Outside the Ling family's main gate, as the Ling family members headed to the rear hall.
The common folk watched the Yuan family head being thrown out by Ling San, and they discussed, "The eldest miss of the Ling family is too bold. The Ling family has already declined, yet she still dares to lay hands on the Yuan family head."
"Perhaps she's been away for too long and doesn't understand the Ling family's current situation?"
"I don't think so. Didn't you see the eldest miss Ling's flames?"
"Yes, the eldest miss Ling has beast fire, and the flames are very strong, indicating she possesses a high-level fire-elemental magical beast."
Speaking of Ling Luo Yi's fire, they couldn't help but look at the Yuan family head. His lower body had been completely burned away, yet his upper body remained unharmed. They also recalled the guards who had been burned to ashes.
It seemed that the eldest miss Ling's control over fire had reached a divine level, otherwise, her upper body wouldn't have been completely unscathed.
"Perhaps the Ling family will return to its former prosperity under the leadership of the eldest miss Ling."
"That's unlikely. Didn't the eldest miss Ling already compensate the Yuan family head with a fourth-grade pill? That should be the Ling family's last possession."
"But you also have to consider the consequences of compensating with a fourth-grade pill."
"Consequences?"
The crowd looked at the Yuan family head again. Seeing his miserable state, their bodies couldn't help but tremble. The consequences were rather severe.
"If I remember correctly, the Yuan family head is a third-tier Spirit Practitioner."
"Yes, the Yuan family head has been a third-tier Spirit Practitioner for three years. He only needs a breakthrough to reach the fourth tier."
"The eldest miss Ling can burn someone to this extent, she..."
The rest of the words were left unspoken, but everyone knew what they implied.
The eldest miss Ling could heavily injure a third-tier Spirit Practitioner with ease, while simultaneously killing over a dozen Postnatal realm cultivators. Just how strong was the eldest miss Ling?!
They looked at the plaque above the Ling mansion's gate, as if they saw a fierce beast on the verge of awakening, and the key to awakening this beast lay with the eldest miss Ling who had just returned today.
Not daring to linger, they dispersed. But everyone who had been there knew: the Ling family was about to rise; the current state of Yun Yuan City was about to be shattered!
*
In the Ling family's rear hall.
Ling Luo Ran, suppressing her emotions, said to Ling Luo Yi, "Eldest sister, am I just a jinx? If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have disappeared; Grandpa wouldn't have stayed away from home for ten years looking for you; Second sister wouldn't have killed Yuan Cheng Jie to protect me; Eldest brother wouldn't have had his legs broken by Yuan Zhan when the Yuan family sought revenge. If it weren't for me, would the Ling family have become like this?"
As she spoke, she began to cry again.
Over the years, she had been consumed by guilt, constantly thinking: if not for her, none of this would have happened, and the Ling family wouldn't be in this state.
Every time, she felt that if she were dead, her eldest sister would return.
Over these ten years, she not only thought about it but also took action.
However, when she stood still in the face of demonic beast attacks, her brothers and sisters desperately protected her; when she attempted suicide by poison, her family searched for medicinal herbs to buy the antidote, and her parents abandoned their pride, kneeling before alchemists to beg them.
She no longer dared to die. She didn't know what else her family would do for her.
She could only live like this, living in a daze.
This time, it was also because of her that her second sister killed someone and her eldest brother had his legs broken.
These past few nights, in her room, looking at herself in the mirror, she had countless times wanted to kill herself.
She had already made her decision: if today's matter couldn't be resolved, she would repay the Yuan family with her life.
Ling Luo Yi sighed again, cradled Ling Luo Ran's head, and said earnestly, "Ran'er, you are not a jinx. You are the fourth young lady of the Ling family, and none of this is your fault. What happened ten years ago was my own choice, and Grandpa thought the same way. No matter who it was, Eldest sister and Grandpa would have done the same. As for the matter with the Yuan family, it's even less your fault; you are also a victim. If Yuan Cheng Jie hadn't been driven by lust, your second sister wouldn't have killed him, right? Then everything that followed wouldn't have happened, right?"
Ling Luo Ran pondered for a moment, then said weakly, "So it's not my fault. But, Eldest sister, the Ling family becoming like this is ultimately related to me."
"Ran'er, a family is not just for sharing prosperity, but also for enduring hardship together." Ling Luo Yi ruffled Ling Luo Ran's hair and said, "Ran'er, Eldest sister wants to restore the Ling family to its former state, even surpass it. This will be very tiring. Are you willing to help Eldest sister?"
Ling Luo Ran looked at Ling Luo Yi's smile, thinking of the Ling family of the past, and smiled, saying, "I am willing."
Ling Luo Yi then looked at the others, "What about you all?"
To return to the former Ling family, or even surpass it.
This was an idea that made the Ling family members incredibly excited yet impossible to refuse.
"Yes!"
The younger generation's blood boiled.
The elders did not want to dampen their spirits.
Second Madam Ling teased, "Then where does Luo'er want to start?"
Ling Luo Yi thought for a moment and said, "Second Aunt, to deal with external enemies, one must first pacify internal affairs. For the Ling family to rise, we must first resolve internal issues, then external ones. Therefore, I want to know the Ling family's current specific situation."
Second Madam Ling initially didn't want to speak, but looking into Ling Luo Yi's eyes, for some reason, she began to talk.
"The Ling family is currently in a large amount of debt. Only a small portion of their cultivation resources has been retained; the rest have been sold. Up until now, we still owe thirty-four thousand Yellow Crystal Coins. There have been some inflows, but the expenses exceed income. Currently, the Ling family's daily expenses are covered by my dowry and that of your two other aunts..."
Second Madam Ling explained the Ling family's current situation.
Instantly, she brought the excited crowd back to reality.
Especially Ling Luo Qian, who already knew the Ling family's situation was dire, but the reality was even worse.
Thirty-four thousand Yellow Crystal Coins was the Ling family's revenue for ten years. The current Ling family's income relied entirely on the ladies' dowries and their cultivation resources.
"Second Aunt, the external debts are not urgent. Let's first increase the monthly stipends for the maids, servants, and guards in the mansion."
In the quiet atmosphere, Ling Luo Yi's words were exceptionally clear.
"Still have to add more?!" Bai Jing Zhi exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes," Ling Luo Yi stated with certainty. "Let's tentatively set the stipends for first-class maids at five Orange Crystal Coins, second-class at three, and third-class at one; servants will receive the same, and guards will have double, with hidden guards receiving an additional ten coins on top of the guards' standard."
"Luo'er, isn't that a bit too much? No noble family in Tian Wu Kingdom gives their servants this much." Bai Jing Zhi asked nervously, "And Luo'er, don't you perhaps not understand the situation in Tian Wu Kingdom?"
"Second Aunt, I know what I'm saying. To stabilize the household, financial resources are absolutely essential. As for the financial issues, I will resolve them. Second Aunt only needs to lead Third Aunt and Fourth Aunt in managing the Ling family well. As for the Ling family's cultivation resources, I will also be responsible for them."
"This... Luo'er, you are still young. As elders, we will naturally take responsibility for financial matters and cultivation resources."
These words were spoken with a hint of guilt.
"Second Aunt, I know what I'm doing. I won't promise anything I can't do, so please rest assured."
"But, Luo'er, if you are responsible for all this, what will they do?" Bai Jing Zhi pointed at the others and asked.
"My brothers, younger brothers, and sisters just need to focus on cultivation. For the Ling family to truly rise, we not only need strong cultivators but also juniors, the more the better."
"Luo'er, you're not just doing this to make the Ling family rise, are you? What exactly do you want to do?" Ling Jin asked seriously.
Ling Luo Yi smiled. What she wanted to do was certainly more than just that.
"I want to build the Ling family into a hidden aristocratic family!"
"A hidden aristocratic family?!"