"This sky?"
Blake Lin frowned at the words, instinctively tilting his head up to gaze at the sky overhead.
The sky was clear and spotless.
All he saw was a deep blue horizon, dotted with a few white clouds.
It was nothing but the ordinary Seacrest scenery; only, because of the Froststorm Vortex from the Winter Gate, countless clouds had been shattered, making even the sunlight seem cold and lonely.
"Trying to mystify things?"
A cold glint flashed in Blake Lin's eyes. He turned to look at Evan Lin, who stood atop the Froststorm Vortex, his voice even icier: "You’re just upset that I’ve seen through your intentions and you can’t answer, so you want to distract me?"
"Saying it like that is just laughable. Who do you think I am?"
Blake Lin couldn’t help but find it amusing.
He felt that this Master Lin from Seacrest, while somewhat capable, was honestly childish at heart.
At his level, as someone raised in the Upper-Grade Lin Clan, Blake Lin’s vision and temperament were already far beyond ordinary people.
Even Pointing-to-Mystery Realm experts of the mortal world might not see things as clearly as he did, and now this so-called Master Lin from Seacrest actually wanted to shift his focus and thoughts?
"How vast the sky is depends on your vision."
"You’re just a frog at the bottom of a well, and you think you can teach me that lesson?"
Blake Lin’s tone grew even colder: "Or do you really think my Upper-Grade Lin Clan is the same as all those people you’ve met along the way?"
If that’s the case, then you really have let me down.
Blake Lin’s voice was like a cold wind, pouring into everyone’s ears.
"Looks like Blake Lin and Master Lin from Seacrest are about to clash, huh?"
Standing there, Martin Wu had felt a surge of relief and excitement when the Froststorm Vortex was brought under control. But now, hearing Blake Lin’s words, his heart instantly leapt into his throat.
He nervously looked toward Blake Lin in the distance.
I don't know.
Allen Ju’s brow instantly furrowed. His gaze flicked between Blake Lin and Evan Lin. Just from those few words, he could sense that Blake Lin might really be at odds with Evan.
That was someone from the Upper-Grade Lin Clan. His status was absolutely incomparable to Nightstar.
When facing Nightstar, the Ju family could rely on their massive industry and influence to hold their own. Even if they ended up bowing, it wouldn’t be too humiliating, and certainly wouldn’t cripple the clan.
But against the whole Upper-Grade Lin Clan, the Ju family was just a little brother—no power to resist at all. One word from the Upper-Grade Lin Clan could wipe out a century of Ju family legacy.
That’s the terrifying power of the Upper-Grade Lin Clan.
The Upper-Grade Lin Clan rarely interferes in outside affairs.
Logan Lu’s expression changed instantly. He looked over, worry deepening in his eyes. He couldn’t help but glance at Allen Ju and speak in a low voice: "If Master Lin from Seacrest and Blake Lin of the Upper-Grade Lin Clan really have a conflict..."
Allen, why are you standing there?
Logan Lu couldn’t help but ask.
Hearing this, those who had chosen to stay with Allen Ju and Selina Wu, waiting for Evan Lin, all turned their eyes to Allen.
It was what everyone was worried about.
Earlier, they dared to stand behind Allen Ju and support Evan Lin partly because of Allen’s status, and partly because of their friendship with him.
Besides that, most of them had a bit of confidence in Master Lin from Seacrest, so they were willing to take the gamble.
Even if they ended up on the wrong side, at worst their prospects might dim a little, but their families wouldn’t get dragged in, and their comfortable lives wouldn’t really be affected.
But now things were different.
The Upper-Grade Lin Clan.
Everyone wanted to make connections, but nobody would risk offending them—even if it meant dying.
If they ended up opposing Blake Lin because of Master Lin from Seacrest, Blake wouldn’t even need to do anything. As soon as word got out, their families would quickly cut ties with them.
This was a matter of principle. Personal happiness and future meant nothing compared to the family.
Some of them were already standouts among their family’s third generation.
If it were before, back when I was still the Ju family's Third Young Master, I might have thought more about it. Maybe I wouldn’t side with the Upper-Grade Lin Clan, but I definitely wouldn’t go against Evan Lin.
Allen Ju fell silent for a moment, then spoke slowly: "As the Ju family's Third Young Master, I had to consider the lives of everyone in the clan. When Nightstar pressured us, I chose Evan Lin because at worst I’d lose everything personally—and that didn’t matter much to me."
I could sacrifice my future for a friend, but it’s hard to sacrifice everything for the whole family.
But now, I’m no longer the Ju family's Third Young Master. I’m just Allen Ju.
So even if Evan Lin really becomes an enemy of the Upper-Grade Lin Clan, I can stand by him without any hesitation.
I may not be much help, but I want him to know he still has me as a friend. He’s not alone.
We’re all lonely people. It’s good to warm each other up. Worst case, we just die together.
Allen Ju smiled as he said this.
His voice was soft, and he didn’t expect Evan Lin to hear him. Normally, he’d never say these things out loud.
Logan Lu and the others fell silent when they heard this.
You don’t need to feel torn. If it really comes to that, I’ll make sure you leave. You’ve all got people behind you.
I’m alone now, with nothing holding me back. Honestly, it feels pretty good.
Allen Ju’s voice was heavy, and everyone stayed quiet.
Selina Wu glanced at him, then looked up at Evan Lin standing atop the tornado. Her gaze made her position clear.
If it really comes to that, Selina Wu will break with the Wu family and pull Martin Wu out of it too.
The Wu family should flourish.
But it shouldn’t flourish on Selina Wu.
For the first time, Selina Wu was glad she was a girl—less family responsibility, more freedom to be selfish.
If she really had to die alongside Master Lin from Seacrest today, Selina Wu felt she wouldn’t be scared at all.
Frog in a well?
Evan Lin looked down from above, gazing at Blake Lin from afar, and shook his head slightly: "That sky above you—there’s no well beside you. Honestly, in my eyes, you’re not even as good as a frog."
You’re tiny and clueless, and it’s honestly hilarious. You really should take a good look at that sky.
It’s higher than you, hanging overhead—a sky you’ll never cross in your lifetime.
Compared to you, I stand even higher than the sky you see.
Someday, I’ll walk atop the Nine Heavens, while you’re nothing but dust on the wind—or maybe a mayfly.
Blake Lin of the Upper-Grade Lin Clan?
I don’t even have the interest to treat you as a joke.
Pathetic.