Chapter 27: An Uncle's Trust
Morning sunlight spilled gently over the Wu Clan estate, warm but heavy with the weight of anticipation. Today, the entire city would bear witness to whether the Wu Clan would rise or fall.
Wu Yuan stepped out of his courtyard, a faint sheen of post-cultivation energy lingering on his skin. His breathing was steady, his gaze calm—yet there was an edge in his eyes, like a sword hidden in its sheath. Though his morning cultivation routine was complete, today felt different. Every breath carried purpose. Every step echoed with the burden of his clan's pride.
The news had already spread through Wu City:
Wu Yuan, the Wu Clan's young genius, would accept any challenge from opponents below Level 5 of the Body Tempering Realm.
This wasn't just a duel. It was a declaration. A gamble.
Behind him, Wu Xiao followed closely, her small hands clenched in determination. Normally, she would have stayed within the clan grounds, watching from the shadows. But not today. Today was not just Wu Yuan's battle; it was the Wu Clan's pride on the line.
"Brother Yuan," she said softly, her tone more serious than usual, "are you ready for this? Everyone will be watching."
Wu Yuan glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Ready? I've been ready since the day they tried to trample on our clan."
In truth, none of the challengers worried him. Most of them would not even scratch the surface of his strength. But this wasn't about his personal challenge—it was about the Wu Clan's dignity, about standing tall where others had bowed. And it was about Wu Lu.
Wu Lu, stubborn and loyal, had fought for the clan even when he knew he might lose. His knee was shattered now, his path of cultivation stalled for months, maybe longer. Wu Yuan could not let that sacrifice be in vain.
"For the clan… and for Wu Lu," Wu Yuan thought, his eyes narrowing slightly as determination surged within him. "If I don't stand up today, who will?"
Wu Xiao's eyes widened slightly, but then she nodded, her own resolve hardening.
"Then… I'll walk beside you today."
The two of them moved together toward Wu City's central duel ring. The streets were already alive with whispers and hurried footsteps. Word of Wu Yuan's challenge had drawn crowds from every corner—commoners, merchants, and even minor clans who wanted to see the spectacle unfold.
For the Wu Clan, this day would decide everything.
Either they would lift their heads proudly… or their face would be crushed beyond recognition.
As Wu Yuan and Wu Xiao walked through the streets, his mind drifted back to the conversation from the previous night… A conversation that changed everything.
After leaving the medicine hall where Wu Lu was being treated, Wu Yuan had made his way to the grand main hall. By then, the elders' council had already concluded their internal discussions, but all of them lingered, waiting to see what the Clan Head would say to this young genius who had become their unexpected pillar.
The towering doors creaked as Wu Yuan stepped in. The polished stone floor reflected the glow of the lanterns, and the carved pillars rose like silent sentinels around the chamber. Elders sat along the sides, their expressions unreadable, though many pairs of eyes lingered on him with quiet curiosity.
Wu Yuan bowed slightly, his tone steady.
"Clan Head, you called me here?"
Wu Lingtian, seated on the high seat, regarded him with a solemn but not unkind gaze. His features were sharp, framed by a short, well-kept beard that made his stern presence feel even more imposing.
"Yes. I assume you already know what happened today," Wu Lingtian said, his voice low but firm. "I heard you just visited Wu Lu."
"Yes, Clan Head," Wu Yuan replied.
Wu Lingtian's gaze hardened, his voice cutting through the hall like a blade.
"Good. Then I won't waste time beating around the bush—I'll come straight to the point. Tell me, Wu Yuan, what do you think about this situation? And how do you believe we should respond?"
A ripple of shock passed through the elders. Even Wu Lin, who rarely displayed open emotion, raised an eyebrow in surprise.
The Clan Head was asking the opinion of an eight-year-old?
He's only a child, some of them thought, though none dared voice it.
Wu Yuan blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
"I… don't know what you mean, Clan Head," he replied carefully, his tone respectful yet cautious.
Wu Lingtian's stern expression softened slightly.
"You don't need to act so formal, Yuan'er. I'm your uncle. Speak freely. I know you've already formed your thoughts on this. A truly talented junior may be young in years but often matures faster than most adults. And you…" he gave a small, knowing smile, "…you are not like the others."
This moment was one of the greatest shocks Wu Yuan had experienced since his rebirth in this world.
In his previous life, he'd always read stories where the protagonist's father—or clan head—was portrayed as nothing more than a cardboard figure, easily overshadowed by their "monstrous" son. A background character who existed solely to provide a surname and a bit of initial support before fading into irrelevance.
So that's not true here… Wu Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze resting on Wu Lingtian.
This uncle of mine… this man is not simple at all.
There was no oppressive aura radiating from Wu Lingtian like the so-called "peerless experts" in those stories, but the man's words and presence carried weight—calculated, grounded strength. His voice was steady, commanding respect without needing to roar.
This is different from what I expected… If he can say this much, then he's already two steps ahead of what I imagined.
Wu Yuan straightened his back slightly, suppressing the faint smile tugging at his lips.
Protagonist's fathers… maybe they aren't as simple as novels made them out to be. It's just that their sons shine so brightly that they're overshadowed. But this man…
His eyes flickered with a trace of respect.
…he's anything but a forgotten character.
Wu Yuan took a deep breath, his young face unusually calm. "Uncle," he said slowly, "I don't have all the details… but from what I do know, I can tell this matter isn't as simple as it seems."
The elders leaned in unconsciously. Even Wu Lin, Wu Yuan's father, watched his son with growing astonishment.
Wu Yuan continued, his voice steady, every word measured. "Even if I defeat a few of their juniors before which make them send there juniors, that shouldn't be enough to provoke them into revealing their true trump cards. Yet… here they are, parading their best talents without hesitation. And no other larger incident happened in Wu City in past month I believe. So It doesn't add up."
He glanced at the elders, his sharp gaze belying his tender age. "So my guess is… this isn't just the Jiang Clan. Someone else is stirring the waters of Wu City from the shadows."
A stunned silence fell over the hall. For a moment, no one spoke. Wu Lin's expression froze, as if seeing his son for the first time. Just… how can an eight-year-old think like this?
The elders began to murmur amongst themselves, their disbelief audible. Only Second Elder Tianhai and Clan Head Wu Lingtian remained unshaken.
"As expected of a truly talented junior," Wu Lingtian said at last, his voice firm yet faintly proud. "We cannot judge you by age alone, Yuan'er."
The murmurs died instantly, silence reclaiming the hall.
Wu Lingtian leaned slightly forward on the main seat. "So, nephew, what do you think we should do?"
Wu Yuan met his uncle's gaze without flinching. "From my point of view, the best approach is to send the Wu Clan juniors to the duel ring and face all challenges openly. Defeat whoever dares to stand against us. That will keep this incident contained to a single arena, rather than spreading chaos through the city. More importantly, it will force whoever is pulling strings from behind the scenes to adjust their plans—or reveal themselves. If they show more of their hand, we'll have a clearer view of the enemy before we decide on further strategies."
Once again, silence enveloped the hall. No one seemed to know how to respond to the sharpness of the boy's reasoning.
Wu Lin, after regaining his composure, spoke in a low, hesitant voice. "Yuan'er… your idea is sound. But the problem is—our juniors are not as talented as the others. It is easy to say we should dominate the duel ring, but standing undefeated… that is far more difficult."
One of the elders opened his mouth to speak, but Wu Lingtian raised a hand, silencing him. "You need not repeat what we all know," the Clan Head said firmly. "It's true—winning one or two matches may be possible, but to stand on that stage undefeated? That will be the true test."
"You might not know this," Wu Lin said, his voice calm but heavy with meaning, "but today's Jiang Clan had two groups. The first was the juniors you've already fought before—familiar faces. But the second…" He paused, frowning. "The second group is a mystery we have yet to solve. Ten people, all of them exceptionally strong. From what we've observed, each one is capable of defeating opponents a level higher than themselves."
The elders exchanged uneasy glances. Wu Lin continued, his tone sharper now.
"If we send higher-level cultivators to challenge them, even if we win, it won't bring the result we need. The only way to crush their momentum is to defeat them on equal footing. And apart from you, Yuan'er, we don't have a single junior in the Wu Clan capable of fighting above their level."
Wu Yuan listened silently, his gaze steady but unreadable. He said nothing, only lowering his head slightly, deep in thought.
Seeing his silence, Wu Lingtian, the Clan Head, leaned forward slightly, his tone softening.
"Yuan'er… we're not asking you to fight. We only want your opinion. No one will blame you if you refuse to accept these challenges."
Wu Yuan's heart trembled slightly. He could sense that Wu Lingtian was not speaking as a distant leader, but as an uncle—someone who truly cared for him. For the first time, he began to feel the Wu Clan as his own family, not just a place of temporary shelter.
Taking a slow breath, Wu Yuan finally spoke.
"No, Uncle. I'm not saying I won't accept the challenge. I was just… thinking about something else." His brows furrowed slightly. "The Wu Clan has ruled Wu City for so long. How did we reach this point? How did our talent decline to such a level?"
His question left the room silent. Even Wu Lingtian's eyes dimmed, unable to answer immediately.
Wu Lin stepped in, his voice steady.
"Yuan'er, that is a matter for another day. We can discuss the reasons later. Right now, we must deal with the storm before us."
"Okay, Father," Wu Yuan replied calmly. Then he turned to Wu Lingtian.
"Uncle, I suggest we release the news—tomorrow, I will accept any challenge below Level 5 Body Tempering."
A ripple of reactions spread through the hall. Some elders looked excited, others pale with worry.
Wu Lingtian's sharp gaze met Wu Yuan's.
"Yuan'er, are you certain? These won't be ordinary duels. You saw Wu Lu's condition—they are fighting viciously, with no intention of holding back."
"Don't worry, Uncle," Wu Yuan said, his tone steady and almost cold. "I know what I'm doing. We have to return the humiliation we received."
Wu Lin opened his mouth, clearly wanting to object, but something in his son's eyes made him stop. He closed his mouth and sat back, silent.
Wu Lingtian sighed deeply, his voice softening again.
"Very well, Yuan'er. We'll release the news. But promise me this—no matter what happens, your safety comes first. Even if we lose some face, it doesn't matter. If something happens to you…" His lips curved into a faint, almost forced smile. "I don't know how I'd face your mother."
Wu Yuan couldn't help but smile faintly at the remark. He could hear the sincerity behind the joke—and it warmed a part of him he didn't know was still cold.
Wu Yuan had just bowed and turned to leave when Wu Lingtian's voice suddenly called out,
"Yuan'er, wait."
Wu Yuan stopped and turned back. Wu Lingtian's hand moved with a flicker of light—pulling something seemingly out of thin air. A wooden case appeared in his palm. Wu Yuan's eyes widened slightly.
"A space ring!" he thought, finally seeing one in use for the first time.
"Yuan'er," Wu Lingtian said with a faint smile, "take this with you."
Wu Yuan stepped forward and accepted the wooden box with both hands. "Uncle, what is this?"
"I never had the chance to give you anything as your uncle," Wu Lingtian said, his tone unusually soft, almost fatherly. "So I prepared this gift for my nephew. Now that you've reached Level 4 Body Tempering, these will be very beneficial for you."
He gestured for Wu Yuan to open it.
Inside, nestled within a silk lining, was a small jade bottle. Wu Yuan blinked in surprise.
"Uncle, this is…?"
"These," Wu Lingtian said with quiet pride, "are Lightning Marrow Cleansing Pills. I specially requested an old friend of mine to refine them. There are twelve pills inside."
The hall went silent for a moment. Shock rippled through the elders. Even Wu Lin's breath hitched.
Lightning Marrow Cleansing Pills weren't ordinary—though considered body tempering pills, they were mid-grade refinements, their value dozens of times higher than common pills. The cost of a single bottle could rival the monthly income of a small clan.
Wu Lin was shocked. He had already prepared some basic cultivation resources for Wu Yuan, but compared to what his younger brother had just given, his preparations felt insignificant. A complex look crossed his face, though Wu Lingtian didn't notice.
Wu Yuan sensed the weight of everyone's reactions. He immediately understood the value of this gift.
"Uncle… this is too precious. I can't—"
"Stop." Wu Lingtian's tone cut through, firm but warm. "Take it. It's your uncle's gift. And besides," his lips curved into a faint smile, "no one else here can make proper use of them. So just accept it."
Wu Yuan hesitated, then looked toward his father instinctively. Wu Lin's lips tightened but he gave a small nod.
Wu Lingtian's brows furrowed slightly. "What are you looking at your father for? Can't an uncle spoil his nephew a little?" His mock anger carried an almost playful undertone.
Wu Yuan gave a small smile, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Uncle. I'll make good use of them."
Suddenly, his thoughts turned to Wu Lu. "Uncle… about Wu Lu's condition?"
Wu Lingtian's expression hardened. "Yes, I've already heard. I've contacted a few of my friends to procure the medicine he needs. I won't let a junior of my Wu Clan be bedridden over something as measly as a Whitebone Renewal Pill."
Wu Yuan's chest tightened slightly at those words. This wasn't just the Clan Head speaking—it was someone who truly cared for his clan's younger generation.
"Prepare yourself for tomorrow, Yuan'er," Wu Lingtian said with a firm nod. "If you need anything else, let me know. The clan will stand behind you."
For the first time, Wu Yuan felt like he truly belonged here. Not as an outsider with a second life, but as part of the Wu Clan.