Blind Ghostwriter: Starts with the full level of Nine Yang Magic Skill

Chapter 210 Qingye Hall's Scheme Against Gu Mo (1-word chapter)
"Brother, should we cut off someone's head?"

Inside the abandoned house, Gu Chudong put on silver-threaded gloves and asked eagerly.

Gu Mo shook his head slightly and said, "No need. We can just hand it over to the Qian family for help. We're not familiar with the local government officials."

"Oh, okay." Gu Chudong nodded, somewhat disappointed.

Gu Mo was speechless upon hearing Gu Chudong's tone. It seemed that his younger sister was somewhat addicted to beheading people. Was it appropriate for a girl to be so bloody?

Soon, Song Danyang, Old Madam Lin, and the others arrived.

"Master Gu, you truly live up to your reputation as a grandmaster with profound skills. Your mastery of internal energy is truly breathtaking..."

As the current top admirer of Cangzhou, Song Danyang showered Gu Mo with endless praise, to the point that Gu Mo found it hard to listen. While he didn't deny that his mastery of internal energy was indeed profound, he didn't believe it was as unparalleled as Song Danyang claimed.

“Master Song, Master Song…” Gu Mo hurriedly interrupted Song Danyang and said, “This Ye Xiao claims to be a member of the Qingye Hall. Should you follow the clues and see if you can find any trace of the Qingye Hall?”

Song Danyang sighed and said, "It's difficult. The Green Leaf Hall is a very strange organization. In the past few years, neither the Six Doors nor our righteous martial arts world has failed to capture members of the Green Leaf Hall."

Although the members of Qingye Hall were very tight-lipped, and most of them would commit suicide immediately upon being caught, some failed to do so. The Six Doors even hired a master skilled in spiritual magic to interrogate them, but ultimately they still couldn't find any trace of Qingye Hall.

The organizational structure of Qingye Hall is different from that of normal Jianghu organizations. Qingye Hall has a small number of members who do not know each other and communicate through single-line contact. Even when they do communicate, they only know each other's code names and do not know who the other person is.

Simply put, if someone is arrested, their superiors immediately cut off contact. Furthermore, they never seek revenge; if someone dies, they're gone, and the Qingye Hall immediately acts as if that person never existed.

Gu Mo asked doubtfully, "How can this structure guarantee loyalty?"

"do not guarantee."

Song Danyang shook his head and said, "There are very few people in the Qingye Hall. So far, no more than ten people have been killed or captured. Of these ten, six have no trace and are clearly assassins. The other four have one thing in common: they have received great favors from the Qingye Hall and are willing to risk their lives for it."

Take, for example, that Qingye Hall member you killed at the post station while escorting the silver cart a while back—the one impersonating Ye Xiao. His identity has been confirmed; his name is Tong Fei. He was originally a private tutor with a beautiful wife and adorable son; his family was very happy. However, his family was destroyed by a local bully. His wife was raped and committed suicide by jumping into a well. When he went to court, he encountered a corrupt official who accepted bribes and instead imprisoned him. His three-year-old son was brutally killed in front of him by the bully.

Later, Tong Fei was rescued by Qingye Hall. Not only was his life saved, but he also learned martial arts from them, allowing him to personally avenge himself by killing the entire tyrant's family and the corrupt official. Tell me, wouldn't someone like that be fiercely loyal to Qingye Hall?

Gu Mo nodded and said, "Yes, we should be loyal to Qingye Hall to the death."

Song Danyang said, "The people of Qingye Hall, like Tong Fei, all have various tragic fates, and later received help from Qingye Hall."

"Is Ye Xiao also one?" Gu Mo asked.

“It should be,” Song Danyang said. “Ye Xiao did have a tragic fate, but we didn’t know he was a member of the Qingye Hall before you killed Tong Fei.”

Ye Xiao was originally a scholar who studied diligently for years to pass the imperial examinations and earn official rank, carrying the hopes of his entire family. However, after finally passing the examinations and becoming a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations), he was framed and implicated in a cheating case, with the other party trying to steal his place in the examinations.

In court, his fiancée unexpectedly testified against him for cheating. Ultimately, he was imprisoned, his elderly mother died of grief, and his future was ruined. After his release, he learned that his former fiancée's family had framed him to get involved with a wealthy young man, seized his land, and even threw his mother's remains into a latrine, subjecting him to extreme humiliation.

Later, he became a disciple of the Grandmaster Tianji Xianweng of Cangzhou. The reason he was able to become a disciple of Tianji Xianweng was because he possessed a Tianji Token. There are three Tianji Tokens in the martial arts world, which Tianji Xianweng released through various coincidences in his youth. He promised that anyone who came to him with a Tianji Token could make a request.

Ye Xiao's initial condition was to become a disciple of the Celestial Mystery Immortal. To ensure Ye Xiao's mastery of the art, the Celestial Mystery Immortal modified and weakened his signature technique, the Heavenly Evolution Great Art, creating a martial art specifically for Ye Xiao—the Celestial Mystery Swordplay. Later, Ye Xiao mastered the art, descended the mountain to avenge himself, and gradually descended into demonic ways, killing countless people.

Now that I think about it, it's likely that the Heavenly Secret Token that Ye Xiao had was given to him by the Green Leaf Hall.

Gu Mo asked, "Is it possible that the Celestial Mystery Immortal is a member of the Green Leaf Hall?"

“It’s unlikely,” Song Danyang said. “The Celestial Immortal is highly regarded in Cangzhou. Of course, I’m not saying it’s completely impossible, but if he’s a member of the Green Leaf Hall, we can’t follow this lead.”

"Why?" Gu Mo asked puzzledly.

Song Danyang smiled helplessly and said, "Because the Heavenly Evolution Great Law is said to be able to calculate all the secrets of heaven, it is impossible to find him. Unless he shows himself on his own, he can calculate in advance and hide from anyone who goes to him. The reason why the Heavenly Mystery Immortal is called the Heavenly Mystery Immortal is because he can predict the future and calculate without omission."

"Fortune telling?" Gu Mo asked doubtfully, "Isn't this just a charlatan's trick?"

Song Danyang said, "Ordinary fortune tellers in the martial arts world use tricks to swindle people out of their money, but the Celestial Immortal is different. He is a Qi cultivator, unlike our ordinary martial arts. He cultivates destiny and pursues the connection between heaven and man and transcendence."

"So you're a Qi cultivator!"

Upon hearing that the Celestial Mystery Immortal was a Qi cultivator, Gu Mo understood and believed that the Celestial Mystery Immortal truly could predict the future.

There are three types of martial arts in the world. The first and most common is internal and external martial arts, such as the Chunyang Temple, which emphasizes internal energy techniques. The second is martial will, such as Qi Tianshu and Ye Jinglan, who rely on explosive power from their martial will. The third and most mysterious type is the Qi cultivator, who is rarely seen in the martial arts world. Qi cultivators are like a group of madmen, cultivating their life and fortune, seeking transcendence.

Gu Mo had always heard of Qi cultivators, but since his debut, he had never encountered a single one. However, Qi cultivators were merely mysterious, not something to be ashamed of.

Among the three major sects, four factions, and seven aristocratic families of the Qian Kingdom's martial arts world, Penglai Island in the East Sea, one of the three major sects, is a Qi cultivation sect. The people on the island live in seclusion in the East Sea year-round, detached from worldly affairs, focusing solely on transcending worldly concerns, and rarely venturing into the martial arts world.

……

In an abandoned house.

Song Danyang said, "There are three reasons why we don't doubt the Heavenly Mystery Immortal. First, the Heavenly Mystery Immortal has a very good reputation in the Cangzhou martial arts world and has always been a solitary cultivator. Second, he is a Qi cultivator who has always pursued following the will of Heaven, so it is unlikely that he is a member of the Green Leaf Hall. Third, he travels around all year round. Although he is called a Cangzhou native, he is actually rarely in Cangzhou."

Therefore, considering these three reasons, he is unlikely to be a member of the Green Leaf Hall, at least not its leader. Of course, given that his disciple Ye Xiao is currently a member of the Green Leaf Hall, it's also possible that he is one of them.

Gu Mo asked, "So, in fact, you currently have absolutely no leads on the Qingye Hall?"

Song Danyang shook his head and said, "If even the Six Doors can't track it down, it's even less likely that we martial arts practitioners will be able to. Hmm, does Master Gu intend to investigate the Green Leaf Hall?"

Gu Mo shook his head slightly and said, "I was just curious because I heard Master Qian mention Qingye Hall before. It's very mysterious and claims that it can do anything as long as you can afford the price."

Song Danyang laughed and said, "It's just a rumor circulating in the martial arts world. It's just a martial arts force hiding in the dark, whose intentions are unknown. If it were truly omnipotent, why would it need to hide?"

However, it must be said that the Qingye Hall's disguise techniques are truly formidable. Almost everyone in the Qingye Hall possesses a skill in shrinking bones and tightening flesh, making it difficult to detect any disguises unless one is particularly attentive. This is the main reason why the Qingye Hall can remain so well-hidden. Our Cangzhou martial arts world and the Six Doors have been investigating this matter. If Master Gu is interested, I will certainly inform you if I have any news in the future!

Gu Mo nodded and said, "That's good. I'll wait for news from Abbot Song."

At this moment, Old Madam Lin said, "Master Gu's martial arts are unparalleled. This matter has been concluded satisfactorily, and our visit here has been somewhat unnecessary. However, it has been a great honor to witness Master Gu's abilities. Now that this matter is settled, we should depart. Master Gu and Abbot Song, why don't you visit my Lin family? We were in a rush these past few days and did not properly entertain you both. This is truly impolite. Please give me a chance to make amends!"

Song Danyang quickly said, "Grandma, you flatter me by saying that. I have been down the mountain for quite a while now. I received a letter from my sect saying that a traitor from my Chunyang Temple from many years ago has reappeared. I must go and capture him. Time is short, and I cannot linger any longer. I will definitely visit you next time I go to Tang'an County!"

Gu Mo also cupped his hands and said, "Madam Lin, I also have matters to attend to upon returning to Yunzhou, so I will not disturb you any longer."

Song Danyang quickly said, "Master Gu, you're not busy for these ten days or half a month. I sincerely invite you to visit Shi Nan Mountain. I have benefited greatly from your guidance these past few days. Would you like to come with me to Chunyang Temple so that I can show you some hospitality?"

“Next time, you still have to go and capture the traitor in the sect,” Gu Mo said. “I travel around the world all year round, and I will be coming to Cangzhou more often in the future. Next time I come to Cangzhou, I will definitely visit Chunyang Temple. I won’t go this time, I have important matters to attend to in Yunzhou!”

Song Danyang said, "If that's the case, then I won't keep you any longer."

Afterwards, the group bowed and then departed.

Song Danyang led the Chunyang Temple disciples back to Chunyang Temple on Shishan Mountain, while Old Madam Lin led the Lin family disciples back to Tang'an County. There were still a lot of things waiting for her at the Lin family's disposal: compensation to the Qian family, the resignation of the Lin family head, and the current negative impact on the Lin family's reputation, all of which required her to handle upon her return.

Gu Mo followed the Qian family towards Cangyuan City.

He still needs to go back and gather information. Of the five wanted criminals, he has only killed one so far, and there are still four to go.

As for the matter of Ye Xiao's body and the bounty, Gu Mo entrusted it to the Qian family, a local power in Cangzhou. The Qian family, now deeply indebted to Gu Mo, would naturally handle these small matters properly.

As for the promise made by Qian Duoduo before they came to Cangzhou—a reward of ten thousand taels of silver or a money exchange for killing Ye Xiao—Gu Chudong and Qian Duoduo initially chose ten thousand taels. This was because the siblings didn't plan to stay in Cangzhou long-term and had no interest in running a business.

However, now that Qian Duoduo is dead, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong no longer mention it.

However, Qian Yue proactively offered to provide the compensation from the Lin family along with Ye Xiao's reward money. He also stated that if Gu Mo and Gu Chudong returned to Yunzhou by then, the Qian family would arrange for their safe arrival there.

Soon after, the Qian family concluded their negotiations with the local government of Tongjiang County and resolved the matter of killing Ye Xiao. A group of people then set off towards Cangyuan City.

In the carriage,
Gu Chudong was feeling down.

Gu Mo was somewhat surprised. This trip had netted him over ten thousand taels of silver, yet Gu Chudong, with his money-grubbing nature, was actually feeling down.

"What's wrong?" Gu Mo asked. "Aren't you happy even though you've made money?"

Gu Chudong shook her head slightly and said, "I just don't quite understand."

"What don't you understand?" Gu Mo asked.

"Do those people from Qingye Hall deserve sympathy?" Gu Chudong asked.

Gu Mo paused for a moment, thought for a moment, and said, "I don't have a specific answer to your question either. From their own perspective, take Tong Fei for example. He originally had a happy family and should have had a wonderful life. But it was ruined by bullies and corrupt officials. At this time, he deserves sympathy, and it's right for him to seek revenge. A common man's anger can cause bloodshed, and from my personal perspective, I completely agree with that."

Qingye Hall saved his life and gave him the power to avenge himself. His loyalty to Qingye Hall, accepting their orders and risking his life for them, was understandable; he did nothing wrong. However, the innocent people he killed were also innocent, such as the bodyguards who escorted the Qian family's silver carts. They were simply trying to earn a living; they did nothing wrong and offended no one. They were killed simply because Tong Fei or Ye Xiao were carrying out a mission to repay a debt of gratitude. They were innocent.

I can't say whether it's right or wrong, because if I were Tong Fei or Ye Xiao, and I suffered the same tragic fate as them, and was saved by Qingye Hall, I would also be loyal to Qingye Hall without hesitation. I wouldn't care whether Qingye Hall is good or evil, nor would I care whether Qingye Hall asked me to do horrific things. I only know that when I fell into the deepest abyss of despair, it was Qingye Hall that pulled me back. At that moment, I sold my life to Qingye Hall.

However, I am also prepared for the inevitable: those who kill will be killed in return. Qingye Hall gave me a new life; I risked my life for Qingye Hall, working for them. Therefore, it is perfectly reasonable for me to be killed by others, because I have indeed done evil and been a villain!

Gu Chudong said in a deep voice: "Then who is wrong? Is Qingye Hall wrong?"

Gu Mo shook his head and said, "The fault lies with those villains at the very beginning. If it weren't for that bully and corrupt official, Tong Fei would still have a happy family. Qingye Hall wouldn't have approached him. And Qingye Hall's help to him was always for a purpose. Qingye Hall is an evil organization. Its efforts are just to find people to work for!"

Gu Chudong thought for a moment and said, "I think I understand. From Tong Fei and Ye Xiao's perspective, Qingye Hall is their god, their light. But in essence, Qingye Hall is also an evil organization. They have been kind to people like Ye Xiao and Tong Fei, but they have done far more bad things, such as wiping out entire families and slaughtering civilians."

In other words, there's no question of sympathy or lack thereof, nor is there a misunderstanding of right and wrong. I only need to understand my own perspective. If I were Tong Fei or Ye Xiao, then Qingye Hall would be a beacon of light; if I were one of those harmed by Qingye Hall, then Qingye Hall would be the worst and most evil organization in the world. But in reality, I'm just an ordinary江湖人 (jianghu person, a member of the martial arts world), so from my perspective, Qingye Hall is an evil organization!

Gu Mo nodded and said, "When you can't see things clearly, first clarify your own position. Just like when you see your friend having a conflict with someone outside, before you go over, first figure out what your position is. Are you going over from your friend's perspective, or from the perspective of an ordinary bystander watching the show, or from the perspective of a chivalrous hero upholding justice?"

If you're acting as a friend, don't question who's right or wrong; just offer your help. If you're a bystander, simply watch the show and don't get involved. If you're a chivalrous hero seeking justice, be prepared to offend your friends and risk a falling out.

Gu Chudong nodded and said, "I understand, brother. However, there's still one thing I don't understand."

"Go ahead," Gu Mo said.

Gu Chudong said slowly, "Isn't Lin Xiangdong's punishment too lenient? Everyone only cares about one thing: Qian Duoduo is dead, and Lin Xiangdong said that Ye Xiao killed him. He didn't want to kill Qian Duoduo and was framed. In this way, it seems that he shouldn't necessarily have to pay with his life. In the end, he pointed out Ye Xiao's whereabouts and got his life in exchange."

It seems reasonable enough. But it seems no one has considered that he colluded with Ye Xiao to rob the Qian family's silver carts several times, resulting in the deaths of so many bodyguards. Shouldn't Lin Xiangdong bear responsibility for those deaths? Why is he only held responsible for Qian Duoduo's death? This is unfair!

Gu Mo nodded and said, "It is indeed unfair. Everywhere, whether it is the martial arts world, the imperial court, or even the common people, unfairness is everywhere. Some people seem to be born with lowly fates, while others seem to be born with noble ones."

Was Qian Duoduo's life valuable? It was, but compared to those ordinary bodyguards whose names no one even remembered, it was still valuable. If it weren't for me and Song Danyang showing up, even if Qian Duoduo had died, and the Qian family had gone to seek justice, let alone Old Madam Lin personally apologizing, the Qian family probably wouldn't have even been able to get into the Lin family's house.

The Lin family would never admit that Lin Xiangdong colluded with Ye Xiao. They would only say that the Qian family had offended Ye Xiao, so Ye Xiao seized the opportunity to assassinate him, and Lin Xiangdong was merely an unfortunate bystander. A milder approach would be to have Lin Xiangdong apologize and pay some compensation. If the Lin family were more domineering, they would directly engage in a violent confrontation, then arrange for renowned figures in the martial arts world to speak out, claiming that the Qian family was being unreasonable and falsely accusing them of instigating the attack. What could the Qian family do? Could they possibly defeat the Lin family? Could they outmaneuver the Lin family in terms of public opinion and influence in the martial arts world?

Gu Chudong remained silent for a moment.

Gu Mo continued, "That's how the martial arts world is. Many legends and stories are embellished. For example, the Lin family's matter. If it gets out in the martial arts world, many people might say that I was upholding justice and seeking justice for the Qian family. But in reality, I didn't help anything, and I'm not that righteous. If I were truly righteous, I should have killed Lin Xiangdong and even continued the investigation. Was the robbery of the silver cart really just Lin Xiangdong's doing? Shouldn't the Lin family bear responsibility?"
Then I'll have to investigate the Lin family, even fight them to the death. But what's the purpose? To seek justice for the Qian family or for those bodyguards? But are they absolutely righteous? Was all of Qian Duoduo's money clean? Did the Qian family rise from an insignificant family to where they are today without innocent blood on their hands? Did those bodyguards not kill any innocent people on their path to fame?
"Sigh, to put it bluntly, in the martial world, there's no such thing as absolute justice. So-called justice, fairness, and justice are merely part of a set of rules that everyone agrees on. Lin Xiangdong was punished not because of justice or injustice, but simply because he was suppressed by the rules. Why was he suppressed by the rules? Because Qian Duoduo, Song Danyang, and I all have influence within those rules, so Lin Xiangdong was punished. Those bodyguards who weren't even mentioned weren't influential enough to warrant Lin Xiangdong's punishment. And even Qian Duoduo's influence wasn't enough to punish the Lin family. So, Lin Xiangdong accepted the punishment, and that was it."

Gu Chudong asked, "Then, who set this rule?"

“It formed naturally,” Gu Mo said. “It’s not something that anyone can set. Even the emperor has to follow this rule. It’s determined by the mainstream ideology. Just like the concept of good and evil, when the mainstream ideology thinks that indiscriminate killing is evil, then indiscriminate killing is evil. When the mainstream ideology thinks that it is permissible to kill at will, then killing at will is righteous. The so-called mainstream ideology is the ideology that is accepted by more people.”

Gu Chudong asked doubtfully, "But in this system, ordinary people are oppressed. Do they accept that?"

“I agree.” Gu Mo chuckled. “Haven’t you noticed that almost everyone follows this rule? Ordinary people work their butts off, whether it’s studying, practicing martial arts, making money, or striving for fame, all to raise their own value, increase their own importance, conform to this rule, and strive to become the top of this rule. Aren’t we the same?”

Gu Chudong said, "Won't some people disagree and resist?"

“Yes, of course,” Gu Mo said. “Peasant uprisings throughout history were simply acts of resistance. Some were suppressed and failed, while others were successful but ultimately failed.”

What does "success or failure" mean?

"At the moment of success, he stood at the top of the rules, and then, the dragon slayer became the new dragon." Gu Chudong suddenly realized, "I understand. It's not the rules that are causing the problem, but human nature. As long as people have selfish desires, these kinds of rules will be born. So, all we can do is to gain more influence within these rules and increase our own importance. Ordinary people either study or practice martial arts."

Just like we were back then, even beggars were bullied and had the least human rights. But when you killed that beggar leader for the first time, we began to have some weight. Later, as your martial arts skills improved, our weight grew heavier. Now, you've become one of the most influential individuals, and therefore, you have the right to choose freely.

Gu Chudong's eyes hardened with determination: "Brother, I understand. In short, this world is all about might. Officials have power, that's a kind of might; wealthy merchants have wealth, that's also a kind of might; and we, the underworld..." Gu Chudong clenched her small fist and said fiercely, "This is our might. I may not bully others, but I cannot be without the ability to bully others. The rules cannot be changed, but we can control the rules!"

"Uh……"

Gu Mo was slightly taken aback. His original intention was to say that the rules could not be changed, but they could stand at the top of the rules.

But Gu Chudong's perception seems to make more sense.

"Brother, am I wrong?" Gu Chudong asked.

“No, you’re absolutely right,” Gu Mo said. “Sis, I support you. Practice your martial arts diligently, do whatever you want, and I’ll back you up!”

"Okay, brother!"

Gu Chudong's gaze was firm, and her entire demeanor changed at that moment.

Her gaze gradually sharpened, as if it could pierce through all the fog before her, and the determination in her eyes shone like a star in the cold night, unwavering. The traces of naivety and immaturity she had shown before seemed to have vanished.

Gu Mo smiled, a subtle, almost imperceptible smile on his face.

He knew that Gu Chudong had entered the Dao.

Gu Chudong's martial arts level is actually quite profound. It's just that because he has been by his side for a long time, he appears very ordinary and is easily overlooked. In fact, although he is only seventeen or eighteen years old, he is already considered a top-tier martial arts master in the martial arts world.

She has reached a level where she could comprehend her own unique martial arts will at any moment.

To be honest, given Gu Chudong's martial arts skills, it's quite rare for him to comprehend his own path at this point in the martial arts world.

However, in terms of age, it is also extremely rare for someone to enter the Dao at the age of eighteen.

He didn't know what Gu Chudong had realized at that moment.

He didn't ask any more questions.

The mindset of a martial artist is different from that of an ordinary person. In particular, the more profound one's martial arts skills are, the more different one's will becomes from that of an ordinary person. It can only be understood intuitively and cannot be explained in words!
……

On their way back to Cangyuan City, the events that had happened to the Lin family gradually spread like wildfire throughout the Cangzhou martial arts world.

The eldest son of the Lin family, one of the seven great families, was deposed and the head of the family was dismissed. This was definitely a big deal in the martial arts world, and it was a very big deal in the entire Qian Kingdom. So, it caused quite a stir.

Currently, the Lin family head is temporarily in charge, with Lin Gu, the second younger brother of the former head, Lin Chuan. Lin Gu is quite renowned in the Cangzhou martial arts world, praised by many as the most likely successor to the master craftsmanship of the matriarch, Lin Chuan, and known as the Master of Mechanisms. He has rarely interfered in Lin family affairs, focusing instead on the study of mechanisms. This time, he was simply forced into the role, as his status and prestige within the family make him the most suitable candidate.

However, Lin Guyi encountered a big problem as soon as he took office.

The news of the Qian family demanding justice spread throughout the martial arts world, but contrary to expectations, it didn't elicit praise from the martial arts community for the Lin family's righteousness or for Old Madam Lin's act of sacrificing her own family for the greater good. Instead, many in the martial arts world condemned the Lin family for abusing their power, claiming that Lin Xiangdong had caused the death of the Qian family's patriarch, nearly bankrupted the Datong Money Shop, and ultimately lost both legs. Some even said that the Lin family was putting on an act, that Lin Xiangdong hadn't actually lost any legs, and that Lin Chuan's dismissal as patriarch was merely a temporary measure.

In a short time, the Lin family's reputation plummeted, and their businesses in various places were greatly affected.

Lin Gu, who had just taken office, was extremely busy, but he couldn't stop the decline in his career or the rumors circulating in the martial arts world. This forced Lin Gu to run back to Lin Family Village and kneel down to beg Old Madam Lin to take back his position as acting head of the family. He admitted that he was not capable enough to be the head of the family. In an instant, the entire Lin family was in chaos, and many elders cursed Lin Gu as a hopeless case.

At this moment, in the ancestral hall of Linjia Village.

Lin Chuan, the former head of the Lin family, was sitting alone in front of the ancestral tablets copying the ancestral precepts.

A series of "chirping" sounds came from outside the door. Lin Chuan looked up and saw Lin Xiangdong in a wheelchair, sliding over with difficulty. His face was full of joy as he said, "Dad, this is great!"

Lin Chuan remained expressionless, diligently copying the ancestral precepts.

Lin Xiangdong continued, "Dad, Second Uncle is being surrounded and scolded by a group of clan elders right now. They all say he's a hopeless case. Haha, Dad, you didn't see it, Second Uncle is almost drowning in spittle. And that dog Lin Xiangxi, he thinks that once we two are gone, the Lin family will be theirs. He really thinks being the head of the family is so easy. Right now, he's getting scolded along with his father!"

Lin Chuan slowly put down his pen and asked in confusion, "What? You've only been in office for a short time, and you've already made a big mistake?"

Lin Xiangdong said with a smile, "It's Second Uncle. He's hopeless, because of the Qian family's affair. After taking office, Second Uncle couldn't even suppress those rumors and gossip. Now, the Lin family's businesses all over the country have plummeted. Second Uncle couldn't withstand the pressure and came to beg the Old Madam to replace him. That Lin Xiangxi, he used to be arrogant and even thought he could compete with me for the position of young master. Now, a great opportunity is right in front of him, but he can't seize it. He's really useless. He can't even suppress those rumors and gossip in the martial arts world. It's that simple!"

Lin Chuan's face darkened, and he said, "If it were you, what would you do?"

Lin Xiangdong said, "That's easy. Find some other Jianghu events and have people spread them around to cover up this storm. Then invite some martial arts masters to say some ambiguous things, subtly confuse the cause and effect of the Qian family's matter, and then shift the blame to personal grudges. Also, publicize how righteous the old lady is, that she personally came out to uphold justice for the Qian family at her advanced age. The matter will be over. It's that simple."

Lin Chuan sneered, "Yes, it's that simple. If you can think of it, why wouldn't your second uncle and Lin Xiangxi?"

Lin Xiangdong asked in confusion, "Then why are they doing this?"

Lin Chuan said coldly, "This is called retreating to advance. Changing the head of the family is a big deal. How could it be changed twice in a short period of time? Even if your second uncle is really a traitor, the old lady would not replace him now."

Do you understand that he's trying to cut off my path? Do you really think those rumors in the martial arts world will spread so quickly? It's your second uncle who's behind it all. He's using public opinion to pressure the matriarch, trying to get her to say she'll never use me again. Then, the position of head of the family will be his.

The old matriarch couldn't possibly be unaware of his methods, but it didn't matter. He knew she could see through his manipulation of public opinion, but what could he do? He was now using a feigned retreat to advance, leaving the old matriarch with no choice. She couldn't change the family head a second time so quickly, so she could only remove the "acting" title from his position. As for you and me… forget about you, you definitely won't have a chance to make a comeback. Now, with your second uncle's move, my chances are slim too.”

Lin Xiangdong asked in surprise, "Second Uncle... wasn't Second Uncle only interested in mechanical arts? He knows such skills?"

Lin Chuan said coldly, "If your second uncle is really that simple, why have I been on guard against him for so many years? Why did I almost lose to him back then? If he is only focused on mechanical arts, how can he maintain his reputation in the martial arts world and his prestige in the clan, remaining second only to me? And what makes Lin Xiangxi able to always be one step ahead of you? You are named Xiangdong, and his son is named Xiangxi. Isn't it obvious that he is challenging me?"

"This……"

Lin Xiangdong was speechless for a moment.

Just then, a servant entered from outside, cupped his hands, and said, "Master, young master, news has just arrived that the Old Madam has ordered that the Second Master officially assume the position of head of the family!"

Lin Chuan nodded slightly and continued copying the book.

Lin Xiangdong panicked immediately and said, "Father... what do we do now?"

"What do you mean?"

Lin Xiangdong asked, "What are we going to do from now on? You have absolutely no hope of making a comeback, and I'm a cripple again... Aren't we going to be bullied to death?"

Lin Chuan glanced up at Lin Xiangdong and said, "Have you ever seen a martial arts master being bullied?"

Lin Xiangdong: "..."

……

Lin Family Manor, Tang'an County.

After being scolded by the old matriarch, the newly appointed head of the Lin family, Lin Gu, and his son, Lin Xiangxi, slunk back to the Lin family manor to take charge of the situation.

No sooner had they arrived than a large group of clan elders arrived at the Lin family manor with the appointment order from Old Madam Lin, summoning high-ranking officials from all sides to announce that, effective immediately, Lin Gu would officially take over the position.

After a handover ceremony concluded
With a bitter expression, Lin Gu and Lin Xiangxi arrived at the head of the family's office.

After entering the door,
The father and son looked at each other and then laughed at the same time.

Lin Xiangxi cupped his hands and said, "Father, congratulations! After so many years, your wish has finally come true."

Lin Gu sat down in the chair, gently stroking the armrest, and said, "This position should have been mine. If it weren't for the old lady's favoritism back then, how could Lin Chuan have gotten it?"

“It’s all in the past, Dad,” Lin Xiangxi said. “The one who laughs last laughs best, and you are a winner now.”

"Yes, I'm the winner now!" Lin Gu said with a beaming smile.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Lin Xiangxi asked, "Who?"

The person outside the door replied, "It's me, young master. I'm Afu. I've come to bring you and the master tea."

Lin Xiangxi immediately went to open the door, and sure enough, it was his servant Afu.

Afu carried the tea tray into the office.

Just as the tea tray was about to be placed on the table, Lin Gu suddenly drew a sword and held it to Afu's neck, coldly saying, "You are not Afu, who are you?"

Lin Xiangxi's expression changed, and he immediately became alert.

Afu slowly raised his head, a smile appearing on his face, and said, "Second Master, you've just become the head of the family, have you already forgotten how you got this position?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Gu immediately sheathed his sword and said, "Can you people from Qingye Hall not be so sneaky in your actions? If I accidentally kill someone while I can't control myself, that would be really bad."

“It’s alright,” “A-Fu” said. “Don’t worry, Patriarch Lin. You are a key client that our hall master takes good care of. Even if you kill me, someone else will come to you. It won’t affect our cooperation.”

Lin Gu slowly sat down and said, "Speak, what do you want to do?"

"Afu" said respectfully, "Miss Yun Xiu of the Yun family will be holding a clothing exhibition in Tongtai City in seven days. The Lin family has also received an invitation and needs the Lin family head to arrange for a few people to go in."

Lin Gu asked, "What do you want to do?"

“Kill some people,” “Afu” said. “Don’t worry, Patriarch Lin, it won’t involve you. Just send a few people who are willing to die to the meeting. If they are intercepted and killed on the way, who can blame you?”

After saying that, Afu pondered for a moment and then said, "According to our hall master's wishes, this matter will be handled together with helping you resolve the recent rumors."

"What do you mean?" Lin Gu asked.

"A-Fu" said, "Now that you have officially taken over as the head of the family, there is no need to continue spreading rumors that are detrimental to the Lin family. Isn't it just right to have a major event to divert the attention of people in the martial arts world?"

Lin Gu's pupils contracted slightly, and he said, "You want to kill Yun Xiu, the eldest daughter of the Yun family?"

"Afu" nodded and said, "At the clothing exhibition, many people from prestigious families were killed, and Yun Xiu, the eldest daughter of the Yun family, was kidnapped. Isn't that big news? Moreover, the kidnapper is Shangguan Shang, one of the three great lecherous villains of the Qian Kingdom. Isn't that enough to divert the attention of the martial arts world in a short time? Who would care about such a small matter as the killing of the head of the Qian family?"

Lin Gu's pupils contracted slightly, and he said, "The lecherous demon Shangguan Shang is actually a member of your Qingye Hall?"

“No, that’s not it,” “Afu” said. “Although our Qingye Hall is not a righteous sect, we still despise those lewd people. We just asked them to help out.”

Lin Gu's expression suddenly changed slightly, and he said, "Your purpose is for Gu Mo, the great hero of Yunzhou?"

"A-Fu" smiled slightly and said, "Patriarch Lin is quick-witted, I admire him."

"This is absolutely insane," Lin Gu said. "Gu Mo is one of the top ten grandmasters. You dare to scheme against him? Aren't you afraid of losing everything? Although I don't know what you're planning, you should think carefully about the consequences of scheming against Gu Mo. He has the entire martial arts world of Yunzhou behind him!"

"A-Fu" chuckled and said, "You don't need to worry about that. Gu Mo is nothing in front of our Qingye Hall!"

Lin Gu gave a cold laugh and said nothing more. He simply nodded and said, "Tomorrow, I will arrange for a team to go through Chuiyun Gorge to participate in the clothing exhibition in Tongtai City. I will arrange the specific personnel and itinerary and tell you."

"Thank you, Patriarch Lin. I'll take my leave now!"

"Afu" bowed to Lin Gu, then bowed to Lin Xiangxi, and then left with the tea tray.

Lin Gu watched "Afu" disappear into the distance and slowly said, "These rats in Qingye Hall are really insidious. This knife is good to use, but it could hurt you at any time."

Lin Xiangxi chuckled, "Father, don't worry. Although Qingye Hall's disguise skills are not bad, our Lin family's tracking skills are not to be underestimated. Even that good-for-nothing Lin Xiangdong was able to track down Ye Xiao, so Afu won't be able to escape the tracking either. When the time comes, we..." Lin Xiangxi made a throat-slitting gesture and said, "It's dangerous to negotiate with a tiger, but if we can skin the tiger afterward, then there won't be any problem!"

Lin Gu nodded, then suddenly said in a serious tone, "Xiang Xi, you are a smart person, but remember, the smarter a person is, the more likely they are to make mistakes due to overconfidence. You must be vigilant and approach everything with a sense of awe. This Qingye Hall... is too confident and is starting to make mistakes!"

(End of this chapter)