As dawn broke the next day, the night orchid had withered, leaving only a lush cluster of green stems and leaves. Amid onlookers, Granny Ah Jiang tearfully led people to uproot the entire night orchid. They doused it with tung oil and set it ablaze, burning it to ashes.
Cai Zhao felt relieved, thinking no one could cultivate the sinister “Purple Wei Heart Sutra” anymore. Song Yuzhi was eager to question Song Xiuzhi, while Cai Zhao anxiously wanted to know about his parents’ safety. Mu Qingyan wished to consult Sect Leader Yang Heyingabout a minor logistics issue. Thus, they bid farewell to Granny Ah Jiang and the others.
Before departing, Mu Qingyan asked Cai Zhao and the others to go ahead, staying behind with his two companions. Once Cai Zhao’s group was out of earshot, he retrieved all his gold leaves and instructed Shangguan Haonan and You Guanyue to bring out their gold ingots and silver notes. He respectfully placed the collected valuables in Granny Ah Jiang’s arms, his demeanor entirely serious.
Granny Ah Jiang, cradling the large package of gold and silver, smiled peculiarly on her moss-covered, aged face. “You figured it out,” she said.
Mu Qingyan replied, “Last night, the new bedding you provided was made of coarse silk, which couldn’t have come from the blood swamp. I realized that while outsiders can’t enter, those inside can leave. You and the others occasionally leave the swamp to reunite with your children and grandchildren for a few days, don’t you?”
Granny Ah Jiang looked down at the wealth in her arms and said softly, “This place is poor and dangerous. When our children leave, we can’t provide anything for them. They go out empty-handed to establish themselves, which is very difficult.”
Shangguan Haonan and You Guanyue exchanged glances, realizing these people weren’t martial arts experts but ordinary laborers.
Mu Qingyan said, “Don’t blame Zhao Zhao. She’s never known want and wouldn’t notice such things. Besides,” he smiled, “even if she had noticed, she probably couldn’t produce more than a few taels of silver.”
He explained that Cai Zhao was carefree, Song Yuzhi came from wealth, and even Fan Xingjia was from a prosperous rural family in Jiangnan. None of them were particularly savvy about everyday matters and details. When they left the Qingque Sect, they barely brought any money, assuming they’d be well-provided for at the wealthy and powerful Guangtian Gate.
Granny Ah Jiang shook her head with a smile. “Back then, Miss Xiao Shu didn’t notice on her own either. It was my thoughtless little daughter who kept eyeing her clothes and hairpins that made her realize.”
Mu Qingyan said, “To be honest, Granny, these valuables mean little to our sect. When I say it’s a modest gift, I’m not being polite. Please accept it.”
Granny Ah Jiang accepted without further protest, bowing slightly. “Thank you.” She walked a few steps, then turned back, looking at Mu Qingyan’s beautiful face. It briefly overlapped with another face in her memory before separating. “You and Young Master Yang… you’re not alike,” she said, lost in thought. “Miss Xiao Shu truly didn’t notice our hardships growing up. But I know Young Master Yang saw it long ago, yet he simply didn’t care.”
“You and he are different.”
After leaving the blood swamp village, Shangguan Haonan couldn’t help but say, “So they needed money! If only we’d known earlier, I could have brought dozens of boxes of gold and silver. They could have lived lavishly outside…”
You Guanyue retorted, “Shut up! Do you think you’re the only one who thought of that? The Sect Leader surely has other plans.”
Mu Qingyan, who had been pondering Granny Ah Jiang’s last words, smiled faintly. “They’ll probably leave now. That blood swamp will never be inhabited again.”
Shangguan Haonan exclaimed, “But weren’t they unable to leave the swamp?”
“When Cai An’ning transformed the swamp, they were still young. Though I’m no expert in herbal medicine, after more than fifty years of cleansing, even the most stubborn toxins should have mostly washed away,” Mu Qingyan explained, walking ahead with his hands behind his back. “If I’m not mistaken, they’re all children Cai An’ning raised. They stayed because they couldn’t bear to leave Cai An’ning’s burial place and the night orchid he transplanted.”
You Guanyue realized, “I see. Now that the night orchid is gone, they have no more attachments. If only we’d known they were going to reunite with their children and grandchildren, we could have asked where they were going to offer some help in the future.”
Mu Qingyan laughed, “Better not to ask. Why involve them in jianghu grudges?”
As the blood swamp receded behind them, a gentle breeze rustled through the dense forest. The tall, handsome young man looked carefree, his long hair fluttering in the wind, exuding a refreshing air.
“The Sect Leader seems a bit happy,” You Guanyue whispered.
Shangguan Haonan wondered, “I’d be happy too, leaving that cramped, dangerous place full of snakes and vermin!”
“Fool!” You Guanyue retorted.
They quickly caught up with Cai Zhao and the others. Song Yuzhi, knowing Mu Qingyan’s cunning, asked directly, “I need to question my brother. What are your plans, Sect Leader Mu?”
Mu Qingyan replied, “The Bone-Eroding Sky Rain belongs to our sect. We can’t let others use it carelessly. I need to consult Sect Leader Yang about this matter.”
Cai Zhao thought to herself that she didn’t need to go to Guangtian Gate with them anymore. She had no grudge against Song Xiuzhi, and the Bone-Eroding Sky Rain didn’t belong to Luoying Valley. She was more concerned about her parents’ situation now.
“What does Junior Sister think?” Song Yuzhi asked, as eight pairs of eyes turned to her expectantly.
Cai Zhao sighed, “Let’s find a place to bathe and change clothes first. Then we’ll have a proper meal and get some rest. We can go to Guangtian Gate after dark.” She thought to herself that escaping in the dark would be easier.
Fan Xingjia exclaimed joyfully, “Excellent idea!” Seeing the others’ gazes, he quickly added, “Haven’t you noticed? We six smell like we’ve been buried in rotten meat and stinking fish for three days and nights.”
Even Song Yuzhi, despite his anxiety, had to agree. “Junior Sister is right. We’ve been traveling and fighting for days. We’re exhausted, and Junior Sister and I are wounded. We should rest before making any plans.”
Mu Qingyan nodded in agreement.
The group returned to the quiet teahouse outside Guangtian City. Snow was still falling gently, the tea stove still steaming, and the old shopkeeper still lamenting the lack of business at the entrance. The six of them rented out the entire teahouse, asking the shopkeeper to close up shop.
This time, Cai Zhao paid, removing a gold filigree bracelet to settle the bill. She looked oddly at Mu Qingyan, “You don’t have money? I thought you always carried a bunch of gold leaves. Is the Demonic Sect so poor now?”
You Guanyue mumbled, looking skyward, wishing he could immediately bring two carts of gold to dazzle Miss Cai. Shangguan Haonan’s throat bobbed as he valiantly refrained from speaking.
Mu Qingyan smiled, “It’s delightful to see Miss Cai pay. In the future, Miss Cai should remember to eagerly pay more often.”
Cai Zhao couldn’t help but smile, her green eyebrows relaxing, “Oh, stop it! Of course, you’re ‘delighted’ when someone else is paying! Since the Demonic Sect is in such dire straits, let me teach Sect Leader Mu a way to make money. You just need to pose as a down-on-his-luck scholar and set up a calligraphy and painting stall on the street. With your looks and demeanor…”
Song Yuzhi coughed loudly, and Cai Zhao immediately stopped, putting on a serious face as she headed to the guest room to freshen up.
Mu Qingyan’s expression remained unchanged, but his eyes grew cold. “Even a blind person can see she’s happier with me.”
Song Yuzhi replied coldly, “Can this happiness compensate for never seeing her parents or returning to Luoying Valley again? Sect Leader Mu, you don’t need to look for the Purple Jade Golden Mallow for me anymore. After this guidance, our debt is settled.”
Mu Qingyan’s eyes were filled with a chilling intensity that made Fan Xingjia shudder. Song Yuzhi met his gaze unflinchingly. Finally, Mu Qingyan gave a cold laugh and turned away.
You Guanyue silently cursed Song Yuzhi. The Sect Leader had just started to show some human warmth after leaving the blood swamp, and now he was back to his gloomy self.
As pale snow swirled in the night, the six of them stealthily made their way to Guangtian Gate. However, with thousands of buildings arranged in countless rows, even Song Yuzhi, familiar with the layout, didn’t know where the Siqimen people might be. The night acted as a giant invisibility cloak, covering everything.
“Why don’t we come back during the day?” Fan Xingjia suggested. “They’ll have to eat sometime, and we can ask around for Siqimen people. At this hour, even the cats and dogs are asleep. We can’t search every building, can we?”
“Fifth Senior Brother, catch your breath first. Weren’t you the one who led the escape last time, exhausted? Questioning Siqimen’s leader in broad daylight might alert others, leading to another mad dash,” Cai Zhao disagreed.
Fan Xingjia’s lips moved slightly, thinking that with her “relationship” with Mu Qingyan, those three wouldn’t stand idly by if they needed to escape, but he couldn’t say it aloud.
Since they were in the dark, the six of them randomly subdued a few Guangtian Gate disciples on night patrol to question them. Although they still didn’t know where Yang Heying was staying, they learned of another major event: Qi Yunke had just arrived today with Zhou Zhichen and Master Fakong. A Li-surnamed elder from the Qingque Sect had also arrived in the evening, and they had already negotiated with the Song family elders during the day.
Cai Zhao clutched her heart in relief. “Thank Buddha and the ancestors! Luckily we came at night. If we’d come during the day, we’d have run right into Master’s hands. Even Elder Li is here!” Her back began to ache again.
Fan Xingjia added, “Since Master and the others are here, we don’t need to sneak around anymore. We can just tell Master everything and let the elders handle it.”
Cai Zhao agreed. Mu Qingyan said they could do as they pleased, but he still intended to find Yang Heying. Fan and Cai were delighted, but to their surprise, Song Yuzhi insisted on accompanying him for the night visit.
“We have no solid evidence, only verbal deductions. How can we make Yang Heying confess in front of Master and the others? If it’s just Sect Leader Mu and his group, he might reveal the truth under pressure.”
Fan Xingjia nodded, acknowledging the logic, and fell silent. Mu Qingyan smiled pointedly, “Indeed, ‘without solid evidence, relying only on verbal deductions’ makes it difficult to convince others.”
Song Yuzhi remembered his numerous arguments with Cai Zhao about Mu Qingyan’s “baseless accusations of Northern Chen’s internal collusion with the Demonic Sect.” Now, he found himself in a similar situation, his expression darkening.
“Alright, let’s hurry and find where that old turtle Yang is,” Cai Zhao grumbled, silently cursing Mu Qingyan’s constant sarcasm. “Third Senior Brother, where do you think Yang Heying is staying?”
Song Yuzhi speculated that since Yang Heying’s schemes had been successful, he’d likely be staying near the central main building on Guangtian Gate’s highest level to flaunt his victory. Mu Qingyan scoffed, critiquing the relationship between Yang Heying and Song Xiuzhi. “He ruthlessly targeted his father and brothers. Why would Yang trust him? The main building is surrounded by key positions. If conflict erupts, Siqimen would be trapped.”
Mu Qingyan suggested that Siqimen’s group would be staying some distance from Guangtian Gate’s main buildings, near an exit route, with an independent kitchen and water sources to ensure food safety and easy escape. Song Yuzhi, feeling indirectly criticized again, reluctantly considered this and eventually thought of a location.
The five followed Song Yuzhi around half a mountain hollow before spotting a cluster of buildings in the mountain’s shadow, featuring pavilions and towers in a Jiangnan style. Fan Xingjia, rarely seeing his hometown’s architecture, praised it, “Your family’s elders have refined tastes, Senior Brother.”
Cai Zhao thought it was likely a place where some Guangtian Gate leader kept a mistress, given the separate kitchen and water source. Mu Qingyan sardonically commented, “This must be where some Song family leader’s favored concubine lived. The main wife was probably a fierce one, leading to quite a spectacular struggle. Who knows who came out on top?”
Cai Zhao stifled a laugh while Song Yuzhi continued leading them forward, stone-faced.
Entering the compound, they indeed saw Siqimen disciples patrolling in the darkness. Song Yuzhi and Fan Xingjia marveled at Mu Qingyan’s astute deduction. Concealed by howling wind and snow, the six approached the main building where one room was especially bright and voices could be heard. They silently incapacitated the guards around the house.
After Cai Zhao angrily stopped Shangguan Haonan and You Guanyue from killing the guards, they resorted to knocking them unconscious. Clearing the area outside, they entered the dark space between the latticed windows. Shangguan Haonan cut the window latch with his palm wind, and You Guanyue propped it open with a twig.
Through the gap, they saw Yang Heying berating a frail, sallow young girl. “You disobedient girl, defying your father’s orders! Who taught you this? And you, what kind of mother raises such a rebellious child?!” Yang Heying harshly pointed at a middle-aged woman crouching beside the girl.
“No, no, I would never let Xiao Lan disobey you. Please don’t be angry, husband. I’ll talk to her!” Madam Zhuo shrank back, seemingly terrified of Yang Heying.
Yang Xiao Lan straightened her neck, her face tear-stained. “Father, you want me to marry Song Xiuzhi, and I dare not disobey. But I cannot comply with your other sinister requests!”
A loud slap echoed as Yang Heying struck her without mercy, splitting her lip. He raged, “You insolent girl! Have you grown too bold?!”
Madam Sha, sitting in a nearby chair, smiled coyly. “Oh my, thinking she’s about to become the Guangtian Gate Sect Leader’s wife and no longer respecting her father?”
Sha Zuguang drawled, “They say a married daughter is like spilled water, but in this case, the water hasn’t even been spilled, and she’s already not on her father’s side.”
“Father beat her to death!” Yang Tiansi clapped gleefully.
Madam Zhuo hugged her daughter, crying, “Lan’er, just listen to your father. He’s your father, he won’t harm you!”
Though terrified, Yang Xiao Lan still argued tremblingly, “Whether Song Xiuzhi is good or bad, he’s the son-in-law father chose. If father dislikes him, I won’t marry him. But I refuse to poison Song Xiuzhi in our marital chamber. I won’t do such a despicable thing!”
Yang Heying stomped his feet repeatedly. “How many times must I say it? It’s not poison, it’s just for control! Lately, Song Xiuzhi has been outwardly respectful but inwardly defiant. He’s not simple to deal with. But if he takes our sect’s unique Soul-Tethering Powder, with the antidote in my hands, he’ll have to obey!”
Fan Xingjia recalled Lei Xiuming mentioning that while the Soul-Tethering Powder was potent, it was troublesome to administer, requiring continuous doses over several days. It was easily detected and needed someone extremely close to the target to administer it.
Yang Xiao Lan lamented, “If Father knows Song Xiuzhi isn’t simple to deal with, why send me to poison him? If I fail, how could I survive?”
Yang Heying looked uncomfortable. “With me around, he wouldn’t dare harm you.”
Madam Sha cooed, “Oh, my dear young miss, not only do you have your father’s protection, but even if you were exposed, what’s a little hardship for your father’s sake?”
Outside, the observers shook their heads. Whether Yang Xiao Lan succeeded or failed in poisoning her future husband, her reputation would be ruined for life. They say even tigers don’t eat their young, but humans sometimes do.
Inside, Yang Heying continued pressuring his daughter while the weak Madam Zhuo wept. The Sha siblings occasionally fanned the flames, but Yang Xiao Lan remained resolute.
Impatient, Mu Qingyan crashed through the window, followed by Shangguan Haonan and You Guanyue. They rushed in like a gust of wind, startling the room’s occupants.
Seeing a black figure lunging at him, Yang Heying, unable to identify the attacker, formed a sword seal for the third move of Siqimen’s ultimate technique, “Nine Stars Divine Sword” – “Tai Yin Eclipsing the Sun.” However, his opponent moved like a ghost, striking his left shoulder, right arm, and chest before he could react. The blows nearly broke his bones and tendons, a powerful force surging through his meridians, leaving him numb.
The third strike knocked him into a large armchair. As he struggled to rise, he felt a sharp pain in his neck and went limp, his vital point firmly in the attacker’s grasp.
“Brother-in-law!” “Don’t hurt my father!” Sha Zuguang and Yang Xiao Lan rushed to Yang Heying’s aid.
You Guanyue laughed as he effortlessly knocked Sha Zuguang into a wall, then warned the terrified Madam Sha to keep Yang Tiansi quiet, lest mother and son both end up in the underworld.
Shangguan Haonan and Yang Xiao Lan exchanged several moves before clashing palms. Yang Xiao Lan flew back like a dandelion seed, while Shangguan Haonan stepped back twice.
Outside, Cai Zhao was secretly alarmed. She knew Shangguan Haonan’s strength – despite his rough appearance, his martial arts were formidable, ranking him among the top young talents in the Demonic Sect. Yet Yang Xiao Lan, who looked like a meek, bullied young wife, had surprisingly profound skills.
Yang Heying, enduring the pain in his throat, looked up to see Mu Qingyan. The hand on his neck pulsed with threatening energy. “You… what are you doing here? I wasn’t the mastermind behind last year’s trap. You… you can’t act recklessly!” He thought Mu Qingyan had come for revenge but feared calling for help would result in his meridians being shattered.
Seeming to guess his thoughts, Mu Qingyan smiled slightly. “Rest assured, Sect Leader Yang. Last year’s capture was due to my inferior skills, nothing to argue about. I’m not here for revenge, just to ask you about a small matter. Answer honestly, and I won’t harm you.”
Yang Xiao Lan, who was about to attempt to rescue her father, paused at these words.
Yielding to the Demonic Sect was taboo for Northern Chen disciples, but Yang Heying, seeing only family members present, thought the embarrassment wouldn’t spread. He softened his tone, “What do you want to know?”
Mu Qingyan asked, “Where did you get the Bone-Eroding Sky Rain?”
Yang Heying was startled. “It… it was obtained when we captured one of your sect’s branches after Nie Hengcheng’s death… Aah!” Mu Qingyan’s fingers tightened, causing intense pain in his throat.
“If a powerful weapon like the Bone-Eroding Sky Rain had been distributed to branch sects twenty years ago, why is it barely known in the jianghu? Tell the truth. While Nie Hengcheng was alive, it never left Youming Huangdao,” Mu Qingyan said slowly. “Think carefully before answering, Sect Leader Yang, to avoid damaging our cordial relationship.”
Yang Heying stammered, his eyes darting around. “This Bone-Eroding Sky Rain is…”
Before he could fabricate a story, Mu Qingyan turned to You Guanyue. “If Sect Leader Yang won’t answer truthfully, kill his beloved Madam Sha first. If he lies again, twist off his precious son’s head.”
“As you command!” You Guanyue stepped forward with a sinister grin.
Madam Sha, clutching her son and trembling, pleaded tearfully, “Sect Leader, husband, just tell them. There are no outsiders here. Tiansi is your only flesh and blood; he can’t come to harm…”
Outside the window, Fan Xingjia puzzled, “Only flesh and blood? Isn’t Miss Yang his daughter?”
Cai Zhao replied coolly, “That’s right. For some, only sons count as flesh and blood. But from what my mother saw traveling with Cai Pingshu, parents like this often raise useless sons.”
Yang Heying, seeing only family members besides Mu Qingyan’s group, gritted his teeth. “Fine, I’ll talk. The Bone-Eroding Sky Rain wasn’t seized from your branch. I don’t know its origin. Months ago, a black-clad man broke into my room at night. He claimed to have a grudge against the Demonic Sect and wanted to gift me some Bone-Eroding Sky Rain he’d found. He named a location and vanished.”
“I was skeptical, fearing a trap but hoping it was true. I’d long heard of its infamous power, though rarely seen. It reportedly left no survivors intact; only those who immediately sacrificed limbs escaped. With such an opportunity, how could I resist?”
“Days later, I sent men to the location and unearthed five jars of Bone-Eroding Sky Rain. I tested it within our sect—truly the world’s deadliest poison!”
Yang Heying’s eyes gleamed with greedy pride like a gambler holding a winning hand.
Mu Qingyan frowned. “Do you know who the black-clad man was?”
Yang Heying replied, “Heh, I wish I knew! He appeared only once, vanishing without a trace. That night, I was too wary to notice his martial arts style.”
Cai Zhao silently sighed, realizing Mu Qingyan’s prediction was right—they couldn’t get answers.
Inside, You Guanyue and Shangguan Haonan questioned Yang Heying’s honesty, urging him to swear an oath. Yang Heying, trembling with anger, shouted that a man could be killed but not insulted.
Madam Zhuo tearfully begged Mu Qingyan, “Since my husband has answered, please let him go…”
As Song Yuzhi grew impatient, wanting to burst in and ask about his family matters, Mu Qingyan suddenly inquired, “Very well, let’s set aside the Bone-Eroding Sky Rain for now—where did you learn to create corpse puppets, Sect Leader Yang?”
The three outside the window held their breath.
Yang Heying’s face changed dramatically, his eyes flashing dangerously. “Mu, what nonsense are you spouting?! Don’t pin Song Maozhi’s misdeeds on me!”
Mu Qingyan smiled. “Don’t I know whether Song Maozhi created corpse puppets? Let’s be frank, Sect Leader Yang. Just tell the truth.”
You Guanyue cooperatively stepped towards Yang Tiansi and his mother, prompting terrified cries for help.
Yang Heying thought to himself that he could admit to other things, but creating corpse puppets was an accusation he absolutely couldn’t accept. “Creating corpse puppets is your Demonic Sect’s specialty. How would I know about it? Go ask Song Maozhi!”
Mu Qingyan raised an eyebrow. “You know what? When you and Song Xiuzhi staged your act, you made a mistake. I had already killed everyone under Nie Zhe who knew how to create corpse puppets, and Nie Hengcheng himself despised them. So, Song Maozhi couldn’t possibly have learned how to make them from Nie’s followers.”
Yang Heying trembled inwardly but stubbornly insisted, “What are you talking about? I have no idea.”
Mu Qingyan paced slowly. “If I’m not mistaken, when Lü Fengchun was cornered by me earlier, he instructed his subordinates to find a hidden place to create a large number of corpse puppets to counter my siege. By chance, you stumbled upon this and took everything—people, equipment, and all—back to Siqimen. Am I right, Sect Leader Yang?”
Feeling guilty and terrified, Yang Heying lashed out in angry embarrassment, “The Demonic Sect framing the Six Sects of Northern Chen is nothing new. I know nothing of any Lü or Nie!”
“…Father, is this about that incident six months ago?” A timid girl’s voice suddenly spoke up.
Yang Xiao Lan, pale-faced, continued, “Six months ago, late one night, Father suddenly brought back some injured strangers and cleared out a remote courtyard in the back mountain to imprison them. For the next two months, villagers in the surrounding countryside kept disappearing. Rumors spread that fox spirits were eating people, causing panic. When the villagers came to Father for help, he promised to investigate. The next day, that courtyard in the back mountain caught fire, burning everyone inside to ashes.”
Outside, Fan Xingjia was confused. “Weren’t the corpse puppets discovered at Seven Bathing Mountain? Why were they at Siqimen too?”
Cai Zhao quietly explained, “After capturing Lü Fengchun’s men, Yang first imprisoned them at Siqimen, experimenting on nearby villagers. Later, sensing trouble, he moved the corpse puppet operation to Seven Bathing Mountain.”
Fan Xingjia suddenly understood while Song Yuzhi clenched his fists, his eyes blazing.
Exposed by his daughter, Yang Heying grabbed a heavy armchair and hurled it at her, cursing, “You wretched girl, talking nonsense! I’ll kill you!”
Madam Zhuo frantically pulled at her daughter, “Lan’er, don’t speak nonsense. You’ll make people misunderstand your father…”
“Mother, don’t you understand?” Yang Xiao Lan gripped her mother’s shoulders, tears in her eyes. “If father created the corpse puppets, then who killed grandfather, uncle, aunt, and my cousins?”
Madam Zhuo swayed, forcing a smile as she tried to convince her daughter, “Child, what are you imagining? How could your father do such things? Not! Don’t believe others’ nonsense and misunderstand your father!”
“You little slut!” Yang Heying raged, lunging to grab his daughter.
Mu Qingyan swiftly intercepted him, smiling, “Calm down, Sect Leader Yang.”
Yang Heying roared, drawing his sword. He unleashed a flurry of attacks from the Nine Stars Divine Sword technique—”Solar Benevolence,” “Lunar Heavenly Dance,” “Eclipse Phenomenon”—in rapid succession, like a sudden storm.
After nimbly dodging several strikes with his cloud-soaring technique, Mu Qingyan spotted an opening. He kicked Yang Heying’s knee, then grabbed and snapped the sword in two, pressing the broken blade against Yang Heying’s throat.
Madams Zhuo and Sha cried out simultaneously, begging Mu Qingyan for mercy.
Yang Heying fell to one knee, feeling the sharp edge slightly move against his neck, his face ashen with fear.
“Sect Leader Yang, you know our sect’s methods. Since I’ve come to question you, we already know what we need to know. Why deny it?” Mu Qingyan said slowly.
Yang Heying clenched his jaw, speaking through gritted teeth, “…If you’ve already investigated everything, why bother asking me?” His tone implied admission.
Madam Zhuo nearly fainted. Yang Xiao Lan accused tearfully, “Father, did you kill grandfather’s family?! How could you do such a heartless thing…”
At this point, Song Yuzhi could no longer contain himself. He leaped through the window, followed reluctantly by Cai Zhao dragging Fan Xingjia.
Their appearance startled the Siqimen group, especially Yang Heying, who realized they had witnessed his shameful behavior and tacit admission. A murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
Mu Qingyan smiled, withdrawing the broken blade from Yang Heying’s throat and stepping back, hands behind his back.
“Yang Heying, you shameless, deranged old beast!” Song Yuzhi stepped forward, his voice deep with anger. “Our Song family had no quarrel with you, yet you framed my elder brother and ultimately caused his death. This grudge is irreconcilable!”
Yang Heying smiled coldly, “Your father, relying on Guangtian Gate’s wealth and power, never took Siqimen seriously and repeatedly humiliated me. I’ve swallowed my anger for half a lifetime. Finally, I had the chance to watch his children fight and his family fall apart. Hahaha…”
Song Yuzhi’s heart sank. “How much was Song Xiuzhi involved in all this?”
“What do you think?” Yang Heying’s eyes glinted with malicious triumph. “That elder brother of yours is truly inscrutable. Even I misjudged him…”
As Song Yuzhi was about to inquire further, a familiar voice drifted in from outside the window—
“If Third Brother wants to know the details, just ask me. Why trouble Uncle Yang?”