Chapter 106: Yu Family

"The Lord of the City is truly too courteous. He arrived in person and even brought such generous gifts. I feel quite undeserving of this honor!"

Yu Cheng, standing before a gathering of guests, bowed deeply to the City Lord, a hint of nervousness visible on his face.

"Haha, Chief Yu, you're too modest. Today marks your 100th birthday. How could I not be here to offer my congratulations?"

He Tianwu, a robust, middle-aged man with piercing eyes, replied with a hearty laugh. He promptly stepped forward to help Yu Cheng stand upright from his bow.

"City Lord, please, take the main seat!"

Yu Cheng gestured warmly, guiding him towards the table of honor.

"No, no, today is your special day," He Tianwu protested graciously. "You are the guest of honor, and it would be improper for me to take precedence."

He then found a seat to the side, blending in appropriately.

As the two settled, the entrance to the Yu Family estate remained abuzz with activity. A steady stream of well-wishers continued to arrive, each carrying gifts, while a crier announced their presence in a loud, ceremonial voice.

"Liu Kun, Patriarch of the Liu Family, presents three hundred spirit stones and wishes Chief Yu endless longevity and prosperity!"

"Zhang Changfeng, Patriarch of the Zhang Family, offers three Pulse-Opening Elixirs and wishes Chief Yu the blessings of the Great Dao and ever-advancing cultivation!"

And so it went on, each proclamation met with nods of satisfaction from Yu Cheng. His heart swelled with pride, for it was evident that his influence in Jingshui City had never been stronger. Casting a glance at He Tianwu beside him, Yu Cheng contemplated whether the time had come to leverage this momentum and vie for the position of City Lord.

After raising his glass in a toast to He Tianwu, Yu Cheng leaned in, curiosity evident in his voice. "City Lord, since we are gathered here today, I wonder if you could indulge me with some insight into a matter that has long puzzled me."

"Speak freely, Chief Yu," He Tianwu encouraged, lifting his own glass. "I am here to listen."

"Who was responsible for the downfall of the royal family?"

At the mention of this, He Tianwu's hand froze mid-air, the wine in his glass swirling as he paused. Letting out a heavy sigh, he replied, "The matter has indeed alarmed even the Falling Dawn Sect, yet we still lack concrete answers."

He continued, "Everyone connected to the royal lineage and the imperial court perished, leaving no witnesses who could shed light on which force brought ruin to the Dynasty. However, rumors circulate that two events transpired in the capital just before their destruction.

First, a powerful spirit infiltrated the capital and annihilated the Monster King of the Spirit formation Realm. Second, the Golden Dragon Guard, led by Prince Xia Yang, ventured into the Feihua Mountains and never returned. It wasn't long after that disaster struck the royal family."

"Feihua Mountains?" Yu Cheng repeated, frowning. "I recall there being a formidable Monster King there, yet even at its peak, it only reached the Spirit formation Realm. While dangerous, would such a creature truly threaten the entire dynasty?"

He Tianwu shrugged with a laugh. "Who can say? The mountains might harbor dangers beyond our understanding."

"True enough," Yu Cheng conceded, though a thoughtful expression lingered.

"By the way," He Tianwu said, his tone casual yet probing, "I've heard that some of your clan members recently ventured deep into that mysterious sinkhole and uncovered something extraordinary. Care to enlighten me?"

Yu Cheng's smile stiffened, and he realized the City Lord's real motive for attending the banquet had finally surfaced. It wasn't mere politeness but a pursuit of this secret. Despite his efforts to keep the discovery under wraps, it seemed a leak had occurred, and He Tianwu had spies within the Yu Family.

With a forced chuckle, Yu Cheng replied, "Ah, the City Lord truly knows everything! Unfortunately, our exploration yielded little of interest, only a few steps further than our previous expeditions. There was nothing significant to report."

"Is that so?" He Tianwu chuckled knowingly, though he wasn't convinced. "I see."

The tense exchange was suddenly interrupted by a commotion at the entrance, drawing the attention of everyone in the courtyard.

"Leave!" Yu Shuo's angry voice echoed through the courtyard. "When you eloped with Xian Wu, you severed your ties with the Yu Family. How dare you show your face here now? You're not welcome!"

At the doorway, a young woman named Yu Zhen pleaded with tears streaming down her face. "Brother, please, just let me see Father once, even for a moment!"

"Absolutely not!" Yu Shuo's voice was cold, his eyes hardened. "Father has no desire to see you!"

His gaze remained unyielding, and bitterness flashed across his expression. If Yu Zhen hadn't defied their family by running away with Xian Wu, perhaps his father might have ascended to the coveted position of City Lord by now. The resources and influence that came with such a role were not trivial. With those resources, his father could have broken through to the Spirit formation Realm, becoming a true powerhouse within the Dynasty.

"But I've told you countless times," Yu Zhen's voice broke with desperation, "I love Wu, not the prince you wanted me to marry!"

Yu Shuo scoffed, his disdain palpable. "How dare you defy our family's wishes? Your marriage was supposed to secure our future! Get out, now! The Yu Family will never forgive someone who betrayed us for personal desire."

Releasing his aura, the might of the Golden Core Realm bore down on Yu Lu. Her face paled, yet before the pressure could overwhelm her, two figures standing behind her sprang into action.

Xian Wu and his son, Xian Yue, exchanged a knowing glance. As their energies flared, the pressure from Yu Shuo vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling force that made Yu Shuo's hair stand on end and his entire body shiver in terror.

"You two, stop!" Yu Zhen exclaimed, glaring at her husband and son. Their power receded, but Yu Shuo was left drenched in cold sweat, gasping for breath. Warily, his eyes turned to the two men behind his sister. Though their auras seemed calm, Yu Shuo couldn't shake the memory of that suffocating force. What kind of power had they concealed?

"Family interests?" Xian Wu sneered, breaking the silence. "So for the sake of 'interests,' you'd sacrifice your sister's happiness? Force her into a loveless marriage and make her suffer for life? Your motives aren't noble, Yu Shuo. You're only after personal gain, disguising it under the pretense of family duty!"

"How dare you!" Yu Shuo's face flushed with rage. "If it weren't for you, we would have secured ties with royalty!"

Xian Wu's gaze hardened. "Exactly, status and power are all that matter to you. You never cared for Yu Lu's happiness. But in retrospect, you should be grateful. Had you become related to the imperial family, you'd have been wiped out alongside the Dynasty."

Yu Shuo clenched his fists, his voice trembling with anger. "So what if we value power and status? A family member raised under the family's protection owes a debt. Is it too much to ask for her to contribute to our survival?"