144: The witch who stood up for justice

Yao Delong just gave her a faint nod, his gaze not lingering, and turned to Lin Chengzong.

Lin Qingyao wore a white dress and had her hair in pigtails.

She looked pure and cute, but he was not impressed by such frivolous behavior.

Everyone moved back to the chaotic reception hall.

Yao Delong did not sit down but stood directly in the hall, his gaze sweeping over the Lin family. He went straight to the point, his voice calm yet carrying invisible pressure:

"Uncle Lin, Aunt Lin. I heard some rumors outside just now. It seems... there has been some unpleasantness between your estate and the Marquis of Zhenbeis Estate?"

He paused and looked at Lin Qingxue, "Family scandals should not be aired, but... my relationship with Clear Snow is not ordinary, so I am not an outsider. I wonder what exactly happened that caused the Heir to the Marquis of Zhenbei to surround the estate with troops and make such a scene?"

Upon hearing Yao Delong take the initiative to ask, Lin Chengzong was overjoyed. He immediately cut in before Lin Qingxue could speak, putting on a heartbroken and indignant expression, and began to twist the truth:

"Nephew! You came at just the right time! You must judge this matter for our Lin family!"

He slapped his thigh, spittle flying, "That Ling Xiao is simply bullying us too much! He and my daughter Qingyao became Dao Companions, which was a match made in heaven! The betrothal gifts and dowry were given willingly by his Marquis Estate! But now, he has turned his back on us, brought troops to my Lin home, and keeps talking about demanding some 'debt,' wanting to take back the betrothal gifts! This... this is simply unreasonable! It's a disgrace! A disgrace!"

He didn't mention how many resources Lin Qingyao had emptied from the Marquis's treasury over the years, nor did he mention that the Marquis of Zhenbei was critically injured and in urgent need of Medicinal Pills. He only painted Ling Xiao as a treacherous and greedy villain.

Yao Delong frowned slightly at Lin Chengzong's evasive accusations. Although he didn't know all the details, he had heard some rumors at the tavern about how the Lin family "drained" the Marquis of Zhenbeis Estate and how they spoiled Lin Minghao. Seeing Lin Chengzong's face now, he had already made his judgment.

"Father! Stop it!"

Lin Qingxue couldn't take it anymore! She stood up abruptly, her pretty face frosty, trembling with rage. She hadn't expected her father to be this shameless, daring to twist the truth even in front of her Senior Brother in an attempt to gain sympathy!

"If you don't want any shame, I still do!"

Lin Qingxue's voice was like falling ice beads, carrying a biting chill, "Why did the Heir Ling Xiao come to our door? Why is the Marquis critically injured? How many resources has my sister taken from the Marquis's treasury over the years? Where did my brother's Earth-Grade Weapons and Magic Treasures come from? Do you dare tell Senior Brother Yao everything truthfully? Do you really want the Lin family to be branded with the eternal infamy of being ungrateful, refusing to help those in need, and being unloyal and unrighteous?!"

Every word from Lin Qingxue struck at the heart, like a blade, tearing Lin Chengzong's hypocritical mask to shreds!

Lin Chengzong, scolded by his daughter in public, turned the color of liver, pointing at Lin Qingxue with trembling lips: "You... you... rebellious daughter! How dare you..."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..." Xin Yuelan, who had been leaning against the doorframe watching the show, couldn't help but click her tongue, her eyes under the mask full of playfulness and mockery.

She folded her arms and strolled in slowly, her crisp voice particularly clear in the silent hall: "Wonderful, truly wonderful! Family Head Lin, it's a pity you don't go tell stories under the bridge with your ability to twist the truth."

Her gaze swept over the pale-faced Lin Chengzong and his wife, glanced at Lin Minghao who was shrinking in his mother's arms, afraid to look up, and finally landed on the livid Lin Qingyao.

"My Origins... well, are not exactly glorious," she paused deliberately, as she couldn't reveal her identity as a member of the Heavenly Demon Sect, "but traveling the Jianghu, I have heard of the reputation of the Marquis of Zhenbeis Estate. That old Marquis, with Nascent Soul Stage cultivation, has guarded the northern border for over a hundred years, fighting in bloody battles, and has killed countless Devil Heads and Prodigies who coveted the Hegemonic Summer, protecting the peace of the land. Their family style is fierce and loyal, and it is well-known throughout the border army! The Heir of the Marquis, Ling Xiao, is already an Early Golden Core Stage powerhouse at a young age; why would he come to find you for no reason?"

Xin Yuelan's voice suddenly turned cold, carrying an invisible Evil Qi: "Would such a person, for mere 'betrothal gifts,' disregard his status and the 'affection' for your daughter, and lead troops to surround his in-laws' estate? Family Head Lin, do you think everyone in the world is a fool? Or do you think that the 'wealth' in your Lin family's house, and that 'Black Tortoise Shield' in your son's hand which even Golden Core Cultivators would covet, just blew in with the wind?"

Xin Yuelan's ruthless exposure was like a cold knife, completely stripping away the hypocritical and greedy skin of the Lin family, revealing their unsightly essence.

Lin Chengzong's face was as pale as paper, his lips trembling, but he could no longer say a single word of sophistry.

Xia Ling hugged the trembling Lin Minghao tightly, her eyes darting around, not daring to meet anyone's gaze.

Lin Qingyao was livid, her nails digging deep into her palms, her resentful gaze sweeping back and forth between her sister, Lin Qingxue, and that gossiping fox-masked woman.

Yao Delong glanced at Xin Yuelan, signaling her not to say any more. He sighed inwardly; the actions of this Lin family, especially Lin Chengzong and his daughter, could be called the epitome of a "brother-obsessed" family in the cultivation world. No, it wasn't just about the brother; the entire maternal family was sucking the blood and sweat of the Marquis's estate! Greed without limit, absolutely no bottom line!

He turned to Lin Qingxue, his voice gentle but carrying a hint of heaviness: "Junior Sister, you tell me. What exactly is going on?"

Lin Qingxue took a deep breath, suppressing the burning anger and shame in her heart. Her clear, cold voice rang out in the silent hall, clearly recounting the Origins of the matter:

"Senior Brother, it is like this. The Marquis of Zhenbei, in order to resist the invasion of Devil Cultivators at the northern border, fought for seven days, burning his Origin, and is now critically injured, his life hanging by a thread! Only the seventh-grade High Grade Nine-Turn Infant-Returning Pill can save his life. This pill is extremely precious, and the cost to refine or purchase it is enormous."

Her cold gaze swept over her father and sister: "However, all these years, my sister Lin Qingyao, relying on her relationship as a Dao Companion with the Heir Ling Xiao, has withdrawn a massive amount of Spirit Pills, Magic Treasures, and rare treasures from the Marquis's treasury, continuously sending them back to the Lin family! Their value, according to the Heir Ling Xiao, is enough to buy more than half of Canglan City!"

"Most of these resources have been squandered by Father and my brother! In order to forcefully achieve Foundation Establishment for my brother, who has poor talent and a Spiritual Power Affinity of only five points, Father has been buying obscure secret medicines everywhere, spending without restraint! He even, not understanding the market, bought many useless Medicinal Pills and Magic Treasures at inflated prices! My brother Lin Minghao even plays with the top-grade earth artifact 'Black Tortoise Shield' as a toy, and is still thinking about asking for Heaven-Grade Weapons!"

"Now, the Marquis's treasury is already empty from supporting the war at the northern border and cannot afford the huge cost of purchasing the life-saving Medicinal Pill. The Heir Ling Xiao had no choice but to come to the door and ask for some of the resources that belong to the Marquis's estate to save his father's life! He is not demanding betrothal gifts, but reclaiming the blood and sweat of the Marquis's estate that you have squandered without limit!"

Lin Qingxue's voice carried grief and indignation: "I have already given all my savings, including the one thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones you gave me before I left, the two thousand rewarded by the Old Ancestor, and my own savings, totaling four thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, to the Heir Ling Xiao for emergency use. But for the purchase of the Medicinal Pill, six thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones are still needed!"