Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Beijing, Ling Family, In the chamber of the Patriarch.

Ling Zhen, the current Patriarch of the Ling Family, was sitting on an antique chair as he regarded his eldest son, Ling Hao.

The Ling Family was one of the seven big families in Beijing. They had strict house rules. Ling Hao had to prostate himself respectfully in front of his own father since they were in the Patriarch's chambers.

“Ling Hao, aren't you having a rough time of late?”

It seemed like an eternity before Ling Zhen finally asked what was on his mind.

Ling Hao's heart beated wildly as he chose his words carefully. “Dad…”

“This is the chamber of the Patriarch. Address me respectfully as the Patriarch,” Ling Zhen interrupted Ling Hao.

“Yes, Patriarch, I…” Ling Hao did not know where to start when he saw his father's businesslike manner.

“Shall I spill it out for you then? You have found your third uncle's son, Ling Yun, right?” Ling Zhen raised his eyes slightly and stared at his son.

Ling Hao admitted to it immediately, wiping the cold sweat away from his forehead. He dared not hide this from his father.

“You are arranging for a.s.sa.s.sins to take care of Ling Yun before your grandfather finds him, right?

Ling Hao began to sweat profusely. He wanted to defend himself but swallowed it back when he met with Ling Zhen's fierce glare. Ling Hao hung his head low and said, “Yes!”

Ling Zhen's glare softened a little since Ling Hao was honest with him. He sighed as he looked at his son whose head was still bowed. “Survival of the fittest. I don't blame you for trying to secure the position of the Patriarch since this happens in every big family.”

Ling Zhen gave Ling Hao some rea.s.surance before he continued, “I don't blame you for wanting to kill your third uncle's b.a.s.t.a.r.d son Ling Yun either, but your methods are plain stupid! If I did not lend a hand from the shadows…”

“Father!” Ling Hao realized then. It was thanks to his father that the cat was still in the bag.

Ling Zhen knitted his brows slightly and signaled Ling Hao to stop. “You heard your grandpa in the ancestral hall today. He has announced publicly to include Ling Yun in the family tree. I believe he will be able to find Ling Yun in another three days. What do you think you should do?”

Ling Hao listened in shock. His face turned ghastly. His thoughts were racing and he considered his next words carefully. “Father, I am at the most critical moment in my plan. I have just received news about—”

“—What are you so wishy washy about? Spit it out!” Ling Zhen tapped the table and said in a low voice.

“Ling Yun is at odds with the Sun Family, and… and Ling Yun will definitely die tonight!”

“At odds with the Sun Family?” Ling Zhen's thick brows grew tighter for a moment but quickly relaxed. “And what if Ling Yun does not die tonight? What are you going to do about it?” Ling Zhen smirked as he threw this question to his son.

Ling Hao looked at his Father incredulously. “Father, that is impossible…”

Ling Zhen smiled and shook his head slightly. “Impossible? Ling Hao, my boy. Always remember, nothing is impossible in this world! Didn't you initially think that killing Ling Yun was as easy as killing an ant? What happened after that? Hasn't it been one whole week?”

Ling Hao lowered his gaze in shame, unable to look into Ling Zhen's eyes.

“I am not sure what to do if that happens…” Ling Hao sighed.

Ling Zhen shook his head helplessly and gave a long sigh. “Ling Hao, what did I teach you? Sometimes killing is not the only answer to a problem. It is usually the last resort! Let me teach you! You have until tomorrow night to ensure Ling Yun is dead. However, if Ling Yun is not dead, you will personally inform your grandfather and your third uncle on the morning of the day after that you have found Ling Yun! Do you understand?!”

Ling Zhen gave his son a meaningful look and waited for his reply.

“But… but if I were to do that…” Ling Hao tried to argue hurriedly.

Ling Zhen snorted and rose up angrily. He pointed at Ling Hao and shouted, “You fool! Do you really think your grandpa and your third uncle are just sitting around waiting for you to deliver the results to them even though they delegated this task to you?”

“You are the eldest son and grandson of the Ling Family! Your grandpa is also using this case to test you. Think about it. How will they look at you if they manage to find Ling Yun before you?! If you can confirm that Ling Yun will be dead before the morning of the day after, I will naturally help you. But if Ling Yun is not dead, then even if you send a bunch of a.s.sa.s.sins, the person who will perish is you, not Ling Yun!”

Ling Zhen took a breath. “In any case, your third uncle is the cause of us being the weakest link in the seven big families. It would not be favorable for Ling Yun to rejoin our family! Don't forget, I am the current Patriarch of the Ling Family! As long as I am alive, no one can stop your rightful candidacy to become the next Patriarch!”

Ling Zhen paused. “But let me also warn you now. You must compete fairly with your younger brother. If I find you planning to sabotage him, I will dispose of you myself. Do you hear me?!”

Ling Hao was subdued into silence by Ling Zhen's severe reprimand. He could only nod.

“Go along now. If nothing happens, your grandpa and your third uncle will probably find Ling Yun within three days. That is why I'm only giving you a day and a half. If Ling Yun is not dead by then, you will erase any remaining evidence and report to your grandpa. You may even get into his good books if you do that.”

Ling Zhen repeated the plan to hammer it into Ling Hao before dismissing him.

Ling Zhen leaned back into his chair and contemplated the issue in hand.

Third Brother, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d son that the b*tch bore for you is not a simpleton… The Sun Family, eh…

The western suburbs, at the edge of the endless lawn on Zhuang Tiande's property next to the wood grove.

“Priest Compa.s.sionless and Priestess Heartless are a pair of adulterers! Ahem, ahem…”

“They are a shameless couple… ahem ahem…”

It had been about eight minutes since Sun Xing started shouting at the top of his lungs. His throat had long became hoa.r.s.e, but he dared not stop for fear of inviting Ling Yun's palm into his face!

Ling Yun sat casually in the rain as he alternated between teasing the superior golden silkworm still hovering above them and slapping Sun Xing. He showed no intention of seizing the opportunity to escape.

It was not his style to let his mighty reinforcements like the golden silkworm witness his unmanly side. Especially not this humanistic silkworm.

Priest Compa.s.sionless and Priestess Heartless would have killed Sun Xing long ago for slandering them if He Xingyan had not been healing his wound from the superior golden silkworm.

“Woo…” He Xingyan was finally done healing himself. He threw away the original dagger, took out another one and dug another chunk of flesh out from the wounded tissues. He then smeared the top quality ointment onto the gaping hole and began bandaging it.

His right arm was starting to regain its sense of pain. Clearly the poison had been successfully removed!

“My grat.i.tude to you three for protecting me. Shall we divide the work simply? I will deal with that golden silkworm in the air, leaving you three to kill Ling Yun in the fastest possible time. What do you think?”

He Xingyan made plans with the other three as he broke out of their protective ring. His eyes were fixed on that pesky Xiao Jin.

That was exactly what Priest Compa.s.sionless and Priestess Heartless wanted. They nodded in agreement and replied, “That is a superb plan. Let's do it!”

Right at this moment, He Xingyan scowled, turned this head towards the gate and said, “Someone is here!”

Even though his mobility and speed were hugely affected by his injury, his skills were intact. He was the first to notice the commotion at the gate.

Xiao Jin knew unmistakably that it was Miao Xiaomiao through their shared connection. It fluttered its wings cheerfully and flew in the direction of the gate.

Ling Yun jumped up from the ground anxiously and shouted, “Hey, don't run! F*ck, I was hoping for you to bite them…”

The four masters seized this opportunity and flew towards Ling Yun, each with their specialty skill!

Ling Yun grabbed Sun Xing and plunged into the woods, chasing after Xiao Jin with Thousand Miles G.o.dly Steps.

He was curious. Who was this kind-hearted soul who came to save him in the middle of the rainy night?

Priestess Heartless caught up to them once they entered the woods. She was fully recharged from her eight minutes of rest when Sun Xing p.i.s.sed her off again. She had to kill Ling Yun herself!

The three masters had been recharging their physical and internal strength when they had been protecting He Xingyan. This period of rest to Ling Yun wasn't as beneficial for Ling Yun. Even though he had recovered some physical strength, it did nothing for his spiritual energy.

Ling Yun's Thousand Miles G.o.dly Steps was therefore unable to shake off Priestess Heartless, especially when he was carrying Sun Xing! He could only exit the woods again.

“Die, evil creature!”

Priest Compa.s.sionless and Liu Deming had been lying in wait for Ling Yun at the edge of the woods. They welcomed him with open arms and charged at him with both fly-whisk and staff!

Ling Yun was besieged!