Seeing Wuyi cry silently, Yu Feng was consumed by rage. Without a second thought, he stepped up beside her, clenched both fists, and glared at the elder named Ba Qingyan.
"Insolent!" Ba Qingyan was even more furious. It was one thing for Wuyi to question his decision and openly defy him — she was just a woman, after all, and would leave the Haike family sooner or later. But now even one of her warriors dared to stare him down with open hostility? What kind of disrespect was this?
"Wuyi, it seems you've truly lacked discipline over the years. Has anyone and everyone started defying clan elders now?" A man who had been standing to the side, silent until now, suddenly spoke up. He looked to be in his mid-thirties, with cultivation at the Saint King, First Stage, and judging by his attire, held a fairly high position in the Haike family. His expression was stern. "Hurry up and apologize to Elder Ba. You know the elders' words are absolute — don't be obstinate and ruin your own future."
He spoke with righteous indignation, seemingly trying to put in a good word for Wuyi, but the moment her cousin opened his mouth, Wuyi knew there was no room for negotiation.
The elders' words were indeed absolute — they had never been reversed before. Her cousin's words were clearly meant to fan the flames.
Sure enough, the moment he finished, Ba Qingyan let out a cold snort. "Apologize? I'm acting in the family's best interest. She doesn't need to apologize — she can go back and accept the family punishment herself!"
Then he turned to Yu Feng. "And you won't get away either!"
Yu Feng's face went pale. He stared blankly at Wuyi, completely dazed by this sudden catastrophe.
The thirty-something man's eyes flashed with a barely concealed hint of joy, but he maintained an expression of anxious concern, continuously pleading with Ba Qingyan on Wuyi's behalf. He rattled off a long list of Wuyi's contributions to the family over the years.
His words had no effect whatsoever — in fact, they only added fuel to the fire, making it easy to imagine that Wuyi had grown arrogant from being favored.
"What did I do wrong?" Wuyi suddenly wiped the corners of her eyes and stared defiantly at her cousin and Ba Qingyan, biting her red lips until they bled. "I didn't do anything wrong. You're the ones bullying the weak with your strength!"
"Good!" Ba Qingyan was so angry he laughed. "You dare speak to me like that? You must be tired of living!"
Wuyi gave a sorrowful laugh. "A family like this — I'm done with it. From today onward, I sever ties with the Haike family. I will have nothing more to do with them. As for the family punishment — I won't be going to receive it!"
"You…" Ba Qingyan never imagined a young girl would dare say something so rebellious. He was momentarily stunned.
Every warrior of the Haike family stood frozen, staring at Wuyi in shock. They never expected her to cut ties with the family over some unknown young warrior — this had never happened before.
It had always been the family that cast out its members. No disciple could simply leave on their own. This was a direct insult to the clan!
Wuyi's cousin, Wu Ke, was secretly overjoyed. Although Wuyi was a woman, her talent and abilities surpassed his in every way. Over the years, he had never underestimated her — in fact, he had specifically studied her, knowing she harbored ambitions to lead the family. He also knew that if she truly earned the elders' favor and recognition, she might actually come to control the Haike family.
Although the family's upper echelons had never placed much hope in Wuyi because she was a woman, there was always the possibility. What if those old men got confused one day and named Wuyi as the family's successor?
Now that Wuyi had completely fallen out with Elder Ba and announced her departure from the family, this was truly a stroke of unexpected good fortune.
Excellent, excellent, excellent! Wu Ke was ecstatic inside. On the surface, he maintained a neutral expression, subtly glancing toward Yang Kai. He wondered whether Wuyi had developed feelings for this man, which was why she defended him so recklessly. Regardless of the reason, he silently thanked Yang Kai — without this inexplicable man, his cousin might have become a formidable competitor.
"Miss…" Yu Feng pressed his pale lips together and called out to Wuyi, his face a mask of confusion and helplessness. He was just as stunned by her words, but after a brief moment, he became as resolute as she was. In a deep voice, he said, "Wherever you go, Yu Feng will follow."
"Thank you, Yu Feng!" Wuyi looked at him apologetically, then said sadly, "I'm sorry."
She knew she had dragged Yu Feng into this. No matter what she said now, she couldn't spare him from the family's punishment. Perhaps leaving the family together with her was his best option.
"Don't be like that, Miss." Yu Feng grinned. "Five years ago, if you hadn't saved me, that Steel-Armored Beast would have bitten me to death long ago. There would be no today for me. Five years ago, I made up my mind — from then on, I'd follow you, Miss."
"My, my — what devoted master and servant!" Xu Zhishen suddenly clapped his hands and laughed, turning to look at Ba Qingyan with amusement. "Brother Ba, I didn't expect that visiting your family today would provide such entertainment. My ill feelings have somewhat dissipated."
Since the commotion in the Haike family had begun, he had remained still, watching the whole affair with great interest.