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Chapter 242 Blood Relatives Recognize Separation, Swift Actions Cleanse the Wind-Riding Crowd [Part Two]

After an unknown amount of time, the intense emotions, like the receding tide, gradually subsided, leaving behind a shore washed clean and exhausted.

The intensity of their embrace softened, transforming into a tender, affectionate snuggling.

Feng Mingyue reluctantly raised her head, her pale face streaked with tears. Her eyes, strikingly similar to Tang Hao's, were filled with the satisfaction of surviving a disaster and an overwhelming sense of longing.

With boundless affection, her fingers gently stroked Tang Hao's face, as if to confirm that this was not a dream.

"Hao'er..."

Her voice was hoarse from crying, and she spoke cautiously.

"Mother knows... all of this happened so suddenly, your heart... must be in a lot of turmoil. Rest well, child. Take your time to sort things out... that's all. Mother is here in this mansion, always... always waiting for you."

"If you want to go back to your sect... if you want to go out and travel..."

Her fingers tightened slightly, revealing her deep reluctance, yet she forced herself to loosen them, her voice trying to remain calm, "It's all up to you. But you must promise your mother that you will take care of yourself, and please, please... take good care of yourself."

Every word felt like it had been ripped from the heart, containing boundless worry and longing.

Tang Hao's gaze remained somewhat unfocused, and he dared not look at his mother for too long.

He could clearly feel the maternal love in that gaze that almost devoured him, making him feel heavy, helpless, and even a little guilty.

He lowered his head, his Adam's apple bobbing, and replied with difficulty, "...Mm."

This simple response was enough to bring Feng Mingyue immense comfort.

She looked at him deeply again, as if trying to etch his image into her soul, then resolutely turned away, turning back every few steps as she walked towards the door.

Every pause was filled with endless reluctance.

As she finally stepped across the threshold and the door was gently closed, Tang Hao seemed to hear a suppressed sob coming from outside the door.

The room suddenly felt empty.

The warm, tearful scent of the mother had not yet dissipated.

Tang Hao, as if utterly exhausted, staggered back a few steps and slumped onto a wooden chair.

He braced his hands on his knees, his knuckles turning white, and his whole body trembled slightly uncontrollably.

A jumble of sharp thoughts tore at his mind—mother, the Hufeng Clan, the Rongguo Duke's Mansion, bloodline, sect… a chaotic mess.

Just as I was in this state of shock and disarray, two extremely subtle ripples appeared in the room, like pebbles being thrown into a still pond.

Two figures appeared silently; they were Bai Jue and Yan Yumin.

They had already been paying attention to this place since Feng Mingyang came to visit.

Bai Jue, with his keenest senses, immediately detected the lingering emotional fluctuations and the aura of bloodline resonance in the air.

Looking at Tang Hao's distraught appearance, a look of surprise and deep heartache flashed across her eyes.

"younger brother……"

Bai Jue's voice, like the gentle moonlight, carried a comforting power, breaking the deathly silence in the room.

“Just now…we all sensed it.” Her words were crisp and clear, her gaze fixed directly into Tang Hao’s eyes.

Yan Yumin then spoke, her voice carrying her unique coolness and undeniable straightforwardness.

"Is there no doubt now? She...is indeed your biological mother." This wasn't a question, but a conclusion.

They not only heard snippets of the previous conversation, but also clearly felt the astonishing fluctuations of the bloodline resonance from outside the house.

Tang Hao raised his head and met their gazes.

His facial muscles twitched slightly, and he finally nodded resignedly.

All attempts at embellishment and evasion vanish before the power of bloodline magic.

Seeing that he admitted it, Bai Jue's expression changed slightly. He hesitated for a moment, then said seriously, "If that's the case, what are your plans, little brother?"

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze sweeping over the exquisite furnishings of the guest room belonging to the Hufeng clan.

“This Windcalling City…this Windcalling Clan, strictly speaking, is the foundation of your maternal clan. Your mother is here, and the new clan leader’s uncle is also here.”

Yan Yumin stepped forward, her tone calm and gentle yet filled with firm support, and added, "Bai Jue's injuries, as well as clues to my subsequent cultivation techniques, both require painstaking searching."

"The turmoil here has subsided. Feng Mingyang is in charge of Hufeng City, so you are safe. If you wish to stay here in our ancestral land to reunite with your mother and gradually adapt to your new identity, that is only natural."

Her words were considerate and thoughtful, taking into full account Tang Hao's complex state of mind at that moment.

"Bai Jue and I can go ahead and explore the area. If we find anything, we'll come back to find you." This was Yan Yumin's gentleness.

"no!"

Almost the instant Yan Yumin finished speaking, Tang Hao suddenly stood up from his chair.

His reaction was more intense than expected, even surprising Bai Jue.

"Absolutely not!"

Tang Hao's voice was somewhat hurried, carrying a sense of panic as if he had been abandoned.

He looked at the two women in front of him, who occupied an extremely important place in his life and had faced death with him several times.

That separation anxiety was even greater than when facing the sudden appearance of the mother.

"We can't be separated!" He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

But the determination in his words showed no sign of backing down: "The Wind Clan is just a name to me! Mother... Uncle... these identities are too unfamiliar to me."

“Stay? I’m facing them now… I don’t know what to say or do.” He pointed to his chest.

Her tone was filled with strong helplessness and resistance: "I just feel extremely uncomfortable! I'm so embarrassed!"

He looked at Bai Jue: "Sister Jue, your severed tail was to save my mother, my uncle, and even my clan, and to seal that [Skin Thief]. This is also a responsibility I must shoulder, and it is also my promise to you!"

Bai Jue was naturally touched by what he heard, but at the same time, he also felt a little embarrassed.

After all, the so-called serious consequences of losing the tail were just words she used to tease Tang Hao.

Just as he was hesitating whether to say something, Tang Hao turned his head to look at Yan Yumin.

"Sister Mian has been supporting you all the way, accompanying you to find the next cultivation method. It was a decision I made a long time ago."

His gaze swept over the two women: "This is not just your business, it's our shared path!"

His words were firm and resolute, and his eyes regained their determination.

"Moreover, if I were to stay in this newly established 'home' and deal with these complicated family relationships every day... I would go crazy!"

"I need time, I need to leave here, go outside, and think things through calmly... to figure all this out, to figure out who I am!"

His eyes held an unwavering resolve: "Recognizing one's ancestors... is a must!"

"I need to give my mother an explanation, and also give the Hufeng clan a formal explanation, after the ceremony is completed..."

He paused, then said with unwavering resolve, "We leave immediately, without stopping for a moment!"

There was a brief silence in the room.

Bai Jue and Yan Yumin exchanged glances briefly, silently conveying their feelings to each other.

A very faint smile curved the corners of Yan Yumin's lips.

That was an approval of Tang Hao's "impulsive" yet deeply affectionate words.

She nodded and said in a low but clear voice, "Okay." Concise and clear, as always.

She respected and approved of Tang Hao's choice, and also kept his vow and responsibility in mind.

A gentle and charming light rippled in Bai Jue's eyes, showing both understanding of his unease and relief that he was unwilling to part and insisted on traveling together.

“Very well, this place is not a place to stay for long. Now that we have recognized each other by blood, the ceremony of returning to the clan is indispensable. Once this matter is settled, we will leave this turbulent place.”

She was meticulous and immediately considered the aftermath.

“Feng Mingyang has just taken over the clan chief’s affairs, and everything needs to be rebuilt. I believe he is no ordinary person. I will communicate with him about the details of this ancestor recognition ceremony to ensure that the ceremony is respectable and smooth, and also to ensure your safe departure.”

"Ok!"

Tang Hao nodded heavily, as if the huge weight in his heart had been lifted a little by this decision.

The three exchanged glances, and without needing to say anything more, their hearts were already in sync.

That night.

The courtyard where the clan chief worked and lived.

The sandalwood incense in the study was still wafting in the air, but a lingering sense of unease and a heavier sense of entanglement hung in the air.

The newly appointed clan leader, Feng Mingyang, stood with his back to the door, his tall figure appearing particularly somber in the dim light.

Moonlight streamed through the tall window frames, casting a cool glow on the cold stone surface and reflecting on the black jade slip he clutched tightly in his hand.

The "surprise" Tang Hao gave him was covered with evidence of numerous crimes committed by traitors within the clan.

After leaving Tang Hao's residence, he spent his time alone, almost torturing himself, meticulously examining everything recorded in the jade slip with his divine sense.

All those self-righteous, stubborn, and conservative clan elders of yesteryear conspired with that former clan chief who had long been consumed by evil!
How did they meticulously plot to seize control of the Hufeng clan, and how did they scheme against the Holy Maiden Feng Mingyue?

In order to remove obstacles to inheritance and maintain their ridiculous "old rules," they did not hesitate to leak their sister's information to the evil leader of the Hehuan Sect.

After she was killed and disappeared, how did she outwardly comply but inwardly resist, obstruct his search, slander her innocence, and even try to completely cover up the truth in order to maintain the clan's "superficial glory"?
Even more appalling, they secretly sacrificed innocent clansmen in order to allow that evil power to erode the foundation of the clan!

"Ha... What a fine lineage of Ji Liang!"

Feng Mingyang let out a low, mournful growl, as if he were a wounded lone wolf.

The black jade slip was cold and hard, but at this moment it was as hot as a branding iron in his palm!

He gripped the jade slip tightly, his fingertips turning white from the force—not from fear, but from a burning rage like magma.

The names and fragments of memory coldly engraved in the jade slip were like countless poisoned needles, piercing the heart of the Hufeng clan he had just taken over.

Feng Mingyang closed his eyes, and the pale, weak face of his younger sister Feng Mingyue alternated with the complex and unfathomable eyes of Tang Hao.

One is his blood relative, his younger sister, whom he had been searching for for eighteen years.

The other one... is his sister's long-lost child, who is also his blood-related nephew.

This identity, even more so than Tang Hao being the great benefactor of the Hufeng clan, stirred Feng Mingyang's emotions, but it also brought a heavy responsibility and a delicate situation that urgently needed to be addressed.

"Clan leader!"

The guard's deep voice outside the door interrupted his thoughts.

Feng Mingyang suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as the shattering of ice: "Speak!"

"Elders Feng Su and Feng Yi have been 'invited' to the ancestral hall's quiet room to await their fate," the guard reported. "In addition, Elder Feng Xun of the Law Enforcement Hall is outside requesting an audience. He says... he has important matters to report regarding the handling of the clansmen involved."

Feng Su is the white-bearded old man—the Nascent Soul Elder who led the people to stop Tang Hao from bringing Feng Mingyue into the Sacred Spring Altar.

"Let him in." Feng Mingyang took a deep breath, forcing himself to suppress his deep-seated killing intent towards Feng Su and the others.

Now is not the time to vent personal hatred. He is the clan leader and must prioritize the interests and future of the entire Hufeng clan.

Eliminating internal threats and consolidating power are the most urgent tasks.

Elder Feng Xun, the law-enforcing elder, was an old man with a stern face and deep nasolabial folds.

He walked in with steady steps, bowing deeply: "Greetings, Clan Chief. The list and evidence handed over by the Nightmare Legion are irrefutable. The Law Enforcement Hall has drafted a preliminary plan of action based on this, however..."

He paused, his voice tinged with worry.

"Those involved are mostly core members of the clan, and some of their descendants are still young. If we act too hastily, there may be a backlash, causing instability within the clan."

Feng Mingyang frowned, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table, making a soft, rhythmic sound.

"Elder Xun, in chaotic times, severe punishments must be used. Colluding with external enemies of the Demonic Sect, framing the Holy Maiden, inviting wolves into the house, and nearly causing the extermination of the clan—which of these is not a capital offense?"

"If it weren't for the generous assistance of Tang and Yan, and if it weren't for Bai Jue sacrificing himself to sever his tail and seal away the evil, how could we be here discussing matters today? How could the sacred spring be restored to its former purity?"

His voice was not loud, but every word was as firm as iron, containing an unquestionable authority: "Now is not the time for appeasement. We must make all the clansmen understand that there is only one consequence for betraying the clan and disrupting its foundation: annihilation!"

Feng Xun felt the almost tangible killing intent emanating from the new clan leader, and his heart tightened. He quickly replied, "Yes, I understand. The meaning of the Law Enforcement Hall is also to conduct a public trial and punish according to the law!"

He glanced at the clan leader's expression before cautiously continuing.

"But... we need to stabilize the situation within the clan first to prevent any escapees from taking risks. May we ask the clan leader to allow the Nightmare Legion to cooperate with the Law Enforcement Hall before the public execution?"

"Conduct a thorough search and take control of the residences, properties, and possible hiding places of all those involved on the list to ensure that no one escapes and no further evidence is destroyed."

"Approved!" Feng Mingyang said decisively. "Commander Jiuyao is on standby. If the Law Enforcement Hall needs any cooperation, you can directly contact them."

"Remember, I want swift and decisive action, and I want to eliminate them completely!" Feng Mingyang's eyes were full of determination as he looked at the other party.

"At the same time, we must appease the innocent clansmen and the young families of those involved, and avoid implicating too many people, but we must make them understand that the consequence of betrayal is being scorned by the entire clan!"

"As the clan leader commands!"

Feng Xun solemnly accepted the order and turned to leave.

He knew that a bloody storm was about to sweep through Hufeng City, and the new clan leader's determination was colder and more thorough than he had imagined.

The study fell silent again.

Feng Mingyang's gaze fell on the window, where the direction of the sacred spring in the distance was filled with spiritual energy, and it had already regained its clarity and vitality.

His tense lips finally softened slightly.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps approached from afar, followed by a clear, slightly worried voice: "Brother!"

Feng Mingyang turned around and saw Feng Mingyue walking in quickly.

Her face was still pale from recovering from a serious illness, but her eyes were surprisingly bright.

It was filled with eagerness and a great joy of something lost and found, as well as deep anxiety.

"Yue'er? Why are you here? You're not fully recovered yet, you should rest properly." Feng Mingyang quickly helped her up.

"How can I lie here in peace!" Feng Mingyue gripped her brother's arm tightly.

Her voice trembled slightly as she said, "That child... Hao'er, he..."

When her name was mentioned, her voice softened instinctively, filled with deep heartache.

Seeing this, Feng Mingyang sighed softly and helped his sister sit down.

Listen to her recount how she recognized Tang Hao, a story filled with both tears and laughter.

The message Bai Jue had sent not long ago flashed through his mind.

He pondered how to tell her that Tang Hao had decided to leave.

(End of this chapter)