Chapter 543: Lin Ruowei

The woman's name was Lin Ruowei, the current Clan Leader of the Vermilion Bird Tribe.

No one could have imagined that after she had been away from the tribe for only a short while, the voices within it would change completely.

At the old Priest's urging, it was as if the tribe was about to change rulers. The calls for Lin Qiyun to become Clan Leader grew more and more numerous.

And all of this, when it came down to it, was because Lin Qiyun's damn husband had awakened!

A series of changes had occurred within the tribe ever since he woke up.

First, she could clearly feel the bloodline power flowing through her veins growing purer and stronger.

This meant the tribe's totem must have undergone some sort of change.

Her investigation confirmed her suspicions: the Vermilion Bird totem had been awakened!

And what Lin Ruowei found unbelievable was that the one to awaken the Vermilion Bird totem was an outsider.

None other than Ye Chen, who had been taken into the Vermilion Bird Tribe just over two months ago!

Upon learning all this, Lin Ruowei was first shocked and enraged before she slowly calmed down and began to analyze the current situation.

Ye Chen's ability to awaken the Vermilion Bird totem's power was a joyous, momentous event for the tribe. It was no wonder that even the old Priest, who usually never interfered in tribal affairs, had begun to publicly announce his support for Lin Qiyun to become the next Clan Leader.

This was undoubtedly a move to ride on Ye Chen's coattails!

'How Ye Chen did it is irrelevant for now. The most pressing matter is to pry him away from Lin Qiyun!'

'Without Ye Chen, Lin Qiyun is still the same old Lin Qiyun.'

'Useless. Someone I can crush underfoot at will, without even a shred of power to resist!'

'As for how to handle Ye Chen... if I can recruit him, that would be ideal.'

'Otherwise, I'll just drive him out of the tribe.'

Lin Ruowei was not like her sister. She was an incredibly domineering woman.

She had to eliminate any existence that threatened the foundation of her rule!

Ye Chen might have some mysterious quality about him, but now that the Vermilion Bird totem had been awakened, the power in her own bloodline was already subtly improving.

Even driving Ye Chen from the tribe wouldn't affect it.

"What do you intend to do?"

Sitting across from Lin Ruowei was the Vermilion Bird Tribe's one and only Supreme Elder, Han Luo!

He had been a Cultivator at the Ninth Layer of the Primordial Mansion Realm.

Thanks to the awakening of the Vermilion Bird totem, this Supreme Elder had already achieved a realm breakthrough in recent days.

Now, he was a genuine Spirit Sea Realm Cultivator!

"What to do?"

"Do we even need to plot anything?"

"We'll march straight into the tribe, and anyone who dares to resist us will be suppressed!"

Lin Ruowei said lightly. Her tone might have seemed placid, but her attitude was incredibly forceful.

"Suppress all dissenting voices?"

Han Luo hesitated for a moment. "But the old Priest has already sided with Lin Qiyun! In normal times, we would certainly have overwhelming power, but now, it's a bit tricky."

"The old Priest is certainly powerful, and his standing in the tribe is unmatched, but our side's overall strength is undoubtedly greater!"

Lin Ruowei said, "With you, a Supreme Elder, we are already enough to counter the old Priest! And with Elder Qianzhao and the others... who else in the tribe can possibly oppose us?"

"That Ye Chen..." Han Luo began hesitantly.

"Ye Chen? That cripple?"

Lin Ruowei laughed with disdain. "I don't know how he awakened the tribe's totem, but you know what the Imperial Physician said."

"He has no hope of ever walking the path of cultivation!"

"This world is a cruel place where strength is all that matters! He has done our tribe a great service, so I can choose not to move against him, and even win that cripple over to our side."

"But if he doesn't know what's good for him and insists on backing Lin Qiyun, then I certainly won't be courteous."

"You're going to kill him?" Han Luo frowned.

"That would be a last resort, of course," Lin Ruowei said, her voice devoid of emotion. "I have no desire to harm our tribe's benefactor, unless it's absolutely necessary."

"I suppose that is the only way."

Han Luo nodded.

Neither of them spoke again, and silence fell between them.

Finally, after taking the last sip of her tea, Lin Ruowei shot to her feet, a cold expression flashing across her beautiful face.

"It's time for us to make our move."

...

In the Vermilion Bird Tribe, Lin Qiyun walked out of a courtyard. The tribespeople she encountered along the way all greeted her with smiling faces.

Lin Qiyun responded to each of them in turn, her manners impeccable, her expression gentle and serene.

Xiaohe followed behind Lin Qiyun, a radiant smile on her small face.

"Miss, your standing in the tribe is completely different now!"

"I remember when those people wouldn't even give you the time of day! Who would have thought they'd be so warm and polite now!"

Only when they reached a secluded area did Xiaohe lean in and whisper furtively in Lin Qiyun's ear.

"Xiaohe!"

Lin Qiyun shot the young maid a glare. "Don't speak nonsense!"

"But Miss, I'm not!"

Xiaohe looked wronged. "Those tribespeople are just fair-weather friends!"

"Now that your strength is improving by leaps and bounds and you have the old Priest backing you, they're all nice and polite."

"But what if... what if one day the old Priest is no longer here?"

"Or what happens when Miss Ruowei returns? Will they change their tune and start treating you differently again?"

Xiaohe's small face was filled with indignation.

Although Lin Qiyun's situation had improved, Xiaohe couldn't suppress her anger when she recalled how those same tribespeople had treated her mistress in the past.

"Sigh. The world is just this cruel. Without enough strength, you'll be suppressed by others no matter where you are."

Lin Qiyun glanced at Xiaohe. She had intended to reprimand her, as it wasn't a servant's place to speak so presumptuously about such matters.

But then she thought about how Xiaohe had followed her for so many years and suffered so many grievances, and how she, as her mistress, had failed to take good care of her.

Lin Qiyun's heart softened, and in the end, she only sighed and murmured.

"Hmph! With the Young Master here in the tribe, I'd like to see anyone dare bully you now, Miss!"

"The Young Master is so amazing! Anyone who bullies you will definitely come to a bad end!"

Xiaohe pumped her small fist, and her adorable display made Lin Qiyun smile in spite of herself.

"Speaking of which, I wonder how the Young Master is doing."

"He still isn't back. I hope nothing has happened to him."

Xiaohe's train of thought shifted, her tone suddenly filled with worry.

Her thoughts were always jumping from one thing to the next, her concern shifting in an instant from Lin Qiyun's predicament to Ye Chen's.

"Don't say such things!" Lin Qiyun shot Xiaohe a look. "My husband is incredibly skilled. I'm sure he'll be fine."