Shen Liuxing’s steps were not hurried, each one seeming to exert his last ounce of strength.
Zi Dong'an and Dongfang Feihong, seeing the wall of fire part to reveal a path, exchanged a look before charging forward simultaneously.
Zi Lingling let out a cold cry, “Trying to leave? It’s not that easy!”
With a thought, the two men suddenly landed on the ground with a “plop.”
Two vines silently emerged from the desert, instantly wrapping them into a massive cocoon.
Zi Lingling’s mind moved again, and the large cocoon was pulled into the air, suspended above the path.
At the same time, Shen Liuxing reached the exit.
As if he hadn’t seen the scene before him, he stepped out.
The wall of fire closed, and the cocoon fell, kicking up dust everywhere.
Most of this dust was the ashes of those burned by Huang Yi.
“Ouch!”
“Ouch!”
Two pained cries.
Zi Lingling ignored them, instead looking at Qin Mingyue and Qin Mingfei, and said coldly, “What about you two? Do you need me to make a move?”
Qin Mingyue offered a wry smile and said, “Patriarch Zi, I never wished to be your enemy, but those in my family would not heed my counsel and insisted on coveting your tribulation secrets. Thus, Mingfei and I were forced to stand against you.
We are powerless to change any of this. Therefore, attacking you, though not our desire, is done. We have struck, and we have betrayed. We have repaid kindness with ingratitude.
Of course, I say this not to beg for mercy, but to tell you that I genuinely wished to be your friend, even if just a friend with some shared interests! I believe Mingfei feels the same!
We are willing to pay the price for this, but we hope that, in remembrance of our past friendship, you will allow us to die with dignity. Therefore, we wish to fight you, rather than die in shame!”
Zi Lingling frowned, then nodded and said, “Very well! I shall grant your wish! Make your move!”
“Thank you!”
Qin Mingyue smiled gratefully and looked at Qin Mingfei, nodding.
The two slowly drew their swords, being careful not to draw them too quickly, lest they lack sufficient respect.
The atmosphere was tense, swords drawn, ready to strike.
Just then, a voice called out, “Wait!”
The building tension on both sides ceased abruptly, and all eyes turned in the direction of the voice.
“Patriarch Zi, I am Qin Youbing, the head of the Qin family. I beg you to show leniency. I am willing to offer half of the Qin family’s assets to ransom their lives!”
Outside the wall of fire, a burly man cupped his fists.
Qin Youbing?
Zi Lingling paused. Did someone really have a name like that?
Though she found it amusing, she maintained a calm expression and said, “Patriarch Qin… Patriarch Qin, do you believe their lives are only worth half of your Qin family’s assets, or is it my life that is only worth half of your Qin family’s assets?”
Qin Youbing was taken aback, unsure how to respond.
No matter how he answered, it would not satisfy Zi Lingling.
Zi Lingling smiled dismissively and continued, “Furthermore, since members of your Qin family have attacked me, do you truly believe I will spare your Qin family?”
Qin Youbing said unhappily, “Patriarch Zi, do you intend to show no mercy whatsoever?”
Zi Lingling sneered, “You guessed right, but there’s no prize! To be perfectly honest, the four great families, I have no intention of sparing any of them.
Therefore, do you think I would care about half of your Qin family’s assets?”
Qin Youbing laughed heartily, “Patriarch Zi, my polite discussion with you is not out of fear, but because Mingyue and Mingfei are indeed talented individuals worthy of guidance. So, do not refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a penalizing one!”
Zi Lingling snorted, “Hmph! I will accept anything, but I will not accept being taken advantage of! As for whether it’s a toast or a penalizing drink, that is not for you to decide!”
Qin Youbing’s expression turned extremely grim, and he said sternly, “Zi Lingling, what must you have for you to let them go?”
Zi Lingling said coldly, “I will not let them go! The thing I tolerate least is betrayal, and the thing I despise most is betrayal. Since they have betrayed me, they must face the consequences!”
“You!”
Qin Youbing was so enraged he couldn't speak, cold air radiating from his body.
Zi Lingling reprimanded, “What ‘you’! You should return and prepare your entire Qin family to face this Patriarch’s wrath!”
Qin Youbing’s anger surged, but he forced himself to suppress it and said, “What exactly do you want to end this matter today?”
Zi Lingling retorted, “Qin Youbing, can you not understand human speech? Fine! Then I shall repeat myself: only by destroying your Qin family can I quell the anger in my heart!
Therefore, what you need to do now is to quickly return to the Qin family! Of course, you can choose not to leave, but your life, I will gladly accept!”
As her words fell, the wall of fire parted once more, revealing a passage: “If you have the guts, come in!”
Qin Youbing looked at the open gateway within the raging flames, a struggle appearing on his face.
Enter? Not enter?
Not enter? Enter?
If he entered, could he save the two children?
If he didn't enter, would he just watch them perish?
Zi Lingling watched Qin Youbing hesitate, a trace of mockery in her voice.
“Since you dare not enter, then scram back, prepare your neck, and await this Patriarch to take your head!”
Qin Youbing was furious and about to speak when his words were interrupted by a voice, “Such arrogance! This Emperor shall see how you intend to take the Qin family head!”
The speaker was none other than the Emperor of the Azure Dragon Empire, the leader of the Dongfang family – Dongfang Xiongqi.
Dongfang Xiongqi wore dragon robes and a dragon crown, his imperial aura radiating like the sun.
Zi Lingling sneered, “Oh! Is this a personal expedition? What, Zi Wentian died as you wished, and you’re not taking this opportunity to subdue the Zi family, but instead come here to watch me kill people?”
Dongfang Xiongqi said indignantly, “Do not speak such nonsense! The four great families are bound by kinship. I deeply regret the demise of Patriarch Zi. How could it be ‘as I wished’?”
Zi Lingling offered a sarcastic smile, “Dongfang Xiongqi, you are a hypocritical emperor! You invited me to the palace and asked me to kill Zi Wentian, yet now you deny it?”
Dongfang Xiongqi reprimanded, “Utter falsehoods! I invited you to the palace merely to persuade you to serve the nation loyally, not to have you kill the Patriarch Zi!”
Zi Lingling retorted mockingly, “I knew you wouldn’t admit it. Look at this!”
As she spoke, she took out a shadow-sound stone from her robe and shook it, saying.
Dongfang Xiongqi’s face changed drastically. He had been so careful at the time; how could Zi Lingling have recorded it on a shadow-sound stone?
“Hmph! Do not fabricate evidence and slander me!”
Zi Lingling sneered, “Fabricate evidence? Slander you? If that’s the case, then let everyone see if I am slandering you!”