With a sarcastic grin, Lin Yu couldn't resist taking another shot at Tang San.
[Lin Yu (mocking): Tang San, didn't you say the destruction of the Four Great Clans had nothing to do with you? It seems like things are not that simple. What excuses do you have left now?]
Now that the full live stream detailing the fall of the Four Great Clans had aired, Lin Yu wasted no time in taunting Tang San.
"Let's see how you squirm out of this one, Tang San," Lin Yu thought, enjoying every moment.
And it was true. If the Four Great Clans had never followed Tang San, they wouldn't have faced extinction.
After watching the broadcast, Tang San's face grew grim. The events from the livestream mirrored actions he might have taken. Indeed, when it came to the balance between the Four Great Clans and his father, Tang Hao, he knew his loyalty would always side with his father.
But as was typical of Tang San's sly nature, he wasn't going to openly admit any fault.
Furious at Lin Yu's accusations, Tang San snapped back:
[Tang San: What am I denying? This is just a live stream, who knows if it's real or not? Even if it is, that was the Tang San from the stream, not me! And besides, it was Clear Sky Clan that wiped out the Four Great Clans, not me!]
Tang San clung to his usual defense. He invoked his usual trifecta of excuses: the stream's authenticity was in question, it wasn't "his" actions but the other Tang San's, and the Clear Sky Clan, not him, was responsible for the Four Great Clans' downfall.
Lin Yu could only laugh in disbelief.
"Classic Tang San," he thought. "Always dodging accountability. You can't fool anyone with your weak arguments."
The destruction of the Four Great Clans had everything to do with him. Tang San, after all, was the one who violated his promise by allowing Clear Sky Clan disciples into Tang Sect, merely because his father, Tang Hao, asked him to. And he didn't even have the decency to inform the Four Great Clans, instead choosing to act on his own.
That decision was the spark that led to the conflicts between the Four Great Clans and the Clear Sky disciples. Tensions escalated, and eventually, it was Clear Sky Clan that delivered the final blow, wiping them out.
"You dare to say it's not your fault?" Lin Yu mused. "Either you're a fool, or you think we're all fools."
He scoffed. Tang San's shamelessness had reached a new level, boldly lying while staring straight at the truth.
But Lin Yu wasn't about to waste more time debating with Tang San. He knew that the ones whose opinions truly mattered at this moment were the Four Great Clans.
After witnessing the entire sequence of events in the livestream, Lin Yu was sure that Niu Gao and Yang Wudi would harbor an even deeper resentment toward Tang San and the Clear Sky Clan. As for Tai Tan and Bai He, Lin Yu couldn't imagine them holding the same level of loyalty and trust toward Tang San or Tang Hao anymore.
Especially Bai He—in the past, he had offered Tang San a precious Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng to help Tang San win over Yang Wudi. In the original story, Xiao Wu ended up consuming it. Tang San had other similar rare herbs in his possession, yet he didn't offer any of them to Yang Wudi to ease his resentment. Instead, he accepted Bai He's invaluable gift, despite knowing how desperately the Agility Clan struggled, barely surviving on the charity of the other clans.
"If I were in Tang San's position, I wouldn't have even accepted Bai He's gift once I learned how rare and valuable it was to him," Lin Yu reflected.
True to Lin Yu's expectations, after the broadcast ended, both Tai Tan and Bai He had undergone significant changes in their attitudes toward Tang Hao and his son.
For Tai Tan, his once unwavering loyalty to Tang Hao was now shaken to its core. He couldn't believe that despite his years of devotion, Tang Hao would always prioritize the Clear Sky Clan, even when the Four Great Clans were on the brink of extinction. How could he continue to serve someone like that?
And Bai He had finally seen through the hypocrisy of both Tang Hao and Tang San.
Tang Hao had never once considered the damage the Clear Sky Clan had inflicted on the Four Great Clans. When the Clear Sky Clan elders sought to join the Tang Sect to take advantage of its growth, Tang Hao immediately agreed, showing complete disregard for the feelings of the clans who had supported the Tang Sect from the start.
As for Tang San, Bai He had sacrificed a treasured Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng to help him, but Tang San had only cared about furthering his interests, showing no gratitude in the end.
"I've been blind," Bai He thought bitterly.
At this moment, Lin Yu decided to stir things up further.
[Lin Yu (coldly): Hah, after watching this livestream, do any of you from the Four Great Clans still have nothing to say? Surely you're not going to let this slide.]
After Lin Yu's provocation, there was a brief pause from Tai Tan and Bai He, as they reflected on their thoughts. But Niu Gao and Yang Wudi were quick to voice their outrage.
[Niu Gao: Hmph! The Clear Sky Clan and Tang Hao's family are nothing but scoundrels. My clan was wrong to ever trust them. We won't make the same mistake again!]
[Yang Wudi: We of the Breaking Clan share the same sentiment. The blood feud between us and the Clear Sky Clan will one day be avenged!]
Seeing their fierce resolve, a sly grin spread across Lin Yu's face.
"Perfect," he thought, his plan falling into place.
[Lin Yu: In that case, why don't you Four Great Clans join me instead? I'm in the process of forming a new force, and I could use capable people like yourselves. Besides, you already know how I feel about the Clear Sky Clan and Tang Hao. If you follow me, I swear to help you settle your vendetta!]