Chapter 59: Why Does This Feel a Bit Good? Kneel!
"Kneel? Are you even worthy?"
Upon hearing this voice, Hu Yunyin shivered and wanted to turn around, but dared not look. Ling Tian had emerged, which meant matters inside had been settled. Yet, whether her grandfather had truly been cured, no one could say for certain.
Hu Yunyin yearned to know the news as soon as possible, but feared it might be bad; her heart was torn with anxiety.
"Your temperament is lacking. You're nothing like the old master!" Ling Tian came to her side, gazing at Hu Yunyin as if she were mere rubbish, his words layered with meaning.
Hearing Ling Tian speak, this time Hu Yunyin showed no trace of defiance in her eyes; she accepted his look peacefully. The way he looked at her even stirred a faint joy within her heart. His words signified her grandfather had been healed!
She glanced at the elders across from her, who all wore expressions of astonishment and disbelief.
[Task Completed.]
[Reward: Dominion over Beasts!]
Ling Tian shook his head, unable to hold back a sigh. Completing this task had not been simple, but thankfully, his efforts had not been wasted—he had received his due reward.
"Grand... Grandfather..."
At that moment, Hu Yunyin turned and saw Hu Qingyun standing behind her. The demonic aura that had once surrounded him was gone, replaced by a righteous, dignified spirit. In fact, Hu Yunyin felt her grandfather's vitality had improved remarkably. How could she describe it? It was as if he had been reborn.
Yet from the way Hu Qingyun looked at her, she knew without doubt—this was still her grandfather.
"You've suffered..."
Hu Qingyun's beard trembled as he let out a long sigh, deeply moved. The grievances his granddaughter had endured—what occurred earlier was only the tip of the iceberg. For the sake of his own troubles, she must have paid a far greater price.
Hearing her grandfather speak thus, Hu Yunyin could no longer hold back her emotions; she threw herself into Hu Qingyun's arms.
"It's all right, it's all right. Grandfather's wounds are healed. No one will dare bully you again!"
Hu Qingyun gently patted her back, feeling a pang of guilt in his heart. They had depended on each other for years, yet he had failed to protect her.
"Elder, are your wounds truly healed?"
The Grand Elder, witnessing this scene, couldn't help but inquire. If Hu Qingyun's wounds were healed, it would mean a great deal for the White Tiger clan—a powerful safeguard.
"Kneel!"
Hu Qingyun frowned slightly and uttered two words. He had seen everything that had transpired earlier. These people had shown not a shred of mercy; his granddaughter had knelt before them and pleaded, yet not one was moved.
Since they had shown no consideration, he had no reason to spare their dignity. Hidden troubles? Ha—what did that matter to him? All he knew now was that his granddaughter had been wronged. He intended to claim some interest first.
With a heavy thud, the elders, hearing Hu Qingyun's command, instantly felt an overwhelming pressure descend upon them, making it impossible to breathe, as if death hovered a breath away.
Strong—so strong!
It was not merely a feeling; Hu Qingyun had truly grown stronger. How could it be? Wasn't he tainted by demonic energy? Even if cured, retaining his cultivation would have been fortune enough. Yet, somehow, his strength had advanced further! It defied logic.
Under Hu Qingyun's pressure, the elders' faces turned a deep purplish hue, their dignity lost. But now was not the time to worry about appearances.
"Elder, this is a misunderstanding. You know well—with your power, if you had become demonized, the danger would have been immense..."
The Grand Elder gritted his teeth and tried to explain.
"I know. But I do not wish to listen."
Hu Qingyun produced a whip and lashed it toward them. Soon, cries of pain echoed throughout the hall.
"Qingyun, that's enough. I understand your resentment, but there truly was no other way! The clan owes you. How about this: you may propose any three conditions, and the clan will consider them."
One by one, the elders were beaten until they spat blood and lay sprawled on the ground. Then an old man grasped Hu Qingyun's whip, his face full of helplessness.
"I thought you might sit back and watch the spectacle without intervening," Hu Qingyun said with a faint smile, looking at the old man before him—Hu Yuntian, the White Tiger clan's Second Elder. He continued, "Is this your idea, or that of the Ancestors?"
Hu Yuntian gazed at Hu Qingyun, unable to help but marvel—these were different times now.
Hu Qingyun's cultivation had reached the threshold of Emperorhood—half his being already stepped into the ranks of the great emperors. If nothing unexpected happened, he would soon achieve full emperor status.
An emperor!
That was the ultimate goal for all cultivators. The White Tiger clan had Ancestors, all of them emperors, but they were elderly and rarely appeared. The clan urgently needed someone to uphold its prestige. Now, Hu Qingyun was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate.
What Hu Yuntian said was, in fact, the will of the Ancestors. Hu Qingyun's status had soared overnight. The Ancestors' attitude was telling: granting Hu Qingyun such privileges meant that, should he make any requests, they could not contradict themselves.
They had already sent many signals: since a mistake was made, it must be rectified with greater rewards.
How would Hu Qingyun choose?
He was, after all, of the White Tiger clan; they did not believe he would ask the clan to sacrifice its own.
"Naturally, the Ancestors' will," Hu Yuntian replied, offering no pretense. He could no longer match Hu Qingyun's strength; any displeasure might bring him a beating—a humiliation for sure.
"I refuse," Hu Qingyun said, shaking his head.
"Hmm?"
Hu Yuntian's face twisted with confusion, then darkened.
"Haha, I was joking. Seeing your expression brings me joy."
Hu Qingyun burst out laughing, finally agreeing after careful consideration.
He understood the Ancestors' intentions; he could not go against them, lest he be suppressed. Moreover, granting him three conditions already signified a concession—for instance, he could propose favoring humanity...
This was also the aim Ling Tian had hoped for in healing him. Without Ling Tian, he would never have reached Emperorhood. The demonic energy had ultimately been refined into essence, allowing him to ascend.
In truth, Ling Tian had given him a second life. Without the Emperor's cultivation, those old fellows in the clan would never have looked upon him with respect.
Before the hall had cleared, distant voices rang out, loud and agitated:
"Grandfather, you must stand up for me! That Hu Yunyin—she had the alchemist do that to me! Grandfather, please, avenge me..."