Chapter 2549 - 2549: Hidden Dao in the Lake

"I really have no other way!" Yelu Changfeng sighed, "After Koga-ryu failed that time, I knew they wouldn't let it go. If Koga-ryu comes to kill us, not only will the Ancestral Tomb be lost, but all our Tomb Guardian clan members will die here. As the Clan Leader of the Tomb Guardian clan, I can't watch these people die here. However, the strength of the Yelu family cannot possibly resist Koga-ryu. I had no choice but to think of an alternative method, leaking the Xuanyuan Sword's news to the Church to draw them here. It's because the Church came that Koga-ryu didn't dare to directly attack, merely sealing the entrance to the Ancestral Tomb temporarily. And the Church didn't know the method to open the Ancestral Tomb, thinking we didn't know about their arrival, so they haven't really tried to force us, just investigating the matter, allowing us to hold on for so long."

Ye Qing and Yelu Ying exchanged glances; Yelu Changfeng's explanation was reasonable. It seems Yelu Changfeng was also driven by circumstances, not truly rebellious.

Yelu Changfeng sighed again, saying, "Over these years, has our Tomb Guardian clan not lived in constant fear, treading on thin ice? Either Koga-ryu or the Church could easily wipe us out. But, to protect the Ancestral Tomb, due to the ancestors' legacy, we must stay here. If I die alone, so be it, but it would be such a loss for all the men of this clan!"

Yelu Changfeng sighed deeply, eyes slightly reddened, clearly feeling extreme grief. Tonight, many of his Tomb Guardian clan members died, and he didn't even have a moment to look; how could his heart not be mournful?

Hearing Yelu Changfeng speak, Yelu Ying couldn't help but feel some embarrassment. Looking at Yelu Changfeng, she suddenly found him not so hateful, just a pitiable person caught in unfortunate circumstances. To strengthen the family and protect the Yelu family's Ancestral Tomb, he had no choice but to pretend to ally with Koga-ryu. Then, to protect the Ancestral Tomb, invited the Church, living between two great forces; how hard life must have been through these years! If he did wrong initially, then, for all these years, he has been redeeming himself for his mistakes.

Third Brother shouted, "Yelu Changfeng, why are you saying all this nonsense! No matter how much you say, can it change the wrongs you did to the family? The leak about the Ancestral Tomb was yours, and it was you who killed Big Brother, these are facts; saying more does not change them!"

Yelu Changfeng sighed, "I know I did wrong, and I've said I will atone for my deeds. But you're different, Third Brother. You collude with Koga-ryu and the Church purely for your own selfish desires, and that is truly heinous!"

"Hmph, ridiculous. Heinous or not, the result is the same, isn't it?" Third Brother shouted, "I don't feel I've done anything wrong; the family owes me. I've been sent here for over sixty years; the family couldn't even protect my children—all dead. Resources tilted, they said; best life provided, they claimed; it's nonsense. I gave so much for the family, and this is all I get? Yelu Ying, would you accept this?"

Yelu Ying was silent for a while, suddenly looking at Third Brother, "Have you ever thought, the Tomb Guardian clan, born in the desert, guarding the family's Ancestral Tomb; for a millennia, always so. Compared to you, generations live here. Are not you unwilling to accept, but the Tomb Guardian clan is even more unwilling?"

Yelu Changfeng was stunned, looking at Yelu Ying in shock. He thought she hated him to the bone; he didn't expect her to say such words.

Third Brother was also stunned, looked at Yelu Changfeng, then at Yelu Ying, suddenly started howling again, "Yelu Ying, you don't avenge your grandpa but speak for your enemy. Such a granddaughter is really admirable!"

"Right or wrong, I know in my heart, I don't need you to point it out!" Yelu Ying glared at Third Brother, resolutely saying, "What you did cannot be tolerated by family law. As the Family Head today, I will deal with you according to family law; is there anything you want to say?"

"You're exercising family law on me? Hahaha..." Third Brother laughed, looking at Yelu Ying, "What right do you have to use family law on me? You were born with a silver spoon; do you know how I've lived in the desert for sixty years? On what grounds can you use family law on me? You live a superior life outside, on what grounds can you apply family law on me, who sacrificed so much for the family?"

"I admit I haven't contributed as much as you to the family. But I've never betrayed the family!" Yelu Ying took a deep breath, looking at Third Brother, "You contributed to the family, the family honors you. However, you betrayed the family, and the family cannot forgive you. Though I haven't contributed much, as Family Head, I must be responsible for the family. The family law was set by ancestors, not something decided by me alone. So, there's no question of qualification!"

Yelu Ying said, slowly drawing a dagger from her waist, placing it at Third Brother's chest, saying, "Third Grandpa, it's truly a delight to see you. I thought I wouldn't have relatives with the same blood as mine in this life. But you gave me hope and great disappointment. I apologize, I am Family Head; I must be responsible for the whole family!"

She said, the dagger in her hand slowly pierced Third Brother's heart. His eyes widened, head slowly drooped to one side, finally dying under family law.

Watching Third Brother killed, Yelu Changfeng sighed, looking at Yelu Ying, "Ying'er, I know my deeds can't escape family law's punishment either. But I beg you for one last chance, to make one final contribution to the family!"

Yelu Ying sighed, just about to speak when Ye Qing suddenly shouted from the front, "Not good, we've reached the mountain edge! Where do we go now?"

Yelu Changfeng immediately turned, pointing ahead-left, said, "Drive over there!"

"Ah?" Ye Qing froze, surprised, "It's a lake over there!"

"I know, just drive over!" Yelu Changfeng asserted without doubt.

Ye Qing looked at Yelu Changfeng in surprise but finally drove as directed.

When the vehicle lurched into the water, Ye Qing thought it would plunge straight down. Unexpectedly, the water was shallow; driving several dozens of meters forward, the vehicle was only half-submerged.

"This... this water?" Ye Qing was full of surprise, the lake seemed large; why was it shallow?

"We've stealthily built this over the years." Yelu Changfeng explained, "I found trustworthy people to build a path underwater, allowing passage to the Ancestral Tomb side."

"Ah, I see!" Ye Qing realized, that's why Yelu Changfeng planned to send them to the Ancestral Tomb side.

"Last night, your arrival tempted me to send you this way. But I've always suspected there's a traitor among the Tomb Guardian clan, couldn't identify them. Therefore, to protect the path, I hadn't brought you here. Today, drew these people out, finally giving the opportunity to lead you here!" Yelu Changfeng directed Ye Qing forward while explaining, "This path is my small contribution to the family."

"There's still one thing I can't figure out!" Ye Qing said, "Since Koga-ryu came before and killed Ying's grandpa, why not directly inform the Yelu family? With the main lineage members hidden, Koga-ryu couldn't open the Ancestral Tomb, why bother to draw the Church then?"

"You don't know," Yelu Changfeng explained, "At that time, the Yelu family was also in a crisis, fleeing. It was hard to communicate out. In the chaos of their escape, harder still to reach Yelu family members, basically making communication impossible. Furthermore..."

At this, Yelu Changfeng sighed softly, "Besides, when Big Brother died here, we... we truly lacked the courage to inform the family..."

Ye Qing nodded, finally understanding the true cause and effect. No wonder their arrival got such reactions from the Tomb Guardian clan. It makes sense, Yelu Ying's grandpa died here due to their clan leader; wouldn't they be wary of Yelu Ying?

Ye Qing also felt emotional. When he came, his first suspect was Yelu Changfeng, assuming a Tomb Guardian clan member betrayed the Yelu family. Now, he knows the Tomb Guardian clan didn't truly betray, and for years have upheld family duty. The real traitors were the main lineage members, unexpected to Ye Qing. Indeed, the human heart is truly unfathomable!

The vehicle sped forward; although slow in water, it didn't take long to cross the lake, reaching the edge of Alagu Mountain. The edge was sheer, with no foothold. The cliff soared a thousand feet, impossible for even a Peak Master to climb.

"Where do we go now?" Ye Qing looked around—the surroundings were cliffs, with no road.