Chapter 424: The Leng Family’s Secrets
The two of them found a secluded spot. Leng Zhicheng pointed to the ground beneath his feet. "Back then, I moved my entire family to this old estate simply to take refuge and preserve the Leng Family bloodline."
Hearing this, Leng Ning’s expression changed drastically. "Don’t tell me you all foresaw the disaster that would befall our Leng Family? Is that why you and Grandpa chose to live apart—to avoid the fate of having the entire family wiped out?"
A look of shame crossed Leng Zhicheng’s face. "That’s right. If I hadn’t chosen to leave and had become the Leng Family Patriarch instead, the branch of the family wiped out today would have been mine."
"That... That’s impossible!" Leng Ning was incredulous.
"Actually, according to the will left by Grandpa Zeng, it should have been your grandfather’s branch of the family that moved to this old estate. It’s just a shame..." Leng Zhicheng shook his head, unwilling to continue.
"A shame about what?" Leng Ning asked urgently.
"It’s a shame your grandfather’s branch suffered from internal strife. Your father and your second uncle..." Leng Zhicheng hesitated.
"My father and my second uncle were fighting?" Leng Ning was stunned. "But why?"
"I don’t know the specific reasons myself, but I heard from your grandfather that your father and second uncle had a falling out over your mother’s death," Leng Zhicheng sighed.
"That..." Leng Ning was completely stunned.
She had vaguely guessed the truth, but now that it was laid bare before her, she felt an indescribable shock.
She had heard the stories. Her father and her second uncle had both fallen in love with the same woman.
Her mother.
In the end, it was her father who won her mother over.
And because of it, her second uncle never married or had children.
’But what did that have to do with the destruction of the Leng Family?’
"Do you truly know your mother’s identity?" Leng Zhicheng suddenly asked.
"Wasn’t my mother an orphan?"
Leng Ning was stunned. Then, an unbelievable possibility struck her. "My mother, Yan Xiu... Don’t tell me she’s connected to the Yan Family!"
Leng Zhicheng sighed softly. "Ever since our family was destroyed, I’ve been searching everywhere for survivors. It’s a shame I only learned you were still alive two days ago. Otherwise, I would have found you sooner and told you your mother’s true identity... You’re right. Yan Haifeng of the Yan Family... is your maternal grandfather."
!!!
Leng Ning’s suspicion had been confirmed!
Yan Haifeng!
Yan Duo’s grandfather!
’Two days ago, Yan Duo had caused a scene at the Mu Family estate. To get Jiang Xinghai to leave, he had gone so far as to summon the Yan Family’s Third, Fourth, and Fifth Masters!’
’And in the end, Jiang Xinghai had annihilated them all with a mere flick of his wrist!’
"Back then, our Leng Family was also a great Martial Arts family in Central State, on par with the Yan Family. But the Yan Family had already arranged for your mother to marry into the Xue Family of the Provincial City. When your mother defied their decision and married your father against all odds, the Yan Family came to see us as their enemy." Leng Zhicheng fell silent after saying this.
He knew that revealing these secrets was enough for Leng Ning to piece the rest together.
And just as he expected, realization dawned on Leng Ning.
No wonder Yan Qingshan had told her the Yan Family was involved in the Leng Family’s destruction. At first, she only had strong suspicions, but after Leng Zhicheng’s explanation, she was certain.
Leng Zhicheng said wistfully, "With the Yan Family’s resources, they could have easily found my branch of the family here at the old estate. The only reason they haven’t made a move is that I’ve abided by their warning all these years: as long as we don’t show our faces in Central State, we are safe."
"Second Grand-uncle, I will deal with Yan Haifeng personally."
Leng Ning took a deep breath. ’Yan Haifeng may be my grandfather, but his methods are too ruthless!’
"He is your grandfather, after all," Leng Zhicheng said, shaking his head.
"But he killed more than thirty of our people! So what if he’s my grandfather?" Leng Ning’s resolve hardened.
"Are you sure you’re prepared to destroy your own kin for the sake of righteousness?"
Leng Zhicheng kept shaking his head, his eyes grave. "The Yan Family’s power is immense. This branch of our family has long since fallen into decline. How can you possibly stand against them alone?"
"Please, Second Grand-uncle, trust me. I have a way... to destroy the Yan Family! I’m asking you to move our clan back to Central State tomorrow," Leng Ning said, her voice full of hope.
"Forget it. As long as the Yan Family stands, this branch of the Leng Family will have to continue eking out a meager existence here," Leng Zhicheng said, his face a mask of despair.
A somber cloud seemed to settle over the old estate, and the two stood in silence for a long time.
"Second Grand-uncle, the truth is, most of the Yan Family’s power has already been wiped out."
In just a few sentences, Leng Ning recounted the events of the past few days.
"What? Yan Haichuan, Yan Haibin, and Yan Haixuan were all taken out by Jiang...?" Upon hearing this, Leng Zhicheng felt as if a tempest was raging in his heart, refusing to subside.
He knew some of the Yan Family’s core members.
And Jiang Xinghai had destroyed them all, single-handedly, with a mere turn of his hand...
"And that’s not all. Yan Haifeng’s grandson, Yan Duo, has had his limbs crippled and is currently our captive."
Leng Ning continued, "The day after tomorrow at the latest, I can get Jiang Xinghai to go with me to the Provincial City. So, I hope you’ll seriously reconsider, Second Grand-uncle."
"There’s no need for more consideration."
A glimmer of hope appeared in Leng Zhicheng’s eyes. "I don’t know who this Jiang really is, but I believe his arrival will decide the fate of the Yan Family! I’ve seen all that you’ve sacrificed, and I won’t let it be in vain. Tomorrow, I will move our entire clan back to Central State!"