Chapter 5: Visiting the Linghan Sect

"Listen here, old man. I'll tell you straight: stop thinking about those useless things. The 'support' you were counting on has already scurried back to the Central Province. I have no interest in wasting my breath on you, so just hurry up and return the betrothal gifts!"

Ye Fan spoke with blunt directness, leaving the members of the Linghan Sect in a state of extreme embarrassment. Chu Zhongtian, the sect master himself, was left utterly humiliated by Ye Fan’s verbal assault.

"Nephew—no, son-in-law, surely you haven't forgotten how affectionate you and Ling'er were before? We are one family, after all. Let’s not make things so difficult. I’m an older, wiser man, and I know you’re just venting your frustration. Listen to your uncle: Ling'er is yours to scold or punish as you please. Once you’ve let off some steam, we all hope that you and Ling'er can finally be together and live a happy, fulfilling life."

After speaking, Chu Zhongtian pulled Chu Ling'er in front of Ye Fan, clearly intending to let her serve as a punching bag to appease him. Seeing this, Chu Ling'er put on a delicate and pitiful act, looking up at Ye Fan with tears in her eyes.

Chu Zhongtian and the others were still clinging to the fantasy that Ye Fan was merely upset about past events and that once he vented his anger, things would return to the way they were. Chu Ling'er was even more confident, believing that Ye Fan couldn't possibly bring himself to lay a hand on her.

And indeed, just as Chu Ling'er expected, Ye Fan did not strike. In fact, he didn't even spare her a single glance. Far from wanting to strike her, Ye Fan found even looking at her to be repulsive.

Seeing that Ye Fan held back, Chu Ling'er sneered inwardly, even more convinced of her own assessment. She assumed Ye Fan was just posturing to force her into submission. Since there was no better way out for the moment, she planned to play along, act submissive, and then regain control over him once he had calmed down.

Chu Ling'er blinked her eyes, about to speak in a sweet, coquettish tone, when Ye Fan suddenly waved his hand, shoving her aside. He then turned back to Chu Zhongtian and said, "Old man, have some shame. I’ve already told you—your daughter is too filthy. I wouldn't even touch her, and looking at her makes me sick. Since you can't return the betrothal gifts, I’ll just have to seize the assets of the Linghan Sect to settle the debt!"

With that, Ye Fan signaled to the man in the brocade robe beside him. The man nodded slightly and, ignoring the members of the Linghan Sect entirely, walked straight toward the sect’s treasury. He moved without a moment's hesitation, as if he were in his own home, clearly having already scouted the location beforehand.

The members of the Linghan Sect exchanged glances, all looking toward their Sect Master, Chu Zhongtian. Chu Zhongtian’s face darkened; he hadn't expected this illegitimate son to show him absolutely no respect. He glanced at Chu Ling'er, who had been shoved to the ground, and then, with a helpless flick of his sleeves, ignored her and followed in the footsteps of Ye Fan and his companion.

***

Before the Linghan Sect’s treasury, Ye Fan and the man in the brocade robe stood outside, waiting for Chu Zhongtian and his group to catch up. The two of them walked directly into the treasury in front of everyone. The high-ranking members of the Linghan Sect, including Chu Zhongtian, dared not offer the slightest resistance.

Of course, Chu Zhongtian had another reason for not interfering. The betrothal gifts Ye Fan had provided had long since been squandered. Even if Ye Fan went inside and ransacked the entire treasury, he wouldn't find even a strand of the original gifts.

Unfortunately, Ye Fan was no longer the naive boy they once knew. He knew full well that when dealing with scoundrels, there was no point in reasoning with them. Since the betrothal gifts had been squandered by these bastards, he would simply take the sect’s other treasures to cover the value of his losses.

Soon, the man in the brocade robe began his inspection of the treasury. Chu Zhongtian and the others, watching from the side, began to realize Ye Fan’s intent. Even so, Chu Zhongtian did not move to stop him. For one, he couldn't afford to offend Ye Fan—after all, even the Xuan Dan Sect of the Central Province dared not provoke him. Secondly, there was no need to stop him. The Linghan Sect was nothing more than a third-rate sect; their "treasury" held nothing of real value. Even if they packed up the entire sect and sold it, it probably wouldn't be enough to pay back the betrothal gifts.

As expected, the man in the brocade robe looked through every corner of the Linghan Sect. He appraised every treasure, assessing its value at a glance, and gave prices that were perfectly in line with market rates. Even the legacy left by the Linghan Sect’s ancestor on his deathbed was seized to offset the debt. Even then, the man estimated there was still a massive shortfall.

After hearing the assessment, Ye Fan nodded and was about to speak, but the members of the Linghan Sect were the first to object. They dared not openly provoke Ye Fan, but they saw the man in the brocade robe as a point of attack.

"Open your eyes and look closely! This is the supreme secret technique left behind by our ancestor, the very foundation of our sect! How could it only be worth one million spirit stones? You’re nothing but a fraud who pretends to know what he's talking about! In my opinion, this set of supreme techniques alone is priceless. Not only should it cover the betrothal gifts, but you should also compensate our sect with ten million spirit stones!" Chu Zhongtian stepped forward to lead the charge, brazenly trying to extort them.

The others in the Linghan Sect followed suit. "That's right! You’re clearly a fraud. What sect's legacy is only worth a million spirit stones?"

As the crowd clamored with their slanders, the man in the brocade robe remained unfazed. He waited for them to finish before speaking slowly: "If you were talking about the Lingxiao Sect, where Master Ye resides, their sect's legacy would have no shortage of buyers even at ten billion spirit stones. You are merely a third-rate sect in the Northwest Region. If your legacy were truly priceless, would the Linghan Sect have fallen to such a state? I’ve heard of your ancestor—he was nothing more than someone who got lucky enough to break through to the early stage of the Incarnation Realm and died a few years later. He may have been one of the few 'experts' your sect could boast of, but in my eyes, he was nothing of note."

The man in the brocade robe was imposing and full of disdain. He didn't give Chu Zhongtian and the others an ounce of face, but given his status, he had no reason to care about a tiny sect like the Linghan. However, Chu Zhongtian and the others were unaware of his identity. Hearing his words, they were instantly enraged.

"How dare you! How dare you show such disrespect to our ancestor!"

"Audacious!"

"You fraud, you're courting death! Not only did you insult our sect, but you also put such a low price on our precious treasures. We won't let this slide today!"

As they spoke, Chu Zhongtian unleashed his Nascent Soul pressure, aiming it directly at the man in the brocade robe. The others did not hesitate, channeling their own cultivation energy and preparing to strike.

The man in the brocade robe was not afraid. He stood with his hands behind his back, a look of disdain on his face, watching them coldly as if waiting for them to make their move.

It was Ye Fan who chose to step out. He knew the man’s identity and strength; the magical treasures inside his storage ring alone were enough to ensure his safety against a siege by the entire Linghan Sect. But regardless, the man was a guest invited by Ye Fan, and if a fight broke out, it would reflect poorly on him.

Understanding this, Ye Fan barked at Chu Zhongtian and the others: "Stop right there! Is Hall Master Wang someone you bunch of bumpkins can touch?"