It seemed that the Talking Beast under Zhang Tianyuan had seen through Kong Shishuang's thoughts, which was why it said such words.
Kong Shishuang looked troubled. The many students behind her were also filled with anger.
Their Misty Rain Tower's tower master had always been noble and proud. How could she do such a dignity - losing thing?
"What? Is this the attitude of the Misty Rain Tower's tower master?"
"How did you assure the students' parents when they were admitted to the school?"
"Kong Shishuang, let me tell you, I, Zhang Tianyuan, don't care about how weak your Misty Rain Tower is. But I know that girl Zhao Shuning cares. If she knew that you, Kong Shishuang, were so humiliated by me before your death, her expression would surely be extremely interesting."
Kong Shishuang's hand holding the jade sword trembled constantly. The little fox beside her saw her master in such a state and quickly rubbed its head against her to comfort her.
"I'll give you three seconds to think."
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
"Wait a minute." came the woman's low voice.
She looked up and stared at Zhang Tianyuan in mid - air with tears in her eyes.
"If I kneel, are you sure you'll spare these kids?"
"These kids have no grudges against me. I don't need to create such a bloodbath and make myself unhappy."
"But what if you don't keep your word?"
"Then you can choose not to trust me, Miss Kong. You should see clearly that now you have no chance to bargain with me. If you kneel, they still have a glimmer of hope. If you don't, they'll have no way out but death."
"Zhang Tianyuan, remember your words."
Kong Shishuang put down her jade sword and took step by step forward. Because of her relatively high cultivation, those ghost vines didn't entangle her immediately.
"Tower master, don't do it!"
"Tower master, you don't need to yield to such a villain!"
"Tower master!"
Kong Shishuang's eyes were filled with tears. She stared at Zhang Tianyuan. Although her face was full of anger, she had to sheathe her sword.
"What are you waiting for?"
"Kneel!"
Kong Shishuang's legs went weak, and finally she knelt down in front of Zhang Tianyuan.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
She looked up.
"Is this enough?"
Seeing her inner unwillingness and the anger in her eyes, Zhang Tianyuan felt extremely relieved.
But was it enough?
Of course not!
"I don't feel Miss Kong's sincerity."
"You're going too far!"
"So what if I'm going too far? Kong Shishuang, look at the countless students behind you. They're all the students of your Misty Rain Tower, just like you guys back then. Think clearly. Their lives and deaths are in your hands."
Kong Shishuang looked back.
Those innocent and young faces.
At such a vibrant age.
They were the hopes of their families. Why should they die here because of her ridiculous pride?
"Have you thought it through?"
"Zhang Tianyuan, you'll get your retribution."
"I don't know if I'll get retribution, but Miss Kong, your retribution is happening right now."
Kong Shishuang lowered her head and could only kowtow to Zhang Tianyuan again and again.
Zhang Tianyuan just watched from mid - air. He didn't stop until there was blood oozing from Kong Shishuang's forehead.
"Zhang Tianyuan, is it enough?"
Kong Shishuang was now gasping for breath and had no strength left.
Zhang Tianyuan saw this, and the ferocity on his face became even more obvious.
Kong Shishuang became alert and said, "Are you going to go back on your word?"
Zhang Tianyuan said, "Kong Shishuang, you're really the young miss of the Misty Rain Tower. You've been spoiled by your elder brother since childhood, which is why even though you've lived for so many years, your mind is still as dull and stupid as ever."
"What do you mean?"
"What do I mean? You can't be unclear, right? Do you think I'll really let your students go?"
"Zhang Tianyuan, you'll die a horrible death!"
"Zhang Tianyuan, you promised me just now!"
"Kong Shishuang, you're just too stupid. Who asked you to be so easy to deceive? You should use your brain and think. If I just wanted to take revenge on you, why would I wait until now? I've spent so much effort just for today."
"None of you from the Misty Rain Tower will be able to get out."
"Zhang Tianyuan, these students are innocent."
"Innocent or not, it has nothing to do with me."
"You said before that you had no grudges against them and that as long as I knelt, you wouldn't create so much bloodshed."
"Kong Shishuang, you really believed that? Don't you think that if I really let them out, my plan to make the world know that Shui Yunsheng destroyed his alma mater, the Misty Rain Tower, would go to waste?"
"In that case, all my efforts over the years would be in vain, and Shui Yunsheng wouldn't suffer any losses. Do you think I'm as stupid as you, Miss Kong? You just kowtowed to me a few times, and I'd be so kind as to spare you and the Misty Rain Tower?"
Kong Shishuang slumped to the ground.
After all, she had thought too simply.
This stranglehold on the Misty Rain Tower had been in the works for so long, aiming to ruin the now - prosperous Shui Yunsheng's reputation, and Zhang Tianyun could also get rid of the Misty Rain Tower in the process.
With Zhang Tianyuan's evil deeds, how could he give up such a good thing that served two purposes?
"To be honest with you, the letter you received back then and the token hanging on your waist were all arranged by me. From beginning to end, that Xie An had no feelings for you at all."
Kong Shishuang looked up in panic and stared at the jade pendant on her waist.
She almost collapsed instantly.
"You... It was all your doing!"
"Yes, of course it was me, Kong Shishuang. Don't forget that the viper spent quite a bit of time with me. I know exactly how he wrote and what he carried. You're just a stupid woman. You really thought that Xie An liked you. You stupidly went to confess your love to him, only to be rejected. How does it feel?"
Kong Shishuang's legs went weak, and her whole body almost leaned on the little fox.
It was all fake.
Back then, when she received the letter, she was so overjoyed. Later, when she tried to test him several times, Xie An just smiled it off.
She always thought that the viper was waiting for her to take the initiative.
So she took the initiative first.
But he immediately changed his expression and said that he had always only regarded her as a friend in his heart.
Kong Shishuang really couldn't figure it out at that time.
It was him who flirted with her.
It was him who saved her again and again.
It was him who made her take the initiative to express her feelings.
But in the end, he rejected her in front of everyone.
She thought he was heartless and untrustworthy, not a friend worthy of trust, nor a man worthy of entrusting her life to.
So she broke off the relationship with Shui Yunsheng on the spot and cut off the friendship with the viper.
Now.
With just a few words from Zhang Tianyuan, Kong Shishuang regretted it deeply.