In the Su family's main hall, everyone had gathered to celebrate the old patriarch's recovery. Yet, Ye Ling silently slipped away.
He approached a corner of the outer courtyard and gazed toward the direction of the Ye family ancestral home, murmuring, "This time I've returned, not only to avenge my parents but also to reclaim our ancestral home and appease their spirits in heaven."
"My lord!" Ye Jiu bent down on one knee, respectfully saying, "I have clarified the matter. After the destruction of the Ye family, the ancestral home fell into the hands of Yun Tianming."
"Yun Tianming, that despicable wretch, he was the one who betrayed my father!" Ye Ling said hatefully, a fierce intent flashing in his eyes.
The Yun family was originally a minor clan. If not for my father's support, how could the Yun family have risen to become one of the four great noble houses?
Yet Yun Tianming was ungrateful and kicked his benefactor while he was down, betraying his father. And now, he has even snatched away the Ye family's ancestral home, which is more despicable than livestock could ever be!
"My lord!" Ye Jiu hesitated, glancing at his darkened face, then spoke with a trembling voice, "Yun Tianming acquired the Ye family's ancestral home and completely demolished the compound. He's built a skyscraper called Yunzhen Tower on it. Today is the completion day, and he has even invited social elites to celebrate!"
The moment his words finished, he felt an icy gaze bore into him, as if piercing through his heart.
Ye Ling's gaze turned to ice as he stared in the direction of the Yun household, clenching his fists as he said coldly, "Yun Tianming, you deserve to die!"
"Ye Jiu, heed my command. Withdraw and arrange our men. I want Yun Corporation to go bankrupt. I want Yun Tianming and his son to be brought to justice. I want the Yun family's name stricken from the record!"
With a bang, his fist shot out, and the dense forest was as if ravaged by a hurricane, leaves scattered and tree trunks riddled with punch holes.
Ye Jiu's eyes showed shock; it was the first time he had seen the Northern Liao King so enraged.
With a heavy heart, Ye Jiu immediately knelt down and declared firmly, "My lord, rest assured. I shall arrange everything properly. I guarantee that the Yun family won't last past tomorrow!"
As his words fell, figures leapt up and darted off in every direction.
"Hmph, Ye Ling, you're just a live-in son-in-law now, with no right to attend a Yun family banquet. If you know what's good for you, you'd better scurry off!" Yun Long's cold voice carried a sinister glint in his eyes.
If it weren't for the banquet today and all the important families watching, he would have had someone take Ye Ling down, eradicating this remnant of the Ye family.
"Hmph, Yun Long, I'm here to speak with your father, not you. It's not your place to intervene!" Ye Ling snorted coldly, clutching a bundle as he walked forward.
But he had hardly taken two steps before Yun Long blocked his path, looking at Ye Ling with a sneer: "Oh, come on, Ye Ling. Everyone knows you're as poor as a dog. Aren't you here to beg for money?"
With that, he gestured with his fingers and tossed a stack of banknotes on the ground, announcing to everyone present, "Ye Ling, today is a joyous day for the Yun family, and I don't have the time to dally with you. Here's twenty thousand yuan. If you kneel down and offer your congratulations to the Yun family, the money is yours."
"Hehe, Ye Ling, aren't you going to kneel and kowtow to Young Master Yun? You don't even have a job right now, and that twenty thousand could keep you living in style for a while!" The crowd jeered, their faces brimming with delight.
The once great young master of the Ye family, a figure they used to look up to, was now like a lowly dog, trampled under their feet, the thrill of it exhilarating!
"Hmph, twenty thousand to shine my shoes, Yun Long? Aren't you generous!" Ye Ling sneered derisively, as he stepped on the banknotes on the ground.
"You, you're asking for it!" Yun Long's eyes turned green with rage. Had it not been for so many onlookers, he would have immediately ordered someone to kill this bastard.
Clenching his teeth to suppress the rage in his heart, he soon said with a mocking smile, "Alright, Ye Ling, if you want to join this banquet, that's fine. But you've got to show us your gift. Everyone seated here is an esteemed figure. If your gift is too shabby, wouldn't it be a slap in the face of these distinguished guests?"
"Exactly, everyone else brought jewels and paintings, each worth hundreds of thousands at least, unlike you, a penniless wretch with nothing but a ragged bundle, no better than a beggar!" The crowd laughed, their eyes looking disdainfully at his bundle.
Ye Ling glanced at Yun Tianming on the stage and then at Yun Long, who was gloating. He smiled faintly and said, "Alright, since you all want to see, I promise that this gift will definitely be an eye-opener!"
With a tug at the bundle, out came plaque after plaque of wood.
The crowd was taken aback, their eyes scrutinizing the wooden plaques.
On those plaques, clearly engraved, were characters representing various names.