Chapter 455: Please, I'm begging you

"Who—?!" Third Elder Xiahou asked anxiously when he saw him unable to speak for a long while.

"How would I know?" Cang Li turned his head away and let out a cold snort.

Third Elder Xiahou frowned, displeased, and said, "Then why did you say that just now?"

Cang Li: "I guessed."

Third Elder Xiahou choked slightly, then coldly emitted a sharp "tsk".

Cang Li glanced at him then said with a half‑smile, "Everyone has a father and mother; if one has neither, how could a child be born? Third Elder, you agree, right?"

"Why do you defend that dead bastard so fiercely? Could it be that you..." Third Elder Xiahou narrowed his eyes, a scrutinizing glint in his gaze, and deliberately elongated his tone, "Know the President of the Dan Alliance?!"

"I do know," Cang Li spread his hands.

Upon hearing that, Third Elder Xiahou's complexion changed; he showed a wary, guarded expression and reached out to push Cang Li out of the inner chamber.

Because he feared Cang Li might secretly strike at his family's young master.

At that moment, Cang Li said, "Who hasn't heard of the President of the Dan Alliance? I know her; she may not know me."

Third Elder Xiahou's outstretched hand froze in mid‑air as he looked at Cang Li uncertainly, "You have nothing to do with her?"

Cang Li smiled, "What relationship do you think I have with her? Do you think I'm her son?"

Third Elder Xiahou's mouth twitched slightly.

His doubts were dispelled.

He thought Cang Li could not be the President's son, because the bastard the President once bore had long perished in the womb.

Moreover, their conversation was not quiet; those in the outer chamber could also hear it.

Ying Wuji's eyes were dim and inscrutable.

At that moment, the young woman suddenly stared at Xiao Lingwei and said coldly, "You should stay away from our family's young master from now on!"

Xiao Lingwei slightly frowned, "Who are you to him?"

"I..." The young woman's expression faltered briefly; she inhaled deeply and said, "I am the second miss of the Xiahou family, Xiahou Zi."

"Second Miss?" Xiao Lingwei's brows knit tighter; she stared at Xiahou Zi with a solemn expression.

Xiahou Zi should now be about seventeen or eighteen years old.

Twelve years ago, she had gone with her father to the Xiahou household; at that time the Xiahou family had no second miss, only a young master, namely Xiahou Rui.

Xiao Lingwei asked puzzled, "How come I've never seen you before?"

Xiahou Zi did not reply; instead, she stared coldly at Xiao Lingwei and warned, "If anything happens to our family's young master, the entire Xiahou family will not let you go unpunished!"

"She is the adopted daughter of the Xiahou family," Ying Wuji's voice drifted in softly.

Xiahou Zi's complexion shifted slightly as she looked up toward Ying Wuji; she saw a black‑clad youth with a calm demeanor, his jet‑black eyes shimmering with a chilling, eerie light.

Her heart trembled faintly.

"I see," Xiao Lingwei nodded, as if enlightened.

Then she said, "Don't worry, I will keep my distance from your family's young master from now on."

As soon as the words finished, Cang Li stepped out of the inner chamber, glanced at the crowd in the outer chamber, and let out a deep sigh.

"The Xiahou young master's body truly cannot endure further strain."

The others wore varied expressions.

Hearing this, Xiahou Zi tried to enter the inner chamber to see Xiahou Rui, but was stopped by members of the Xiahou clan.

"Second Miss, you may not go in."

Xiahou Zi bit her lower lip.

…

On the other side.

On a small island not far from Fusang Island.

Occasionally, harrowing screams and cries that sounded like a pig being slaughtered echoed.

"I was wrong!"

"I should not have slaughtered the innocent! I am willing to atone with my life!"

"Please, I beg you, let us go!"

"Fairy! Fairy! We know we were wrong! Stop cutting us!"

"Fairy, we truly understand our mistake; we followed that immortal old scoundrel Xiao Ming out of a moment's greed!"

"Wuwuwu, it hurts sooo much..."

"My hair, my hair, it's gone!!!"

On the island, hundreds of rag‑clad, charred bodies, split and blackened, knelt in pleading, confessing while sobbing bitterly.

In the direction of their kneeling, a figure appeared atop a massive stone.

It was a bright‑eyed girl with a high ponytail, seated on the stone, propping her chin with one hand, watching the repentant crowd below with amused interest.

Below the stone, a pink‑haired youth held a rope, the other end of which was bound to the heavily tied Xiao Ming!

Xiao Ming's face was ghastly pale, his hair disheveled, his body convulsing intermittently from pain.

He looked utterly devoid of any dignity.

The white‑clad youth standing beside the pink‑haired boy frowned slightly, hesitated, then let out a deep sigh, saying nothing at all.

"Ah... Chao... save Grandfather!" Xiao Ming raised his murky eyes toward the nearby youngster, emitting a hoarse, grating scream.

Xiao Lingchao, seeing the scene, showed an expression of helplessness; he glanced toward Xue Jin, but before he could speak, Xue Jin's eye strike flashed at him, stunning him.

Xiao Lingchao swallowed silently, then fixed his gaze on the girl perched on the stone and tentatively said, "Sister Yuan Yao..."

Yuan Yao tilted her head slightly, "Hmm?"

Xiao Lingchao's heart jumped.

At that moment, the mournful cries from those men in black completely brought his sanity back.

"It's fine now," Xiao Lingchao forced a smile.

Yuan Yao stood up and said, "Ah Chao, do you want us to release your maternal grandfather?"

Xiao Lingchao fell silent upon hearing that.

Yuan Yao leapt down from the boulder and said slowly, "I know he's your maternal grandfather; it's natural that you feel soft-hearted. But you must also remember, he once tried to kill you."

"After the Fusang Festival ends, we will hand this matter over entirely to your parents to handle; whether your grandfather lives or dies will be their decision."

"Don't worry, we won't kill your grandfather."

After hearing that, Xiao Lingchao's mood grew even more complicated.

Yuan Yao walked up to Xiao Lingchao, placed a hand on his crown and said, "Second Senior Sister sent us to bring you here to give you the courage to face the harsh truth directly, and also to help you grow. Your status as the son of the Fusang Island ruler means you are destined to guard Fusang Island in the future; if similar incidents arise later, you should then know what to do."

Xiao Lingchao was silent for a moment, then gave a heavy "mm".

"I understand."

From then on, no matter how Xiao Ming begged Xiao Lingchao for help, Xiao Lingchao pretended not to hear.

And after night fell.

Yuan Yao successfully raised the Awakening Value of these hundreds of people to 50.

Her remaining lifespan days also increased accordingly.

Yuan Yao did not forget there was still an important task: to dive beneath Fusang Island and seal the stone tablet that can connect to the Demon Realm.

She and Eldest Senior Brother Song Yan dived into the seabed together.

Meanwhile, Xue Jin and Xiao Lingchao stayed on the small island, guarding those people.