Can a Scholar Be Called a Villain

Chapter 30: Xue clan’s warning

“Oh? Ma Jian Chou wants to see me? Lead the way to the hall.” Murong Lin’s brows were furrowed as he followed.

The moment he entered, he could see Ma Jian Chou seated on a chair as though he was sitting on pins and needles. He had a worried expression as he fiddled with his hands, it was obvious that he was full of hesitation and worry.

“Ma Jian Chou, did you see a ghost?” Murong Lin laughed as he walked to him.

Seeing that Murong Lin arrived, Ma Jian Chou laughed bitterly as he hurriedly stood up to look at Murong Lin, “Aiyo, how could you be in the mood to joke around! Do you know what happened with the Xue clan?”

“What happened?” Murong Lin asked, “Isn’t it just a few people dying off?”

Ma Jian Chou’s expression was dazed, before quickly turning into respect, “Just a few people died? You’re really something. Not only did the Xue clan’s prodigy, Xue Lin Na, die, but not a single one of the twenty-odd disciples they sent to the South Village King came back alive. Adding in the two Manifestation realm elders, the Xue clan is practically imploding.”

“What kind of implosion?” Murong Lin asked in curiosity.

“Hah, this entire incident must be caused by one of the enemies of the Xue clan, how many clans do you think would dare to go against the Xue clan in Yan? They’re going crazy over there, killing at the drop of a hat and chasing after all kinds of people regardless of the severity of their offences. Their stronger enemies are getting offended left and right, and their weaker enemies are getting their entire families annihilated. The Xue clan is acting like a pack of mad dogs right now, biting everyone they can, don’t you think that counts as an implosion?” Ma Jian Chou blurted out all the fear and misery in his heart, even he was investigated by the Xue clan thoroughly.

But he did think that this incident was caused by one of the four great clans, and it might even possibly be the act of the Murong clan. The one thing he didn’t expect was that the culprit was the powerless-looking third prince, Murong Lin, who was standing before him right now.

Ever since the Xue clan heard about the disappearance of their members after entering the remnants two weeks ago, they started madly investigating the entire area. The deaths of two elders, along with some prospective talents in their younger generations was undoubtedly a blow even to the Xue clan, despite their success and size. The entire family was in chaos, and then they started their reckless retaliation.

The Xue clan wasn’t stupid, this entire incident happened discreetly, and to them, it was undoubtedly the work of a clan with a similar influence as them. It was an obvious answer, but also an answer that made them powerless in this situation.

“So? That’s not even our problem, why are you even worried?” Murong Lin pretended to ask.

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“I’m worried? I’m worried for you! Aiya, don’t you understand? The Xue clan will bite anyone they can after suffering such a loss. If you weren’t back, it would’ve been fine, but now that you are, considering your position as the inspector dispatched to the city that the Xue clan guarded, and the fact that you have grudges with them, you should know better! Even if you’re the third prince, they will still demand an explanation from you.” Ma Jian Chou explained, “Our friends are all fine, but with your situation and your status, the Xue clan might target you.”

Murong Lin laughed coldly, “Have they not been targeting me in the past few years? I’m not afraid of them.”

“Haah, forget it. My grandpa told me to be careful these days, so I’ll be heading back for now. I arranged a feast for you at our usual place at night, remember to come.”

Watching as Ma Jian Chou departed the Faith palace, a cold look flashed past Murong Lin’s eyes, “Xue clan? They’re about to be history.”

Just as Ma Jian Chou had guessed, three members of the Xue clan visited the palace at night. It was the Xue clan’s clan leader Xue Zhan and two Manifestation realm elders of the Xue clan.

The two elders stood behind Xue Zhan with a solemn expressions, surveying the surroundings carefully as they entered the palace as if they were looking for something. On the other hand, Xue Zhan was completely emotionless, it seemed as though he hadn’t heard the news of his daughter’s death at all.

“I greet the Xue clan’s clan leader.” Murong Lin welcomed them with cupped hands, his expression equally as calm.

Murong Lin had only met Xue Zhan three times in his life, and every single time, he would leave a different impression. Just like Murong Lin, Xue Zhan was a clever man.

In his efforts to become the clan leader, he sent off his younger cousin, Murong Lin’s mother, into the palace while he was young. Afterwards, he relied on Xue Lin Na to suppress the elders of the clan while successfully garnering the support of most of the younger disciples, further solidifying his position as the clan leader. Today, he was a ninth layer Manifestation realm expert under the age of 50 that was considered to be one of the strongest members of the Xue clan and other than the ancestor of the Xue clan, he was the one controlling the entire clan.

But he despised Murong Lin.

In Xue Zhan’s eyes, Murong Lin was a trashy prince that was unworthy of his support and resources. Naturally, he had never interacted with Murong Lin much.

Even his mother, a woman that only cared about the Xue clan, never had much affection for Murong Lin.

This was one of the reasons behind Murong Lin’s dark personality.

“Xue clan leader, please sit.” Murong Lin gestured respectfully.

“No need.” Xue Zhan rejected coldly, and he asked while standing, “Little Lin, I have a few questions to ask you, is that fine?”

Murong Lin’s eyebrows twitched as he retracted his outstretched arm, with a calm expression, he responded, “Of course, please tell me.”

“En, the party from the Xue clan was guarding the city you were assigned, is that right?”

“Yes.”

“Afterwards, they entered the remnants and went missing, right?” Xue Zhan asked.

“Yes, I have no idea where they went, perhaps they found another fortuitous opportunity.” Murong Lin faked a response to comfort him.

“No need to comfort me, if they’re dead, so be it. Hah! Don’t let me find out what exactly caused their deaths, or I will definitely return it a hundredfold!” Xue Zhan spoke coldly as his gaze swept towards the ring of holding on Murong Lin’s hand.

“Little Lin, it seems like you’ve profited quite a bit from the remnants this time.”

Murong Lin followed his gaze toward his own hand, and seeing the ring of holding, he immediately understood what he was saying, “These are just some knick-knacks I found, and here I was, hoping to find some items to help boost my cultivation.”

The aura emitting from the 《Lifelessness Law》he practised was only at the third or fourth layer of the Origin realm, masking an entire great realm that even Xue Zhan couldn’t see through. Never would he have guessed that the nephew that he had always disdained was at a higher cultivation than the prodigy of the Xue clan, Xue Lin Na.

“That’s right, the tournament is nearing. I will let the Xue clan increase your supplies by a bit.” After Xue Zhan finished his sentence, he turned to leave as he spoke, “If you have the time, go and visit your mother.”

“Yes!” Murong Lin answered quietly as he stood.

The two elders of the Xue clan didn’t forget to glare at Murong Lin viciously before leaving.

Murong Lin remained in the hall, his lips curled as he watched their leaving figures. Only after they had left, he finally couldn’t contain his laughter anymore.

“Hahahaha! Someone, prepare my sedan chair, I will go into the inner palace to visit that cold-blooded mother of mine.”

“Yes.” Bai Lao Bo stood behind him, answering respectfully.