Chapter 253: Chapter 253: Desolate
"You’re right, today is Dad’s birthday, unfortunately this year he doesn’t even get to see his most beloved grandson; it’s truly a case of white-haired people sending off those with black hair."
Tong Fujun’s eyes brimmed with hot tears as he angrily pointed at Tong Yunshu and said, "It’s all because of you. If it weren’t for you, would Yang Fei have ever laid a hand on my son Jianzhou?"
Tong Yunshu retorted angrily, "Jianzhou brought his death upon himself. Yang Fei had already warned him on my behalf, yet he insisted on being used by others to provoke Yang Fei, which led to his death. I had already explained this last time, why are you bringing up old matters today, Uncle?"
At this point, Tong Yunshu looked at her grandfather, Tong Hai, with a sad expression.
Tong Hai, sitting at the head seat, met his granddaughter’s gaze but then heartlessly averted his eyes.
Tong Yunshu felt a chill of desolation.
She had once thought that her grandfather loved her dearly, but because she was a daughter, her grandfather was disappointed and anxious, placing more hope on Jianzhou instead.
Last time, when Jianzhou had treated her so terribly, she had reported the incident to her grandfather and the clan elders. The clan authorities, however, took no action against Jianzhou, permitting him to act arrogantly and domineeringly in Binhai, which ultimately led him to provoke Yang Fei and get killed.
Now it seemed that her grandfather’s love for her was not genuine. He favored men over women too much; in the past, he only pretended to care for her because she could make money for the family, truly favoring Jianzhou at heart.
If her uncle dared to speak thus today without her grandfather’s tacit approval, what would it imply?
But with only the grandfather’s support, the uncle would not dare to be so presumptuous.
After all, last time, Third Grandpa had declared in front of all the Tong family members that he intended to support her succession, and nobody in the Tong family had objected then.
Now with how Jianzhou was behaving, there was something decidedly abnormal probably lurking behind.
Tong Yunshu took a deep breath, her gaze returning to Jianzhou’s face as she spoke in a stern voice, "Uncle, what exactly is it that you want to achieve by saying this today?"
Tong Jianzhou said, "Step down! You, Tong Yunshu, are not fit to be the head of the Tong family."
Tong Yunshu narrowed her eyes at him and asked, "If not me, who is fit? You?"
Tong Fuguo could not hold back and said, "Over these years, Yunshu has earned so much money for the family, her capabilities are there for all to see, and Third Grandpa also supports her. Who in the Tong family would dare to object? Tong Fujun, do you really want to be cast out of the Tong family?"
Tong Jianzhou laughed heartily, "The ones being cast out from the Tong family are your family. Don’t forget, father is still alive. His health is robust, he is the real head of the family. Tong Yunshu, a mere girl, has usurped power and tried to supplant the family head. Tell me, how could someone like that possibly qualify to be the future head of the Tong family?"
"Hahaha, Tong Fujun, listening to the tone of your voice now, you really are quite confident," said Tong Yan suddenly.
He had been quietly watching up to now, making no comment, but finally couldn’t hold back anymore, stood up and looked toward Tong Hai with a complex expression, saying, "Big brother, you spent over four years with me at Xuanzhen Temple; I thought the fraternal bonds between us could not be replaced by anyone, but it seems I was just deluding myself.
In your heart, the Tong family is yours, and I am merely an idle crane, not supposed to interfere in Tong family affairs; thus, the last time I brought Yunshu home with me to declare our stance on supporting her succession displeased you, right?"
Tong Hai stood up and looked at Tong Yan, his expression extremely complex, but eventually he clenched his teeth and nodded, saying, "She’s a girl; in all of Tong family’s history, no woman has ever become the family head. Moreover, Jianzhou’s death is also not unrelated to her."
"Bullshit!"
The fierce light exploded in Tong Yan’s eyes as he painfully stared at Tong Hai and said, "Isn’t she a member of the Tong family? Does not the same Tong family blood flow in her veins? As for that Jianzhou, even if he hadn’t been killed by Yang Fei, given the things he did to Yunshu, he is nothing but a beast, a beast with utterly vile character. Does someone with such degraded morals also qualify to inherit the Tong family?"
Faced with Tong Yan’s reproach, Tong Hai became infuriated with shame and rage, shouting, "I am the head of the Tong family, and the future of the Tong family should be decided by me. Moreover, the dignity of the Tong family should not be trampled; although Jianzhou was at fault, his crime did not warrant death. Since Yang Fei killed Jianzhou, the Tong family should unite and take revenge, to restore the family’s honor. But how did you act? Not only did you not avenge Jianzhou, not uphold the Tong family’s honor, but you even became friends with that young offender. Third brother, you have disappointed me greatly!"
"Hahaha..."
Tong Yan looked at his elder brother, who was red-faced with anger scolding him, and felt a surge of sadness that led to frantic laughter.
"Those eighty-six years of your life have really gone to the dogs," Tong Yan pointed at Tong Hai and laughed with scorn.
Tong Hai was so angry that he nearly spat out blood, and furiously said, "You... how dare you speak to me like that, I’m your own elder brother."
"Can a real elder brother conspire with outsiders to lay ambush against his own siblings?" Tong Yan, with deep sorrow and disappointment in his eyes, looked indifferently at Tong Hai and asked.
Tong Hai exclaimed in shock, "You knew all along?"
"Hmph, I, Tong Yan, have dominated the Divine Continent Martial World for decades; if I lacked even this bit of vigilance, how could I have lived till today?"
Tong Yan snorted coldly, his eyes flashing with murderous intent as he stared at Tong Hai, "You have disappointed me too much. Back then, I did not compete with you and let you manage all the affairs of the Tong Family, because as long as I was alive, no matter who led the Tong Family, it could continue to develop rapidly. But I never expected you to be so narrow-minded and short-sighted to make such foolish decisions like inviting wolves into our home."
Tong Hai’s heart trembled, and he dared not meet eyes with his younger brother.
His face showed a hint of agony, yet he finally gritted his teeth and said, "It doesn’t matter what you say to me today, Third Brother, my decision wasn’t wrong. I did it to preserve the entire Tong Family, betting on the future of the Tong Family."
"As long as I live, the Tong Family can stay safely in Binhai, no one dares to provoke us. If I die, the Tong Family will be like a fat sheep ready for slaughter, at the mercy of others!" Tong Yan said loudly, his words laced with strong confidence!
Tong Hai nodded and said, "Yes, so after you die, what should the Tong Family do? I had to think about the future of the Tong Family."
Tong Yan shook his head with deep disappointment in his eyes and said, "In terms of judging people, you are far inferior to me; I’ve already arranged everything for the future of the Tong Family."
Tong Hai angrily said, "Letting Yun Shu be Yang Fei’s mistress? Hmph, that will only bring shame to our Tong Family. Moreover, he’s the murderer who killed my grandson; he trampled our family’s honor on the Life and Death Platform. He is our family’s enemy; how could I possibly let the future of the Tong Family fall into his hands?"
Tong Yan, feeling deeply frustrated and disappointed, said, "You’re too foolish, do you think Yang Fei cares about the meager assets of the Tong Family? Do you think Yang Fei is someone the Tong Family can deal with? Big brother, you’re wrong, terribly wrong, you know nothing about Yang Fei’s true strength!"
"Don’t say it anymore!"
Just hearing Yang Fei’s name disgusted Tong Hai. He loved Tong Jianzhou deeply and couldn’t let go of his death, making it impossible for him to forgive Yang Fei.
He said, "It’s not that I underestimate that kid, but you overestimate yourself, and him as well. Anyway, our Tong Family can’t possibly reconcile with that kid."
Listening to the two elders argue heatedly, every young member of the Tong Family was pale with fright, hardly daring to breathe.
Everyone knew trouble was brewing within the family.
Many were shocked, staring unbelievably at Tong Hai and his son Tong Fujun, wondering where they found the courage today to challenge Tong Yan, the stabilizer of the family.
Had they gone mad?
"Even if we can’t reconcile with Yang Fei, you could have discussed it with me; why did it have to come to this?"
Tong Yan looked sadly at Tong Hai and suddenly pointed outside the hall, "These people are like hyenas on the grasslands. Once they appear, the Tong Family is like delicious fresh meat, they will swallow us up, leaving nothing behind. Big brother, big brother, your selfishness is going to ruin the entire Tong Family!"
As Tong Yan spoke these words, suddenly three people appeared at several entrances of the hall.
After these three appeared, everyone in the hall felt an oppressive stifling atmosphere, frozen in terror and shock.