“It seems the Shen clan has developed rapidly in recent years, becoming so magnificent!”
Ye Shisan smiled and said, “May I know if Ya Yin is here?”
“She is in seclusion!”
Shen Batian smiled and said, “I have already sent people to prepare a banquet. After the banquet, I will have someone guide you away via a small path. I believe Meng Po and the others will not be able to track you!”
Lu Fan and the others frowned. Shen Batian’s words seemed to be urging them to leave.
“Patriarch Shen, please don’t joke. We have traveled thousands of miles to be here, specifically for the convergence of the Five Swords!”
Ye Shisan said seriously, “Why would we leave so easily!”
“This…”
Shen Batian frowned and stated directly, “You must have seen just now that the Shen clan does not wish to be involved. We ask for your understanding!”
Lu Fan and the others rose one after another. They couldn’t understand why Shen Batian would say such a thing, which left them somewhat shocked.
“Patriarch Shen, do you know what you are saying?”
Ye Shisan looked at Shen Batian, his gaze growing colder. Dealing with the Ghost Hall and saving the common people was the mission of the five ancient clans. Shen Batian’s words were even harder for him to accept.
“You may not know how powerful the Ghost Hall is!”
Shen Batian smiled, “I don’t want my clansmen to go to their deaths!”
“If the ancient sects are destroyed, the Shen clan will be the last!”
Lu Fan spoke out, “Patriarch Shen, you should consider this carefully!”
“The Shen clan has deep foundations. As long as they do not oppose the Ghost Hall, there will be no major issues!”
Patriarch Shen’s expression was indifferent, as if he had already made his preparations.
“It seems Patriarch Shen has already made his plans!”
Ye Shisan chuckled, “But your actions are in violation of the ancestral teachings!”
“As long as the Shen clan members can be preserved, it is enough!”
Shen Batian stated directly, “As for the ancestral teachings, I don’t particularly care!”
“In other words, your mind is made up!”
Ye Shisan said coldly, “No matter how much more we say, it will likely be of no use!”
“Self-preservation is the key. The Ye clan can also choose this path!”
Shen Batian said directly, “After all, in these chaotic times, merely surviving is extremely difficult. Why bother with such effort!”
“You know better than any of us what kind of existence the Ghost Hall is. If the five ancient clans choose to evade, this world will surely fall into chaos!”
Ye Shisan’s expression was solemn, “I never imagined that you, as the patriarch of the Shen clan, would say such words!”
“This is my most honest thought!”
Shen Batian shrugged, “I hope you can understand! The Shen clan will absolutely not participate!”
After speaking, Shen Batian rose, “Zhu Que, prepare whatever they need. If they wish to leave, guide them via the small path!”
Shen Batian did not linger, turning and leaving, his expression appearing even more indifferent.
Ye Shisan was furious and extremely unwilling, but he didn’t know what to do.
“Let’s go!”
Lu Fan stood up and said, “Lest we cause dissatisfaction!”
“Only with the Five Swords gathered can we resist the Ghost Hall!”
Ye Shisan said solemnly, “Where are we going?”
“Since the Shen clan does not wish to participate, how can the Five Swords merge!”
Lu Fan said with a wry smile, “It seems we can only think of other ways to deal with the Ghost Hall!”
“That’s impossible. Besides the Five Swords, nothing can stop the Ghost Hall!”
Ye Shisan shook his head, his gaze becoming more serious, as if he understood this matter profoundly.
“The Shen clan has made their stance clear. If we stay here, it will likely be of no use!”
Long Yi spoke out, “Let’s return and discuss it!”
“Everyone, the decision made by the Patriarch will never change!”
Zhu Que spoke out, “You don’t need to dwell on it!”
“Hmph, the Shen clan are truly a pack of cowards!”
Ye Shisan said coldly, preparing to leave. Shen Batian’s actions had greatly disappointed him.
Led by Zhu Que, Lu Fan and the others headed towards the small path, moving with great caution. Meng Po and the others were watching intently. If they were discovered, their lives would be in peril. After all, they were about to leave the Shen clan’s territory, and by then, the Shen clan would likely no longer interfere.
“My lords, beyond this point is the outskirts of the Shen clan’s territory. I believe there will be no danger!”
Zhu Que spoke out, “The Patriarch has ordered that no Shen clan members are to leave the territory. I can only escort you this far!”
“Thank you!”
Lu Fan cupped his fists, his expression becoming indifferent. The Shen clan’s choice left him with a sense of helplessness.
“Now that the Shen clan is unwilling to act, the next steps will likely be extremely troublesome!”
Lin Ke spoke out, “Where do we go now?”
“Back to the Ye clan!”
Ye Shisan stated, “I need to report this matter and let my father decide!”
Lu Fan and the others nodded. This was likely all they could do at this moment. The five ancient clans had declined to only two remaining. More importantly, the Shen clan did not intend to deal with the Ghost Hall, only seeking self-preservation.
Meanwhile, within the Shen clan, Shen Batian sat in the courtyard, gazing at a willow tree beside him, lost in thought.
“Patriarch, why did you have to do this!”
An elder spoke out, “To preserve the Shen clan, you have violated the ancestral teachings and made it difficult for the people of the other five ancient clans to accept!”
“Did I truly make a mistake?”
Shen Batian spoke, looking towards the elder. Even he did not know if he was right or wrong.
“There is no right or wrong in this matter!”
The elder shook his head, “Everything depends on one’s state of mind, or perhaps one’s ultimate intentions!”
“I only wish for the people of the Shen clan to be better!”
Shen Batian’s expression was solemn, “Is there something wrong with that?”
“Naturally, there is nothing wrong!”
The elder chuckled, “The Patriarch has his own thoughts, but the members of the Shen clan may not necessarily think the same way!”
Shen Batian’s expression shifted, and he looked at the elder, “Are you implying that I cannot represent the entire Shen clan?”
“This old servant dares not!”
The white-haired elder quickly bowed, his expression appearing solemn.
“I am not blaming you!”
Shen Batian waved his hand, “It is just that everything I have done is for the Shen clan. Even if you do not approve, I will persist until the end!”
The elder nodded slightly and said no more. In fact, among the members of the Shen clan, they all hoped that the Shen clan would uphold the ancestral teachings and unite with the other ancient clans to deal with the Ghost Hall. They never imagined that the patriarch would not think this way.
After leaving the Shen clan, Lu Fan and the others hurried towards the Ye clan. However, as they were traveling, Lu Fan suddenly stopped, “Have you noticed that someone has been tracking us all the way here?”
“How is that possible!”
Long Yi spoke out, “If it were Meng Po and the others, we would have discovered them long ago. As for others, could they possess such means!”
“Although I cannot sense any aura, I always feel a pair of eyes watching us!”
Lu Fan’s expression was solemn, and he looked back, but he saw no figures.
“I think you are being overly worried!”
Ye Shisan spoke out, “After we return to the Ye clan, get some good rest, lest you have hallucinations!”