Just when Duan Susu didn’t know what to say, Lin Qingqing grabbed Lin Tian and pulled him into a corner.
“Why are you asking so many questions?”

Lin Tian, yanked by the back of his neck, struggled and said,
“Ah—Sister Qingqing, you won’t let me ask more; how would I know whether I can pursue Miss Susu…?”

Lin Qingqing blinked. “You’re going to pursue Susu?”

Lin Tian answered sullenly,
“What? When I wanted to court Sister Qingqing before, you didn’t give me a chance. Are you now not going to allow me to chase other people either? And besides, when I’m pursuing someone, there are two main principles!”

Lin Qingqing looked at him with disdain.
“You — the type who staged the whole thing yourself and bribed ruffians to harass Widow Liu, tried to play the hero, and failed — and you still talk about ‘principles’?”

Lin Tian looked embarrassed.
“Sis Qingqing, wasn’t that just youthful recklessness on my part? Besides, the widow didn’t really—”

“What’s so bad about it! You should know, widows have already shed the awkwardness of a young girl. They’re bolder, more attentive, they understand men better, and they… in bed…”

Lin Qingqing’s cheeks flushed; she planted a sharp kick into Lin Tian’s belly.
“Don’t you start with your filthy talk here!”

Lin Tian clutched his stomach, groaning.
“Sister Qingqing, could you go a little easier? I almost—because of your kick—ended up vomiting and having explosive diarrhea!”

Hands on her hips, Lin Qingqing snapped,
“Cut the nonsense — tell me, what principles do you have?”

Lin Tian straightened instantly.
“I now have two main rules for pursuing women!
First: I won’t go after any woman who likes Uncle Mo.
Second: I won’t go after any woman Uncle Mo likes.”

He pondered seriously. If he wanted to get along well with Lin Mo, these two rules were absolutely crucial.

After all, Uncle Mo was the kind of man who could even turn down Xia He’s beauty. He was a respectable, upright gentleman! Surely not every pretty woman under the sun would like Uncle Mo, right? In Lin Tian’s view, someone not liking Lin Mo and Lin Mo not liking her were two different things.

That meant — any other woman, he could pursue freely! He could even ask Uncle Mo for advice on how to woo them. After thinking it through, Lin Tian felt that as long as those two principles were kept, every woman under heaven could be his. He was simply delighted!

Lin Qingqing stared blankly.
“Your principles are… really pretty good!”

Lin Tian chuckled.
“See? Sister Qingqing is the first type. My life comes first — I definitely won’t be directing my attention at you.”

Lin Qingqing didn’t know why, but she kept feeling Lin Tian was getting more and more in need of a beating.

Just then, furious voices roared:
“Lin Nantian, today we will wash your Lin family in blood!”

Hundreds of figures descended. A vast shadow loomed above the Lin residence. At the front were the heads of the Chen and Nangong families — Chen Sheng and Nangong Bisheng.

In moments, Lin Nantian led three elders and other Lin family members whose strength surpassed the Golden Core stage into the air. He first glanced coldly at Chen Sheng.

“Come to cause trouble in my Lin family?”

Chen Sheng, face twisted with anger, retorted,
“This time we came as representatives of the righteous — to destroy your Lin family. How can you call that ‘trouble’?”

Lin Nantian sneered.
“You, representing the righteous? By what right?”

Chen Sheng admitted,
“Indeed, I don’t have that qualification — but the people brought by the head of the Nangong family do!”

He cast a respectful glance at Nangong Bisheng. Nangong Bisheng then called forward a middle-aged man from behind him.
“This is Elder Li Xiu, enforcer of Xuanming Hall!”

The middle-aged man stepped forward. At once, a terrifying oppressive aura swept through the Lin family.

Lin Nantian’s face darkened.
“The Divine Transformation realm…”

Nangong Bisheng smirked.
“Not bad — you old fellow actually have an eye for talent!”

Lin Nantian frowned.
“Lord Nangong, has my Lin family offended you as well?”

Nangong Bisheng said coldly,
“Indeed, your Lin family has deeply offended me! Do you still remember the Demon-clan secret realm? Lin Mo left my son, Nangong Xu, grievously wounded. At first, I could believe my son was simply less skilled, but now…”

He continued,
“Everyone already knows Lin Mo practiced demonic cultivation. Our Nangong family will definitely hold your Lin family accountable for this!”

Chen Sheng chimed in,
“Yes — my son was also brutally killed by Lin Mo. I’m certain that when he killed my son, Lin Mo had already fallen into demonic ways. The Chen family will also settle this score with your Lin family!”

Lin Nantian cursed Chen Sheng inwardly as shameless. The truth of that day’s events was already clear: Chen Huai had first harbored murderous intent toward Lin Mo, coveting Xia He of the Xia family. And now Chen Sheng dared to spout such lies!

But Lin Nantian was powerless to argue. When it comes to demonic cultivation, it is always the gravest of mistakes.

Now, facing the combined assault of the Nangong and Chen families, with wandering cultivators at their side and even elders from the Xuanming Hall, the Lin family had little chance. Even if the Xia family came to help, they might still be unable to resist.

Nangong Bisheng declared,
“Now that it’s come to this, Lin Mo’s demonic cultivation is already known to all. Your Lin family still stubbornly insists on defending him and opposing the entire Righteous Path — today we can only demand that your Lin family vanish from here!”

Lin Nantian growled,
“If you want to fight, then fight! What’s the need for so much talk?”

After living so many years, Lin Nantian certainly wasn’t blind to the hypocrisy of these so-called righteous clans. To be blunt, the Chen and Nangong families were just waving the banner of cleansing demons and defending the Dao as a pretext — their true goal was to carve up the Lin family’s resources. No matter how he argued, it was useless.

“It seems I’ll have to use the ring’s power…”

On the ground, Gu Ningxin saw the situation worsening and prepared to withdraw from the Lin residence first. If she used the ring’s power inside the Lin family, then even if the crisis was resolved, it would only convince others that the Lin family had colluded with the demon clan. She could only choose to use the ring’s power outside.

But if she did that, she might never be able to return to the Lin family again…

Glancing once at her husband hovering grimly in the air, Gu Ningxin finally made up her mind. Just as her hand was about to touch the ring’s seal, a large hand pressed down on hers.

A familiar voice sounded softly at her ear.
“Mother, are you doing something bad?”