The morning sun filtered through the windows of Ye Tian's hall, falling across the polished floors and illuminating the scattered weapons he had left from the previous night's training. His two wives, Lan Yuhua and Mu Qingyao, lay beside him, still half-asleep, their hair tangled across his chest. Ye Tian's hand brushed against Mu Qingyao's shoulder, pulling her slightly closer.
"Patriarch… wake up," Mu Qingyao murmured, blinking at him with sleepy eyes.
"Hm… another day, another plot," Ye Tian muttered, half-smiling. "Get ready. Today's going to be interesting."
Lan Yuhua stretched beside him and whispered with a faint blush, "Dear… be careful with your father and the elders."
Ye Tian chuckled, planting a brief kiss on her temple. "Relax. This shadow isn't afraid of them."
He dressed swiftly, the long cloak of the Ye Clan flowing behind him as he stepped outside. His disciples were already waiting silently, forming a respectful line on either side of the courtyard. "Escort me," he ordered. Their eyes glinted with absolute loyalty, and none questioned him.
As he walked toward the clan's central hall, whispers of his passing spread. Merchants, guards, and wandering nobles couldn't help but notice the calm yet deadly aura he exuded. Each step seemed to draw eyes, and even some of the more distant elders of minor families had begun murmuring about the Nightlord, the one who devours the night.
The massive doors of the hall opened, and Ye Tian's father, the patriarch of the Ye Clan, waited with several of the elders. Their faces were a mixture of suspicion and fear, as if trying to hide the unease that had been growing in the clan ever since news of the Mo Clan's annihilation reached them.
"Ye Tian," the patriarch began, voice stern but carefully measured. "We have received disturbing reports of your activities outside the clan… especially your connection to this… Nightshade Hall. Explain yourself."
Ye Tian's gaze swept the room, calm and piercing. "I am the leader of the Nightshade Hall. Every action, every order passes through me. None act without my command. And no one outside knows who I am unless I allow it."
A younger elder stammered, "And the Mo Clan… we've heard… you destroyed them?"
Ye Tian's eyes narrowed slightly. "Yes. I destroyed the Mo Clan. And I did it for Lan Yuhua. She and her mother were abandoned, cast out, wronged by her own family. That clan paid for their cruelty. Nothing more. Nothing less."
Murmurs filled the hall. Even the patriarch's face betrayed the slightest unease.
Another elder stepped forward, trying to maintain his composure. "So… you admit, for the sake of your wife, you… annihilated an entire clan?"
Ye Tian's voice remained level, calm but cold. "I protect those I care about. That is all. The rest of the world… survives or falls at my discretion. Anyone who betrays or threatens the Nightshade Hall, its members, or its leader, will die. And none will see it coming."
The patriarch's hands clenched at his sides, yet his voice was steady. "And us? The clan elders? Are we to fear you as well?"
Ye Tian's gaze softened just a fraction as he glanced toward Lan Yuhua and Mu Qingyao. "You are my family. I do not harm my family. But anyone who mocks my power, anyone who underestimates me, will learn quickly why they shouldn't."
Lan Yuhua moved slightly closer, her hand brushing his arm. "Dear… you don't need to prove anything to them," she whispered. Mu Qingyao added, "Husband… they should already know your authority."
Ye Tian allowed himself a small smile, looking at his wives and then the elders. "It was necessary," he said, voice calm. "They needed to understand. Let them fear, let them whisper. My focus remains on those I care for. That will never change."
The patriarch inclined his head subtly, acknowledging the weight behind Ye Tian's words. The other elders, pale and quiet, exchanged uneasy glances. No one dared challenge him further.
As Ye Tian turned to leave, Lan Yuhua whispered, "You handled them well, dear." Mu Qingyao's soft smile followed. "Husband… your power and wisdom leave no doubt."
A small smirk curved Ye Tian's lips as he glanced at them. "Then let the world know. The Nightlord doesn't play games. But I protect those I love… and that includes you two, first and foremost."
Outside the hall, disciples fell into formation around him, following his lead as they exited. Whispers followed them, but every eye understood: Ye Tian had consolidated his power, and any doubts about his might or intent had been thoroughly dispelled. The Nightlord had spoken, and all of the Ye Clan would remember it for years to come.