5: Could it be the Lin family from Yunzhou?

Zhao Xin looked at Lin Mu's icy gaze, feeling as though he had fallen into an ice cellar.

He stammered, "Yes, I understand."

Lin Mu turned away dismissively, leaving with Tao Rong.

Zhao Xin watched Lin Mu depart, his body feeling hollowed out, and he collapsed onto the ground.

The surrounding crowd, which had been watching the commotion, had already scattered when Lao Mo started killing.

Now, seeing Zhao Xin's pathetic state, they all cast sidelong glances from a distance.

Zhao Xin had never been so humiliated in his entire life as he was today.

He stared intently at Lin Mu's retreating figure, his eyes filled with malice and venom.

Inside the Zhao Family mansion.

Zhao Jiuding, the head of the Zhao Family, hummed a tune in a rather good mood.

Just a short while ago, he had successfully broken through to the great perfection of Foundation Establishment, and was only one step away from the Spirit Roaming Realm.

Just then, an anxious shout interrupted him.

"Father, Father!"

Following the voice, a figure rushed into the study.

"Father, something bad has happened."

Zhao Xin's voice was filled with anxiety.

"You're already a Foundation Establishment martial artist, why are you still so impetuous! What is it? Speak slowly."

Zhao Jiuding looked at Zhao Xin before him, a hint of reproach in his tone.

Zhao Xin, hearing his father's chiding question, composed himself slightly.

Then, he recounted everything that had happened on the street that day to Zhao Jiuding, in full detail.

"You're saying these two might be from the Yunzhou Lin Family?"

"The Yunzhou Lin Family is a super family; it's said they have more than one Flying Heaven Realm expert."

"How could such a power be involved with a small family like the Tao Family?"

Zhao Jiuding seemed to be asking Zhao Xin, yet also talking to himself.

Zhao Xin said uncertainly:

"I'm only guessing; I couldn't see through the old man's aura at all."

"He might be a Spirit Roaming Realm expert."

"But he was extremely respectful to Lin Mu."

"Only the Yunzhou Lin Family would have the power to have a Spirit Roaming Realm expert as a personal guard."

Zhao Jiuding raised a hand to cut off Zhao Xin's words: "Instead of guessing here, it's better to send people to investigate first, then make plans."

"Should we send a message to Elder Brother? I heard that a prodigy from the Yunzhou Lin Family is also cultivating in the Qingyang Sect," Zhao Xin asked tentatively.

"Not for now. In a few days, Feng'er will have his sect's grand competition. Don't disturb him at this time; let's observe the situation first."

Zhao Jiuding then looked at Zhao Xin: "You should immediately send more people to inquire around. Report any news to me at once."

Zhao Xin stood up, hummed in agreement, and turned to leave... In front of the Tao Family mansion.

Lin Mu looked at the garden-like residence and couldn't help but exclaim:

"Before I transmigrated, I was quite wealthy, but I've never lived in such a grand house."

The gatekeeper of the Tao Family saw his young master's figure and quickly scurried over.

"Young Master, you're back. The patriarch has been looking for you all day."

Tao Rong frowned, a hint of doubt arising in his heart: "What exactly happened? Why the rush?"

The gatekeeper replied with a somewhat nervous expression: "This humble one doesn't know the specifics."

"Please, Young Master, go directly to the family head to ask. At this very moment, the family head is in the deliberation hall discussing important matters with the elders of the clan."

"Tao Hong, please take the senior to the guest room to rest first."

After instructing Tao Hong, Tao Rong turned to Lin Mu and cupped his hands:

"The family head has summoned me, so I must go pay my respects first, and also report the matter of the spirit stones to the elders of the clan."

"Please, Senior, go rest with my second brother first."

Lin Mu said nonchalantly, "It's getting late. It's fine to talk about it tomorrow."

"I believe Young Master Tao knows what to do."

Tao Rong, hearing the slight threat in Lin Mu's words, quickly nodded and said, "Please rest assured, Senior, this junior will give you an answer as soon as possible."

After seeing Lin Mu off, Tao Rong turned and walked towards the front courtyard.

As he entered the courtyard gate, he saw his father walking towards him.

"Rong'er, where have you been? You've been gone for several days."

Tao Rong's eyes darted away, not daring to meet his father's gaze.

"It's a long story. Father, do you know why the family head and elders were looking for me?"

Tao Ren, Tao Rong's father, was the second master of the Tao Family.

He was also a Foundation Establishment martial artist, holding a rather high position within the Tao Family.

Hearing his son's question, a flash of anger crossed Tao Ren's eyes.

"Sigh, no matter what, don't worry about it. You go to the deliberation hall first; I'll come find you later."

Tao Ren didn't wait for Tao Rong to ask further and walked directly towards his own courtyard.

Tao Rong looked at his father's retreating figure, deep in thought: "What could be so difficult that even Father is troubled by it?"

Tao Rong was preoccupied with thoughts all the way.

"If you ask me, canceling it is good. This might not be a bad thing."

Before he even entered the deliberation hall, Tao Rong heard the voice of the second elder.

He composed himself and strode in.

"Greetings, Family Head, Elders." Tao Rong bowed.

Tao Zhi, the patriarch of the Tao Family, glanced at Tao Rong and said, "You've come at just the right time. The elders and I were discussing your marriage."

"Since you're here, we'd like to hear your opinion."

"My marriage?" Tao Rong asked, puzzled.

"Indeed, there might be a change in your marriage," Tao Zhi replied.

"Three days ago, Yan Ruxue, the eldest young lady of the Yan Family, was taken as a disciple by the Great Priest of the Wind and Snow Country. This matter is currently only known to the high-ranking members of the Tao Family and the Yan Family."

Tao Rong seemed to understand why his father had looked so troubled earlier.

The Wind and Snow Country, one of the top powers in the Nine Nether Continent, a super power with the Ice Emperor.

The Great Priest of the Wind and Snow Country was a super expert beyond the Flying Heaven Realm.

Yan Ruxue being taken as a disciple by such a powerful being meant her future achievements were immeasurable.

And he was just a member of a small family, not even at Foundation Establishment.

Even if he was lucky enough to break through, his life would probably remain ordinary.

Tao Zhi, seeing Tao Rong's calm expression, continued: "The Yan Family's intention is to quietly cancel the engagement, so that both families can save face."

"The Yan Family will not only return the betrothal gifts but also include an additional foundation establishment pill."

The betrothal gifts returned by the Yan Family were prepared for him by his grandfather when he was still alive.

That was a full eight thousand spirit stones. His grandfather's words were, "We cannot let others look down on the Tao Family."

Presumably, what the second elder meant by "it might not be a bad thing" was referring to these.

If he had encountered this situation in the past, Tao Rong would definitely have been angry, and even if he knew he couldn't change it, he would have harbored resentment.

But after walking on the edge of death, he seemed to have become indifferent.

"Then let's cancel it. I have no objections. As for the returned betrothal gifts and the foundation establishment pill, I leave it entirely to the family head to decide."

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.

What they had discussed most just now was the ownership of the betrothal gifts and the foundation establishment pill.

Some elders suggested giving some to Tao Rong, while others supported incorporating all of it into the family's assets, leading to a heated argument.

They had originally thought Tao Rong would demand the spirit crystals or the foundation establishment pill.

These were also what Tao Rong urgently needed now.

Unexpectedly, he actually left everything to the family head to decide, which was equivalent to giving up.

Just as everyone didn't know how to respond.

Tao Rong continued, "Family Head, I have another matter to report."

Tao Zhi's mood seemed not as bad as before: "What is it? Tell me."

Tao Rong collected his thoughts, then recounted everything from being pursued to Lao Mo's two killings, in detail.

Finally, he said with a solemn tone.

"That Black-clothed Old Man, I suspect, should be a Spirit Roaming Realm expert."

Tao Zhi's brows furrowed, "A Spirit Roaming Realm expert. Could it be someone from the Yunzhou Lin Family?"