Night of the Broken Gliph

Tse Yu Bak arrived at the inn the next day. 

“What?” Chui Yim looked at him in doubt. “You’re asking me to cure you? But it’s not that hard to cure the snow centipede’s dissolved tendon powder poison once it’s discovered. Brother, are you even from the Tse Clan? It can’t be that such a powerful clan is unable to cure poison.” 

Tse Yu Bak was not even slightly upset at Chui Yim’s words. Instead, he found it amusing. “We consulted our guest doctor yesterday, but he has never heard of the poison. Moreover… You’re the only one I trust, brother. And will only trust you to do so.” 

Fate was such a peculiar thing. They were strangers the day before, but today, Chui Yim was someone whom he trusts with his life.

Maybe it is this boy who gave me hope when I was in despair…

Hearing him, Chui Yim patted his chest happily. “No problem! You can just leave this to your big brother! Since you have addressed me as your big brother, I’ll definitely help you!”  

“Erm…I did not call you big brother, though…” 

“Let’s go, brother Tse! Let big brother help you!” 

“But I just called you brother…” 

Chui Yim, Chor Shing Chit and Bak Wun exited the inn to see a coach parked outside. 

The mount was a pitch black, skinny animal that wore a fierce look in its eyes. “Brother Chui, this is the hybrid gliphic beast of Night Lion and wolf, a night wolf. It might not be great for battle, but it’s speedy, and the iconic mount of our Clan.” 

Looking around him, Chui Yim realised that all passersby were looking at them respectfully. Like what Tse Yu Bak said, the night wolf was Tse Clan’s iconic mount. All residents of the Night Lion City respected those who were able to take the night wolf coach. 

The night wolf coach went straight for the Tse Mayor, and Chui Yim wasn’t even slightly nervous arriving at a stranger place. He examined his surroundings happily instead. “Brother Tse, what a nicely-built gate you have there.” 

“Haha.” Tse Yu Bak laughed, saying nothing more. 

When all of them alight, there’s somebody around to fetch them. “Young Master Tse, Clan Leader is waiting for you.” 

“Give me a minute. I will come after I settle my brother down.” 

“Erm… Young Master, your friend is whom the Clan Leader wants to meet.” 

The trio from Southary exchanged glances. 

As the authority of the city, the Tse Manor was no doubt magnificent. Instead of flowers, trees were grown in the mansion, making the Tse Clan look as if it was built in the woods, which added a mysterious vibe to the place. Chor Shing Chit and Bak Wun looked around, fascinated with the mansion too. Not anyone could enter the mansion, and from the splendid architecture to the different details, they could deduce how powerful the clan was. 

They only realised that it wasn’t only Tse Zen who was waiting for them in the meeting hall; the hall was filled. They were either standing or sitting down in an orderly manner. All that were seated down are elderly, the clan’s old courtiers while the younger members representing the clan stood behind them. Tse Clan was a huge clan that spread across the entire South. 

The larger a clan was, they would naturally have a sect of the same scale as them. 

“You’re here?” Tse Zen’s voice boomed across the room. 

This old man has a loud voice. A frown creased Chui Yim’s forehead. 

‘Yes.” Tse Yu Bak bowed lightly. He did not understand his father’s action, but he decided to trust him. 

Tse Zen took a long glance at Chui Yim before looking away. “There’s definitely a reason why I called all of you here. It’s a known fact that my son, Tse Yu Bak, is unable to reach the one-chambered state despite being eighteen this year.” 

There was no response heard, and nobody dared to reply. This was how mighty Tse Zen was. Everyone only dared to mock Tse Yu Bak behind him, and nobody ever dared to do it in front of Tse Zen. But the silence did not seem to affect Tse Zen as he continued. 

“Only yesterday did I discover that it was because my son was being poisoned by someone.” 

Whoosh! As soon as he said so, a commotion broke out in the meeting hall.

An elder jumped up from his seat. “Clan Leader, is this true?” 

“If it is, then that person is here to destroy our clan! How wicked he must be!” Another elder spoke up. He was so angry that he was shaking. 

However, there were elders who did not fully trust the information. “But Clan Leader, we are the Tse Clan, the famous clan in the South. Who would dare to do so to us? Even Emperor Lam dare not.” 

Others agreed with this elder too. Breaking off the inheritance was an extremely black-hearted way to clans that valued it. It was a taboo that shall never be violated in a clan. Even if Emperor Lam was the person who did it, the Tse Clan would strike back immediately,causing civil strife in the South. 

Just then, a cough was heard. 

Everyone turned their attention to the guest doctor of Tse Clan, Doctor Chi, Chi Ping.

 “Regarding the snow centipede dissolved tendons powder clan leader brought up yesterday, I’ve specially researched it but ended up empty handed. Clan Leader, are you sure you’re stating the truth?” Chi Ping spoke slowly. 

He turned to Tse Yu Bak and continued cautiously. “Clan Leader, things related to talents are unpredictable, but if one were to push the blame to poison just because they are talentless…” 

Chi Ping came to a stop, and all eyes were now on Tse Yu Bak. 

Yeah, what if he’s the one lying instead? 

Under the sharp glares, Tse Yu Bak did not even feel a slight tint of anger. He took down the glances calmly, as if he did not hear all the gossip. After six years of bearing such comments and stares, he was already used to it. 

Seeing how calm Tse Yu Bak was, Tse Zen couldn’t help but praise him silently. All these years had been a training of endurance for Tse Yu Bak. After experiencing all worldly affairs, he was able to come back mentally stronger. 

At the same time, a childish voice rang out. “The reason why you can’t find any information is because you only read books on medicine.” 

Everyone in the meeting hall turned to the boy next to Tse Yu Bak. 

“Clan Leader, who is…” Hearing him, Chi Ping frowned. 

“I’m brother Tse’s big brother, so his matters are mine too.” Chui Yim patted his chest, looking like a boy full of justice while Tse Yu Bak’s face twitched slightly. “I’m the one who discovered the poison.” 

“So this is where the conclusion came from, Clan Leader,a silly kid.” Chi Ping laughed. “Now the truth is revealed. Young Master had befriended a bad friend.” 

“What a joke.” Chui Yim chuckled. “This old, short-sighted bastard who acts knowledgeable. Did you even read the book, ‘Everything you can do with dissolved tendon powder’? There’s hundreds of records on what you can do with dissolved tendon powder.” 

“What a joke. I’m a glipheon, why would I be reading books instead of medicine books?”