The middle-aged man froze, staring at Ye Wen Ni in astonishment. He probably never expected that this adopted daughter of his—stubborn since childhood but generally obedient—would dare to speak to him with such an attitude. Hate flared in his heart. ’If not for the Second Prince’s instructions... you wretched girl... did you really think you could escape my grasp? Tsk tsk... to think you’re still a virgin... Hmph, I guess that brat got lucky!’

"Although you’re not my biological daughter, you’ve always been the one I admired most!" the middle-aged man said. "But the way you are now disappoints me greatly."

"Is that so." Ye Wen Ni finally calmed down, because she knew he was here too! She raised her head, bravely meeting the gaze of the middle-aged man she had never dared to look straight at before. She said faintly, "You said those same words to Sister Xiangcao over a decade ago, didn’t you... My... respected... father. I owe you nothing."

The middle-aged man froze again. He never would have imagined that this girl, who had been deeply wary and fearful of him since she was a child, would dare to say such things to his face today.

"You’re courting death!"

The middle-aged man’s eyes widened as he raised his hand high, glaring at Ye Wen Ni.

Ye Wen Ni tilted her face up. "Go ahead and hit me. This will be the last time! It’s not like you haven’t hit me before. If you slap me again, you and I... will sever all ties forever!"

"Hmph, you wish!"

The middle-aged man lowered his hand, staring coldly at Ye Wen Ni. "You’ve got some nerve, Ye Wen Ni. After all the trouble I went through to raise you, your wings have finally hardened. You’ve found a backer, and now you dare to speak to me like this, hmm? It seems that brat Ling Xiao cares a lot about you, doesn’t he? I wonder... if those kids back in Wutang Town... care about you just as much?"

"From the age of ten to fifteen, I brought you back valuables worth more than ten thousand gold coins. Ten thousand gold coins... that’s over ten million copper coins, heh heh." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Ye Wen Ni gave a self-deprecating laugh and continued, "That’s probably enough money to build a school for the children, hire a few teachers, and provide for their food, clothing, and education until they grow up. And you, my respected adoptive father, you told me I was an orphan from the streets, abandoned... and that you kindly took me in. But... what I’ve learned is vastly different from what you told me!"

The middle-aged man’s pupils contracted. He cursed in a flurry of anger, "It must have been that wretched Xiangcao..." He stopped himself abruptly, a sheepish look on his face. But deep in his eyes, a flicker of panic flashed.

But Ye Wen Ni just smiled serenely. "It’s fine. I know what you were going to say. You were going to say she must have sold you out, right? That’s right. If I wasn’t certain that she, Sister Xiangcao... was already gone, I wouldn’t have brought this up. She was the one who told me back then that I wasn’t an abandoned orphan at all. Instead, you, my respected adoptive father, had taken me from who knows where! I call you father because you raised me. If you had taken me only to abandon me, I might be dead already. I say I don’t owe you anything because the money I earned is enough for me to live on for several lifetimes! Besides, as for my origins... I’m sure you won’t tell me, and I don’t want to ask you either. Because... I just want to tell you one thing: don’t use those children to threaten me anymore. I don’t care. Because now, I have found my own happiness."

Ye Wen Ni spoke with a detached expression, but her heart was twisting as if pierced by a knife. ’My dear brothers and sisters, you must live on and stay strong. See this man for what he is! He still needs to use you, so why would he kill you just because of me? Your big sister didn’t understand this before, but I do now. So... don’t worry, I will definitely get all of you out of there!’

The middle-aged man listened to Ye Wen Ni’s words with an exceptionally cold expression. Staring at her, he sneered, "Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell your noble Lord lover about the disgraceful things you’ve done? Even if he doesn’t care, I’ll spread the stories throughout the entire circle of nobility! I’ll make it so he can’t hold his head high, I’ll drag his name through the mud! I’ll let everyone know that the former piece of trash from the Ling Family found a thief for a wife! Hahahaha, a perfect match! Oh, and all those people who lost a fortune will surely come demanding it back from you. If you can’t repay them, with your looks, paying them back with your body is always an option! Haha, haha!"

"Despicable!"

A chill ran through Ye Wen Ni’s body, and her heart felt as if it had been plunged into an icy cavern.

In Ye Wen Ni’s bright eyes, there was a trace of disappointment, but even more so, a sense of relief. She gazed at the middle-aged man, the rims of her eyes gradually turning red, yet her face remained held high with pride.

"So you’ve finally decided to show your true colors? It certainly took long enough. You really are just a petty scoundrel to the bone, aren’t you! Who’s the real piece of trash? You... think you can compare to Ling Xiao? Heh heh... Besides threatening, intimidating, beating, and cursing... what else can you do? Get drunk? Get completely hammered... and then find one of your favorite... children... to vent your beastly desires on?"

Ye Wen Ni’s tone grew heavier, the fear in her eyes long gone, replaced by an endless rage!

"You want to tell him... that I’m a thief? Heh heh, fine. Go ahead and tell him. Let’s see if he... curses me out and throws me away, or if he... kills you with a single slash of his sword!"

A hint of contempt flashed in Ye Wen Ni’s eyes. "Oh, I forgot. You’re a Demon Swordsman! A powerful High-level Martial Artist. Go on, run and tell him. We’ll see if my unfortunate prediction comes true."

"You dare defy me!"

The middle-aged man’s chest heaved violently. He let out a low roar as a powerful aura erupted from his body. Staring at Ye Wen Ni with eyes like lightning, he said coldly, "Do you really think I wouldn’t dare kill you here?"

"No, I never thought that!"

Ye Wen Ni’s eyes were filled with deep sorrow. "With Xiangcao’s cautionary tale right before me, how could I dare to think you wouldn’t kill me? It’s just..."

Ye Wen Ni slowly drew her sword. She took a lock of her hair; the sword was extremely sharp. The gentle breeze blew the soft strand of long hair... and the moment it touched the blade, it was severed, drifting away into the distance on the wind.

"From this moment on, you and I... have nothing to do with each other!"

A single tear slid from the corner of Ye Wen Ni’s eye. ’How she longed to ask this man just one question: who were her real parents?! What child in this world doesn’t long for their parents’ love? But she knew just as well that if she showed even the slightest hint of weakness, then... she would never be able to escape this man’s shadow!’

"So, if you try to kill me, I will fight back!"

Ye Wen Ni pointed her sword at the middle-aged man. "If you die, I will leave a bouquet of wild chrysanthemums for you every year."

"You? With your strength?" The middle-aged man burst into wild laughter. "Hahahaha! You’re truly courting death. Fine, then! Today, I’ll teach you a lesson, you ungrateful, disrespectful little wench!"

Suddenly, a piercing shriek tore through the sky. Almost everyone in the Southern King’s entire base heard the sharp, ear-splitting cry. Those with greater knowledge shuddered, looking up at the black dot in the sky and muttering, "Heavens, Penzes Swamp is getting more and more restless. To think even a Flying Magical Beast has appeared!"

In the room, Ling Xiao, who had been laughing and talking, suddenly changed his expression. He looked at Uncle Fu. Uncle Fu also narrowed his eyes, looking at the Southern King, Li Wutong. If something wasn’t wrong, Clown would never have let out such a piercing shriek as a warning!

The harmonious atmosphere that had just filled the room instantly grew tense.

Li Wutong was puzzled. ’Why have these two suddenly become hostile?’ He quickly asked, "What is it? Did something happen?"

Ling Xiao said calmly, "I am deeply curious about the Southern King’s territory. I wonder, may I walk around freely?"

Li Wutong frowned slightly, a flash of displeasure crossing his eyes. ’This young man is quite rude! And arrogant. Does he really think I have to be on good terms with him? If Elder Peng weren’t seriously injured... Hmph!’

But on his face, a sincere smile appeared. "My young friend, what are you saying? Please, look around as you wish! If you see anything good, feel free to take the idea back with you! Haha! Tianluo, take our young friend Ling Xiao on a good tour. Tonight, I will host a grand banquet for this young tiger from the Ling Family!"

「...」

The middle-aged man’s heart suddenly seized with alarm. He looked up at the sky, and a chill ran down his spine. He let out a panicked roar, "You damned woman! I’ll deal with you later!" With that, he turned and fled, his figure vanishing into the distance in a few quick turns.

Clown descended from the sky. Its snow-white, immaculate feathers were free of any dust or specks of other colors. Its eyes shone with a sharp light as it stood magnificently on the ground, calling out affectionately to Ye Wen Ni a couple of times.

"Thank you, Clown. This is the second time you’ve helped me." Ye Wen Ni walked over, gently hugging Clown’s head and nuzzling its neck a few times. The warm feathers felt comforting to her chilled heart. She murmured, "Clown, keep an eye on that man! Watch out, he might cause trouble for Ling Xiao!"

As if it understood, Clown nodded its head, beat its wings once, and soared into the sky.

Ye Wen Ni saw Ling Xiao approaching with a grim look on his face. She pressed her lips together tightly, but she couldn’t hold back. Tears streamed down her face as she threw herself into Ling Xiao’s arms and burst into tears.

Li Tianluo, however, looked completely bewildered. Uncle Fu seemed to half-understand, but both of them discreetly moved away. Li Tianluo awkwardly made conversation with Uncle Fu, feeling somewhat resentful of his father. The things he knew were pitifully few! In fact... Li Tianluo only knew that a person named Elder Peng existed, but he had no idea that the old man was actually a Sword Sect master!

So when he clearly sensed that Ye Zi had been wronged on his own turf, he realized there was nothing he could do. A deep sense of frustration washed over Li Tianluo.

"Who bullied you."

Ling Xiao’s tone was flat, as if he were asking, "Have you eaten today?" There wasn’t the slightest hint of killing intent in his voice.

But Ye Zi knew. Ling Xiao was furious.