"We're on the same wavelength now…" the system said in annoyance. "Are you trying to make things difficult for me!"
"You?" Xia Qingtian frowned slightly at the sound, glancing back towards the door and thinking the system might be referring to Xiang Xueyuan, she didn't dwell on it. "This thing is very dangerous. Can't you just suck all its energy dry like before and then leave? Go find another island to hide on. Preferably a deserted island, one that can never be found in this lifetime!"
"Big sister, I'm undergoing tribulation!" the system exclaimed, speechless. "Do you think undergoing tribulation is like grocery shopping? You can get it anywhere, and if this place doesn't work, you can just go to another one? I've been hiding for so long to gather all my abilities, and now I'm just waiting for the auspicious time today. If you want me to absorb all the energy now, wouldn't I be struck by lightning the moment I go out? Undergoing tribulation once is not easy for me. Can you stop causing trouble!"
The system was utterly frustrated. It was doing just fine here, who was it bothering? What was going on? First the Heavenly Way had been against it for so many years, and now even these mortals were bossing it around! It wouldn't do it anymore! It was going to turn hostile!
"Can't take it, can't take it, can't take it!" the system declared, refusing. "Absolutely can't take it!"
"If you don't take it now, it will be taken by someone else later," Lu Yaoyang said, raising his wrist to check his watch. "In less than ten minutes."
"Hmph, are you trying to scare me? Was I born scared?" the system replied dismissively.
"Ah? Enemy? What did you say about less than ten minutes?" Bai Yuqi asked, turning his head.
Realizing he had accidentally spoken his thoughts aloud, Lu Yaoyang casually replied, "I was just guessing how long it would be before his people arrived."
"The phone has absolutely no signal," Shi Guanzhu said, his brow furrowed. "I used the military-modified communicator to contact Wen Jiu, but I haven't received a reply yet. I don't know if the Wen family can arrive in time."
"Then what should we do?" Bai Yuqi also started to worry. "Should we knock him out and take him away now? He's quite old? Maybe I should be gentle? What do I do? I've never beaten an elder, I feel so guilty…"
As soon as Bai Yuqi finished speaking, a bullet was fired from inside the door, grazing Shi Guanzhu's hair and shattering a half-human-tall golden Buddha statue.
"Who's outside, get in here and talk," Xiang Xueyuan said, holding a pistol and looking coldly towards the direction of the door. All his men had died from the effects of Dr. Mad's medicine. Anyone outside now, no matter who, had to die.
Everyone was clearly startled by the sudden threat of the gunshot.
Xia Qingyu walked past Shi Guanzhu and went straight inside. "It's me."
Nie Qingkong reached out to grab Xia Qingyu's arm, but she dodged him. Xia Qingtian's expression also changed, and he was about to step forward but was stopped by both Bai Yuqi and Shi Guanzhu. On the other side, Di San and Miao Tong also grabbed Nie Qingkong, who was about to rush forward.
Xia Qingyu was, after all, Xiang Xueyuan's biological daughter. Even a tiger wouldn't eat its cubs, so that lunatic probably wouldn't do anything to Xia Qingyu. However, others might not be so lucky. At this moment, there was no need to take that risk. They were also waiting.
"It's you?" Xiang Xueyuan raised his eyebrows slightly as he looked at Xia Qingyu, then suddenly smiled. "Qingyu, come and take a look." At this critical moment, Xiang Xueyuan really wanted to share his pleasant and excited mood with someone.
"There's nothing to see," Xia Qingyu said coldly. "For a mere broken stone like this, haven't you done enough bad deeds? All for this?"
Xiang Xueyuan clearly didn't want to hear this. A flicker of displeasure crossed his brow, and his lips pressed together as if suppressing his anger. "You should be grateful you're my daughter." Anyone else who dared to be so presumptuous in front of him would be dead.
Xia Qingyu merely rolled her eyes at this, letting out a cold laugh. What did it matter if she was his daughter? Back then, hadn't he also wanted to burn her and Aunt Liu to death? Even Xifu and Nie Qingkong, whom Xiang Xueyuan had personally raised, didn't seem to have had a good outcome. Xia Qingyu had never thought he had any human decency, considering Xiang Xueyuan was a cold-blooded and ruthless lunatic.
Xiang Xueyuan was completely enraged by Xia Qingyu's attitude at this moment. He immediately reached out and grabbed Xia Qingyu by the throat. The sensation of suffocation instantly spread through her neck. Xia Qingyu frowned, but showed no sign of begging for mercy or yielding. Meeting Xia Qingyu's gaze, Xiang Xueyuan was instantly reminded of his own wife. In a moment of distraction, a golden bowl was smashed onto Xiang Xueyuan's forehead.
"You bastard! Let go of my sister!" Xia Qingtian, not satisfied with throwing one golden bowl, picked up another golden cup, looking as if he was about to throw it.
"Hiss…" in pain, Xiang Xueyuan frowned, glaring at the doorway, his eyes twitching. "Xia Qingtian… it's you again!" Shaking Xia Qingyu away, Xiang Xueyuan picked up his gun and aimed it at Xia Qingtian, intending to vent his anger. She dared to appear before him again. It was truly unforgivable! This time, Xiang Xueyuan would not allow Xia Qingtian to ruin his plans again. No one would!
Seeing Xiang Xueyuan about to harm Xia Qingtian, Xia Qingyu immediately pounced forward, spreading her arms to shield Xia Qingtian, her eyes fixed on Xiang Xueyuan.
"You!" Xiang Xueyuan trembled with rage at the sight.
"Qingyu!" Xia Qingtian immediately stepped forward to pull Xia Qingyu away. "This is between me and him. Qingyu, don't be impulsive."
"No," Xia Qingyu shook her head, looking stubbornly at Xia Qingtian. She would not allow anyone to harm her sister. No one.
"Qingyu!" Nie Qingkong, shaking off Di San and Shi Guanzhu who were blocking him, also rushed in.
"Tarik?" Xiang Xueyuan seemed surprised to see Nie Qingkong alive. His gaze swept over Nie Qingkong's face, then shifted to Xia Qingyu, and he let out a chuckle. "Tarik, as long as you obey me, you can still be the future heir. I'm also willing to marry Qingyu to you. Now, show me your loyalty. Kill Xia Qingtian. Don't disappoint me this time."
Upon hearing Xiang Xueyuan's words, Nie Qingkong's brow furrowed. He could not possibly kill Xia Qingtian. Xia Qingtian had helped him multiple times, and she was Xia Qingyu's sister. He could not do such a thing. However, Xiang Xueyuan… Although Xiang Xueyuan had abandoned him and indirectly caused Xifu's death, he was still the one who raised him. Clenching his fist at his side, Nie Qingkong looked up into Xiang Xueyuan's eyes and slowly said, "Father, don't make any more mistakes…"
Hearing Nie Qingkong's words, Xiang Xueyuan's expression instantly turned grim. How dare Nie Qingkong defy him repeatedly?! Taking a deep breath, Xiang Xueyuan looked coldly at Nie Qingkong, his voice chilling and his words striking Nie Qingkong like a bolt of lightning. "You are truly like your birth parents, indecisive and stubborn. I should have dealt with you then as well."