matter may not be that simple to end but Shen Yue was also excitied. Any of the members he kills here and escapes with can give a lot of information on matters. A smirk on his face made a few uneasy.
"Shen Yue, there are some rumors going around that you have made moves against the engagement for Shen Fei and Xiao Ninger.." Shen Yan spoke sternly. His eyes held on Shen Yue impressed that the young master showed no fear. In fact that he was enjoying himself gained him a measure of respect in Shen Yan's eyes. "..what do you have to say to that?"
"Shen Fei is to stupid to handle the matter is a disgrace. Dogs like that should not be allowed to breed. Let alone represent the family in any matter but maybe fighting on walkabouts." Shen Yue gave a thumbs down as he spoke every word unflinching and with venom in his voice. The people in the room were taken back by this. Some even able to sense the killing intent that radiated. Besides a few demon beasts, they were not aware of any fighting Shen Yue did. "With everything in place he still openly acts unruly drawing attention to himself and "ruining" young women and girls. Tell me.. would you trust a little sicko like that with any real matter? Let alone with any of your female family members? An untrained dog does not know the difference between right and wrong."
Shen Yan thought the matter over before he said anything. Shen Ming understands the words had some merit but if Shen Yue thought this would be enough to sway decisions made before he was born, he had to think twice of the matter.
Shen Xiao wanted to be anywhere but in the room right now. But since he was not dismissed, he couldn't leave the room. He tried to make his presence the smallest in the room.
"And what do you think should be done?" Shen Ming asked. "Should it be you, even though it was decided we will use you to marry Ye Ziyun."
"Hard pass, that girl is unfit and slightly stupid." Shen Yue cut his hand in the air to emphasize. "Shen Fei is more suited for her. Ye Ziyun is unable to see the true intent of that foster brother of hers. His designs on her are just as bad as Shen Fei's on women."
"What do you know of Ye Han?" Shen Yan's eyes shined a little. "Since Shen Xiu was part of the same age group we were going to have her get close to him." The glare Shen Yue gave him was odd. He chalked that up to the fondness the boy had for his aunt. "But you say he is.. like Shen Fei."
From his recollection, the young man showed promise and was currently in the process of being groomed to be the next City Lord. Right now he was training with his uncle. Another member of the Ye family.
"He is a basket case. Mentally damage with an obsessive disorder the like of which would make the person who destroyed the "Red Jade" family jealous." Shen Yue put that little bit out there. But none of them reacted even a little. 'Hmm, so they don't know that much about the Dark Guild then.'
The room broke into small talks as Shen Yue spoke of Shen Fei in detail and how he was unfit. Shen Fei had his supporters, however. They put in their two cents. Speaking that Shen Yue did not put the family's interests first by causing this strife. The matters went on for about an hour before Shen Yan had enough. He looked to Shen Ming signaling for him to handle the matter.
"We have other things to tend to." Shen Yan stopped at the doorway. "What Elder Ming decides, I hope that it is followed." His voice turned stern looking at Shen Yue who didn't even pay him attention. "I will have to hand out discipline in place of the Patriarch who shall not be bothered while in seclusion if it is not."
They departed to handle other matters. Putting the issues of the family in the back of their mind.
Shen Yue, you will apologize to your brother for your actions." Shen Ming decreed. Still feeling slighted by Shen Yue earlier, he wanted to take him down a few pegs. "As well as leave the matter of Xiao Ninger alone. Focus on Ye Ziyun and.."
"NO." Shen Yue said point-blank. The body may be that of someone young but the soul was that of a grown man. A very old man after adding all the years together. One that did not do things he really didn't want to easily. This was one of them. "I am telling you now, I will not do it."
"Elder he.." Shen Xu didn't like the way this was going. He immediately tried to help.".. is tired! Maybe hand out the ruling later?" He was hopeful of the matter. So were some of the other elders. But that was not happening as Elder Ming was not used to his authority put in question.
"Be quiet!" He ordered. "Shen Yue, will you not heed the words of your elder?" The old man had a vein throbbing on his neck. Seeing his nephew decisively shake his head no and looking bored as well, almost caused him to have a heart attack. "Then you are placed in solitary confinement!"
"I refuse." Shen Yue said flippantly.
The room turned quiet as the words sunk in.