“You, Xia’er, what are you doing?”
Mu Zhenfeng hadn’t expected his eldest daughter to arrive. Though Liu Cuier had claimed she wasn’t his child, he hadn’t believed it. But now, watching her effortlessly knock out Honglian and the other maids, he was stunned.
Especially when he saw the utter coldness and indifference in her eyes. As she stepped closer, his expression tensed, and he nervously asked, “What are you doing?”
“What am I doing? My parents were harmed by your precious daughter. As their child, shouldn’t I demand the antidote from her? Hand it over now, or I’ll kill him right here…”
Faced with Mu Zhenfeng’s shock and disbelief, Mu Wanxia sneered coldly. Step by step, she advanced, flicking her wrist to reveal a dagger, pressing it against Mu Zhenfeng’s throat as she glared at Wanqing.
“Xia’er, what are you saying? You…”
Her words trailed off as she watched the black-clad figure stagger toward Wanqing. Though the assassin was poisoned, Mu Zhenfeng couldn’t help but feel a surge of fear at their skill.
“You didn’t expect this, did you, Mu Zhenfeng? Thanks to you, all these years, you’ve raised my and Yun’er’s daughter so well. Girl, hand over the antidote now, or your father dies.”
Liu Cuishan smirked coldly at Mu Zhenfeng’s stunned expression. Suddenly stopping, he tightened his grip on Mu Zhenfeng’s neck and warned Wanqing icily.
“No… this can’t be true. Xia’er, you can’t believe his words, you…”
Even after hearing his daughter call another man “father,” Mu Zhenfeng still shook his head in denial. Watching his eldest daughter advance toward Wanqing, he cried out in panic.
“Shouldn’t I believe him? If you were my real father, would you have been so cruel? You’d rather trust a stranger’s words and reject me over a mere accident. I used to wonder why, but now I know—you’re not my real father. My parents told me everything. My mother was already pregnant with me when she married you. Only because of orders from above did she take medicine to delay my birth. If you don’t believe me, ask Aunt Xiang. She’ll tell you…”
Mu Wanxia’s voice trembled with anger as she recalled how Mu Zhenfeng had turned on her after her mother’s incident. With a cold laugh, she motioned, and a black-clad figure dragged someone forward.
“Aunt Xiang, this…”
Mu Zhenfeng stared at the woman—once a servant who had cared for his late wife, Su Xiang. She had vanished long ago, and when he asked Liu Shi, she claimed the woman had resigned and returned home. He hadn’t thought much of it, but now she stood before him, alive and in their clutches.
“Master, it’s true. The eldest miss isn’t your daughter. Even her death… I was deceived. Liu Shi poisoned her tonic. I…”
Aunt Xiang met Mu Zhenfeng’s disbelieving gaze with sorrow. Remembering the years of manipulation and imprisonment, her eyes hardened. Suddenly, she twisted free of her bonds, drew a dagger from her sleeve, and lunged at the nearest assassin.
“Save the master!” she cried to Wanqing as she struck.
“Let go of my father!” Wanqing sprang into action, though the effort nearly cost her her life. She flung a handful of powder at the man holding her father.
“Father…”
Mu Wanxia moved at the same time, raising her hand to intervene.
“Ugh—” The scene shifted instantly.
Wanqing managed to pull Mu Zhenfeng free from Liu Cuishan’s grasp, while Mu Wanxia shielded her father from the poison.
In the chaos, Liu Cuishan staggered, coughing up black blood. Wanqing acted swiftly, driving silver needles into two vital points on Mu Zhenfeng’s body and forcing a pill into his mouth.
The assassins, including Aunt Xiang, were caught in the crossfire of poison. One, already wounded by the dagger, let out a final agonized scream before collapsing lifeless.
Aunt Xiang trembled, then slumped to the ground.
“At last… I can face them without guilt…” she murmured, a peaceful smile on her lips as she closed her eyes and bowed her head, her breath stilling.
“Mu Wanqing, you harmed my parents. Now it’s time to settle the score. I…”
Mu Wanxia, cradling Liu Cuishan’s body, wept bitterly. Seeing only Wanqing left, she recalled how the girl had changed after waking up, how fate had spiraled beyond control.
Certain her father was dead, she gritted her teeth and stood, hurling another handful of poison.
But Wanqing was faster.
Struggling to her feet, Wanqing watched as Mu Wanxia’s hand dropped limply. Her once-beautiful face turned ashen, then deathly gray, before her body crumpled to the ground, motionless.
“People… when they grow too greedy, they destroy everything that was ever truly theirs.”
Wanqing sighed, gazing at the lifeless bodies. She regretted not uncovering the mastermind behind their schemes, but Mu Wanxia’s obsession with what wasn’t hers had sealed her fate.
With a weary sigh, she stumbled toward Qingfeng and the others.
Thankfully, they had only inhaled a mild toxin. Prepared, she swiftly administered the antidote.
Exhausted, Wanqing’s legs gave way. As she swayed, a faint smile touched her lips.
“Careful—”
Just as she was about to collapse, a figure darted forward, catching her by the waist.
“I… I’m cold…”
Dazed, she barely registered the man’s face before darkness claimed her.
“Girl! Qingfeng, Baiyu—get everyone back to the city!”
Leng Mingye’s heart twisted at the rejection in her eyes. Though he didn’t understand what had happened, the sight of her unconscious spurred him into action. Scooping her up, he barked orders to his men before rushing toward the city gates.
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