Chapter 8: Still Too Soft-hearted
Everyone present was shrewd and immediately understood that something must have happened for there to be a last-minute change in the arrangement.
Although they were aware of this, no one mentioned it directly. Instead, they acted as if they hadn’t noticed, going about their business as usual.
During this time, many people cast meaningful glances at Zhangsun Qi.
People who had been kind to him earlier now distanced themselves.
Although the crowd wasn’t entirely clear on what had happened to cause the sudden change in the groom, they instinctively believed that the problem lay with Zhangsun Ya due to the Ying family’s status.
After all, Ying Xuan’s deep affection for her had been evident for years, just as her misbehavior had been obvious to all.
Some present had even heard rumors of Zhangsun Ya being intimate with a stranger.
Zhangsun Qi naturally noticed these people’s behavior and was furious, but he didn’t dare to show it openly.
He knew his own daughter well, and besides, Qin Xuan, a grown man, was living in their home.
What he couldn’t figure out was why the change happened.
Did Ying Xuan agree to this?
He loved his daughter so much—why would he agree to replace her?
Originally, Zhangsun Qi thought that given the Ying family’s status, they wouldn’t allow any problems with the marriage arrangement. He even believed they might force Zhangsun Ya to marry.
If that happened, they could easily shift from being in the wrong to becoming the victims. In that case, they might even extract greater benefits from the Ying family.
Fortunately for him, Ying Xuechen couldn’t read minds. Otherwise, knowing what Zhangsun Qi was thinking at that moment, he might not have been able to resist slapping him to death.
Indeed, as the saying goes, “Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and rats’ sons dig holes.”
No wonder Zhangsun Ya was so shameless—she clearly inherited it.
And just like that, the engagement banquet concluded smoothly, without any disturbances or surprises.
Afterward, Zhangsun Qi, brimming with fury, immediately led the Zhangsun family to confront Ying Xuechen, demanding an explanation for what had happened.
However, before he could even speak, he was swiftly restrained by the Ying family’s guards, who appeared from all directions.
“What is the meaning of this, Young Master Ying?” Zhangsun Qi struggled for a moment, but after realizing he couldn’t break free, he could only glare angrily at Ying Xuechen.
Ying Xuechen and Ying Xuan were of the same generation, and since Zhangsun Qi was Ying Xuan’s future father-in-law, he also considered himself an elder to Ying Xuechen. In his rage, Zhangsun Qi completely forgot the difference in their status, forgetting that Ying Xuechen was the future head of the Ying family. All he knew was that he had been humiliated by someone younger.
Ying Xuechen glanced at Zhangsun Qi with indifference, immediately recognizing the anger in his eyes.
Not interested in wasting words, Ying Xuechen gave a direct order, “Take him to the dungeon and lock him up.”
Hearing this, Zhangsun Qi lost his composure. “Young Master Ying, aren’t you afraid that Ying Xuan will turn against you for doing this? I am Xiaoya’s biological father!”
“Or are you saying this is how the Ying family handles things—switching people on the day of the engagement banquet and then kidnapping their in-laws?”
In that moment, countless conspiracies flashed through Zhangsun Qi’s mind. Perhaps something had already happened to his beloved daughter, Xiaoya.
Ying Xuechen’s expression turned impatient. “Zhangsun Ya made a secret affair with another man and planned to break off the engagement during the banquet. Even after being discovered, she showed no remorse. You, Zhangsun family head, certainly raised a fine daughter.”
Ying Xuechen’s words left Zhangsun Qi speechless, shutting down everything he had planned to say.
At that moment, only one thought remained in his mind: The Ying family had found out!
“You… even if that’s the case, you can’t treat us like this! Where is Ying Xuan? I want to see him. He would never allow you to treat us this way!” Zhangsun Qi demanded.
Hearing this, Ying Xuechen sneered, “Don’t worry, I won’t just treat you like this.”
The last person who tried to plot against the Ying family—well, their ashes are still floating in the wind.
Ying Xuechen gestured for the guards to gag Zhangsun Qi and the others. Once they were dragged away, Ying Tong slowly emerged from the back.
She didn’t like attending crowded events like this. When her cultivation level was lower, she used to enjoy these gatherings because she could hear all sorts of interesting gossip.
But as her cultivation continued to grow, she gradually became the center of attention. No matter how low-key she tried to be, as long as she appeared, people would gather around her, showering her with compliments that flowed out of their mouths like they cost nothing.
Although much of what they said was true, hearing excessive praise grew tiresome. Especially the fake smiles plastered on their faces—it was irritating.
“Venerable Yunhuang, I’ve already sent people to the Zhangsun family,” Ying Xuechen reported.
Ying Tong nodded in acknowledgment. Now, that was more like it. With the strength of the Ying family, crushing the Zhangsun family and Qin Xuan would be as easy as squashing a bug.
Unlike in her dream, where Ying Xuan kept holding back, which allowed Qin Xuan to grow stronger bit by bit. It was because of this that Ying Xuan was eventually pushed to the brink by Qin Xuan and Zhangsun Ya. Yet, it was a path Ying Xuan had chosen himself.
“Make sure they leave nothing behind,” Ying Tong instructed.
Ying Xuechen was puzzled. What was the point of thoroughly plundering such a small family?
Adhering to his principle of asking when in doubt, he inquired, “Venerable Yunhuang, may I ask the reason?”
What other reason could there be? It was something she had discovered in her dream—a jade pendant in the Zhangsun family, sealed with True Dragon’s heart blood, called the Dragon Blood Jade Pendant.
Qin Xuan had used the heart blood sealed within that jade pendant to dramatically increase his cultivation, which is how he was able to defeat Ying Xuan. Otherwise, with Qin Xuan’s middling talent—barely above average—it would have taken him another twenty years to even come close to matching Ying Xuan.
But of course, this wasn’t something that could be said out loud.
So, Ying Tong stuck to the same explanation she had given before. “I sensed a dragon’s aura on Zhangsun Qi’s body. There might be some hidden secret within him.”
“A dragon?” Ying Xuechen asked in surprise.
“I understand now,” he replied, catching on.
With the Zhangsun family issue settled, the focus shifted back to Ying Xuan. While the White Skeleton flower had helped him remain rational when facing Zhangsun Ya, preventing an emotional breakdown, the flower’s effects weren’t permanent.
After some time, when its influence faded, Ying Xuan’s feelings for Zhangsun Ya would inevitably resurface. To avoid undoing all their efforts, Ying Tong now faced two options: the first was to eliminate Ying Xuan, the unworthy descendant, once and for all, thereby eradicating any future trouble.
The second option was to find a permanent solution that would allow Ying Xuan to completely move on from Zhangsun Ya.
After an intense internal struggle, Ying Tong sighed. She was still too soft-hearted.
The family’s ancestral teachings were clear: no internal conflicts, no killing among family members.
In past years, during her journeys, Ying Tong had explored nearly every ruin and secret realm she could find.
“I recall that the Jinghong Secret Realm is about to open, isn’t it?” she murmured.
