Meanwhile, in the vast hall of the Feng Clan’s main manor, silence reigned after Feng Lin’s abrupt departure. Around the table, Patriarch Feng Tian, his wife, and his daughter Feng Yue exchanged heavy glances. The atmosphere was tense, charged with an unspoken understanding.

  Feng Tian crossed his arms and let out a long sigh. “That boy… He has changed.”

  Feng Yue, who had just finished her meal, raised an eyebrow. “That’s obvious. He woke up after fifteen years in a coma and now acts as if he’s a completely different person. His sudden arrogance, his disdain for food… He wasn’t like that before.”

  Feng Lin’s mother slowly nodded, a shadow of sadness passing through her gaze. “I wonder if his long sleep has affected his mind. Or maybe he’s just trying to make up for all those lost years.”

  The patriarch shook his head. “Whatever the reason, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. A weak and docile child has no place in this world. If he wants to survive, he will have to forge his own strength.”

  Feng Yue set down her chopsticks and fixed her father with a steady gaze. “But father, let’s be realistic. No matter how hard he tries, he will never have my talent. I reached the fifth stage of Body Refinement at nineteen. He has barely stepped into the first stage. The gap is insurmountable.”

  A silence settled over the room. Feng Tian took a moment to think before replying. “Precisely. Feng Lin has no future here. The Feng Clan is already in ruins, and he doesn’t have the strength to help us rebuild it. If we push him to leave, perhaps he’ll find a better place to live, far from this decrepit land.”

  His wife frowned. “You want to expel him from the clan?”

  “No,” Feng Tian replied in a calm tone. “But if he realizes on his own that he’s dead weight, then he’ll have no choice but to leave. Letting him believe he has a place here would be a cruel illusion.”

  Feng Yue smirked. “In that case, we should just keep looking down on him, right? If he has any sense left, he’ll leave on his own.”

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  Feng Lin’s mother hesitated but eventually nodded. “I suppose that’s better than watching him fail here…”

  After a brief silence, Feng Yue abruptly changed the subject. “Since we’re talking about cultivation, father, I’d like to discuss my progress.”

  Feng Tian nodded, finally turning a fond gaze toward his daughter. “Of course. How do you feel about your breakthrough to the sixth stage?”

  Feng Yue wore a confident smile. “I’m progressing well, but I need purer resources. The pills we have are of inferior quality. If we want me to advance quickly, I’ll need rarer herbs.”

  Feng Tian slowly nodded. “We’ll see what we can acquire. But don’t be impatient. Rushing in cultivation leads to ruin.”

  Feng Yue acknowledged his words, but deep down, she was certain of one thing: no matter what her brother tried to achieve, he would never surpass her. She was the heir of the Feng Clan. He was nothing but a burden destined to fade away.

  Meanwhile, far from the manor, Feng Lin continued his battle, unaware of his own family’s schemes.

  A brief silence had settled after the discussion about Feng Lin. But his sister, tapping lightly on the table with her fingertips, quickly spoke again in a thoughtful tone.

  — “Father, there’s something else we need to talk about. The attacks from those insignificant rats are becoming more frequent.”

  Her piercing gaze landed on her father, waiting for a reaction. Seated at the center of the table, he crossed his arms and let out a deep sigh. His expression was grave, a sign that he had already been thinking about the problem.

  — “I know. Those miserable scavengers are taking advantage of our clan’s weakness to steal our remaining resources. Although they’re weak individually, their numbers are becoming a concern.”

  The mother, usually silent, placed her cup down with a weary sigh. Her delicate, elegant face showed the exhaustion built up over the years.

  — “This was inevitable. Ever since the clan’s fall, we no longer have the means to maintain a proper defense. Our experts have left, and those who remain aren’t strong enough to inspire fear. At this rate, it won’t just be thieves coming, but enemy factions looking to annex our territory.”

  Her tone was calm, but the weight of her words was heavy. Her daughter clenched her fists, visibly frustrated.

  — “Father, how much longer are we going to tolerate this?! With every attack, we lose precious resources. I could easily wipe out these vermin, but I’m alone. Why not invest in some mercenaries? We still have hidden funds, don’t we?”

  The clan leader fixed her with a severe gaze.

  — “And then what? Do you really think mercenaries will remain loyal? We no longer have the prestige we once did. The moment someone offers them a better price, they’ll betray us. Moreover, we can’t afford to attract attention by hiring outside forces. We’re already walking on a tightrope.”

  His wife nodded in agreement.

  — “He’s right. We need to handle this situation smartly, not recklessly.”

  The young woman’s dissatisfaction was evident, but she knew her parents were right. Yet, the idea of constantly being on the defensive was unbearable to her.

  Seeing his daughter’s frustration, the clan leader softened his tone slightly.

  — “However… we can turn their own strategy against them. We know they attack in small groups. Instead of confronting them head-on, why not set traps and crush them before they become a bigger threat?”

  She raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

  — “You mean… hunt them down one by one?”

  A faint smile appeared on the clan leader’s face.

  — “Exactly. They think we are weak and disorganized. We must prove them wrong.”