"It's not the same, it's not like that, Grandfather Three," Liu Ta Ji said in a subdued voice.

    "You two, father and son, have accomplished nothing. All day long, you just take allowances from the family and now you also want the assets. Let me ask you this again, do you think you deserve them?"

    "I mean no harm, Great Uncle. I merely have good intentions," Liu Tai began to raise his voice.

    "Good intentions? How exactly? You want to send a child, and the other, half-alive, to live outside by themselves so they can be easily killed, is that it?"

    Anyone could guess this much. By expelling those unable to defend themselves from the family compound, if they couldn’t find a reason to seize their assets, they would let them carry off a significant amount of treasures. Outsiders might not know, but how could the family not? It's believed that it won’t be long before the father and son would send someone to murder them and seize the assets.

    "Elder Three," Liu Tai exclaimed, his face turning both dark and red.

    He wanted the grandfather-granddaughter pair to leave because he truly intended to send someone to assassinate them. If both were to die, those valuable belongings would then easily fall into his hands.

    "What? If you are truly capable, make our family prosper as Nine did. If you can't, then shut your rotten mouth."

    "Have we concluded then?" the Great Grandfather asked in a flat tone.

    He was the eldest elder, but not the most powerful. He managed the Liu family affairs as the siblings agreed, but he still had to listen to everyone.

    "One way or another, she must leave," Liu Tai insisted.

    Liu Ta Ji nodded, while the Second Grandfather kept his head down, unwilling to meet anyone's gaze.

    "Do you want the family to vote on this?" the Great Grandfather asked calmly, sweeping his gaze over everyone in the room.

    "Yes," Liu Tai had already spoken with several family members.

    Moreover, he had spread the rumor that Yi You was a waste, a drain on the family's resources. He was confident that more than half would agree with him.

    "Are you sure?" the Great Grandfather asked again, looking at Liu Tai with an expression that was distinctly cold.

    "Yes, absolutely."

    "Then let me ask you one more question. If I leave the family, will you take on the responsibility of providing for the family? Will you find the substances needed to sustain them?"

    This was what the two brothers had discussed beforehand. They had anticipated that a day like this would come sooner or later.

    They weren't gods immune to injury or illness. If the family expelled those who couldn't contribute, when the day came that they themselves were injured or sick, wouldn't they face the same fate?

    "How could that be… this... they're not related, are they?" Liu Tai's face was pale and stressed.

    He hadn't expected the situation to escalate to this extent. Truly, all he wanted was the Soul Pearl and the Winter Umbrella. Although he was somewhat interested in other treasures, they were not essential.

    But when compared to losing a middle-tier alchemist from the family, it seemed a loss. Although alchemists weren't rare, those who could produce substances for use without cost were only the elders in the family. Hiring outsiders would entail exorbitant costs, meaning a huge amount of crystal stones would be spent. If that were the case, within three years they could be ruined. Even with the Soul Pearl, without the substances, don't even think about progressing.

    "Just say the word again, and I am ready to take Five and Seventeen away immediately," Elder Three wasn't bluffing. He truly intended to do so.

    He was alone, without children or grandchildren, and thus did not receive the same care from the family as the eldest brother, who still had Fourh, Six, and Ten to look after him.

    From the beginning until now, Yi You has not spoken a single word, she has been watching his broad back, which acts as a great tree sheltering her from sun, wind, and rain, bringing warmth to her heart.

    What Grandfather Three did for her felt like offering a drop of water in the middle of a desert; her eyes often heat up, and each time she swallowed back her tears.

    This time was no different, no matter the outcome, she had remembered it.

    She would never let someone who wished her well suffer because of her.

    Amid the silence and waiting, Liu Tai finally couldn't stand it any longer.

    "Fine, I don't want to argue today, but I want the Soul Pearl."

    "I want it too, I'll take it," before anyone else could speak, Elder Three also spoke up.

    But compared to Liu Tai, Elder Three seemed much more self-centered.

    "But Second needs it," Liu Tai said desperately, his hands clenched at his sides so tightly his veins bulged.

    "I need it even more for smelting," Elder Three lifted his chin.

    Do you really want it? Let's see if you have what it takes.

    The older one gets, the more fiery they become, like Elder Three.

    "Well, the Soul Pearl belongs to its owner If you want it, you must ask the owner," said the Great Elder.

    And that owner was Yi You.

    Liu Tai and Liu Ta Jie sharply turned to look at the young girl with sparkling eyes, thinking perhaps intimidation would work on such a small child.

    But for a child who was not a child like her…

    "What do you say, Seventeen? The Soul Pearl belongs to your father. Choose whom to give it to, or keep it for yourself, it's entirely up to you," the Great Elder spoke gently.

    "I will stay with Grandfather Three. If Grandfather Three wishes, I will gladly show piety," she bowed her head towards the Great Elder, her face bright with a sincere smile.

    "Good," Elder Three could not help but admire her. She knows much more than ordinary children.

    Standing amidst the adults' argument and still maintaining such composure was commendable.

    Hearing this, Liu Tai scoffed dismissively and walked away rudely without even a farewell.

    The Great Elder could only shake his head; the younger generations really were beyond help. If this continued, the Liu family wouldn't last long.

    "Brother..." Elder Three's tone softened, not as harsh as before. "I feel like our family is like a tree being eaten away by worms, about to fall at any moment," he said, visibly upset.

    They were a small family, initially manageable with a few people, but as the family grew and each had their own thoughts, when the main pillar of the family fell, the family would surely collapse.

    "Brother, I will take Five to stay at my house. I feel it’s safer," Elder Three said sadly.

    The Great Elder simply nodded once, his expression as melancholy.

    Uncle Six, standing beside, only pursed his lips, saying nothing.

    This situation deeply disturbed him. The work they had done for the family, to be dismissed by a younger generation who did nothing, was too sad. They only felt that one day, this could happen to them three as well.