assistirfilmes Chapter 347: Chapter 341: The Bittersweet Struggles of the Aristocratic Families (1)
Chapter 347: Chapter 341: The Bittersweet Struggles of the Aristocratic Families (1)
Night had enveloped the lands of Tianjiang Continent.
In the wake of the battle, no celebration of victory was found here, for every heart was acutely aware of the grievous price they had paid in this war.
Within the Bai Family's manor, all the important members had gathered in the great hall.
Bai Qi alone was absent.
Atop the hall, Bai Chaojin beckoned Bai Jinyun to his side, and looking at the relatives within, his heart was flooded with mixed emotions.
"Tonight, I have summoned all of you to announce an important matter."
As Bai Chaojin spoke, his aged hand trembled slightly as he clasped Bai Jinyun's hand and continued, "I have occupied the position of Family Head for far too long, and it is time to relinquish my duties and rest."
"Father! What is this... "
Bai Jinyun, feeling his father's shaking grip, was suddenly reminded of the conversation his father had with Jiang Ling on the battlefield.
"Over the years, Jinyun's contributions to the family and the Human have been evident to all. Upon my resignation, I choose Jinyun as the next Family Head. Does anyone object?" Bai Chaojin declared.
The hall fell into a dead silence, not out of sadness for Bai Chaojin's resignation, but for the bleakness of what lay ahead.
"Since it is so, from this moment onward, Jinyun, you shall be the current Family Head of the Bai family!"
Having said this, Bai Chaojin turned around and walked out of the hall.
The crowd watching his retreating figure truly felt for the first time that this man, who had never seemed to age, had indeed grown old.
Standing on the hall's platform, Bai Jinyun found himself speechless, his eyes reddened with tears held back in his throat.
He was aware that tomorrow would be his father's day of atonement.
Nobody would stop the old man, for none could fathom the emotions that filled his heart. He had slain countless kin, yet he had also saved innumerable souls; an utterly contradictory man, his inner turmoil was beyond anyone's understanding.
...
The Mu Family.
A squad of female warriors from the Nine Heavens Corps remained within the estate, fearful that Mu Huanqing might do something foolish.
In one room, Mu Huanqing, having regained consciousness, just sat on the bed with a vacant gaze, looking at the darkness of the room, like a puppet devoid of thought.
After learning that all the disciples of the Tiandao Sword Sect had been killed by Bai Qi, she had maintained this same expression for several hours.
Outside the room, Mu Tianyuan and Shang Han did not dare leave, worried that Mu Huanqing might succumb to despair the moment they turned away.
Meanwhile, the entire class from the Academy of Medicine's third year had also stayed at the Mu Family's place that night.
Many girls surrounded Liu Qianqian, who had cried for half the day before collapsing in her room, even forgoing her dinner, as if she had truly fallen asleep.
Jing Haichuan, Li Xingwang, Er Gou, and other boys, on the other hand, had drunk heavily that night, to the point of utter insensibility, becoming brothers-in-arms with their class instructor Old Huang, and weeping a flood of tears.
"Old Huang, do you freaking know how much I usually find you annoying? Damn it! Every time we start a class, you pick on us few! I've thought about banning your whole family's supply of condoms!" Jing Haichuan, draping his arm over Teacher Huang's shoulder, yelled loudly.
What was more ridiculous was that Fang Ren, the grandson he least favored and even avoided contact with, turned out to be the person he had always hoped for.
"Father, it's time for you to rest."
Before Fang Yuanhao could speak in the great hall, Fang Zheng, expressionless, took to the dais and took the initiative to speak.
There was no room for bargaining in Fang Zheng's tone; he had to become the Family Head of the Fang Family today.
He had seen just how rotten and weak the Fang Family had become under his father's leadership, and he would not allow the family to continue this way.
If his father did not abdicate today, then Fang Zheng would not consider himself human anymore.
The death of Fang Ren had pushed his emotions to the brink of collapse. If anyone were to argue with him now, he would not hesitate to strike them down with his sword.
"You're right," Fang Yuanhao said, unusually not maintaining the pride of a Family Head. He was feeling very despondent, having finally witnessed firsthand how hollow the Fang Family was under his control.
"From today onwards, Fang Zheng will be the Head of the Fang Family. Does anyone object?" Fang Yuanhao stated firmly.
There was no response.
Fang Zheng turned his gaze toward Fang Jing and spoke, "Third brother, you surely have something you wish to say to me."
Fang Jing's face was haggard, and his heart was filled with profound sorrow.
His son, Fang Lizhong, was personally killed by his nephew Fang Ren, but he could not find it in himself to blame Fang Ren. On the contrary, the things his son did which led to his death were simply outrageous.
Losing his son should have invoked fury, yet Fang Jing couldn't muster any anger. He just couldn't bring himself to direct his wrath at Fang Ren.
Today, he was at the heart of the battlefield where time after time, Fang Ren risked his life to save others, shattering his bones and sinews. Fang Jing admired that righteousness deeply. Had it not been for Fang Ren, there was no telling when the war would end, nor if he would even return alive from battle.
Compared to the death of his own son, who had dishonored his cousin, Fang Jing felt more sorrow for Fang Ren and the decrepit state of the Fang Family.
"In my heart, Big Brother should take the position of Family Head. However, I hope that from now on, the Fang Family will no longer have descendants like Lizhong and Liqun, nor brothers like Second Brother. If we could raise another Ren, that would be the greatest fortune for our Fang Family!" Fang Jing expressed his innermost thoughts.
Upon hearing the word "Ren," Fang Zheng's eyes reddened, his voice choked up, "Third brother, from the moment the three of us brothers were born, we were connected by blood, treating each other as if we were each other's own bones! How could it come to this!"
Fang Jing knew that Big Brother was speaking about Fang Ye. The images of the three brothers spending time together flickered through his mind—how they treated each other like irreplaceable parts of their own bodies! Why had Second Brother and their descendants ended up in this state!
"The fault of the father!"
Fang Jing's eyes also swelled red as he once again voiced his true thoughts in the great hall.
If not for Fang Yuanhao's overindulgence and leniency, how could their descendants end up like this!
When Fang Yuanhao heard Fang Jing's words, it felt like a boulder rolling onto his heart, cold as ice. But he was clear, Fang Jing was right.
"It's my big mistake indeed..."
Instead of scolding as usual, Fang Yuanhao sighed deeply, tears streaming down his face.
In the Fang Family, only an old man, two middle-aged men, and a young girl remained—all thanks to him.
The great hall was silent, as an old man and his two sons shed endless tears. Everyone around them kept their heads down, speechless, coming to terms with the stark reality of the family's decline.