Wen Jiting, usually taciturn, was unusually talkative today.
"My master is deeply devoted. After my mistress passed away, he never remarried and has only this one daughter.
He pities the Saintess for her suffering. No matter how much he grieved, he couldn't bring himself to demand anything more from you.
But after all, she is his only daughter. The Saintess, master is only powerful in cultivation, not old in appearance. In terms of age, he is already an elder in his seventies!
How can we bear to watch him send off his own child?
Moreover, if you were to act, it would be a case of mother and daughter turning against each other!"
Lu Qingwan was momentarily speechless.
Xue Hongyi blindly defended Liu Hanyan. Lu Qingwan couldn't comprehend it and wouldn't accept it, so she could directly tie her up and throw her back to the Reincarnation Hall.
When others asked her to forgive Liu Hanyan, she could also retort without hesitation.
But none of them said anything about Liu Xunran.
That aloof, yet lonely, handsome old man clearly cared for his daughter, but he also pitied her difficult fate, and pretended as if nothing had happened.
He was the one who should have been on the opposing side, demanding that she spare Liu Hanyan's life, yet he remained silent.
Si Fengwu, heartbroken, held his little wife in his arms and stared painfully at Feng Ziyi and Wen Jiting.
"I understand you pity the Lord of the Reincarnation Hall, but if you pity him, who will pity A Wan?
Is she destined to be treated with such disrespect, to have her life hang by a thread multiple times?"
Feng Ziyi crossed her arms and kicked Wen Jiting. "Don't ask me, I never told you to keep them around as eyesores.
It was this idiot who insisted on being a bodhisattva.
If you ask me, a barrage of bombardment would have settled everything, and all grievances would have vanished like smoke. Master isn't that fragile; he'd be sad, but not incapacitated."
Wen Jiting was still reluctant, but after learning about the misdeeds of Meng Fusu and Nangong Che, he could no longer justifiably ask Lu Qingwan to spare Meng Fusu.
As he was pondering, Lu Qingwan spoke.
"Actually, you didn't need to make a special trip. I never intended to take their lives from the start.
Setting aside other matters, I have benefited greatly from the Reincarnation Hall's influence over the years, so it's only right that I repay some favors.
However, may I ask why, as a decent, good-looking, and somewhat accomplished young woman, I ruined their family's happiness?"
Lu Qingwan knew she had many shortcomings, but when dealing with the eccentric Liu Hanyan, she would never find fault with herself, only believe that the other party had serious issues.
In fact, the answer Feng Ziyi gave confirmed her belief that Liu Hanyan was indeed mentally unwell.
Feng Ziyi said, "Because when you were born, Liu Hanyan had not yet been possessed by Qi Shuying. She gave birth to you when she was still Liu Hanyan.
But at that time, Nangong Che's position as crown prince had been usurped by Nangong Lie, the current Emperor of Southern Qi. Liu Hanyan, in order to give birth to you, was unable to assist Nangong Che, which led to Nangong Che being harmed and falling into a coma for half a year.
During this period, Liu Hanyan was possessed by Qi Shuying, who then reincarnated into Meng Fusu. While working for the Three Lives Pavilion, she found the severely injured Nangong Che and healed him.
Afterward, they thrived even more within the Three Lives Pavilion, successively having two sons and two daughters.
As for Qi Shuying, she lived a debauched life under Liu Hanyan's guise, gaining a notorious reputation.
To this day, Meng Fusu and Nangong Che regard Liu Hanyan as a disgrace and wish they had no connection to her identity.
And you..."
Feng Ziyi said no more, but Lu Qingwan understood her meaning.
They viewed the identity of Liu Hanyan as a disgrace and were unwilling to acknowledge her, or even Liu Xunran.
What was laughable was that while they disdained their connection to Liu Hanyan's identity, they were plotting to seize the True Dragon Token, exhibiting hypocrisy.
However, Lu Qingwan decisively stated, "Regardless, I have already said that I would spare their lives.
I will certainly not harm them during this trip to the Phantom Night Sea Domain.
If you wish to help me, join me in catching any stragglers.
If not, turn back immediately. I will not resent you in the least.
From now on, I do not wish to waste any more words on them. Please understand."
Feng Ziyi and Wen Jiting felt ashamed to bring this matter up today. Seeing that their objective was achieved, they agreed to Lu Qingwan's request without further ado. They said nothing more after the meal.
As night fell, there were no outsiders left in the room.
Si Fengwu still felt a pang of discontent and gently prodded Lu Qingwan's waist. "A Wan?"
The person who had claimed to be tired and wanted to sleep was now wide awake, not a trace of sleepiness in her voice.
"Mm, what is it?"
Si Fengwu carefully chose his words. "Today, you promised them to spare Meng Fusu and Nangong Che's family.
Have you considered that without the Three Lives Pavilion, they might be more troublesome after surviving?"
Now that they were on the Phantom Night Island, the identity of the Pavilion Master of the Three Lives Pavilion provided a mask, and people outside knew nothing, allowing them to live in peace.
But if the Three Lives Pavilion were gone, with Meng Fusu and Nangong Che's identities, it would be impossible for them to endure a life of hardship.
Whether they returned to the Reincarnation Hall or sought out Lu Qingwan, the situation would only become more chaotic than it was now.
Lu Qingwan emerged from the covers, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and chuckled, "Si Fengwu, I want to do something bad."
This state was much better than Si Fengwu had feared.
Si Fengwu asked in surprise, "What do you want to do?"
By this point, Lu Qingwan had already come to regard Si Fengwu as her strongest support. A wicked idea formed in her mind, and just as Si Fengwu asked, she blurted out without thinking, "I want to return Liu Hanyan to her rightful place."
The identities of Liu Hanyan, Qi Shuying, and Meng Fusu caused Si Fengwu a headache. He was stunned for a moment before realizing what Lu Qingwan was saying, and then he burst into laughter.
He playfully pinched Lu Qingwan's cheek. Si Fengwu chuckled, "You little rascal, where did you get such a bad idea?"
Lu Qingwan grinned wickedly. "To be honest, the moment Uncle-Master Ziyi told me that Meng Fusu was disgusted by the blood flowing from me and by my connection to Liu Hanyan, I thought of this.
Saying he's disgusted by Liu Hanyan's identity and by the blood in me.
In the end, isn't it because he felt that Liu Hanyan's body had been in contact with Nangong Che and found it repulsive?
In that case, I want to see, when she becomes Liu Hanyan again, will she be disgusted by her own sullied body, or by Meng Fusu and the two pairs of children she had with Meng Fusu?"
Lu Qingwan always acted in her own best interest. She would rarely do anything that didn't benefit her.
Furthermore, with her background from a military family, she often had principles and a bottom line.
But when dealing with the eccentric Liu Hanyan, she had no desire to adhere to any principles or bottom lines. She just wanted to deal with the scoundrel and emerge victorious.
Si Fengwu was pleased that Lu Qingwan could find ways to avenge herself.
However, he couldn't help but worry, "It would be good for Liu Hanyan to face the consequences of her actions, but the matter of souls is ultimately beyond human control. Can we simply swap them back if we wish?"