It was funny to see everyone's reactions after he spoke up. They really thought this was enough to take him down. Perhaps, if it was the previous Ye Jun, it would have been enough. He was a hard worker, but also very emotional.
At this moment, he would have given in to his emotions and played right into their hands.
But the current Ye Jun saw things clearly and could see how ridiculous their argument was, and how simple the solution to it was.
Ye Zhong stared down at Ye Jun before nodding. "You can defend yourself. I am not unreasonable."
"Thank you for your generosity," Ye Jun faked a bow before turning toward Ye Chen. "You accuse me of colluding with the Xia or Tang Clan, but care to tell me what benefit they gain in doing that?"
"Have you gone deaf?" Ye Chen said. "You traded valuable intel about our clan with them. Secrets that are important to us."
"Good point!" Ye Jun nodded. "But what valuable information do I have about our clan?"
Ye Chen paused.
"I literally live on the clan's outskirts, and the only time I come here is when the elders summon me." Ye Jun shrugged lightly. "I'm excluded from everything, and everyone knows that already."
He clasped his hands behind his back and asked, "Everyone knows I'm the most useless person in this clan, with little to no value. I know nothing. So why would anyone help me?"
Ye Chen hesitated, trying to come up with something. His eyes lit up. "To spy on us."
"Once again, your arguments are stupid, just like yourself, little brother," Ye Jun shook his head. "My position in this clan is worse than a dog. The whole world knows it."
The elders' expressions turned strange hearing his words. While it was true, they had never truly acknowledged it. On the surface, they pretended to be just elders.
Ye Jun didn't care about their thoughts and simply continued, "They'd have far better options than me. Wait! What if it was Ye Cheng?"
"Don't slander him!" Ye Chen's voice took a darker tone. "He was loyal to me and to this clan. Don't disrespect the dead just to get out of your situation."
"Perhaps. But think about it," Ye Jun smiled. "He directly served the future Young Master of this clan. He earned your trust clearly. Wouldn't it make more sense to choose him over me?"
"Ye Jun!" Ye Chen bellowed.
Ye Jun glanced at Ye Zhong and said, "I'm surprised you're letting him be so disrespectful in your presence."
"He lost his friend," Ye Zhong replied. "I can excuse it."
Ye Jun wanted to scoff. 'He won't even try to hide it.'
He turned back to Ye Chen and said, "In any case, Ye Cheng went to the lower market, a section for poor people. It doesn't make sense unless he had some hidden motive."
"You went there regularly," Ye Chen accused him. "Even the elders know it. Ye Cheng only went there once to track you down and catch you red-handed, but he was murdered."
The elders nodded, as one of them spoke up, "Do you have anything to say? Why did you visit that section?"
"Because of this clan's incompetence," Ye Jun said bluntly. "I'm the Young Master of this clan, but I'm treated worse than a servant. I get no allowance. Heck, not even food or a place to stay."
Ye Zhong's eyes narrowed at Ye Jun. Everything he said was a known fact, but neither side brought it up, as even Ye Jun knew it was pointless. Even if he complained now, he would just be beaten up later and any resources would be snatched away.
'Is he pretending not to be disturbed by their losses? It's possible,' Ye Zhong thought.
The Grand Elder, Ye Huang, sitting beside him frowned. "What are you talking about? We send your monthly allowance on time."
"Oh, but I never get it," Ye Jun smiled. "I'm blaming the clan's incompetence since my allowance is generated but never delivered."
"We will look into that. You should have told us sooner," Ye Huang stroked his gray beard and said. "And what does this have to do with your situation?"
"Everything!" Ye Jun exclaimed. "How else do you think I survived till now? I had to do jobs to earn enough to fill my belly. That's why I went to the lower market every day."
The hall fell silent. The elders glanced at each other, wondering what they should do now. They had nothing to pin the blame on Ye Jun, even if they wanted to.
"Liar!" Ye Chen shouted. "Father, don't believe his words! He targeted Ye Cheng and killed him through underhanded means."
He gritted his teeth and put his hand on his sword's hilt. "If you won't give me justice, then I shall take it with my own hands."
"Ye Chen!"
The thunderous voice of Ye Zhong silenced the hall, while Ye Chen shivered in fear. He knew his father's cruel nature, which instantly drowned his anger.
He bowed before him. "Please forgive me, Father. I let my emotions take control of me."
"Learn to take control," Ye Zhong said.
Ye Chen nodded. "I will!"
Ye Jun smiled at the display and said, "Father, since my younger brother is so against me in everything, why don't we end this once and for all?"
Everyone's ears perked up hearing that. Even Ye Chen looked back in confusion. He expected things to end in failure today, so what was waiting for him?
"It's been years of this whole facade," Ye Jun said, stepping forward calmly. "You hate me, I hate you. You want the status of Young Master while I cling to it. So many things happened because of it, so why don't we end it?"
"What are you talking about?" Ye Chen asked.
"In one month, the Martial Exchange will be held," Ye Jun said. "We compete in it. If you win, the Young Master position is yours. If I win, then I'll take..."
His grin turned wider as he added coldly, "...your head."
The elders stood up in surprise. The hall turned deathly silent as they stared at each other in shock.
Even Ye Zhong's eyes twinkled, but he didn't react. Instead, he began to think deeply.
The happiest person in the hall, however, was Ye Chen.