Chapter 2: Chapter 1: Betrayal and Resentment
"Young Master, I bring grave news! Miss Qin Yu is going to marry Young Master Lin Ming!" A young woman burst into the room, her body still swaying from exertion. She possessed a striking beauty, with long flowing hair and legs that seemed to go on forever. However, a blood-red birthmark marred her face, overshadowing her otherwise flawless appearance.
The pale-faced youth inside the room erupted in anger, his eyes bloodshot and his teeth clenched tightly. "This cannot be! Qin Yu and I were promised to each other since birth. How could she marry Lin Ming?" Lin Yang's voice cracked as he shouted, his frustration echoing through the walls. "This is unjust! How could the Patriarch allow this?"
"In the past, my father made great sacrifices for the family. When bandits raided the city, he defended it for three days and nights. He even used his own body to protect the city gate. And what does he get in return? My mother was violated by those bandits, and I was born prematurely amidst the chaos. How could they treat us like this?" Lin Yang seethed with rage, refusing to accept such injustice.
"I won't stand by and accept this! I must seek justice from the Patriarch!"
Before Lin Yang could storm out of the courtyard, a group of individuals who had been waiting outside blocked his way. Among them, a malicious-faced youth with narrow eyes sneered at Lin Yang, his words dripping with disdain.
"You pitiful wretch, how dare you disturb the Patriarch! Take a good look at yourself. Miss Qin Yu is a rare beauty in all of Hartparl County. Not only is she mesmerizing, but her martial arts talents are unmatched! What makes you think you are worthy of her? Now, Qin Yu has agreed to marry our young master. You better learn your place!"
"You insolent fool... Do you not fear the consequences of your arrogance?" Lin Yang glared at his tormentor, his anger surging within him. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his flesh. While he cared less about Qin Yu's appearance, he couldn't bear the humiliation he was being subjected to.
Lin Mu, his eyes filled with disdain, crossed his arms and looked down on everyone around him. Cocking an eyebrow, he sneered at Lin Yang.
"Qin Yu is at the peak of the Spirit Awaking Realm, and our young master has already opened his Awakening Meridian. But you, a feeble and frail individual since childhood with frozen meridians that prevent cultivation... In my eyes, you are nothing more than a drain on the family's resources!"
"And as for retribution..." Lin Mu chuckled, glancing at his laughing cousins. With a flourish, he extended his hand mockingly.
"Brothers, look at him. He's still so naive. Let's show him what retribution truly means!"
The sound of merciless blows echoed through the air as Lin Yang's body was pummeled. Yet, the pain in his heart far outweighed any physical injuries sustained.
In that moment, Lin Yang's heart turned ice-cold. It was clear that the Patriarch had orchestrated everything. He was willing to sacrifice Lin Yang to benefit Lin Ming.
Lin Ming, originally a genius from the Lin Clan, would gain Lin Yang's place and marry the daughter of the Qin Clan. This would solidify Lin Ming's position in the Lin Clan, bringing immense prosperity to the family. Lin Yang was the sacrificial lamb in this grand plan. Not only was his father's sacrifice in obtaining the marriage contract rendered meaningless, but Lin Yang himself would have to vanish, erasing any evidence of the truth.
"What a brilliant scheme! Sacrificing me, a worthless piece of trash, for the prosperity of the clan... Father, this is the very clan that you gave your life to protect. I wonder why the Patriarch never inquired about the marriage contract all these years. He forbade the servants from even mentioning it. He even spread rumors to protect me from jealousy. It seems he had planned to sacrifice me all along... The Patriarch truly possesses foresight, hahaha..."
"If there is a next life, I will annihilate the entire Lin Clan!"
Blood and foam spilled from Lin Yang's mouth as a bitter smile formed on his face. His strength waned with each passing moment, but his gaze remained fixed ahead. It burned with resentment, unwillingness, and a damning complaint against the heavens. Gradually, darkness enveloped him, his hearing filled with the desperate cries of his loyal maid, Su Ling...
On a nearby hill, two somber old men observed the unfolding tragedy. One of them glanced at the lifeless form of Lin Yang, sighing heavily.
"Brother, are you truly not going to intervene? Lin Yang's father may have been an adopted son, but he fought valiantly for the Lin Clan. We owe him so much. Sacrificing his son seems... inappropriate."
"You are too soft-hearted, Brother. Those who strive for greatness do not concern themselves with trivial matters. I took Lin Yang's father in as my adopted son, nurtured and educated him. I even added his name to the Lin Clan's genealogy. That is no small kindness. Why should we not sacrifice his son? Ming'er possesses exceptional martial arts talent and intelligence. He is the Lin Clan's most promising successor, capable of elevating the clan to new heights. By sacrificing Lin Yang, Ming'er can marry Qin Yu, who will undoubtedly support him as the Lady of the Lin Clan. With Ming'er's abilities, the Lin Clan can ascend to unprecedented levels!"
The Lin Clan held considerable power in Ravvine Town, with vast wealth and influence. Lin Yang, ranked ninth within the clan, had tarnished his reputation, labeled as worthless. But Lin Ming was different. He was the legitimate grandson of the Lin Clan's Patriarch and a renowned genius.
Furthermore, he was the grandson of the current Clan Head!
Qin Yu hailed from the powerful Qin Clan in Ravvine Town. A marriage alliance between the Lin and Qin Clans held great promise, uplifting both families to new heights.
Allowing Lin Yang to marry Qin Yu would be seen as a waste by the Patriarch, squandering the opportunity to elevate the Lin Clan. Lin Yang, not being of pure bloodline, was expendable.
The other old man understood the reasoning, his mouth twitching as if about to speak. However, he recognized the futility in trying to dissuade his brother. In that small courtyard, Lin Yang's life force had fully extinguished.
Invisible waves of resentment surged into the sky, shrouding the courtyard in its malevolence. The dark clouds gathered, crackling with lightning as if reflecting the turmoil below. Thunder roared, and a bolt of lightning struck Lin Yang's motionless body, leaving his loyal maid, Su Ling, in shock.
Within that great bolt of lightning, a slight ripple in the air revealed a faint spiritual light descending upon Lin Yang's body. A voice, barely audible, resonated through the air.
"As vitality surges through realms like an unstoppable tide, heaven and earth converge in a chaotic abyss. The once radiant earth is now obscured by solemn darkness, tinged with a profound hue. Mighty dragons and serpents awaken from the very land, as the era of the Great Catastrophe dawns, sealing the fate forsaken by the heavens themselves—a profound mausoleum for the aspirations of every immortal."
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