After a short walk through the bustling streets, Xue Wen arrived before the grand Ding Clan Mansion.
The sight made him pause in his steps.
The enormous wooden gates stood like guardians of a different world, their surfaces engraved with flowing lines that formed ancient beast patterns.
Each curve and fang carved into the wood seemed to writhe faintly under the sunlight, as if the engravings were alive.
The surrounding stone walls were thick and unyielding, decorated with reliefs of monstrous bones and skeletal beasts locked in eternal battle.
What drew his attention most, however, was the colossal spine of a beast mounted atop the central dome.
The pale white bones stretched across the roof like the crown of a king, radiating a faint bloody aura that seemed to whisper of slaughter and dominance.
Xue Wen instinctively gulped down his saliva, his body tensing.
'This clan… its roots run far deeper than I thought.'
Steeling himself, he stepped toward the heavy wooden door.
Two guards stood on either side, both exuding the sharp pressure of two-star Bonebearers.
Their eyes followed him with open disdain, their lips curling in faint sneers. Still, neither moved to block his path.
Though they looked at him as though he were filth clinging to their boots, they knew better than to stop him, Xue Wen was, after all, the patriarch's son-in-law, and even if most of the clan loathed him, the patriarch's faint favor was enough to shield his life.
The doors creaked as they opened, and he stepped into the sprawling courtyard. The air here was different, heavier, thicker, carrying with it the scent of blood, steel, and old bones.
"Look who decided to crawl out of his hole."
A mocking voice rang out, dripping with disdain.
Xue Wen stopped mid-step and turned his head.
From the garden path on his right, two figures approached leisurely, their black clan robes fluttering with the wind.
The first had long black hair tied loosely behind his head, a jagged scar running across his left eyebrow that made his deep black eyes look even more sinister. This was Ding Jing.
The second was far more imposing, a mountain of a man, towering nearly seven feet tall, his short cropped hair making his thick neck and bulging muscles seem all the more intimidating. This was Ding Chao.
From the inherited memories, Xue Wen immediately recognized them.
They were Ding Mei's cousins, both at the Bone Cracking Stage of the two-star Bonebearer realm.
They had always been a source of ridicule and humiliation for his predecessor.
As they drew closer, Xue Wen could feel it, open animosity radiating from them like sharp knives aimed straight at his chest.
Ding Jing stepped forward, planting himself in Xue Wen's path. "The infamous son-in-law graces us with his presence," he said mockingly, letting out a dry laugh. Ding Chao chuckled as well, his thick arms folded across his chest.
From within, Xue Wen's memories whispered to him.
'These two… they're stronger than me for now, but I can't bow my head. Not anymore.'
"You're still not dead?" Ding Chao sneered, his tone venomous. "I thought our dear Jinx sister would've sent you to the grave by now. But it seems you're more pest than man."
Xue Wen's eyes narrowed.
His predecessor had endured such insults in silence, and it was this endless mockery that had twisted his heart against Ding Mei.
But now… now things were different.
A strange smile tugged at his lips. "At least I don't wear a green hat."
The words fell like thunder.
Both cousins froze.
Xue Wen's mind provided the memory, Ding Chao's wife, caught in bed with none other than Ding Chao's own father.
A scandal that had rocked the clan, ending with the woman's execution.
Though hushed, the whispers never fully faded, and Ding Chao's humiliation was a wound that had never healed.
"Y-You…!" Ding Chao's face twisted hideously.
His eyes turned bloodshot, his entire body trembling with fury.
His fists clenched so hard that his knuckles cracked audibly. "You dare, you worthless village bumpkin! I'll kill you!"
He surged forward, his massive fist already rising.
But Xue Wen didn't flinch. He straightened his back, meeting Ding Chao's killing intent head-on with a chuckle. "I dare, cuck." His voice was steady, mocking, fearless. Inside the clan grounds, under the patriarch's shadow, he knew no one could truly lay a hand on him.
"Brother, stop!"
Ding Jing suddenly stepped forward, pressing a hand against Ding Chao's chest before he could swing.
His eyes, however, were no calmer, dark flames burned within them.
"Xue Wen," Ding Jing said in a low voice, "you're crossing the line."
"Crossing the line?" Xue Wen laughed, his smile cold and sharp. "It wasn't me who crossed the line, it was your father, crawling into his daughter-in-law's bed. Truly, like father, like son. Both lowlifes through and through."
The words hit like daggers.
Ding Jing's body stiffened, his teeth grinding audibly. His hands clenched into fists so tightly that blood seeped from his palms. Rage distorted his handsome features into something twisted.
Ding Chao looked ready to explode, his fury uncontainable, but Ding Jing gripped his arm tightly, restraining him with visible effort.
Finally, Ding Jing exhaled heavily, his voice hoarse with suppressed rage. "We'll remember this." He tugged on Ding Chao's arm. "Let's go, brother."
Ding Chao spat harshly onto the ground, glaring at Xue Wen with unfiltered hatred. "One day, I'll kill you with my own hands!"
Xue Wen smirked, his voice dripping with mockery. "Then start with killing your father first."
"You—!" Ding Chao's entire body shook with fury, but Ding Jing pulled him away forcefully.
The two cousins stormed off, their figures stiff with rage, while Xue Wen stood in the courtyard with his head held high, a laugh escaping his lips.
For the first time, he felt the satisfaction of standing up not just for himself, but for Ding Mei as well.
"Both of them are Bone Cracking Stage, I have to get powerful as soon as possible." Xue Wen thought.
The Dao of Bonebearers were divided into many realms. Bone Awakening, Bone Cracking, Bone Shattering, Bone Reforming, Marrow Induction and Gold bone Realm.
The patriarch of Ding Clan was at Marrow Induction realm and in the whole of Blue Swan Kingdom he was only second to the King. The King was at the Gold Bone Realm.
After dealing with them Xue Wen moved inside the courtyard and was soon standing inside the Ding Clan Depository.
The Depository Hall was big, with many different sections, for food, wepons, scroll and other things.
And it was crowded with many Ding Clan members and branch family members.
In the middle of the hall was a station were everyone needs to pay before the taking the items with them.
Without any thought Xue Wen entered the food section. And started buying all kind of food, he even brought some Sacred Beast Meat.