145: It's easy to add flowers to brocade, but difficult to provide charcoal in the snow.

"Senior Brother, I... I gave away the Spirit Stone you gave me without asking. You won't blame me, will you?"

Yao Delong looked at the apology and exhaustion in his Junior Sister's eyes, his heart filled only with tenderness.

He shook his head without hesitation, his tone gentle yet firm:

"Junior Sister, you speak too seriously. Since the Spirit Stone was given to you, it is naturally yours to dispose of.

You did the right thing. Saving lives is paramount, especially when saving a loyal martyr who guards the frontier."

He immediately turned his head, his gaze like lightning, shooting once again toward Lin Chengzong, whose expression was shifting uncertainly. His voice carried deep disappointment and sternness:

"Uncle Lin! Matters have reached this point, and the truth is clear!

Your Lin Family's conduct has truly chilled the heart of the Marquis's Estate, and chilled the hearts of all loyal and righteous people in the world!

The Marquis of the North is bathing in blood on the front lines, yet you are in the rear, sucking the marrow from his bones and squandering wealth without restraint!

Now that the Marquis's life hangs by a thread, you actually make all sorts of excuses and twist black and white!

Is this the Dao of acting in the world? Is this the responsibility that a cultivation Family should have?!"

Lin Chengzong's face turned purple from Yao Delong's merciless rebuke,

but his pathetic pride and greed were at work. He stiffened his neck, turned his head away, and while barely clinging to a last shred of "arrogance," he snorted with a fierce appearance but a weak heart:

"Hmph! My Lin Family... my Lin Family is not a soft persimmon for anyone to pinch! That Ling Xiao brought troops to surround the estate and ruined my gate. This debt..."

"Enough!"

Lin Qingxue shouted sharply, her voice like ice from the Nine Heavens, carrying unprecedented resolution and coldness!

Looking at her stubborn, greedy, and shameless father, the last shred of familial affection was completely severed!

"Father! How long are you going to remain obsessed and unrepentant?!"

Lin Qingxue stepped forward, releasing her Golden Core Perfection pressure without reservation,

instantly crushing Lin Chengzong until he couldn't catch his breath, his face turning from purple to white!

"In your eyes, there is only your useless son and those ill-gotten gains! Have you ever thought about the Lin Family's reputation?

Have you ever thought about my mother's situation? Have you ever thought about how I will stand in the Sect in the future?!"

Every word she spoke was like a heavy hammer striking Lin Chengzong's heart:

"The Old Ancestor granted me Elder privileges, with the authority to make decisions on the spot! Today, I, Lin Qingxue, announce in the capacity of an acting Elder of the Lin Family:

If you still do not repent and insist on dragging the Lin Family into an abyss of disloyalty, injustice, and ingratitude,

then take your precious son and get out of the Lin Family! From now on, your branch of Lin Chengzong will have nothing more to do with my Lin Family!"

"Clear Snow! You cannot!"

Xia Ling was scared to the point of Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. She lunged forward to grab Lin Qingxue's arm, tears streaming down her face,

"Your father... he was just confused for a moment! He was blinded by greed!

Please forgive him this once! After all, he is your biological father!"

She knew well that if it weren't for her daughter's currently esteemed status, based on today's events alone,

the main clan of the Lin Family would have long since swept their branch out the door and even punished them severely!

Lin Chengzong was completely stunned by his daughter's cold and resolute gaze and the four words "get out of the Lin Family"!

The "arrogance" on his face collapsed instantly, leaving only boundless fear and disbelief.

Only now did he truly realize that the daughter before him was no longer the little girl who could be easily manipulated back then,

but a core figure of the Lin Family who held power, possessed profound cultivation, and was enough to decide the fate of their branch!

His lips trembled as he looked at Lin Qingxue's emotionless gaze, and finally, he couldn't say a single word,

collapsing dejectedly into his chair, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

Yao Delong watched the tense father and daughter, who were on the verge of a complete breakdown, and sighed inwardly.

Although he loathed Lin Chengzong's character, he was, after all, his Junior Sister's biological father, and blood ties were hard to completely sever.

He did not want his Junior Sister to regret this matter in the future, and even less did he want her to bear the infamy of being unfilial.

"Junior Sister, calm down."

Yao Delong stepped forward and gently pressed on Lin Qingxue's tense shoulders,

a gentle surge of pure Yang Spiritual Power flowing in, soothing her agitated emotions.

He flipped his palm, and a heavy Storage Pouch appeared in his hand, which he handed directly to Lin Qingxue:

"Junior Sister, here are six thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. They should be able to resolve the Marquis's Estate's urgent needs."

Lin Qingxue was stunned, looking at the Storage Pouch and then at Yao Delong: "Senior Brother, this..."

Yao Delong changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over Lin Chengzong and Lin Minghao again, his tone becoming serious:

"However, the Marquis's Estate is currently facing a difficult pass. It is easy to add flowers to a brocade, but difficult to send charcoal in the snow.

The Lin Family has gained far more from the Marquis's Estate over these years than a normal dowry. Now that the Marquis's Estate is in trouble, the Lin Family should assist with all its might.

Selling some unnecessary treasures to fulfill the Dao of righteousness is both a duty and a matter of sentiment!"

His gaze was like lightning, staring directly at Lin Chengzong: "Uncle Lin, what do you think?"

Lin Chengzong had originally been overjoyed to see Yao Delong take out six thousand Spirit Stones, thinking that those treasures would not need to be touched,

and was just about to say a few polite words, but who would have thought that Yao Delong would change the subject and still want him to sell them!

He immediately became anxious and opened his mouth to retort: "Good Nephew! This..."

"Father!"

Lin Qingxue gave a cold shout, and the Golden Core Perfection pressure covered him again, forcing the rest of Lin Chengzong's words back!

Her eyes were cold, and the meaning could not be clearer: either do as Senior Brother said, or get out!

Lin Chengzong felt a chill in his heart as he was watched by his daughter's merciless gaze. His lips trembled a few times, and finally, he dejectedly lowered his head, not daring to speak again.

He knew that this time he had truly angered his daughter's bottom line and had completely lost his right to speak.

Yao Delong's gaze finally landed on Lin Qingyao, who was pale and biting her lip.

Lin Qingxue looked at her younger sister, who was once innocent and lively but had now become so confused, and a deep sense of disappointment and sorrow welled up in her heart.

She sighed softly, her voice carrying the heaviness and admonition of someone who had been through it all:

"Qingyao, when you first married into the Marquis's Estate, your original intention might have been good,

wanting to help the Family and help your younger brother, who doesn't have high talent. Sister understands your filial piety."

"However," Lin Qingxue's tone suddenly became stern,

"helping does not mean endless, bottomless demanding!

And it certainly does not mean that you can disregard the life and death of your husband's Family, emptying out the Foundation of your husband's Family to fill the holes of your maiden Family!"

She paused, her tone becoming even heavier, as if stating a profound truth, or perhaps warning herself:

"However, helping your maiden Family must have limits. You must know when to stop, and you must understand that between a husband and wife,

the value lies in mutual respect, the value lies in supporting each other, not in one-sided, endless, and bottomless demanding!

Otherwise, no matter how deep the affection or how vast the Family business, there will eventually come a day when it is emptied and exhausted!

In the end, it will only result in a complete break of ties and becoming enemies!"

These words were like the evening drum and morning bell, striking everyone's heart. Lin Qingyao's expression shifted, as if she were moved.

Lin Chengzong and Xia Ling hung their heads in shame. Lin Minghao remained ignorant and oblivious.

Yao Delong looked at his Junior Sister's cold and tired side profile, his heart filled with tenderness.

He knew that his Junior Sister's words were not only for Lin Qingyao, but also to sever the last unnecessary tie between herself and this greedy, shameless Family that brought her shame.

His gaze fell on Lin Minghao, who was trembling and had empty, dazed eyes in Xia Ling's arms.

The youth was dressed in fine clothes, but they could not hide the superficiality and cowardice after his cultivation was forcibly raised.

Spiritual Power Affinity of five points... A ripple of bitterness surged in Yao Delong's heart.

This Lin Minghao at least had massive resources forcibly piled up to Foundation Establishment. But what about him, Yao Delong, back then?