"What do you mean?"
Looking at Qin Yan's grimacing and babbling appearance, Ling Chen kicked him away in disgust and sneered.
"If my Ling Family is truly finished, rest assured, Young Master Qin, you will definitely be going before me."
"Bah!"
Qin Yan's eyes were bloodshot as he shrieked hysterically.
"If I die, your Ling Family will only die faster. Ling Chen, let me go, and I'll tell you a piece of news. I guarantee it will be useful to you."
"Hmph."
Ling Chen spat dismissively, putting on an air of disdain.
Qin Yan instantly panicked and hastily shouted,
"It's true! I'm telling the truth. As long as you agree to let me go, I'll tell you right away. It concerns your entire Ling Family clan, Ling Chen. Don't you want to know?"
"No."
Ling Chen spat out the single word. He certainly didn't believe Qin Yan was being that kind-hearted. Besides, since the fellow was in his hands now, whether to talk or not was no longer up to Qin Yan to decide.
"Third Uncle, I think Young Master Qin's room here is quite spacious, and living alone is bound to be a bit lonely and dreary. How about inviting a few more drunkards back? That way..."
"No, don't!"
Before Ling Chen could finish, Qin Yan screamed as if he had gone mad.
"Ling Chen, you can't treat me like this! I am the young master of the Qin Family, my father is Qin Changfeng, and our ancestor is..."
"Shut up!"
Ling Zhongheng delivered a slap that sent Qin Yan crashing straight against the wall.
"Leave Third Uncle to handle it, Chen'er, you can rest easy. I'll have people do it right away."
"No, you can't... Ling, Ling Chen, let me go. Let me go, please."
Qin Yan suddenly pounced forward, grabbing onto Ling Chen's leg for dear life as he cried out,
"I'll talk! I'll talk!"
"Young Master Qin, you don't find this coercive, do you?"
"No, not at all."
Qin Yan stared fixedly at Ling Chen, wishing he could tear him to pieces with his glare, but he really didn't want to sleep with those drunkards ever again. Those damned, filthy freaks were less than human.
"Ling Chen, after I tell you, can you—"
"Third Uncle, let's go."
"Don't, don't go!"
Panicked, Qin Yan didn't dare to bargain any further and said with a miserable expression,
"It's... it's a spirit mine."
"Oh?!"
Ling Chen's brow furrowed instantly.
The matter of the spirit mine was kept strictly confidential. Outsiders aside, even the disciples of the Ling Family didn't necessarily know about it. How on earth did Qin Yan find out?
No.
There was one other person who knew.
He Qinglan!
Back when he was courting He Qinglan, he had once let it slip carelessly. He never expected that bitch would leak even this matter to Qin Yan.
"Speak. What are your Qin Family's plans?"
This was a matter of grave importance, and Ling Chen had to get to the bottom of it, especially since he was inextricably linked to it.
Seeing Ling Chen's cold expression and murderous intent, Qin Yan felt an inexplicable pang of fear. He swallowed hard before laying out the Qin Family's previous plan step by step.
Originally, they had planned to use Ling Chen's annulment of the engagement as a pretext for the Qin Family's Seventh Elder to suppress the Ling Family. Once Ling Chen was captured, they would interrogate Ling Zhongshu about the spirit mine.
Then, they would prop up the He Family to become the local overlords of Luoyan City, cover up the news, and mine it in secret to prevent the news of the spirit mine from leaking out and arousing the covetous desires of outsiders.
Who would have thought that the Ling Family actually possessed a Natal Sword Cultivator who not only killed the Qin Family's Seventh Elder, but also landed Qin Yan himself in the role of a prisoner?
"Ling Chen, believe me, my father will never let this rest. Only if you let us bury the hatchet and make peace can I persuade my father; we could even cooperate."
"Cooperate?"
Ling Chen sneered.
"Since when are you so kind-hearted, Young Master Qin?"
"I—I'm speaking the truth! He Qinglan is already dead. As long as you are willing to cooperate with our Qin Family, my father will certainly let bygones be bygones. Otherwise, once the news of the spirit mine gets out, everyone in your Ling Family will be buried with it!"
An innocent man treasuring a jade ring becomes a target of crime.
The Ling Family was merely a minor family in Luoyan City, nothing more than ants in the eyes of the Qingzhou aristocratic clans. Even with a Natal Sword Cultivator holding down the fort, the Qingzhou clans and major factions would still swoop in to seize the spoils.
However, cooperating with Qin Yan was utterly out of the question.
Leaving aside his deep-seated hatred for Qin Yan over the excavation of his bones, the Qin Family alone was completely untrustworthy.
The only ones who could truly keep a secret were the dead.
"Young Master Qin, I will report this matter to my father and let him make the decision. However, the Qin Family isn't the only one in Qingzhou. If you want to cooperate with my Ling Family, you'll have to see if you even carry enough weight."
Ling Chen decided to string Qin Yan along for now to fish for some information.
Sure enough.
Qin Yan took the bait immediately, babbling on without stop.
"My Qin Family is one of the three major aristocratic clans of Qingzhou, and we even have connections in Shangjing. Furthermore, our family ancestor has long since reached the Deity Transformation realm, and we have no fewer than ten Nascent Soul elders in the sect. Cooperating with my Qin Family is definitely your wisest choice."
A Deity Transformation ancestor, and over ten Nascent Soul elders.
This force was indeed not to be underestimated. He wondered if Grand Uncle could hold his own against them.
His own cultivation was still far too weak right now. If he possessed Deity Transformation cultivation, why would he need to waste time exchanging pleasantries here?
Strength!
That was the only absolute truth.
"Young Master Qin, I am aware of this matter now. I shall return and discuss it with my father."
As Ling Chen got up to leave, Qin Yan looked over with eager, pleading eyes.
"Ling Chen, can you change my lodging? I—I really can't stay here anymore."
"Hm."
"Ling Chen! Ling Chen, don't leave! You can't go back on your word."
Ignoring Qin Yan's shouts, Ling Chen walked out of Zuifeng Pavilion without looking back.
Want to change rooms? In your dreams.
"Third Uncle, turn up the heat for him tonight."
"Understood, I guarantee he won't be able to get out of bed for three days."
...
The Ling Family estate.
As soon as Ling Chen returned, he relayed the news to Ling Zhongshu.
"Father, it is this child's fault. I trusted that bitch He Qinglan before, which brought this disaster upon the family."
"Chen'er need not blame yourself; this is nothing much."
Contrary to expectations, Ling Zhongshu didn't seem worried in the least. He merely waved his hand casually and comforted him.
"As for the Qin Family, I've had people keep an eye on them for a long time; nothing major will happen. But you must be careful, Chen'er. I'm just afraid those Qin Family scum might be driven to desperation and turn on you."
"Father, this child knows."
"Mhm."
Ling Zhongshu nodded. Right now, he wasn't particularly worried about Ling Chen. As long as he didn't leave Luoyan City, the sky wouldn't fall.
"I heard you've been practicing swordsmanship lately. Are there any parts you don't understand?"
During these past few days, Ling Chen had essentially focused on two things.
First, comprehending the sword manual within the Immortal Suppressing Coffin, and second, sparring in swordsmanship with members of the Qin Family.
Ling Zhongshu saw it all and was naturally extremely satisfied. Moreover, Ling Chen's progress was astonishingly rapid, and his comprehension was exceptionally high. Although he had only been practicing the sword manual for a mere two or three days, he had already grasped the essentials and comprehended its inner essence.
Ah, truly worthy of being Luoyan City's number one genius.
Truly worthy of being the son of Ling Zhongshu!
"Father need not worry. This child currently has no unresolved doubts, but I do plan to take a trip outside."
"Where to?"
Ling Zhongshu instantly tensed up a little.
"Just wandering around the mountains outside the city, to clear my mind."
Breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm was imminent, but he had to find a desolate place devoid of human presence. Otherwise, the commotion caused by the heavenly tribulation descending would be far too large and would inevitably invite unnecessary trouble.
Ling Zhongshu pondered for a moment, figuring that Ling Chen must still be harboring emotional baggage. After all, he had once been deeply devoted to He Qinglan. Even if he had figured things out now, a young man would inevitably have some lingering knots in his heart.
"Clearing your mind is good. Then have Third Uncle tag along. Rest assured, your Third Uncle knows where to draw the line."
"Alright."
Ling Chen did not refuse; his Third Uncle was completely trustworthy.
Little did they know.
When Ling Chen and Ling Zhongheng departed from Luoyan City, a trio of figures quietly tailed them from the shadows.