Badass Celestial Emperor Returns!

(23) Conditions

Zi Ming Yun looked back to his nephew but he is unable to see through him. He have a hunch that a wrong choice of word will result to a humiliating scene. "To the clan treasury, of course. Where else should it be brought?"

As if he heard the most ridiculous joke, Zi Yingjun burst into laughter. The onlookers face all turned ashen while Zi Ming Yun raised a brow.

"That demon spawn will surely end up dead." Zi Gu Bo crossed his arms and watched the show. Beside him is the elder of the third branch, Zi Gu Liang, along with Zi Gu Wen.

"Cousin Bo, please watch your words. Yingjun is a main branch member." a pleasant voice trailed over their direction, Zi Yan Yue was glaring at him with a group of young girls behind her that are wearing a difficult expression.

"Hmph. Was he even a member of our clan? Look at him, disrespecting the clan leader." Zi Gu Bo snorted.

"Care to explain why are you laughing, Zi Yingjun?" Zi Ming Yun finally spoke.

"Ha..." sighing, Zi Yingjun kept his mischievous expression before staring back to Zi Ming Yun. "For thousands of years, supposedly those who won the Three Clan Academy Competition should receive the contributions. Ever since our clan kept losing in sixteen years, even my mother's contributions got corrupted and now you all are trying to take what I gained too?"

"Young Master Yingjun, your words are incorrect." the elder of Medicine Hall, Zi Liu Shang stood up from his seat and pointed at Zi Yingjun. "As a part of our Zi Clan, your contributions shall be shared with the same kin. Is it not right? The first generation clan leader told us once that we all have rites to share burdens and blessings."

"Since when did you fools treated me as part of your bloodline?" Zi Yingjun thought as he rolled his eyes. He had seen this part coming and there is still a way out that was prepared. "Right, right. Sixth Elder is correct." he stepped closer to the inferior level weapons then caressed the bow. "However, that doesn't mean the rewards of that competition is not an exception. It has been traditions of our ancestors for thousands of years that winner takes it all. When the older generations won that competition, were their contributions taken into the clan treasury? No, they were passed to the younger generations. Elders doesn't want to break that tradition set up by our ancestors, right?"

Silence invaded the hall that even a drop of needle can cause a large commotion. Filial piety, that held them back and disrespecting their ancestors is equal to courting death. Zi Yingjun laughed inside his heart. They started to corrupt Zi Xian's contribution when she died and now, they are planning to take his piece of rewards? Not so!

The envoys of Hei and Jin Clan watched coldly from the side, hiding their amusement at Zi Clan's misery. Zi Liu Shang's complexion went worse. He acted impulsively since Zi Yingjun humiliated his successor, Zi Liu Liu.

"Oh, I almost forgot." Zi Yingjun wasn't finished yet. He turned at the throne where Zi Ming Yun is then spoke. "The rewards of my own Zi Clan wont enter the clan treasury too, right? Futhermore, I heard all elders would leave behind an inheritance for their successors. Why hadn't I received my own inheritance from my birth mother? It's not possible that Clan Leader gave them to outsiders, hm? Isn't that a disgrace if proven true?"

"Nonsense!" Zi Ming Yun gritted his teeth. He never thought the quiet Zi Yingjun is actually a sharp tongued youth with great ways in speaking. Zi Yingjun is purposely taking out informations about Zi Clan to their neighboring enemies and using different terms to turn it into a crime. He is humiliating Zi Clan indirectly and from his words, Zi Ming Yun knew he is hinting for the inheritance of Zi Xian to make him shut up.

"Nonsense? Everyone here knew mother have her own business chain around our clan. Don't tell me its not part of her inheritance? I, as her only child, have been doted on for several years before her death. It seemed impossible if there is no inheritance left for me. Other than business, there is also the rewards she won in the Three Clan Academy Competition." Zi Yingjun once again, attacked. If Zi Ming Yun wants to save Zi Clan's reputation, he have to spit out the wealth Zi Xian left behind. Reputation sometimes can place a person in a disadvantageous position. Zi Yingjun used it against Zi Ming Yun, he knew well how his uncle thinks. Knowing an enemy is truly helpful during times of confrontation.

"The rewards are all yours. As you said, we can't disrespect the traditions set up by our ancestors. Sixth Elder have forgotten it." Zi Ming Yun pointed out. He made Zi Liu Shang shoulder all the burden which made him enter a safe realm from humiliation. "As for Zi Xian's assets, they are all in my hands. Everything has conditions within and you have to fulfill it, only the can you acclaim it. That is, to have the position of an elder."

Zi Yingjun smiled blandly. The result is a satisfactory but the condition that Zi Ming Yun gave is quite shocking. Everyone knew a second rate talent can enter Foundation Building stage during his forties. Weighing the situation, Zi Yingjun is in an unfavorable position. He will marry Jiang Mei Hua next year and that would mean the asset Zi Xian has will be turned over to Zi Ming Yun. It was likely impossible for him to take Zi Xian's businesses back.

"To become an elder...." Zi Yingjun muttered. "That is acceptable. Alright, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave. Just hoping that all the rewards will be turned over to where I lived." he laughed heartily before leaving. That day, the envoys reported what they witnessed in Zi Clan. Hei Clan have no much response but pleased at Zi Clan's humiliation as per Jin Clan, they remained stoic. Only Jin Xuan Meng is coldly smiling when she heard the news. Zi Yingjun's provocative and fierce words proved he is something. It is a progress to her investigation and she knew that someday, she can prove he is the one who murdered Hei Xue.