Chapter 518: Shocking the World
"Presumptuous!!"
Yun Che's words stunned the entire gathering, and Yun Waitian flew into a rage. He pointed at Yun Che and roared, "Insolent junior, how dare you offend His Highness Huiye like this! If not for Yun Qinghong's sake, with just those few words of yours, I would personally give you a few slaps!"
But Yun Che only laughed freely, showing no panic at all: "Grand Elder, your temper is really something. Was what I just said wrong? This commandery prince, who is a complete outsider to the Yun Clan, can meddle in the affairs of the Yun Clan, yet I, who am half a member of the Yun Clan, cannot? Besides, wasn't it this same commandery prince who just asked if anyone had any objections?"
Seeing that Yun Che not only refused to back down but instead pushed back, Yun Waitian laughed in extreme anger: "His Highness Huiye is a commandery prince, every word he speaks is worth a thousand gold, helping our Yun Clan see clearly on the matter of the clan head. What do you think you are, to be compared to His Highness Huiye? If we're talking about objections, the Yun Clan's Council of Elders hasn't said a single word yet. When did it become the turn of an ignorant little brat like you? Get lost now! If you dare say one more word..."
"Ah~~" Huiye Commandery Prince raised his hand at that moment, stopping Yun Waitian from finishing his sentence. His expression remained leisurely, without the slightest hint of anger... And indeed, someone with no background and only Heavenly Xuan realm profound energy didn't qualify to make him angry. If he actually got angry over this, people would find it strange instead. He said with a chuckle: "Grand Elder, no need to be angry. Changing the clan head is a major affair; it's perfectly normal for someone to have objections. Although Yun Che is not a member of the Yun Clan, he is after all the adopted son of the current clan head. Calling him half a member of the Yun Clan is reasonable. Moreover, since his adoptive father is about to step down, it's only human for him to have something to say. So let's hear what he has to say."
"Your Highness, I've heard this kid comes from the Southern Frontier and has only been in Yaohuang City for two months. Not many people in our Yun Clan even know him. A person of your esteemed status need not listen to the nonsense of such a brat," Yun Waitian said in a low voice.
"No, no," Huiye Commandery Prince shook his head. "Having Yun Xinyue succeed as clan head was not decided by your Yun Clan, but proposed by me. Yun Che is right—I am an outsider to your Yun Clan. It's perfectly normal for someone to have objections to an outsider's proposal. Moreover, Yun Che is the adopted son of the current clan head. If I were to drive him away like this, wouldn't it make me seem narrow-minded, throwing my weight around and refusing to tolerate 'objections'?"
Clap, clap, clap...
The crisp sound of clapping rang out. Yun Che clapped his hands as he exclaimed loudly: "As expected of a commandery prince! Your breadth of mind and boldness are truly admirable—far better than those who have lived a few hundred years for nothing!"
"You!" Yun Waitian was instantly furious. His open affront to Huiye Commandery Prince could still be dismissed as reckless ignorance, but Yun Che's last sentence was a blatant mockery of him. However, after uttering the word "you," he held back and only sneered contemptuously. He thought to himself: with my status, to stoop to dealing with such a junior in front of everyone would be beneath me. But now, having provoked Huiye Commandery Prince, this kid was bound to have a bad end.
And Huiye Commandery Prince was by no means a kind and tolerant person.
"Is he really that young man who saved Diqi that day?" Among the seats, Tianxia Wudi looked at Yun Che and said thoughtfully.
"It's him," Tianxia Diyi nodded.
"This young man is making a bit of a scene," Tianxia Wudi said.
Tianxia Diyi pondered for a moment, then said: "Although I've only met him once, the impression he gave me is that he is not a reckless and brainless person."
"Heh heh." Tianxia Wudi smiled faintly, his gaze shifting to linger on Yun Qinghong for a moment, and said meaningfully: "If Yun Qinghong has indeed taken him as an adopted son, then this kid is definitely not simple. Your father has said more than once that even if Yun Qinghong is completely crippled, he is never someone to be underestimated. The current control of the Yun Clan may appear to be in Yun Waitian's hands, but that's only on the surface. Your father and I both refuse to believe that Yun Qinghong has no hidden cards... For Yun Qinghong to be willing to take this son as his adopted son, this kid must be extraordinary."
Tianxia Diyi: "..."
"I said I don't want to hear useless nonsense." Huiye Commandery Prince squinted slightly, looking at Yun Che with a mocking gaze, as if facing an amusing toy: "You say you have objections, meaning you disagree with Yun Xinyue becoming the next clan head. So tell me your reasons, or find someone more suitable to be the Yun Clan's head. If your reasons are solid and convincing enough, then of course that's for the best. If not, or if you jumped out just to obstruct for the sake of obstructing... Hmph, causing trouble over such a major issue—not just the Yun Clan, but even I might get angry."
When Huiye Commandery Prince finished speaking, an overwhelming aura burst forth, causing some of the younger disciples in the seats to shiver involuntarily. Huiye Commandery Prince was ranked among the "Seven Sons of the Huan Yao Realm," and his strength was unquestionable. Born into a royal clan, his innate and cultivated royal presence was far beyond what ordinary people could match.
Yun Che's expression remained unchanged as he said: "I am half a member of the Yun Clan, so whatever I say or do is entirely for the sake of the Yun Clan. The clan head is the leader of a family; the choice of clan head concerns the future of the entire clan and is a matter that cannot tolerate the slightest negligence or carelessness. When recommending a clan head, strength is certainly important, but relatively speaking, it is secondary. What matters more is the person's character and conduct... Your Highness, I believe you surely agree with this."
Huiye Commandery Prince smiled faintly: "Naturally. But from what you say, you are questioning Yun Xinyue's character? Yet as I know, Yun Xinyue not only has extraordinary talent but also impeccable character. Otherwise, the entire clan would not have unanimously agreed to Yun Xinyue succeeding as the new clan head. Could it be that someone who has lived in the same clan with Yun Xinyue for decades knows him less well than an outsider who has only been in Yaohuang City for two years?"
But Yun Che gave a strange smile and said meaningfully: "You know, the hardest thing to see in this world is the human heart. I mentioned earlier that the reason I was adopted by Clan Head Yun was because I saved his son Yun Xiao when I first arrived in Yaohuang City. That day, the one attacked together with Yun Xiao was also Tianxia Diqi, the princess of the Tianxia Clan. Both Yun Xiao and Tianxia Diqi are descendants of clan heads. Their simultaneous attack was no small matter. I believe everyone here has heard of this incident."
"I have indeed heard of it. But what does this have to do with Yun Xinyue's succession as clan head?" Huiye Commandery Prince said with a faint smile.
"It does, of course it does—and a huge amount!" Yun Che said without pause. As these words left his mouth, Yun Qinghong's brow on the wheelchair tightened sharply, and his gaze turned slightly icy... but then quickly faded.
"Tianxia Diqi and Yun Xiao were attacked, and the assailants struck with extreme viciousness, clearly intending to kill them. So the Tianxia Clan's head would surely fly into a rage and thoroughly investigate who was behind it. Yun Xiao's uncle, Senior Mu, would certainly not ignore it either. As for the Yun Clan's response... Heh, I won't even mention that. However, the three people who ambushed Yun Xiao and Tianxia Diqi that day were all dressed in black and veiled, and they didn't reveal their profound arts, making it extremely difficult to trace their identities. Now two months have passed, and neither the Tianxia Clan nor Senior Mu has found any results..."
"What exactly are you trying to say!" Yun Waitian interrupted angrily: "This is the Yun Clan's full clan assembly, not a place for you to spout nonsense!"
"Grand Elder, don't be impatient. The main point is coming." Yun Che said unhurriedly: "Yun Xiao and I are sworn brothers. The Yun Clan can ignore his attack, pretend it never happened, but I, as his elder brother, cannot. These two months, I have been trying to track down who would want to harm Yun Xiao and the Tianxia Clan's princess. Fortunately, I was lucky. Some time ago, I finally discovered the identity of one of the villains."
In the seats, Tianxia Diyi and Tianxia Wudi's expressions changed simultaneously, their gazes becoming exceptionally sharp. Two months ago, Tianxia Diqi had nearly died at the hands of the black-clad attackers. Tianxia Xiongtu was furious and personally investigated the matter, but to no avail. Yun Che's words immediately drew all their attention. Tianxia Diyi stood up directly and asked publicly: "Brother Yun, is this true? The person you found—who is it?"
Mu Yubai pinched his chin, frowned, and murmured: "What trick is this kid playing? If even old man Tianxia couldn't find anything, what could he possibly have found?"
"Huh? Big brother really found something?" Yun Xiao was utterly confused. "But these two months, he's barely left the house... um..."
"Husband, what exactly is Che'er trying to do?" Mu Yurou was increasingly puzzled and uneasy.
"Don't say anything. Just watch," Yun Qinghong said with a tight frown, his hand gripping the wheelchair handle subtly tightening.
Yun Che turned sideways and said to Tianxia Diyi: "Brother Tianxia, your family member nearly fell victim to those villains' hands. I believe you and Clan Head Tianxia would not be satisfied even if you chopped those despicable scoundrels into a thousand pieces. But today, I ask Brother Tianxia and these Tianxia seniors to control their emotions. Because the identity of one of the villains I found is quite surprising. When I say it, Brother Tianxia might not even believe it."
Yun Che shifted his gaze and then fixed it directly on Yun Xinyue: "One of the villains behind the assassination of Yun Xiao and Tianxia Diqi is none other than Yun Xinyue—the son of the Grand Elder, who is so impressive and domineering in the Yun Clan!"
As the three words "Yun Xinyue" left Yun Che's mouth, it was as if three bombs had been dropped out of thin air. The entire plaza fell into dead silence, then erupted into a deafening roar of noise.
However, these were not sounds of shock...
They were earth-shaking roars of laughter.