Chapter 565: Reverse Strategy 24

Young master, do you have no affairs today? Why are you still staying in my courtyard without leaving?

Ji Qiu half lay on Yue Zongyang, who reclined in the grand master's chair, holding a cup of wine and laughing as she fed him a drink.

Yue Zongyang was nearly overwhelmed by the alluring fragrance.

He instinctively tightened his hold on the person in his arms, his eyes hazy, saying, "Busy, even if busy I cannot neglect Qiu'er."

Although our interactions over the past few days have brought Ji Qiu and me much closer, she still refuses any further intimacy, which has left Yue Zongyang frustrated.

The more this continues, the more Yue Zongyang finds himself unable to stay away from him, wishing they could be together every day these two days.

At that moment, Chen Ning could no longer bear the stimulation and hurried into the courtyard.

Zongyang? You, you...

He didn't even want to voice their current relationship.

As if preserving the last shred of dignity for himself.

Yue Zongyang hadn't yet identified the voice when the person in his arms was startled, hastily rising with a panicked expression.

"Young master, get up quickly, someone's coming."

Ji Qiu pretended not to know Chen Ning, anxiously shaking Yue Zongyang's robe to urge him up.

"Who the hell is so blind!"

Yue Zongyang rose sullenly, but as he turned his head he was startled by Chen Ning and hastily loosened his embrace.

"Ning'er... how did you come?"

His guilty expression only deepened Chen Ning's heartache.

"How come? I just happened to arrive at an awkward moment, catching you playing with someone else."

Chen Ning had experienced the annihilation of his clan, was in a state of extreme mental tension, and this incident further stimulated him, making him feel near madness; his speech lost its former gentleness and became aggressive.

Yue Zongyang, feeling guilty himself, didn't mind; he cleared his throat, smiled, walked over, and took Chen Ning's hand.

"Look at you, coming here without even sending word ahead; this is a friend I rescued on the road, who will henceforth be an outer disciple of the Slay Demon Sect."

In the Slay Demon Sect, aside from disciples personally accepted by the sect leader, everyone can be called an outer disciple; Chen Ning found this excuse laughable and did not sugarcoat things as usual.

"I don't know when the Slay Demon Sect's courtyard grew so large that even an outer disciple has his own separate compound."

Ji Qiu had her fill of watching Chen Ning's anxious demeanor, then secretly wondered what business he had coming to the Slay Demon Sect at this time.

But since you've come, don't even think about leaving alive!

He seemed to have realized their relationship, his voice trembling as he asked, "What is the relationship between this young master and... my family's young master?"

A beauty shedding tears naturally evokes pity, and all the more so with Ji Qiu's current enchanting, demonic allure.

Yue Zongyang instinctively wanted to retort and then comfort the person, but he restrained himself because of the Chen family's ties to the Slay Demon Sect.

He had intended to casually offer an explanation to end the topic, but Chen Ning beside him couldn't wait to speak.

"It's naturally an engagement; you probably don't know yet, and it's Zongyang's fault for not explaining it to you."

Indeed, somewhat overbearing.

Ji Qiu's lips curled with a sarcastic smile, but she promptly lowered her head, her expression surprised and hurt.

"So that's how it is... I, I shouldn't have harbored such thoughts."

"This young master must also be from a prominent family, naturally a match for my family's young master."

He spoke, heartbroken, yet did not miss the flicker of complex emotion in Chen Ning's face when mentioning prominent families.

Ji Qiu lowered her gaze, somewhat doubtful.

What kind of reaction is this from Chen Ning?

"Since you know, don't overstep."

From the first glance, Chen Ning felt the youth looked familiar, yet if he had seen such a strikingly handsome face before, he surely wouldn't forget it easily.

After these exchanges, Chen Ning had already labeled the person as ill‑intentioned scum, and certainly wouldn't give him a pleasant look.

"Ning'er! What are you saying these for?"

Seeing Ji Qiu on the verge of tears, Yue Zongyang's eyes grew misty and his tone suddenly hardened.

"We've said they're just friends, so naturally they should be different from others."

He suddenly felt Chen Ning was completely unlike before, really somewhat unreasonable.

"What on earth is wrong with you today?"

Despite the engagement, Yue Zongyang admitted he also liked Chen Ning and patiently coaxed her with a few words.

Chen Ning suddenly couldn't hold back her inner defenses, gazing at Yue Zongyang as tears fell, her eyes reddened; her usual gentle look now appeared utterly pitiful.

"Zongyang... my parents, they..."

Yue Zongyang hadn't expected him to cry, then cleared his mind a bit, hurriedly wiping his tears and saying, "Take it slow, why are you still crying?"

"They were killed by Chenshu."

Chen Ning seemed to endure immense inner pain, clutching her chest as if pierced by a knife, her voice trembling.

Boom—

Yue Zongyang hadn't even reacted when Ji Qiu's wine cup slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor.

He quickly adjusted his expression, turned away, and a surge of turmoil flashed in his eyes.

Mother……

Ji Qiu closed her eyes, yet could not show any pain at this moment.

Yue Zongyang also stared dumbfounded, only after a while regaining his voice.

"What did you say?"

Whether the victim or the perpetrator, either was enough to shock him.

"Chenshu? Isn't that the person your Chen family seized for sacrifice? How could he have killed your uncle and aunt?"

Chenning leaned against his chest, sobbing silently, explaining word by word.

"He didn't offer the formation, but instead followed the Yao King…… The Yao King broke the seal and escaped, and also dispelled the poison on Chenshu's body……"

"Chenshu, he thought his poisoning was due to my mother, and he actually killed his parents to vent his hatred!"

Yuezongyang's mind held only one sentence.

"The Yao King broke the seal on the Chens' backyard?!"

His expression changed abruptly, he fiercely slapped his forehead, "Then wouldn't he return to the Yaogong? Countless sect elders and my father are guarding outside the Yaogong!"

Chenning also finally realized this, "Then… should we send disciples to assist?"

"Of course, let's go now!"

Yuezongyang hurriedly led the people out, walking and asking for details, having no time to look after Jiqiu in the courtyard.

Of course, at this critical moment, Jiqiu didn't care either; instead, he feared that his emotions would leak and be noticed by Yuezongyang.

However…

Watching the two's retreating backs, Jiqiu recalled how, while Chenning was explaining just now, he kept fiddling with his ring.

A moment later, his eyes flickered slightly, revealing killing intent.

His dear older brother probably doesn't know that, from childhood on, whenever he lies he subconsciously rubs his ring.

After all these years, he still hasn't changed this habit.

It seems the parents' death had another cause; even if it was related to that good-for-nothing Chenshu, Chenning couldn't wash himself clean of the connection.

Otherwise, since Chenshu hated the Chens so much, why would he have let Chenning go?