"Gu Changqing, do you have anything to say?" asked the First Elder of the Xiao Family with a pleasant smile.
Within the Xiao Family, because Gu Changqing had once stopped Xiao Yan from peeping at Xiao Yu, the First Elder held a very favorable impression of him and frequently looked after him in many matters.
Just like now, even before Xiao Zhan could speak, the First Elder had taken the initiative to ask Gu Changqing. Of course, given the First Elder's status, bypassing Xiao Zhan for such a trivial matter was of little consequence.
"Well, it's like this. Hearing the Third Young Master's words just now, I felt quite moved to speak," Gu Changqing replied, looking with a smile at Xiao Yan, who had already walked near the main gates.
"Gu Changqing, what on earth do you mean?" Xiao Yan's face sank as he stared darkly at Gu Changqing.
"Oh, as I said, when I encounter something that goes against my sense of right and wrong, I simply want to step up and speak my mind."
"Since the Third Young Master claims that because your engagement has been annulled, Uncle Xiao can no longer securely hold his position as patriarch or maintain a foothold in Wutan City..."
"Then I would like to ask: three years ago, when the Third Young Master relied on your talent to run amok in Wutan City, laying your hands on young girls, peeping at others bathing, and sneaking into young maidens' bedchambers—committing all sorts of disgraceful acts—did you ever consider whether Uncle Xiao would be able to securely hold his position as patriarch? Did you ever consider whether he would be able to maintain a foothold in Wutan City?"
"And what about these past three years, when you lost all your talent, endured the mockery of the world, were shunned by everyone, and insulted by all—why was Uncle Xiao still able to securely hold his position as patriarch? Why was he still able to maintain a foothold in Wutan City?"
"How is it that now, when someone merely comes to request the cancellation of the engagement—not even forcing an annulment—you suddenly believe Uncle Xiao cannot securely hold his position as patriarch?"
"Are you truly worried about your father, or is it just for the sake of your own pitiful pride?"
"Third Young Master, can you answer me this?"
Holding back no punches, Gu Changqing's sharp words pursued Xiao Yan relentlessly. Within the Xiao Family, the relationship between Xiao Yan and Gu Changqing went far beyond a simple lack of harmony. Because of Xiao Yan's lawless behavior, Gu Changqing had caught him red-handed on multiple occasions, running deep indeed between the two.
"Gu Changqing, are you provoking me?" Xiao Yan's face was extremely ugly to behold, especially upon feeling the strange glances cast his way from all around, as well as Nalan Yanran's sudden look of realization, followed by an undisguised expression of disgust and contempt as she stared at him.
He could scarcely bear it, even entertaining the urge to rush forward and tear Gu Changqing limb from limb.
"Provoking you? I am merely speaking the truth." Gu Changqing smiled indifferently.
"If I had not been present myself, I suppose I might not have the right to speak on this. But today's events—I, and everyone present here, have seen them with absolute clarity."
"Mr. Ge Ye and Miss Nalan have shown courtesy and propriety, observing every proper courtesy. They brought generous compensation and even left the initiative of annulling the engagement entirely to Uncle Xiao."
"Originally, this matter could have been settled with a single word from Uncle Xiao—resolved peacefully, preserving mutual respect."
"Yet you were the one who jumped out to stir up trouble, forcibly twisting someone coming to request an annulment into a forceful rejection."
"You even dragged out the moral blackmail that unless the two grandfathers spoke, descendants could have no say in ending the engagement."
"I must ask: Third Young Master, search your conscience. With your character and your current state, if Old Master Xiao were to return to life, would he not die of shame? Would he not be unwilling to harm an old friend and instead take the initiative to go and request the cancellation of the engagement himself?"
"And now, you still persist in this entanglement, putting on a pretentious act to draw up a writing of divorce that would make people laugh their teeth out—are you not gilding your own face a bit too much?"
Gu Changqing held zero affection for Xiao Yan, who was base and sleazy yet hypocritically tried to wrap himself in a righteous banner. He would hold a petty villain in higher regard any day.
Since Xiao Yan couldn't even bring himself to admit his own humiliation, instead dragging out his own father under the guise of restoring his father's honor, what reason did Gu Changqing have to think anything of him?
"You! Gu Changqing, I truly want to slaughter you!"
Stripped of the last shred of fig leaf covering him, Xiao Yan wore a ferocious expression, glaring at Gu Changqing like an evil spirit as he ground his teeth and roared in bitter hatred.
Swish! The next second, a golden figure suddenly appeared by Xiao Yan's side.
A sharp blade, formed entirely of condensed golden flames, pressed directly against Xiao Yan's neck. In Xiao Xun's eyes, a pair of icy flames danced as she spoke with chilling indifference: "Say that again. What is it you want to do?"
The golden flame blade edged closer to Xiao Yan's throat, scorching a tiny, empty gap into his skin.
"Xun'er, don't be impulsive!"
"Xun'er, stop!"
"Xun'er, show mercy and spare his life!"
Xiao Zhan and the three elders were utterly terrified, hurriedly crying out to plead for Xiao Yan's life.
Xiao Zhan even lunged forward to stand between Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er, attempting to knock away the golden flame blade in her grasp. However, the moment Xiao Zhan moved, an icy killing intent locked onto him, making his hair stand on end and freezing him in place, unable to make another excessive movement.
"Xun'er, don't be impulsive. Yan'er was merely speaking without thinking—please spare his life!" Cold sweat broke out across Xiao Zhan's forehead. This young lady was not someone he could afford to cross.
Moreover, she did not pull her punches; if she wanted to slaughter Xiao Yan, she genuinely would slaughter him, and he would be utterly powerless to stop it.
A sudden wave of terror surged deep within Xiao Yan's heart. Feeling the palpable murderous intent radiating from Xiao Xun'er, he had no doubt whatsoever that if he dared to utter another word about slaughtering Gu Changqing, Xiao Xun'er would slice his throat on the spot.
Experiencing death at such close quarters, even with the memories of living two lifetimes, Xiao Yan's complexion turned deathly pale. The body that had been trembling with anger went completely limp from sheer fright.
"Xiao... Xiao Xun'er, you grew up in our Xiao Family, eating our food and drinking our drink! I am the son of the patriarch, you..."
Driven by terror, Xiao Yan's voice trembled violently. He was truly terrified. He had yet to experience the peak of cultivation, nor the feeling of embracing beauties in his arms, and he had yet to exact revenge on those who had humiliated him; he was unwilling to die here.
"Xiao Yan, shut your mouth! Xun'er and Changqing are both members of our Xiao Family by right—what do you mean by eating our food and drinking our drink? This is not your place to speak!"
"Xun'er, Xiao Yan is nothing more than an unbridled ruffian with no filter. Since he's already like this, please spare his life. Rest assured, we will severely punish him afterward!"
The First Elder also chimed in to plead for Xiao Yan. It wasn't that he thought particularly well of Xiao Yan; rather, such matters were ultimately family business, and letting Xiao Xun'er kill Xiao Yan here would only make them a laughingstock to outsiders.