69: Two options

After entering the Tao Family's rear courtyard, Lin Mu admired the scenery along the way, which was clearly identical to twenty years ago.

Yun Feiyang and the Three-Headed Dog were instructed by him to stay in the guest house.

After walking for a moment, Tao Zhi stopped in front of a room and gently pushed open the door.

"Young Master, please."

Lin Mu walked into the room and looked around, feeling as if it were just yesterday.

The furnishings and layout of the room were exactly the same as when he first visited.

Even the pastries on the table were freshly made.

Lin Mu picked up a piece with some nostalgia, tasted it, and found that the flavor hadn't changed either.

It was evident that the Tao Family had put their heart into it.

He slowly sat down, habitually picked up a teacup, and said, "I already know the general course of events. How do you plan to handle this matter?"

Tao Zhi hadn't expected Young Master Lin to ask this.

He respectfully cupped his hands and said, "Everything the Tao Family has was bestowed by Young Master Lin, so this matter is entirely up to Young Master Lin's command. This subordinate dares not have any objections."

"When I tell you to speak, speak boldly. As the head of a family, you must have your own opinions."

Ever since the Tao Family Ancestor passed away, the burden of the Tao Family had fallen entirely on Tao Zhi.

Therefore, he had to be cautious in his words and actions.

Lin Mu's words made him incredibly conflicted.

He secretly hoped that Lin Mu would act to destroy the Yan Family.

But then he remembered that Yan Ruxue had the Ice Emperor backing her, and he wasn't sure of Lin Mu's attitude towards the Ice Emperor.

After a long period of thought, he could only propose a compromise.

"Both families suffered casualties this time. This subordinate believes that as long as Yan Ruxue agrees to release Tao Qian, this matter can be put to rest."

Although Tao Zhi spoke with an air of detachment, Lin Mu could hear the unwillingness in his words.

He didn't mention the Yan Family, but instead focused on Yan Ruxue, apparently wary of the power behind her.

This was the sorrow of small families; their fate was in the hands of others.

Lin Mu's finger tapped lightly on the table, a little displeased, and he said, "I once said that with me here, the Tao Family does not need to fear anyone."

"That statement is still valid now."

"Even when beating a dog, one must consider its owner. I don't care what backing the Yan Family has; today, they will pay the price."

After saying this, Lin Mu transmitted his voice into the void.

"Yun Feiyang, go quickly to the Yan Family and bring Yan Ruxue to me."

In the Tao Family's guest house, Yun Feiyang was meditating with his eyes closed.

Upon hearing Lin Mu's voice transmission, he suddenly flickered and disappeared from his spot.

He flew above Hancheng City, and with a slight probe of his divine sense, he located the Yan Family.

At the same time...

In a secret chamber of the Yan Family, Yan Ruxue, who was in seclusion healing her injuries, suddenly felt her heart race and her aura become chaotic.

"That divine sense just now was incredibly powerful. Which Venerable has arrived?"

Yan Ruxue hadn't expected that this small Hancheng City would be probed by a Venerable's divine sense.

Then she remembered that Tao Qian, whom she had imprisoned, had joined the Heavenly Dao Sect.

"Could it be a Venerable from the Heavenly Dao Sect coming to stand up for the Tao Family?"

The more she thought about it, the more agitated she became, so she could only temporarily suppress her injuries and hastily come out of seclusion.

As soon as Yan Ruxue walked out of the secret chamber, she heard a loud roar outside the Yan Family.

"People of the Yan Family, come out and face your death!"

Yun Feiyang's order from Lin Mu was to bring Yan Ruxue to him.

But Yun Feiyang had followed Lin Mu for a long time and knew his style of doing things.

Lin Mu's intention was clearly not just to bring Yan Ruxue to see him.

Before that, he had to give the Yan Family a warning.

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw a beautiful figure flying towards him.

At this time, Yun Feiyang had removed his mask, so Yan Ruxue, who was flying over, did not recognize him.

"May I ask your esteemed name, Senior? Has my Yan Family offended you in some way by your visit?"

After Yun Feiyang clearly saw Yan Ruxue's appearance, he couldn't help but think, "It really is Yan Ruxue, the Princess of the Wind and Snow Country, whom Lin Mu rescued in the White Ape Clan."

"If Yan Ruxue knew that the person behind the Tao Family was Lin Mu, I wonder what she would think."

Thinking of this, he smiled mysteriously.

He tilted his head slightly and said, "I am Yun Feiyang of the Heavenly Dao Sect. I have come this time at someone's request."

Yan Ruxue guessed that this person might be from the Heavenly Dao Sect, but she hadn't expected that the person who came was Sect Master Yun Feiyang of the Heavenly Dao Sect.

What kind of person was Yun Feiyang?

He was a super expert who had shaken the world centuries ago; even her master, the Grand Priest of the Wind and Snow Country, held him in high regard.

How could the Tao Family be so capable as to invite such a figure to personally come and demand accountability?

At this moment, she suddenly remembered the mysterious Young Master Lin who had suddenly appeared in the Tao Family twenty years ago.

It was this Young Master Lin who single-handedly destroyed the Zhao Family and killed the then-elder of the Qingyang Sect.

Soon after, the Qingyang Sect changed its name to the Heavenly Dao Sect and unified all the major and minor forces in the Yanshan Kingdom.

It was rumored that the true power holder of the Heavenly Dao Sect was not Yun Feiyang, but someone else.

And just now, Yun Feiyang said he came here at someone's request.

A bold guess immediately made Yan Ruxue's scalp tingle.

Could the power holder behind the Heavenly Dao Sect be Young Master Lin, who was also behind the Tao Family?

Yan Ruxue shook her head, her voice trembling slightly as she said, "So it is Sect Master Yun who has graced us with his presence. This junior offers her respects."

"I just heard Senior say that you came at someone's request. May I ask whose request it was, and for what purpose?"

Yun Feiyang, assuming the air of an eminent person, stroked his beard again, "At the request of my Young Master, to resolve the matter of the Tao Family."

Hearing the words "my Young Master" from Yun Feiyang's mouth, Yan Ruxue became even more certain of her guess.

"The conflict between the Tao and Yan families is merely a dispute between juniors. I will give Senior an explanation for this matter."

"An explanation? Little girl, I'm afraid you can't afford to give an explanation."

"Senior, you may not know, but although this junior is from the Yan Family, she is also Princess Han Yue, bestowed by the Ice Emperor of the Wind and Snow Country. I wonder if this identity can serve as an explanation?"

She could only bring up the Ice Emperor now to intimidate Yun Feiyang. As a top Great Emperor Expert of the human race, no one dared to disrespect the Ice Emperor.

"Haha, never mind that you are merely a princess enfeoffed by the Ice Emperor; even if the Ice Emperor herself came, she couldn't afford to give an explanation."

These words were incredibly arrogant.

Yan Ruxue knew that Yun Feiyang had always been incredibly arrogant, not even putting the Emperor of Yanshan Kingdom in his eyes.

But she hadn't expected him to be so arrogant as to not even give face to a Great Emperor Expert.

"Sect Master Yun, isn't that an exaggeration? If Her Majesty the Empress truly came in person, would you still say that?"

Yun Feiyang put away his smile and said in a deep voice, "Little girl, you don't need to try to probe or stall for time anymore. My demands are very simple."

"Firstly, execute everyone who attacked the Tao Family.

Secondly, release Tao Rong, and then you will accompany me to the Tao Family to await your fate."

Yan Ruxue spoke without the slightest hesitation, "That's impossible. In this conflict between the two families, regardless of who was right or wrong, my Yan Family also lost three Spirit Roaming Realm experts."

"I can allow Senior to take Tao Rong, and I will personally visit to apologize another day. This is the biggest concession I can make."

Yun Feiyang's face was ashen. He said with a hint of sarcasm, "Little girl, you seem to have misunderstood. I am not negotiating with you. Either you do as I say, or I will kill everyone in the Yan Family and then escort you to the Tao Family."

After Yun Feiyang finished speaking, he didn't give Yan Ruxue a chance to speak.

He immediately continued, "I will only give you fifteen minutes to consider. After fifteen minutes, if I don't see the result I want..."

"The Yan Family will be removed from Hancheng City forever!"