Chapter 134: Chapter 134: Forced Abdication

"Shut up? Why should I shut up? Are you saying he, Yang Zhentian, is allowed to do as he pleases, but I’m not allowed to speak of it?" Chao Fei snorted.

"Hmph, Yang Zhentian was nothing but a hypocrite, always going on about ’brotherhood’! Heh, is this how he treats his brothers?

For the three years he was in seclusion healing his injuries, if I hadn’t been diligently managing all the stronghold’s affairs, Black Wind Stronghold would have been finished long ago! But now? He dies and leaves Black Wind Stronghold to this wet-behind-the-ears kid who knows nothing! What does he know? Can he even compare to my years of contributions to the stronghold? Is this how Yang Zhentian treats his brothers?" Chao Fei said with contempt, pointing at Yang Yu’s nose.

"Chao Fei, you ungrateful wretch! Why did my elder brother even save you back then! He should have just thrown you to those bandits and let them hack you to death!" Yang Zhenlan said coldly.

"Hmph, I repaid that debt of friendship long ago. Today, I’m just here to take back what is rightfully mine! Yang Yu, hand over the Village Seal. From now on, I’m in charge of Black Wind Stronghold!" Chao Fei snorted, his aura pressing down on Yang Yu.

Hearing Chao Fei’s words, everyone in the mourning hall finally understood. This was a coup!

"Chao Fei! Black Wind Stronghold is the foundation our Yang Family ancestors built with their blood and sweat. Don’t even think about touching it!" Yang Zhenlan’s figure flashed, blocking Yang Yu as he stared coldly at Chao Fei.

"The Yang Family’s foundation? Hehe, look around. How many members of the Yang Family are even here? And how many of them support Yang Yu? Your so-called ’Yang Family foundation’ was buried by Yang Zhentian three years ago!" Chao Fei sneered.

At these words, Yang Zhenlan turned to scan the crowd in the mourning hall. Aside from a handful of people, everyone he looked at turned their heads away, not daring to meet his gaze.

Seeing this, Yang Zhenlan’s heart sank. He pointed at the crowd, his voice trembling. "Good... Just great. All of you..."

"Second-in-Command, the Grand Elder has indeed done a great deal for the stronghold over the past three years. Entrusting it to him is a good choice!" The Third Elder stepped forward, taking off his mourning clothes as he spoke.

"Third Brother, you too...?" Yang Zhenlan looked at the Third Elder, the disappointment in his eyes deepening.

Yang Yu, however, remained expressionless at the side, though the fury in his eyes was impossible to hide. He took a deep breath, walked to the altar, and lit a long stick of incense. "I’m sorry for disturbing you, Father," he said softly, followed by a deep bow.

Having done this, Yang Yu turned around, his cold gaze fixed on the crowd. "Today is the day of my father’s funeral procession. If you are here with sincere intentions, then you are all welcome, and I thank you on my father’s behalf. But if some of you are harboring ill intent, then please get out of this mourning hall. Don’t defile my father’s memory!"

As he spoke, the killing intent radiating from Yang Yu intensified, causing the temperature in the hall to plummet once more.

"What did you say, boy? Is that any way to treat your elders?"

"If it weren’t for our respect for the old Village Chief, you wouldn’t even be standing here! Compared to the Grand Elder, you have no qualifications and no strength. How could you possibly command respect?"

Instantly, the Martial Artists standing behind Chao Fei all turned on Yang Yu.

"Hmph. If you were here to see my father off, I would naturally respect you as my elders. But if you’re here to seize power, then get lost. I don’t have time to play games with you," Yang Yu said coldly.

Hearing this, Chao Fei’s eyes narrowed. He looked at Yang Yu and said flatly, "You should just hand over the Village Seal. You don’t get to call the shots here today."

"And if I don’t?"

"Then don’t blame us for disregarding the bonds between uncle and nephew!" Chao Fei said sinisterly.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the mourning hall froze. A battle seemed imminent.

"CLAP CLAP CLAP..." Just as everyone tensed up, the sound of applause rang out.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. What a fantastic show of a coup! So entertaining to watch!" Shen Haoran said, clapping as he slowly walked from the entrance of the hall to Yang Zhentian’s coffin, casually leaning on it.

"Hey, Old Man, this is the backstabber you raised. What do you think? See him clearly now?" Shen Haoran patted the coffin and chuckled. His casual demeanor made it seem as if he were chatting with an old friend he hadn’t seen in years.

"Brother Shen, you..." Seeing Shen Haoran’s behavior, Yang Yu’s brows knitted together tightly. But Shen Haoran gave him a look, signaling for him to relax.

"Where did this little punk come from, daring to cause trouble in the old Village Chief’s mourning hall!" Someone behind Chao Fei who didn’t recognize Shen Haoran pointed at him and yelled.

"Get out of here!"

"No, he can’t leave! Grandfather, seize this bastard! I want to torture him to death!" Amid the uproar, King Chao stepped out from behind Chao Fei, his voice filled with venom as he glared at Shen Haoran.

But Chao Fei ignored King Chao. Looking at Shen Haoran’s relaxed and casual expression, a sense of unease welled up inside him.

"Shen Haoran, this is a private matter for our Black Wind Stronghold. It’s not something you can interfere in. Otherwise, don’t blame us for getting rough," Chao Fei said coldly.

Hearing this, the surrounding people were stunned. Judging by Chao Fei’s tone, was he backing down? Just what was the background of this young man, to make Chao Fei yield?

Shen Haoran, however, simply grinned at Chao Fei’s words. "I’d love to leave, but the Old Man here isn’t willing to let me."

"Whatever Yang Zhentian promised you, I’ll double it! Besides, he’s just a dead man now. There’s no need to honor any agreement!" Chao Fei frowned. ’In his view, Shen Haoran was only sticking around because Yang Zhentian had given him some benefit. Though he didn’t know why Shen Haoran had the courage to stay, to be safe, Chao Fei couldn’t allow any mistakes today. He had planned for this day for three long years. As for Shen Haoran, he would get rid of him for now. Once everything was settled, Chao Fei would naturally come back to collect, with interest!’

"Hmm... No, no, no. I’m not as thick-skinned as you, old man. To be so ungrateful and treacherous at the drop of a hat! Besides, what Mr. Yang gave me is something you could never provide," Shen Haoran said lightly.

"Don’t test my limits! I’m giving you one last chance. Accept my terms and leave this place!" Chao Fei said, the veins on his forehead bulging as he suppressed his rage.

Seeing Chao Fei’s anger, Shen Haoran shrugged and said, "Alright then. What Mr. Yang promised me was your life. Well? Are you going to give it to me?"

"You’re courting death!"

The moment Shen Haoran’s words fell, Chao Fei’s aura exploded. A visible shockwave ripped through the mourning hall, leaving it in disarray, while he himself lunged, reaching directly for Shen Haoran.

Facing the attack, Shen Haoran didn’t dodge. Instead, he gently patted Yang Zhentian’s coffin and said softly, "Old Man, it’s all up to you now."

"BANG!" With a tremendous noise, the lid of Yang Zhentian’s coffin shot into the air. An even more terrifying presence filled the mourning hall, and everyone stared in horror at the shattered coffin.

"Old... Old Village Chief..."