"It seems the Shen clan has developed rapidly in recent years, achieving such splendor!"
Ye Shisan smiled and asked, "Is Ya Yin in?"
"She is in seclusion!"
Shen Batian smiled and said, "I have already arranged a banquet. After the feast, I will have someone guide you out via a secluded path. I doubt Meng Po and her associates will be able to track you!"
Lu Fan and the others frowned. Shen Batian's words seemed to be a polite way of asking them to leave.
"Patriarch Shen, please don't joke. We have traveled thousands of miles to be here, specifically for the convergence of the Five Swords!"
Ye Shisan said seriously, "Why would we leave so easily!"
"This..."
Shen Batian frowned and stated frankly, "You must have seen earlier that the Shen clan does not wish to be involved. We ask for your understanding!"
Lu Fan and the others rose, utterly bewildered by Shen Batian's pronouncement, which left them in shock.
"Patriarch Shen, do you know what you are saying?"
Ye Shisan gazed at Shen Batian, his eyes growing colder. Confronting the Ghost Hall and saving the world was the mission of the five ancient clans. Shen Batian's words were simply unacceptable to him.
"You may not know how powerful the Ghost Hall is!"
Shen Batian smiled, "I do not wish for my clansmen to be sent to their deaths!"
"If the ancient sects are destroyed, the Shen family will be the last to fall!"
Lu Fan interjected, "Patriarch Shen, you should reconsider your position!"
"The Shen family has profound heritage. As long as we do not antagonize the Ghost Hall, there will be no major issues!"
Shen Patriarch's expression was indifferent, as if he had long prepared for this.
"It appears Patriarch Shen has made up his mind!"
Ye Shisan chuckled, "But your actions are in violation of the ancestral teachings!"
"As long as the Shen clan can be preserved, it is sufficient!"
Shen Batian stated directly, "As for the ancestral teachings, I do not particularly care!"
"So, you have made your decision!"
Ye Shisan said coldly, "No matter how much we say now, it will likely be futile!"
"Self-preservation is the ultimate path. The Ye clan could also choose this!"
Shen Batian said frankly, "After all, survival in this chaotic world is extremely difficult. Why bother with such effort!"
"You know better than any of us what kind of existence the Ghost Hall is. If the five ancient clans choose to evade, this world will undoubtedly fall into chaos!"
Ye Shisan's expression was solemn, "I never imagined that you, as the patriarch of the Shen clan, would utter such words!"
"This is my most genuine thought!"
Shen Batian shrugged, "I hope you can understand! The Shen family will absolutely not be involved!"
With that, Shen Batian rose, "Vermilion Bird, prepare whatever they need. If they wish to leave, guide them via the secluded path!"
Shen Batian did not linger, turning and departing with an even more detached expression. Ye Shisan was furious and extremely unwilling, but he did not know what to do.
"Let's go!"
Lu Fan stood up, "Lest we cause further displeasure!"
"Only by gathering the Five Swords can we oppose the Ghost Hall!" Ye Shisan said solemnly, "Where should we go?"
"Since the Shen family does not wish to participate, how can the Five Swords unite!"
Lu Fan smiled wryly, "It seems we must find other ways to deal with the Ghost Hall!"
"That is impossible. Apart from the Five Swords, nothing can stop the Ghost Hall!"
Ye Shisan shook his head, his gaze becoming more serious, as if he understood this matter profoundly.
"The Shen family has made their stance clear. There is no point in us staying here," Long Yi stated, "We should return and discuss this."
"Everyone, the decision made by the Patriarch will not change!" Vermilion Bird announced, "You need not dwell on it!"
"Hmph, the Shen family are true cowards!" Ye Shisan said coldly, preparing to leave. Shen Batian's conduct had greatly disappointed him.
Led by Vermilion Bird, Lu Fan and the others moved towards the secluded path, proceeding with extreme caution. Meng Po and her associates were watching them, and discovery would likely be life-threatening. After all, they were about to leave the Shen clan's territory, and beyond that, the Shen family would likely cease to intervene.
"My lords, we are now outside the Shen clan's territory, and I believe there will be no danger!" Vermilion Bird stated, "The Patriarch has ordered that no Shen clan members are to leave the territory, so I can only escort you this far!"
"Thank you!"
Lu Fan cupped his fists, his expression becoming indifferent. The Shen family's choice left him with a sense of helplessness.
"Now that the Shen family is unwilling to act, the coming days will likely be extremely troublesome!" Lin Ke commented, "Where do we go now?"
"Back to the Ye clan!" Ye Shisan declared, "I must report this matter and let my father decide!"
Lu Fan and the others nodded. It seemed this was all they could do at the moment. The five ancient clans had dwindled to only two, and more importantly, the Shen clan did not intend to confront the Ghost Hall, merely seeking to protect themselves.
Meanwhile, within the Shen residence, Shen Batian sat in the courtyard, gazing at a nearby willow tree with a hint of melancholy.
"Patriarch, why must you do this!" An elder spoke, "To protect the Shen clan, you have violated ancestral teachings and made it difficult for members of the other five ancient clans to accept!"
"Have I truly erred?" Shen Batian asked, looking at the elder. Truthfully, even he did not know if he was right or wrong.
"There is no right or wrong in this matter!" The elder shook his head, "Everything depends on one's state of mind, or the ultimate outcome!"
"I only wish for the people of the Shen clan to fare better!" Shen Batian stated with a serious expression, "Is there something wrong with that?"
"Certainly not!" The elder smiled lightly, "The Patriarch has his own thoughts, but the members of the Shen clan may not necessarily think the same way!"
Shen Batian's expression shifted, and he looked at the elder, "Are you implying that I do not represent the entire Shen clan?"
"This old servant dare not!" The white-haired elder quickly bowed, his expression one of utmost gravity.
"I am not blaming you!" Shen Batian waved his hand, "But everything I have done is for the Shen clan. Even if you do not approve, I will see it through to the end!"
The elder nodded slightly, not saying much more. In reality, most of the Shen clan members wished for the clan to uphold its ancestral teachings and unite with the other ancient clans to confront the Ghost Hall. They had never imagined that their patriarch held such different views.
After leaving the Shen clan, Lu Fan and the others headed towards the Ye clan. However, as they were traveling, Lu Fan suddenly stopped, "Have you noticed anyone tracking us along this route!"
"How is that possible!" Long Yi exclaimed, "If it were Meng Po and her associates, we would have discovered them long ago. As for anyone else, could they possess such abilities!"
"Although I cannot sense any aura, I have a feeling that a pair of eyes are watching us!" Lu Fan's expression was solemn, and he looked back, but saw no one.
"I think you are being overly cautious!" Ye Shisan said, "After we return to the Ye clan, get some good rest, lest you experience hallucinations!"