Chapter 89

Bringing the disoriented Ru Hongming back to the Liao Wu residence, Gu Xuyao closed the main hall’s door and sat down with Ru Dongsheng and several senior members of the Ru family who had standing.

At this moment, Ru Hongming’s condition had clearly stabilized somewhat. Looking around at the many pairs of eyes watching him, he trembled, and his wounds, which had yet to be treated, were still oozing blood.

"Ru Hongming, what do you know? Now, tell us the truth in front of everyone."

Ru Dongsheng spoke, and Ru Hongming’s vacant gaze turned to him, trembling.

"They’re mad, killing, killing, all dead, all dead..."

At this moment, Ru Hongming’s state was truly very poor, and no substantial information could be derived. However, everyone present knew that something extremely terrifying was about to happen.

"Head of the family, perhaps I should use the soul-reading technique."

Although the Ru family was not large, it combined both Dao cultivation and physical cultivation. Among the Dao cultivation techniques, there was one that could read the memories of a will-dispersed cultivator.

Clearly, Ru Hongming had been greatly traumatized, and reading his memories would not be too difficult at this point.

This proposal was not met with much resistance and was quickly put into action. The old man first fed Ru Hongming a pill to put him to sleep, then drew a simple array on the ground.

As the old man recited incomprehensible incantations, Ru Hongming’s body gradually rose into the air, and black light began to stream out of his body, merging into the array below. The array, after absorbing this black light, began to secrete bubbles, each containing a scene.

This situation continued for a while until the entire main hall was filled with Ru Hongming’s memories, and then it stopped.

At this point, everyone had a clear view of Ru Hongming’s memories, but the more they saw, the more their hearts grew cold.

It turned out that the severed limbs found near the Black Bear Cave were not from others; they were from Ru Sanzhen and Ru Changming, father and son!

Ru Sanzhen was an ambitious man, and Ru Changming, following in his footsteps, harbored an ambition that the cultivators of Di Xiang Ze could not understand. The Green Mist Manor, being powerful, naturally wanted to become even stronger. Thus, Ru Changming was chosen by the Green Mist Manor, ostensibly to be engaged to the daughter of the Green Mist Manor’s lord, but in reality, there would be no marriage.

Ru Sanzhen and Ru Changming wanted to use the Green Mist Manor’s strength to climb to higher power, but they overestimated their own value. A family like the Green Mist Manor would not do a losing deal.

These two men ended up being the ones being used. The Green Mist Manor first gave Ru Changming the title of future son-in-law, making him extraordinary in the Liao Wu residence. Then they had Ru Hongming strive to become the son-in-law of the Liao Wu residence. In this way, the Liao Wu residence would fall into Ru Hongming’s hands, and thus into Ru Sanzhen’s hands. Finally, the Green Mist Manor would have Ru Changming marry into the family, and once he was controlled, the Liao Wu residence would become a puppet of the Green Mist Manor.

Everything was planned perfectly. Gu Xuyao, looking at the bubbles, saw it all clearly, but the two men, driven by greed, could not see through it.

Among the bubbles, there were a few red ones, which were likely Ru Hongming’s most unforgettable memories. One of them was the night Maizi mentioned, when in the Black Bear Cave, Ru Changming’s secret meeting with the Green Mist Manor’s envoy was overheard by a few cultivators who had returned from the White Scabies Pond. Ru Changming captured them, and because Ru Hongming had always been timid and cowardly, unable to pursue Ru Lixia, Ru Sanzhen and Ru Changming forced him to kill these clan members to toughen him up.

One can imagine how it felt to be forced by one’s own father and brother to kill someone who had been sealed and lived under the same roof for decades.

In the bubbles, Ru Sanzhen and Ru Changming were not joking; if Ru Hongming did not act, they would really kill him.

In the end, Ru Hongming acted, and after that, his personality changed drastically because he knew he was just a pawn for his father and brother. If he could not marry Ru Lixia, he would only have one path: death.

From the other bubbles, it was clear that Ru Hongming truly had feelings for Ru Lixia, but in the end, the desire to survive had long overshadowed those feelings.

As for the other red bubble, it was naturally the scene where he witnessed his father and brother’s deaths.

At that time, Ru Hongming arrived a bit late. When he got there, Ru Sanzhen and Ru Changming were already fighting with the Green Mist Manor’s envoy. There were six of them, all with cultivation levels equal to Ru Sanzhen and Ru Changming. Without any doubt, the two were killed, and Ru Hongming, being far away, was not killed, only injured.

"I think the Green Mist Manor must have felt that Ru Sanzhen was moving too slowly and not achieving their goals, so they began the next step."

The old Dao cultivator stroked his white beard and spoke slowly. Upon hearing this, everyone looked at him, and Gu Xuyao also had his own suspicions.

"Senior, do you mean the next step is for the Green Mist Manor to personally intervene in the Liao Wu residence?"

The old man glanced at Gu Xuyao, signaling him to continue.

"Ru Changming’s identity, besides giving him a halo, is also a hidden move by the Green Mist Manor. If Ru Sanzhen was effective, the Green Mist Manor could easily take over the Liao Wu residence. But if the two were ineffective, they could eliminate this pawn and accuse the Liao Wu residence of failing to protect their son-in-law. At that time, because Ru Changming is half a member of the Green Mist Manor and a sensitive figure, any demands they make, the Liao Wu residence must agree to."

The old man nodded, agreeing with Gu Xuyao’s analysis, then looked at Ru Dongsheng.

"Head of the family, if I’m not mistaken, there must be other cultivators in the Liao Wu residence who have been secretly bought by them. They will likely say that we wronged Ru Changming and secretly killed him, leaving us with no way to defend ourselves."

Due to Gu Xuyao’s attack on Ru Changming, the motive for murder was already sufficient, and it would be impossible to deny it. The Green Mist Manor was extremely cunning, even the timing of eliminating the pawn was so precise. Gu Xuyao had completely fallen into their trap, inadvertently becoming a catalyst.

Ru Dongsheng’s face turned pale, and he sighed deeply, remaining silent. For a moment, everyone in the room was in silence.

At this moment, a report came from outside the room.

"Report! Head of the family, three people from the Green Mist Manor are outside the Liao Wu residence, requesting to see Lord Ru Changming, saying they have important matters to discuss!"

Speak of the devil, and the devil appears. Everyone looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

"You go down first and tell them I am preparing. I will personally welcome them in a moment."

Ru Dongsheng’s face was bloodless, and he sighed deeply.

The messenger retreated, but the atmosphere in the main hall remained tense.

"Everyone," Gu Xuyao knew that someone needed to step forward. "Today’s consequences are all due to my rash attack on Ru Changming. Since things have come to this point, let me bear the responsibility."

Among those present, except for Ru Dongsheng, everyone showed some relief upon hearing Gu Xuyao’s words, but Ru Dongsheng was unwilling because he knew his daughter had special feelings for this retainer.

"Xuyao, you have done enough for the Ru family. This time, I absolutely cannot let you make a sacrifice. Moreover, this matter is no small thing. If you take the blame, it means..."

"I know what it means. It means I must leave the Ru family and the Di Xiang Ze to avoid being killed. But compared to the safety and continuation of the Ru family, these are not important. I am an outsider, and I am grateful to the Ru family for taking me in. I have spent happy years here, but I must take responsibility for my actions. If my departure can help the Ru family escape this predicament, I am willing."

Gu Xuyao’s words were true. It was his attack on Ru Changming that started this. If he were to take the blame now, the Green Mist Manor’s pursuit of responsibility for failing to protect would be limited. This responsibility could not be avoided, but if Gu Xuyao could take most of it, the Liao Wu residence would not fall into others’ hands.

"But..."

"Head of the family, there’s no need to say more. I have made my decision. It’s time for me to leave the Di Xiang Ze. Everyone has their own story, and mine needs to be completed. I cannot stay in the Di Xiang Ze forever. I have a heavy burden on my shoulders, and I will do everything to complete it." Gu Xuyao bowed deeply. "Head of the family, this is the last time I will call you. Give the order."

Ru Dongsheng bit his lower lip, trembling. He looked at Gu Xuyao, wanting to speak but stopping. Finally, he nodded slightly.

Gu Xuyao took a deep breath, took out a hexagonal stone with no content, placed a thought inside, and handed it to Ru Dongsheng.

"Head of the family, sometimes it’s better not to say goodbye in person. Please give this hexagonal stone to Lixia."

Ru Dongsheng solemnly took the hexagonal stone from Gu Xuyao, nodded deeply, and carefully put it away.

At the entrance of the Liao Wu residence, three green-robed cultivators, full of energy, stood. The leader had a pair of small, fierce eyes. If Gu Xuyao were there, he would recognize this man as the one who attacked him in the Black Bear Cave.

"Creak..."

The door opened, and the messenger boy came out.

"Three of you, the head of the family is ready. Please follow me..."

Before he could finish, a black figure suddenly rushed out from the Liao Wu residence, and without a word, a bolt of lightning struck down, aiming at the leader. At the same time, a voice echoed in the air, Gu Xuyao’s voice, shouting loudly.

"Brats of the Green Mist Manor, your son-in-law was killed by me, Gu Xuyao. I have already left the Ru family. I just don’t like you. If you have the guts, come and face me!"