Chapter Ten: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes

As soon as he returned home, Yun Feiying summoned his grandson Yun Yexiang. Yun Yexiang, who had just come back from drinking with his friends at a tavern, was visibly nervous, unsure why his grandfather, who usually ignored the affairs of the younger generation, wore a face as dark as a soot-blackened pot.

Although Yun Feiying had left in a huff, he could not bear the blame. Despite his long-standing discord with Yun Feiyan and his occasional efforts to undermine him, harming the younger ones was not something he would ever do. Upon hearing the Second Elder’s words, his heart sank—a suspicion arose that his grandson might indeed be behind this incident.

“Grandfather, you’re glaring at me like that. Did I do something wrong to upset you?” Yun Yexiang’s heart was beating anxiously. He might act arrogant and unruly most days, but he feared his grandfather above all.

“You dare ask? Tell me, was it you who caused trouble for Yun Yufeng?” Yun Feiying’s face was stern.

“This…” Yun Yexiang stammered and hesitated.

“Brute! To harm your own kin so cruelly—you’ve shamed me utterly. You’d better pray Yun Yufeng returns alive, or you’ll spend three years in the Ice Cavern reflecting on your actions. Hmph!”

“Grandfather, it’s true I secretly sprinkled Beast-attracting Incense onto the guards’ clothes, but I didn’t want to do it—I was forced.”

Though Yun Yexiang had never gotten along with Yun Yufeng, he hadn’t intended to harm him. He had been threatened. Recalling the black-clad figure surging with battle energy, Yun Yexiang’s face turned pale.

“Stop stammering. Tell me everything you know. A real man takes responsibility for his actions.”

“Yes, Grandfather.” Emboldened by his grandfather’s words, Yun Yexiang gathered himself. “I don’t know who it was. That night, I was returning home late, and as I passed the ancestral hall, a masked man in black blocked my way. He radiated powerful battle energy—I guessed he was at least at the peak of fourth tier, maybe even fifth. He threatened me, ordering me to sprinkle Beast-attracting Incense on Yun Yufeng’s guards.”

Yun Feiying frowned. “He appeared at the ancestral hall and targeted a family wastrel. He must be one of our own. Do you know his identity?”

“I don’t, but…”

“Speak freely.”

“I suspect he was Yun Shangmo’s guard, though I can’t fathom why he’d have such a powerful protector.”

“That’s not the point. On what grounds do you suspect?”

“I may be a wastrel, but I’m not foolish. The black robes were very loose, and as he turned to leave, the wind lifted the hem, revealing a jade pendant at his waist. I recognized it as the one I lost to Yun Shangmo in a bet with my cousins.”

“So it really could be Yun Shangmo ordering his servant. But why did you run off to harm your kin just because a black-clad man threatened you? Why not come to me for help?”

“Grandfather, Yun Shangmo is too domineering. I dare not oppose him, lest I lose my life. I’ve heard the sixth uncle who drowned was done in by Yun Shangmo’s hand.”

“You unruly brats are out of control. The family encourages competition, but not mutual destruction. Any grievance can be settled at the clan tournament—why resort to underhanded tricks? Hmph! You’re all getting bold, aren’t you? Think you can do as you please just because you’re a little more talented? Speak up!”

Yun Yexiang felt utterly wronged. He was scolded whether he spoke or stayed silent, but there was no helping it—he knew his actions were indefensible.

“Grandfather, what should we do now? Has Yun Yufeng been found?”

“At least you know to ask. Yun Shangmo will certainly feign ignorance, and all evidence points to you. Just tell it as it is; say what you know. Don’t worry, Yun Shangmo will think twice before acting against you. He wants to use others as his blade, but he’ll find no chance. Talent without integrity is worthless. Still, why would Yun Shangmo target that wastrel? Strange. Yexiang, do you know the reason?”

“I don’t, but I suspect it has to do with Yun Yufeng’s sister, Tong.”

“Oh? Explain.” A spark of gossip lit Yun Feiying’s eyes.

“I heard Yun Shangmo is interested in Tong. Though she’s only twelve, she’s already quite lovely and will surely grow into a beauty. Once, Yun Shangmo harassed her, but Tong is Yun Yufeng’s greatest weakness. Yun Yufeng struck him with a brick for it—even though Yun Yufeng was beaten badly and couldn’t match the exceptionally gifted Yun Shangmo, he enraged him. Yun Shangmo is vindictive and petty, always seeking revenge in secret.”

“Enough, you may leave. If you’re summoned, answer truthfully. No need to pretend.” Yun Feiying, the Grand Elder, truly lived up to his reputation—he could remain upright in matters of principle.

“Yes, Grandfather. I take my leave.”

“Wait—your jade pendant? What pendant? What valuables could you possibly own? Your father is a miser.”

“Uh… It’s the dragon-carved jade pendant you gave me on my first birthday!” Yun Yexiang wiped cold sweat from his brow, lamenting inwardly. He was doomed; his father inherited that stinginess from his grandfather.

Sure enough, Yun Feiying’s face turned livid. He roared, “That pendant took a master craftsman a week to carve! You prodigal thing, get out! You’re infuriating me!”

Yun Yexiang’s eyes widened in terror as he darted out the door, as though fleeing some dreadful monster.

Outside the hall, Yun Yexiang wiped his brow. Fortunately, his grandfather hadn’t gotten especially angry regarding Yun Yufeng. Little did he know, Yun Feiying was deeply troubled. The mastermind was Yun Shangmo, but the perpetrator was his own grandson. Worse, Yun Shangmo held no evidence against him and could claim ignorance, making himself the outsider—this was the Grand Elder’s real dilemma.

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The third-tier area of Blackwind Forest was still shrouded in towering ancient trees. Beasts and magical creatures roamed freely, fulfilling every link of the food chain. Occasionally, flying magical beasts swept overhead, their wings slicing through the air with a sharp, rustling sound.

Within the forest, a ragged youth moved swiftly, his pace quick yet purposeful, maintaining constant vigilance. His steps were light, barely rustling the fallen leaves beneath his feet.

This youth was Yun Yufeng, who had emerged step by step from the fifth-tier region. It had been a full month since he descended from the rocky mountain, a time marked by countless dangers and scars left on his body.

Suddenly, Yun Yufeng halted, darting behind a large tree. Bang—a fireball the size of a basin crashed into the spot he had just vacated, leaving a blackened pit that smoked and burned, the leaves reduced to ash.

It was this almost supernatural intuition that kept Yun Yufeng alive on his journey; otherwise, he would have perished many times over. Fortune had favored him—he had yet to encounter any high-tier magical beasts.

Following the fireball’s trajectory, he saw a flame salamander emerge from behind another tree. Three meters long, its body was clad in scale armor, every inch covered tightly in gleaming plates.

Yun Yufeng no longer feared the dangers of the fifth-tier region. Though not yet at the third tier, he stood at the peak of the second, ready to break through at any time. A month of relentless struggle in the deep woods, where any moment might bring a foe beyond his strength, had tempered him into a calm and unflappable soul.

In a perilous forest, a cool head was essential—and calmness was Yun Yufeng’s specialty. Having been bullied by beasts for so long, entering the third-tier region felt like the tide had turned. Thirty years east, thirty years west—the wheel of fortune had shifted, and it was time to change roles.

With a cold snort, Yun Yufeng stepped out from behind the tree and charged at the flame salamander. The gleam of autumn water flashed; hot blood sprayed forth. The salamander’s head dropped to the ground, while its body remained upright, frozen in its attack stance.

No pressure at all. Yun Yufeng shook his head. When he returned home, he must learn some battle techniques. Every fight now relied on the sharpness of his autumn-water blade, which was not ideal. One’s own strength was what mattered most. After witnessing the harsh realities of this world, Yun Yufeng had gained a profound understanding of power.

Efficiently collecting the magic crystal, he grabbed an ordinary long sword and continued on his way. As for the beast’s hide, he no longer cared—he could trade a few magic crystals for plenty of silver.

The fabric on Yun Yufeng’s chest stirred as a furry little head popped out. Bright eyes rolled curiously, and its mouth opened, signaling hunger and a desire for food.

He flicked the wolf cub’s head. Ever since it tasted a rabbit’s magic crystal, it had abandoned meat entirely, devouring only magic crystals. Luckily, the forest abounded with them. Under moonlight, the cub’s silver fur shone as if illuminated, making it strikingly beautiful. Yun Yufeng named it “Greedy Wolf.”

“Little Greedy Wolf, hungry again? After a month of eating my magic crystals, you haven’t grown at all. Though your mother was an eighth-tier Howling Moon Sky Wolf, even they don’t live on magic crystals—certainly not every day. You’re a bottomless pit.” The little wolf whimpered in protest, its head smarting from the flick.

“Alright, stop whining. It’s just a tap. Here, catch.” Yun Yufeng tossed a first-tier magic crystal into the cub’s mouth. He had gathered them for the cub’s rations—and sometimes for his own.

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