The death of Yan Ming spread like wildfire through Pine City. Despite the Yan Clan's efforts to keep it quiet, whispers and gossip grew louder with every passing hour. Public sentiment toward the once-feared and respected Yan Clan was turning bitter, and the streets were filled with murmurs of discontent and speculation.
"It's karma catching up to them," an elderly vendor muttered to her neighbor as they exchanged goods in the bustling market square. " The Yan Clan is cursed."
A group of men huddled around a blacksmith's forge spoke in hushed tones, their faces grim. "You heard what happened, right? Yan Ming's body just... burst. Blood sorcery, they say. Whatever's haunting that family is no natural force.
They're doomed."
Another voice chimed in, this one belonging to a merchant who had dealings with the Yan Clan. "The patriarch's grip is slipping. If he can't even protect his own blood, how long before the clan crumbles entirely? People are already talking about abandoning their allegiances."
At a nearby tavern, patrons sipped their drinks and discussed the latest developments. "They say Yan Li was involved somehow," one man speculated, leaning in close to his tablemates. "Wouldn't surprise me if there's a power struggle brewing within the clan. Yan Bai and Yan Li at each other's throats... It's only a matter of time before it all falls apart."
"Serves them right," another replied with a sneer. "The Yan Clan has always been arrogant, thinking they're above everyone else. Now look at them—falling apart from the inside."
The fear that had once kept people silent about the Yan Clan's darker dealings was dissipating, replaced by a grim satisfaction at their misfortune. "They've brought this on themselves," a woman said confidently as she passed by a temple. "The gods are punishing them for their cruelty and greed."
Rumors of dark rituals, internal betrayals, and a festering curse on the Yan bloodline circulated like wildfire. The once-powerful Yan Clan was beginning to feel like a crumbling empire, and many believed that its end was near. Even those who had once served or respected them now saw the family's misfortunes as a sign that they were no longer invincible.
In quiet corners of Pine City, there were whispers of other clans beginning to eye the Yan Clan's territory. "This is the time to strike," one rival clan member whispered to another. "While they're weak, before they can recover."
Despite the Yan Clan's attempts to maintain their image of power, the people of Pine City no longer feared them as they once did. Instead, they pitied them—or worse, awaited their downfall with bated breath.
--
The patriarch's expression darkened. "The clan comes above all else, Yan Bai. There are sacrifices we must make for its prosperity, and not all sacrifices are easy. Your father... I knew of his transgressions long ago, but by the time it came to light, it was too late to act. The clan's stability had to come first."
Yan Bai clenched his fists, shaking with rage. "So, you let him live, let him do what he wanted... even when it meant the death of my mother, and now Yan Ming?"
The patriarch let out a heavy sigh, a rare sign of weariness from the otherwise imposing figure. "Your mother's death... was regrettable. But I could not allow a scandal to erupt that would jeopardize the Yan Clan's standing. When you take the mantle of leadership, Yan Bai, you will understand that sometimes, personal desires must be set aside. The clan must endure."
He paced slowly, his hands clasped behind his back. "Your father will be confined after the burial. The shame he has brought upon us cannot be tolerated any longer. His actions endangered the clan, and that cannot be forgiven. As for the third concubine... She will be dealt with quietly. She has caused enough damage."
Yan Bai's breath caught in his throat. He had expected this, but hearing it said so plainly brought a fresh wave of despair. "You're just going to... kill her? Dispose of her like she's nothing?"
The patriarch's gaze was unyielding. "She is nothing. She was a weakness that was allowed to fester for too long. And now that weakness is gone. You must not allow yourself to be drawn into sentimentality over trivial matters, Yan Bai. You are destined for more than this.
You are destined to lead this clan."
Yan Bai stared at his grandfather, feeling the weight of those words. He had been raised to believe in the supremacy of the clan, to put its needs above all else. But the cost... the cost felt too high. The patriarch, sensing his grandson's hesitation, leaned closer.
"Remember, Yan Bai," he said quietly but firmly, "the Yan Clan must come before anything else. Before family, before friends, even before yourself. You have greatness ahead of you. Do not squander it over the fleeting emotions of this mortal coil."
With that, the patriarch turned to leave, his presence still looming large even as he exited the room, leaving Yan Bai alone with his thoughts. The echoes of his grandfather's words hung in the air like a suffocating fog.
Shortly after the patriarch was gone, a young lady came out from back door "I warned you, but you didn't believe me. my life is already forfeited, I just want the chance the avenge my son. Whatever you do after is up to you." Said the third consort walking away too.
"I will setup a stage for you" Yan Bai replied watching the departing grieving lady. He absolutely would not inherit a clan this rotten, his plan was to cleanse the rotten parts, and it begun with his father.