Chapter 1039: Dining

As the head of the Lin family, Lin Haoming was now serving like a servant, pouring wine, carrying dishes, and changing plates.

The heads of the other seven great families were doing the same.

Lin Hanyu sat there, unable to eat a single bite. Her heart ached; in her eyes, the other party was humiliating her family.

Especially the way Ning Tiekun looked at her father, like looking at an ant. If only she had enough strength, this wouldn’t be happening.

“Master, the young master has returned,” the old butler’s voice suddenly called out.

Hearing this while pouring wine for everyone, Lin Haoming’s hands froze momentarily, then a delighted smile broke out on his face. He immediately put down the teapot, ignoring Ning Tiekun’s glare that seemed ready to devour him, and rushed straight to the door.

Lin Hanyu stood up as well, as if unable to believe her ears.

“You’re asking for death; come here and pour wine,” Ning Tiekun roared furiously, his voice like thunder cracking the air.

However, Lin Haoming paid no heed to the threat.

Lin Fan walked through the courtyard. Hearing the roar, he slightly furrowed his brow before stepping into the room.

“Son… you’ve finally come back,” Lin Haoming exclaimed excitedly, his laughter brighter than anyone else’s.

“Yes, I’m back,” Lin Fan nodded, then shifted his gaze to the interior of the room.

“Little brother,” Lin Hanyu stood up.

Xiao Yuya turned her head, looking at the person, her heart filled with concern. At a moment like this, especially seeing Ning Tiekun’s expression, it seemed things wouldn’t be resolved easily.

When the heads of the other seven great families saw Lin Fan, they were overjoyed. They felt the humiliation they had endured would soon be avenged.

Kuangdang!

Zhou Jun and Wang Yun, sitting leisurely and watching the drama unfold, were startled when they saw the familiar face. Their hearts were seized by terror, and they trembled as they stood up abruptly.

The comfortable stools felt like they were covered in needles beneath them.

“What wine are you pouring?” Lin Fan asked calmly, then walked to the dining table. Seeing the scene before him, his previously calm eyes suddenly flashed with a hint of anger.

“Son, this…” Lin Haoming hesitated, unsure how to explain.

“Brother, these three are my senior sisters,” Lin Hanyu said.

Xiao Yuya smiled at Lin Fan, while the other two merely glanced at him indifferently, not paying much attention.

Lin Hanyu’s younger brother? What could he be? Even Lin Hanyu was only an outer sect disciple. As for her younger brother, he should be showing them respect instead.

Huang Yan spoke up, “Young Master Lin, we are serving them.”

“Oh, serving them?” Lin Fan slightly raised his head, his expression calm yet imposing.

“Hmph, get out! Can’t you see we’re having a meal?” Ning Tiekun snapped harshly.

Lin Fan merely glanced at Ning Tiekun briefly before shifting his gaze to the other two.

In that moment, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became oppressive.

The commoners who had followed into the Lin residence also held their breath, sensing that something significant was about to happen.

Zhou Jun and Wang Yun’s faces turned pale, their previously calm hearts now violently trembling. They wanted to move, but they found an inexplicable pressure weighing on them.

But they knew that if they didn’t move soon, the consequences would be dire.

Gu lu!

Their throats trembled slightly as they desperately tried to move.

“Senior Brother Ning, this is my younger brother; he is a disciple of the Heaven and Earth Sect,” Lin Hanyu declared firmly.

“Hehe,” Ning Tiekun sneered. If this person were truly a disciple of the Heaven and Earth Sect, how could Zhou and Wang not recognize him?

And now, Zhou and Wang hadn’t even spoken. Obviously, this person was just an ordinary disciple in the Heaven and Earth Sect—perhaps even a servant disciple.

“Brave indeed, having the heads of the Lin family and the seven great families serve you. Truly brave,” Lin Fan said.

Ning Tiekun sneered again, “Brothers Zhou and Wang, what is this person’s status in your Heaven and Earth Sect?”

But when Ning Tiekun turned his head to look at the two, he was stunned by the scene before him.

Not only Ning Tiekun was shocked—everyone around was stunned as well.

Zhou Jun and Wang Yun gritted their teeth, their faces pale with fear, as if exerting all their strength, they knelt down with a loud “plop.”

“Inner sect disciple Zhou Jun.”

“Inner sect disciple Wang Yun.”

“Greeting the Sect Leader Candidate Senior Brother.”

“Please spare our lives, Senior Brother. We truly didn’t know these were your family members. Please spare us, Senior Brother!”

Peng!

Peng!

The two knelt on the ground, trembling with fear, knocking their heads repeatedly. The force was so great, and the sound of their heads hitting the ground so loud, that it echoed into the sky like thunder.

Especially, they dared not use any spiritual energy, using only their mortal foreheads to violently strike the ground, producing a series of loud thuds.

Blood splattered everywhere, staining the ground red.

Lin Haoming, as the head of the Lin family, was currently acting like a servant, pouring wine, serving dishes, and changing plates. The heads of the other seven major families were doing the same.

Lin Hanyu sat there, unable to eat a single bite. Her heart ached, as she felt that the other party was humiliating her family. Especially the way Ning Tiekun looked at her father, as if he were an ant. If she had enough strength, this wouldn’t have happened.

“Master, the young master has returned,” came the call of the old butler.

Lin Haoming, who was in the midst of pouring wine for everyone, paused at the sound, then broke into a delighted smile. He immediately put down the wine jug, ignoring Ning Tiekun’s glare that seemed ready to devour him, and stood at the door.

Lin Hanyu also stood up, as if she couldn’t believe her ears.

“You’re looking for death, come here and pour the wine,” Ning Tiekun roared, his voice like thunder, echoing through the air.

But to Lin Haoming, this threat meant nothing.

Lin Fan walked through the courtyard, frowning slightly at the roar, then stepped into the house.

“My son… you’ve finally returned,” Lin Haoming suddenly laughed with excitement, happier than anyone.

“Yes, I’m back,” Lin Fan nodded, then looked around the room.

“Little brother,” Lin Hanyu stood up.

Xiao Yuyu turned her head, looking at the man with some concern. At this moment, especially with Ning Tiekun’s expression, it seemed things wouldn’t be easily resolved.

The heads of the other seven major families were overjoyed to see Lin Fan. They felt that the humiliation they had endured would soon be avenged.

Clang!

Zhou Jun and Wang Yun, who had been sitting there leisurely watching the scene, were suddenly struck with terror when they saw the familiar face. They trembled as they stood up.

The comfortable chairs felt like they were sitting on needles.

“Pour what wine?” Lin Fan asked indifferently, then walked to the dining table, looking at the scene before him. His originally calm eyes suddenly flashed with anger.

“My son, this…” Lin Haoming hesitated, unsure of what to say.

“Brother, these three are my senior sisters,” Lin Hanyu said.

Xiao Yuyu smiled at Lin Fan, while the other two merely glanced at him, not paying much attention.

Lin Hanyu’s brother, so what? Even Lin Hanyu was just an outer disciple. As for this brother, he should be even more respectful to them.

Huang Yan spoke up, “Young Master Lin, we are serving them.”

“Oh, serving them?” Lin Fan slightly raised his head, his expression naturally commanding.

“Hmph, get out, don’t you see we’re dining?” Ning Tiekun barked.

Lin Fan merely glanced at Ning Tiekun, then turned his gaze to the other two.

At that moment, the atmosphere in the room became oppressive.

The commoners who had followed into the Lin residence held their breath, sensing that something big was about to happen.

Zhou Jun and Wang Yun’s faces turned pale, their previously calm hearts now trembling violently. They wanted to move but found an inexplicable pressure weighing down on them.

They knew that if they didn’t act now, the consequences would be dire.

Gulp!

Their throats trembled slightly as they desperately tried to move.

“Senior Brother Ning, this is my brother, he is a disciple of the Heaven and Earth Sect,” Lin Hanyu said sternly.

“Haha,” Ning Tiekun sneered. If this person were truly a disciple of the Heaven and Earth Sect, Senior Brother Zhou and Senior Brother Wang would surely recognize him. But since they hadn’t said a word, it was clear that this person was just an ordinary disciple, perhaps even a menial disciple.

“Brave indeed, to have the Lin family and the heads of the seven major families serve you. Truly brave,” Lin Fan said.

Ning Tiekun sneered, “Senior Brother Zhou, Senior Brother Wang, what is this person’s status in your Heaven and Earth Sect?”

But when Ning Tiekun turned to look at the two, he was stunned by what he saw.

Now, not only was Ning Tiekun stunned, but everyone around was also shocked by the scene before them.

Zhou Jun and Wang Yun gritted their teeth, their faces filled with terror, as if using all their strength, they knelt down with a thud.

“Inner disciple Zhou Jun.”

“Inner disciple Wang Yun.”

“Greetings to the Sect Master Candidate, Senior Brother.”

“Please, Senior Brother, spare our lives. We truly didn’t know these were your family. Please, Senior Brother, spare us.”

Thud!

Thud!

The two knelt on the ground, trembling with fear, kowtowing in apology. The force was so great, the sound of their heads hitting the ground echoed like thunder.

Especially since they didn’t dare use any spiritual power, using their mortal foreheads to violently hit the ground, creating a series of loud thuds.

Blood splattered, staining the ground.

When they saw Lin Fan’s face, they were dumbfounded. This was Senior Brother Lin, who had suppressed the Divine Son of the Kunlun Divine Sect and even a Golden Immortal Elder with a single palm. If they had known this was Senior Brother Lin’s family, they wouldn’t have dared even with ten times the courage.

In the sect, even when meeting the Sect Master, they didn’t need to kneel. But now they understood that if they didn’t receive Senior Brother Lin’s forgiveness, their lives would end here.

Lin Fan stood with his hands behind his back, his expression cold as he watched the scene.

He didn’t speak, so Zhou Jun and Wang Yun didn’t dare stop.

At that moment, the world was silent except for the sound of kowtowing.

The commoners outside were dumbfounded.

The heads of the seven major families were stunned.

Lin Haoming and Lin Hanyu stared blankly at Lin Fan.

Ning Tiekun stood up, his face filled with shock, as if he had seen a ghost.

For everyone, there was only one thought in their minds.

“Sect Master Candidate…”

For any sect, these four words were extraordinary.

And especially for the Heaven and Earth Sect.

There were only twelve Sect Master Candidates in the Heaven and Earth Sect, each one a figure of immense power. Within the sect, their status was absolute. Apart from the Sect Master and a few transcendent elders, no one dared to be disrespectful in their presence.

But now, what were these two saying?

This person was a Sect Master Candidate of the Heaven and Earth Sect…

Lin Fan didn’t say another word, but walked to the main seat. “Father, take the main seat. Heads of the seven major families, please be seated. Butler, bring new utensils and dishes.”

“Yes, Young Master,” the old butler replied with excitement, quickly running out.

Ning Tiekun swallowed hard, his heart filled with fear. He then went to Zhou Jun and Wang Yun’s side, kneeling and kowtowing like them.

Lin Hanyu and her three senior sisters stood to the side, not daring to move, all of them shocked by the scene.

Soon, the old butler brought new utensils and removed the old ones.

Lin Fan personally poured wine for Lin Haoming and toasted him.

Lin Haoming’s hand holding the wine cup trembled, then he excitedly downed it in one gulp. “Good, good, good.”

Now it was truly good, glorious, really glorious.

He had thought that his son entering the Heaven and Earth Sect was the most glorious moment, but now it was even more glorious.

Lin Fan raised his wine cup and stood up. “Heads of the seven major families, thank you for your care of the Lin family over the past three years.”

The heads of the seven major families immediately stood up, not daring to show any arrogance, respectfully and politely downing their wine.

Comfortable, really comfortable.

The heads of the seven major families had never felt so comfortable before. The humiliation they had endured earlier was nothing, all vented in this moment.

Lin Hanyu and her three senior sisters stood there, not speaking.

Xiao Yuyu was now completely shocked. She hadn’t expected that Hanyu’s younger brother held such a position in the Heaven and Earth Sect.

“Let’s eat,” Lin Fan said with a smile, then paused and looked at Lin Hanyu by the door. “Sister, sit.”

Lin Hanyu nodded numbly, already stunned, sitting down without knowing what to do.

…

In the sect, even when meeting the Sect Leader, there was no need to kneel, but now they understood that if they couldn’t obtain Lin Senior Brother’s forgiveness, their lives would end right here.

Lin Fan stood with his hands behind his back, his expression cold, watching the scene before him.

He didn’t speak, so Zhou Jun and Wang Yun dared not stop.

At this moment, except for the sound of their heads knocking, the entire world was silent.

The commoners outside were stunned.

The seven family heads were frozen.

Lin Haoming and Lin Hanyu stared at Lin Fan, their expressions blank.

Ning Tiekun stood up, his face filled with shock, as if he had seen a ghost.

To everyone present, only one thought echoed in their minds.

“Sect Leader Candidate…”

To any sect, those four words carried immense weight.

Let alone in the Heaven and Earth Sect.

The Heaven and Earth Sect had only twelve Sect Leader Candidates, each of them extraordinary figures. Within the sect, their status was absolute, second only to the Sect Leader and a few revered elders. No one dared to act recklessly in front of them.

But now, what were these two saying?

That this person was a Sect Leader Candidate of the Heaven and Earth Sect…

Lin Fan didn’t say another word. Instead, he walked to the main seat. “Father, take the main seat. Heads of the seven great families, please be seated as well. Butler, bring new bowls and chopsticks, and serve fresh dishes.”

“Yes, young master,” the old butler replied joyfully, quickly running out.

Ning Tiekun swallowed hard, his heart filled with dread. Then he approached Zhou Jun and Wang Yun, kneeling and kowtowing just like them.

The three senior sisters, Lin Hanyu included, stood aside, too stunned to move.

Soon, the old butler returned with new bowls and chopsticks, replacing the old ones.

Lin Fan personally poured wine for Lin Haoming and offered him a toast.

Lin Haoming’s hands trembled as he held the wine cup, then he excitedly drank it in one gulp. “Good, good, good.”

Now, everything was truly good—so glorious, beyond imagination.

He had thought his son joining the Heaven and Earth Sect was the proudest moment of his life, but now, this moment was even more glorious.

Lin Fan raised his wine cup and stood up. “Heads of the seven great families, thank you for your care and support for the Lin family over the past three years.”

The seven family heads immediately stood up, not daring to show any arrogance. They respectfully and politely drank the wine.

How satisfying! Truly, incredibly satisfying.

The seven family heads had never felt so satisfied before. All the grievances they had endured earlier were nothing compared to this moment—they had finally avenged themselves.

Lin Hanyu and the three senior sisters stood there, speechless.

At this moment, Xiao Yuya’s heart was filled with shock. She never expected that Lin Fan, Hanyu’s younger brother, would hold such a status within the Heaven and Earth Sect.

“Let’s eat,” Lin Fan said with a smile, then paused and looked toward Lin Hanyu at the door. “Sister, sit down.”

Lin Hanyu nodded numbly, still in a daze, sitting there without knowing what to do.

…