Firmament Sword

The entire report failed to mention Huo Lin even once. Far from calling Huo Jinshan and Huo Jinyin traitors, it painted them as heroes who had sacrificed themselves for the family!

This was all so theatrical that Huo Lin simply couldn’t accept it. At the same time, Huo Lin realized that what his grandfather had just said was all his own speculation!

He wanted to deny it, but he knew in his heart that his grandfather’s guess was spot on.

He really had bribed Huo Jinshan and Huo Jinyin, and he really had taken men there to eliminate Huo Feng!

These... were all iron-clad facts!

”Alright... Let’s drop this matter here! Fortunately, the fallout hasn’t been too severe. As for Huo Feng, leave him be for now. He is cunning, ruthless, and his schemes run deep...” the Huo Family Master said, glancing at his grandson with a sigh.

”But... it’s too late, Grandfather. I... I...” Huo Lin stumbled back two steps, his eyes lifeless as he stammered, ”I’ve already sent someone to inform the Old Ancestor...”

”You... you scoundrel! Are you trying to be the death of me?” The Huo Family Master’s face went pale with shock. He never imagined the news had already reached the Old Ancestor. He pointed a trembling finger at Huo Lin, shaking with rage.

”I was just worried that Huo Feng would rush back and beat me to the punch, playing the victim...” Huo Lin said weakly.

”It’s over... This is a disaster!” The Huo Family Master’s expression shifted repeatedly. After a long moment, he grabbed Huo Lin’s wrist and said, ”You’re coming with me. We’re going to see the Old Ancestor!”

”But...” Huo Lin’s handsome face twisted in anguish. He had already sent someone to lie to the Old Ancestor. ’If I go now, what if the Old Ancestor gets angry and slaps me to death?’

”If we request an audience with the Old Ancestor now, we’ll at least have a chance to argue right from wrong. Worst case, you can just say that your men made a judgment call based on the situation at the time! At most, it’ll be seen as you misunderstanding Huo Feng. If we don’t go now, your reputation in the Old Ancestor’s eyes will plummet!” the Huo Family Master hastily explained before dragging him off to see the Old Ancestor.

When they reached the place where the Huo Family’s Old Ancestor was in seclusion, the Huo Family Master kicked the unsuspecting Huo Lin squarely in the rear, sending him sprawling to the ground and scraping his face.

Huo Lin subconsciously started to get up, a look of grievance on his face.

Just then, the Huo Family Master roared, ”You foolish little bastard, get on your knees!”

The roar struck Huo Lin like a bolt of lightning, his mind going completely blank. He dropped to his knees out of pure instinct.

The Huo Family Master cupped his fists toward the place of seclusion and said in a grave voice, ”Old Ancestor, I have just received a secret dispatch. Huo Feng and his men have finally discovered the whereabouts of Beidou’s Eighth Star. During the ensuing battle, two side-branch members of the Jin generation were killed. In his haste to pursue Beidou’s Eighth Star, Huo Feng had no time to return and report in person, so he could only send word via dispatch. The second matter is that my grandson, Huo Lin, is young and ignorant. He made a gross misjudgment and has made a fool of himself. I have brought this little bastard here to ask for the Old Ancestor’s judgment and punishment!”

The place where the Old Ancestor, Huo Tongtian, was in seclusion remained utterly silent. Not a sound emerged.

The Huo Family Master stood there, bowed and motionless, while Huo Lin knelt on the ground, utterly dejected, like a mindless statue.

After a long moment, something suddenly shot out from the place of seclusion. It landed with a dull THUD in front of the kneeling Huo Lin.

Huo Lin flinched. He stared, his eyes widening in shock. Before him lay Huo Xu—the very man he had sent to report to the Old Ancestor!

And now, Huo Xu was bleeding from all seven orifices, completely devoid of life!

Then, an icy voice drifted from the Old Ancestor’s place of seclusion. ”So young, and already a habitual liar. To dare and try to deceive me! Heh heh, you’ve got quite the nerve!”

Huo Lin was frozen with fear, trembling so violently he looked like a leaf in the wind.

A chill ran through the Huo Family Master’s heart. He knew that this time, the Old Ancestor was truly furious.

’The Old Ancestor has lived for far too long and seen countless plots and schemes. What in this world could possibly be hidden from his eyes?’

’Huo Lin actually had the audacity to lie to the Old Ancestor. It’s a good thing he didn’t deliver the report himself, or he would be the one dead right now!’

The Huo Family Master had no doubt that the Old Ancestor would strike Huo Lin down in his fury. Throughout the entire Huo Family, the Old Ancestor, Huo Tongtian, held absolute authority. No one dared to defy him!

”Old Ancestor, please quell your anger! On account of the boy’s youth and ignorance, I beg you to spare him this once...” the Huo Family Master pleaded.

’At a time like this, I can no longer ask the Old Ancestor for punishment. What if he takes me at my word?’

”Hmph. I don’t care if you deceive others, but you dared to deceive me. For that, you cannot be forgiven! Considering you are of the Huo Family’s direct bloodline, I will spare your life. However, you will not escape punishment. From now on... just be a man of leisure and stay out of trouble!” The Old Ancestor’s merciless voice floated out from his seclusion, piercing Huo Lin’s heart like a sharp arrow.

With a cry, Huo Lin spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and collapsed, unconscious.

He had failed to harm another, only to bring disaster upon himself. It had to be said, it was difficult to feel any sympathy for Huo Lin’s plight.

The Huo Family Master’s face darkened. Gazing at his unconscious grandson on the ground, he blamed himself. ’I shouldn’t have let Huo Lin go up against Huo Feng. Who could have guessed that Huo Feng had such a powerful force backing him?’

The power Huo Feng had displayed this time had even startled the Huo Family Master. ’Could the Bai Family have made a move?’ he thought.