When enemies meet, their eyes blaze with hatred. The beaten Emily Reynolds jumped up from his chair: “William Reynolds, I thought you’d tuck your tail and hide from everyone.”

This Emily Reynolds had lost several teeth from the beating, so he spoke with a lisp, making him sound quite ridiculous.

William Reynolds smiled mockingly but ignored him. His gaze met Second Uncle Edward Reynolds: “Second Uncle, what brings you here today? I remember someone once said that as long as I didn’t hand over the Moonlight Medal, no matter what happened to our branch, you’d never set foot in our home…”

William Reynolds felt a deep aversion to this second uncle. The man was too ambitious, too controlling.

As his father’s elder brother, he showed no familial affection at all toward William Reynolds’s branch.

In fact, William Reynolds suspected that the reason his ten purple pearl grass plants failed to survive, and the seeds were tampered with, was because of this second uncle.

Although Edward Reynolds was cunning and sly, hearing William Reynolds bring up old grievances made his face twitch with embarrassment.

Sensing his second brother’s awkwardness, the ever-loyal fourth brother David Reynolds shouted, “Cangqiong, what kind of attitude is that? Are you saying we, as elders, can’t even come to see our nephew?”

William Reynolds sneered, “It’s not that you can’t! All these years, when my brother and I were down and out, day and night we hoped an elder would come by to check on us, to lend a helping hand. May I ask, uncles, where were you then?”

His words left fourth uncle David Reynolds speechless.

When they needed help the most, these elders hadn’t even set foot in their home.

But now, when it was time to kick them while they were down, they rushed over eagerly?

Seeing the elders’ plan falter, Emily Reynolds couldn’t help but shout, “William Reynolds, don’t get cocky. We heard your brother was caught stealing, and you had to give up the Moonlight Medal to bail him out. If it were just you two brothers, even if you died in the gutter, we wouldn’t spare you a glance. But the Moonlight Medal is Third Uncle’s legacy—we have the duty and the right to get involved.”

Even a fool has his uses.

Such shameless words were inconvenient for Edward Reynolds, David Reynolds, or even Evelyn Reynolds to say. But coming from Emily Reynolds, it seemed just right.

Charles Reynolds, seeing how rude Emily Reynolds was, was furious. Blood rushed to his head, and he was about to step forward and say, “A man should answer for his own actions.” But William Reynolds, whether intentionally or not, blocked him, keeping him behind.

William Reynolds just let out a scornful laugh and glanced at Emily Reynolds with contempt. For a defeated opponent like Emily Reynolds, he didn’t even have the interest to argue.

Evelyn Reynolds knew it was his turn to speak, and said loudly, “Cousin Cangqiong, the Moonlight Medal is a recognition of Third Uncle’s outstanding contribution to the family. While we may not have the right to inherit it, we do have the right to supervise it. If necessary, we even have the right to strip you of your inheritance!”

David Reynolds also put on the airs of an elder: “That’s right. You two brothers have fallen so low as to steal and become thieves. The Moonlight Medal must be confiscated. And if it’s proven you really did steal, you’ll be punished according to family law.”

Edward Reynolds snorted coldly, pronouncing judgment from on high: “According to family law, bringing shame to the family by stealing outside warrants a hundred strokes; according to family law, selling out the family’s honor means expulsion from the clan; according to family law…”

Listening to them go on and on, William Reynolds couldn’t help but laugh.

Suddenly, William Reynolds wiped the smile from his face and asked calmly, “You keep talking about family law. But may I ask, are any of you the clan head, or the one in charge of the family? If you want to invoke family law, you need the authority to represent it. Waving the tiger’s skin as a banner—is that supposed to be fun?”

His words were light and casual, but it was as if a master had swept away all their aggressive attacks with a flick of his sleeve.

Indeed, did they have the right to represent family law?

In the Ren family, only the matriarch, the highest authority, and the clan head had the right to represent family law!

But Edward Reynolds, ever the schemer, had waited three days before coming, clearly prepared.

Chapter 0010: Forced to Retreat

Edward Reynolds smiled faintly, his gaze sternly fixed on William Reynolds: “You’re right. To talk about family law, you must have the authority to represent it. But I wonder, does the clan head’s token count as authority?”

The clan head’s token?

Edward Reynolds opened his palm, revealing a three-finger-wide, ancient and weighty green token—the clan head’s token!

Charles Reynolds saw it and his face changed dramatically, his heart pounding.

Emily Reynolds, seeing the brothers’ shocked expressions, laughed triumphantly: “Hahaha, William Reynolds, let’s see you act arrogant now! With the clan head’s token here, do you dare defy orders?”

David Reynolds fanned the flames: “Cangqiong, with the clan head’s token out, are you still not going to hand over the Moonlight Medal? Or do you want us to use force?”

If William Reynolds and his brother resisted, according to clan rules, the holder of the clan head’s token could use force to enforce family law.