Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Superficial Truth Behind His Father's Death
When Fang Yulong witnessed how easily Lin Wei killed one of their ancestors, he felt a wave of dread wash over him, extinguishing the arrogance he had felt before. "We should have killed him before he reached such a realm. Now, I don't even believe he is at the Martial King or even the Martial Emperor level," he lamented internally.
Hovering in the air, the six remaining ancestors were gripped by fear. Though they couldn't see with their eyes, they sensed Fang Huo's absence, signaling his death. "Hmph, I don't believe he can kill all of us if we join forces and attack him simultaneously," one of the young men suggested optimistically.
"Idiot, can't you see that he easily killed Fang Huo? Even though Fang Huo was only at the Early Martial Emperor level, he should not have been easily dispatched, even against a peak Martial Emperor," an ancestor rebuked the young man solemnly. "He effortlessly caught up to Fang Huo, who was already more than half a mile away. If I'm not mistaken, he should be at the Martial Supreme level."
Hearing this explanation, the others felt their fear deepen.
"You're likely right, Ancestor Muchen. But what should we do now?" Fang Meilin's voice quivered with worry and concern.
"You're likely right, Ancestor Muchen. But what should we do now?" Fang Meilin's voice quivered with worry and concern.
"I don't know, but we need to find a way to mend our relationship with Lin Wei," Ancestor Muchen, the leader of the group, responded thoughtfully.
"Ancestor, we have already completely offended Lin Wei," the other woman interjected.
Before Ancestor Muchen could reply, he suddenly heard a voice inside his head.
"Keke, do you want me to handle him for you? But it comes at a price," echoed an eerie laughter in Fang Muchen's mind.
"Who are you?" Muchen called out, his voice tinged with apprehension.
"You don't need to know my identity. Do you want my assistance or not?" replied the mysterious voice.
"How can you assist us? He's a Martial Supreme. And if you're offering aid, why not reveal yourself?" Muchen queried, his tone betraying his uncertainty. "Hehe, a mere Supreme? I can crush him like an ant. Martial Supreme? Martial Saint? They're all insignificant," retorted the voice, dripping with disdain.
"If I agree to your assistance, what do you require in return?" Muchen asked cautiously, wary of any potential consequences for his clan.
"Keke, you already know the answer, don't you?" chuckled the voice. "I simply want your clan to become my subordinate. You won't need to do much. Just locate the person who broke through. Since they're from your clan, you must know something," the voice explained.
"Can you truly eliminate him?" Muchen inquired, seeking reassurance.
"Hmph, are you doubting my capabilities? And you still have not answered me yet" the voice responded with displeasure.
Fang Muchen frowned, his mind clouded with uncertainty as he contemplated his decision. Becoming a subordinate to another entity felt like a bitter irony, especially considering they had believed they were the ones pushing Lin Wei to the edge. Now, the situation had reversed, leaving them teetering on the brink of annihilation or submission to an unknown force.
"Ancestor?" The concerned voices of his descendants broke through his thoughts.
Shaking himself from his reverie, a glint of determination flickered in Fang Muchen's eyes as he addressed his descendants. "There is someone willing to help us eliminate Lin Wei," he announced.
"What? That's great, Ancestor! Who are they? Can they eliminate Lin Wei now?" Fang Xiqian's voice brimmed with eagerness, echoed by the others.
Raising his hand to silence their enthusiasm, Fang Muchen proceeded cautiously. "But, in return, he wants our clan to follow him," he revealed, explaining the terms of the offer.
Hearing this, the expressions of his descendants shifted from surprise to concern, then to dark foreboding. "Ancestor, you must not accept his conditions," Fang Jianli urged vehemently.
"Hmph, firstly, I'm not asking for your consent; I'm merely informing you of my decision so you can prepare yourselves," Fang Muchen retorted sternly. "And secondly, if I don't accept his conditions?" he paused, locking eyes with each of them. "What do you expect me to do? Watch the clan I've nurtured for over a hundred years crumble?"
Hearing their ancestor's rationale, his descendants found themselves at a loss for rebuttal. While the prospect of becoming someone's subordinate didn't immediately strike them as humiliating, they couldn't ignore the underlying implications of the terms proposed by the other party. It was clear that they wouldn't just be subservient; they'd be reduced to the status of mere servants, akin to dogs.
"Hmph, groveling before Lin Wei is no longer an option. We've thoroughly offended him, and by now, he likely believes his father's death is linked to us," Muchen stated to his descendants. "I would rather see myself and our clan serve someone else than face annihilation in our fledgling state. Our only recourse now is to eliminate Lin Wei with external assistance," he continued, his expression resolute and unyielding.
"But we didn't directly kill Lin Wei's father; we merely assisted in his demise. If we reach out to those who harbor resentment towards Lin Wei's father and inform them of his son's actions, they might aid us, or we could directly tell Lin Wei the truth, " argued Fang Yu, his reluctance to submit evident in his words.
"And even if we were to inform Lin Wei about our involvement in his father's demise, do you think he would simply forgive us?" Muchen's voice grew sharper, his eyes boring into Fang Yu. "He would likely be enraged at being manipulated like a mere pawn, a mere livestock."
Cowed by Muchen's reprimand, Fang Yu lowered his head, unable to offer a rebuttal.
...
At the mountain peak, after dispatching Fang Huo, Lin Wei cast a fleeting glance at the remaining emperors before fixing his gaze on Fang Yulong. Slowly advancing towards him, Lin Wei spoke with an icy tone, "Fang Yulong, I'll give you one last chance to explain what transpired five years ago."
Startled awake by Lin Wei's questioning, Fang Yulong stammered, "I'll tell you everything I know, but you must spare my life."
"You are in no position to negotiate," Lin Wei retorted coldly. "Now, tell me about the origin of this ring and your clan's involvement in my father's death."
Fang Yulong's voice trembled as he began his confession. "Five years ago, a month before the assassination, a mysterious figure in a brown robe appeared at the Clan's Hall. He asked if we had a guard named Lin Jun."
"Why the hesitation? Continue," Lin Wei demanded, his patience waning.
Fang Yulong's voice quivered as he continued his account. "Yes, they asked me about a guard named Lin Jun. I didn't recognize the name, so I inquired with my subordinates. Upon learning about your father, I honestly relayed the information. The robed figure then solicited my aid in your father's assassination, offering a plan and a powerful artifact as incentive. Initially, I balked at the idea, as it meant killing my own son's life. But the promise of the artifact was too enticing to ignore."
"After dismissing the robed figure, I sought counsel from our ancestors. Presenting the artifact, they advised me to accept the offer, claiming the sacrifice of one heir was insignificant compared to the treasure's value. Tempted by their promises and the allure of power, I relented and agreed to assist the robed figure," Fang Yulong recounted, his voice tinged with regret.
As he concluded his confession, Fang Yulong awaited Lin Wei's judgment, his expression fraught with guilt and remorse.
"Was that treasure the bronze ring?" Lin Wei's tone was firm, his eyes piercing.
"Yes," Fang Yulong admitted reluctantly.
"So, you gave it to my father?" Lin Wei's question carried a hint of accusation.
"No," Fang Yulong responded, his voice tinged with apprehension.
Surprised by the answer, Lin Wei regarded Fang Yulong with a cold gaze. "Then how did my father come into possession of the ring? He couldn't have found it or stolen it," he reasoned.
"I was the one who gave you the ring," Fang Yulong confessed cautiously. "Ancestor Muchen selected you as our clan's candidate. You were chosen for two reasons: your impending orphanhood and your hidden talent, which Ancestor Muchen discovered when you first joined the clan. So, I disguised myself as your father and presented you with the ring."
Lin Wei's expression shifted from shock to a steely resolve. "How could you be so sure your plan would succeed?" he demanded, his voice edged with skepticism.
"It's because that person said they would personally send a Martial Transcendent expert," Fang Yulong explained, his voice growing weaker under Lin Wei's relentless interrogation.
"What? My father is only an ordinary Martial Master, so why would they send someone so strong? Did they mistakenly identify father? Just because father and the person they are looking for have the same name doesn't mean they are the same person," Lin Wei's frustration was evident as he voiced his perplexity.
Indeed, the hierarchy of Martial Cultivation Realms in the continent comprised eleven major stages, from the weakest to the strongest. Lin Wei's father resided at the third stage, a Martial Master, while the assassin allegedly sent after him belonged to the ninth stage, a Martial Transcendent. Such a vast difference in power seemed absurd to Lin Wei.
Attempting to make sense of the situation, Fang Yulong continued, "I don't think they are mistaken. He gave me a full description of your father, including his face."
Lin Wei was about to respond when he suddenly heard the system's notification.
"Ding. The grade of the Dragon Tail County has increased from level five to level seven."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone