Chapter 31 : Containers

The monstrous fish from the sea of blood appeared like an emissary from the depths of the netherworld, exuding a terrifying and evil aura that was immovable.

However, it was nothing compared to the shock of seeing Shang Yunxiao on the back of the fish monster.

In the public’s eye, Shang Yunxiao was merely an ordinary person, often derided as a “kept man” due to his two marriages. Despite this, his exceptionally handsome face had captivated many women, who fell for him like moths to a flame.

Just by his appearance, he resembled a celestial being descending from the heavens, a fallen immortal. Otherwise, how could he have won the hearts of women from the Ji and Chen families despite his lowly status?

Over the years, Shang Yunxiao had lived in seclusion, and whenever he did appear, he was always in pristine white clothing, giving him an ethereal, almost otherworldly presence a beauty cherished by time.

Although people looked down on his dependence on others, they couldn’t help but admire his appearance.

Now, standing on the back of the fish monster, Shang Yunxiao was still dressed in white, his black hair tied up with a wooden hairpin, meticulously arranged.

He had always been very particular about his appearance, paying great attention to his demeanor at all times.

Everyone who had seen him couldn’t help but praise him, no matter how bad his reputation was, it was hard for anyone to speak ill of him.

So now, seeing Shang Yunxiao on the fish monster, many people wondered if this was some sort of demonic illusion.

Otherwise, how could Shang Yunxiao be here? Wasn’t he just an ordinary person?

The Shang Yunxiao on the fish monster did indeed look like an ordinary person, without any special powers. But could an ordinary person command such a powerful and terrifying creature?

“Yunxiao…”

Chen Mu stared at him in disbelief.

After over a decade of marriage, she knew Shang Yunxiao very well and was familiar with his every move.

Thus, she could not deny that the person before her was indeed Shang Yunxiao and did not believe it was some demonic transformation.

Shang Yunxiao heard her voice but did not look at her. His expression was very calm, and he also did not look at the Chen family members, but instead focused on the people on the bridge.

Sensing something, Ji Yu brushed aside Jiang Shiqiu’s hand that was covering her eyes and turned to look.

Her eyes were still in severe pain. Although Jiang Shiqiu had heavily injured the eye in the sky, the curse within her body still had a significant impact on her.

She was probably the most affected person at the scene.

However, she had grown accustomed to enduring pain since childhood. Unless it became unbearable, no one could read her emotions from her face.

Ji Yu’s expression was calm, as if she wasn’t particularly surprised by Shang Yunxiao’s presence.

In many ways, it seemed that she and Shang Yunxiao were indeed very much alike, like father and daughter.

Many demon hunters had recovered from the shock. With the blood-red eye heavily injured by Jiang Shiqiu, the negative effects had lessened, allowing them to see the scene clearly.

Their astonishment was no less than Chen Mu’s.

What was going on? Who exactly was Shang Yunxiao? Was he really just a person?

The surroundings were quiet, likely due to the shock. The only sounds were the cries of the demons emerging from the sea of blood and the merfolk preparing to attack.

Chen Laotai waved his hand to block the merfolk’s attacks, his eyes hawk-like as they fixed on Shang Yunxiao.

He demanded, “Did you do this?”

The Chen family estate had protective talismans, not only to intimidate demons and prevent them from causing chaos but also to protect the Chen family.

Originally, with the power of the merfolk, it would have been impossible to easily flood the Chen family estate.

However, when the protective talismans failed, it became evident that someone had tampered with them, causing the Chen family to suffer this disaster without warning.

Shang Yunxiao’s gaze shifted to Chen Laotai. He smiled calmly and gracefully.

Although he was born a criminal slave, before becoming one, he was actually from a prestigious family in Yunjing. He had grown up in luxury, and the etiquette of the aristocracy was ingrained in him.

This was the same demeanor that everyone in the Chen family was familiar with.

But now, seeing him standing over the sea of blood with such composure made people’s hearts chill with fear.

The Chen family was filled with both resentment and hatred.

The disaster tonight was caused by him. Not only had he ruined their patriarch’s birthday celebration, but he had also killed so many innocent people. It was impossible for them not to harbor hatred.

“It was me,” Shang Yunxiao admitted openly.

Chen Laotai’s expression grew even more severe. “Why?” He glanced again at the eye in the night sky, now covered with cracks.

This blood-red eye was terrifying and emitted a dreadful evil aura. Even he dared not look directly at it, but Shang Yunxiao stood there as if he felt nothing, which left only one possibility…

Shang Yunxiao said, “Old man, didn’t you know already?” He smiled again and looked at Ji Yu standing on the bridge, with a hint of meaning in his gaze. “If you didn’t stop me back then, you should have known this would be the consequence.”

Chen Laotai seemed to age by decades in an instant.

He fell silent for a moment and sighed weakly, “I thought you…”

“Thought I would give up?” Shang Yunxiao laughed again, as if he had heard something amusing, his handsome face slightly twisted. “Old man, you’re assuming too much. Why would I give up? If I did, what would happen to my tragically dead relatives? How could I face them?”

Chen Laotai’s eyes showed a look of pity. “The deceased are gone. You should not be so persistent. The Shang family still has descendants…”

Shang Yunxiao was not angry but instead asked patiently, “Old man, are you referring to Ji Yu and Qingzhe?”

Years ago, when the Shang family was involved in a treason case, the relatives were either executed or demoted to slaves. Soon after, the surviving members also mysteriously died, leaving only Shang Yunxiao.

Later, Shang Yunxiao married into the Ji family, shedding his status as a slave, and had two children with his two wives.

Although these children did not bear the Shang surname, they were still considered descendants of the Shang family in the eyes of the world.

Chen Laotai nodded silently.

However, Shang Yunxiao cruelly said, “Old man, you should know they are not my children. They are merely selected vessels.”

The crowd was confused, not understanding what he meant.

What vessels?

What exactly had Shang Yunxiao done?

What was the purpose of today’s events?

Chen Mu’s face turned pale with disbelief. Realizing something, she asked in a mournful voice, “Shang Yunxiao, where is Qingzhe? Where is Qingzhe?”

From the onset of the upheaval, she had been searching for her husband and son, but they had both disappeared together.

She was not a fool, seeing her husband here now made her realize that something must have happened to her son.

Shang Yunxiao finally turned to look at his wife, his tone gentle. “You don’t need to worry. He has only gone to where he was meant to be.”

Chen Mu was deeply distressed. If not for the support of the Chen family head beside her, she might have nearly fallen.

Compared to her husband’s betrayal, the possible harm to her child was even harder for her to bear. Once a woman becomes a mother, even the deepest love for a man is overshadowed by the fierce protection of her child.

“Shang Yunxiao!” She shouted with a harsh voice, “Qingzhe is your child! How could you be so heartless?”

Shang Yunxiao continued to look at her tenderly, saying, “Chen Mu, if you want children, you will have more in the future. Qingzhe was just a vessel. Didn’t you already know that when he was born?”

Chen Mu’s face was streaming with tears as she sobbed, “Even so, he was still a child I watched grow up…”

Watching her child grow from an infant who understood nothing into a little person who could call her “mother,” laugh, cry, and show affection in her arms, gradually caring for her in return…

She could no longer see him as just a vessel but as her child.

Seeing her in such pain, Shang Yunxiao sighed and turned his gaze away from her to look at Ji Yu on the bridge. “Ji Yu, you shouldn’t have come this time.”

Ji Yu looked at him coldly, saying nothing.

Shang Yunxiao continued, “You are the chosen vessel. Come with me.”

As his words fell, the world around them became saturated in blood-red hues.

A demonic wind howled from the depths of the blood sea.

The people on the bridge were blown this way and that, nearly falling into the blood sea.

Ji Yu stood there unmoved, her green clothes fluttering in the wind, highlighting her slender and delicate form, as if she were floating.

At that moment, countless blood lines surged from the blood sea, rushing toward Ji Yu on the bridge.

These lines exuded an eerie and evil aura, brimming with terrifying power that instilled a sense of helplessness.

Just as the evil spirit blood lines were about to strike Ji Yu, Chen family’s patriarch shouted, “Stop!”

He leaped into the air, intending to intercept them, but the lurking merfolk beneath the blood sea attacked again, forcing him back.

The patriarch could do nothing but anxiously watch Ji Yu.

He had understood Shang Yunxiao’s plan. Today was his birthday, and many guests had come to celebrate, including elite demon hunters from various forces.

Shang Yunxiao intended to turn the Chen family mansion into a blood sacrificial hell, offering these demon hunters to the demons and ghosts behind him, summoning them to the human world.

The thought of this made the patriarch shiver with fear.

If demons and ghosts truly descended upon the world, it would become a hell on earth, and Shang Yunxiao would become a villain for the ages.

Yet, Shang Yunxiao was determined and unwilling to relent.

Once he captured Ji Yu, the blood sacrifice would begin.

The patriarch was both shocked and furious. He was the only one among the guests who knew Shang Yunxiao’s intentions, but he was powerless to stop it.

At that moment, the blood lines were already reaching toward Ji Yu, trying to bind her.

Just as the blood lines were about to touch Ji Yu, a hand reached out and grabbed them.

The hand was beautiful, slender and elegant, with well-defined joints, resembling meticulously carved white jade. The blood lines appeared red and white in contrast to the hand, making it look even more exquisite.

Ji Yu looked at the hand that grasped the blood lines, momentarily pausing her action of clutching the golden bead.

She turned to look at the man beside her, feeling a bit dazed.

Jiang Shiqiu’s lips curved into a smile, his voice sounding warm and gentle, “Who dares to touch my wife?”

The more beautiful his smile, the more dangerous it was.

Sure enough, with a casual tug, he tore apart the blood lines connecting to the blood sea.

The ghosts in the sea of blood howled and exploded one by one?

It turned into a blood mist all over the sky.

The backlash from the blood sea hit Shang Yunxiao, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood, which splattered on his white clothes, ruining their previous neatness.

In contrast, Jiang Shiqiu remained calm and composed.

Not only was Shang Yunxiao’s face filled with disbelief, but even the Chen family patriarch was astonished, and everyone else was stunned.

Given Shang Yunxiao’s aggressive approach today, they had all expected a fierce battle, with many even preparing for possible sacrifices.

The power contained in the blood sea was so overwhelming that it created an independent space, isolated from the world, trapping them there and making escape seem impossible.

However, Jiang Shiqiu easily broke his attack.

The only person remaining calm was Ji Yu.

She looked down from above at Shang Yunxiao’s disheveled appearance, and vague memories resurfaced, with the sound of her own cries as a child echoing in her ears.

The memories were shrouded in a layer of blood mist, extremely blurred and seemingly intentionally erased. The only clear recollection was the intense, heart-wrenching pain, as if her very soul was being torn apart.

Years later, she still remembered that excruciating pain.

Additionally, her father, Shang Yunxiao, had been standing there coldly watching.

Now, she still couldn’t recall what had happened back then, only that something about Shang Yunxiao was wrong.

Unfortunately, as Shang Yunxiao was the Chen family’s son-in-law, despite her suspicions, she had been unable to uncover anything over the years.

Shang Yunxiao’s eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at Jiang Shiqiu on the bridge, and blood tears streamed down his face as he hoarsely asked, “Who are you?”

Not only Shang Yunxiao, but the Chen family’s patriarch also had blood tears streaming from his eyes. This was a result of their forced attempt to peer into Jiang Shiqiu’s true form.

Both of them vaguely understood that the Jiang Shiqiu standing here was merely an illusion, and this human guise might not be his true self.

Jiang Shiqiu, impatient to clarify things for them, had refrained from taking action until now to see what kind of malevolent being was behind the chaos.

However, the opponent seemed to hide like a rat in a gutter, only sending Shang Yunxiao, a mere mortal whose soul was sacrificed, which displeased him.

But he didn’t know that the other party hid like a rat in the gutter and only sent Shang Yunxiao, a mortal who sacrificed his soul, which made him unhappy.

Jiang Shiqiu tilted his head and looked at Ji Yu, asking, “My wife, may I kill him?”

After all, this man was her father by blood. He asked politely.

Ji Yu replied, “…It’s up to you.”

With this permission, Jiang Shiqiu joyfully extended his hand towards the eye in the sky.

In an instant, an incredibly terrifying power descended, enveloping the blood sea. Everyone felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness, unable to even entertain the thought of resistance, and could only tremble uncontrollably, nearly fainting.

What kind of power is this? How can it be so evil and frightening?

As this horrifying power manifested, the cracked, blood-red eye in the sky slightly shifted. The blood light blazed intensely, and the blood sea surged once again.

The Chen family members standing on the reef were almost swallowed by the blood, and the cry of the blue phoenix bird was extremely shrill.

Huge waves rose up in the sea of blood. The eye tried hard to resist, but unfortunately it still failed.

There was a sound of snap, and the blood-red eyes were crushed by Jiang Shiqiu, just like in the dream.

“ah–“

Shang Yunxiao screamed miserably. Bloodstains appeared on his body, crisscrossing each other. Blood gushed out, staining his white clothes red. His body fell from the back of the strange fish and fell into the sea of blood, being swallowed by it.