Gongsun Wenjin waved a hand, gesturing for quiet before turning his gaze to Gongsun Xin.
"Xin, you will inherit my position in the future," he said. "Tell me, if it were you, what would you do?"
"Father, just as a nation has its laws, a family has its rules," Gongsun Xin replied. "If everyone acted like Yanran—marrying whomever they pleased and even bearing illegitimate children with outsiders—what would become of our decorum? Therefore, this matter must be handled with the utmost severity. We should follow the clan members’ advice and execute these two bastards. Afterward, we seal off all information so no one has the chance to make a laughingstock of us."
"Xin, you..."
Gongsun Yanran’s eyes widened in shock at Xin’s words. Didn’t he promise to stand on her side? Why was her beloved older brother going back on his word?
Off to the side, Gongsun Qingyue was also startled. He whispered, "Xin, have you forgotten my matter?"
Gongsun Xin then continued, "However..."
"Oh? However what?" A sharp light flashed in Gongsun Wenjin’s eyes, making him look intrigued.
"Father, I understand how the family feels. But having said that, these two children still carry half of the Gongsun Family’s blood in their veins. Factually speaking, I am their uncle, and you, Father, are their grandfather. For a grandfather to kill his own grandson and granddaughter... I’m afraid that’s inappropriate. For instance, even if we made a mistake, you wouldn’t go as far as to kill us, would you?"
Following Gongsun Xin’s words, a brief silence fell over the hall. It seemed they hadn’t found a reason to refute him yet.
After a good while, the middle-aged woman who had been rebuked earlier spoke up. "It’s true that Father wouldn’t kill us, but we never said we wanted to kill Yanran. Aren’t we just talking about executing these two who shouldn’t even exist?"
Gongsun Xin ignored the middle-aged woman and spoke again, "Father, I know what everyone is thinking. But I have a compromise."
"What compromise?"
"Sever all ties with these two children. Just pretend they don’t exist."
"Hmm? Are you saying we should let them go?"
"Father, I haven’t finished. Hasn’t Jin Buhuan always wanted to marry Yanran? We can let the two children go, but this time, Yanran must agree to marry Jin Buhuan."
"Xin... you..."
Gongsun Yanran was stunned. Although reluctant, she knew her brother was helping her. Jin Buhuan had been her fiancé twenty-six years ago. At the time, Gongsun Yanran was young and impetuous. Dissatisfied with the arranged marriage, she had chosen to run away from home. When she returned to the Gongsun Family twenty years ago, Jin Buhuan still frequently came to visit her. He had sworn he would marry no one but her. Besides, for a Cultivator, being in one’s forties was still considered very young.
"Marry Jin Buhuan? We have no objections!"
"Does Yanran agree? If she agrees, that’s a good thing. This marriage has been delayed for over twenty years anyway."
The Gongsun Family members were all very satisfied with Jin Buhuan.
Gongsun Wenjin nodded and looked at Gongsun Yanran again. "What do you say?"
Gongsun Yanran gritted her teeth. "As long as it keeps Xuan’Er and Ling’Er safe, I will marry him."
"Good! I’ve waited over twenty years to hear you say that."
"This is great news for our Gongsun Family."
The Gongsun Family members all broke into smiles.
Beside Gongsun Yanran, Ye Xuan frowned. His mother was going to marry another man. If it were true love, it would be fine. But if it wasn’t true love, who could accept it? His mother hadn’t remarried in twenty years. Didn’t that prove his father still held a place in her heart? And now, just to save him and his sister, she was choosing to marry a man she didn’t love.
Ye Xuan felt a bitter tang in his chest, but he knew his mother had already made up her mind.
"Father, no! Just because of a marriage, we’re going to let this slide? These two bastards get to be released safe and sound?" Gongsun Qingyue suddenly spoke up, looking somewhat anxious.
He wanted to say more, but Gongsun Xin suddenly glared at him. A wave of oppressive pressure crashed directly onto his body. He tried to speak but couldn’t open his mouth, as if an invisible hand were choking his throat.
Gongsun Qingyue’s eyes turned red with anxiety. He turned his head to look at an Elder of the Gongsun Family. This Elder was his uncle, the one with whom he shared the closest bond. His uncle understood his meaning and said, "It seems Qingyue has something to say. Let him speak."
With that, he pointed a finger through the air. The invisible hand clutching Gongsun Qingyue’s throat vanished instantly.
Gongsun Qingyue panted a few times before saying, "Relatives, it’s a well-known fact that Xin has doted on Yanran since they were young. He suggested we sever ties with these two bastards, but even if we do, what does that change? If outsiders find out, our Gongsun Family will still be laughed at. It’s a massive humiliation! If we don’t eradicate them, our Gongsun Family will be nailed to the pillar of shame for the rest of our lives. Do you really want to be mocked by everyone?"
"This... Of course not! How could our Gongsun Family become a joke on everyone’s lips? That would be too disgraceful!"
"Indeed, we can’t just let this slide. How about we just kill them after all?"
The emotions of the Gongsun Family members were riled up once more.
"Qingyue, shut up," Gongsun Xin suddenly shouted coldly.
Refusing to be silenced, Gongsun Qingyue spoke again, "However, Xin and Yanran are right about one thing. The blood of our Gongsun Family ultimately flows in these two children’s veins. If we kill them and word gets out, we’ll be mocked just the same."
"Gongsun Qingyue, what exactly do you mean?"
"Yeah, do you agree with Gongsun Xin’s proposal or not?"
Gongsun Qingyue asked, "Can I share my thoughts?"
"Your thoughts? Let’s hear them."
"Father, I think that since it’s hard for us to make a decision, we should leave their life and death up to the heavens. Doesn’t the Gongsun Family’s blood flow in their veins? How about this: when the Forbidden Area opens this time, let the two of them enter. Whether they live or die will be entirely up to fate!"
As soon as Gongsun Qingyue finished speaking, Gongsun Yanran flew into an instant rage. "Qingyue! I knew it! So this was your plan all along. You don’t want your own children to go, so you’re sending my son and daughter to their deaths! How ruthless!"
Gongsun Qingyue replied coldly, "What? Are your children precious treasures, but mine aren’t? Besides, they are illegitimate bastards who shouldn’t exist in the first place. It’s only fitting that they go to the Forbidden Area. If they die inside, it can be considered their contribution to the Gongsun Family. If they manage to come out alive, that’s destiny; it means even the heavens want us to acknowledge them as family. Therefore, let’s leave their survival up to the heavens. Everyone, what do you think of my proposal?"
"Let them enter the Forbidden Area? Good, I’m in favor!"
"I agree as well!"
The Gongsun Clan Members chimed in with their agreement one after another. In their eyes, entering the Forbidden Area meant certain death!