Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1438 - 1431: The Cream of the Crop

Chapter 1438: Chapter 1431: The Cream of the Crop

"The Manor Lord’s intention is to completely sever ties with the Yichuan Clan?" Yichuan Long stood before Yichuan Hong even had a chance to speak, looking straight at Dangyang Wu as he asked.

"Can’t I seek revenge?" Dangyang Wu said, waving his hand, and immediately, the guards of the Dangyang Family surrounded them.

"At a time when the Demon Clan is invading, infighting between us would only play into the hands of outsiders," Yichuan Long stated solemnly.

"Are you saying that I should just endure this humiliation?" Dangyang Wu asked through clenched teeth.

"It is clearly a plot by the Demon Clan to divide us. I hope the Manor Lord can see through this," Yichuan Long said, emphasizing every word.

"Haha, are you teaching me how to conduct my affairs?" Dangyang Wu asked with a cold laugh.

Yichuan Long didn’t answer right away but looked around before saying to him, "Now that both sides are on the brink of combat, to protect my father, I am willing to lay down my life in filial duty. The Manor Lord stands no more than five steps from me. Should I make a move, within these five steps, I would surely drench this place with your blood."

As he spoke, Yichuan Long rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, looking as though he was about to draw it.

"Are you threatening me?" Dangyang Wu asked with a grim expression.

"Please forgive my impudence, I have no other choice," Yichuan Long responded unyieldingly.

Dangyang Wu was well aware that Yichuan Long didn’t speak idly. Following the cultivation system of the East Continent, Yichuan Long was undoubtedly among the few at the very pinnacle of the pyramid.

The Yichuan Clan from Yin State had always hoped to recall him to their family, hence the Imperial Court’s invitation for him to join the court under the guise of a General appointment, all of which he refused. This showed Yichuan Long’s unwavering loyalty to the Yichuan Clan from Jiangzhou — a loyalty and filial piety rarely seen together in a man.

In the East Continent, individual strength often mattered more than numbers. The reason the Noble families accepted the Imperial Court’s Nine Thousand Battalion policy was largely because quality was deemed more important than quantity. It was more cost-effective to maintain one cultivator than ten ordinary soldiers.

Therefore, when Yichuan Long spoke such words, Dangyang Wu didn’t take it as an empty threat but as something Yichuan Long truly had the capacity to do.

If it really came down to a fight, Dangyang Wu was sure neither father nor son would escape. But conversely, neither would he, at such close quarters.

Thus, after weighing the pros and cons, Dangyang Wu gritted his teeth and conceded, "Leave, and never come back. I don’t want to see you again."

"Manor Lord of Dangyang," Yichuan Hong started to say something but was cut off by Dangyang Wu.

"Don’t say anything. There’s no longer any trust between us. Whatever you have to say, for me, is futile," Dangyang Wu said, gritting his teeth.

"Thank you for showing mercy," Yichuan Long said, though his hand remained on the sword hilt, gripped tightly.

Yichuan Hong sighed heavily, then bowed in farewell, "We have overstayed our welcome. We take our leave."

Afterward, he was escorted by Yichuan Long out of the reception hall, back to their own troops, where the guards outside immediately surrounded and protected them.

The two dared not linger, mounting their horses and heading straight for the city gates, not stopping to rest until they were ten miles outside the city.

"Let me ask you," Yichuan Hong said after taking a deep breath, staring at Yichuan Long, "Did you purposely let Ying go because you couldn’t bear to part with her?"

"Does father not trust me?" Yichuan Long asked calmly.

"It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s just that... you two are born of the same mother, it’s hard not to show her favor," Yichuan Hong sighed as he spoke.

"I am loyal only to the Yichuan Clan; I follow father’s commands above all," Yichuan Long answered.

"You haven’t answered my question. Did you let Ying go?" Yichuan Hong pressed.

"Before I answer Father’s question, may I boldly ask a question of my own? I am not sure if it is appropriate," Yichuan Long countered.

"You may ask," Yichuan Hong nodded.

"Is Father planning... to use Ah Mei’s life to clear Yichuan Clan of suspicion? Is that it?" Yichuan Long narrowed his eyes as he asked each word deliberately.

"Who told you that?" Yichuan Hong was shocked to hear this question and asked with a tinge of guilt.

"Father still hasn’t answered my question," Yichuan Long repeated the words that Yichuan Hong had just uttered, his face expressionless.

"What do you mean by that?" Yichuan Hong suddenly burst into a furious rage upon hearing the repetition and rebuked sternly, "Are you doubting me just because you heard some groundless rumors?"

However, the stern rebuke only revealed Yichuan Hong’s guilt, which could be heard in his slightly trembling voice.

"I dare not, Father. If it is just groundless rumors, then I can rest easy," Yichuan Long spoke without showing any emotion.

He said as much, but in his heart, he was quite clear. He wanted Yichuan Hong to admit it, solely to test his true attitude.

"Did Yichuan Ying tell you?" After a moment of silence, Yichuan Hong asked.

"Father should not think that you can keep everything hidden from me," Yichuan Long said quietly.

The two of them fell into a long silence again. Yichuan Hong understood very well what Yichuan Long’s words meant; he was expressing his dissatisfaction with his father in his own way.

"Now that we have completely fallen out with the Dangyang Family, what should be our next move?" sighed Yichuan Hong.

"Then we fight. We must arrange our own affairs. When three parties join forces but do not act in unison, such an alliance is not worth mentioning. Father must not forget that when the Demon Clan’s army attacks, the Yichuan Clan will bear the brunt. Even with a tri-party alliance, the Yichuan Clan’s lands will become the frontline, and for the other two families, as long as the war does not spread to their territories, they won’t be in a hurry," Yichuan Long answered.

"That may be true, but with a tri-party alliance, our Yichuan Clan would have a stable rear," Yichuan Hong sighed again.

"Our fate must be decided by ourselves, Father," Yichuan Long said, "If we lose our land, what good will it do to flee to a secure rear? In the end, would we not be living under someone else’s roof, enduring their scorn?"

"You are right, but..." sighed Yichuan Hong again, hesitating.

"Father, the other two families will only support us if we can withstand the Demon Clan’s offensive. If we fail, no matter how sincere our attitude is, the other two families will merely watch from the sidelines, not joining the fray themselves. People only feel the pain when the fire burns their own skin. As long as their lands are unscathed, they won’t care," Yichuan Long spoke.

"So, in your opinion, what should we do next?" Yichuan Hong asked.

"We should take the initiative and break the Demon Clan army’s siege and encirclement of Yichuan Clan. Make the Demon Clan realize we can’t be easily defeated; they either negotiate peace or go around. As long as we can ensure the war doesn’t reach Yichuan Clan’s lands, that would be our victory," Yichuan Long suggested.

"Very well," Yichuan Hong nodded repeatedly in praises upon hearing Yichuan Long’s suggestion, "The tiger son shall bring glory to our family."

"Father flatters me..." Yichuan Long said with a respectful bow.

He did not feel happy about Yichuan Hong’s praise because the matter of Yichuan Ying had already created a huge rift between him and his father, which could not be healed in any way.

Now, Yichuan Long was loyal to his father, but he did not truly regard him as a father. This series of events had taught him that Yichuan Hong was a qualified Patriarch but not a suitable father.

In fact, as far as Yichuan Hong was concerned, the most suitable successor for the position of the Patriarch was none other than his eldest son, Yichuan Yong.

But he had not said so explicitly, fearing that Yichuan Long would become resentful and flee far to Yin State, knowing that their main clan had already coveted Yichuan Long for quite some time.

However, his worries were completely unnecessary because Yichuan Long was already aware of Yichuan Hong’s little scheme. The reason he stayed with the Jiangzhou Yichuan Clan, aside from his sister, just as he had said, was simply to repay a debt.

He would not leave in a huff just because Yichuan Yong had become the new Patriarch; instead, he would continue to be loyal to this older brother. Yichuan Long was like a ship floating on the sea; whoever could steer could direct him in any desired direction. Of course, this person had to be a member of the family.