Chapter 334: Regret

In the City Lord's Mansion at Black Gold City, Wen Yusheng, looking exhausted, carried a document as he walked toward the office where the clan leader resided.

His fatigue wasn't just from hearing about the crushing defeat on the frontlines and the news that his eldest son, in whom he had placed high hopes, had been captured.

In just a few months, his responsibilities had grown from managing the affairs of Xiangye Territory to nearly overseeing a third of Molong Country's matters.

That wasn't even the worst of it.

The real problem was that many elders, believing their seniority gave them the right, had started to vie for power as soon as the situation seemed to improve.

With all these issues piling up, Wen Yusheng felt drained. He even started longing for the simpler days in Xiangye Territory six months ago.

Unfortunately... there was no going back.

Carrying these heavy thoughts, he soon arrived at Lin Langya's office.

Before he could enter, he overheard the clan leader giving orders.

"We must hold River Valley City at all costs. It's the gateway to the Black Gold Plains. If it falls, there will be nothing left to defend. Within half a month, everything the Lin Clan has built over the last decade will vanish.

"Given the current international situation, failure this time won't just mean lying low for a resurgence; Great Moon will be erased from history."

Wen Yusheng's heart sank.

Has the enemy already reached River Valley City, less than twelve hours after the defeat?

The Black Gold Plains were their primary stronghold. If it was lost, Great Moon's resurgence would be completely foiled.

How long had it been? Not even half a year.

His mood heavy, Wen Yusheng called out as he entered the office, "Clan Leader."

Entering, he saw Lin Fuxing as well as several young and outstanding members of the Lin Clan assisting Lin Langya in managing various affairs.

Wen Yusheng ignored them and placed a pile of documents on the table. "Clan Leader, these are the supply requests submitted by the other branches."

Before Lin Langya got to review them, Lin Fuxing had already grabbed the documents, his brows furrowed. After only a glance, he angrily tossed them aside. "What are they thinking? Trying to split the clan? Do they plan to change their names and stop calling themselves Lin after they've secured these resources?"

Wen Yusheng remained silent, quietly picking up the scattered documents and tidying up the office.

Meanwhile, Lin Fuxing grew increasingly furious. "I understand now. With Sixth Grand Elder dead, Fourteenth Uncle gravely injured, and no sign of Moxue making any breakthrough, they've decided it's all over. They want to give up...."

Lin Fuxing, groomed to succeed Lin Langya as the future crown prince should the resurgence be successful, shouted angrily, "As members of the royal family, don't they have any sense of honor left?"

"Royal honor..." murmured Wen Yusheng, sighing. "It's been sixty-four years since Great Moon fell. What honor could they still have?"

These words only fueled Lin Fuxing's anger. "What? Lin Yusheng, are you planning to break away too? Do you know how many benefits the Clan Leader gave your branch—"

"Enough!"

Lin Langya cut him off sharply before he could finish.

"Father, I'm telling the truth! If we hadn't sent that rare astral equipment away, Sixth Grand Elder might still be alive—"

Lin Fuxing tried to argue further, but Lin Langya slammed the table. "Silence! Get out!"

Seeing his father so furious, Lin Fuxing flinched and dared not speak again. He quickly withdrew.

"You all leave too," Lin Langya said to the others. "Yusheng, you stay."

The others didn't dare linger and left, leaving only Wen Yusheng in the room.

"Royal honor,

huh...

" Leaning back in his chair, Lin Langya exhaled a long breath. "Yes, it's been sixty-four years. What honor does the royal family still have?"

"Clan Leader—"

Lin Langya waved for Wen Yusheng to stop.

"I know. To the Six Extremities now... No, not just them, but to other countries as well, Great Moon is nothing but a joke. We're like clowns, popping up now and then for their amusement. That's all we've become."

A deep weariness flickered in Lin Langya's eyes.

"I've been doing everything I can to keep the Lin Clan's royal lineage intact, to ensure that our people's spirit doesn't completely fade away. At the very least... we must maintain some unity. Only through unity can there be hope..."

He glanced at the pile of requests on his desk and let out a self-deprecating laugh. "But the truth is, many of the side branches only acknowledge their royal lineage because we haven't run out of resources yet. They still benefit from us. That's why they follow my orders on the surface."

Wen Yusheng remained silent.

The Lin family now numbered in the thousands. With so many individuals, it was only natural that there would be a wide range of opinions

"Given the current situation, we've to admit, we've lost completely. And once the Human Alliance restructures, Great Moon will have no chance of resurfacing."

Lin Langya looked at Wen Yusheng. "You know it, I know it, everyone knows it."

He paused for a moment. "That's also why the multinational coalition forces managed to break through to River Valley City so effortlessly in just twelve hours."

Some had already surrendered, betraying the Lin Clan's interests to save themselves.

"Restoring Great Moon has always been an unrealistic dream. Apart from us, probably no one else wishes for Great Moon to return. After all, no one understands better than we do how our ancestors once ruled over this land."

Lin Langya looked at Wen Yusheng. "It's time to wake up."

Wen Yusheng stayed silent for a long time. In the end, he finally said, "It should have ended long ago."

Lin Langya was momentarily stunned. He glanced at Wen Yusheng, recalling the governance proposals he made during his time in Xiangye Territory, and let out a bitter smile. "You've never agreed with our approach, have you? But why did you still...?"

"No matter what, I'm part of the Lin clan. That's something that will never change."

Wen Yusheng—no, he should be called Lin Yusheng now.

Lin Yusheng looked at Lin Langya and said, "So, despite knowing some of your actions were wrong, my position left me no choice but to follow along."

"Wrong..." Lin Langya sighed. "Do you think we don't know some of this is wrong? But we can't change it. If we did... the Lin Royal Family would really just become another clan."

He chuckled. "But there's no point in changing anything now. Let's leave it at that."

Lin Yusheng was stunned. "Clan Leader, you..."

"Just as they wanted, we'll split the family," concluded Lin Langya with a sneer. "But I won't give them a single penny."

He fixed his gaze on Lin Yusheng and said firmly, "Now, only your original proposal remains."

"My original proposal?"

It quickly hit Lin Yusheng, and he froze. His pupils dilated. "You mean Master Li?"

"Exactly." Lin Langya nodded firmly. "Back then, you suggested that we align ourselves with him, allowing the Lin family to rely on him. You said it would appear as dependence but would be more akin to cooperation.

𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"His aims are entirely different from ours, and his presence wouldn't affect our rule over this land. It would be like inviting a revered, supreme elder into a sect— someone we support with the resources and environment he needs. In return, his presence would serve as a stabilizing force, ensuring that no foreign power threatens the new nation we establish."

"A revered elder, indeed," Lin Yusheng muttered.

That was indeed his suggestion. But it had been rejected at the time.

Everyone in the Lin family, including Lin Langya, believed that once Sect Master Li gained absolute power, he would never relinquish control of Great Moon to them.

They believed he would certainly replace the Lin Clan, ruling like a dictator with a tight grip over the land, suppressing the Lin Clan to secure his position. They thought it over from their perspective and realized that if they were in his place, they would do the same.

"Clan Leader, why did you change your mind?" Lin Yusheng asked.

Lin Langya pulled out a report and handed it to him. With just a glance, Lin Yusheng's pupils dilated in shock.

"Three Top-Tier Astral Cultivators?!"

"All dead," revealed Lin Langya, exhaling deeply. "That kind of strength, even if it doesn't quite reach the level of a Master Astral Cultivator, it isn't far off."

He looked at Lin Yusheng. "Despite having such power, he's never interfered much with the Dragonfist Sect. You could say he has greater ambitions.

"However, what's more likely is that... with his talent and future, there's no need for him to fixate on something as small as Dragon Fist Sect—or even the revival of Great Moon. His stage should be the world. Perhaps even... beyond the legendary level!"

Lin Yusheng was astonished. "Beyond the Legendary level?!"

He hadn't expected that Lin Langya would hold Sect Master Li in such high regard.

"Don't forget, it's only been a year since the Martial God path was founded. In just one year, he's reached this level. Give him another year, and who's to say he won't rival a Master Astral Cultivator? Give him three years, and even the Masters will fall beneath him. He'll raise the banner of the Martial God, rival the Legends, and stand at the pinnacle of the world."

Lin Langya's face twisted in pain, "I regret it. If only I had listened to your advice earlier.... When Martial God Li ascends to the Legendary level, how could Great Moon not flourish? We wouldn't be on the brink of annihilation as we are now."

Hearing this, Lin Yusheng's eyes flickered with sorrow.

If only? A thousand gold coins can't buy foresight.

[1]

Lin Langya sighed deeply and handed him a badge. "Go. Take the Lin Royal Family... take our people and everything we have left to the Dragonfist Sect and ask for Sect Master Li's protection."

Lin Yusheng's heart skipped a beat. "Clan Leader!?"

He knew exactly what the badge represented for the Lin Clan. It wasn't just the key to their treasury; it also symbolized the authority of the clan's leader.

"This... is the only way he might save Xingchen," Lin Langya said solemnly.

Lin Yusheng, initially still a bit hesitant, fell into silence upon hearing those words.

Lin Xingchen, his eldest son! The one he took the most pride in, who was perfect in every way.... If there was even the slightest shred of hope that he could save him, he would pay any price.

He couldn't bear to see his son die.

"Clan Leader, I—"

"Go, Great Moon is truly finished. Don't let our stubbornness drag us further into the wrong path. You all deserve a better future."

1. Imply no amount of regrets can change the past. ☜