68: The Tao Family's Crisis

Over twenty years unseen.

At this moment, Tao Ying was no longer the young girl she once was.

Her hair, tied up in a high bun, clearly indicated she was a married woman.

Lin Mu's appearance hadn't changed much, but his imposing aura made Tao Ying unable to look him directly in the eye.

She lowered her head slightly and scurried a few steps to stand before Lin Mu.

"Tao Ying greets This Young Master. Thank you, This Young Master, for saving my life."

Tao Ying performed a standard grand bow.

"No need for such formality, we are all family."

When Tao Ying heard Lin Mu refer to the Tao Family as "family," she seemed to recall something.

She suddenly knelt on both knees, prostrating herself on the ground, and tearfully pleaded, "I beg This Young Master to preside over justice for the Tao Family, and for my eldest brother."

Lin Mu's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by this? Someone dared to touch the Tao Family?"

As Lin Mu's earliest retainers, Lin Mu had long since instructed Yun Feiyang to look after the Tao Family.

No one in the entire Yanshan Kingdom dared to disrespect Yun Feiyang.

"Explain the full story in detail. This Young Master will ensure justice for the Tao Family."

Tao Ying composed herself and recounted the events.

It turned out that ever since Lin Mu gained actual control of the Heavenly Dao Sect, the Tao Family's status had risen accordingly.

Coupled with Yun Feiyang's covert support, the Tao Family had truly soared.

In less than ten years,

Not only had Tao Qian, the Tao Family's foremost genius, broken through to the Flying Heaven Realm, but several Spirit Roaming Realm cultivators had also emerged within the clan.

By all accounts, such strength should have made them the absolute overlords of Hancheng City.

But who would have thought that the Yan Family had also gained over a dozen Spirit Roaming Realm cultivators in just ten short years?

The relationship between the two families was already strained due to the Yan Family breaking off the engagement.

Furthermore, the disciples of both clans were mutually unyielding, and conflicts frequently arose.

Although the Yan Family had more Spirit Roaming Realm experts than the Tao Family, the Tao Family, relying on Tao Qian, a Flying Heaven Realm cultivator, was not afraid of the Yan Family.

Until a few days ago, during a conflict, Tao Rong was severely wounded by a Yan Family Spirit Roaming Realm cultivator.

He succumbed to his injuries and died that very night upon returning to the Tao Family.

Tao Qian, upon learning of this, rushed back to the Tao Family from the Heavenly Dao Sect overnight.

Tao Qian and Tao Rong had once served Lin Mu together, so their bond was naturally deep.

In a fit of rage, he directly attacked the Yan Family.

With Tao Qian's strength at Flying Heaven Realm Third Heaven, the Yan Family naturally couldn't resist, and three Spirit Roaming Realm cultivators were killed in succession.

Just as Tao Qian was pressuring the Yan Family to hand over the murderer of Tao Rong,

Yan Ruxue suddenly arrived.

With her strength at Flying Heaven Realm Ninth Heaven, she easily overwhelmed Tao Qian.

However, Yan Ruxue did not deliver a fatal blow; she merely temporarily imprisoned Tao Qian in the Yan Family.

Upon learning of this, the Tao Family quickly sent people to the Heavenly Dao Sect for help.

And Tao Ying, who was already a Spirit Roaming Realm cultivator, was intercepted by three Yan Family Spirit Roaming Realm cultivators while on her way to the Heavenly Dao Sect.

When Lin Mu heard that Tao Rong had died from his injuries, his expression showed a hint of surprise.

He couldn't help but recall the figure who had always been at his beck and call.

He asked with a touch of regret, "Why didn't you report this to me immediately?"

Tao Ying wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and slowly began, "The Tao Family Ancestor instructed before his death that This Young Master should not be disturbed unless absolutely necessary."

"Before his death? Who killed the Tao Family Ancestor?"

Lin Mu's cold gaze turned to Yun Feiyang.

He had made it very clear that Yun Feiyang should look after the Tao Family, yet he hadn't expected the Tao Family Ancestor to be killed.

Seeing Lin Mu's misunderstanding, Tao Ying quickly spoke up, "The Tao Family Ancestor was not harmed by anyone; he merely passed away due to old age, infirmity, and a relapse of an old illness..."

"He was still full of vigor when I left. How could he have come to such a state in just over twenty years?" Lin Mu said.

"The Tao Family Ancestor was actually already in his twilight years, having merely held on by a thread. Seeing the family prosper, he finally departed with peace of mind."

The Tao Family Ancestor had been cautious and calculating his entire life, and even before his death, he had planned a retreat for the Tao Family.

He deeply understood human relationships, knowing that every favor used was one less favor available.

That's why he didn't allow the Tao Family members to easily bother Lin Mu, reserving it for a time of the Tao Family's life-or-death crisis.

Lin Mu would certainly not abandon the Tao Family.

Lin Mu also somewhat admired the Tao Family Ancestor's shrewdness.

He looked at Tao Ying, who was still prostrate on the ground, and said, "Get up. Come back to the Tao Family with me. I will ensure justice for the Tao Family."

At the main entrance of the Tao Family in Hancheng City, several Tao Family servants, armed with weapons, nervously observed the passersby.

Suddenly, a tearing sound echoed, followed by a beam of light that landed in front of the Tao Family's main gate.

The servants all looked towards the light beam.

Inside the light beam, two men and one woman stood in front, with a completely black Three-Headed Dog standing behind them.

The monster's three heads all turned to look at the servants, scaring them into turning and running.

They continuously shouted, "Monster! Help!"

Tao Ying watched her servants' panicked reactions and didn't blame them much, as anyone would be startled by the Three-Headed Dog.

However, to save face, she quickly shouted to stop them, "Ah Fu, Ah Gui, why are you screaming? Don't you see that I am here?"

The few people who were running into the courtyard suddenly heard their Young Miss's voice behind them and all stopped in unison.

The servant named Ah Gui, upon recognizing that it was indeed their Young Miss, laughed loudly and said, "It really is Young Miss back!"

He ran a few steps to stand before the group, though he didn't dare to get too close.

"Young Miss, you're finally back! The Yan Family people are threatening to make us compensate them for their losses, and the Family Head is in a complete panic right now."

Ah Gui's ancestors had served the Tao Family for generations, and he had a deep affection for the Tao Family.

At his age, in his teens, he now curiously sized up Lin Mu.

Lin Mu hadn't returned to the Tao Family for twenty years, so many of the younger Tao Family members didn't recognize him.

"Ah Gui, don't be rude. This is Young Master Lin. Hurry and pay your respects."

Ah Gui understood from the words that the person before him was Young Master Lin, the master of the Tao Family, and quickly knelt and kowtowed.

"This lowly one was blind and disrespectful earlier. Please punish This Young Master."

Lin Mu waved his hand, signaling Ah Gui to get up.

Ah Gui didn't get up immediately; instead, he turned to look at Tao Ying.

"Hurry up and get up to inform the Family Head to come and welcome Young Master Lin," Tao Ying reminded him.

Ah Gui hastily kowtowed again, then got up and ran towards the Tao Family's main courtyard.

In a moment, a figure rushed out from the Tao Family, it was Tao Zhi, the Tao Family Head, who had hurried over upon hearing the news.

A group of Tao Family disciples followed behind him.

Tao Zhi rushed out and saw that it was indeed Lin Mu who had arrived.

He bowed and walked to Lin Mu, then suddenly knelt on both knees.

"Tao Zhi greets This Young Master."

Seeing this, Tao Ying, startled, quickly stepped aside and also knelt down beside him.

Behind them, some of the Tao Family elders recognized Lin Mu and quickly ordered everyone to kneel as well.

Some of the younger clan members, although unsure why their clan head, a Spirit Roaming Realm cultivator, would kneel to a young man,

But they dared not disobey the elders' command and all knelt down in respect.

The actions of the Tao Family members drew curious glances from passersby.

Everyone was curiously speculating about the young man's identity.

Some were pointing and gesturing at the Three-Headed Dog.

Although Lin Mu disliked Tao Zhi kneeling publicly and drawing a crowd, he didn't reprimand him, considering it an act of loyalty.

He merely lowered his head slightly and said to Tao Zhi, "Get up. You will follow me to the study to report."

Tao Zhi got up, dismissed the crowd, and led Lin Mu towards the back courtyard.