Yun Jin raised her eyebrows, not bothering to dodge.
A flash of joy appeared in Yu Liangping's eyes. At this moment, he couldn't care less about the consequences. All he wanted was to kill Yun Jin and Yu Songnian.
The other attacks struck almost simultaneously. They were just about to land on Yun Jin—when a barrier suddenly flared to life in front of her. Every single attack dissolved into nothingness in an instant.
Yu Liangping's face twisted in shock. He looked up and saw the disciples from the Holy Land and the members of the Yuehua Sect had somehow arrived as well.
The one who had intervened—was none other than Mu Lan!
Their sect's Grand Elder.
Yu Liangping stammered, "Elder, they falsely accused my father. I only—"
But when his eyes met Mu Lan's cold, emotionless stare, the words caught in his throat. Defeat and despair settled into his expression.
Mu Lan's voice was flat. "We all witnessed Yu Lin's crimes with our own eyes and ears. There's no fabrication."
Yu Liangping's heart gave a violent jolt. He gripped his sword tightly, but had no idea what to say.
"Elder Mu," Yun Jin looked toward Yu Liangping. "Your Yuehua Sect has always been close with the Yu family. Now that Yu Lin has committed such vile acts, are you truly saying your sect had no idea?"
Mu Lan's heart gave a sharp thump. He turned his gaze to Yun Jin. "What are you implying?"
Yun Jin gave a small smile. "Yu Liangping is still a disciple of your Yuehua Sect, yet just now, he tried to kill both me and Yu Songnian. And those others over there, they attacked with him. I'm starting to suspect your Yuehua Sect may have ties to the demonic path. Perhaps Yu Lin was merely a piece on your board, and Yu Liangping the bridge connecting you. Elder Mu, don't you think you owe everyone an explanation?"
Mu Lan's expression turned ugly.
This Yun Jin—
She was trying to drag Yuehua Sect into the mud.
Mu Lan glanced at Yu Liangping, whose face was now full of panic. And suddenly, something clicked.
With a cold snort, he casually waved his hand.
An overwhelming force swept down.
Yu Liangping—and those who had attacked alongside him—were reduced to ash on the spot. Even their Nascent Souls were annihilated.
Mu Lan had acted without hesitation.
Yun Jin didn't appear surprised. She only smiled. "Now they're dead and can't testify. I suppose that ends the matter."
Mu Lan gave her a glance before stepping back into the crowd. He understood Yun Jin's intent. She'd forced him to kill Yu Liangping and the others with his own hand.
Yu Liangping was just a mediocre disciple. If it weren't for the Yu family's Sword Tomb, Mu Lan wouldn't have even remembered his name.
Now that he was dead, it meant little.
Still—
Yun Jin's maneuver left a sour taste in his mouth.
But he would endure—for now.
Once the hidden vault opened… that would be Yun Jin's final hour.
He would make sure she regretted every step she took today.
Yun Jin couldn't be bothered to read Mu Lan's thoughts. She turned her gaze to the remaining disciples of the Yu family. Some were trembling in fear, others simply stunned, unable to process what had just happened.
Saying nothing more, she stepped back and yielded the spotlight to her third senior brother.
Yu Songnian calmly swept his gaze across the others and said in a quiet voice, "From this moment on, I am the Patriarch of the Yu family. Does anyone object?"
Traditionally, becoming the family Patriarch required at least a Unity-stage cultivation. But moments ago, everyone had witnessed Yu Songnian pummel Unity-stage Yu Lin to death with his bare fists.
Right now, no one dared to object.
"If there are no objections," Yu Songnian continued, voice calm, "then I will be taking charge of the Yu family. I've heard many things about how some of you have thrown your weight around here in Lin City, intimidating men and harassing women. As my first act as Patriarch of the family, I will be reforming the family rules. I will rewrite them. Anyone who has violated the rules over the years will receive punishment accordingly. Once punished, they may still remain part of the Yu family. But those guilty of capital crimes—I will personally execute. These are the new rules. They take effect today."
A stir ran through the crowd.
Most of them had committed some offense over the years. If Yu Songnian really intended to enforce justice, then many here were about to face consequences.
"If anyone has objections," Yu Songnian said, "now is the time to speak."
They looked past him at Yun Jin—and then behind her, at the powerful figures standing in silent support.
And just like that, their resolve collapsed.
If they accepted punishment, there might be a way forward.
But if they resisted… there would be no road left to walk.
"Since no one objects," Yu Songnian said lightly, "then so be it."
He pointed at several Yu family disciples. "You few, come with me. You'll assist in implementing and overseeing the enforcement of the new family rules."
The ones named looked confused.
Yu Songnian explained, "During my time in the city these past days, I heard quite a bit from the common folk. Your reputations are fairly positive."
Clearly, he hadn't been idle recently. His plan to reform the Yu family had long since taken shape.
The chosen few breathed a little easier and bowed respectfully.
"Elder Mu," Yun Jin turned to Mu Lan, "my senior brother may run into trouble dealing with those unwilling to comply. For the next few days, you'll assist him."
Mu Lan's face darkened.
Was Yun Jin ordering him around?
"Not willing? Then I suppose the hidden vault will remain sealed—"
Duan Yiwei gave Mu Lan a look.
Mu Lan clenched his jaw. "Understood."
Only then did Yun Jin nod with satisfaction. "As long as Elder Mu cooperates properly with my third senior brother, once everyone arrives, we'll begin the journey immediately. Otherwise, I'm in no rush to open the vault."
Duan Yiwei let out a cold snort but held his tongue.
Frankly, he wished he could use a teleportation talisman to bring the people Yun Jin was waiting for straight here.
But clearly—
That wouldn't help.
Yun Jin wanted to use this time—and the presence of these experts—to help Yu Songnian restore order within the Yu family.
Until that was complete, even if everyone showed up, it wouldn't matter.
Fortunately, it was just a small clan. With Mu Lan watching over things, the matter should resolve quickly.
"Now, everyone follow me to the tomb," Yu Songnian announced.
The Yu family disciples all responded in unison.
"Junior Sister Yun," Jin Yu said, "we'll head back now. If you need anything else, just say the word. We're still staying at that same inn."
"Indeed. We're free anyway," added Ye Liuqin and Cheng Su, offering their support.
Yun Jin smiled. "Thank you, Senior Brothers and Sisters. My First Senior Brother and the others should arrive in about seven days. By then, Third Senior Brother should have settled things here. I plan to enter seclusion and attempt a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage. Seven days from now—we set out."
At last, a definite timeline.
Duan Yiwei finally relaxed a little and said coldly, "Let's hope there are no more surprises."
As for Yun Jin breaking through to Nascent Soul—he couldn't care less. Whether at the Golden Core or Nascent Soul stage, in the eyes of someone like him, she was still nothing more than dust. If she needed to die, she would die all the same.
Yun Jin only smiled faintly. "I don't expect any more surprises."
Duan Yiwei narrowed his eyes, then turned and left. The others also said their farewells to Yun Jin.
Afterward, Yun Jin accompanied Yu Songnian to the Yu family's ancestral tomb.
Yu Songnian personally retrieved the remains of Yu Feng and the others, giving each a proper burial.
Then he led the clan in a solemn ceremony to honor the dead.
Yun Jin offered a single stick of incense before Yu Songnian's father's grave.
When everything had been settled, Yu Songnian looked at Yun Jin, his gaze soft. "Junior Sister… this time…"
He wanted to say thank you. But in the end, he swallowed the words.
Between them, a thank you felt far too shallow.
Yun Jin smiled. "Third Senior Brother, your strength was forcibly elevated just now. You probably won't be able to use your spiritual power for a while."
Yu Songnian looked a little embarrassed. "Sorry. I lost control. I may end up delaying the trip to the secret realm."
"It won't be delayed." Yun Jin turned to Mu Lan. "Elder Mu, you've seen my senior brother's condition. Give him some high-grade pills for recovery. Make sure they're effective. If anything delays the opening of the secret realm, no one will spare you."
Mu Lan: "..."