Afterwards, everyone discussed various matters and details regarding the upcoming meeting of the Three Great Families, focusing on the presentation and test firing of the Ignis Rail Cannon, which would take place on separate days.

“Let’s adjourn today’s meeting here,” Yan Tianli announced at 7:30 p.m.

“But before we end, I have one more very important thing,” Yan Tianli said, looking at Yan Yuhuai and Yan Yining, the few young people in the conference room.

“Isn’t it enough that the younger generation is already messing around before the Three Great Families meeting?”

He was referring to the reformist faction. Though still members of the Yan family, they refused to obey the orders of the elders or the head of the family, and naturally, they had not attended this meeting.

Yan Yuhuai leaned back in his chair, showing a somewhat exasperated expression. “It’s already been three years. Do you still think they’re just messing around?”

“Three years isn’t very long. They’ll come to their senses eventually. You and Yining should try to persuade them more,” Yan Tianli said, still believing that the reformists would return to normal one day.

Persuade? How could that happen? Yan Yining and Yan Yuhuai were on the same side as them.

“Family Head, they’re no longer just young people. Some members of the Elders’ Council have joined them. And the more important events they participate in, the more frequent their interactions with the Changyuan government. Haven’t you noticed?” Yan Yining said.

“I know, but you’re exaggerating. Those aren’t significant matters,” Yan Tianli replied dismissively.

Yan Yining sighed. Even for matters concerning the Three Great Families meeting, the government had sent people to negotiate with the reformists. Isn’t that a big deal?

Three years ago, Yan Tianli didn’t act against the reformist faction because he still considered them part of the family. But now? Isn’t it because they have grown into a force that can no longer be easily shaken?

Yet most of the people in the conference room did not realize this.

“That Luowei, I don’t know what her problem is. She insists on stirring up trouble with the younger generation. In my opinion, she shouldn’t be spoiled,” one elder said.

Yan Luowei was a member of the Elders’ Council—or rather, she had been. For supporting the reformist faction, she was expelled from the council. Compared to the average age of eighty in the Elders’ Council, she was only forty, quite young. And as an Affinity User, her lifespan was naturally longer than ordinary people’s.

“Perhaps it’s because… she was once a student of Yan—no, of that person,” someone muttered, quietly enough for everyone to hear.

The conference room fell into an awkward silence. Some faces looked strange; others were filled with disgust.

“Why mention that person? What does she have to do with her? Someone dead isn’t worth lamenting,” someone said.

“If… I mean, if she were still around, she could bring most of them back,” Yan Yining said.

“Really?” Yan Tianli’s expression differed from the others’. It was neither disgust nor unease, but regret. “It’s a pity there’s no ‘if.’”

“Can we stop this meaningless topic now?” Yan Shengyuan said impatiently.

Yan Yuhuai squinted at Yan Shengyuan. “Exactly. There’s no need to talk about that person anymore.”

“I’ll try with Yuhuai, but don’t have too high hopes,” Yan Yining said, agreeing to Yan Tianli’s request.

Yan Tianli nodded.

“Perhaps… we should consider changing something,” someone sitting next to Yan Yining said quietly.

Only Yan Yining heard the remark. She looked at the speaker—an almost fifty-year-old man who normally spoke little, was fairly strong, and might join the Elders’ Council in the future.

Yan Yining was certain it wasn’t just possible—it was inevitable. After all, the council’s standards had seemed to drop in recent years.

“Could you repeat what you just said?” Yan Yining asked.

The man was startled, looking at her with some fear before shaking his head. “N-no, it’s nothing important.”

How could he be startled by a young woman in her early twenties? Yan Yining blinked. Perhaps it was because she was one of the leading candidates for the next family head.

She remembered that this elder was named Yan Shihuan.

The meeting ended, and everyone left, but Yan Tianli suddenly called out to Yan Yining.

“Yining, why did you just say that if she were here, she could bring those people back?” he asked.

Yan Yining stopped walking. “I was just stating a fact. Although I dislike her, I have to admit she’s extremely capable.”

She gently closed the conference room door.

Yan Tianli remained alone in the room, sighing.

“Of course. She was originally my chosen successor. Unlike me, she was truly outstanding.”

“There aren’t any remarkable talents in this generation,” the previous family head had sighed. Then he told Yan Tianli, “From my perspective, you’re a genius among mortals, a mortal among geniuses. You’re good—but that’s all.”

“However, I have no other choice, Tianli. If the Yan family were a dynasty, you could serve as a moderate ruler.”

Yan Tianli turned off the lights and left the conference room.

“Moderate… if you had lived longer, your assessment of the younger generation might be very different from mine.”