182: The father and son, each with their own ulterior motives

While Murong Che was still threatening Li Xiu...

"Murong Che!!"

A delicate shout filled with fury and frost, like a sudden thunderclap over an icy plain, exploded from behind Murong Che without warning:

"Who did you say you wouldn't let off?! Try touching him if you dare!!"

*Thump!*

Murong Che's entire body stiffened. The conspiratorial smile that had just surfaced on his Face froze instantly, turning into a very colorful expression.

Murong Che turned around stiffly.

Sure enough, through the wind and snow, a sky-blue silhouette was charging toward them, holding a Spiritual Sword, her pretty Face full of killing intent and her Aura indomitable.

It was Chu Siyao.

"Damn it!"

Murong Che couldn't help but curse inwardly.

"This woman is like a lingering ghost! She ruins my plans at the critical moment every single time! Does she have to be so punctual?!"

However, after a bit of thought, he understood.

Li Xiu must have contacted her secretly while he was stalling for time.

"Good kid, you had two plans ready."

In contrast to Murong Che's frustration.

Hearing Chu Siyao's voice, which sounded like heavenly music to him, Li Xiu's nerves—which had been strained to the limit—finally relaxed completely.

"Whew..."

Without a word, he decisively deactivated the dim, crumbling golden light shield around his body.

*Swoosh—*

His figure flashed, and with movements as smooth as flowing water, he expertly hid behind Chu Siyao the moment she landed.

He pointed at Murong Che and began to complain:

"Siyao! You're finally here! This guy is crazy! He's like a mad dog! He chased me all this way, insisting on killing me to silence me! If I had seen you any later, you'd be collecting my corpse!"

Chu Siyao shielded Li Xiu firmly behind her, her Spiritual Sword pointed at Murong Che, her beautiful eyes full of vigilance and coldness.

But at the same time, she was also incredibly frustrated, muttering to herself:

"We've only been apart for less than half a day; how did they start fighting again? And looking at this setup, Murong Che actually chased Li Xiu all the way to this wilderness just to kill him? What on earth did he do to him?"

But now was not the time to ask.

Chu Siyao questioned coldly:

"Murong Che! You are the dignified Young City Lord, yet you disregard your status to bully an outside Cultivator who just arrived in the Cangkong Realm. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at if word gets out? Aren't you shaming the City Lord's Manor?"

Faced with Chu Siyao's interrogation.

Murong Che did not snap back as he usually did.

He narrowed his eyes, glancing at Chu Siyao, who was at full strength and ready for battle.

Then he looked at Li Xiu, who was hiding behind the woman with a smug grin, completely unharmed.

He quickly calculated in his head:

The previous chase and his barrage of attacks had already consumed a large amount of his Qi.

If he were to Face Chu Siyao, who was at the Early Stage of the Undying Realm, plus Li Xiu and his endless tricks and schemes... in a two-on-one, he definitely wouldn't gain anything. He might even fail miserably.

Furthermore... Murong Che glanced at Li Xiu.

Even though he decided to retreat, he couldn't lose Face; his Aura had to remain strong.

"Hmph!"

Murong Che folded his fan and let out a cold laugh, his tone carrying a hint of disdain:

"Young Miss Chu certainly protects him closely. Since you're here, this Young Master will give you some Face today and won't lower myself to deal with this pretty boy."

After speaking, his sinister gaze bypassed Chu Siyao and fixed on Li Xiu, threatening him pointedly:

"Kid, consider yourself lucky today. However..."

Murong Che lowered his voice, sounding like a venomous snake flicking its tongue:

"The things you know... you'd better keep your mouth shut tight! If you dare leak a single word... even if I have to perish with you, I'm confident I can kill you first! Try me if you don't believe it!"

Leaving behind those harsh words...

*Swish!*

Murong Che didn't linger at all. He turned and transformed into a streak of light, departing through the wind and snow.

Watching his rapidly receding back, Chu Siyao couldn't help but be stunned, even forgetting to sheathe her sword.

"This..."

She was completely confused.

"Has this guy... changed his nature? In the past, if he encountered something like this, he would never give up without fighting for hundreds of rounds. Why did he leave as soon as we met today? And so decisively?"

Chu Siyao turned around, looking at Li Xiu behind her suspiciously:

"Young Master Li. What did those last words mean? What do you know about him? It feels like you've caught him by the throat."

"Ahem..."

Li Xiu's eyes wandered, and he gave a dry cough to hide his embarrassment.

Are you kidding? This is earth-shattering gossip; how could he just blab it out!

"No... It's nothing."

Li Xiu played it off, talking nonsense with a straight Face:

"It's just... a little secret between men."

As a person, one still had to have some integrity. Not much, but at least a little.

A moment later, Murong Che returned to the City Lord's Manor, covered in fatigue and snow.

Just as he stepped into the main hall...

He saw his father, Murong Cheng, sitting alone in the central chair.

No lamps were lit in the hall, and the light was dim, with only the reflection of the snow outside shining in.

Murong Cheng was fiddling with an exquisite teacup, half of his Face hidden in the shadows, making his expression unreadable.

If it were before, Murong Che would definitely have gone up to pay his respects.

But now, having experienced the Yun Mu incident and learned the truth from Li Xiu that his father's end was near and that he was 'incapable'...

Murong Che's mindset had undergone a world-shaking change.

His fear of this strict father had mostly dissipated.

In its place was a complex mix of pity, contempt, and even a faint, hidden sense of satisfaction.

"Hmph, old man."

Murong Che sneered in his heart.

"You're about to kick the bucket, and you're still sitting there acting all profound? Since you're practically in the grave already, I'm too lazy to bother with you."

Thus, Murong Che only gave his father a faint glance, didn't even greet him, and didn't even pause his footsteps.

He walked straight through the hall toward his own room in the backyard, as if his father were just a piece of furniture.

However, just as Murong Che's figure was about to disappear around the corner, thinking he had successfully ignored his father...

Murong Cheng, who had been silent and seemingly lost in thought...

Slowly raised his head. His eyes showed no signs of old age, nor their usual severity.

Instead... they flickered with a heart-palpitating, snake-like sharpness and coldness.

He slightly narrowed his eyes, staring intently at his son's departing back, as if scrutinizing a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

"Heh..."

The corners of Murong Cheng's mouth slowly curled into a faint, hair-raisingly cold smile.

His finger lightly tapped the teacup, making a crisp 'ding' sound.

Then, a soft murmur echoed eerily in the hall:

"This rebellious son... actually dares to put on airs with me. It seems I had too many misgivings before..."

Then, he placed the teacup on the table, as if he had made a certain decision.