Chapter 16 The Scandal of the Ravenholt Province Rourke Family

Chapter 16: Chapter 16: The Scandal of the Ravenholt Province Rourke Family

As Julian Mercer and Adrian walked away, the Grand Elder finally noticed something unusual.

His gaze fell upon Adrian, and he suddenly froze.

Wasn’t this the same young man whose Dantian had been shattered, leaving him unable to cultivate?

Yet now, Adrian’s aura had completely changed. His cultivation had not only recovered, but he had already reached the Meridian Opening Realm’s 2nd Layer!

The Grand Elder stared at him in disbelief.

How had this happened?

He hurriedly turned toward Julian’s departing figure.

Could the Patriarch have repaired Adrian’s Dantian?

The thought sent a tremor through his heart.

But how could such a thing be possible?

Repairing a shattered Dantian was no ordinary feat. Even powerful cultivators might be helpless against such an injury.

Such a miraculous ability belonged in ancient legends, not in the affairs of a small Clan like the Mercer Family.

The Grand Elder’s expression changed repeatedly.

Then he noticed the silver-white longsword Adrian was holding.

His eyes narrowed before widening in surprise.

He recognized that sword immediately.

It was Julian’s personal weapon, a Profound Rank, Low Grade treasure that the Patriarch had acquired at considerable expense.

Apart from the ancestral sword, it was the only weapon of that grade possessed by the Mercer Family.

And Julian had given it to Adrian?

The Grand Elder shook his head in amazement.

It seemed Adrian’s fortune had finally turned around.

Not only had his Dantian recovered, but he had also received the Patriarch’s personal sword and two precious Cultivation Methods.

What kind of opportunity had this young man stumbled upon?

The Grand Elder could only sigh inwardly.

The Mercer Family’s future was becoming more promising by the day.

The Council Hall

Not long afterward, Julian arrived at the council hall with Adrian.

Inside, a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious robes sat comfortably in the main guest seat.

His expression was dignified, and his bearing carried the natural authority of someone accustomed to giving orders.

He appeared entirely at ease, as though the hall belonged to him. A teacup rested in his hand as he leisurely enjoyed its contents.

Julian glanced at him.

Through the Insight Eye, he immediately discerned the man’s cultivation.

Purple Mansion Realm, 6th Layer.

This was Darius Fenwick, the City Lord of Wexford City.

When Darius noticed the newcomers, he put down his teacup and raised his head.

His gaze settled on Julian.

After quietly examining him, Darius confirmed that Julian had indeed reached the Purple Mansion Realm.

However, determining the precise depth of Julian’s cultivation through a casual inspection was another matter. Unless Julian revealed more of his aura or they exchanged blows, Darius could not be certain of his exact strength.

He set the teacup on the table.

"Patriarch Mercer, you certainly have impressive spirit."

Darius studied him with a faint smile.

"When we last parted, your circumstances were very different. Meeting you again today, I find that you’ve become quite the formidable figure."

Julian showed little interest in exchanging pleasantries.

He shook his head and went straight to the point.

"May I ask why the City Lord has come to visit the Mercer Family today? Are you here to demand an explanation on behalf of the Rourke Family?"

Darius paused before laughing.

"If this were merely about the Rourke Family, I wouldn’t have needed to make a special trip."

He leaned back slightly.

"Besides, provoking a young Purple Mansion Realm cultivator over a family that has already been destroyed would hardly be a wise decision."

Julian walked to the main seat and sat down.

"Then what exactly brings you here?"

Darius’s expression became more serious.

"Patriarch Mercer, do you know the origins of the Rourke Family you destroyed?"

Julian’s eyes flickered.

"Please enlighten me."

Darius picked up his teacup again.

"After I became City Lord, I once came across some old historical records. According to those records, the Rourke Family of Wexford City originally descended from a branch of the Rourke Family in Ravenholt Province."

Julian’s expression changed slightly.

Ravenholt Province was a vast region containing numerous cities and powerful families. The Rourke Family there was among the great Clans that held considerable influence throughout the province.

Its strongest ancestor had reached the Moon Wheel Realm.

With an expert of that level protecting the family, even powerful organizations such as the Aldercrest Order would think twice before provoking it.

Yet the Rourke Family he had just annihilated was connected to such a formidable force?

Julian found the revelation somewhat surprising.

If the two families had maintained close ties, the Wexford branch could have used that connection to crush the Mercer Family long ago.

Why had it never done so?

Darius seemed to understand his confusion.

He took another sip of tea before continuing.

"Heh. The truth is that this connection involves a scandal the Ravenholt Province Rourke Family has spent generations trying to conceal."

"Unfortunately for them, not every secret stays buried."

Darius lowered his teacup.

"It is said that Malcolm Rourke, the ancestor of the Wexford branch, was born from an illicit affair between the Rourke Family’s Old Ancestor and the wife of his own grandson."

Julian raised an eyebrow.

That was quite a scandal.

Darius continued in an even tone.

"The Old Ancestor had fathered a son late in life, so he doted on Malcolm excessively. But secrets have a way of surfacing."

"Ten years later, the grandson, Vincent Rourke, returned from years of training abroad and discovered the affair between his wife and his grandfather."

"The revelation plunged the entire Rourke Family into chaos."

Darius paused briefly.

"Vincent was an extraordinary talent. He possessed the Thunder Spirit Body, and before reaching the age of thirty, he had already cultivated to the Perfected stage of the Origin Sea Realm."

"Upon discovering the betrayal, his rage and grief pushed him through a breakthrough. He entered the Star Wheel Realm and used his overwhelming strength to kill the Rourke Family’s Old Ancestor, who had also reached the Star Wheel Realm."

Julian listened without interrupting.

Darius shook his head.

"What’s most remarkable is that Vincent was apparently still deeply attached to his wife. Despite what she had done, he couldn’t bring himself to kill her or Malcolm."

"However, he could not allow the scandal to destroy the family’s reputation. In the end, he banished both of them to Wexford City."

"Malcolm eventually cultivated to the Purple Mansion Realm and established the branch that later became the Rourke Family you knew."

Darius gave a faint, humorless smile.

"Because of the scandal, Malcolm refused to use the Ravenholt family’s name or seek its protection. Over the generations, the connection faded from memory. Eventually, even most members of the Wexford branch no longer knew their true origins."

"Hundreds of years have passed since then. Vincent, however, is still alive, relying on his Moon Wheel Realm cultivation."

Darius looked directly at Julian.

"People grow old, Patriarch Mercer. And as they grow old, they often begin looking back on their past."

"If Vincent starts thinking about the descendants he banished to Wexford City, he might decide to investigate what became of them."

He let the implication hang in the air.

"If that happens, the Mercer Family could find itself in considerable trouble."

Julian’s expression remained calm.

He had no intention of showing fear simply because a more powerful family might come knocking.

Instead, he studied Darius.

"Then what do you want from me?"

His tone remained unhurried.

"I assume you wouldn’t go to all this trouble just to tell me an interesting family story. If you had nothing else in mind, you could have sent a letter."

Darius laughed.

"Speaking with an intelligent man certainly saves time."

He placed his teacup on the table and leaned forward.

"Let me be direct. The Ravenholt Province Rourke Family has behaved tyrannically for years. Its conduct has earned it plenty of enemies."

His eyes sharpened.

"If you’re willing to join forces with us, someone will be prepared to help keep this matter from becoming a problem for you."

Julian’s attention immediately sharpened.

"Us?"

The word was worth examining.

Darius was the City Lord of Wexford City, but his confidence suggested that he was not acting alone.

Whatever force stood behind him apparently had enough influence to obstruct the Ravenholt Province Rourke Family, or at least make it think twice before retaliating.

And Darius knew the old scandal in considerable detail.

Perhaps the two matters were connected.

Julian fell silent, weighing the implications.

Darius appeared ready to explain further.

But suddenly, his expression shifted.

He turned his head toward the entrance.

"It seems this isn’t the right time to continue our discussion."

Someone was approaching.

"Looks like we have visitors."

As soon as he finished speaking, hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor.

A young Mercer Family disciple entered the council hall and quickly approached Julian.

He bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Patriarch!"

Julian nodded.

"What is it?"

The disciple answered promptly.

"The Patriarchs of the Bellamy Family and the Kessler Family have arrived. They’ve brought more than a dozen people with them and are requesting an audience."

Julian’s gaze flickered.

He had been planning to deal with those two families himself.

He hadn’t expected them to arrive before he could make a move.

Still, this suited him perfectly.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Let them in."

The disciple bowed again and hurried away to deliver the order.

It did not take long for the visitors to arrive.

The Patriarchs of the Bellamy and Kessler families entered the council hall, each accompanied by several senior family members.

The moment they stepped inside, their eyes fell upon Julian, who sat in the main seat.

Both Patriarchs immediately slowed their steps.

They had already heard what happened to the Rourke Family.

They had also heard the rumors about Julian’s strength.

Neither man wanted to become the next name whispered throughout Wexford City.

The two Patriarchs and their companions quickly cupped their fists and bowed.

"Greetings, Patriarch Mercer!"

Their voices carried unmistakable caution.

Then they noticed the man sitting beside Julian.

Darius Fenwick.

The City Lord was here too?

Both Patriarchs were caught off guard.

They had expected to negotiate directly with Julian, perhaps offer compensation and apologize for their past actions.

They had not expected the City Lord to be present.

Afraid of appearing discourteous, they hurriedly bowed again.

"Greetings, Lord City Lord!"

Darius regarded them quietly, his expression unreadable.

Julian leaned back in his seat.

The people he had intended to confront had now gathered before him of their own accord.

It was time to see what they were prepared to offer.