Chapter 449: The Patriarch In The Flesh (2/2)

Above us stood someone, partially hidden in the shrubbery. Who else could it be but Song Heting?

”Jiangbei Daggers, then it’s worth it!”

ong Yang, why do you insist on your ways?” she roared.

Knowing we had no way out, I admitted, ”Aunt Song, I'm sorry. When my grandfather died, I swore to avenge him. This is my mission which I must complete!”

Song Heting was gritting her teeth so hard that the muscles on the side of her face swelled and throbbed. Her eyes seemed to breathe fire as she approached me. I suddenly felt a hot palm across my face.

My cheeks were on fire though she used little strength in her slap, otherwise I might be laying on the ground now.

Song Heting shouted at the top of her voice, ”Since Song Zhaolin's death, you’re the only remaining descendant of the civil Songs, and all the Traditional Coroner skills passed down by our ancestors belong to you alone. Your life isn’t yours to squander, yet you just won't take your own life seriously. If you die, these skills will be lost to us. How will you face our ancestors when in the netherworld? Can you accept such heavy consequences?”

Clenching my fist, I found myself bereft of speech. Finally, after a considerable amount of time, I said, ”If I can use my life to bring down the Jian”You arrogant fool!” Song Heting stretched out her arm, ready to strike me once more when Song Xingchen dashed towards me, blocking me while stopping Song Heting's wrist. ”Aunt Song, I swear that I will protect Song Yang with my life and never put him in danger.”

Song Heting burst out laughing, ”I don’t need an oath from you because I don't believe it. How many disasters have happened to the Song family over the past thousand years? If it weren’t for the past sacrifices of our ancestors, would you be standing here? Can't you make this small sacrifice for the sake of the Song family?”

”Aunt Song, even if I agreed to your conditions, I can't stay here for long. The Jiangbei Daggers are getting more and more rampant, and someone must stand up against them!” I appealed.

She withdrew her hand and asked, ”Do you know why Granny Yan is dead?”

Taken aback by her question, I shook my head.

”Because you investigated the case. Justice and evil are like yin and yang. The stronger the yin, the greater the yang, and vice versa. If you don't provoke the Jiangbei Daggers, they won’t stir the waters.”

”Perhaps there’s another way?” I bit my lip. “We could pick a few children from the Song family. I’m willing to pass on my skills to them.”

Song Heting shook her head, ”Not everyone has your potential. Lineage is as important as skill. The civil Songs are like a candle in the wind. As a member of the martial Songs, how can I sit idly by!”

”Do I have to marry Song Jie?” I argued.

”Yes! Because I plan to make you the next head of the clan,” Song Heting reasoned, still holding the pike against the night breeze.

Silence reigned for a moment, before I added, ”Aunt Song, I'm afraid I can't carry such a heavy responsibility! I’m not a person with great ambitions. All I want is to catch the wicked, nothing more. I have never thought about being a head of the clan.”

Song Heting sneered, ”So all this talk and you still won't agree?”

I shook my head.

”Then I have no choice but to use force.” Turning to the others, she ordered, “Seize them both!”

At Song Heting’s command, the descendants of the clan proceeded to capture us only to be stopped by the unhurried voice of an old man, ”Heting, that’s enough!”

The others turned in unison, their expressions showing a drastic change. One by one, they fell to their knees, including Song Heting who respectfully showed obeisance, ”Greetings, patriarch!”

When I turned around, my gaze landed on an old man standing with a dragon head cane. I didn’t even notice his presence until he spoke. The old man was short in stature and had silvery-white hair, with a long beard hanging down to his chest. He looked at least a hundred years old.

Song Xingchen tugged at my shirt, pulling me down to one knee.

The point two inches below the navel where one's qi resides.