CHAPTER 836: CHAPTER 383: RUPTURE (PART 2)

This kind of charity-like explanation, is simply... a deep-seated arrogance.

The Lin Family and the other Four Great Families have never taken a proper look at the Foolish Underworld.

It was so in the past, and it remains so now.

An Menyi spoke with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

"Then, may I ask, what kind of explanation does the Lin Family want from us, the Foolish Underworld?"

"Very simple."

Clearly, what follows is the main event, and the reason for Lin Yanlan’s personal visit.

Her expression became even more solemn and serious.

Lin Yanlan raised three fingers.

"I want you, the Foolish Underworld, to do three things."

An Menyi replied earnestly, "I am all ears."

"The first thing, release all the Lin Family disciples captured that night, and those demons disguised as Lin Family members, back to the Lin Family, so that the Lin Family can take charge of them. Additionally, all Lin Family disciples presently in your Ming Hall are to return to the Lin Family from today, no longer remaining as Ming Hall disciples."

An Menyi’s expression remained unchanged, and the other Hall Masters showed no emotional response, as if they had anticipated this.

"The second thing, even our Lin Family members didn’t know about the demons lurking among us, yet you, the Foolish Underworld, managed to uncover this information. Hand over the person who found this information. He is both the culprit of that night and the key to your Foolish Underworld’s atonement."

Upon hearing this, the Hall Masters still showed no change in expression, they didn’t even look Fang Yu’s way, remaining extremely composed, and simply uttered two words calmly.

"Go on."

Lin Yanlan assumed they had agreed to the first two conditions, so her expression also softened a lot as she spoke lightly.

"As for the third matter, it will inconvenience one of you. Given the current tense relationship between the Foolish Underworld and our Lin Family, we want to invite a Hall Master from the Foolish Underworld to accompany me back to the Lin Family and stay temporarily for a month, to assist our Lin Family in quickly identifying the true mastermind."

After she finished speaking, the Hall Masters started to show slightly displeased expressions.

The three matters could be said to be increasingly unreasonable, increasingly excessive.

The first matter was still within reason.

The Lin Family members had been captured and taken away, and those demons disguised as Lin Family members had value and were demanded back as a bargaining chip, which was fair and reasonable.

But the second matter, wanting to take the Foolish Underworld’s critical demon intelligence source and primary bait for the Great Demon, was starting to show disregard.

By the time of the third matter, requiring a Hall Master to become a hostage in the Lin Family, it showed downright disregard for the Foolish Underworld.

Beside them, Fang Yu also began to get anxious.

The other conditions had nothing to do with him, but the second condition clearly meant handing him over to be manipulated by the Lin Family.

If the Hall Masters agreed, he would have to figure out a way to escape.

If the Lin Family treated the Foolish Underworld like this, they would surely do worse to him as an intelligence personnel.

Just as Fang Yu grew anxious, An Menyi spoke quietly with a few others beside him and suddenly said.

"What if... we refuse?"

Lin Yanlan furrowed her brow on the spot.

"Say that again?"

An Menyi smiled, "I said, what if we, the Foolish Underworld, refuse these conditions for reconciliation?"

Yes, An Menyi made it clear, this is about reconciliation!

All talk of explanations and compromises was just empty rhetoric.

The Lin Family didn’t send troops, and the Foolish Underworld didn’t step outside—this was a kind of game.

Now, it was time to put all the conditions on the table.

Unfortunately, the conditions given by the Lin Family were too harsh, exceeding the expectations of An Menyi and others.

Lin Yanlan laughed.

She laughed out of anger.

"The Foolish Underworld, your wings have indeed grown strong."

An Menyi sighed, "It’s your Lin Family that’s too aggressive."

"Then go to war."

Nobody expected Lin Yanlan to blurt this out right after An Menyi finished speaking.

Everyone present was momentarily stunned, plunging into a strange silence.

Then, Lin Yanlan spoke each word clearly and deliberately.

"From today onward! The Lin Family and the Foolish Underworld, are officially torn apart! From now on, should anyone from the Foolish Underworld dare set foot on Lin Family territory, their life or death will be of no concern."

Ming Hall Master, Ming Tianqi, could no longer keep his composure.

"Miss Lin, think it over three times!"

But Lin Yanlan only sneered, her gaze sweeping over these old folks.

"I have already given you a chance, it was the Foolish Underworld that didn’t know how to cherish it."

"Now, I give you one last chance."

"Either agree to those three conditions."

"Or, the Lin Family and the Foolish Underworld will be henceforth irreconcilable! Treated as enemies!"

The scene once again fell into a silence.

The name Lin Family represents the power of the Five Great Families, representing the pinnacle of Tianyuan Town.

Just those two words are enough to crush all ordinary people in Tianyuan Town and make any power change its color.

And now, this giant entity is about to stand in opposition to the Foolish Underworld.

This pressure, no one can withstand it!

Fang Yu slowly clenched his fist, feeling parched.

This woman is determined to make him delete the character!

In Tianyuan Town, being regarded as an enemy by the Lin Family is self-explanatory in its implications.

The Foolish Underworld wouldn’t dare!

They merely attacked the Lin Family and were so afraid they stayed hidden in the Foolish Underworld for days, not daring to step out. Now that others are pointing fingers and demanding the Foolish Underworld act like a dog, would several Hall Masters dare to disobey?

Once the Foolish Underworld agrees to those conditions... I will be imprisoned by the Lin Family with no way to survive!

For a moment, several ideas flashed through Fang Yu’s mind.

First, find a way to immediately use the Blood Feather Token and have the demon-level forces risk everything to rescue me, even at the cost of exposing my identity, just to stay alive.

Second, have someone contact Brother Qing for help from the Shu Bird Demon, to rescue me with demon leader-level strength.

Third, seize the time lag, take Ding Hui, Second Sister, Brother Qing, and the others, and run away directly.

With my current strength, knocking out Brother Qing and forcibly taking him away shouldn’t be a problem... right?

Fang Yu had already started mapping out routes in his mind, preparing to ask the well-informed Ding Hui for an escape direction, when suddenly, An Menyi spoke up.

"Sorry, Lin Yanlan, we, the Foolish Underworld, absolutely cannot accept your terms. If your Lin Family insists on destroying the bond between our two families because of this, we, the Foolish Underworld, can only express deep regret."

Wha...what?

Fang Yu was momentarily stunned.

He almost doubted his own ears.

Even the captains beside him were a bit dumbfounded.

The Hall Masters... were they really this firm?

That’s the Lin Family, one of the Five Great Families of Tianyuan Town!

Some captains visibly started to get emotional, showing signs of tension and anxiety.

Fang Yu also secretly swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

The Hall Masters... about to protect me? Even if it means breaking with the Lin Family?

"Good! Good! Good!"

Lin Yanlan was obviously at the peak of fury now, veins visibly throbbing on her forehead.

"It seems this is the final answer from your Foolish Underworld. Remember, this is the path your Foolish Underworld chose for itself. When the name Foolish Underworld is erased from Tianyuan Town someday, don’t forget your words and actions today! You, An Menyi, will sooner or later become the Foolish Underworld’s greatest sinner!"

After saying that, Lin Yanlan swung her hand and suddenly turned to leave in big strides.

Swish, swish—

Two figures immediately appeared at the door, raising their hands to block her path.

One of them was none other than Fang Yu.

"Lord Hall Master..."

Fang Yu wanted to say something, but An Menyi waved his hand.

"Let her go."

Fang Yu was puzzled.

If she were dead, the Foolish Underworld could say whatever they wanted, at most claiming dead men tell no tales.

Do the Hall Masters still believe in not killing messengers?

If they kill this third Miss of the Lin Family, perhaps they could stall for time and negotiate with the Lin Family for a few more days.

But seeing the captains who helped blocking her pathway also let down their hands in silence, Fang Yu did the same.

"Hmph!"

Lin Yanlan sneered coldly, not even glancing at Fang Yu and the other minion, and left in large strides.

The scene returned to silence, and the few captains wanted to speak but held back, seeing that the other Hall Masters said nothing.

After a short while, a figure materialized from the shadows and walked out.

"She has left."

It was none other than the Dark Hall Master, Ye Zhongyu.

An Menyi looked towards the captains below.

"You all, dismiss."

"Yes!"

They all responded, and Fang Yu pushed down his confusion and followed the others out, but was suddenly stopped by a hand on his shoulder.

"You stay."

It was the Dark Hall Master, Ye Zhongyu.

Fang Yu glanced at the other Hall Masters, who had no reaction, and then lowered his head and said.

"Yes."

Though other captains were puzzled, they all left the Welcoming Hall.

For a moment, in the Welcoming Hall, only Fang Yu and the Hall Masters remained.

It was at this moment that An Menyi spoke.

And as he started, he said something shocking.

"Lin Yiqiu is dead."