Today’s events weren’t a sudden ambush; it was something thoroughly discussed with Lin Qinghen.

Lin Qinghen had carefully thought it over too. Other than concealing his true strength, Yin Jiuxiao couldn’t just continue doing nothing and revealing nothing about himself. If things continued like this, he’d become an invisible man—people wouldn’t dare mess with him because of Lin Qinghen, but they wouldn’t really respect him either, much like the treatment of the previous Steward Wang.

He needed to step up. The extent of his actions could be controlled, though.

Yin Jiuxiao needed to secure his place as Young Master enough for the family to stop ignoring him, without revealing his true strength or the fact he couldn’t see.

His weakness, in fact, created the perfect opportunity for some people to lower their guard and expose their intentions, giving Yin Jiuxiao an ideal vantage point to observe them.

When the time finally came, all he’d need was one last step to take over the Yin family.

Of course, this was also what Yin Jiuxiao wanted.

He’d never planned on hiding behind Lin Qinghen forever. Earlier, that was just for fun, but in reality, he always intended to protect him.

In recent days, the Yin family and the Alchemist Association had been restless, and Yin Jiuxiao saw everything clearly. He couldn’t let Lin Qinghen shoulder it all alone anymore.

After today, many people’s attention would be on him, and if anyone wanted to plot something, they’d be aiming at him directly.

Now, he and Lin Qinghen were truly standing side by side, facing their fate together.

Yin Jiuxiao’s lesson was far from over.

Steward Wang had already fainted multiple times, yet Yin Jiuxiao, with sharp instincts, claimed he couldn’t hear anything and kept waking him up until every debt was accounted for.

In fact, he handled it even better than Lin Qinghen, somehow appearing more skilled and experienced. Lin Qinghen’s ruthlessness was a trait he’d developed gradually and only recently revealed to the world. But Yin Jiuxiao, when he acted, showed a well-practiced ease, as though he’d done it a thousand times.

He didn’t really take someone like Steward Wang seriously. Wei Lin, following his orders, wielded his dagger with frightening precision, fully understanding the concept of “flaying.”

In the end, the man didn’t die; a Spirit Master’s vitality and recovery abilities are strong. As long as vital spots aren’t damaged, it’s hard to take them down.

But with injuries like that, it’d take a long recovery, likely leaving lasting damage.

Steward Wang had served in the Yin family for many years and had indeed contributed, but he’d pocketed plenty for himself, so his life could be spared.

Everyone has a bit of selfishness; it’s not like everyone in the family is squeaky clean. But there’s a need to distinguish minor mistakes from major offenses. Overlooking small issues is one thing, but not knowing where one’s loyalty lies on significant matters is asking for trouble.

“Drag him aside and get someone to clean up,” Yin Jiuxiao finished tallying up and, without a change in expression, began giving the next orders. “Wei Lin, if he doesn’t remember what I just said, you better remember it.”

He was talking about the allocation of elixirs. It wasn’t a complicated idea. Wei Lin wouldn’t dare forget and quickly confirmed that he understood.

“Steward Wang is temporarily out of commission. For now, I’ll make the big decisions for the Inner Courtyard, and you can handle the specifics. Don’t bother me with trivial matters.” Yin Jiuxiao continued, “Who’s Steward Wang’s assistant in the Inner Courtyard? Step forward.”

Soon, a tall, thin man stepped out from the crowd. He was trembling but dared not delay in front of Yin Jiuxiao and responded immediately.

“You’re familiar with the Yin family’s internal affairs. Work with Wei Lin to handle it and complete the elixir allocation. I’ve made everything clear, and if there’s a single error, you two will be responsible. Any questions?”

Wei Lin dared not have questions, and neither did the others. Receiving their response, Yin Jiuxiao felt slightly more at ease.

“Then, does the Patriarch have any doubts?” he asked Yin Hengxie, but his words were meant for everyone present. “I wasn’t wronging him, was I? Steward Wang defied orders, that’s one. He tried to swindle the elixir distribution, that’s two. And he slandered the Young Master’s wife, that’s three.

I didn’t take his life, and that’s only because of Qinghen’s face. Today’s a good day, and I don’t want bloodshed. The Yin family should’ve stopped these internal conflicts long ago. Anyone who dares to repeat this, no matter who you are, should prepare for the consequences.”

Yin Hengxie had steadied himself.

He listened closely to Yin Jiuxiao’s previous thoughts on elixir distribution and realized that his plan was indeed better than Steward Wang’s. Yin Hengxie hadn’t realized how much his people had hidden from him.

The family was finally getting back on track; if anything went wrong here, it could easily spark resentment among the younger members.

“I have no objections,” he said. “Jiuxiao, as Young Master, should indeed manage these matters. His approach is correct, and I simply hadn’t considered it.”

Lin Qinghen, who had been silent until now, sensed the timing was right and smiled as he added, “Die Meng has no objections either. We can begin supplying the elixirs as agreed.”

Naturally, he stood by Yin Jiuxiao’s side without question.

Everything seemed harmonious, yet Yin Jiuxiao still had further demands beyond dealing with Steward Wang. Today, he intended to make them all clear.

Wei Lin obediently stood by Yin Jiuxiao, playing the role of a guard, while Yin Jiuxiao began revealing his true intentions.

“I’ll temporarily oversee the Inner Courtyard, and once there’s a suitable candidate, I’ll arrange for them to take over. Beyond the Inner Courtyard, the heads of the other eleven courtyards must report to me weekly, detailing recent activities and significant developments. I won’t tolerate omissions, and if I ask, you will answer truthfully.

I remember that when I was six, I sat by my grandfather’s side, listening to reports from all twelve courtyards. He said it was the Young Master’s duty. But with the upheavals in the Yin family, this tradition broke for eleven years. Now that I’m eighteen, it’s time to reinstate it.”

The other heads of the eleven courtyards, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, were taken aback. Even if they’d had no interaction with Yin Jiuxiao before, they would need to now.

They exchanged looks, each a bit stunned. One, bolder than the rest, hesitated before speaking. He didn’t outright object but indirectly suggested a compromise.

“It’s only right for the Young Master to handle family affairs, but you have indeed been away from such matters for a long time. The twelve courtyards have just been reorganized; there may be things you aren’t fully familiar with. Perhaps we could…”

“If there’s anything I don’t understand, I’ll figure it out myself. But if you can’t explain it, that’s on you,” Yin Jiuxiao cut him off sharply. “I’m not asking for your opinion; I’m informing you. There’s no room for negotiation.”

Wei Lin, truly obedient, let his essence pulse, ready to step in and handle any insubordination at Yin Jiuxiao’s cue.

Ultimately, Yin Hengxie stepped in to smooth things over.

Pleased that Yin Jiuxiao was willing to take on responsibilities, he said, “Jiuxiao is the Young Master, and he should indeed be familiar with family matters. This rule has always existed, so we’ll follow it. If anything’s unclear, feel free to ask me. If any of the twelve courtyards fail to comply, let Jiuxiao handle it.”

He also took a glance at Wei Lin, noting that he was not only loyal in words but genuinely prepared to follow through.

A top-tier fighter loyal to Yin Jiuxiao could be advantageous to the Yin family as a whole.

The remaining heads couldn’t offer any objections, exchanging glances before conceding, at least for now.

Aside from Steward Wang, these heads were all high-star Earth Tier fighters, with some close to breaking into the Heavenly Tier.

Everyone had mixed feelings, but they knew to keep things hidden. Yin Jiuxiao’s sudden assertiveness as Young Master intrigued them, though they’d need to spend more time with him to understand.

But today’s gathering had another purpose: to open the Simulation Training Ground.

Once Yin Jiuxiao achieved his desired outcome, he stepped back slightly, standing beside Lin Qinghen, gently tugging his hand.

“Now that Jiuxiao’s matters are settled, let’s get back to the main topic. Although we’ve been delayed, it’s not too late,” Lin Qinghen felt his hand and spoke accordingly. “Patriarch Yin, let’s open it. It’s time.”

He was eager to see what lay inside. The place hadn’t been opened in eight years, and after recent inspections and cleaning, the once dusty doors now gleamed with grandeur and elegance.

Today, Yin Hengxie’s emotions had been on a rollercoaster. Taking a deep breath, he pulled out the Gathering Origin Spirit Stone from his robe and, without further ado, raised his hand and inserted it into the slot at the door’s center.

The Gathering Origin Spirit Stone was the key. As soon as the stone slotted in, light spread from the center, illuminating every pattern on the stone door with an almost dazzling blue glow.

Then, Lin Qinghen heard a hum as the door slowly cracked open.

The crack widened, and a wave of Spirit Qi spilled out, brushing everyone’s faces like a gentle spring breeze.

The view beyond the door was obscured by pale blue mist, and legend had it that each person who entered would encounter a unique simulated training environment.

This was the best in the entire continent during its peak, able to provide a hundred types of training. Now, it only offered six basic environments, but that was enough to benefit everyone.

“This place has always felt like home since I was three. Now it finally resembles its former glory,” Yin Jiuxiao sighed as he spoke to Lin Qinghen. “The Yin family…”

Seeing the scene filled him with emotions.

Watching, the other Yin family members, regardless of their previous thoughts, felt a surge of nostalgia, reminded of their youthful days spent cultivating here.

Reviving a family was no easy feat. In his past life, Yin Jiuxiao had never achieved it.

Now, with Lin Qinghen, he was fighting for the family’s future, doing everything for the Yin family’s benefit.

Compared to his past life, Yin Jiuxiao was far gentler—all thanks to Lin Qinghen.

He hoped they understood. He wished everyone here would realize that if not necessary, he and Lin Qinghen wouldn’t go to such lengths to “educate” people and make a bloody mess.

“Let’s go,” Lin Qinghen, satisfied with the scene, tugged on Yin Jiuxiao’s sleeve, “Time to go back.”