Chapter 36: Regret

Jiangnan's mouth curved with a mocking arc, looking down from his height at the kneeling Ye Wan before him, a barely perceptible chill flashing deep in his eyes. "Miss Ye, weren't you just swearing that even death by pain wouldn't make you submit to me? So, have you changed your mind now?"

Ye Wan felt overwhelming shame; her pale face was covered with fine beads of sweat, the excruciating pain made her whole body tremble, yet she was powerless to argue. She bit her lip tightly, blood seeping out and staining the pale lips red, but it still could not ease the agony. She forced herself and slowly bent her knees.

"Thud!" Ye Wan's proud head sank low, tears falling onto the cold marble floor, splashing out forlorn droplets.

"Jiangnan… I'm wrong… please… save me…" Ye Wan's voice was hoarse, trembling with sobs, each word forced from her throat, full of despair and pain.

Jiangnan stared coldly at Ye Wan, offering no immediate reply. He slowly squatted, his slender fingers gently lifting her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.

Fear and pleading filled Ye Wan's eyes; the former pride and arrogance were gone. Her gaze resembled that of a wounded little beast—pitiful and helpless.

"Miss Ye, do you realize your mistake now?" Jiangnan's voice was deep and icy, as if a judgment from hell.

Ye Wan nodded desperately, tears blurring her sight, choking out, "I… I know I'm wrong… please… save me…"

Jiangnan's gaze fell on Ye Wan's face; her complexion was as pale as paper, lips bluish‑black, large beads of sweat constantly rolling off her forehead, her body curled up as if bearing immense pain.

"Since you know you're wrong, remember this lesson." Jiangnan's voice remained cold, though his tone softened slightly. He released Ye Wan's chin, stood, and turned his gaze toward Ye Zhentian.

Ye Zhentian had been standing nearby, watching his beloved granddaughter kneel before Jiangnan begging for mercy; helplessness weighed on his heart, and he knew that only Jiangnan could save Ye Wan now.

Yet, as Ye Wan's wounds healed and the pain eased, she lifted her head again, a flash of resentment and hatred crossing her eyes, her tone sharpening: "Jiangnan, don't get smug. I only bowed to you temporarily; when I'm healed, I will make you pay!"

"Snap!"

A crisp slapping sound rang through the silent hall, and a bright red handprint instantly appeared on Ye Wan's face; she stared in disbelief at Ye Zhentian, her voice sharp as she demanded, "Grandpa, you hit me? You actually struck me for that scoundrel?"

Ye Zhentian's face turned ashen, his eyes filled with disappointment and fury. He trembled, pointing at Ye Wan, scolding harshly, "You ungrateful brat, still obstinate! Do you know whom you've offended? Do you realize you almost wiped out the entire Ye family?"

Regret gnawed at Ye Zhentian; since Jiangnan's warning, he had vaguely sensed something amiss about the Jin Fo, but Ye Wan's arrogance and his own spoiling had blinded him. Now that Ye Wan erred again, he finally realized the problem must be solved completely, lest the Ye family face annihilation.

With that thought, Ye Zhentian hesitated no more, inhaled deeply, walked before Jiangnan, and slowly knelt before everyone.

"Mr. Jiang, my discipline was lacking, producing such an ungrateful granddaughter who offended you; I apologize!" Ye Zhentian's voice was low and sincere, his head bowed deeply, his tone full of self‑reproach and remorse.

The hall fell silent, everyone stunned by the scene. Who was Ye Zhentian? He was a renowned figure of Yunzhou; his mere footstep could make the whole Yunzhou tremble. Yet this dignified elder publicly knelt before a young man to apologize—utterly unbelievable.

Ye Wan was completely dumbfounded, staring blankly at her kneeling grandfather, her mind a void. She couldn't believe that the grandfather she had always revered would kneel and apologize for someone she despised.

Jiangnan's face showed no hint of triumph; he calmly looked at Old Master and said lightly, "Old Master, what are you doing? Stand up."

Ye Zhentian did not rise; he lifted his head, eyes full of pleading, "Mr. Jiang, I know you are magnanimous and won't quarrel with this old man. However, Wan truly committed a grave mistake this time; I beg you, for the sake of our past ties, save her, and save our Ye family as well!"

Jiangnan's gaze fell on the Jin Fo behind Ye Zhentian; the statue still gleamed with golden light, its appearance majestic, yet in his eyes it radiated evil and ominousness.

"Old Master, do you know the origin of this Jin Fo?" Jiangnan's voice was low, carrying a hint of gravity.

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhentian's complexion shifted slightly; after a moment's hesitation he said, "I acquired this Jin Fo many years ago at an auction; it is said to have been consecrated by an ancient high monk, and I have always regarded it as a house‑protecting treasure."

Jiangnan sneered, "A high monk's consecration? Pure nonsense! This Jin Fo is not a treasure at all, but a demonic object!"

"Demonic object?" Ye Zhentian was startled, looking at the Jin Fo in disbelief, his eyes filled with doubt and confusion.

Jiangnan slowly approached the Jin Fo, reaching out to gently stroke its cold surface, his tone chilling as he said, "This Jin Fo was forged centuries ago by a sect of heretics, nourished with the blood of unjustly slain souls. Though it appears peaceful and majestic, that façade was concealed by a master using a 'leaf‑obscuring' technique to hide its evil. In truth, it is a malevolent artifact that constantly siphons the qi of those nearby, eventually bringing ruin to families."

While speaking, Jiangnan extended a finger and gently rubbed the Jin Fo's eyes a few times.

"Crack!"

A faint cracking sound rang out, and the covering over the Jin Fo's eyes instantly fell away, revealing its original form.

What kind of eyes are those!

The once‑peaceful eyes now brimmed with malevolence, pupils blood‑red, like two burning flames emitting a chilling light that made hearts race.

"Sss!"

The onlookers who saw the Jin Fo's eyes inhaled a cold gasp; a chill surged from their feet to the top of their heads, making them shiver all over.

Ye Zhentian was even more horrified; he finally understood that Jiangnan's words were true—the Jin Fo truly was a demonic object! He silently thanked his timely awakening and seeking Jiangnan's help, lest the consequences have been unimaginable.

Ye Wan was also utterly shocked, staring blankly at the Jin Fo, fear filling her eyes. She suddenly realized that she herself was the ignorant, laughable Clown, having always treated Jiangnan as a swindler, never expecting that the truly foolish one was herself.

She looked at Jiangnan again, her gaze turning complex—shock, fear, and a barely perceptible reverence.

Jiangnan ignored the crowd's reaction, inhaled deeply, and his hands began forming seals; mysterious hand seals shifted unpredictably in his palms, a powerful aura radiating from him outward.

"Daoist Hand Seal, Transform Evil, Expel Demons!"

Jiangnan let out a low shout, slamming the hand seal onto the Jin Fo's crown.

"Hum!"

The Jin Fo emitted a humming sound, a wisp of black energy surged from its body and vanished instantly into the air.