"Then what will we do now?"
After the grief ebbed, Ye Qiuting found himself at a loss.
"There's still the horse," Ye Qingfeng said. "Back then, a horse like that meant little to us. Now it could keep the two of us going for months."
A horse like that could fetch two or three hundred silver pieces — enough for a common family to live off for a year. But the brothers, with no house or land, had to prepare for the worst.
"We could go to the Lins," Ye Qiuting suggested.
"Qingfeng, let's try to rely on them for now."
"Times change." Ye Qingfeng shook his head slightly.
"I'm afraid the Lins won't treat us the way they used to."
"No." Ye Qiuting's voice was firm. "They treated us like family for years — holidays, emergencies, Father always had their help. They're decent people. That's why Father promised Shuiyao to our family. Shuiyao's a good girl—"
"All right. We'll go try." Ye Qingfeng didn't believe it, but he respected his elder brother's decision.
They rode to the Lin estate and, after a short time, arrived at the gate. The house servants hurried inside to report their arrival and led the brothers into the outer reception hall.
They waited. Nobody came to see them. Ye Qingfeng glanced at Ye Qiuting and murmured, "Brother…maybe—"
"It'll be fine." Ye Qiuting shook his head with conviction.
"Father trusted them. I trust them."
"Let's hope so," Ye Qingfeng said, frowning.
Inside the Lin family's main room, Lin Siyue, Lin Yuqun, and Lin Shuiyao were each troubled in their own way. When a servant reported the visitors, all three fell into grave expressions.
"Grandfather!" Shuiyao pushed Lin Siyue with force. "I'm not marrying into that family! We were supposed to climb up through Ye Yang's position, a court official. But he's dead, and their household's been confiscated. If I marry into them now, won't I be married to beggars? I won't do it!"
"You don't have to worry. Grandfather would never make you marry into that kind of household," Lin Siyue said, patting her hand.
"Father, that's easy to say, but—" Lin Yuqun looked uncomfortable. "Ye Yang is dead, yes, but Ye Qiuting is a Chaowu-rank cultivator. If things get ugly…we can't afford to provoke him."
"He dare?" Shuiyao's eyes flashed. "In broad daylight — does Feiming still have law? If he, a commoner, dares to come here and cause trouble, we'll file a suit and throw him in prison!"
"That's true, but the engagement was publicly known," Lin Yuqun said slowly. "There are many who will talk if we make a scene."
"Father!" Shuiyao snapped. "Do you mean I should marry some poor scum? A traitor's son?"
"Of course not," Lin Siyue said with a wave. "Your father is prudent. Let him speak."
"All right." Lin Yuqun forced a smile. "Listen. We'll take them in. Get them to stay at our house. Then we'll make it look bad for them — slip some valuable things into their rooms, make it seem like they stole, then have them arrested. The engagement will be void, and no one will think ill of us."
"A fine plan!" Lin Siyue laughed, slapping his knee. "Let them stay."
"I'll handle it," Lin Yuqun said and told Shuiyao, "Don't show your face outside for a few days. Don't risk meeting that Ye Qiuting."
"Understood." Shuiyao nodded eagerly.
Just then, another servant burst in, breathless. Lin Yuqun frowned. "What now?"
"Grandfather, Father — the eldest son has returned!" the man reported.
"Returned?" Lin Yuqun's face lit with surprise and delight. "Where is he?"
"Father, I'm home." A clear voice answered. A young man — about twenty, with swordlike brows and bright eyes, wearing a yellow robe embroidered with gold, strode into the hall. There was a flash in his gaze that hinted at high cultivation; his step was swift and silent, the kind a true master moves with.
Several cloaked followers stood behind him, faces cold and hard; each radiated power.
"Jingyu? Is that you?" Lin Yuqun cried, visibly moved.
"Father, nine years. You haven't changed." The young man bowed slightly to Lin Siyue with respectful grace. "Greetings, Grandfather." The followers bowed in unison to the elders.
"Is he from the Gangwu Sect?" Lin Siyue rose, smiling and clasping his hands.
"He's no mere sect member." The young man's smile had the edge of arrogance. "He's my few inept followers," he said lightly. "Grandfather, Father — I've studied the Art of Divine Mastery these nine years and have reached its pinnacle. I've been chosen head of the Gangwu Sect. I return to surrender our sect to the court, to earn honor and wealth."
The Lin household was stunned, then elated.
"Brother!" Shuiyao sprang into the young man's arms, clinging and cooing. "You've become so powerful! You must protect me."
"Who dares?" The young man's eyes flashed cold; Shuiyao trembled.
Back in the outer hall, Ye Qiuting and Ye Qingfeng waited, nerves fraying. Ye Qingfeng peered toward the door and whispered, "Brother, let's go. They clearly don't want us here. No need to humiliate ourselves."
"I don't believe it," Ye Qiuting ground his teeth; his temples throbbed. "I won't believe it."
A tall figure entered the reception then, moving with a tempering chill. The air seemed to cool; both brothers shuddered.
Standing in the center of the room was a man about twenty, a face uncannily like Lin Yuqun's — eyes bright with a hard light that marked a cultivated master.
"You must be the Ye brothers," he said coldly.
"Yes." Ye Qiuting rose in a formal bow. "I am Ye Qiuting; this is my brother Ye Qingfeng. May I ask your name?"
"I'm Lin Jingyu, Shuiyao's elder brother." He said it slowly. "I was told you have an engagement with my sister. Who arranged that?"
"It was arranged three years ago by my father and your grandfather," Ye Qiuting answered, polite but pained.
"It doesn't matter who arranged it. It no longer counts." Lin Jingyu cut him off. "From today on, the Lin family has nothing to do with you. Leave and don't come back. If you persist, don't blame us for being ruthless."
"What?" Ye Qiuting's face flamed with anger.
"Let's go," Ye Qingfeng said, standing. A cold smile touched his lips — he had expected this ending.
"You are perceptive." Lin Jingyu glanced at Ye Qingfeng and nodded. "But let me make one thing clear — the Lin family is no longer bound to you because we have ambitions far larger than your fallen house. With me leading, the Lin family will rise to become one of Feiming's top clans. A powerful clan does not marry into the family of a mere general's fallen household — not to commoners. Our worlds are different; we are gods and you are ants. Ants should not aspire to mingle with gods; such pretensions are only a source of ridicule."
"Is this your grandfather's and Shuiyao's decision?" Ye Qiuting clenched his teeth.
"Of course," Lin Jingyu said with a sneer.
"Have them say it themselves," Ye Qiuting demanded. "If I hear it from their mouths, I will leave at once and never trouble the Lin family again."
"Do you think I came to argue?" Lin Jingyu laughed coldly. "I came to tell you the truth. I won't waste any more breath on you — it's beneath me. Now get out."
His voice was level, but it was that very flatness — that casual contempt — that stung most, a slow, deliberate humiliation.
"Brother, let them be done with it," Shuiyao barged in then, winding an arm through Lin Jingyu's and looking at Ye Qiuting with undisguised scorn. "We thought your father, a court commander, was suitable for our family, so Grandfather arranged the marriage. But he disgraced himself and brought death and dishonor — how shameful. And now my brother is head of the Gangwu Sect, soon to be honored by the court. You're nothing but commoners now. Know your place and leave — or we'll break your legs next time you show up."
"You—" Ye Qiuting felt like his chest would split. He pointed at Shuiyao, hatred burning in his eyes.
"Bold." Lin Jingyu's gaze darkened, and authority rolled out of him like cold wind. The temperature dropped; the brothers felt it pressing in, their chests tight, breath shallow.
"Brother, let's go." Ye Qingfeng's face had gone ashen; he gripped Ye Qiuting and pulled him toward the door. His eyes never left Lin Jingyu's — steady, unafraid — while Ye Qiuting staggered, his chest heaving under the pressure.
"As for you, Shuiyao." Before they reached the gate, Ye Qingfeng turned and smiled faintly. "I'll remember your words today."
"So what?" Shuiyao sniffed, but a ripple of unease crossed her face when their gazes met; she slid behind Lin Jingyu for safety.
Lin Jingyu studied Ye Qingfeng for a long second, a flicker of interest crossing his expression.
Once outside, the brothers finally exhaled. Ye Qiuting found his voice again. "That Lin Jingyu — outrageous!"
"He's powerful, isn't he?" Ye Qingfeng asked quietly.
"Unfathomable." Ye Qiuting had no choice but to agree.
"All the more reason to keep our distance." Ye Qingfeng said. "From now on, we avoid the Lin family. If they provoke us, we step away."
"It's infuriating." Ye Qiuting ground his teeth. "Such a waste of the betrothal gifts we sent."
"I'd like to see how low the Lin family can stoop," Ye Qingfeng said with a cold smile.