Bright sunlight entered the hall from outside.
Madam Sheng Yue was discussing something with Xiao Tian Yu and often giggled happily. When she saw the young girl entering the room, the smile on her exquisite face intensified.
"Yue Er, your father and I are discussing when we should return to the Xiao family. After you return home and proclaim your ancestry, your grandfather will definitely be elated."
When Mu Ru Yue looked at Madam Sheng Yue's gentle appearance, her lips curved up into a faint smile. "I will head back with you after I've settled all matters here."
She was only making a trip back…
She still had many matters to settle and wouldn't be able to stay continuously within the Xiao family.
Wu Chen…
Suddenly, the image of those pained and sorrowful purple eyes last night appeared in Mu Ru Yue's mind. It was as if something violently pierced her heart.
He brows knitted slightly from the pain.
Was that man really Wu Chen?
If it wasn't Wu Chen, then who else could it be?
"Father, mother, I have something I would like to ask."
Madam Sheng Yue and Xiao Tian Yu looked at one another before shifting their gazes back to Mu Ru Yue. With a gentle smile, she prompted, "Yue Er, you can ask us anything."
"I don't know, but have you two ever heard the name, Bai Ze?"
Bai Ze was an immortal-like handsome man. This was a man she was unable to forget. She kept feeling that they'd known each other before, but she just couldn't remember where.
"Bai Ze?" Xiao Tian Yu frowned. "I remember this being recorded within an ancient book. Bai Ze seems to be the name of an early historic vicious beast."
Early historic vicious beast?
Mu Ru Yue was slightly stunned. That man didn't seem very vicious.
"Father, can you describe that beast in more detail?"
Xiao Tian Yu looked at Mu Ru Yue and gave a slight sigh. "I'm not very sure about this. Bai Ze seemed to have been a top expert of the central Region. He completed a contract with a human and accompanied that person on expeditions everywhere. Following that, the person seemed to have disappeared. Some people said that the person had died. Others said he'd become a god. There were various rumours surrounding that person. After that person vanished, Bai Ze similarly disappeared from the world. But it was a person of the central region after all, so I don't really know the finer details of what happened."
Mu Ru Yue raised her brows.
It seemed that if she wanted to resolve her curiosity, she would have to make a trip to the central region…
Even though Mu Ru Yue wasn't a person from this world, she knew that the central region was where the true elites roamed. It was filled with countless experts, and her current abilities were too insufficient to go there.
"Wait three days for me. I will settle all of my matters here within that time frame and return back to the Xiao family with you."
To be honest, Mu Ru Yue didn't want to go to Sheng Domain, but, for Madam Sheng Yue, she would head back and proclaim her ancestry…
Fine sunny weather.
Old man Xiao sighed slightly in the Xiao family's clan hall inside Sheng Domain. He often gazed outside with a trace of anxiousness on his elderly face.
Tian Er and Yu Er had already left for some time. Why hadn't they returned? Could it be that something had gone wrong with his granddaughter so they had to stay there for a while?
The old man grew increasingly restless.
If he had been stronger sixteen years ago, then perhaps that incident wouldn't have occurred. It was due to him being unable to suppress those obstinate fools that they'd given the evildoers a chance.
Truthfully, he had let down this couple and their offspring…
It had already been sixteen years, and he still felt as guilty after all these years as he had then. He bore this guilt every single moment and was afraid that his Xiao family's flesh and blood had been bullied in the outside world…
"Father, I'm back."
Under the anxious waiting of the old man, a middle-aged voice came from outside. When he looked out, he saw Xiao Tian Yu and Madam Sheng Yue side by side, walking over to him.
Moreover, Madam Sheng Yue was holding onto the hand of a remarkably beautiful young girl.
This young girl's appearance was similar to Madam Sheng Yue so he didn't need an introduction to know who she was…
"Tian Er, Yu Er, you're finally back." The old man was elated and hastily went forward. His gaze examined Mu Ru Yue from top to bottom a couple of times, sizing her up.
Mu Ru Yue felt a little uncomfortable with him sizing her up, and goosebumps appeared all over her body.
"Erm…" The old man rubbed his fist and chuckled, asking, "This should be my granddaughter?"
Madam Sheng Yue smiled as she pulled on Mu Ru Yue's hand and led her toward the old man. "Yue Er, this is your grandfather."
Mu Ru Yue raised her head to look at the old man upon hearing this.
This old man with a wide smile looked really affable, but traces of light flashed past his eyes occasionally. With a glance, she knew that this old man was a schemer.
She'd thought that the old man of the Xiao family would be a strict old man. She hadn't expected that he would be like this.
Mu Ru Yue blinked her eyes before calling him, "Grandfather."
"Yes," replied the old man immediately. He raised a callused hand to rub Mu Ru Yue's head. "Such an obedient child. Tian Er, when are you going to let her proclaim her ancestry? Some of those obstinate fools will most likely give you trouble at that time, especially Xiao Yin. Recently, his granddaughter was crippled by someone outside, so he will use that reason to create trouble."
Xiao Tian Yu smiled coldly. "After that period of time when our couple cleaned up the family, some of the old men had settled down a great deal. If they dare to say anything, don't blame me for not remembering old affections!"
A trace of sinister killing intent flashed past Xiao Tian Yu's eyes.
If they dared to create trouble, he didn't mind killing a few to set an example!
"Father." Madam Sheng Yue smiled and clung onto the old man's arm. "The person who crippled Xiao Min when she was outside was your granddaughter's fiance."
"Eh?" The old man was startled as he turned his gaze toward Madam Sheng Yue. He blinked his eyes in confusion and queried, "What do you mean?"
What had Xiao Min done in the outside world that would enrage others again? How was it now related to his granddaughter's fiance?
"Father, you should understand Xiao Min's personality. She has always looked down upon everyone. She previously took a fancy to Yue Er's fiance and harassed him. But that man was devoted to only Mu Ru Yue and didn't look at her. She then challenged Yue Er to a fight and even used the Xiao family's forbidden technique, yet was still defeated by Yue Er. Following that, Yue Er's fiance rushed toward them and, after seeing that bitch Xiao Min hurting Yue Er, he crippled her dantian due to his rage. Yet, do you know what that obstinate fool, Xiao Yin, said at that time?
"He said that Xiao Min was an innocent and weak girl that had been provoked by Yue Er. He also said that since Yue Er's fiance crippled Xiao Min, it was similar to being the enemy of our Xiao family and the entire Sheng Domain."
There was a great uproar going around because of this matter. After Madam Sheng Yue had met up with Mu Ru Yue and done a simple investigation, she clearly understood everything.
She couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat when thinking of Mu Ru Yue and that day and couldn't wait to break Xiao Min into countless pieces.
She was just a branch disciple of the Xiao family while Yue Er was their main branch young mistress. It was impossible for Xiao Min to be comparable to Mu Ru Yue.
It was laughable that she had actually said Yue Er was just an ordinary girl and wasn't worthy of that man.
The old man didn't hear the last part of what Madam Sheng Yue said. After he heard that Xiao Min had used the forbidden technique of the Xiao family, he was stunned. What did the forbidden technique represent? It was one of the worst moves as it was akin to destroy their enemy of a thousand by sacrificing eight hundred of their own.
Yet, Xiao Min had used that technique to deal with his own granddaughter?
Within large families, there were generally differences between the main branch and side branch. The main branch had incomparable nobility. How could a person from the side branch be compared to the main branch?
Moreover, that damnable Xiao Min was a girl of the side branch, yet she wanted to kill a lady of the main branch?
Her crime was severe!
The old man was so completely enraged that he even forgot to ask how Mu Ru Yue was still able to defeat Xiao Min after she had used the Xiao family's forbidden technique…
Madam Sheng Yue had been observing the expression of the old man from the start. When she saw that the old man had turned ashen, her lips curled up into a faint smile.
'Xiao Min, did you think you would be fine after hurting my daughter?'
"Father, in comparison to dealing with Xiao Min, we should first let my daughter proclaim her ancestry. As for that bitch, Xiao Min, I will thoroughly settle this debt with her."
A trace of frost flashed past Madam Sheng Yue's eyes.
She had been too lazy to bother with Xiao Min in the past, no matter how terrible she had acted. Yet, Xiao Min had dared to bully her daughter. She had also been delusional enough to try to steal Yue Er's fiance.
With her personality, how could she be comparable to Yue Er?
"Alright, I will prepare this matter in a bit. We must let my granddaughter proclaim her ancestry as soon as possible in order to silence those people." The old man snorted, his old face turning ashen.
It was obvious that he was angered by Xiao Min's actions, and that nothing would be able to appease him.
"Yue Er, let's go. I will bring you to see Qing Qing. Your elder brother will also be coming back in a few days." Madam Sheng Yue held Mu Ru Yue's hand with a gentle smile on her face.
Madam Sheng Yue had always been beautiful. But with that smile, she became a devastating charmer.
Mu Ru Yue let herself be freely pulled along. The warmth of her mother's palm seeped into her, warming her heart…
"Mother, mother!"
Xiao Qing Qing, who was playing in a little stream inside the courtyard, saw Madam Sheng Yue. She hastily ran over barefoot from the stream toward the noble and graceful woman.
"Mommy, Qing Qing missed you so much."
Xiao Qing Qing lifted her tender jade-like face and placed her wet hands on Madam Sheng Yue's body.
She blinked a bright pair of large eyes and looked so adorable that it filled everyone's heart with tender feelings for her and had physical change in expression.
Madam Sheng Yue's heart softened and she bent down to lift the little girl. She patted her small head. Filled with tenderness, she said warmly, "Why are you completely drenched? Didn't you often tell us that you wanted to see elder sister Yue Er? She is finally in our Xiao family."
Xiao Qing Qing leaped out from Madam Sheng Yue's embrace and pounced toward Mu Ru Yue. Her small hand hugged the young girl's leg as she lifted her head to look at that exquisite face.
"Elder sister Yue Er, you're finally here. Qing Qing missed you! Can you become the wife of elder brother in the future?"
Her voice was very childish. It was so tender and soft that it was incredibly adorable.
Yet, her words stunned Madam Sheng Yue and Mu Ru Yue.
"Qing Qing, Yue Er is your blood-related elder sister and is also the blood-related younger sister of your elder brother. How can she marry with this blood tie?" Madam Sheng Yue crouched down and patiently taught her.
Xiao Qing Qing blinked her large eyes with confusion. "Why is elder brother unable to marry his blood-related younger sister?"
Madam Sheng Yue was dazed. She suddenly felt she should really teach her some common knowledge…
"Yue Er." Madam Sheng Yue shifted her gaze to Mu Ru Yue and, with a warm smile, continued, "Didn't you want to know about Bai Ze? There should be some books in the Xiao family's archive about that. I will bring you there for a look."
Mu Ru Yue nodded slightly. "Alright."
Within the Xiao family archive.
The scent of books wafted over them once they stepped inside the building.
Mu Ru Yue let Madam Sheng Yue leave first as she searched through the archive alone. It was undeniable that the Xiao family archive really consisted of countless books. There were even some books that depicted the history of the continent and mountain load of books on martial skills…
Therefore, Mu Ru Yue found a place to sit and submerged herself within the sea of books.
It wasn't until sunset that she finally walked out from that sea of books, her hand closed around one volume.
A ray of sunlight descended from the sky. Under this sunset, the shadow behind the young girl was elongated.
"Yan Jin, do you know anything about Bai Ze?"
The young girl lowered her head to look at the small black beast in her embrace.
The little beast didn't even lift his head as it coldly snorted.
How could he know Bai Ze? Yet, there was a power emitted from that man that made him apprehensive. That power was similar to the other person's power, the one who had previously trapped him in the Alchemy Book.
"Little girl, this senior wants to increase his strength."
Yan Jin finally raised his head and, with a profound gaze in his black eyes, continued, "If you want to go to the central region, which is much more dangerous than Sheng Domain, this senior must improve his strength."
Mu Ru Yue slightly raised her brow "You still haven't told me how I am supposed to help you increase your strength."
Yan Jin blinked his black eyes. "This senior didn't tell you? I initially possessed great strength, but because of that Alchemy Book, I used up the majority of my power. Thus, the only way for this senior to regain his power is through medicinal plants."
"Medicinal plants?"
"That's right. This senior can convert the medicinal strength from medicinal plants and add it to his own power. I am currently at the False Xiantian grade. You will need to find a thousand-year medicinal plant for this senior. I will then use that power to break through to the Xiantian realm."
A Xiantian practitioner was a top grade expert within Sheng Domain.
"I will ask my parents if they have a thousand-year medicinal plant in the Xiao family." Mu Ru Yue looked at Yan Jin. If his power increased, then it would also be greatly beneficial to her.
She wouldn't encounter much danger…
But she still didn't know what stage Ye Wu Chen had reached.
That man could instantly kill a False Xiantian. Could it be he possessed strength above the Xiantian realm?
Mu Ru Yue became slightly melancholic. It seemed that she still had a long way to go before she could walk alongside that man. But no matter what, she definitely wouldn't give up on that goal.
"It's you!"
A sudden shriek was heard before her.
Xiao Min's pale face glared malevolently at Mu Ru Yue. With tightly clenched fists, she forcefully suppressed the roaring sea of fury in her heart.
"Bitch, why are you in my Xiao family? Who allowed such a person like you to step into this place? Immediately scram!" Xiao Min was so angered that her chest heaved heavily, her beautiful finger pointed toward Mu Ru Yue's nose as she shouted furiously.
In the dark, when Xiao Lin saw Xiao Min's arrogant and despotic appearance, he frowned slightly.
Since Madam Sheng Yue worried about Mu Ru Yue's safety, she had arranged for Xiao Lin to protect her from the shadows. She had even instructed that if someone sought to bring trouble to her daughter, he could instantly cripple them, so Xiao Lin had constantly been following Mu Ru Yue.
He couldn't not appear now…
Xiao Lin sighed. Just as he wanted to carry out Madam Sheng Yue's order and protect Mu Ru Yue, who knew that at that moment, the little beast in the young girl's embrace would lift its head. A trace of a tyrannical and cold light could be seen in its abyss-like black eyes.
Following that, he saw a black ray of light flash out. Xiao Min's finger, which had been pointing at Mu Ru Yue, shattered. Blood immediately spluttered everywhere, and a heart-wrenching shout echoed throughout the entire Xiao family…
Xiao Lin was stunned for a moment before turning back around, shaking his head as he smiled bitterly.
'The eldest young mistress doesn't seem to need their protection. The Madam had truly belittled the eldest young mistress…'
Mu Ru Yue didn't even continue to look at the fainted Xiao Min as she turned to leave. Her indifferent appearance made it look as though nothing had happened…
Inside a training room, grey robes fluttered without any wind. Xiao Yin was currently at the most critical point in his training. He suddenly heard an anxious voice from outside the training room.
"Elder, something terrible has happened."
Xiao Yin frowned, and with a trace of impatience, he lifted his head to look at the person that hurriedly came in. "What has happened for you to make such a fuss?"
"Some… something happened to the young mistress." The man frantically continued, "The young mistress was hurt within the Xiao family. One of her fingers was cut off."
"What?"
Xiao Yin abruptly stood up with intense fury. After yelling out, he directly punched a great hole in the wall.
"Whomever hurts my granddaughter inside the Xiao family is seeking death!"
He gritted his teeth tightly and with bloodshot eyes, shouted with fury, "Immediately bring me to see Min Er!"
Min Er's body hadn't fully recovered after using the Xiao family's forbidden technique. She was also unhappy from being defeated by a trash. Now, some damnable bastard dared to touch his granddaughter? That person must be seeking death!
He definitely wouldn't let that person go!
Inside a room, Xiao Min consumed a pill and gradually woke up. She could still feel the piercing pain coming from her finger. She jumped into Xiao Yin's embrace and wailed.
"Grandfather, you must avenge Min Er."
Xiao Min's face paled from the pain and the tears rolling from her eyes made her look really pitiful.
"Min Er, what happened?" Xiao Yin looked at his granddaughter with pain. This was the sole flesh and blood child that his son and wife left him with.
How could he not feel pain?
"Grandfather, it's that bitch!" Xiao Min gritted her teeth with hatred when she remembered that damnable face of Mu Ru Yue. "It is all because of that bitch that I had fallen to such a state. I don't know why she came to our Xiao family, but grandfather, you must help me kill that bitch. I must let her die a terrible death!"
Her current, sorry state was all because of that bitch.
'From now one, it would be either you or I that lives. So long as I, Xiao Min, lives, I definitely wouldn't let that bitch live!'
"Grandfather, she didn't dare to put any importance on me. She surely knows some people in the Xiao family and just went along with her own ways, solely depending on her connections. But Grandfather is a founder elder of the Xiao family. If you go and plead to the family's head, the head of the family will definitely stand on our side and kill that damnable bitch. Even if she knows people from the Xiao family, she will definitely die!"
A trace of viciousness appeared in Xiao Min's eyes.
'Mu Ru Yue, no matter what, you will definitely die here!'
Xiao Lin reported what just happened to Xiao Tian Yu and Madam Sheng Yue within the main hall. It was obvious that their expressions darkened.
With a slight snort, Madam Sheng Yue placed her hand gently on the table. "Husband, let's go find father. We don't even need to think to know that the old man will immediately ask father to seek justice for him."
Madam Sheng Yue had long since been unsatisfied with that old man.
When she had first married into the Xiao family and hadn't yet become Madam Sheng Yue, that old man had tried forcing her husband to take in other wives. How could there be other people, excluding her, in his bed? That bastard Xiao Yin had wanted to give his daughter as a concubine to him due to her liking Brother Tian.
He even said that the bloodline of a woman from the outside weren't pure, so how about internal mating within the Xiao family…
Madam Sheng Yue really wanted to kill the old man at that time.
And now, his granddaughter took a fancy of her daughter's fiance and was delusionally trying to destroy her daughter's happiness. How could she stand this? Furthermore, Xiao Min's actions were intolerable to the point that even the people of Sheng Domain couldn't bear her.
"I have wanted to deal with that old man for a long time already." Xiao Tian Yu chuckled coldly. "During my investigations these past years, I finally found out that this old man had an undeniable connection with the Nangong family when they infiltrated into the Xiao family. If he dares to look for father today, then I will settle all of this past and present debt with him while conveniently giving Yue Er her rightful status."
Being protective was human nature.
Xiao Yin's protectiveness was similar to Xiao Tian Yu's. It was just a pity that it was Xiao Min that had provoked his long lost daughter, a genuine main branch young mistress. Thus, that old man and his granddaughter certainly wouldn't be able to get any good outcome this time.
They might even lose their lives.
As expected, the couple had guessed correctly. After seeing Xiao Min hurt, Xiao Yin immediately bolted to find Old Man Xiao within his study room. Once he found him, he started to complaining to Old Man Xiao.
"Family head, you must give me justice. That bitch Mu Ru Yue has gone overboard and hurt my precious granddaughter. Nothing will appease my hatred unless she is cut into countless pieces, blade after blade! Family head, I only have the request of placing that bitch Mu Ru Yue into my hands. Moreover, the person that brought her here, and their relatives, should also be expelled from our Xiao family!"
Xiao Yin gritted his teeth in hatred. He didn't in the slightest see that the old man's expression had darkened.
Wasn't it his son that brought Mu Ru Yue here?
Wasn't the relatives of his son the entire main branch's younger generation?
This old man was simply too daring. He was only an elder of a side branch, yet he wanted to chase out the entire main branch of the Xiao family? Who gave this stupid and foolish old man the guts?
The old man's face turned ashened. He suppressed the molten fury in his heart and, with a darkened face, ordered, "I want to commence a family meeting as I have something important to announce. You are to gather all of the elders in the discussion room. No one is allowed to be absent. Whoever doesn't come, they can just leave the Xiao family!"
The old man didn't look at Xiao Yin's expression as he just walked out of the room after giving his orders.
A trace of hatred appeared in Xiao Yin's eyes as he looked at that departing figure.
It seemed that this old man planned to stand by his side this time. That bitch wouldn't be able to escape death, and this including the fools that brought her to the Xiao family. They similarly wouldn't be let off unscathed.
How noble was his Xiao family? How could an ordinary girl step into such a place?
A bunch of old men looked at each other in the discussion room. They didn't know what the head of the family wanted to announce at this meeting. The door to the discussion room was opened again, just when the crowd was filled with curiosity.
Xiao Tian Yu and his wife walked in side by side. There was a beautiful young girl following beside Madam Sheng Yue.
Her plain clothed fluttered from a breeze. The appearance of the young girl was exceptional, and her expression was as cold as her eyes. She didn't wear any other accessories, excluding the jade coloured earrings that constantly swayed due to the breeze.
There was a small black beast in the young girl's embrace. Its body was like gelatin, and it looked incredibly cute with it's soft body. It seemed harmless.
When she entered, the crowd quieted down, curiosity in their eyes.
Who was this young girl? The discussion room wasn't accessible to ordinary people. Moreover, she came with the young head and wife of the Xiao family…
"It's her!"
When Xiao Yin's gaze fell on the young girl's face, his eyes turned red hot from hatred. He clenched his fists tightly and abruptly stood up.
"Mu Ru Yue, you are really in my Xiao family!" Xiao Yin gritted his teeth and glared at her viciously. "You hurt my granddaughter when she was outside the family and now you cut off my granddaughter's finger after coming to the Xiao family. Do you think you can live from hurting my granddaughter? Since you touched her finger, I will take your life as compensation!"
Xiao Min was severely injured and her cultivation scrapped when she was traveling outside. She had to be carried back. The Xiao family didn't know that the incident had been done by this young girl.
"Cough cough!" Old Man Xiao coughed dryly in order to clear his throat. "To all of the elders, I have something to announce today."
A cold gaze shot toward Xiao Yin. The old man had a trace of gloominess on his face, but when he looked at Mu Ru Yue, his gaze became gentle.
"Do you remember that about sixteen years ago, a child of my son and his wife was stolen?"
The Ninth Elder looked at the old man and pondered for a while before replying, "Family head, hadn't that child already been killed by the Nangong family?"
Old Man Xiao chuckled. "Killed? How can that be? A subordinate of the Nangong family couldn't bear to kill her so she passed my granddaughter to a house in the outside world to be raised there. Recently, this couple went to acknowledge her. The reason I have summoned you today is to allow my granddaughter to proclaim her ancestry and return to the Xiao family."
Everyone was stunned for a moment as they shot curious gazes toward the young girl beside Madam Sheng Yue.
Could it be that this girl was the long lost daughter of the young head?
"That's right, she is my granddaughter, the one that had been stolen away by the Nangong family." Seeing the crowd focusing their gazes on Mu Ru Yue, Old Man Xiao raised his head and admitted it straightforwardly.
"What?" Xiao Yin was shocked as he directed a deathly glare at Mu Ru Yue. His gaze was as though he wanted to pierce a couple of holes in that young girl's body.
"That's impossible!"
Without waiting for Xiao Yin to rebuke, a delicate shout was heard within the discussion room.
Xiao Min's injuries hadn't yet recovered, but she'd come to see how her grandfather would deal with Mu Ru Yue. Who knew she would hear such words? She couldn't bear to remain outside and dashed into the room.
It wasn't distinct whether it was due to her wounds or from what Old Man Xiao said, but the current Xiao Min had a pale white face. She glared viciously at Mu Ru Yue with fury and jealousy.
She didn't think about what she was going to say due to her anger.
"What right does this bitch have to possess my Xiao family's bloodline? She's unworthy!"
Xiao Min was crazed due to her anger.
No matter how arrogant and despotic she usually was, she definitely wouldn't dare to be so brazen before Xiao Tian Yu and his wife. Yet, she had completely lost her rationality and just wanted to rip this damnable girl into bits.
Anyone who experienced what she had would also have difficulty keeping their senses.
Who knew that the ordinary girl she'd looked down upon had suddenly leaped to become the main branch young mistress of the Xiao family? It was a position and status she'd fought to achieve for such a long time.
Why was she able to achieve what she couldn't?
Was it due to her possessing the blood of Xiao Tian Yu and Madam Sheng Yue?
This wasn't fair!
Xiao Min was so angry that she clenched her fist, her delicate body shuddering. The pain from her nails reminded her of everything this girl had done to her.
Pa!
A jade-like hand swung at her face.
The crisp slapping sound broke the tranquility of the discussion room. Similarly, it had slowly woken Xiao Min to her senses. She lifted her eyes toward the cold expression of Madam Sheng Yue. She was so frightened that her body trembled.
"Young, young Madam…"
Xiao Min pursed her lips slightly, grievance in her eyes.
"Outrageous!" Madam Sheng Yue shouted. With ice-cold frost covered her face, she asked, "Who gave you the guts to insult my daughter?"
"But… she was the one that provoked me first. Not only did she make people scrap my cultivation, she cut off my finger." Xiao Min lifted her hand. Her cut off finger alarmed the crowd.
The elders shifted their gazes to Mu Ru Yue and took in a deep breath.
This young girl was so venomous at such a tender age. What would happen in the future? If she was the daughter of the Xiao family, the Xiao family would reach its demise under her hands.
"My daughter hurt you first?" Madam Sheng Yue chuckled coldly. With traces of mockery in her beautiful eyes, she clarified, "Xiao Min, was she really the one that provoked you first? Do you think I am clueless? I don't care of you usually rely on your power to oppress others, but now you have done it to Yue Er. Tell me, for what reason do you think I will let you off?!"
Her ice-cold gaze and sharp tone was like thorns that viciously pierced Xiao Min's heart.
A layer of tears coated Xiao Min's eyes. Just when she wanted to stand up for herself, she was intercepted by Madam Sheng Yue's frosty tone.
"When you were outside, you took a fancy to Yue Er's fiance and wanted to snatch away her fiance. You even used my Xiao family name and my own name to threaten her. You even publicized yourself as my daughter. I don't know when I had adopted such a shameless daughter. What qualifications do you have to proclaim yourself as my child?"
Xiao Min's body shuddered slightly as she bit her lips, too afraid to say anything.
"You tried to use the Xiao family's power to snatch that man. You even went to seek trouble with Yue Er and even challenged her to a fight. It was due to your skills being inferior to hers that you resorted to using the Xiao family's forbidden technique in the hopes of killing my daughter. It was already lenient for my daughter and her fiance to not kill you in the name of the Xiao family. What more do you want? You accidentally offended an expert outside and that expert infiltrated my Xiao family to cut off your finger? You even thought of blaming it on Yue Er. Do you think people wouldn't know and find all of this out? It's truly laughable as Xiao Lin saw all of this happening."
Xiao Lin, who had been following behind Xiao Tian Yu and his wife, almost fell after hearing what Madam Sheng Yue said.
'So the Young Madam also has her shameless moments…'
Xiao Min widened her eyes as she looked with astonishment at Madam Sheng Yue's ice-cold face. "No, that didn't happen. It is obviously that the bitch cut my finger off…"
Madam Sheng Yue coldly snorted as she said icily, "Xiao Min, you still want to lie at this moment? My Yue Er isn't as savage as you are. Don't you even think of placing the debts you accumulated outside my Xiao family. That expert is too powerful. My Xiao family can't afford to offend him, and even more so, we won't go and provoke him for you."
How could Xiao Min not know that Madam Sheng Yue was purposefully helping Mu Ru Yue at this time?
She clenched her fist in fury. The blazing fire of anger in her heart seemed about ready to set her alight.
When the other elders heard Madam Sheng Yue's words, they nodded. That young girl didn't seem to be such a cruel person. On the other hand, there was a possibility that the arrogant and despotic Xiao Min had created a lot of trouble outside and offended an expert, resulting in that expert coming to the Xiao family to settle the debt with her.
Actually, Madam Sheng Yue wasn't lying as the one that broke off Xiao Min's finger wasn't Mu Ru Yue, but instead the harmless looking little beast in her embrace.
This could be counted as Xiao Min offending an expert.
"Young Madam, are you not lying with your eyes open?" Xiao Yin's expression darkened as he looked sinisterly cold at Madam Sheng Yue. "That girl broke my granddaughter's finger. She must break two of her fingers as repayment. If not, I won't let this matter go."
"Won't let this matter go?" Madam Sheng Yue chuckled mockingly. With a layer of ice in her beautiful eyes, she continued, "What right do you think you have? Father has commenced this meeting, not only for Yue Er to proclaim her ancestry, but also to announce another matter. I will announce it on his behalf instead. From now on, Xiao Yin is no longer my Xiao family's elder! I will banish Xiao Yin and his family from the Xiao family, never to return!"
Expulsion from the Xiao family was the most severe punishment.
It could be seen how enraged Madam Sheng Yue was.
"You… you…" Xiao Yin was so angered that his old face turned red. He pointed at Madam Sheng Yue after a moment. "Madam Sheng Yue, don't you think you are going too far? I have worked so hard for the Xiao family all these years, and now you want to banish me from the Xiao family? What right do you have to do that?
Madam Sheng Yue narrowed her eyes slightly. She wasn't angry, but laughed instead. "Xiao Yin, have you forgotten my identity?"
The owner of the sacred spirit spring, Madam Sheng Yue, was the governor of the Sheng Domain. How could she not have the right to expel someone from the Xiao family? Even if she just had the identity of being the young madam of the Xiao family, she still had the power to make such a decision.
Xiao Yin's body shuddered. He was too enraged, which was why he'd said those irrational words.
Madam Sheng Yue symbolized the power of Sheng Domain.
"Xiao Yin, don't think I didn't know that it was precisely with your help in assisting the Nangong family sixteen years ago that gave them the chance to steal my daughter. My husband had tried to destroy the Nangong family with his sword alone. If it wasn't for you taking lead in stopping him, the Nangong family would have already perished. Today, your granddaughter impersonated herself as my adopted daughter to snatch my biological daughter's fiance. She even wanted to use that identity to bully her. Do you still think it's wrong to settle this debt with you?"
Madam Sheng Yue narrowed her eyes, an ice-cold smile on her face.
Her golden-yellow long robe made her look elegant, but it still wasn't able to cover up that iciness.
"Young Madam, if it weren't for you inhibiting the young head in taking in concubines that year, that incident wouldn't have happened. Even though the young mistress of the Nangong family had taken a fancy of the young head, she was willing to place her status lower and become his lower concubine. If you had given in a little, all of that wouldn't have occurred. This is a world that focuses on male strength; it is only natural for the men to have three wives and four concubines. For what reason did you stop him from doing so?"
Initially, if it wasn't for the young madam rejecting his daughter servicing the young head, his daughter wouldn't have chosen to commit suicide due to her feelings being unaccepted. It was due to the pain of losing his daughter that he agreed to the Nangong family's request in assisting them to infiltrate the Xiao family and steal the young madam's daughter.
His daughter was in her prime. Her talent and appearance was also great, and she just wanted to be a concubine of the young head. What right did she have to stop that? In this world, which man would choose to live their life with only a single woman?
It was normal and common sense for a man to have three wives and four concubines.
"Xiao Yin, what you really wanted to say was your daughter." Madam Sheng Yue smiled coldly at Xiao Yin. "I will tell you why now. You are a man so you naturally won't understand how we girls feel. In your eyes, a man should have three wives and four concubines and be surrounded by girls. But as a woman, I love my husband so I don't want to share him with others. Moreover, which eyes did you use to see me stop my husband in taking other wives? Those girls were personally pushed away by my husband. My husband can take in other wives or concubines, but I would just choose to leave him after. If he had the heart to take in others, I definitely won't stop him. Similarly, if I want to leave the Xiao family, he can't stop me."
She definitely wouldn't share her husband with others in her life.
If Xiao Tian Yu really did let her down, then this man wasn't worthy of her deep affection.
"Yu Er," Xiao Tian Yu walked forward and gently embrace his wife before shifting his gaze to Xiao Yin, who still had a terrible expression. With a sharp gaze, he clarified, "What Yu Er said was right. She did not stop me from taking in other wives. It is due to me personally not wanting to have a relationship with other girls. Xiao Yin, you have done so many things; do you think I will let you off?"
He wouldn't be satisfied if Xiao Yin and his granddaughter didn't die. He could only kill these two to appease his anger.
Currently, Xiao Yin was so angered that he couldn't speak. Whenever he thought about his daughter's death, he couldn't help but loathe this Xiao Tian Yu and Madam Sheng Yue couple. Even if the young head didn't want to let down the young madam, did that have to mean his daughter's life meant nothing?
His daughter had used death to force his hand, but he still didn't want to take her in as his concubine. Even if it were on behalf of being an elder of the Xiao family, he shouldn't have rejected her.
If Xiao Tian Yu heard Xiao Yin's thought, he would definitely have felt he was laughable.
Could it be that if all the women in the world used their life to threaten him, he must accept them? A girl that didn't treasure her own life and used such a method to force him, why should he treat her courteously?
What he hated in his life was to be threatened!
When Mu Ru Yue looked at the loving couple, she was rather touched. Even if this continent respected experts, a man's position was still higher than a woman's. It was normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines, but girls would be treated as a slut if they did that. Thus, there wasn't any gender equality on this Martial God Continent.
However, Xiao Tian Yu was able to wholeheartedly love only Madam Sheng Yue, and this was really touching. The men on this continent that were willing to have only one woman in their life were in their minority.
Subconsciously, Mu Ru Yue suddenly thought about Ye Wu Chen's divine-like face.
Yet, she didn't know where her man was now…
"Father, mother, please allow me to settle these remaining matters." Mu Ru Yue smiled faintly. She gently caressed the head of the little beast in her embrace, saying, "Yan Jin, that old man was impolite to my parents. What do you think I should do?"
Yan Jin suddenly raised his small head, and his abyss-like eyes focused on Xiao Yin. His black eyes were filled with a brazen and domineering aura as he looked with disdain at the crowd before him…
Xiao Min bit her lips as she didn't believe that the little beast would be of any threat to her grandfather. But Xiao Yin, who had been baptised by time, didn't think the same. When the little beast looked over, he felt a power that made his soul tremble. That power made his body shake uncontrollably a couple of times, astonishment filling his face.
"Hmmph!"
Yan Jin coldly snorted and leapt out from Mu Ru Yue's embrace. Gradually, his body elongated before the crowd. A black clothed man appeared before them in the next moment.
That man's appearance looked as though it had been crafted. His black eyes were deep. Although he didn't have the divine-like appearance of Ye Wu Chen, he was still able to attract a girl's attention toward him.
The domineering aura in his eyes was both tyrannical and unruly. It was as though he were a noble king. His body reeked with nobility, as though it were natural for him to stand at the top and look down with disdain at the bunch of ants.
"Xiantian magical beast!'
Xiao Yin's expression changed as he could clearly feel the tyrannical strength coming from this man. His cultivation was definitely at the Xiantian realm, and this was a magical beast that could humanize.
That's right, after Mu Ru Yue left the archive, she looked for Xiao Tian Yu and his Madam. Coincidentally, the Xiao family had a thousand years medicinal plant which she'd then given to Yan Jin for his consumption. Hence, Yan Jin's current cultivation was now at the Xiantian realm.
As a Xiantian expert, he held a highly prestigious position inside Sheng Domain.
"This little girl is this senior's mistress. Similarly, she isn't someone you can hurt." Yan Jin lifted his head slightly and swept a disdainful gaze toward the paled Xiao Yin, saying, "You want to offend this senior with just your current cultivation?"
If he possessed his previous life's strength, then not to mention Xiao Yin, he could destroy the Sheng Domain whenever he wanted.
Yan Jin gradually lifted his hand and a black ray of light shot forth from his sleeve.
Peng!
It struck Xiao Yin in the chest. His body was sent flying violently and he landed on the ground.
This was the difference between a False Xiantian and a Xiantian. It was a heaven and earth difference, even if it supposedly differed by one grade.
Xiao Min was stunned. It was as though she were looking at a monster when she gazed at Yan Jin. Suddenly, she saw his gaze shoot away from the man and toward her. Her delicate body couldn't help but shiver.
"No!"
Xiao Min shrieked as she retreated backward. Behind her was the doorstep and she fell back, directly rolling out. She was left in a sorry state from the roll.
Scared?
That's right, the current Xiao Min was scared.
So this woman had such a strong magical beast. If she'd used this beast to fight against her, then she probably wouldn't have been able to return to Sheng Domain…
Yan Jin didn't even cast a second glance at Xiao Min as he felt it was too much of a humiliation to his hand if he made a move on this kind of woman.
"Do any of you have opinions regarding this senior's mistress?" Yan Jin swept his gaze toward the elders. His tone was domineering and cold. "This senior will give you a chance to say whatever opinions you have!"
'Opinion? How could they dare to have an opinion?'
The crowd looked toward Old Man Xiao before smiling bitterly. If it was Old Man Xiao, then he could surely defeat this man. Yet, the old man clearly showed that he wouldn't take part in this matter.
'How could they still have opinions?'
"Cough cough!" The old man coughed twice before standing up, his expression brimming with a smile. "Since none of you have any opinions, this little girl will be able to proclaim her ancestry and become a member of our Xiao family from now on. I wish that all of you will remember the difference between the main branch and side branch. Don't you ever follow Xiao Yin's steps. If not, you will be punished by the family rules!"
The crowd's hearts trembled. Who still dared to say anything? Furthermore, it was only natural that she enter the Xiao family as a clan member who had the bloodline of the Xiao family and shouldn't stay outside.
"As for Xiao Yin and Xiao Min…" The old man smiled coldly. "They are forbidden to use the surname Xiao and are banished from the Xiao family!"
Xiao Yin clenched his fist tightly. He climbed up from the floor and gazed with furious eyes at the old man, cursing him, every word falling heavily, "Family head, you will regret doing this!"
This old man didn't care about him and instructed someone at the side, "Why are you still standing there? Immediately toss these two out of the Xiao family. Also, Eighth Elder, come with me."
After saying that, the old man left the discussion room without turning his head back once.
"Grandfather." Xiao Min walked over to Xiao Yin's side, tears of grievance in her eyes.
She had been despotic and unruly when she used the name of the Xiao family. Now, she had lost this protective umbrella. She couldn't imagine what her future would be like now.
"Min Er, let's go. We don't need to concern ourselves with this Xiao family. We will definitely make them regret what they have done today!"
Xiao Yin's hatred deepened and intensified.
He definitely wouldn't forgive the Xiao family!
When Madam Sheng Yue saw the killing intent in his eyes, she sniggered coldly. Did he really think father would let him go? All of this was just an act for the other elders to see.
If they didn't eliminate a person like Xiao Yin, then troubles would definitely arise in the future. As such, they had no intention of letting him live.
Wasn't there a phrase for this? If someone did bad deeds, they would be eliminated by the heavens?
Inside the study room, the old man stood before the Eighth Elder and ordered, "Eighth Elder, you are someone I trust the most within this Xiao family, so I want you to assassinate Xiao Yin and his granddaughter."
The Eighth Elder's heart trembled violently as he looked in shock at the old man.
However, he quickly regained his calm. "Family head, what you are doing isn't wrong. Xiao Yin will definitely repay any grudges. He holds hatred in his heart and will definitely create trouble for our Xiao family in the future. Moreover, the crime he committed is already enough to sign his death warrant."
Eighth Elder was an intelligent person, so he understood the reason why the old man was doing this. Xiao Yin was an elder of the Xiao family after all, so he definitely possessed men within the Xiao family. If they killed him openly, then while the other elders wouldn't dare to oppose the family head, their hearts would still ache. Instead of subjecting them to all this, the old man wanted to deal with Xiao Yin secretly.
Outside the border of the Xiao family, strong gusts of wind blew everywhere. While Xiao Min used her strength to resist against the wind and dust, she pulled on her clothing and shifted her gaze to the elder beside her. "Grandfather, where are we heading to now?"
"We will definitely go to the Nangong family." Xiao Yin chuckled coldly. "Since the Xiao family won't keep us, we should naturally head to where we belong. The Nangong family has always been preying on the Xiao family like a tiger. It's a pity that the Nangong family has always been unable to become truly powerful. They were almost annihilated by just Xiao Tian Yu alone about sixteen years ago. But now, we don't have any other place to go except the Nangong family."
Xiao Min was slightly displeased. How could the Nangong family be comparable to the Xiao family? Even though she was only from the side branch of the Xiao family, she was already much more noble when compared to the main branch of the Nangong family.
"Min Er, you don't know about this, but a talented girl has appeared in the Nangong family. That girl possesses prodigious innate talent. I've heard that the woman has been looking for a man as her partner. Compared to the Xiao family, the Nangong family holds great potential. Once we enter the Nangong family, we can definitely find a chance to seek vengeance. Don't you hate that Mu Ru Yue woman to death? If we are able to acquire the assistance of the Nangong family, we will definitely be able to return the humiliation we suffered from today back to her!"
When Xiao Min thought about Mu Ru Yue, she gritted her teeth with hatred. She definitely wouldn't be happy if she didn't avenge this grudge. She would chop that girl into eight large pieces one day. No! She would find a bunch of beggars to rape her first before that.
Suddenly, a figure was gradually becoming visible, walking toward them within the wind and dust…
The silver robe appeared in their sights first. With radiant eyes that shone like light, he seemed to be filled with boundless nobility and all the elegance in the world.
Those silver robes stayed cleaned without even a trace of dirt on them, even as he stood within the wind and dust.
The man wore a silver mask. He was like ice, void of any emotions. Even though his appearance couldn't be seen, this man looked very fair just from his exposed jaw.
This wasn't a sickly white colour, but instead the white of the moon. It was so beautiful that it looked breathtaking.
When Xiao Min shifted her gaze upward, a pair of purple eyes greeted her own. She couldn't help but be stunned, frozen in place as she stared lovestruck at him.
She had never seen anyone's eyes that could be this beautiful.
It was even more beautiful than amethyst gemstones. They could captivate others, pulling them in and making it difficult for them to look away from it. Yet, although those eyes were beautiful, that sinister and cold, unfeeling aura made her heart shudder.
"Who are you?" Xiao Yin's heart shuddered as he looked warily at the man before him.
The newcomer did not have any good intentions.
This man shouldn't be trifled with…
Moreover, there was a fearful power emanating from his body. Just from the force of that power, he didn't dare to move his body. If this man wanted to kill them, it would be extremely simple.
The man gently raised his gaze and a trace of killing intent flashed past his eyes. With lips parted slightly, what came out was a voice that was pleasant to the ear, but instantly cast others to hell.
"I'm someone after your lives."
Xiao Yin's expression changed. "Mister, we don't have any grudges or disputes. Why do you want to kill us?"
The man raised his foot to walk toward them.
The silver robe fluttered with a gentle breeze. With each of his his steps, a crushing pressure came bore down on them. Under the might of that force, Xiao Yin could only feel an indistinct hand squeezing his throat. This man just needed the desire to rob him of his life and it would be done.
Understanding this, Xiao Yin was extremely terrified. He wanted to break free from the restriction, but his body just couldn't move.
"You two bullied her." The man wore a silver mask so it was hard to see his expression, but that phrase was like ice, without a trace of warmth. "I won't allow anyone that bullies her to live."
Xiao Yin didn't know who he was referring to. He raised his head, stupefied. "Mister, did you recognise the wrong person? I didn't bully anyone."
"Have you already forgotten?" The man finally halted his steps, yet that pressure didn't disappear. "Mu Ru Yue is my woman. You two bullied her and still desire to live?"
No matter who it was or where they were, if they bullied her, they must be killed!
"You… you are…" Xiao Min's body trembled, shock in her eyes as she exclaimed, "That's impossible! You aren't the Ghost King! The Ghost King doesn't have purple eyes. Could it be that the bitch was like I had said and loose like water with her relationships and wasn't loyal to her man? How many other guys have there been, excluding the Ghost King?"
The gaze of the man chilled. With a wave of his hand, a tyrannical power sent Xiao Min's body flying.
Xiao Min soared through the air for a while before landing.
Wah!
She coughed out a mouthful of blood.
"Min Er!" Xiao Yin's expression changed drastically. He gazed viciously at the silver robed man. "You attack a weak girl who doesn't have any means to resist. Are you still a man?"
The man looked coldly at him. Suddenly, the energy within Xiao Yin started to run amok, rampaging throughout his body. His old face paled as he moaned in pain.
Slowly, cuts and gashes appeared on the body of the elder. Blood seeped out from those wounds…
"So what if I attacked the girl?" The man smiled and laughed cruelly, continuing, "So long as it is one who tried to hurt her, no matter if it's a girl or a three-year-old infant, I still won't let them off!"
Xiao Yin gritted his teeth tightly, blood flowing from the corner of his lips.
"Aren't you afraid of having a notorious reputation after doing this for years?"
The man's purple eyes surged with ridicule. With a cynical smile below the silver mask, he said, "Reputation cannot be compared to her within my heart."
So what if he had a notorious reputation and was held in contempt for years?
As long as it were those that wanted to harm her, then no matter if it was a girl or a three-year-old infant, he wouldn't let any of them off.
Xiao Yin suddenly remembered that man he'd met in the Kingdom of Zi Yue.
That man had been known as the Ghost King, and he had said similar words…
Even if he were to oppose the entire Sheng Domain, he definitely wouldn't allow anyone to hurt her in the slightest, not even a single strand of the hair on her head.
"You are the Ghost King, right? You must be him. I didn't expect you to come to Sheng Domain! Haha! You think you two can stay together? Let me tell you this; I won't let you two go even if I become a ghost!" Xiao Yin laughed crazily.
It was due to them that they have arrived at such an outcome! Thus, he surely wouldn't let them off!
Hong!
Xiao Yin's body violently exploded. A blood mist scattered through the wind and dust. But almost immediately, black flames flickered to life. The blood mist slowly vanished, consumed by the black flames…
"Become a ghost? I'm sorry, but you can't even become one."
Xiao Yin would have never believed that this man could do such a thing and even rob him of the right to become a lingering soul. Once the soul was cremated, that person disappeared for all eternity.
"Grandfather!"
Just as Xiao Min managed to climb to her feet, she witnessed the cruel sight. She yelled out for her grandfather with all her might. Her grandfather, who had doted upon her since she was young, had died due to her greed.
She knelt to the ground and her delicate body shuddered. Tears flowed down her face. Drop by drop, they fell to the ground.
Suddenly, a foot stopped before her.
Xiao Min lifted her head as she looked with horror at the man before her. Her body shook uncontrollably. "No! Don't, please don't kill me. I don't want to die. I beg you to spare my life. I will do anything so long as you don't kill me. I beg you. You've already killed my grandfather. Please spare my life."
She didn't want to die. She really didn't want to die here…
There wasn't any emotion in the purple eyes of the man. His gazed at Xiao Min as though he were looking at a dead person. Following that, he gradually lifted his hand…
"No!" Xiao Min was alarmed. Then, as though she had made a decision, she ripped her clothes, exposing her white skin. "Please let me go. I am willing to serve you without any status. I just beg you to not kill me."
Hong!
An intense black flame rose from the ground, enclosing Xiao Min's naked body and covering the bared skin that would invoke disgust for him.
"Ben Wang had initially wanted to give you a quick end. It's a pity you didn't take that chance. In order for my eyes to not be dirtied from looking at your body, I can only make you stay here until not a single trace of your soul is left behind. Only then will you be liberated from this place…"
The man raised his hand to dust at his robe before turning to walk toward the border of the Xiao family. He didn't even give Xiao Min another look.
Xiao Min, within the black flames, couldn't plead for her life or for a quicker death. She could only look with despair at the departing figure of that man, holding boundless regrets.
If… if only her grandfather hadn't pampered her so much since she was young, perhaps she wouldn't have grown up to be so arrogant and despotic and wouldn't have provoked these people.
All in all, everything was her grandfather's fault!
It was his fault for not being strict enough!
One could only wonder how enraged Xiao Yin would be if he were resurrected and privy to her thoughts…
Night.
The moonlight was faint, with barely any light. Just as Mu Ru Yue lay on her bed, a wave of sleepiness struck her. She tried to pry open her eyes, but was unable to wake up. Amidst her grogginess, she seemed to see a figure entering her room…
The man stood beside the head of the bed. He focused on the young girl on the bed, a trace of gentleness appearing in his purple eyes.
A slender finger brushed against the young girl's nose before landing on her lips. While he gently caressed it, his gaze became incredibly warm. Every motion of his finger was so gentle, as though he feared he might waken her abruptly.
"I'm sorry…"
The man muttered those words gently. There was pain and sorrow in his voice, along with infinite reluctance. But what could he do? He didn't have any other method except this. All of this in order to avoid harming her…
Slowly, he lowered his head to place a kiss on the lips of the young girl.
His kiss was so gentle, containing all of the tender feelings this man couldn't express openly. Yet, he felt that this wasn't enough. Her lips were so sweet and warm that they made him want so much more…
The man parted the young girl's lips. Just as he was about to move his tongue to taste her, the previously closed-eyed young girl suddenly woke up.
When the two of them looked at each other, the man's heart violently trembled. Yet, he didn't have the slightest intention of releasing her…
Mu Ru Yue narrowed her eyes and raised her leg to mercilessly kick him. The man didn't dodge and just stood there, enduring the kick to his most sensitive part.
He groaned, but was still unwilling to let the young girl go after tasting her once more. The man held the young girl's hand tightly and pressed her down on the bed.
"Let me go!"
Mu Ru Yue's expression gradually darkened.
It was unknown why she felt a dangerous feeling coming from this man…
"Why did you wake up so quickly?"
Mu Ru Yue sniggered. "I am an alchemist. How long did you think that puny incapacitating agent would knock me unconscious for? Tell me, who exactly are you? I initially treated you as Wu Chen, but Wu Chen wouldn't use such flower thief ways like using an incapacitating agent to knock a girl unconscious late in the night."
When the man lowered his head to look at the young girl and saw the wariness on her face, his heart felt as though it had been violently pierced by something. He was in so much pain, yet he really couldn't let her go. "You will know who I am in the near future."
Currently, he couldn't let her know anything as he didn't want her to be in danger while by his side.
A light flashed past Mu Ru Yue's eyes as she raised her hand to remove the man's mask. However, the man let go of her the moment she touched the mask. Following that, his silver robes disappeared in a flash as he moved to the door.
Moonlight shone down upon the silver robe of the man. Beneath the moonlight, he seemed so noble that a person was unable to look him in the eyes. It was as if he were genuine royalty.
Mu Ru Yue's heart suddenly palpitated. There was a familiar aura coming from this man.
The way he looked at her sent a piercing pain through her heart for some reason…
The man gave her another look before turning around, disappearing from under the moonlight.
Even though he had left, there was still the warmth left by that man in her room…
"Who exactly are you?"
Why did she feel such familiarity…
Yet, the feeling he gave her was different than the one from Wu Chen. Wu Chen brought warmth with his charm, and she'd felt safe when he was by her side. But this man gave her a dangerous vibe.
Her fingers rubbed at her lips where she could still feel the imprint of that man lingering.
Perhaps she would discover this man's identity soon.
The next day, within the Xiao family.
A person whom Mu Ru Yue wouldn't have expected arrived.
The instant that she saw that man, she became excited and hurriedly went to greet him. A magnificent smile appeared on her exceptional face. "Wu Chen, why are you here?"
She hadn't expected him. When Qing Qing had told her that a man had come looking for her, that man had actually been Ye Wu Chen, whom she hadn't seen for ages.
The man gradually turned around and a gentle smile appeared on his handsome face. When his black eyes landed on the young girl's body, he said gently, "I had heard that you came to the Xiao family, so I've come to see you."
Mu Ru Yue looked at him in astonishment and frowned slightly. She didn't know what exactly felt a little off, but it almost felt as though something wasn't quite right with the current Ye Wu Chen.
"What's wrong, Mu Er?" Ye Wu Chen walked a couple of steps toward the young girl. With a charming smile, he continued, "It has been a long time since we last met. Have you become distant with your husband?"
Mu Ru Yue slowly came back to her senses as she shook her head and smiled bitterly. Perhaps she was being a little too sensitive…
"Wu Chen, it's great that you're back. When shall we prepare the wedding ceremony?"
"No need to hurry that." Ye Wu Chen chuckled. A peculiar ray of light flashed past his black eyes. It was a pity that the light faded too quickly that Mu Ru Yue wasn't able to catch it. "Mu Er, it has been so long. Your husband really missed you…"
He took a step closer to Mu Ru Yue as he said that.
The smile on Mu Ru Yue's face slowly faded as she looked with suspicion at the man before her. "Wu Chen, what happened to you? I feel that something isn't right with you."
Whenever she had seen Wu Chen in the past, she'd felt safe. Yet, why was it that, standing next to him now, she didn't have that feeling of safety?
Ye Wu Chen raised his hand, but then gradually placed it down before it neared the young girl's face. With a charming smile, his divine-like appearance looked truly amazing.
It was already too captivating with just that smile.
"Mu Er, let's go out for a walk."
Mu Ru Yue nodded her head slightly. "Alright."
At this moment, a silver-robed man not far from the border seemed to feel something. He slowly turned around and cast a gaze toward the Xiao family. He frowned slightly, an unfathomable emotion within his purple eyes.
"This feeling…" The man's brows creased deeper. The uneasy feeling made his heart hurt. It was just like that time…
Could it be that something had happened to her?
"I hope nothing bad happens to her…"
Xiao City.
Crowds of people bustled with activity on the streets.
As they walked this street that seemed to stretch on, Ye Wu Chen gently place one of his hands at the back of her head and smiled languidly. His eyes often glanced at the young girl by his side, softening and warming.
When such a handsome man appeared, it immediately attracted many people's attention…
Suddenly, the man halted his steps. His gaze looked through the crowd and landed on someone wearing red clothing. "Mu Er, I seem to have seen someone we know…"
'Someone we know?'
Mu Ru Yue turned her head to look at where the man was looking at and saw a red-clothed girl within the crowd before them.
The girl had a remarkable appearance. Her skin was white and radiant, and her little red lips curved slightly upward. She had a lovely smile accentuated with attractive phoenix eyes that seemed to be looking at Ye Wu Chen. Her eyes lit up as she walked over.
"Chen, what are you doing here?"
Her smile was so lovely and charming, and her voice could make people go numb. How could any man resist her?"
'Chen?'
Mu Ru Yue frowned slightly as she cast a look toward Ye Wu Chen. She noticed that he didn't have any reaction to being called so cordially.
"This is… " The girl looked at Mu Ru Yue and was stunned for a moment before asking curiously.
"My fiancee, Mu Ru Yue." Ye Wu Chen smiled. "Mu Er, let me introduce her to you. This is my friend, Luo Yi."
"Fiancee?" Luo Yi sized Mu Ru Yue from head to toe for a few seconds before extending her hand toward her. With a lovely smile, she said, "I am Chen's best friend. On the other hand, I will have to remind you to keep a firm watch over Chen. He's so outstanding that he may even be snatched up by other girls soon."
"Luo Yi, don't bully my fiancee," Ye Wu Chen said as he looked at Luo Yi.
Luo Yi pouted, feeling wronged, "I didn't bully her; just advised her."
"Alright, I won't blame you for your ignorance," said Ye Wu Chen with a laugh.
It might be because he was meeting a friend whom he hadn't seen in awhile or some other reason, but while Ye Wu Chen spoke only with Luo Yi, Mu Ru Yue, standing by his side, seemed to have become an outsider…
"Little girl, you're just letting him go like this?"
After returning to the Xiao family, Yan Jin leaped from her embrace and metamorphosed into a human before sitting on the bed. With obvious fury expressed on his handsome face, he said, "Ye Wu Chen clearly swore that he would only love you in his life. What was with that woman then? He just chatted with her and left you aside."
Mu Ru Yue looked at the fuming Yan Jin. With a faint smile, she replied, "They are only friends."
"Friends?" Yan Jin snorted coldly. "Would a friend call each other so cordially? It's obvious that woman wasn't friendly to you. Can it be that he's so blind and can't see that? Little girl, if that man really does something that lets you down, leave him then. With your capital, it wouldn't be hard to find other guys."
Mu Ru Yue's eyelashes slightly fluttered, but she remained quiet. Yan Jin didn't see the trace of light that flashed past her eyes.
"I believe in Wu Chen."
But, she just believed in only Ye Wu Chen…
Xiao Tian Yu and his wife were in the Xiao family's main hall talking when they turned their heads and saw Mu Ru Yue walking toward them. Madam Sheng Yue stood up smilingly as she greeted her, "Yue Er, it's perfect that you came here. I was just about to look for you for a matter."
"What for?" Mu Ru Yue walked to Madam Sheng Yue's side, a faint smile on her beautiful face.
"What else could it be about if not those old fellows?" Madam Sheng Yue raised her brows slightly. "I planned to break the rules and open the sacred spirit spring for you in order to let you enter and train. Who knew that those few old fellows would have some objections? The sacred spirit spring should only be opened once every three years. If we were to break the rules, we would require two Xiantian experts."
She paused for a moment before saying, "The biggest objection is that this way is very unfair to others, so those few old fellows aren't willing to open the sacred spirit spring right now. I wanted to hear Yue Er's opinion. If you want to enter the sacred spirit spring, mother will definitely find a way to send you in."
Mu Ru Yue frowned slightly. "I am really interested in the sacred spirit spring, but if the Xiao family breaks the rules for me, isn't that too unreasonable? The elders' opinions aren't illogical."
Madam Sheng Yue had been treating her really well. She didn't want to burden her with this matter.
"Yue Er, there is another method." Madam Sheng Yue held Mu Ru Yue's hand and pulled her along to sit before the stage. She smiled elegantly. "The Xiao family has allowed you to proclaim your ancestry. Following that, it will be the bloodline test. If your bloodline test result is extremely high, it should make those old fellows hold their tongues."
"Bloodline test?" Mu Ru Yue raised her brows questioningly.
"Let me explain." Xiao Tian Yu stood up and walked to Mu Ru Yue's side with light steps. "In large families, the intensity of the bloodline is an extremely important issue. Our Xiao family chooses the family head by their bloodline. If your bloodline intensity is really high, you will possess an extremely high status in the Xiao family. There wouldn't be anyone that rejects anything you say. Of course, you are also grandfather's hope. In our Xiao family's new generation, the one who has the greatest bloodline intensity is your elder brother, Xiao Feng. His bloodline intensity has reached 80%."
He didn't know if this daughter of his would exceed that brat.
Glimmers of light danced in Xiao Tian Yu's eyes. He was extremely curious regarding this…
"Alright, when will the test be held?"
"Tomorrow."
'Tomorrow?'
Mu Ru Yue rubbed her jaws in thought before nodding in agreement. "I will head back to prepare for it then."
She was also really interested in the intensity of the bloodline that she'd inherited…
After leaving the main hall, Mu Ru Yue didn't make any detours and headed straight back to her room. Who knew that once she entered, she would see Yan Jin and Ye Wu Chen fighting in her room.
Electricity seemed to flow from their bodies.
When Ye Wu Chen saw Mu Ru Yue arrive, he smiled and said, "Mu Er, you're back?"
"Ye Wu Chen!" Yan Jin looked domineeringly at the man before him. "I will ask you one more time: Who is that girl called Luo Yi?"
"I have already told you. We are just friends."
Ye Wu Chen frowned as he looked impatiently at Yan Jin. With a sinister light in his black eyes, he smiled slightly. "If you don't believe me, then there is nothing I can do about it."
"You…" Yan Jin was so angered that he tossed a punch at the wall to the side. "It can't be that you didn't see how terrible that girl's attitude was toward the little girl?"
Ye Wu Chen swept a gaze at Yan Jin, but didn't say anything. Just as Yan Jin wanted to say something, Mu Ru Yue's calm voice came from the side. "Yan Jin, please leave for a moment."
"Little girl?" Yan Jin looked in disbelief at Mu Ru Yue. Seeing how protective she was of this man, he felt really unhappy. With a trace of displeasure on his handsome face, he rebuked, "Little girl, if he doesn't clarify what happened today, I won't go out!"
"Yan Jin."
Mu Ru Yue frowned slightly. She shifted her gaze to Yan Jin and repeated, "Please go out for a moment."
"Little girl!"
Yan Jin suppressed his anger and, with a wave of his fist…
Peng!
He punched a hole in the wall. Following that, he snorted coldly and went outside.
He slammed the door hard on his way out.
Mu Ru Yue shook her head helplessly. Yan Jin had such a childish side. She would have to explain this to him later…
"Mu Er, are you angry?"
Ye Wu Chen walked lazily toward Mu Ru Yue. He gently place his hand on her waist. With a faint smile, he said gently, "I am only friends with her…"
Mu Ru Yue gave a low chuckle. It was only after a long moment before she raised her head to look at Ye Wu Chen. "I know."
The two didn't speak for some time…
Ye Wu Chen focused on the young girl before him, a trace of desire slowly appearing in his eyes.
It was undeniable that this girl was really beautiful. Her skin was white as jade, her appearance perfect. Under her firm and upright nose, those lips curved slightly upward, causing others to want to get intimate with her.
Ye Wu Chen suddenly had the impulse to take her…
His large hand gently pressed against her head and his lips neared hers. Because of this, he failed to notice the iciness in the young girl's eyes.
It was immovable coldness.
"Mu Er, please give that to me, alright?" A trace of hoarseness could be heard in the man's voice. With desire-filled eyes, just as he was about to plant a kiss on the young girl's lips, Mu Ru Yue's own lips curled up into a faint smile.
Peng!
She viciously kicked the most important part of a man. Ye Wu Chen didn't expect such a move from the girl and retreated a few steps back. The intense pain made his face twist.
"Mu Er, what are you doing?" Ye Wu Chen had lowered his voice, but she could indistinctly hear the fury resonating in his words.
He was most likely going to become a eunuch from being kicked in that place at such a… moment.
Mu Ru Yue didn't reply. Her gaze was still focused on that man's flawless face. She asked him, each word clearly enunciated, "Who are you?"
Ye Wu Chen was in so much pain that cold sweat flowed down his face. He persisted on staying upright as he looked at Mu Ru Yue. "Mu Er, what's wrong? I'm your fiance, Ye Wu Chen."
Her eyes narrowed. A trace of frost appeared in Mu Ru Yue's eyes as she shouted, "Who on earth are you?!"
Although she asked him this, it was basically a rhetorical question as she was already incredibly confident in the answer…
"How did you figure it out?" The man's expression changed drastically. He sniggered coldly. "I thought I hadn't left any flaws."
"No flaw?" Mu Ru Yue chuckled softly. "It can't be that you didn't know how full of it you were? I already knew you were a fake from the first moment I saw you."
The man smiled icily, full of menace. His gaze no longer held any of the warmth it had initially toward Mu Ru Yue. "Since you knew I was an imposter, why didn't you expose me?"
His Master had sent him here, but he hadn't expected this girl would be intelligent to such an extent.
She already knew he wasn't the real Ye Wu Chen from the first glance…
"I just wanted to know what purpose you had in getting close to me. It's a pity that you now wanted to become too intimate with me, so I couldn't continue the act. Now that I have exposed you… Tell me, what is your motive?"
Mu Ru Yue walked slowly toward the man. With a glacial voice, she asked, "And, while we're at it, who is that person, Luo Yi, who accompanied you in this act?"
The man seemed astonished as he looked at the young girl with the appearance of an ice princess.
He didn't know if he should think of her as extremely observant, or if his and Luo Yi's acting was just too lousy, allowing her to expose their true selves at a glance. It was such a joke that he had thought she'd believed them…
"You really want to know how, right?" Mu Ru Yue smiled faintly. With a voice so cold that it pierced through bone, she pointed out, "Number one, When Wu Chen is with me, there is a particular feeling that I can sense from him. There wasn't any such kind of feeling from you, so even though you have an identical appearance, you can't imitate that aura and can never give me that feeling of safety.
"Number two, Wu Chen and I have known each other for such a long time. I know every acquaintance that is by his side. Excluding me, he is never too intimate with others, so it's impossible for him to have that kind of female friend.
"Number three, Wu Chen has always respected me. He definitely wouldn't infringe on my body before we are married, yet you wanted to do something with me. If it were Wu Chen, then even if he had to suppress himself to death, he wouldn't offend me before we wed."
Mu Ru Yue looked at the astonished man, her eyes only slightly opened. A sinister cold aura emitted from her body as she spoke, each word distinct and heavy, "I won't allow anyone who impersonates him to live!"
The man was obviously stunned as he'd thought that he had impersonated the man flawlessly. First, to fool her sight, he hadn't even used a disguise pill. His master had personally changed his face into this appearance.
More importantly, in order to let that beast be unable to expose him, he'd even changed his aura so that it was identical to Ye Wu Chen's.
Yet, he hadn't expected that they wouldn't have even met for a day before already being exposed. This wasn't a minor blow to him.
"Hahaha!" The man raised his head to laugh before lowering his gaze to look at the beautiful young girl. He smiled mirthlessly and said, "I can tell you our purpose, but what can you do from knowing it? You definitely aren't a match for our master. Our master had me impersonate him and come to your side in order to destroy your feelings for one another and, if it were convenient, to find a chance to kill you. Moreover, the master also ordered another person to go and impersonate you by his side. You two will never be together."
Mu Ru Yue stopped her steps as she looked at the man with the crazed smile. With a slight hook from her lips, she said, "Since I can figure out you are a fake, he will also know that person isn't me. I trust Wu Chen's judgement, so no matter what ridiculous plot you may have, it will quickly go down the drain. Now, I will give you a chance. Tell me who your master is. If you do, I may give you a quick end."
The man snorted in disdain and turned his head, not even glancing at Mu Ru Yue.
"Not speaking?" Mu Ru Yue's brows raised and she said indifferently, "Yan Jin, you can come in now."
Once her words were uttered, the door was pushed open. Yan Jin moved with a flash to Mu Ru Yue's side. Right now, he finally knew why the little girl had made him leave temporarily. It was to see exactly what this man was up to.
He'd had his suspicion as to why Ye Wu Chen, who had been so deeply in love with Mu Ru Yue, would suddenly ignore her feelings. He'd also thought this man was an imposter. Could it be that the coincidental meeting with the little girl was also just an act?
They wanted to destroy Ye Wu Chen's and the little girl's feelings?
The master in the background must have a great understanding of the little girl and Ye Wu Chen. That person also knew that the little girl couldn't stand to have a single grain of sand in her eyes. Once Ye Wu Chen did something that let her down, she would leave him without a second thought.
Who was the master in the wings with such a thorough understanding of this little girl?