Chapter 252: Chapter 252 Mysterious Events
Provincial City, public cemetery.
Wang Wenqian, clad in a set of black Mystical clothes, knelt before the grave of his father, Wang Xiongying, continuously pouring a bottle of wine onto the ground in front of the tombstone.
He was Wang Xiongying’s eldest son, who had trained in martial arts under a great master since childhood and later joined a special department of the Divine Continent Country, in which he thrived and became truly elite talent.
Not far from the grave, a man who looked to be in his sixties, with bright and spirited eyes, stood by, waiting.
After emptying the wine, Wang Wenqian looked at the photograph of his father on the tombstone and spoke in a firm tone, "Dad, rest assured, I will avenge both you and my brother. I won’t let you die with your eyes closed."
After kowtowing three times, he stood up and walked over to the man, respectfully saying, "Master, shall we go to Binhai now?"
The man was indeed Wang Wenqian’s master, a prestigious and formidable expert of the Divine Continent Martial World known as Wang Chengcuo, one of the publicly acknowledged eight Unique Tier powerhouses in the Innate Realm.
Hearing his disciple’s query, Wang Chengcuo nodded, "Yes, to Binhai."
A cold light flashed in Wang Wenqian’s eyes as he said, "My father and brother were both killed by Yang Fei, who resides in Binhai. This time, I will surely take his head by my own hand."
Wang Chengcuo glanced at him, shaking his head as he said, "Recently, the martial arts forums have been abuzz with tales of this young man. With the strength to kill Yan Zhongshan in one move, you might not be his match."
Wang Wenqian replied, "Even if I’m no match, as a son, I cannot fail to avenge my father’s death."
Wang Chengcuo nodded slightly, commenting, "Hmm, I understand your feelings. But there’s something more important for me to do in Binhai. Given Tong Yan’s lengthy guardianship of that place, it could be detrimental to our future plans. This time, I must visit the Tong Family first. Once that matter is settled, I will naturally accompany you to seek revenge, enabling you to personally execute that young man."
Wang Wenqian’s heart swelled with joy.
He indeed lacked full confidence in killing Yang Fei, but with his master’s promise, he felt greatly reassured, knowing that his vengeance was assured.
With the matter of revenge settled, Wang Wenqian set it aside and asked Wang Chengcuo curiously, "Master, Tong Yan is an exceptional fighter and a member of the Martial Alliance. If you personally subdue him, it might cause a sensation in the Martial World and tarnish your reputation, right?"
Wang Chengcuo smiled faintly, responding, "No matter. The victor is king, the loser the bandit; in this world, the winners have the final say. Besides, others will take action against Tong Yan this time. I’m only going as a precaution."
Wang Wenqian’s heart chilled, realizing that Tong Yan’s prospects were likely grim.
...
Tong Family of Binhai.
Today marked the eighty-sixth birthday of Tong Hai, and the Tong Family members had traveled from all over to return to the ancestral homeland in Binhai to celebrate.
In the spacious living room of the Tong Family’s ancient residence, Tong Hai was sitting in the guest of honor’s seat wearing a new set of dark red Tang-style garments, his face beaming with happiness.
Next to him, on an Eight Immortals table, stood an enormous longevity peach, while important members of the Tong Family occupied seats along both sides of the room.
As the head of the Tong Family, Tong Hai had very seldom dealt with family affairs in recent years, leaving most decisions to be made by his sons while he spent most of his time in quiet cultivation at Xuanzhen Temple.
Today, the Tong Family had not publicized his eighty-sixth birthday, gathering only family members to celebrate for him.
The grandchildren of the Tong Family kowtowed to Tong Hai in order and offered their birthday wishes.
Gifts and such were not necessary, as the family members never indulged in that practice, thus avoiding comparisons and many internal family conflicts.
Tong Hai cheerfully accepted the wishes of the Tong Family members, but no one noticed the hint of complexity in the depths of his eyes.
His profound and aged eyes occasionally glanced outside the hall, as if he were expecting someone to arrive.
"Hahaha, big brother, in the past years, you celebrated your birthday with me at my Taoist retreat. This year, since you’re home, our third brother had no choice but to leave Xuanzhen Temple and return to wish you a happy birthday."
Suddenly, a resonant voice came from outside, and a healthy elderly man with white hair but a youthful face, strode briskly into the living room.
This person was none other than Tong Yan.
The true stabilizer of the Tong Family.
"Third brother!"
"Uncle Three!"
"Third Grandpa!"
"Great-Uncle Three!"
Inside the living room, when the Tong Family members saw Tong Yan appear, they surrounded him, greeting and bowing to him one after another.
A glint flashed in Tong Hai’s eyes as he stood up to welcome him.
Tong Yan smiled and nodded at everyone, waving his hand and saying, "Let’s dispense with all these formalities for now, and let me first wish my big brother a happy birthday."
Saying this, he came before Tong Hai and bowed with his hands clasped in front of him, saying, "I wish big brother health and good fortune."
Tong Hai, chuckling with joy, helped him up and said with a smile, "It makes my heart happier than anyone else’s to have Third come home from the temple to see me. Take a seat and let’s talk."
Tong Yan nodded and was pulled by Tong Hai to another armchair at the head of the table to sit down.
As soon as he had taken his seat, Tong Yunshu, who had returned with Tong Yan, bowed deeply to Tong Hai with great respect and congratulated, "Granddaughter wishes Grandpa health and happiness always."
Tong Hai looked at his outstanding granddaughter, a complex expression flickering in his eyes, but it was quickly hidden deep within them. He smiled and gently gestured, saying, "Very good, Yun Shu girl is the pride of our Tong Family. Now the responsibility of the Tong Family falls on your shoulders, a young lady, and it pains me as well. Stand up now."
Tong Yunshu got up smoothly and then proceeded to greet the other elders of the Tong Family lined up around the living room.
As she approached Tong Fujun, just as she was about to speak, she saw Tong Fujun snort coldly with a gloomy expression, "No need, now you are the helmsman of the Tong Family; I cannot afford such a courtesy from you."
As soon as these words were spoken, all the members of the Tong Family were visibly shaken, and the entire living room fell silent.
At the head of the table, Tong Hai’s expression changed, and he reprimanded, "Fujun, you must not treat Yun Shu girl with such an attitude."
Tong Fujun huffed, "Dad, my son is dead, what other attitude can I have towards her?"
Tong Hai slapped the armrest of his chair fiercely and rebuked, "Rubbish, what does Jianzhou’s death have to do with Yun Shu girl?"
In anger, Tong Fujun declared, "How can it not relate? She colluded with that scoundrel Yang Fei, leading to Jianzhou’s death. This enmity I will never forget in this lifetime."
"Shut up, what do you mean by that, Second? When my daughter was treated that way by Tong Jianzhou, Yun Shu girl followed the family rules and came home to ask father for justice. Back then father did not punish Tong Jianzhou harshly, indulging his recklessness time and time again until he provoked Yang Fei, resulting in his own demise at Yang Fei’s hands. His death was well-deserved, what does it have to do with my Yun Shu girl?"
Tong Fuguo raised his voice in rebuke. He was Tong Yunshu’s father, and Tong Hai’s eldest son.
Seeing his daughter being bullied like this, how could he, as a father, tolerate it?
"How is it unrelated? She is nothing but a woman with a venomous heart, colluding with an outsider to kill her own clan cousin. If such a woman were to lead the Tong Family, what status would the Tong Family members have left? To put it bluntly, I’ve heard that she has taken a liking to that kid Yang Fei. Ha, if she were to bear Yang Fei’s child in the future, wouldn’t the legacy of the Tong Family fall into the hands of an outsider? Everyone here belongs to the Tong Family; are you really content with this?" Tong Fujun said furiously to everyone present.
Tong Fuguo, furious, was about to respond when he was stopped by Tong Yunshu. She narrowed her eyes slightly as she looked at Tong Fujun and spoke in a low voice, "Uncle Two, today is Grandpa’s birthday. Are you sure you want to make it this unpleasant?"
After Tong Jianzhou’s death, with the help of Third Grandpa, she had returned to the Tong Family and successfully taken up a high position, making the people of the Tong Family dare not question her authority.
Unexpectedly, on Grandpa’s birthday, Tong Fujun, deviating from his usual behavior, had suddenly become vociferous. This made her sense that something was amiss today, and she couldn’t help but become alert.