They realized the situation had changed.
In their eyes, Lin Xuan's arrogance before was merely because the Third Elder hadn't arrived.
Now, with the Third Elder present, the situation had shifted.
No matter how strong Lin Xuan was, how easily he could defeat Lin Yang, or how easily he could defeat them, the errand runners, what did it matter?
No matter how strong he was, he was still just a junior, still just a young boy.
No matter how strong he was, he was only fourteen years old.
How strong could a fourteen-year-old boy be? At most, he'd be at the sixth or even seventh level of Condensing Meridian.
But the Third Elder? He was a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment realm!
Were cultivators at the sixth or seventh level of Condensing Meridian anything compared to the Third Elder, a powerhouse at the Foundation Establishment realm? They were less than a fart.
The Foundation Establishment realm crushed all Condensing Meridian realm cultivators; it was something all Condensing Meridian realm cultivators could not compare to!
"Lin Xuan, no matter how capable you are, can you be stronger than the Third Elder?" Lin Yang thought to himself.
He cursed Lin Xuan fiercely in his heart. The moment the Third Elder arrived, his mood became exceedingly joyful.
In his opinion, with so many people accusing Lin Xuan, this charge was a sure thing!
Many people were like this, overthrown by their twisted words.
They had strength but no powerful backing, were unfamiliar with worldly affairs, and if they provoked them, they met a terrible end.
Many had fallen into his hands before, and naturally, Lin Xuan would be no exception!
Just as Lin Yang was thinking this.
He heard a "bang."
Bang!
Why was there such a sound?
Lin Yang looked up and saw a scene that filled him with horror.
"Bang!"
The Third Elder directly channeled his spiritual energy, blasting one of the errand runners away.
This scene stunned everyone around, whether they were errand runners or direct and collateral disciples.
Lin Yang was also stunned.
Why.
Why wasn't the Third Elder dealing with Lin Xuan, but instead attacking the errand runners from the Salary Hall?
Was something wrong?
How could they get it backward?
Why?
Why did I think things were one way, only for them to turn out like this?
Lin Yang was still questioning his life.
Meanwhile, the Third Elder didn't even glance at the severely battered errand runner.
In his eyes, these ordinary direct disciples were, in the end, nothing but parasites. They had been siphoning off a lot of oil and water from the Salary Hall for a long time.
Normally, when there was nothing significant happening, the Third Elder could turn a blind eye and tolerate such a situation.
However, when Lin Xuan appeared, when Lin Xuan displayed his potential, when Lin Xuan demonstrated the strength to easily defeat Lin Yang.
This meant that Lin Xuan's value far surpassed that of these errand runners.
The Third Elder had to step in and manage these people's profiteering.
Ultimately, what family rules were, were not that important. They couldn't decide who was right or wrong, who had more backing, or who had the potential and aptitude worth investing in and favoring. This was what determined the Third Elder's decision to intervene or not!
The matter of Lin Xuan easily defeating Lin Yang had already reached the Third Elder's ears.
The Third Elder naturally had to come out and uphold "justice"!
This was certainly not about these errand runners invoking family rules to expel Lin Xuan from the clan or even execute him.
The justice the Third Elder wanted to uphold was solely on Lin Xuan's side.
And these errand runners also deserved to be held accountable!
The Third Elder filtered through the situation in his mind, made up his mind, and said coldly, "How can our Lin family's genius be so maliciously slandered by you?"
"What are you? How dare you collectively propose to force me to punish Lin Xuan?"
The Third Elder's words were directed at the errand runner he had just kicked away.
The Third Elder also spoke of benevolence and righteousness, using words like "slander."
He refocused his gaze on Lin Xuan.
"Lin Xuan, you have suffered grievances all these years."
"It is the family's fault for failing you!"
"It is these people who deceived superiors and misled inferiors, causing you to endure so much scorn and hardship."
As the Third Elder spoke, his expression was perfectly acted, especially emphasizing the phrase "deceived superiors and misled inferiors."
It was equivalent to emphasizing that he was a righteous and unaware figure, and it was his subordinates who had caused trouble, ultimately leading to Lin Xuan enduring so much contempt and exploitation.
His own responsibility was completely discarded and shifted entirely to these errand runners.
Fang Ming had seen such tactics many times and naturally understood the trick.
To say that the original Lin Xuan, who had encountered so much oppression in the family, was unknown to these elders, was a lie to ghosts.
This statement, let alone Fang Ming, even the original Lin Xuan, the true fourteen-year-old boy, would not believe it.
However, thinking it was false and not believing the words was different from directly expressing doubt on the surface.
Fang Ming saw through the Third Elder's trick, but it was not the time to fall out with the Third Elder. Therefore, Fang Ming played along, not exposing the Third Elder's performance, but instead continuing along with the Third Elder's words.
Fang Ming deliberately feigned a look of great grievance.
He said, "Third Elder! In the clan, Xuan is constantly bullied by these people. The cultivation resources provided by the clan are all exploited by these people from the Salary Hall."
"Wuwu... I have lived such a miserable life these past few years!"
"Third Elder, you must uphold justice for me! Uphold justice for me!"
Fang Ming's words were filled with a sense of grievance.
He fully displayed the persona of a young boy who had suffered grievances and oppression.
Even tears were now falling from his face, making him appear even more pitiful.
Seeing Fang Ming's dramatic change of expression, the Third Elder's first reaction was, this brat is too good at acting!
He changed his expression so quickly; his acting skills could rival his own decades of practice.
At such a young age, to be able to act so convincingly, with no flaws visible, there were truly few people in this world like himself.
But then, the Third Elder heard the discussions of the people around him and learned about the life Lin Xuan had lived.
He was shocked.
Could it be that Lin Xuan wasn't acting?
But was it his true nature?
Indeed, for a child, after living such a tragic life, he would naturally feel very wronged.
Perhaps, this emotion was not fake, but real.
Because no one could act so realistically, so flawlessly.
These conjectures passed through the Third Elder's mind, and on the surface, the Third Elder immediately promised:
"Rest assured! This old man will compensate you for all the cultivation resources you are owed."
"What they have consumed over the years must be regurgitated!"
"The grievances you have suffered can also be avenged!"
To prevent Fang Ming from disbelieving him, the Third Elder opened his hand, and two jade bottles appeared in his palm.