Before Chen Jinshu could finish speaking, her mother, Wu Shuya, already had reddened eyes. Her hands were clenched tightly, and it took her a long while to regain her composure.
"The Chen family… how utterly ruthless. To do this to your father… No wonder the clan's been all polite and cordial with us women all these years. Guilt has a way of softening tongues."
Wu Shuya's expression turned dark. Her teeth clenched, and the tide of rage in her chest only settled slightly upon seeing her daughter.
"Tell your second uncle when you can. There's no reason to stay in such a clan any longer. Ungrateful. Selfish. Treacherous!"
"Use Chen Wenshan's remains to pay respects to your father."
"I understand, Mother. But the injustices Father suffered—we can't just let them slide. We must demand justice," Chen Jinshu's eyes narrowed, her gaze growing cold and deep.
She couldn't help but recall the time she had traded Foundation Establishment Pills with Chen Qiaozhen. A family like this didn't deserve such benefits. To treat their gifted kin this way... and hide the truth for so many years. With a swift motion, she drew out a message talisman from her storage pouch.
"Second Uncle! I've discovered the truth behind Father's death. The Chen family is no longer fit to stay in."
She sent the talisman off without hesitation. On the other end, Chen Wentan was cultivating when he suddenly received the message. He quickly checked it.
"What's going on?" Ning Lingwei asked.
"Jinshu says she's uncovered the truth behind my elder brother's death."
"Then we need to go, now. If it's something serious, they shouldn't face it alone," Ning Lingwei turned her head to look at Chen Wentan.
"Right! Let's go at once." By the time they arrived at the courtyard of Jinshu and her mother, the two women were already waiting.
"Second Uncle, let's talk on the way. I've made up my mind—I'm leaving the Chen family. If you won't come, I'll attend your wedding, then leave with Mother."
Chen Jinshu's expression was steely, her eyes flashing with a sharp light, like they could devour someone whole.
"What happened, Jinshu? How did you learn the truth about your father? Did you find Chen Wenshan?"
"You're not slow, Second Uncle. I didn't just find him—I killed him. He told me himself. He was the mastermind behind Father's death. The entire hunting party that day was in on it. I'm going with Mother to get answers. Will you stand with us?"
"What?! That's outrageous! So many Chen clan members betrayed your father, and they've lived peacefully ever since?" Ning Lingwei was visibly furious.
"Wentan, let's not have our wedding in the Chen household. I can't stand it anymore. Something bad's bound to happen. Let's just do something small ourselves."
"This is my fault. I put too much trust in the family back then. I never imagined so many of them were involved, that they'd cover it all up…" Chen Wentan's lips trembled, his face turning pale.
"I can't stay either. If I do, I'll have no face left to see my brother in the afterlife."
As they spoke, the group soon arrived at the family hall.
By now, the Chen clan head had changed—it was the Grand Elder. Chen Qiaozhen, normally absent from such meetings, only appeared when major matters arose. When the Grand Elder was summoned by Chen Jinshu and her mother and asked to bring Qiaozhen and the other elders, confusion flickered across his face.
But Chen Jinshu was one of the Chen clan's few rising stars. Nothing could go wrong with her. It was thanks to her that the clan had managed to stay afloat.
"Jinshu, Wentan, what's this about?" the Grand Elder asked cautiously.
"You'll understand soon, Patriarch. Let's hear what Chen Wenshan has to say."
The hall was filled with elders now, and Chen Qiaozhen sat at the center, her seat indicating her high status.
"Chen Qiaozhen, take a good look. And while you're at it, administer justice. If you can't satisfy me, I want that Foundation Establishment Pill you swallowed returned."
Her face faltered, suspicion and confusion flashing in her gaze.
"Jinshu, what happened? I promise I'll make it right…"
"Elders, please watch. If blood isn't spilled today, I won't be satisfied."
Everyone in the hall drew in sharp breaths. Something was very wrong. Jinshu activated a prepared recording stone. With a surge of spiritual energy, it projected a scene into the center of the hall. The image showed Chen Wenshan, bloodied but conscious, caught in the grips of demonic madness.
"Besides you, were there other clan cultivators involved that day?"
"Of course. Others tacitly approved. You think I could've succeeded otherwise? Especially the team leader—he was jealous of your father's talent. He never blamed the beast-luring powder…"
…
The hall fell into a heavy, unsettling silence.
The Grand Elder's gaze shifted to the grim-faced Chen Qiaozhen. Though younger, she was one of the few Foundation Establishment cultivators in the clan and wielded considerable power.
"Why so quiet? Cat got your tongues? Is this how Chen clan elders behave? All that cultivation—was it fed to dogs?"
"This Chen Wenshan… what a vile traitor. No wonder he rebelled later when punished. It all makes sense now," Third Elder muttered.
Others quickly nodded along—but not one spoke of the humiliation her father suffered.
"Well, well. So you all agree, Chen Qiaozhen?" Jinshu said coldly.
"These traitors deserve death. Handle it as you see fit. I'm done with the Chen family. Don't come looking for me unless it's an extermination-level event." Chen Qiaozhen scanned the room, disappointed by the elders' inaction. After everything, none had the courage to speak truth or justice. She now questioned whether saving the Chen family years ago had been worth it at all.
"Your words are enough. Don't blame me for killing too many."
"Patriarch, bring me everyone who went on that beast hunt that day."
The Grand Elder nodded—he stood with his daughter now. She was everything. Soon after, nine of the fifteen cultivators who had joined that hunt arrived. Five had died on the hunt; one—Chen Wenshan—was already dead.
"Greetings, Elders and Patriarch!" the nine greeted respectfully.
"May we ask why we've been summoned?" one of them asked, confused.
"Do you remember my father, Chen Wen'an? That day during the beast hunt—you let Wenshan tamper with things and stood by, didn't you?" Jinshu's gaze was sharp and cold.
"I didn't—"
"We didn't know!"
"You committed crimes. You'll pay with your lives. Your wives and children won't survive just because you keep lying."
"What are you going to do?" one of them asked in terror.
"Of course—take your lives to repay the one you took!"