Chapter 108. Rank 8 [8]
"Father... why are you doing this?"
Xu Qingyue’s voice trembled as she stared at the man before her, unable to understand the coldness in his eyes.
"Get out of the room," Xu Wenyuan said without looking at her. "This isn’t the place for you."
"Father!"
The desperate cry echoed through the hall.
The frustration, fear, and pressure that had been building inside Xu Wenyuan finally erupted. Before he could stop himself, his hand swung through the air.
Slap!
Xu Qingyue staggered backward, one hand instinctively covering her burning cheek. Her eyes widened with disbelief as tears quickly gathered within them.
She had never imagined that the father who had always protected and cherished her would one day raise his hand against her.
At that moment, it felt as though the entire world had betrayed her.
She said nothing.
After standing there in silence for several breaths, Xu Qingyue slowly lowered her head. She gave a gentle bow, forcing herself to maintain the etiquette she had been taught since childhood.
"Your daughter... will take her leave."
Her voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible.
Without waiting for a response, she turned around and quietly walked out of the room, her lonely figure gradually disappearing beyond the doorway.
The moment the door closed behind her, the strength left Xu Wenyuan’s body.
His knees gave way, and he collapsed onto the floor.
His trembling hand remained suspended in the air, as though he still could not believe what he had done.
"I..."
His lips quivered, but no words came out.
Only after his daughter had gone did the pain in his heart surge forth like a broken dam, leaving behind nothing but endless regret and helplessness.
The room remained silent for a long time.
Xu Wenyuan stayed kneeling on the floor, his head lowered as guilt and regret consumed him.
Behind, a faint ripple spread through the air and a concealment array dissolved, revealing the elegant figure that had been hidden all along.
Qin Xishu sat calmly in her chair, her posture graceful and composed. She lifted the delicate teacup to her lips and took a slow, unhurried sip before setting it back onto the table.
"You did the right thing," she said indifferently. "Don’t let your daughter become engulfed in the flames of war."
Xu Wenyuan’s fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Hatred welled up within his heart.
The woman before him was the very person who had pushed everything to this point.
She had deliberately used his daughter as bait, allowing the Xu Clan to incur a debt of fifteen million medium-grade spirit stones in exchange for purchasing three Pure Quality Golden Core Pills.
To the outside world, it had appeared to be an act of generosity.
Only Xu Wenyuan understood the truth.
The debt had become invisible chains wrapped around the Xu Clan’s neck.
In return, Qin Xishu had used the Xu Clan as little more than a pair of eyes, quietly observing and evaluating the rapidly rising Lin Family.
Everything had been calculated from the very beginning.
Qin Xishu seemed completely unconcerned by the hatred in his gaze.
Instead, she smiled faintly.
"How about sending your daughter to the Qin Family?"
She placed the teacup onto the table with a soft clink.
"I’ll personally accept her as my disciple."
Xu Wenyuan remained silent.
"Think it through," Qin Xishu continued calmly. "If you entrust her to me, I’ll erase the Xu Clan’s debt... and I’ll leave with her."
Xu Wenyuan slowly rose to his feet.
His eyes were bloodshot, and every trace of hesitation had vanished.
"You’d better keep your promise."
His voice was cold, carrying a restrained fury.
"I’m going to gather the clan elders and disciples and march against the Lin Family."
He stared directly at Qin Xishu.
"In return, you’ll never get close to my daughter."
Qin Xishu looked at him for a long moment before shaking her head with a disgust.
"Tsk, tsk. How is it that the two of you are so different... yet so similar?"
"Very well," Qin Xishu said as she stood up gracefully. "Bring me Lin Xuan’s head, and I’ll keep my word."
Xu Wenyuan’s expression changed instantly.
"That wasn’t part of the deal!"
His voice thundered through the room.
"You only said to attack the Lin Family!"
Qin Xishu merely folded her hands behind her back, her expression remaining as calm as ever.
"And now," she replied, "I’m saying to bring me his head."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Is that so difficult? The Xu Clan is a Rank Seven clan while the Lin Clan is merely Rank Eight."
A hint of ridicule flashed through her eyes.
"Surely you aren’t telling me that a Rank Seven clan fears a newly promoted Rank Eight clan?"
Xu Wenyuan’s face darkened.
He knew Qin Xishu had changed the terms on purpose.
Originally, he had intended to lead the attack himself and die by Lin Xuan’s hands.
He had long accepted that this was the karma he deserved.
In his youth, blinded by greed and ambition, he had taken part in the massacre on the road to Violet Log City, an atrocity that had brought immeasurable suffering upon the Lin Family.
The blood spilled that day had haunted him ever since.
Perhaps Qin Xishu had seen through his intentions.
She knew he sought death as a form of atonement, and so she had deliberately altered the agreement.
By demanding Lin Xuan’s head instead, she had ensured he could no longer simply throw his life away.
She was forcing him to choose between his conscience and his daughter.
She was clearly toying with him.
Xu Wenyuan’s hands trembled with barely restrained rage.
Yet no matter how much hatred burned within him, he could only grit his teeth.
The Xu Clan could not afford to offend the Qin Family.
Nor could he allow Qin Xishu to set her sights on Xu Qingyue.
After a long silence, he finally spoke through clenched teeth.
"...Fine but once Lin Xuan is dead... you will never appear before my daughter again."
Qin Xishu smiled, her eyes remaining as tranquil as an ancient lake, devoid of even the slightest ripple.
"As long as you bring me Lin Xuan’s head, my word is absolute."