Chapter 596 - 78: Only Blood Can Repay (Part 2)

Xia Yunxue frantically looked Song Changsheng over. Only after seeing he was completely unharmed did she finally relax.

"I’ve made you worry." Song Changsheng reached out to wipe the tears from the corners of Xia Yunxue’s eyes, his heart filled with guilt.

"As long as you’re back safe, that’s all that matters." Xia Yunxue took out a handkerchief and hurriedly wiped her tears, then helped Song Changsheng to his feet.

"What were the clan’s casualties?" Song Changsheng asked the question that weighed most heavily on his mind.

Xia Yunxue sighed sorrowfully. "The clan’s losses in this battle were not small. Not just our clan, but our subordinate families suffered greatly as well.

"Thankfully, we pulled through. But it’s been so hard on you. If anything had happened to you, how could I ever face your father?"

As she spoke, Xia Yunxue couldn’t help but start crying again.

Song Changsheng had to comfort her for a good while. After escorting Xia Yunxue back to her courtyard, he ascended to Ruyun Hall to pay his respects to his grandfather.

Compared to Xia Yunxue, Song Xianming was clearly much more reserved. He simply stroked his beard and said the word "good" three times in a row.

"Since you escaped death, where have you been all this time? After receiving your message, Fellow Daoist Drunkard, Fellow Daoist Bai and Fellow Daoist Shen from Luoxia City, and I all rushed to the Xianglu River.

"We used the Tracking Technique for several days but couldn’t find any trace of you. Later, we sought an audience with the Great City Lord and asked him to use his Inference Skill to find you, but that also yielded nothing."

Song Xianming let out a soft sigh. This period had been exceptionally agonizing for him. More than once, he had suspected that Song Changsheng had fallen into the hands of villains.

"Elder Drunkard was here too?" Song Changsheng was slightly taken aback. It had been several years since he had last seen the old senior.

"That’s right. Fellow Daoist Drunkard came to help at the Great City Lord’s request, ready to deliver the decisive blow at the critical moment. Who would have thought that He Tai would be so shameless as to ambush you in secret!"

Hearing this, a warmth spread through Song Changsheng’s heart. Even under immense pressure from the Golden Crow Sect, Luoxia City had not given up on the Song Clan. This was a debt of gratitude that words could not describe.

Etching this kindness into his heart, Song Changsheng gave a brief account of his experiences.

After listening, even Song Xianming couldn’t help but marvel at Song Changsheng’s profound fortune.

"That Merfolk friend of yours is not just your benefactor, but a benefactor to our entire Song Clan. Sheng’er, you must remember this: in life, there are things you do and things you don’t. You must never be an ungrateful person," Song Xianming said in a solemn, heartfelt tone.

"Rest assured, Grandfather. I understand." Song Changsheng replied with a solemn bow.

"Mm. Now that you’re back, tell me your thoughts on what to do next."

"Nothing else. Only an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." A glint of absolute coldness flashed in the depths of Song Changsheng’s eyes.

In the past, the Song Clan was not strong enough and could only endure the Lieyang Sect’s repeated bullying.

But now, the tables have turned!

"You are the Clan Leader. It’s up to you to decide what to do. Go and see the clansmen. They’ve all been very worried about you."

After speaking, Song Xianming slowly closed his eyes. Song Changsheng bowed and withdrew.

After leaving Ruyun Hall, Song Changsheng ordered a grand clan council, summoning all clan members with the rank of Elder, Steward, and above to the Council Hall.

Upon receiving the news, everyone rushed to the Council Hall as fast as they could. When they saw Song Changsheng, who had been missing for days, standing before them safe and sound, sincere smiles instantly broke out on their faces.

In stark contrast, however, Song Changsheng’s expression grew heavy as he looked at the new faces in the hall. His features only softened slightly when he saw Song Qingxing seated at the front.

But overall, while there were more new faces, the total number of attendees had decreased...

And what unsettled him most was that he did not see Song Xianyun.

He turned his gaze to Song Luzhou, who was seated below, and asked in a strained voice, "Fifth Uncle, is everyone here?"

Song Luzhou nodded, his expression grim. "Aside from Twenty-first Uncle, who is too severely injured to attend, basically everyone is here."

’Twenty-first Grand-uncle is severely injured?’ Song Changsheng’s heart lurched in shock.

Song Xianyun had already damaged his foundation. Now, with his old wounds unhealed, he had suffered new ones. He couldn’t even attend the grand clan council. ’This time, I’m afraid...’

For a moment, Song Changsheng’s mind was in turmoil.

"Clan Leader, Twenty-first Uncle asked me to give you a message: focus on the bigger picture first." Song Luzhou understood what was on Song Changsheng’s mind and reminded him softly.

"I... understand." Song Changsheng nodded with difficulty and sat back down in his seat.

Seeing this, Song Luzhou cleared his throat and said, "Everyone, the council will now begin. First... let’s report the battle’s casualties to the Clan Leader."

At this, Song Luyun rose, her face grim with pain. "In this battle, clan Elders Song Changjun, Song Changrong, and Song Changlian died in combat. Song Xianyun and Song Qingqian are severely injured.

One hundred and thirty-six clansmen below the Foundation Establishment realm have fallen, and one hundred and fifty-seven are wounded.

In addition, eighteen clansmen from the Yulong branch have fallen, and twenty-one are injured.

Among our subordinate powers, Liuyun Sect Elders Zhang Bihai and Liu Yiye have fallen, with over a hundred disciples killed or wounded. Wang Clan Elder Wang Qianmo has fallen, along with fifty-two Qi Cultivators, and thirty-two are severely injured.

Clan Leader Yu Xueqian of the Yu Clan is severely injured. Thirty-seven of her people have fallen, and eighteen are grievously wounded.

"It’s safe to say that the whole of Ling Province has suffered a grievous blow."

Hearing Song Luyun’s report, Song Changsheng’s vision went black, and he nearly fainted.

The vitality the Song Clan had painstakingly recovered over the years was wiped out in a single battle. He didn’t know how long it would take to recover.

’Lieyang Sect... Xiang Province Rong Clan... This is a feud that cannot be shared under the same sky!’ Fury blazed in Song Changsheng’s eyes. His hands, hidden beneath the table, were clenched so tightly that the veins stood out on his skin.

This time, the Song Clan would no longer swallow its anger and hold its tongue!

But before that, he had more important things to do.

Song Changsheng turned his gaze to Song Luzhou and said, "Fifth Uncle, please lead the members of the Minor Affairs Hall to tally the battle merits as quickly as possible and reward the clansmen who distinguished themselves in the war.

"Also, distribute double the compensation for the fallen. Treat our own clan’s Cultivators and those of our subordinate powers equally.

"And one more thing. The three main ingredients for refining Foundation Establishment Pills, planted in the clan’s Spirit Plant Garden, should be mature by now, right? Please trouble Fifth Uncle to begin the alchemy process immediately. Once the pills are made, compensate the Liuyun Sect with two Foundation Establishment Pills and the Wang Clan with one.

"Convert their battle merits into Clan Contribution Points and open the Clan Treasure Vault for them to make exchanges."

"Open the Clan Treasure Vault?" Song Luzhou was taken aback. Compensating them with Foundation Establishment Pills was one thing; that was a long-standing tradition in the Daqi Cultivation World.

But opening the Clan Treasure Vault was unprecedented.

Song Changsheng nodded. "They fought for our Song Clan. Mistreating those who have served with merit is not the way of the Song Clan.

"With the exception of Magical Treasures and the clan’s Core Techniques, all other treasures in the vault, as well as the Cultivation Technique Manuals in the Scripture Pavilion, will be open to them."

"This... I understand." Song Luzhou gritted his teeth and agreed.

After settling the matters of compensation and battle merits, Song Changsheng rose solemnly. He faced the crowd and declared in a heavy voice, "The Lieyang Sect and the Rong Clan colluded, acting in villainous concert, and caused our clan to suffer devastating losses. This is a debt we must repay!

"I declare that the entire clan is to prepare for war! In ten days, we will launch a punitive expedition against the Lieyang Sect and the Xiang Province Rong Clan! We will make them pay in blood!"

As his voice fell, thunderous applause erupted in the hall. The flames of hatred burned in everyone’s eyes.

They had been waiting for those three words—"pay in blood"—for far too long. The Song Clan had remained silent for far too long.

"It’s time to settle the scores from all these years," Song Luzhou said in a low voice.

"That’s right! We’ll make them pay in blood!" Song Lutong roared, his voice hoarse and his eyes bloodshot.

"Pay in blood!"

"Pay in blood!"

The more brutally it was suppressed, the more terrifying the eruption.

With just a few words from Song Changsheng, the fury of everyone in the hall had been completely ignited.

Now, only one conviction remained throughout the entire Song Clan.

Pay in blood!

...