Published at 3rd of December 2025 7:41 am

Chapter 1317: Tsuitsui Clan’s Patriarch

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Verdant Palace, Inner City.

While Adam was communicating with the mysterious figure whom he thought was the Patriarch of the Tsuitsui Clan, inside the clan’s ancestral palace, Goro and Reika were standing before the real Patriarch.

"Greetings, Lord Patriarch."

Goro, Reika, and the rest of the elders who had traveled to Yuanshi together cupped their fists and offered a deep bow.

Seated on a throne, the Patriarch of the Tsuitsui Clan and an indifferent look on his face. He wore lavish clothes representing the colors of his clan. The most surprising thing about him was his facial appearance. The man looked rather young for a Mana Core Magus.

Resting his chin on his hand, the Patriarch flatly said, "Explain what happened in Yaunshi."

Although he had already received the report in advance, he still wanted to hear it in person.

Reika Tsuitsui stepped forward, then respectfully began to explain. Starting with the vile murders of the Arakuro Clan members inside Yuanshi, to the Grand Elder of the Arakuro Clan declaring war on the murderer, and finally, the result of the tournament. She patiently explained everything.

It took almost thirty minutes with several other elders chiming in, and the Patriarch asking follow-up questions. He then slipped into deep thought. A few moments later, he spoke in a dignified voice:

"Goro, Reika, stay. The rest of you, dismiss yourselves."

"Yes, Patriarch!" The elders bowed once again, then left the throne room.

After the giant doors to the chamber were sealed shut, the Patriarch’s cold and indifferent appearance was instantly replaced by a gentle look. He disappeared from his throne and instantly appeared before Reika and gently pinched her cheeks.

"My little princess, did you eat properly? Did you have any trouble during your journey?"

Reika was quite embarrassed. "Father, please! I’m not a child anymore!"

The Patriarch pulled her into a warm embrace. He gently patted her head, then said dotingly, "But to me, you’ll always be my little princess."

His gaze shifted to Goro, and his eyes immediately narrowed. With a slightly stern look on his face, he said:

"And you, have you been neglecting your training? Why do you look so thin?"

Goro’s lips twitched. "Father, I trained every day and ate nine meals a day."

The Patriarch stood before him. Then his lips curled into a gentle smile. He gently caressed Goro’s cheek and said, "That’s my boy. You must always be the hardest worker in the room. There are no shortcuts to the Mana Core Rank."

Dokuto Tsuitsui, the Patriarch of the Tsuitsui Clan, and known throughout the Magus world of Yen-Lu as the Poison Blade, had married dozens of wives and sired even more children.

Yet among all his children, none made him more proud than Goro and Reika.

Goro was a divine prodigy in martial arts as well as the poison arts of the clan, while Reika, although not as talented as Goro in combat, was very gifted in governance and strategy. That was why Dokuto was grooming her to become the next leader of the clan.

Besides, Goro did not have the aptitude to rule. He was a free spirit who only cared about eating, training, and fighting. Reika, on the other hand, was born to be a sovereign.

"Come, walk with me." Dokuto smiled warmly at his children and led them to a vast balcony that overlooked the city.

"Now, where is that new friend of yours?" He asked with an arched brow.

Goro and Reika exchanged glances. The former awkwardly scratched his head as he replied, "He, uh... he’s probably exploring the city. I’ve sent disciples to look for him."

"Hmm." Dokuto nodded in response. "Reika."

"Yes, father?"

"So? Which of my daughters do you think I should present to Ao as a marriage match?"

Reika slipped into silence. A few moments later, she answered:

"I still don’t think this is the right decision. Well, subjectively speaking at least. No matter what others say, for a marriage to work, the partners need to have at least a basic level of attraction towards one another."

"So you think even if one of your sisters agrees to marry Ao, they will forever harbor resentment?" Dokuto asked as he stroked his chin.

"Yes, father." Reika nodded. "And I’m taking into consideration Ao’s appearance after we’ve healed him. We still don’t know anything about his age. Is he young? Is he old? Will my sisters even come to like him?"

"But this must be done, Reika," Dokuto stated in a gentle voice. " Regardless of Ao’s appearance, he must be adopted into our clan. He was able to withstand Goro’s poison. I don’t have to tell you what that means, do I?"

"...Yes, father." Reika lowered her head and nodded.

"I still think we shouldn’t force my sisters into this," Goro voiced out his opinion. As the eldest son, he was always looking out for his siblings.

"The well-being of the clan transcends the well-being of the individual, my dear children." Dokuto displayed a gentle smile.

He then waved his hand and continued, "Anyway, we’ll see how things turn out after his condition is cured by our healers. But Reika..."

"Yes, father." Reika nodded with a determined look in her eyes. "I will prepare for all outcomes. I... I’ll go speak with my sisters and try to persuade them."

"Good." Dokuto turned around and headed back to the throne room. "Find Ao. I wish to meet him."

"Yes, father!"

***

"Patriarch?" the old proprietor scoffed. "Boy, do I look like a patriarch to you?"

Adam scribbled another string of characters on the scroll.

It read:

Why not? You are strong enough to be one.

Reading those words, the elderly man chuckled. "You’re senses are quite sharp for a blind man."

The next moment, his hand turned into a blur, and before Adam even knew it, the old man had grabbed his wrist.

Fast! Adam thought to himself, stunned.

"Hmm, let’s see what we have here," the old proprietor murmured as he undid the bandages on Adam’s hand. "I reckon you’ve come here to find a cure for your—"

His words got caught in his throat, and his eyes narrowed. He deeply looked at the burnt flesh and murmured. "This..."

He then turned to Adam and noticed that the bandages were covering every inch of his body.

At last, the old proprietor said in a grim voice:

"It is a miracle you’ve survived."

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