12.Return with Strength
1403 Words
The City of Luo Nan, the Chu Family.
At this moment, in the family's council chamber.
Family head Chu Hong had a gloomy face, furrowing his brows as he looked at the elders of the Chu Family seated below him, leaving people guessing what was on his mind.
Chu Rong, the eldest elder on his left, had a flushed face, his eyes fixed fiercely on the middle-aged man standing in the center of the chamber, a hint of killing intent shimmering in his eyes.
The other dozen or so people seated around them were all stewards from various branches of the Chu Family, their eyes flickering, their voices grave and silent.
The atmosphere was heavy, oppressive, and stifling.
Everyone knew that all of this was due to a major event that had occurred within the Chu Family a few days ago.
A member of the family had reported that Chu Jiang, the person in charge of the Longmen Town branch, had violated the family rules three years ago by using family resources to send his son to the Ji Tian Sect, one of the six major sects in Luo Nan City.
If it were just that, the matter might not have been significant, and the elders of the Chu Family would not have unanimously deemed him guilty.
The key issue was his son, who had acquired the title of "Three Abandoned Limits" during his three years in the Ji Tian Sect. This title had not only spread within the sect but had also become known throughout the six major sects and Luo Nan City, causing great humiliation to the Chu Family.
After all, the Chu Family was a prominent family in Luo Nan City. When had they ever suffered such humiliation?
A waste, on the verge of turning sixteen in just three months, if he didn't awaken his martial spirit during this time, it would be equivalent to being an ordinary person for the rest of his life.
Not only was it a waste of the family's resources to invest in someone like him, but it also brought shame to the entire Chu Family. This was a major issue.
"Our Chu Family has been rooted in Luo Nan City for a whole five hundred years, we can't be considered anything less than one of the top families. Yet, such an incident has occurred, and it was concealed for three whole years, it is absolutely unforgivable."
The words of the elder were as cold as frost, as he gave Chu Jiang a piercing glare before turning to look at family head Chu Hong, his attitude resolute.
"Very well, I understand. Does anyone else have anything to say?" Family head Chu Hong nodded and asked in a deep voice.
Several elders and numerous stewards, hearing this, were already well aware of the outcome. They all avoided Chu Hong's gaze, adopting an attitude of indifference.
"I have something to say!" At this moment, a cold voice rang out.
Almost simultaneously, the gazes of everyone were drawn to the speaker. It was none other than Chu Nan.
According to the rules of the Chu Family, junior members were not qualified to participate in high-level family meetings. However, Chu Nan was an exception. Firstly, because he was ranked in the top three in terms of talent among the junior members of his generation. Secondly, because he had been obeying the orders of the elder when he went to Longmen Town to apprehend Chu Jiang. Therefore, he had the qualifications to stand here today for Chu Jiang's family trial.
As a family that had been passed down for hundreds of years, the Chu Family attached great importance to talented junior members.
This Chu Nan was dressed in white, wearing a magnificent jade pendant the size of a palm, his clothes with golden-trimmed hems. He held a folding fan in his hand, exuding an elegant and dashing aura. Judging from the aura emanating from his body, his cultivation had reached the fifth stage of the Body Tempering Realm.
A five-star martial spirit, breaking through to the fifth stage of the Body Tempering Realm in just half a year, twice as fast as the average cultivation speed. This achievement is certainly inseparable from the abundant cultivation resources provided by the family. Without these resources, Chu Nan, this rich young master, would never have been able to achieve his current status.
Although the fifth stage of the Body Tempering Realm is not considered strong, it is only the result of his cultivation in the past half year.
At this rate, breaking through to the Qi Refining Realm and reaching the age of twenty would be an easy task. It can be said that his future is limitless.
Upon hearing Chu Nan speak up, the several elders and numerous stewards looked at him with envy, awe, and even a hint of flattery.
Under these gazes, a trace of arrogance appeared on Chu Nan's face.
On such an important family high-level meeting, demonstrating his own genius nature naturally made him feel elated.
Family head Chu Hong had a calm expression, a glimmer of shrewdness flashed in his eyes, as he nodded lightly at Chu Nan.
Chu Nan glanced at Chu Jiang and said coldly, "Family head, a few days ago, the first genius of Ji Tian Sect, Lan Hai, mentioned Chu Yan in front of everyone, causing the whole sect to burst into laughter. As a junior member of the Chu Family, I was truly ashamed at that time. This time, not only Ji Tian Sect, but the entire Luo Nan City knows that our Chu Family has produced the biggest waste in the city. It has greatly affected the reputation of our Chu Family, and all of this is caused by this Chu Yan's father, Chu Jiang. Therefore, I suggest... to expel Chu Yan from the family lineage."
The atmosphere instantly grew tense in the whole room.
All the elders and stewards were dumbstruck, immediately realizing that Chu Nan had planned this in advance.
For a moment, everyone's gaze turned to Chu Hong. At this moment, Chu Hong's pupils contracted, his face still calm, but a hint of coldness appeared in his eyes.
In the five hundred years of the Chu Family's existence, there had never been an incident of expelling a family member. Could Chu Yan become the first?
Chu Jiang, standing in the center of the chamber, furrowed his brows, his face pale. He said, "The resources used to send my son to Ji Tian Sect were all my personal assets. I believe Chu Nan has already seen this while reviewing the account books. I, Chu Jiang, have not violated any family rules. Regarding the expulsion of Chu Yan, our family rules clearly state that it can only be done for major treason. Does Chu Yan deserve this humiliation just because he has average talent?"
As his words paused, a voice with mockery suddenly rang out.
Elder Chu Meng suddenly stood up, his face full of disdain, and said, "What a personal asset. What a prohibition against expelling unless it's for major treason. Chu Jiang, as a member of the Chu Family, everything you have belongs to the family. The family trusted you with the assets in Longmen Town because they believed in you. Unexpectedly, you actually embezzled the family's assets and dared to speak of personal assets. Your son, Chu Yan's reputation as a waste has spread all over Luo Nan City, smearing our family's reputation, even exceeding a major treason!"
As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a thunderclap, causing the entire council chamber to erupt in a buzzing uproar.
People whispered to each other and pointed fingers, all nodding secretly in agreement with Elder Chu Meng's words, seemingly highly approving of his statement.
At this moment, at the entrance of the Chu Family's main gate, a figure carrying someone on his back strode in.
Along the way, the servants and family members who tried to obstruct him were forced to retreat by the overpowering aura emanating from Chu Yan's fifth stage of the Body Tempering Realm. The intentional sneers and mockery froze on their faces.
Was this still that waste Chu Yan? This aura even exceeded that of the talented young master Chu Nan by a large margin...
Ignoring these people, Chu Yan, with Chu Zhan on his back, headed straight to the council chamber.
- Writer
