Chapter 463: The Best Timing

"Aunt, stop!"

Xiao Qionghua stepped toward him, and Xiao Fu's complexion grew increasingly terrified.

Xiao Ming's face turned ashen as he shouted, "Traitorous woman, if you still see me as your father, stop at once!"

"Fine," Xiao Qionghua said, halting her steps.

Just as Xiao Fu exhaled, the Great Elder walked toward him.

"Don't come!" Xiao Fu's pupils narrowed; terrified, he leaned backward, and, momentarily bound, rolled on the ground in utter disarray.

"Xiao Qionghua!" Xiao Ming saw this and roared.

Xiao Qionghua seemed not to hear, her expression indifferent.

The Great Elder seized Xiao Fu with one hand, placed his other hand on the crown of his head, and swiftly employed the Soul Search Technique.

Despite Xiao Fu's desperate struggling, he could not escape the fate of being soul‑searched.

The Great Elder, upon "seeing" what he had done, grew increasingly solemn.

Xiao Fu let out a wail; his spiritual consciousness sea was wounded by the Soul Search Technique, and he turned deathly pale with pain.

After probing his memories, the Great Elder ruthlessly pushed him aside and kicked him.

"You treacherous scum!" the Great Elder raged.

Just as he intended to report the information he had uncovered to the Island Lord—

a voice came from outside the front hall.

"Xiahou Shaozhu requests an audience."

Upon hearing this, the Great Elder's expression grew even more displeased.

"No visitors today," Xiao Jun replied gravely.

As soon as the words fell, Cang Li's voice rang from outside the hall: "Uncle Xiao, Aunt Xiao, your junior Cang Li wishes to request an audience with Xiahou Shaozhu together."

Hearing this, Xiao Jun and Xiao Qionghua exchanged a glance, then looked at their own daughter; after she nodded, they permitted the two to enter.

Xiahou Rui still wore a white robe, his complexion ghastly pale, his breathing shallow, and he coughed intermittently.

When Xiao Ming saw Xiahou Rui, his aged eyes suddenly widened.

Xiahou Rui gave him a faint glance, then unconsciously lingered his gaze on Xiao Lingwei for a moment.

"Uncle, Aunt," Xiahou Rui bowed to Xiao Jun and Xiao Qionghua, pursed his lips and said, "I, Rui, in desperate search for a chance at life, dare to open the stone tablet beneath Fusang Island, that is, the Demon Realm Gate. I ask you to punish me."

Having spoken, he lifted his robe and knelt before the two.

Xiao Jun and Xiao Qionghua's expressions shifted slightly.

Xiao Jun quickly stepped forward, intending to help him up.

But Xiahou Rui refused to rise.

"I have another crime to confess, that I used Xiao Ming and others. I made them believe the Xiahou family would covertly support their seizure of the island lordship, then caused chaos during the Fusang Festival, allowing me to slip beneath Fusang Island and successfully open the Demon Realm Gate," Xiahou Rui declared.

Xiahou Rui knelt upright; his handsome, cold visage was bloodless, yet his eyes shone unusually clear.

Xiao Jun's expression flickered several times; he stepped back half a pace, his gaze disappointed as he looked at Xiahou Rui.

"Uncle, punish me. I know I am despicable, unfit to match Xiao Lingwei, and thus I ask you both to consent…"

As Xiahou Rui spoke further, his chest grew increasingly tight; he violently coughed up blood, his body swayed, nearly unable to support himself.

Tears welled in his eyes; with each word, his chest ached a point more: "Xiahou Rui and Xiao Lingwei dissolve their marriage contract."

Nearby behind Xiahou Rui, Xiao Lingwei heard the words, froze briefly, then pursed her lips.

Yuan Yao and the others couldn't help glancing at Xiao Lingwei.

Xiahou Rui bore all the blame alone, yet everyone knew that without the Xiahou family head's approval, nothing further would occur.

Xiao Jun's complexion grew colder, his heart even colder.

He had known the Xiahou family head since youth; they were friends.

He never imagined the other would scheme against him and all of Fusang Island for his own son.

He stared coldly at Xiahou Rui and said gravely, "Xiahou Rui, go tell your father, I, Xiao Jun, hereby sever all ties with him. From today onward, if any member of the Xiahou family dares set foot on Fusang Island, they shall be slain without mercy!"

"You immediately drive all members of the Xiahou clan out of Fusang Island!"

"Do not let me see you again!"

If Xiahou Rui weren't already near death, he certainly wouldn't have let Xiahou Rui go so easily!

Xiahou Rui rose slowly, his figure wavering slightly.

He raised his hand in a bow, "Thank you, Uncle and Aunt, for your forgiveness… I take my leave."

After speaking, Xiahou Rui stepped back a few paces, then turned to leave the front hall; yet his gaze could not help lingering on Xiao Lingwei.

A faintly sweet, fishy taste rose in his throat, vaguely tinged with an indescribable bitterness.

Xiao Lingwei felt his almost scorching gaze, and a strange feeling rose within her heart.

At that moment, Xiahou Rui unexpectedly walked toward Xiao Lingwei.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Xiahou Rui said to Xiao Lingwei, "I'm sorry."

Xiao Lingwei gave no reply.

"Goodbye," his voice was soft; as he turned to leave, a hot tear slipped silently from the corner of his eye.

Xiao Lingwei stared at his slender figure, dazed, unable not to recall childhood scenes.

Xiao Jun dispatched the Fusang Second Elder to keep watch on Xiahou Rui's party as they departed.

After Xiahou Rui left the front hall, almost everything became settled.

Xiao Jun first threw Xiao Jun, Xiao Fu and others into the dungeon, to be judged later, and sent men to search for Xiao Ru's whereabouts.

Having done all this, Xiao Jun and Xiao Qionghua felt mentally exhausted.

Yuan Yao and the others exchanged a glance, then yielded the space to their own Second Senior Sister and her relatives.

Ying Wuji and Cang Li had not put their minds at ease; they covertly kept watch on Xiahou Rui's party, and only after they saw with their own eyes that they boarded a ship and left the waters of Fusang Island did they slightly relax.

On the shore stood two youths.

The white‑clothed youth crossed his arms, turned his head toward the black‑clothed youth beside him, raised an eyebrow and smiled, saying, "Wuji, thanks to your reminder we could solve the trouble at its source in time, preventing any major impact."

Ying Wuji let out a soft "hm," and the corners of his lips involuntarily lifted slightly.

Cang Li reached out and patted Ying Wuji's shoulder, saying, "Now that's a great merit; I'll cook you a bowl of braised pork noodles tonight!"

Ying Wuji chuckled, "Alright."

Cang Li glanced around and said, "Then let's head back now."

Ying Wuji: "You go back first; I'll dive into the sea to check the situation."

Cang Li thought seriously for two seconds, then said, "I'm fine anyway, let's go together."

The two, together, holding water‑repelling beads, dived beneath Fusang Island.

Only after they ensured the stone tablet was sealed by a restriction did they return with peace of mind.

On the other side.

On the spirit ship bearing the Xiahou family crest, the slender youth draped in a fox‑fur cloak stared at the glittering sea surface, and for a moment his mind wandered.

"Young master, they're too much! To treat us like this!" Xiahou Zi, seeing the youth's forlorn expression, couldn't help but speak.

Xiahou Rui gave no reply.

Immediately after, he pressed a cloth to his lips; blood streaks dyed the once‑pure white cloth red, and a few beads of sweat seeped from his forehead.

"Young master, how are you?" Xiahou Zi, seeing the state, showed a worried expression and asked urgently.

Xiahou Rui, now accustomed, replied, "No problem."

Third Elder Xiahou at that moment presented Xiahou Rui with a bowl of medicinal broth.

Xiahou Rui took it and drank it in one gulp.

The rich bitter taste suppressed the fishy‑sweet flavor.

"Young master, are we really going to return empty‑handed like this?" Xiahou Zi's eyes were full of pain; she inhaled deeply, bit her lip and said, "Maybe now is the best moment for us to open the Demon Realm Gate."