Mu Ye said nothing, and followed Kong Zikang into the Kong family's courtyard. In the very center of the courtyard, a long table was laden with dishes, decorated with candles, looking quite pleasant.
On the left, Mu Hanqi was indeed seated there, but behind her, two cold-faced women stood on either side, pressing her shoulders. Fresh five-finger prints marred their faces, and their eyes were glistening with unshed tears.
"Dad..."
Seeing this, Mu Ye clenched his fists until they made cracking sounds, his gaze radiating intense killing intent. However, Kong Zikang seemed oblivious to the killing intent in his eyes, smiling and offering him a wine cup.
"We haven't seen each other for more than twenty years. You've aged, and so have I. Let this cup be for our past. After this cup, you and I are no longer brothers."
Mu Ye slapped the wine cup from his hand, staring at him coldly. "Kong Zikang, we broke ties long ago. Between us, there is only hatred, only the hatred of matricide!"
Kong Zikang lowered his head, saying nothing, his gaze unfocused. After a long moment, he sighed, tilted his head, drank the wine, and then smashed the cup to the ground, his voice turning cold.
"Murong Beiye, I didn't expect you to return, nor did I expect that the first thing you'd do upon returning would be to cause trouble for my Kong family. You came back, fine. My Kong family has stayed out of sight for years, and we believe we've offended no one. Yet, you return and lay hands on my Kong family. Do you truly think I fear you?"
"In your own words, we broke ties long ago, so it's only right for you to attack my Kong family. Then, it's also right for me to attack you. Why are you so angry? We are already adversaries. Do you think you and your daughter can leave here today?"
Kong Zikang said coldly. He had followed protocol, and since his opponent didn't accept it, he wouldn't show any more courtesy.
"Your fox tail is finally showing! Kong Zikang, I know you too well. You put on a different face to my face than behind my back. Heh, tell me, how do you want to play this game today? Set the rules, and I'll play with you!"
"My daughter, I cherish her like she's about to melt in my mouth, fear she'll be hurt if I hold her too tightly. No one has ever hit my daughter before. Today, your Kong family will pay the price for this!"
Kong Zikang sat calmly in the main seat, moved a pair of chopsticks, picked up a piece of Dongpo pork, and placed it in Mu Hanqi's bowl, smiling. "Niece, try our Dongpo pork. Is it different from yours? When you marry over, you can order the kitchen to make it for you anytime you want."
Hearing this, Mu Ye's face turned extremely ugly. His gaze fixed on Kong Zikang, his voice icy. "What do you mean?"
Kong Zikang blinked, put down his chopsticks, and said with feigned realization, "Oh, right, I forgot to tell you. After today, Murong Yuhan will be our Kong family's daughter-in-law. The wedding banquet is being set up in the East Wing. Stay here for now. Conveniently, your father is here too, so you can attend the wedding later."
Mu Ye's fury erupted like a volcano in an instant. A subtle and profound aura suddenly permeated the air.
"Years ago, your father killed my mother and forced me to cripple my own cultivation. I crippled my cultivation, yet your father still killed my mother. Today, I merely killed one of your Kong family members, and you want to plunge my daughter into misery, making me, her father, witness her enter such a life. Killing the heart, a truly clever tactic!"
"Your Kong family did this so covertly, and indeed, few would know. But you shouldn't have provoked me!"
"I, Murong Beiye, was once the number one genius in Jinling. Due to those past events, I became a cripple and went to the Murong family in the capital. Yet, your Kong family still wouldn't let me go, wanting me dead, secretly instigating Hongjun to attack me, causing me to flee. Did you really think I knew nothing about these things?"
"It's fine if you bully me, but don't hurt Xiao Qi, after all, she is my only daughter."
Looking at the five-finger prints on his daughter's face, his anger could no longer be contained and erupted!
A ray of moonlight suddenly fell upon him, forming a flower on each shoulder and on his head. His body was lifted by an unknown force, suspended in the air.
"Three flowers gather on the crown, five qi ascend to the primal!"
"Old Kong, kill him quickly!"
Kong Zikang's expression changed drastically. No one had expected Mu Ye to achieve the 'three flowers gathering on the crown' with a single thought!
In the ancestral hall, a beam of finger light, like a laser, struck Mu Ye. However, his entire body was bathed in radiance, and that beam of light could not penetrate the circle of light around him!
Murong Beiye slightly raised his head and took a step forward, lotuses emerging beneath his feet.
"My name is Mu Ye, and I enter the Way today!"
A voice that resounded throughout Jinling echoed, and rays of Daoist energy descended from the sky, all absorbed into his body.
His entire demeanor changed as if he had undergone a complete transformation.
Radiance flowed.
Mu Ye raised his head, bathed in divine glory. After a long time, he clasped his hands behind his back and slowly opened his eyes.
Then, he took seven steps.
One step, one lotus, ascending to the highest point, seven steps to enter the Way!
With a crippled body from self-inflicted cultivation abandonment, he comprehended the Dao realm with a single thought, seven steps to the Dao!
In all of Jinling, only he, Mu Ye, stood supreme!
"Kong family, can you withstand a single move?"
...
"Dao realm!"
Ye Longlin, who was expanding his search area centered around Fuzimiao, suddenly looked up, his brow furrowed deeply as he saw the Daoist energy descending from the sky.
Clearly, he hadn't expected to witness someone break through the various dragon-elephant stages and enter the Dao realm!
However, at this moment, an Audi A8 suddenly stopped in front of him. After getting out, Ye Longlin recognized him as Mu Ye's butler, whom he had seen several times while driving.
"Mr. Ye, the boss sent me to tell you that the young lady is likely at the Kong family's residence."
"The one who entered the Dao realm now is very likely the boss. The boss was once Jinling's number one genius, but past events forced him to cripple his own cultivation."
Ye Longlin looked deeply into the distance and nodded slightly. Since that was the case, with Mu Ye there, there wouldn't be any immediate danger.
"Let's go, to the Kong family!"
"The Kong family dared to touch my woman, I will make them turn to ashes!"
"Yuan Gang!"
Yuan Gang suddenly appeared, kneeling on one knee!
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Mobilize five thousand soldiers and surround the Kong family!"
"After today, the Kong family will vanish from Jinling completely!"
Ye Longlin's killing intent was evident, his voice extremely cold.
Yuan Gang couldn't help but shiver deeply.
"Your subordinate obeys!"
It seemed the Kong family was destined to disappear tonight. But why had the Kong family suddenly decided to make a move against his sister-in-law?
"Dragon Pavilion soldiers, follow me!"