Chapter 618: Chapter 618: Reluctance

Yi Lin took Yi Huai back to the Yi Family home, and the atmosphere in the living room returned to its usual tranquility.

Baili Hengyuan’s expression seemed quite good, which showed that he was quite satisfied with the outcome of the day. However, when he turned his head and saw Zhong Niangyao’s expressionless face, he couldn’t help but grow curious.

“Nianyao, what do you think?” he asked, a bit puzzled, “Aren’t you satisfied with how Yi Lin was dealt with?”

Zhong Niangyao shook her head, a flicker of obscurity passing through her eyes, “It doesn’t matter whether I’m satisfied or not, after all, whatever Yi Lin’s intentions may have been, it doesn’t matter anymore.”

Hearing Zhong Niangyao’s words, Baili Hengyuan was startled, “Are you saying that Yi Lin has other plans in the dark, that what he said today was all lies to deceive us?”

“Whether it is or not is no longer important,” Zhong Niangyao shook her head, “Yi Huai’s life will not last much longer.”

“What?” Baili Hengyuan was shocked, almost leaping to his feet. After managing to calm himself down, he slowly asked, “What’s going on?”

“Who knows?” Zhong Niangyao shrugged nonchalantly, “Just now, I saw that Yi Huai had a darkened forehead and a cloud of darkness over his head, and even a faint hint of blood-red, which indicates a disaster of blood.”

“Really?” Baili Hengyuan’s eyes widened in disbelief, “Nianyao, are you serious? Is Yi Huai really–”

“Most likely.” Zhong Niangyao narrowed her eyes, “His current brush with death is a narrow escape from fate, nearly impossible to avoid, unless some miracle happens.”

“Hahaha, indeed heaven has eyes!” Baili Hengyuan laughed heartily, “Yi Huai’s deeds have led to this retribution.”

Zhong Niangyao and Lu Yichen exchanged a look but ultimately said nothing.

Elsewhere, having returned to the Yi Family, Yi Lin looked at the bedraggled Yi Huai, opened his mouth but then sighed, “Alright, clean yourself up, and then I’ll have someone send you and your family away from here to live in the outside world.”

Hearing Yi Lin’s words, Yi Huai suddenly looked up, his face full of dissent, “Father, are you really going to drive our entire family away? By doing this, aren’t you pushing us all into a dead end?”

“I can hardly be blamed for that,” Yi Lin shook his head, his gaze sharp as he looked at Yi Huai, “When you did what you did back then, you should have anticipated such consequences. And moreover, you admitted it yourself to Zhong Niangyao; now the evidence is in their hands. The Baili Family is determined not to let you go, so what do you think I should do?”

“Insist on keeping you, thus becoming enemies with the Baili Family. If it was before, I might have agreed, but now, that’s impossible.”

“Father,” Yi Huai said gritting his teeth, “is it because of Zhong Niangyao?”

“What do you think?” Yi Lin spoke coldly, “If it weren’t for you hiding the matter of the Judge, I wouldn’t have even participated in today’s events.”

“Yi Huai, ask yourself, do you still have a place for me, your father, in your heart? You concealed such an important matter, causing me to be humiliated by the Baili Family; do you think you are entirely faultless?”

“I just–” Yi Huai felt somewhat guilty speaking of the matter, “was worried that if you knew, you wouldn’t protect me.”

“So you hid it from me, then had me gamble the entire Yi Family’s future?” Yi Lin’s gaze was icy as he looked at Yi Huai, the coldness seeping through, “Yi Huai, do you truly think you are more important than the entire Yi Family?”

“I…” Yi Huai dodged, unable to meet Yi Lin’s eyes, “Father, I didn’t–”

“Enough, say no more,” Yi Lin waved his hand, rubbed his temples, and then continued, “Yi Huai, I will have someone send your entire family out into the world, and I will make arrangements for your lives there, so don’t worry. However–”

At this point, Yi Lin’s expression became serious, his eyes sharp, “One thing you must remember, once you’re out there, you are not allowed to use the Yi Family’s divination abilities. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

Watching Yi Lin, Yi Huai wanted to say something, but after thinking it over, he remained silent.

He knew very well that this was his father’s bottom line. If he continued to be unreasonable, his family would not have a good life in the future.

But he just couldn’t bear to leave like that.

For so many years, he had always been the most gifted in the Yi Family. Among the many Hidden Families, he had been a role model.

Yet now, not only had Zhong Niangyao meddled with his body, subjecting him to inhuman torture daily, but he was also about to be dishonorably expelled from the Yi Family.

It wasn’t just him; even his children were to be driven out and would forever be unable to return to the Yi Family.

He was unwilling, utterly unwilling.

Seeing Yi Huai’s reluctance, Yi Lin’s cold voice rose again, “Yi Huai, you’ve always been a clever child, so I think you should be very clear about what the best choice for you is.”

“If you won’t think for yourself, at least consider your children. Staying here is no good for them either. They would always carry the sins you created, never able to raise their heads with dignity.”

Thinking of his children, even with all his reluctance, Yi Huai could only swallow it, “Alright, father, I understand. I’ll take them away from the Yi Family, away from Changbai Mountain.”

Yi Lin nodded in satisfaction, then spoke with a heavy heart, “Yi Huai, don’t resent the harshness of me as your father. I am not just your father, but also the head of the entire Yi Family. I have to think of your brothers and sisters as well.”

Yi Huai bowed his head, his facial expression hidden, as he somberly replied, “Father, I understand.”

With things settled, Yi Huai lost all vigor, looking like a walking corpse as he returned to his room.

Upon entering his room, he saw Huang Wan lying on the bed, aged and with graying hair, looking like she was on her deathbed, and a flicker of annoyance passed through his eyes. Still, he sighed, then approached the bed and sat down, “Wanwan, I’ve been driven out of the Yi Family, and so have the children, we’re about to leave.”