The urge to ignore the Elders' order was strong in Ye Jun, especially since he wanted to leave the clan anyway. But there were many things stopping him from doing it.
For one, he wouldn't find a large group of martial artists easily like he could in the Ye Manor, so his progress in collecting attributes would slow down.
And there were also quite a few people who wanted him dead, and the only reason he was alive was because of his status. If he left the clan now, Ye Chen would be the first to kill him in broad daylight, and there was nothing he could do to prevent it.
One should know their limits and act accordingly.
So, after putting his stuff in his small home, he made his way toward the central building where all Clan Meetings were held. And as one might expect, the view changed completely by the time he reached there.
Now, his surroundings screamed luxury, as houses made of expensive wood were decorated with beautiful statues, turning the sight even better.
The central building itself was a massive structure supported by twelve thick beams and polished white stones that held many murals on them.
Shaking his head, he entered the building after passing through the guards and found himself in a big hall consisting of many details he might have admired, but something else caught his attention.
As he walked forward, he noticed people sitting on the sides, with three people sitting on magnificent stone chairs before him. All of their gazes were fixed on him.
Ye Jun recognised them all.
'Why is everyone gathered here?'
Before him sat the heads of the Ye Clan. His father, the Patriarch, Ye Zhong. The Grand Elder, Ye Huang. And the First Elder, who was also the Law Enforcement Elder of the Ye Clan, Ye Heng.
On the sides sat the other eight Elders and Ye Chen along with his lackeys.
'Huh? This guy went crying to mama? How lame!'
Ye Jun rolled his eyes and greeted every single Elder as they sat in their high seats as if they were gods judging him.
All of them were in the late Qi Condensation Realm, which was the minimum requirement to become an Elder, while the people sitting on the head seats were in the Soul Tempering Realm.
Every single one of them could kill Ye Jun with no effort whatsoever.
After the greetings were done, Ye Zhong narrowed his deep black eyes at him and said, "The clan has been observing you for years and has come to a decision."
"I'll follow your words, Patriarch," Ye Jun said.
Ye Zhong nodded in satisfaction at seeing his subservient attitude and said, "Remember the engagement agreement with the Song Family that the previous Patriarch made? The exact clause in it was that the Young Master of the Ye Clan is to be wedded to the Young Miss of the Song Clan."
'Ah! They're playing this card,' Ye Jun smiled inwardly upon hearing that. Of course, it was false, since his name was clearly mentioned in it, but they twisted it well.
"We have seen your growth, and I'm sure even you can tell that you won't reach the peak of the Body Strengthening Realm before your twentieth birthday. Hence, the position of Young Master has long been decided to be given to Ye Chen, as he fulfills all the criteria."
This was the rule that had protected Ye Jun until now. The Heir of the Ye Clan had to reach the peak of the Body Strengthening Realm before their twentieth birthday, and if they failed, then their position would be relinquished and given to someone else.
It was just a failsafe rule, never actually applied before, as most people could achieve that. But now it was in effect because of Ye Jun's existence.
Unfortunately for the Elders, they couldn't do anything to Ye Jun despite knowing he was a failed product. If they broke the rule, it would be a dishonor to the Ancestors who made the rules, and that was a great taboo in the Martial World.
Not to mention, there were still a few people from the older generations alive, so if the current Elders broke the rule, they would have to deal with the Ancestors.
All of this protected Ye Jun, since he was the Young Master until he turned twenty. The clan was helpless about his situation and could only wait, since they were sure he could never achieve that.
Meanwhile, Ye Zhong continued, "We decided to bring the engagement forward, and the Song Clan agreed, but we want to honor the agreement and have Ye Chen take your place, since he will be the Young Master next year."
Ye Jun nodded calmly and said, "I understand all of that, Patriarch. But what I do not understand is, what can I do in this?"
The others were surprised at how calm he was, as they expected him to lose his temper. After all, the topic of the Young Master position was very sensitive to him.
Not to mention, this was a clear humiliation. Right before him, his fiancée was being given to someone else. Anyone would get angry at this, so his calmness shocked all of them.
Ye Chen also frowned, as he couldn't understand what Ye Jun was playing at. But he soon relaxed, since it didn't matter what he did, Song Liangxue would be his.
'I am the Young Master of this clan, so she is also mine.' He glared hatefully at Ye Jun.
The First Elder cleared his throat, as Ye Zhong was taken aback and couldn't speak for a moment.
"This is your responsibility," Ye Heng added. "You will inform the Song Clan that you are unworthy and that Ye Chen will succeed you. Consider it your final act as Young Master."
Ye Jun wanted to laugh loudly right there at the ridiculous position he was put in. They really expected too much from him while considering nothing of him.
If he announced it, the Ye Clan would escape ridicule. Especially Ye Chen, since if the Ye Clan did this themselves, it would seem like a political betrayal and that Ye Chen was taking everything that belonged to his elder brother, even if it was true.
Not to mention, this would make the Song Clan look down on Ye Chen and the Ye Clan in general, something they couldn't afford, as they needed this alliance.
The Song Clan was the ruler of the Northern States, after all.
If Ye Jun did this, then everything would fall on him while everyone else would remain unscathed. All humiliation would fall on Ye Jun.
What the outside world would see was…
The Ye Clan did not betray the agreement. The former Young Master voluntarily stepped aside due to incompetence.
'Heh, they really want to humiliate me to death. What a bunch of pathetic fools. Ye Jun was his son, yet he's so cruel. Thank God I didn't have any parents in my previous life. I would rather live on the streets than in this hell of a family.'
Ye Jun caught Ye Chen smirking from the corner of his eyes and grinned widely.
'Now now, I can't let you have this victory, little brother. Not at all.'