Chapter 234

Chapter 234: Chapter 233 Madam Luo, intending to give her granddaughter a wedding gift, had chosen half a piece of bloodstained broken jade instead of the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box which appeared to be hundreds of times more precious. This perplexed many, even after hearing the old lady’s tale of legend. Many still eyed the Dragon and Phoenix Box, its luster captivating them, while no one paid much attention to the broken jade. After all, it was just a legend and too ethereal for modern people, whose eyes typically only valued money, leaving little else of importance.

When Ye Tianchen saw his grandmother close her eyes and leave this world, he felt a tinge of sorrow. Despite it being the first time he had met the old lady, he could sense her kindness and affability, as well as her thoughtfulness for the younger generations that persisted even during her final moments, a trait deserving of respect.

Perhaps it was because Ye Tianchen, reborn from the Apocalypse Planet where he had been a Divine-level Superpower Expert, was accustomed to a world filled with cannibalism and ceaseless killing, where death was as common a part of life as eating due to its frequent occurrence, leading to desensitization. However, after being reborn in this life and experiencing the warmth of family and affection, he began to comprehend life and death from a different perspective.

"Granny, Granny, wake up! Yaner doesn’t want any gifts; I just wish you could live a few more years..." Luo Yan couldn’t hold back her tears. She hadn’t seen her grandmother in twenty years and never expected that their reunion would be a final farewell. Memories of her grandmother’s teachings, care, and affection when Luo Yan was a child flashed through her mind, deepening her heartache.

"Mom, grandmother has passed away; let her rest in peace," Ye Tianchen sighed, contemplating whether it was truly impossible to escape the inevitable cycle of life, aging, sickness, and death. Must everyone face the moment of losing loved ones?

"Yes, the old lady was happy, probably without any regrets. Having seen you one last time, Miss, she was content," Uncle Wang said, sharing in the sentiment.

Luo Yan composed herself and stood up from her kneeling position, wiping away her tears. She took a deep breath and said, "Uncle Wang, Tianchen and I are leaving, and we won’t be attending Granny’s funeral."

"Alright, I’ll see you out," Uncle Wang replied, his right hand still holding the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box as he nodded.

Luo Yan didn’t speak, instead casting one more reluctant glance at her grandmother, who now lay motionless and then, clenching her teeth, she turned to leave. Ye Tianchen followed his mother without a word, his gaze sweeping over the Luo family elders nearby. Using his Superpower Perception, he sensed their unfriendly stares and the aggressive aura they emitted. It seemed that their exit from the Luo family wouldn’t be smooth sailing.

"Stop right there! Do you think you can come and go from the Luo family as you please?" At that moment, one of Luo Yan’s uncles could no longer hold back and decided to cause trouble, his eyes fixated on the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box in Uncle Wang’s hand, an object too precious to ignore and enough to drive many to desire and madness.

"Uncle, we haven’t seen each other for many years. You’ve grown old; what is left for you to fight for?" Luo Yan couldn’t help but look up at the middle-aged man in front of her, her gaze filled with resignation as she asked.

"Hmph, it’s not about fighting for anything. It’s just that things belonging to our Luo family must not be taken away by outsiders," the middle-aged man, addressed as Uncle by Luo Yan, scoffed dismissively.

"That’s right, how can outsiders take away something that belongs to our Luo family?"

"People can leave, but the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box must stay!"

"You were already driven out of the Luo family; you dare to come back. You really don’t know what’s good for you."

"Allowing you to see the old lady for one last time was an act of mercy; don’t be ungrateful."

"Leave the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box and get out!"

Once someone stood in their way, the rest joined in, all of them blocking Luo Yan and Ye Tianchen’s path, preventing the mother and son from leaving—or more precisely, preventing the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box from being taken away.

Some among those present had partaken in driving Luo Yan out of the Luo family. Luo Yan, being Luo Yansong’s biological daughter, could not have been easily disowned regardless of her misdemeanours, as the talent she had displayed before had astonished many elders in the family. They thought that if Luo Yan were a man, she would undoubtedly be the unquestioned next leader of the Luo family. As such, given the situation at the time, Luo Yan’s exceptional talent surpassed that of her generational peers, and Luo Yansong cherished his daughter dearly. In other words, without those people making a scene back then, it would have been impossible to reach a point where Luo Yan was ousted and forced to sever ties with her father Luo Yansong with three strikes of the palm. Therefore, it could be said that among those present, not a single person wished for Luo Yan to return to the Luo family or wanted her to take the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box with her.

At this time, facing the jeers and sneers of these uncles, Luo Yan remained silent. She was still enduring, not wanting to cause a commotion with these uncles because her mother-in-law’s body was still warm. If she were to witness this scene, who knows how heartbroken she would be. Moreover, what was most important to Luo Yan was her consideration for her father—even though she and her father had broken off their father-daughter relationship with three palm strikes and she had not returned to the Luo family for twenty years, her father was still her father, and she would always be his daughter.

Ye Tianchen didn’t take action either, nor did he speak. He actually wanted to see what kind of trouble this group from the Luo family could stir up. In any case, he was prepared today; if things really didn’t work out, he would take his mother and leave. He didn’t care if these people were his elders; such elders did not deserve to be Ye Tianchen’s elders. They had no regard for kinship, only interests in their eyes. What use were such relatives?

"You all... The contents of this Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box were a wedding gift from Madam Luo to the young miss. Everyone heard what Madam Luo said; it was given to the young miss..." Uncle Wang couldn’t help it and stepped forward to speak up.

"Old Wang, are you still part of the Luo family or not?"

"Playing both sides, now you even dare to help outsiders to fool us?"

"Are you looking for death?"

"Say one more word, and I’ll kick you out of the Wang family!"

Uncle Wang’s words triggered everyone’s dissatisfaction. After all, they did not want Luo Yan to take the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box with her. The box was too precious; no one could let it go. Even for a great family like the Luo family, it would likely be impossible to afford this one-of-a-kind Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box in the world—it was a priceless treasure that everyone wanted to possess.

Seeing her uncles, and even the younger generation, insulting Uncle Wang, Luo Yan also couldn’t help but get a little angry. Not only because of the affection Uncle Wang had shown her when she was a child, but also because Uncle Wang had served as the chief steward of the Luo family for his entire life, serving every member wholeheartedly. It could be said that the Luo family’s success today was in no small part due to Uncle Wang’s contributions. After a lifetime of service, he was subjected to such humiliation, not receiving the least bit of respect even from the younger generation. Anyone who saw this would be disheartened.

"What are you all trying to do? Uncle Wang has served our Luo family conscientiously for a lifetime, and yet you don’t have a single good word to say about him. Don’t you think you are being too excessive?" Luo Yan seriously questioned them loudly.

"What a joke. Old Wang is just a servant of our Luo family. Without us supporting him, he would have starved to death long ago."

"Exactly, you are still our junior. What right do you have to lecture us? You are so disrespectful!"

"Enough talk, leave the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box and get lost!"

Seeing these people pressing forward, blinded by greed to the point of utter disregard for everything else, Luo Yan truly felt disheartened. The mother-in-law had just passed away, and not a single person here was grieving; they were all fixated on the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box, wanting to take it for themselves. And there was Uncle Wang, who had dedicated his life to serving the Luo family, tirelessly and without complaint, and now he couldn’t even garner a shred of respect. Although she was a member of the Luo family by blood relation and had even been expelled from it, she was still bound by blood ties. And now, these uncles seemed intent on running her to the ground. How could Luo Yan not feel chilled to the bone?

Originally, Luo Yan didn’t want to fight over anything or snatch anything. She had always held a dismissive attitude towards these possessions. However, now that these people were pushing her so relentlessly, her initial intention to leave behind the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box and the Jade with Bloodstain was completely gone. It was the only item her mother-in-law had left her as a remembrance, and she had to take it with her. It could not fall into the hands of these people. If it really ended up with them, who knew when it would be sold off, squandering Madam Luo’s earnest intentions completely.

"I can tell you clearly now, the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box was left to me by my mother-in-law. Whether it’s the jade box or the broken jade inside, I will take them both. If anyone so desires them, they’ll have to step over my dead body!" Suddenly, Luo Yan exuded a powerful presence as she loudly addressed her uncles, showing not the slightest timidity and displaying the talents she had in the past.

Hearing Luo Yan’s words, everyone present was taken aback and also very surprised. For a moment, they were at a loss for words. No one could have foreseen that from the moment she entered the Luo family, Luo Yan had behaved very gently; even when faced with many people’s ridicule and demands to drive her out, she remained silent. Almost giving the impression that she was someone who had been driven out by the Luo family, someone who could only be bullied, would she dare say anything. But now, her words left everyone present speechless.

"Are you forcing us to take action? You can’t take the Dragon and Phoenix Jade Box; you must leave it behind!" At that time, a domineering male voice sounded from outside the door.

"That’s right, dare to hit my son, today I want your son’s hands and feet broken!" Immediately afterward, a vicious woman’s voice followed, resounding from outside, sounding utterly imperious. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)