Chapter 2197 - High-sounding Bullshit
The Trisky Mountains were three sword-shaped peaks connected together, like a trident pointing directly at the sky. On the three peaks were brightly lit halls surrounded by smoke and clouds. There was life all around. Numerous lifebound beasts were playing and having fun in the mountains and the ancient towering trees were covered in divine herbs. There were too many to be picked, so the lifebound beasts took them as snacks; it was a lively place. Compared to Brokensword Peak, the area was full of vitality and thriving. The Trisky Mountains was where the second branch multiplied and made their home.
There were three cornerstone figures in that line: Lin Bei, Lin Lang, and Lin Weijian. The woman and men were siblings. Lin Bei headed the Brightflame Zone within the Prime Myriadsword Corporation, while Lin Lang and Lin Weijian also held high positions within the second branch. They had control over finances and were decision makers. With several thousand members in their family, they prospered and were considered one of the largest families in the Lin Clan. That was despite the fact that descendants continued leaving their family.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiao's line had declined. One rose while the other fell; Lin Bei’s line was at its peak.
In the main hall on the central peak, about a dozen middle-aged and elderly people had gathered to discuss an important matter. Sitting at the top was a thin old man dressed in gray. Although there were white streaks in his hair, his complexion was ruddy. From his face alone, he didn’t appear old at all. His wizened figure was completely hidden by the gray robes, but the sharp light in his long, narrow eyes gave him a majestic air that inspired awe. He was none other than Lin Bei of the second branch.
As soon as he had returned from Traysword Peak, he held a family meeting and passionately exhorted, "Lin Jie, Lin Wuyi, and I have come to a decision. We’ve received instructions from the council hall. All branches except for the first and sixth Branch support the successor override. The entire second branch is still voting. Judging from the current situation, more than eighty percent of families support it. There’s no problem at all." He didn’t appear happy, but solemn.
"We must comply with public opinion and save the second branch. Our family is duty-bound," said the man sitting to the left of Lin Bei. He had black hair, a mustache, and a cunning face. He was Lin Bei's younger brother, Lin Lang.
On Lin Bei’s right was a woman with her hair worn up. She was dressed in red brocade. Although her age showed, the thick makeup was covering her wrinkles and made her look younger. She was the other person in control of the Trisky Mountains, Lin Weijian.
The three of them were no longer young, but they were powerful cosmic cartographers. Like majestic mountains, the siblings, who possessed heptastar cosmic physiques, sat at the top, their bodies as boundless as the galaxy, their lives as profound as the ocean.
In the midst of their discussion, the doors to the hall were slammed open. A man in yellow robes, with a middle-part hairstyle and a mustache, barged in.
"Lin Dan! Are you out of your mind? Who said you’re allowed to enter? Get out of here!" Lin Lang was furious. Picking up the teacup next to him, he threw it at Lin Dan.
"Hmph!" Dodging the teacup, Lin Dan looked angrily at Lin Lang, Lin Bei, Lin Weijian, and all the other people in the hall and said with a sneer, "How conscionable of you, Father, Uncle, Auntie! You actually got together and conspired to steal the Second Patriarch's inheritance? Where’s your conscience? Are you really so shameless?"
"Lin Goudan! Get out of here! Don’t embarrass yourself! If you say one more word, I'll pretend I never had you for a son!" Lin Lang rose to his feet, furious. The words he said were so loud they made the entire hall vibrate.
"Hmph, who wants to be relatives with you ingrates? For at least two million years, the entire Swordgod Lin Clan has never done such a thing. You want to push the Second Patriarch to a dead end and strip him of his last bit of dignity!" Lin Dan clapped his hands.
"Die, you son of a bitch!" Lin Lang was about to make a move, but was stopped by Lin Bei.
"Don’t be angry, brother." Lin Bei patted Lin Lang on the shoulder lightly. Then, he descended and stood in front of Lin Dan.
"Uncle, have you forgotten who protected us when we were suppressed? Have you forgotten who protected you and pulled you out of the Hall of Discipline when you made a mistake?" Lin Dan stared at him.
"I know all that, child." Lin Bei sighed and shook his head. "But as members of the second branch, we must do something, even if it hurts Brother Xiao. We’ve suffered all these years. Right now, we’re the worst branch and we’ve endured humiliation that can’t be washed away. The second branch can only have a new start when our family rises."
"Yes! Lin Xiao stopped caring a long time ago. All he does is play with crickets. They’ve fallen so far and are stuck at the bottom, so why sit in that position any longer? Most importantly, he has no heirs. If he continues occupying that position and passes it on to Lin Mu’s son, the second branch, all eighty million of us, will never be able to raise our heads. It's time to turn the page," Lin Weijian sneered.
"They made a mistake! We aren’t conspiring to take that position. They’re the ones that ruined their line and the future of the entire branch."
"It all started when Lin Lao’er married a foreign woman."
“The other lineages are flourishing, but the Second Patriarch has only a few members in his family. What inheritance is there to talk about? How can he lead us all?"
"The second branch should’ve changed hands after Lin Mu’s death, then we wouldn’t have to make things so ugly now. The problem is that Lin Lao’er and Dongshen Yue support that Lin Feng."
"Even if Lin Feng’s wives are all talented, they’re still foreigners. He’s made the same mistake as his father and grandfather. What use are powerful wives if they can't have children?"
"Think about our two successive reges mundi. They were so powerful, but they fell in love and only had each other. As a result, neither had a single offspring, which led to the decline of the Lin Clan. Their enemies suppressed us again and again!"
"That’s why progeny is the most important thing!"
"Lin Xiao forgot where he came from."
"How can a man that’s forgotten his person and origins lead the second branch out of ruin?"
"No matter how powerful a person is, they still lose everything when they die. A continued inheritance is the right way."
"That was what happened to the two reges mundi, and that’s also what happened to Lin Xiao!"
The people in the hall all expressed their opinions.
Lin Dan laughed out loud at what sounded like righteousness. Glancing at everyone, including his own father, he grit his teeth and said, "It all sounds really nice, like an old sow in a bra. But can it cover up your betrayal? Your shamelessness? You say it’s all for the future of the branch, but aren’t you really doing it for yourselves? All of your high-sounding reasons are like flowers in shit. Looks good, but stinks!" He hated all of them.
"Lin Dan!"
"Get out!"
"Have you been drugged by Lin Lao’er? What’d he give you to make you so confused?"
"Get out!"
All of the elders stood up and glared at Lin Dan.
"Silence." Lin Bei stood with his hand raised. The others stopped shouting at once. His position in the family, as well as his authority, was evident. Then, gently looking at Lin Dan, he said, "Child, I know you admire Brother Xiao. I admire him as much as you do. But that aside, everyone makes mistakes. This time, it’s Brother Xiao who has erred. He abandoned the second branch the moment he married Dongshen Yue. The public has judged right and wrong. I’m not the one that decides. It doesn’t matter how much I admire him. He must pay the price for his mistake, regardless of his status. I can’t sit here and ignore justice. Lin Dan, you say that we’ve betrayed him, that everything we do is for our own benefit. You cannot be more wrong!"
Lin Dan coldly laughed, "What’s wrong about what I said?"
"Do you know how strict the conditions are for a successor override?" Lin Bei asked.
"As long as the council and more than five branches agree. Isn’t that right? How’s that difficult? The third, fifth, and seventh branch can do something about that, can’t they?" Lin Dan retorted.
"What about the third condition?" Lin Bei intently stared at him.
"The third condition.…" Lin Dan took a deep breath. He was speechless.
"Don't you understand? Eighty percent of the families in the second branch agreed that we’ll replace Lin Xiao’s line via a battle. That’s what the people want. Would more than eighty percent of the second branch, over sixty million people, agree to replace Lin Xiao if he was convincing enough?!" The more Lin Bei spoke, the louder he became.
Lin Dan stumbled three steps backward. The hearts of the people were the most incomprehensible. His face was ashen.
"Child." Lin Bei lightly patted him on the shoulder. "Brother Xiao is a great man. His achievements will never be forgotten, but his mistakes can’t be concealed. Meritorious contributions will be rewarded and mistakes must be punished. It’s that simple. Do you understand?"
Lin Dan was completely speechless. If Lin Mu didn't have this son, the entire second branch, including Lin Bei’s line, would have been willing to treat them with respect. There would be no need for them to replace the heir. Lin Xiao and Dongshen Yue could have lived to a ripe old age with dignity; Lin Bei didn’t mind waiting. But now that Lin Feng had obtained the legacies of the two successive reges mundi, things had changed. The position that had almost been within their grasp had begun drifting away. How could they just sit there and let that happen?
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