Chapter 9

Originally, it was a very simple matter, but it suddenly took a turn!

Even the few clan elders had to admit that Yang Ji's words hit the crux of the matter, far exceeding their expectations.

Everyone knew about Yang Yong's usual behavior.

They had already made up their minds about who was right and who was wrong before they even arrived here. What truly surprised them was Yang Ji.

Yang Ji usually appeared timid and submissive, accepting whatever came his way. Yet this time, he knew how to strike back, with a meticulous and well-reasoned approach, something that a young man of his age would not typically display.

To a certain extent, even a large portion of the Yang clan's disciples would not dare to question the "Madam" with such authority in front of them.

At that moment, even the "Madam" was momentarily stunned.

Yang Ji did not let this opportunity slip by. He pressed on, sternly rebuking, "Madam, instead of investigating Yang Yong, you come to deal with me. Are you using your power for personal gain, and isn't that going too far!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall changed in atmosphere.

"Ridiculous!"

The Madam's face turned cold, her expression icy: "Are you accusing me?"

The atmosphere in the Discipline Hall was tense, like a storm about to break.

The four guards closest to Yang Ji were on high alert, ready to act on the Madam's command to teach Yang Ji a lesson.

"Hmph!"

Yang Ji stared at the Madam on the dais, his expression fearless. He was truly ready to go all out.

"You know the truth, don't you? What level of cultivation does Yang Yong have, and what level do I have? When did a disciple at the third stage of Breathing become capable of beating a disciple at the sixth stage? — Madam, do you really think everyone is blind?"

Yang Ji sneered.

Even with the Madam's excellent composure, her face turned ashen, and she looked at Yang Ji as if she wanted to devour him!

Yang Ji was not afraid at all. When he entered, he had already adjusted his breathing to the third stage of Breathing.

What had happened to him was even a mystery to himself, let alone to Yang Yong, the Madam, and the clan elders.

...

"This—"

The three clan elders looked at each other, hesitating.

If Yang Ji had simply denied everything or tried to distance himself from the matter, no matter how eloquently he spoke, the three would have unhesitatingly punished him according to the clan rules. But Yang Ji had presented facts that were obvious to anyone with eyes.

When it came to martial arts, even if the three elders were biased towards the Madam and Yang Yong, they could not lie with a clear conscience.

Yang Ji's cultivation was not high enough to defeat Yang Yong, and that was an ironclad fact!

Strength was strength, and weakness was weakness. This was a deeply ingrained belief among martial artists, and there was no room for trickery!

To say that Yang Yong was beaten by Yang Ji, and that the strong were defeated by the weak, would be like calling a deer a horse or black white. They could not even convince themselves of such a thing.

Martial artists' faith in the principles of martial arts was far more revered than the Madam's status.

"How did this boy manage to do it, or is it that the Madam colluded with Yang Yong... But this is too crude, isn't it?"

The three clan elders suddenly felt a headache.

Yang Yong's injuries were real, and there was no faking it. To say that he injured himself as a ruse, the three did not quite believe it.

Yang Yong was a prideful child who would not tolerate any loss. Even if he wanted to frame Yang Ji, he would not use this method.

But if it was the Madam... She had endured for over eight years, why would she suddenly do this now, and with such crude methods?

Could it really be that Yang Ji injured him...

But how could that be possible!

The three suddenly felt a headache and looked at the Madam by their side.

On the dais, the Madam's face was cold, her expression uncertain, as if she was about to burst out. But the next moment, she lowered her eyes, and her anger suddenly dissipated, falling silent.

"This woman..."

Yang Ji's heart sank, suddenly feeling a sense of foreboding. This reaction... was too abnormal.

Sure enough, the Madam withdrew her gaze, wiped the tea foam from the surface, and adopted an indifferent attitude.

"Clan elders, you are the respected seniors of the clan. How to deal with Yang Ji is naturally up to you. I, Liu, am here only to observe."

After saying this, the Madam closed her eyes and ignored the matter.

As if receiving a signal, the clan elders chuckled, turned their heads, and looked at Yang Ji below the dais.

"Yang Ji, we actually called you here not just for Yang Yong's matter, but also to discuss something else with you."

Suddenly, they all tacitly avoided mentioning Yang Ji's violation of the clan rules, as if nothing had happened.

"I wonder what the elders have to teach me."

Yang Ji's heart sank, thinking, "This matter is unlikely to end well."

"Yang Ji, you are also a disciple of the Yang clan. The last time I saw you, you were so small, and now you've grown so tall. Time really flies, you should be fifteen this year, right?"

The three clan elders looked at him with a mix of nostalgia and regret.

"Clan elders, Yang Ji is fifteen and a bit, and will turn sixteen next June."

Yang Ji answered while secretly pondering what they were up to.

"Sixteen, how fast... ."

Then there was a long silence.

The clan elders did not speak, and Yang Ji did not respond, his eyes darting around, thinking quickly.

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

"Cough, cough... Yang Ji, you are also a disciple of the Yang clan. It's not a good idea to be neither a scholar nor a martial artist. According to the rules, the Discipline Hall should have punished you severely for the matter with Yang Yong. However, the Discipline Hall is not so blind. This matter cannot be decided based on one-sided words."

A clan elder coughed and continued:

"However, Yang Yong is injured and lying in bed. You two fought in secret, violating the clan rules, and this is undeniable, and you are not being wronged."

"However, the ancestors have their rules. Some things, even as clan elders of the Discipline Hall, we cannot show favoritism. Sigh..."

The other elders sighed in agreement.

Yang Ji did not speak, but his heart sank. From the back-and-forth of the three clan elders, he vaguely guessed what was happening, but he did not believe it.

All he heard was the clan elders rambling:

"According to the rules of our Yang clan, if a disciple has a bad character and has not reached the first stage of martial arts by the age of sixteen, they must be expelled from the clan and moved out. This is a rule set by the ancestors, and no one can change it."

"Yang Ji, the clan has already decided. After you turn sixteen, we will prepare a plot of good land for you outside the clan, and from then on..."

"Boom!"

Yang Ji's mind was struck by a thunderous roar, and he no longer heard what followed.

"Sixteen... a plot of land..."

Yang Ji's mind was in turmoil. He finally understood what they were planning.

Ha ha ha, this is my clan... This is their goal!

Yang Ji laughed bitterly in his heart. Although he had a premonition, it was only when the clan elders spoke that he truly gave up all hope.

"These people are all the same!"

Yang Ji lowered his head, clenching his fists tightly. After giving up all hope, the anger in his heart burned like a wildfire, uncontrollable.

Expelled from the clan?

Yang Ji did not care, but he knew that was not what they wanted.

They wanted to strip him of everything and kick him out naked!

In that moment, scenes from the past flashed through his mind, and suddenly, Yang Ji realized.

"So, it was planned from the beginning... ."

Yang Ji sneered in his heart.

He had always thought that the Madam's various acts of harassment, cutting off his training resources, and having people attack, suppress, and exclude him, even reducing his stipend, were simple acts of anger, due to his deceased mother.

Only now did he realize how naive he had been. Everything was for today, to drive him out of the clan on the grounds of the ancestors' rules when he turned sixteen.

"What a deep and sinister plot!"

Yang Ji suddenly looked up, staring fiercely at the Madam on the dais.

At that moment, he felt an overwhelming urge to burst out, to rush forward and beat this hateful woman, his breathing becoming heavy. But no one spoke, and everyone looked at him with pity.

The Madam sat on the dais, calmly drinking tea.

Her face showed no emotion, and no one knew what she was thinking. Only when her gaze swept over Yang Ji's trembling body did it flash with cold, merciless light.

The three clan elders, though somewhat reluctant, did not speak.

The decision was final, and they had already discussed it. They could almost predict the impending "hysteria" and outburst.

The young clan disciple in front of them seemed about to lose control.

Yang Ji did not get angry. Instead, he struggled to suppress his emotions.

"A gentleman avenges a wrong after ten years. If I act rashly now, I will only bring shame upon myself. — Not to mention, these clan guards are not someone I can handle."

Yang Ji took deep breaths. Although he felt deep resentment, he knew it was not the time for impulsive actions.

"Today's scene was prepared long ago. These people have been plotting for a long time and have not given me any chance to resist. No matter what I do, whether I resist or not, it will not change anything. If I act, I will be accused of insubordination, and they will achieve their goal. — For myself, I must endure."

Yang Ji silently "convinced" himself.

After several deep breaths, Yang Ji felt he could control himself and spoke.

"Since the clan elders have decided, Yang Ji has nothing more to say. I will respect the decision of the clan elders. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

Yang Ji bowed deeply, afraid that he could not suppress the anger in his eyes.

The hall was silent.

No one expected Yang Ji to remain calm and say such words.

The Madam, who had been expressionless, suddenly changed her expression, and the clan elders looked at him in disbelief!

Yang Ji had clearly been unable to suppress his anger just now. In such a situation, whether he had a big argument or attacked, they would not have found it strange.

This was the expected behavior of a young, hot-blooded man. But Yang Ji could endure!

Even they were shocked by this.

"Cough, well... You can go back now. Prepare yourself, and the clan will try to find a good plot of land for you in the meantime."

A clan elder coughed a few times and waved his hand.

The three had always been proud of their status, but this time, to take something from a junior, they felt ashamed.

If Yang Ji stayed any longer, they feared they would be too embarrassed to face him.

Without a word, Yang Ji turned and left.

"Wait!"

Just as Yang Ji turned, a cold voice echoed in the hall.

Smack!

Before Yang Ji could react, he heard a tearing sound, and a whip struck his back.

With a tearing sound, Yang Ji's clothes were shredded, and the whip, covered in thorns, tore a bloody piece of flesh from his back before retracting.

[The chase is tight, please click, recommend, and collect. Brothers and sisters, please help me collect.]

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