The wails were full of grief, every word dripping with blood.
Behind her, Lingyan and Saixing couldn't help but redden their eyes.
Yun Xi's sharp fingernails had already cut into Shen Zhou's skin, but he didn't move at all. He just let Yun Xi vent her anger.
Just then, there suddenly came a series of "pa pa pa" clapping sounds under the outer corridor pillar.
They all turned their heads and saw the Holy Master in a black robe with a conical hat.
His face was pale, and his eyes were a strange shade of green.
Lingyan became alert and quickly drew her sword, standing in front of Yun Xi.
The Holy Master seemed not to notice. He stared at Yun Xi with a half - smile. His expression was like that of a wild beast that had cornered its prey. But his words were addressed to Shen Zhou:
"You've already married her. Now hand her over to me, Young Master Shen San."
Hearing this, Yun Xi, Saixing, and even Lingyan, who was standing in front, couldn't help but glance at Shen Zhou.
"You'll never succeed!"
Saixing let out a shrill scream. She rushed to Yun Xi's side and hugged her arm tightly. Then she glared angrily at Shen Zhou and spat:
"I always knew you were a treacherous villain, but I never thought you could be this evil! You went to great lengths to marry our young lady, only to hand her over to this scoundrel, the Holy Master!"
Shen Zhou's eyes darkened. He ignored Saixing and simply pulled Yun Xi behind him. Then he turned to the Holy Master and said:
"I never promised to give Yingying to you. I only promised to help you get the thing you left with Yingying many years ago. Moreover, she is my wife now. If you want the thing, I won't stop you. But..."
His peach - blossom eyes suddenly turned cold, and a murderous aura gradually emanated from Shen Zhou:
"If you want to take Yingying away, don't blame me for being rude!"
There were still tears on Yun Xi's face. The smeared rouge on her face made her look funny and pitiful. But when she heard Shen Zhou's words, she didn't feel the slightest bit of touch. Instead, she let out a sarcastic laugh, "Tsk—"
"Young Master Shen San... Young Master Shen San... Aren't you the second in line? Where did this extra brother come from!?"
"You've been lying to me from the very beginning, from the very start!"
Suddenly, a feeling of weakness surged through Yun Xi's body. Her legs went soft, and she couldn't help but take a few steps back. Saixing quickly reached out and caught her, preventing her from falling to the ground.
"Miss..."
Saixing supported Yun Xi with tear - filled eyes and called her with great distress.
Yun Xi's lips were pale. Her bright almond eyes stared fixedly at Shen Zhou, filled with despair:
"Shen Zhou, Shen Zhou, since things have come to this, why do you still act so affectionately? Anyway, you broke your promise to keep my father alive. Now who are you trying to impress with this act of deep love?"
"Since you've been cooperating with him for a long time, how could you not know that if he wants to take the thing left with me, it means taking my life?"
"What!?"
Shen Zhou's body trembled. He looked at Yun Xi anxiously and explained:
"I really didn't know. It's just about getting a thing. How could it be related to your life?"
"Yingying, what on earth is it that he wants!?"
Yun Xi didn't answer him, or rather, she didn't want to answer him at all.
Anyway, Shen Zhou didn't get an answer from Yun Xi.
Because the Holy Master was too lazy to watch them bicker anymore. With a sudden movement, he was like a ghost and appeared beside Yun Xi in an instant. He grabbed her arm and was about to fly away.
Lingyan had been keeping a close eye on the Holy Master. The moment he made his move, she followed like a shadow.
Her sword was like a shooting star, with a cold glint.
The Holy Master held Yun Xi's arm with his right hand and didn't move an inch. With a gentle shake of his left hand, a pitch - black Emei Piercer appeared in his hand.
"Clang—"
The sound of the clashing weapons pierced their eardrums. Lingyan felt a numbness in her hand, and her long sword almost flew out of her hand. She quickly tightened her grip, withdrew, and then swung her sword again.
Shen Zhou, who was in a state of confusion beside them, quickly reacted and shouted outside:
"Sheng Yu!"
A long sword flew through the air and was caught firmly by Shen Zhou.
He drew out his sword with a "shing" sound. Following his intention, Shen Zhou attacked the Holy Master together with Lingyan.
"Stop!"
However, just as Shen Zhou made his move, an old and powerful voice with a hint of anger sounded outside the door.
"Zhou'er, are you even going to ignore your grandfather's words!?"
Shen Zhou couldn't help but hesitate for a moment.
During this moment of hesitation, the Holy Master had already pulled Yun Xi to spin around, avoiding Lingyan's sword. Then he kicked Lingyan away with one leg.
"Puff—"
Lingyan spat out a mouthful of blood. She lay on the ground, covering her wound and unable to move.
"Lingyan!"
Yun Xi and Saixing exclaimed in unison and both rushed towards Lingyan.
But Yun Xi's wrist was tightly held by the Holy Master. She had only taken one step when she was pulled back forcefully.
The Holy Master seemed like nothing had happened. He even showed a sinister smile as if he was in a good mood. Although he looked weak and pale, his strength was surprisingly great. No matter how much Yun Xi struggled, it was useless.
Looking down at Lingyan on the ground like she was an ant, the Holy Master's green eyes were full of disdain:
"Even your prince couldn't defeat me. Do you really think you, a little girl with mediocre skills, can stop me? You're just daydreaming."
After saying that, he didn't care about her anymore. He just firmly pulled Yun Xi and turned to Shen Zhai, saying:
"I'm taking her away. The thing Prime Minister Shen wants, I've already sent it as a congratulatory gift to your mansion. I think it should have been stored in your Shen family's warehouse by now. Prime Minister Shen, you can go and check it yourself."
"As for the prime minister's grandson, I'll have to trouble the prime minister to discipline him himself. I'm very busy, so I won't accompany you anymore."
As soon as he finished speaking, he knocked Yun Xi unconscious with a chop to the neck and carried her away in a flash.
"Stop!"
"Zhou'er!"
Shen Zhou shouted urgently. He was about to chase after them when he was stopped by Shen Zhai.
"Don't forget your identity,"
Shen Zhai looked cold and serious:
"There are countless women in the world. Do you really want to abandon all your years of hard work for a woman who doesn't even love you?"
"Have you forgotten how you got back to the Shen family step by step?"
Shen Zhou froze in place.
The memories from his childhood that he had deliberately suppressed and forgotten came rushing back like a flood. They swept over Shen Zhou's heart, gradually draining the color from his delicate face.
"But grandfather..."
Shen Zhou lowered his eyes, and his fingers turned white from clenching so tightly:
"You made a deal with the Holy Master using Yingying. At least... you should have told me."
"Tell you?"
Shen Zhai sneered and said in a deep voice:
"If I had told you, would things have happened like this today?"
"You protected your Yingying so much that you couldn't even bring yourself to deal with Yun Weisheng. I had to send your elder brother's men to take care of it. If I had told you in advance, today's deal with the Holy Master would definitely have fallen through!"
"Humph—Shouldn't you reflect on yourself?"
Shen Zhou tightened his lips. After a long silence, he said word by word:
"Grandfather... you're right. It's the grandson who has disappointed you."
Shen Zhai snorted again. He didn't relent. Instead, he glanced at Saixing and Lingyan beside him and said sinisterly:
"Since you know you disappointed me before, then... show me a good performance now."
"Puff—"
It was the sound of a sharp weapon piercing flesh.
As soon as Shen Zhai finished speaking, Shen Zhou's long sword flew out of his hand with a "whoosh".
It hit Lingyan's heart on the ground precisely.