Chapter 044: Departure

The Grand Elder finished reading both letters, his expression dark and grim. This was no easy matter to handle.

If left unresolved, it would not only estrange Shen Fangxu, the family’s Foundation Establishment cultivator, from the clan, but also sow deep resentment in the next generation—Qingjin and his brother, both gifted with remarkable talents. Should they harbor grudges against the patriarch’s branch, the Shen family would, at best, split in two. If not, the descendants of the patriarch’s line might find themselves facing a bleak fate. Would Qingjin and his brother let them off easily? Impossible. If one day, either of the brothers advanced to the Golden Core, while the old patriarch grew frail and his lifespan neared its end, it was uncertain whether anyone from the main branch would survive. Long-standing hatred breeds madness.

Yet to give Qingjin and his brother a satisfactory explanation was equally troublesome.

“Fangxu, you know how much the old patriarch has sacrificed for the family.”

“He achieved Golden Core and lived till now, but my father died in battle for the clan. Who hasn’t sacrificed?” Shen Fangxu retorted angrily.

The Grand Elder was silent.

“Oh, when you need someone to die in your place, you think of us. When you want to destroy a child’s talent, you think of us. Tell me, what is left in this family worth our loyalty? If the clan cannot give me an answer, I will take my brother’s family and mine and leave.”

“Calm down, Fangxu. You must calm yourself.”

“What’s going on? What matter cannot be resolved, and must end in someone leaving?” The patriarch’s own father, Shen Shiqi, the clan’s Golden Core cultivator, entered.

“Fourth Brother,” the Grand Elder said, his headache worsening.

“Big Brother, is there anything you can’t tell me?” Shen Shiqi asked.

“What’s there to hide? It’s all about keeping the patriarch’s position. The Grand Elder always believes the whole clan owes you, so everyone must tolerate your son lording over us.”

“Fangxu!” the Grand Elder barked angrily. “How can you speak to your fourth grandfather like that?”

“What do you want me to say? That my grandfather died for whom, that my father died in someone’s stead? You always think the whole clan owes him, but why? Every family has lost someone, everyone has given. Why must it always be us paying the price?” Shen Fangxu trembled with fury.

Shen Shiqi nodded in agreement. “That’s right, everyone in the clan sacrifices so the family can endure. If the hearts of the clan scatter, and only our branch gives, what use is it if I die in battle? Big Brother, what is going on? I want the truth.”

The truth is, the patriarch’s eldest brother indulged his daughter-in-law, who, in order to secure cultivation resources for her son, poisoned my two sons, attempting to cripple their exceptional talents. I caught evidence both times. The most disgusting part is, when my eldest had his accident, the patriarch promised that never again would anyone harm another of my children. Yet my second son suffered the same fate. He was foolish, only discovering the poison at eighteen. Now his cultivation talent has dropped to second-class. His life is ruined, no matter how much he grieves.

“What? First-class talent?” Shen Shiqi glanced at Shen Fangxu, then at the Grand Elder. “I had no idea the Shen family had such gifted offspring.”

The Grand Elder’s expression was ugly. He had helped cover for the patriarch.

“See? The whole clan owes you. The Grand Elder lost impartiality long ago; he’s just a tool for the patriarch to maintain power.”

“Shen Fangxu!” the Grand Elder was furious.

“I believe he’s right. Big Brother, why did you do this?” Shen Shiqi’s gaze turned cold.

“Fourth Brother, there’s no such thing, absolutely not.”

“What now? Even my children’s talent you deny? My eldest was ruined, my second poisoned, and I still have a little daughter, born with first-class talent. Before she could walk, she was able to use spiritual energy to condense small clumps of earth in her hands. Over the years, I’ve witnessed what true first-class talent means in her. You destroyed two of my children—am I supposed to bow to you with a smile?”

Especially the eldest...

Whenever Shen Fangxu thought of his eldest son, his heart ached with bitterness.

“Fangxu, you yourself are only third-class talent,” the Grand Elder snapped.

“The old ancestor’s own father and brother were mere mortals! Grand Elder, what has blinded you? Was it the gold coins the patriarch secretly bestowed?” Shen Fangxu said coldly.

Shen Shiqi’s eyes widened in shock, staring at the Grand Elder.

“Fourth Brother...” The Grand Elder’s mouth was dry, unsure how to explain. To claim he had not received such tribute was impossible, for he had. Yet he did not see himself as the patriarch’s puppet, merely that he’d shown extra care.

“Big Brother, I truly doubt whether you are still fit for the post of Grand Elder. I will personally investigate this matter. If it is true, you must step down.” He no longer called him brother.

The Grand Elder’s face turned unsightly. He glared at Shen Fangxu, but Shen Fangxu’s gaze was even more vicious and menacing.

The Grand Elder was suddenly startled. He realized this time he had truly provoked Shen Fangxu.

Shen Fangxu was not someone completely manipulated by the patriarch; he had simply endured for the sake of many concerns.

Several days later, the Grand Elder stepped down, replaced by their peer, Old Fifth. The patriarch’s daughter-in-law took poison and ended her life. The patriarch’s eldest son, with his sons, went to confront Shen Fangxu.

Without a word, Shen Fangxu packed his belongings, took his wife and his brother’s family, and left the Shen clan, heading straight to his daughter in the Eastern Wilderness.

On that day, Shen Shiqi and his fifth brother stood atop the highest roof of the Shen estate, watching them depart.

“Fourth Brother, why do you allow them to leave?”

“If I don’t, how can this hatred be resolved? The main branch hates them, and they hate the main branch just as deeply. If I keep them here, they’ll rally more sympathetic clan members, eventually overthrowing my son’s branch, perhaps even exterminating them.”

Old Fifth froze.

“Besides, my son’s branch is no easy matter either. If the two great forces in the clan clash, what can I do to stop it?” Shen Shiqi said sorrowfully. “It’s all because I failed to raise my son properly, and married the wrong granddaughter-in-law—a wicked woman who destroyed the family.”

Old Fifth was speechless.

“We all share the surname Shen. Let them develop in the Eastern Wilderness; it may give the Shen family another path.” Shen Shiqi said.

“But the territory at the edge of the Eastern Wilderness has its problems. If it didn’t, would the Ren family have allowed Little Hu’er to pioneer there?” Old Fifth asked, puzzled.