Chapter 34 : Rage

Seeing his daughter crying so heartbrokenly,Old Master Chen could no longer blame her.

Ultimately, it was his own fault. He should never have agreed to bring Shang Yunxiao into the Chen family.

Although Ji Lan had died, Shang Yunxiao, as Ji Lan’s husband and the biological father of Ji family’s heir, would have been treated well even if he was a son-in-law. The Ji family would not have driven him away but would have taken care of him properly.

However, Shang Yunxiao chose to leave and sent a letter to the old Chen patriarch, expressing his desire to join the Chen family.

At the time, the old Chen patriarch thought that since Shang Yunxiao was no longer a criminal slave but a free man, and with Ji Lan gone, it was fine for him to come to the Chen family. The Ji family would not keep him against his will. With the old Chen patriarch looking after him, Shang Yunxiao would be assured of a comfortable life without harassment, which would make up for the loss of his deceased junior apprentice.

So the old Chen patriarch had him brought to the Chen family.

Shang Yunxiao just abandoned his young biological daughter and left the Ji family.

To everyone at that time, it seemed that Shang Yunxiao was abandoning the Ji family, which was considered disgraceful.

Soon after arriving at the Chen family, Shang Yunxiao met Chen Mu, the old Chen patriarch’s most cherished daughter, and was willing to marry into the Chen family.

Everyone thought they were in love.

Even Chen Mu thought so.

So, she shyly asked her father if she could marry Shang Yunxiao.

The old Chen patriarch was naturally pleased. His beloved daughter and his junior apprentice’s only descendant getting married would allow him to protect Shang Yunxiao openly.

After the marriage, the couple’s relationship was quite good, and Chen Musoon became pregnant…

The old Chen patriarch thought about these things with pain and self-blame.

If Shang Yunxiao had stayed with the Ji family, he wouldn’t have met his daughter and wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do such things. He wouldn’t have used his trust to meddle with the Chen family’s protective artifacts, bringing such disaster to the Chen family.

But he also understood that with Shang Yunxiao’s character, he wouldn’t easily give up on revenge. Even if he hadn’t come to the Chen family, he would likely have sought other opportunities to bring demons into the human world.

The old Chen patriarch looked at Ji Yu with a pained expression: “Master Ji, it’s truly my fault. I didn’t expect Shang Yunxiao to be so audacious, and he never gave up on this matter…”

When he learned what Shang Yunxiao had done to Ji Yu, he should have intervened and dealt with him.

However, he was swayed by the fact that Shang Yunxiao was the last bloodline of his junior apprentice, and with Chen Mupleading for him, as well as Shang Yunxiao’s promise not to pursue revenge, he ended up soft-hearted.

“…When he failed the first time, I thought he should understand that bringing demons into the world was impossible, and that he had likely given up on the idea…”

Later, Shang Yunxiao indeed did not pursue this matter further and settled down in the Chen family, not mentioning revenge again. They all thought he had let it go.

The old Chen patriarch was filled with guilt and regret as he spoke.

Suddenly, a tremendous and terrifying force struck him. The old Chen patriarch had no way to resist and was thrown backward, crashing heavily to the ground.

“Father!!!”

The Chen family head and Chen Mu were shocked and rushed to help him up, seeing his state with alarm and concern.

At this moment, the old Chen patriarch’s face was ashen, his lips purple, clearly severely injured.

With yesterday’s injuries still not healed, he was injured again today. Even someone of his level could not withstand it. When his two children helped him up, he spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with purple.

The Chen family head angrily demanded, “Master Jiang, what do you mean by this?”

Chen Mualso glared at Jiang Shiqiu, not expecting him to suddenly attack.

No one expected him to suddenly take action.

Jiang Shiqiu’s expression was cold and harsh as he stared at them with a chilling gaze.

“When Shang Yunxiao attacked my wife, where were you? What did you do afterwards? Not only did you fail to kill him, but you also helped to cover up his actions and erased my wife’s memory…”

With his accusations, the anger on the faces of the Chen family head and Chen Mu faded, leaving only stunned silence.

Indeed, the Chen family had been at fault from the beginning; they had wronged Ji Yu.

Chen Mu dared not look at Ji Yu, and the Chen family head also lowered his head in shame.

The old Chen patriarch coughed up blood, looking increasingly frail. He was not angry at Jiang Shiqiu for his actions, knowing that if Jiang Shiqiu had not held back, he might already be dead.

Jiang Shiqiu’s actions were clearly an attempt to seek justice for his wife.

This justice was also owed to Ji Yu by the Chen family.

“Master Ji, it’s my fault. I failed to keep an eye on Shang Yunxiao and let him take advantage of the situation to harm you.” The old Chen patriarch said with remorse, “However, we did not erase your memory. We did not do that.”

Ji Yu remained quietly seated, and despite Jiang Shiqiu’s sudden attack, she said nothing.

Upon hearing the old Chen patriarch’s words, her eyes shifted slightly, “It wasn’t you?”

The old Chen patriarch shook his head, speaking frankly, “It wasn’t us! When you woke up, we discovered your memory had been erased, but we did not know who was responsible. I can assure you, it was not a member of the Chen family.”

As he spoke, the old Chen patriarch’s brow furrowed deeply.

This issue had long weighed on his mind. He had wondered if Shang Yunxiao was responsible, but later realized that Shang Yunxiao did not have the ability. All his power came from sacrificing his own soul, and he would not use it recklessly.

The thought of someone being able to infiltrate the Chen family unnoticed and erase memories so easily made the old Chen patriarch shiver with fear.

Seeing Ji Yu’s silence and Jiang Shiqiu’s cold, menacing presence, the Chen family head and Chen Mu feared that if they did not provide a satisfactory answer, Jiang Shiqiu might continue his attack. They quickly said, “If you do not believe us, we are willing to swear an oath!”

Chen Mu closed her eyes and added, “I will swear as well!”

Ji Yu’s gaze swept over the three of them, not showing any sign of suspicion.

With Jiang Shiqiu’s presence, they dared not deceive her, as they could not bear his anger.

The Chen family head said cautiously, “We were indeed wrong to conceal this matter at the time. The Chen family… is willing to compensate Master Ji.”

Jiang Shiqiu was extremely displeased: “You didn’t compensate back then, and now you come to offer compensation only because my wife was young, without elders to protect her, and had her memories erased, leading to her suffering!”

Listening to his accusations, the Chen family head and his children had no words in response.

It wasn’t that they did not want to compensate, but doing so would bring Shang Yunxiao’s actions to light and jeopardize not only him but also the Chen family.

Thus, they had decided to cover up the matter and pretend it never happened.

Jiang Shiqiu turned to Ji Yu and asked, “My wife, may I kill them?”

He had previously promised her not to kill anyone, but these members of the Chen family were so repugnant that he was struggling to contain himself. Since he had already killed Shang Yunxiao yesterday, killing three more today wouldn’t be too much, right?

Jiang Shiqiu’s eyes were filled with a crimson light, clearly eager to act.

The Chen family head and his children’s faces changed drastically. They had no doubt about Jiang Shiqiu’s words.

If he wanted to kill them, he certainly had the power to do so.

As for the Chen family’s retribution? In the face of the vast empire, what is the Chen family? Jiang Shiqiu, as the commander of the Imperial Demon Division, has a firm grasp on the Chen family’s weaknesses. Killing them would be easy for him, without any fear of imperial repercussions or retaliation from the Chen family.

When the three of them thought of this, their faces turned even more gloomy. When they chose to conceal the matter in order to protect Shang Yunxiao, they might have already planted the seeds of evil, and now they are simply bearing the consequences.

Ji Yu sat there, her complexion pale almost to the point of transparency. She looked listless, and it was unclear whether it was due to the physical toll of the previous night’s battle or the unbearable truth of the revelations.

She glanced at Jiang Shiqiu and noticed a hint of crimson in his eyes, which looked strange and evil, with a certain terrifying aura looming.

Although the three members of the Chen family were unaware of anything, they instinctively tensed their bodies.

“Forget it,” Ji Yu said. “Lord Qin is already investigating the Chen family. Since the Chen family is already in trouble for this incident, there is no need to make matters worse.”

When Qin Du delivers the evidence he has found to Yunjing, no one will be able to protect the Chen family.

As people who knew the truth, the Chen family’s outcome is already sealed, and there is nothing they can do.

Over the years, people have mocked the decline of the Ji family, but it seems the Chen family might end up worse off.

Though Jiang Shiqiu was very dissatisfied, he had to relent since Ji Yu had spoken. He gave the three of them a regretful look and, showing his impatience, said, “Enough. You can leave now. Do not disturb my wife’s rest.”

It was rare for someone of the old Chen patriarch’s age to be treated with such disrespect.

Yet now, facing Jiang Shiqiu, he had no words to retort. Supported by his children, he shakily stood up, a groan escaping his lips as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

“Father…” The Chen family head looked at him with concern.

The old Chen patriarch shook his head slightly, bowed to Jiang Shiqiu and Ji Yu, and allowed his children to help him out.

At the door, Chen Mu suddenly turned around.

“Master Ji.” She looked at Ji Yu, her eyes swollen and red, bloodshot veins prominent. She spoke softly, “No matter what, Qingzhe is still my child. I never saw him as a vessel for the demon. If possible, if you encounter Qingzhe in the future, could you… end his suffering quickly?”

Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes as she spoke.

Chen Mu was a smart woman. She knew that with her son’s disappearance, it was likely that the worst had already happened.

She never doubted Shang Yunxiao’s determination for revenge, even if it meant abandoning his own children.

When Shang Yunxiao attacked Ji Yu to bring about the demon’s arrival, and failed, he would not act again without full preparation. The next choice was Chen Qingzhe.

But he was her child!

When she was pregnant with him, she had high hopes, and even when she suffered a miscarriage, she was in deep pain. Thus, despite knowing the pill Shang Yunxiao brought had issues, she chose to take it to save her child.

Even when he told her the truth and wanted to take the child away, she did not agree.

Once a woman becomes a mother, she can fight desperately for her child.

Chen Mu loved Shang Yunxiao, but she was even more a mother. The disappearance of her son Chen Qingzhe hurt her far more than Shang Yunxiao’s death.

She held no resentment against those who killed Shang Yunxiao, but she resented Shang Yunxiao’s cruelty. If he were still alive, Chen Mu would almost want to fight him.

Upon hearing this, not only was Ji Yu surprised, but even the old Chen patriarch and the Chen family head were shocked.

“Mu…”

The Chen family head hesitated, unsure of what to say.

Chen Mu spoke sorrowfully, “Qingzhe will always be my child. How could I bear for him to become a vessel for the demon? It would be better to kill him before that happens, to end his suffering.”

Ji Yu sat there, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Seeing this, Chen Mu’s expression darkened slightly. She said apologetically, “I’m sorry,” and then helped the old Chen patriarch out.

Standing at the door, Ji Buhuan and Hongxiao were taken aback when they saw the old Chen patriarch’s ashen, deathly pallor.

Who could have hurt the old Chen patriarch? Could it be Jiang Shiqiu?

Upon considering this, they realized it was quite possible only Jiang Shiqiu had the ability to harm the old Chen patriarch without any concern for repercussions.

As they watched the three leave, Ji Buhuan and Hongxiao did not enter the room and instead closed the door again.

They exchanged worried glances, concerned about what could have caused Jiang Shiqiu to be so enraged that he directly attacked the old Chen patriarch. They could only hope it was unrelated to their young master.

Inside the room, after the guests had left, Ji Yu could no longer hold back and bent over, coughing into her hand.

Jiang Shiqiu, feeling heartbroken, pulled her into his embrace and patted her back to help her catch her breath. Once she stopped coughing, he poured a glass of warm water and carefully fed it to her.

“My wife, drink some water,” he said with a face full of concern. “I should have never let them come here and upset you like this.”

Ji Yu replied, “…I’m not upset.”

Jiang Shiqiu’s worry deepened, “Is something else wrong? Should I call a doctor…”

He started to lift her towards the bed to fetch a doctor.

Ji Yu quickly stopped him, “It’s fine. Just let it be. I’ll recover after a while.”

Jiang Shiqiu, still furious, had his hair floating as if stirred by an unseen wind, looking like a malevolent demon. “I should have killed them earlier!”

Glancing at the tightly shut doors and windows, and then at Jiang Shiqiu’s wild hair, Ji Yu reached out to press it down, feeling that any further discussion would be inappropriate.

“Jiang Shiqiu,” she said wisely, shifting the topic, “can you help me restore my memory?”

Jiang Shiqiu’s expression paused, and his floating hair fell back into place, flowing smoothly like silk with a glossy sheen.

“My wife, you want to restore your memory?” Jiang Shiqiu assessed her. “It’s possible, but… it will be very painful.”

He truly felt reluctant.

Every time he saw her suffer, it was like his heart, which no longer beat, was being tightly squeezed by something. It wasn’t just pain, but an indescribable discomfort that made him want to destroy something.

But she disliked him killing and was unwilling for him to destroy anything.

She cherished the human world so much, enjoyed its everyday life, and was even willing to protect it with her frail body.