The Lin's Patriarch is weird.

The world of Henglian was unimaginably vast.

Empires ruled endless territories, immortal sects overlooked mountains that stretched beyond the horizon, and countless kingdoms rose and fell beneath the passage of time.

At the eastern edge of the continent lay the Tianhe Empire, a colossal power that governed hundreds of kingdoms beneath its banner.

One such kingdom was Loushi.

Nestled upon a prosperous peninsula, the Loushi Kingdom was embraced by the sea on three sides, while its northern frontier bordered the mighty Tianhe Empire.

Though insignificant compared to the empire that overshadowed it, Loushi had flourished through commerce, cultivation, and the abundance of its natural resources.

Within its borders stood twelve cities connected by roads and waterways.

Three cultivation sects established their foundations within the kingdom, while twenty-five ranked cultivation families divided influence among themselves.

Among those families, three had reached Rank Seven, standing at the pinnacle of the kingdom’s aristocracy.

Seven more held the status of Rank Eight, while the remaining fifteen occupied Rank Nine, each governing territories, businesses, and countless cultivators beneath their banners.

Although the kingdom appeared peaceful on the surface, the balance between its powers had begun to shift.

The sudden rise of the Lin Family had stirred waves throughout the entire kingdom, forcing every major power to reconsider alliances that had remained unchanged for decades.

Meanwhile, far to the northwest, beside the endless Yew Woods, Violet Log City had become increasingly restless.

For several weeks, spirit beasts had emerged from the ancient forest in unprecedented numbers.

Hunter parties vanished without a trace.

Merchant caravans were forced to travel under heavy escort.

Even experienced cultivators had begun avoiding the deeper roads leading through the forest.

Rumors spread through the city with every passing day.

Some claimed a Beast King had awakened within the Yew Woods.

Others believed an ancient ruin had surfaced, disturbing the beasts that had slumbered there for centuries.

Whatever the truth might be, one fact had become undeniable.

The Yew Woods... were no longer peaceful.

And Violet Log City was the first to bear the consequences.

Inside the City Lord’s Manor, the atmosphere was unbearably heavy.

Maps of the surrounding region were spread across a large wooden table, each covered with hastily marked beast sightings, destroyed villages, and blocked roads.

The city lord, Shangguan Zhentian, pinched the bridge of his nose as a dull ache throbbed through his temples.

"How is the request for reinforcements coming?"

His weary eyes swept across the officials gathered before him.

"We need to escort the mortals out safely before another beast tide reaches the city."

Silence filled the hall.

Finally, a young attendant standing beside him stepped forward, lowering his head.

"City Lord..."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"All of our messengers were turned away before they could even reach the doors of the major families."

Shangguan Zhentian frowned.

"Every one of them?"

"Yes, City Lord."

The young attendant hesitated before continuing.

"Only the Lin Family opened their gates and received our messenger. However..."

The attendant’s expression grew bitter.

"They said they were unable to spare any reinforcements."

Shangguan Zhentian’s brows knitted together.

"For what reason?"

"The Xu Family has been repeatedly attacking Lin Family caravans recently.

If they dispatch their cultivators to Violet Log City, their trade routes would be left completely undefended."

The room fell silent.

Everyone present understood what those words implied.

The Lin Family had not refused because they lacked compassion.

They simply could not afford to.

Every cultivator they sent away would invite another ambush from the Xu Family, crippling the very trade that sustained their rapidly growing clan.

Shangguan Zhentian let out a long, exhausted sigh.

"So even the Lin Family’s hands are tied..."

His gaze drifted toward the map of the kingdom.

Beyond the city walls, the distant Yew Woods loomed like a dark sea, where the roars of spirit beasts seemed to grow louder with each passing night.

If reinforcements did not arrive soon, Violet Log City might not survive the coming beast tide.

Within the Lin Family estate, the atmosphere was completely different.

Lin Zhaoyue sat comfortably on Lin Xuan’s lap, leisurely eating grapes one after another while he read the latest intelligence report delivered by the Lin’s family Shadow Guards.

After swallowing another grape, she looked up at him curiously.

"Father, are we really going to Violet Log City?"

Lin Xuan folded the message and nodded.

"Yes, Yue’er. When we’re able to help, we should."

Lin Zhaoyue blinked before another thought crossed her mind.

"Is that why you always have the caravans loaded with food along with so many pills?"

She genuinely could not understand.

Those caravans were being ambushed almost every day.

If the Xu Family seized them, they were practically receiving free supplies.

Wasn’t her father feeding his own enemies?

Lin Xuan chuckled at her innocent question.

"I don’t know. For the past two weeks, the Xu Family has repeatedly attacked our caravans."

He paused before adding,

"But they haven’t harmed a single one of our people I intend to meet with them and talk."

"Why?"

She looked at him with undisguised confusion.

The Xu Family had left the safety of their own territory and marched all the way to Azure Willow City for the sole purpose of sabotaging the Lin Family.

Their actions had already made their position perfectly clear.

Shouldn’t the Lin Family respond in kind?

Father is weird...

She silently reached that conclusion while popping another grape into her mouth.

Lin Xuan smiled as though he had guessed exactly what was going through her little head.

"Because... The Xu Family Patriarch himself is among the ambushers."

He lightly tapped the intelligence report resting on his lap.

"Not only are our guards left alive, but even those who are wounded are treated before being released."

His gaze drifted toward the distant west, where the road leading to Violet Log City vanished into the horizon.

"A clan that truly wished to become our enemy wouldn’t show such restraint. So I have reason to believe that something is forcing Xu Wenyuan’s hand."

Lin Zhaoyue fell silent for a moment before raising a possibility.

"What if..."

She looked at her father seriously.

"What if they’re using this as bait to lure you there?"

Lin Xuan nodded.

"I’ve considered that."

He gently placed the report aside before smiling.

"But don’t they need to be strong enough to harm me first?"

Seeing the puzzled look on his daughter’s face, he chuckled.

"Did you forget? Your father is a Nascent Soul expert."