Chapter 31: Zhang Sanyi — Who Will Be the Head of the Family?

Tu Cunchan returned wounded, intending to pass the position of Clan Head to Tu Congwen; news of this soon spread throughout the clan.

Years ago, Tu Cunshan's younger brother, Tu Cunzhi, had advocated for the division of the family, seizing half the estate and relocating to the left bank of the river, thus becoming known as the Left Tu Clan.

At this moment, the Left Tu lineage sat gathered in a hall. Two large rosewood chairs were divided to the left and right, but reclining in the central seat of honor was none other than the young Tu Mian.

"If a major task cannot be accomplished, so be it, but you cannot even handle a minor one?" He propped up his head with one hand while rubbing two crimson spheres with the other. "I asked for adult Gray-Winged Demon Moths. You lot tried to be clever by bringing me accelerated larvae, causing the Golden Cicada Gu to not feed sufficiently, so a Black Cicada emerged instead."

Tu Cunzhi trembled like a sieve, large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. He protested indignantly, "It wasn't the boy's fault! After the Master gave the orders, the boy passed them to the servants. Who knew those fools would be so bold as to deceive the Master!"

"Heh!" Tu Mian laughed out of sheer fury, squeezing the two red spheres until they creaked. "I give you work to do, and you just dump it on the servants? Then what use are you?"

His grip grew stronger, and the two red spheres let out several sharp shrieks before scattering into two entirely crimson centipedes, which crawled into his sleeve.

Tu Mian rose from his seat, and those sitting on either side dared not remain seated, standing up immediately with heads bowed.

"If not for a fool like you, my Golden Cicada would have killed those two long ago!" He suddenly lashed out, kicking Tu Cunzhi to the ground with such force that the man's chest and abdomen partially caved in. "If those two had been killed first, Tu Congwen wouldn't have been able to stir up any trouble, and the Tu family would have naturally fallen into our hands. You are usually so shrewd and calculating, yet you fail so miserably at this!"

Tu Cunzhi was an old man with hair and beard turned white; receiving the kick, his eyes rolled back as he struggled to hold his breath.

Tu Mian resented his uselessness, yet he could not allow him to die at this critical juncture. He shot a glance to someone, and a person rushed forward to feed Tu Cunzhi a life-saving pill, allowing him to open his eyes again.

"During the clan meeting this afternoon, act according to my whims. Do not strike easily!" Tu Mian cursed inwardly. With his abilities, it wouldn't be difficult to slaughter an entire branch of the main family, but if he did so, he wouldn't obtain the token passed down from the Lingzhen Sect to its vassal families. Taking the Tu family by force would be useless without it.

In his plan, the Golden Cicada would kill the Lingzhen disciple and Tu Cunchan, after which he would contend with Tu Congwen for the position of Clan Head, rightfully taking over the Tu family and using the token to travel to Lingzhen. Such a simple matter had been thwarted by Tu Cunchan, making Tu Mian wish he could skin him alive and feed him to the Gu insects!

While the Left Tu clan dispersed the meeting in trepidation, the main family found no peace either.

The conflict lay with Zhao Chun. She was young, a child who had not yet reached her adolescence, and since no one had seen her ruthless side when slaying demons, they refused to yield thirty percent of the Tu family's assets to her.

The solution was simple: Zhao Chun did not even use a weapon, instead striking directly to shatter a stone mountain three men high in the courtyard, silencing all who had objections.

The greatest difficulty, however, lay with Tu Congwen.

Had Tu Mian not appeared, his succession to Clan Head would have been a certainty. But now that the clan knew of Tu Mian—whose age, talent, and even cultivation were comparable to his, but whose mind was more meticulous and whose actions more steady and prudent—his outlook had to change.

Only the one who tied the knot can untie it; only by defeating this opponent head-on could Tu Congwen make the clan accept him as their master with genuine willingness.

"Congwen has been personally taught by me since childhood and is willing to put in the hard work. His cultivation and techniques are both solid. If he truly has to face an enemy head-on, I have confidence in him," Tu Cunchan said privately to Zhao Chun, filled with anxiety. "I only fear that the other side will employ underhanded, ghostly methods that are impossible to guard against."

"I will certainly do my utmost to ensure no villain succeeds," Zhao Chun said firmly.

Hearing this, Tu Cunchan relaxed slightly. He closed his eyes and said with profound meaning, "If it truly comes to... to that stage..."

His voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, and Zhao Chun could not hear him clearly.

Outside, the wooden clapper struck the hour of the Goat, and the sunlight was intense.

"The time has come, Fellow Daoist." Tu Cunchan swayed as he stood up, looking like a withered tree eroded by wind and sand.