Chapter 148: A Difficult Road Ahead (Part I)

Su Yanfeng spread the canvas out on the ground before Su Nanxing. "Seventeen, you are still young. There are many hidden secrets in Weishui that you do not know. Ruanruan is a demoness incarnate. If we spare her life, she will surely turn Weishui upside down and plunge the mortal world into misery."

"How can Father be so certain that Ruanruan is a demoness incarnate?"

Su Yanfeng sighed. "Your mother and I were playing with the two of them when Ruanruan suddenly collapsed unconscious. Immediately after, a red eye appeared on her forehead, exactly like the one in this drawing. It lasted for about a quarter of an hour, and both of us saw it clearly."

Su Nanxing looked at the white cloth on the ground. "Does having a red eye on one's forehead automatically make someone a demon? Who made up such a rule?"

Su Yanfeng earnestly tried to persuade him. "Seventeen, while she is still young, eliminating her early is the best course of action."

Su Nanxing recalled how Tao Ming usually treated Ruanruan. "Father, you also know she is still young. Why not think of guiding her properly instead?"

Su Yanfeng angrily retorted, "Do demons have any human nature? What is the use of guidance?"

Su Nanxing stood up. "There is no point in speaking with those who do not see eye to eye. I take my leave."

In his anger, Su Yanfeng struck out, tossing a confinement array in an attempt to trap Su Nanxing in place.

White flames surged from Su Nanxing's hands. The confinement array emitted a harsh, screeching sound before it was quickly burned through, losing its spiritual power and dissipating into the air.

Su Yanfeng and Qiao Ruowei joined forces and advanced. Surging flames erupted around Su Nanxing. "Do not force me to fight back."

"Seventeen, how dare you commit patricide and matricide?" Su Yanfeng was furious, holding nothing back in his attacks.

Su Nanxing said not a word. The white flames rushed toward the two of them. Su Yanfeng shielded Qiao Ruowei behind him and activated every single defensive array on his body. However, the Su family's cultivation arts could only control wood, which offered zero resistance against flames that naturally countered them. Step by step, the two of them were forced back into the inner courtyard by Su Nanxing.

Su Nanxing lifted his foot and walked out of the Su estate.

Qiao Ruowei shrieked behind him, "Seventeen!"

...

The Seventh Prince altered his appearance all the way, slipping into the Hu family's inner courtyard. Investigating along the way, he found Hu Lianmeng's boudoir, threw the Hu sisters onto the bed, fed each of them a pill, and turned to leave.

A moment later, Hu Lianmeng slowly opened her eyes. Sensing someone beside her, she felt a start of panic. Turning her head, she saw her younger sister, Hu Yimeng, and finally let out a sigh of relief.

She patted Hu Yimeng's cheek. "Little sleepyhead, why are you sleeping in my room?"

Hu Yimeng drowsily hummed and opened her eyes as well. "Elder sister, where am I?"

"Sleeping in my bed, where else would you be?" Hu Lianmeng sat up, feeling a lingering dizziness in her head.

Hu Yimeng was utterly bewildered. "Sister, I remember going to the Sixth Prince's residence with you. When did we get back?"

Hu Lianmeng recalled slightly. "Was it not because you said you felt dizzy that I left the banquet early with you?"

"It does seem that way, but..." A pair of red eyes flashed through Hu Yimeng's mind. Could she have been dreaming?

"But what?" Hu Lianmeng stroked her own wrist, wondering why it felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Hu Yimeng said uncertainly, "Sister, I think I saw something bizarre."

"You must have been dreaming. Hurry up and get up." Hu Lianmeng got out of bed and called out toward the outer room, "Someone come here."

Soon, a young maid pushed the door open and asked in surprise, "When did the two young misses return to the estate?"

Hu Lianmeng and Hu Yimeng exchanged a glance, both seeing a look of terror in the other's eyes.

Hu Lianmeng steadied her nerves and instructed, "Prepare some water."

The maid acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Hu Yimeng lowered her voice. "Someone tampered with our memories."

"Quickly check if anything went wrong." Hu Lianmeng unfastened her sash.

The two of them undressed to inspect themselves, and only after seeing that everything was normal did they breathe a massive sigh of relief.

Hu Yimeng said cautiously, "Sister, even if we cannot remember what happened right now, it would be best if the two of us do not speak carelessly."

"I know."

...

When Su Nanxing walked into the Pansi Cave, the Seventh Prince had already been sitting by Tao Ming's bedside for a long time.

Tao Ming lay unconscious, her face flushed with an unnatural crimson, her entire body still burning hot.

The Seventh Prince gazed quietly at Tao Ming as numerous images surfaced in his mind.

In his memories, the little girl had been vibrant and lively, pestering him all day long to talk:

"Brother, I sneaked off to the mortal realm to play today."

"Brother, I made a friend."

"Brother, he is foolish enough to think I am human too!"

"Brother, he said he wants to marry me today!"

"Brother, will you carry me out on your back when I get married?"

After marriage, that same little girl had gradually lost her vitality.

"Brother, I was wrong."

"Brother, why is he so cruel?"

"Brother, I am tired."

"Brother, live on well."

"Brother..."

Qin Siyu stood before the main room's door with his hands behind his back. Seeing Su Nanxing walk into the courtyard, he said in a deep voice, "Young Master Su, follow me."

Su Nanxing followed behind Qin Siyu into a small room deep within the Pansi Cave.

"Young Master Su, let the marriage between you and Mingming end here."

Su Nanxing eagerly replied, "Father, I have already broken away from the Su family. In this lifetime, I will surely take good care of Mingming."

Qin Siyu had his reservations. "Young Master Su, you must already know that Mingming has demon blood flowing through her veins."

Even though Su Nanxing was mentally prepared, hearing Qin Siyu state outright that Tao Ming was a demon still came as a shock. However, the moment he walked out of the Su estate, he had already made up his mind. He replied with a firm tone, "I love Mingming, regardless of whether she is human or demon."

Qin Siyu still tried to dissuade him. "Young Master Su, this path will be extremely difficult."

"Pardon my boldness, but may I ask about Mingming's biological mother..." Su Nanxing could not understand why Tao Ming was a demon—she was Qin Siyu's own biological daughter, after all!

Qin Siyu's tone was calm. "She is one as well."

Su Nanxing instead felt a sense of relief. "Father, what you were able to do, I can do as well."

"Young Master Su, Mingming's situation is different from Sisi's. Sisi was heavily injured back then, and with no other options left, she accepted the help of the demons just to claw back her life." Qin Siyu spoke slowly, not even knowing what kind of answer he hoped to receive. "She was originally human, so her demonic nature is not heavy. Mingming was born with demonic nature, and Ruanruan is even more so."

Su Nanxing's doubts were put to rest. Remembering Tao Ming's usual words and actions, he asked, "Mingming is so kind-hearted, how can she have a demonic nature?"

Qin Siyu sighed. "Mingming somehow came into contact with the blood of a dying person, and that was what triggered the demonic nature dormant within her body."

Su Nanxing was profoundly shocked, immediately thinking of the woman who had committed suicide with a hairpin in the holy temple. That was also the very first time the eye on Tao Ming's forehead had appeared.

"Young Master Su, better a short pain than a long one."

"Father, I love Mingming, and Mingming loves me. If she wakes up and I am not by her side, she will surely be heartbroken and grieved." Su Nanxing thought to himself that he would never let go now. "Father, can you bear to watch Mingming weep in tears day after day?"

Tao Sisi's voice drifted in from outside: "Nanxing, Mother supports you. Go accompany Mingming quickly."

Su Nanxing dropped to his knees and deeply kowtowed to Tao Sisi. "Thank you, Mother, for granting this." He then added, "I brought a few people out from the Su family; I must trouble Mother to settle them."

"Get up. Return to the outer courtyard first, and I will follow shortly."

Knowing that Tao Sisi and Qin Siyu had things to discuss, Su Nanxing stood up and left the small room.

Seeing Su Nanxing walk away, Qin Siyu sighed. "Sisi, you should not have kept him."

Tao Sisi turned and walked away. "If that is the case, I will simply leave with her family."

Qin Siyu pulled Tao Sisi into a tight embrace. "You are trying to drive me to my death."

Tao Sisi turned back around. "You cannot bear to let me go, and Nanxing cannot bear to let Mingming go either!"

"Sisi, I am simply worried that as time passes, Su Nanxing will regret this."