Chapter 241: Xiao Huan's Plan
The young man's eyes widened, as if still lingering in the peaceful moment of the last second.
Xiao Huan calmly retracted his hand without any expression on his face, not even looking at Xiao Sanlang who had a complex expression behind him.
"You had planned to do this a long time ago?" Xiao Sanlang spoke, silently gazing at the slender and lonely figure before him.
The snow-white fox fur was stained with blood, even Xiao Huan's wrist was stained with Xiao Sui's blood. The young man had his back to him, his long black hair cascading down to his waist, unable to see his face or the expression on it.
"Sanlang, isn't it strange?" Xiao Huan smiled bitterly, his voice still sounding calm and peaceful as before. "People are never satisfied. They long for something until they finally have it in their hands, only to feel disgusted and regretful."
Xiao Huan admitted that he had intentionally arranged for Xiao Sui and Qiao Wan to conflict with each other since they arrived in Kunshan.
Now Xiao Sui has finally died just as he had planned. In his heart, he feels a little reluctant and pity towards his younger brother. All those years of being together, saying there was no emotion was a lie. He has always loved Xiao Sui sincerely. But compared to this brotherly love, there is something more important to him.
Gently touching Xiao Sui's eyes, Xiao Huan's tongue feels bitter and there is a faint pain in his heart, he sighs softly, "Little Sui, go to sleep. It doesn't hurt anymore. Big brother is sorry for you."
Knowing that this is the last look, Xiao Huan lowers his gaze and looks at the boy on the ground for a long time. Then he turns around and walks towards the camp behind him, "Sanlang, I'm tired. As for Little Sui, carry him inside. Later, I still have to explain to the head of the family."
Xiao Jingzhou received the news very quickly. After all, this was his most beloved son and the successor he favored. Although he lacked a little in ability, he still had more than forty years left to live. He gave Little Sui forty years of time, believing that with these forty years, he would eventually become a capable successor.
But what they didn't expect was that Xiao Sui had actually died!
Looking at the lifeless young man lying on the ground, his neck hanging limply to one side, it was clear that someone had forcefully snapped his neck.
Xiao Jingzhou's face turned cold as he closed Xiao Sui's eyes. He stood up and looked into Xiao Huan's eyes, a hint of bone-chilling coldness evident.
"Who did this? Have you found out yet?"
Xiao Jingzhou's eyes were cold and icy, staring at him without blinking.
Xiao Huan, on the other hand, remained calm. He calmly met Xiao Jingzhou's gaze and after a while, he looked away, his voice slightly hoarse.
"When I arrived, Little Sui was already dead."
Xiao Jingzhou looked at Xiao Huan and knew that his son was ruthless, just like him. When he received the news, he never doubted that it was Xiao Huan who did it. But can a person really hide for decades like that?
Xiao Jingzhou was unsure and didn't say anything, calmly asking, "Do you have any suspects in mind?"
Xiao Huan shook his head and replied, "At the moment, there are no clear suspects. If we really must ask, Kunshan's Qiao Wan had a disagreement with Little Sui, so she might be a suspect. However, she has already cut ties with the Xiao family and shouldn't have any reason to harm Little Sui. After all, if Little Sui dies, everyone will suspect her."
Xiao Jingzhou narrowed his eyes, his old gaze revealing unknown thoughts. After a moment of silence, he asked in a low voice, "Where is Qiao Wan now?"
Xiao Huan calmly shifted his gaze away and tiredly said, "I don't know. Perhaps we'll have to send someone to find her."
Xiao Jingzhou stood up and said, "First, take me to the place where you found Little Sui."
Watching Xiao Jingzhou walk away, Xiao Huan smiled, his smile containing a hint of sadness and disappointment.
After struggling for decades, Xiao Huan finally managed to dispel some of Xiao Jingzhou's doubts. But as a father, he couldn't let himself off the hook. He would have to wait for Xiao Jingzhou to investigate everything before making a judgment.
Xiao Sanlang witnessed everything in silence. He couldn't say whether Xiao Huan was right or wrong. He had spent the most time with Xiao Huan and had seen how Xiao Sui used to bully him when they were children, and how he would then try to please everyone in this household like a dog wagging its tail.
Later on, everyone in the Xiao family praised Xiao Huan for being gentle, polite, and never holding grudges. Even Xiao Sui, who used to bully him and push him into the mud, started following him around like a little brother.
Xiao Sanlang couldn't blame Xiao Huan, who could endure and be ruthless.
And at this moment, Qiao Wan and Fang Lingqing were still battling these monsters in front of them.
As they saw the horde of beasts growing stronger, there was still no sign of reinforcements.
"Where are the people?!" Fang Lingqing finally couldn't bear it any longer and angrily shouted, "Why haven't the people arrived yet?! Did Xiao Sui run away?!"
With a strong kick and a pull, Qiao Wan took the sword out of the monster's chest, catching her breath and saying, "Just a little longer."
She had a vague feeling that Xiao Sui wouldn't run away.
When it was just the three of them before, Xiao Sui had never run away. If he could bring reinforcements now, there was no need for Qiao Wan to fight so hard and she might even owe him a favor. There was simply no possibility that Xiao Sui had run away.
Unless, he had been intercepted by monsters on the way and became an extra meal.
But Qiao Wan didn't dare to think about that consequence.
Lu Cixian was also rushing here, but whether he would arrive in time was still uncertain.
As they saw more and more monsters surrounding them, Qiao Wan and Fang Lingqing pressed their backs together with silent understanding, gritting their teeth and continuing to hold on.
The more they fought, the more confused Fang Lingqing felt.
Why does Qiao Wan's fighting style resemble Lu Cixian's? Could it be that they've spent so much time together that even their moves are influenced?
But before they could contemplate further, there was finally some commotion in the distance.
Looking through the blood-red scene in front of them, they could only hear the sound of swords clashing as a disciple from the Xiao family bravely charged into the horde of monsters!
It's reinforcements!
Fang Lingqing's spirits lifted, reinforcements had finally arrived!
With the addition of the Xiao family disciples in the battle, the pressure on Qiao Wan and Fang Lingqing eased. With one group breaking through from the inside and the other attacking from the outside, the monsters here were soon completely wiped out. Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, the remaining monsters retreated.
A path stained with blood was cleared, and Xiao Jingzhou emerged from it.
Compared to Zhou Yan and considering his limited lifespan, Xiao Jingzhou didn't take unnecessary risks and rarely made a move. Besides, he didn't need to personally deal with clearing out monsters.
Qiao Wan was confused when she saw Xiao Jingzhou. She sensed that something was wrong. Why would Xiao Jingzhou come here? Did they really need Xiao Jingzhou's help to save them? Even Fang Lingqing noticed that something was off. He wondered if Xiao Sui had brought his father here to help them.
To their surprise, just as they cleared a space, more than ten guards from the Xiao family appeared. They coldly aimed their weapons at Qiao Wan and Fang Lingqing.
Fang Lingqing's face showed relief when he thought they were saved, but it quickly turned serious as he realized the situation wasn't looking good.
"Qiao Wan," Xiao Jingzhou approached with each step, his gaze carefully scanning her face. "Have you seen Little Sui?"
There was a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.
"Little Sui?" Qiao Wan frowned. "Aren't you and the taoist friend Xiao supposed to have called him?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingzhou's dark and aged eyes locked onto her, as if trying to find out something from her face. After a while, he spoke lightly, "Little Sui is dead."
Regardless of the impact this statement would have on Qiao Wan and Fang Lingqing, it didn't matter to him.
Qiao Wan was stunned. It took her a full half-second to digest the meaning behind Xiao Jingzhou's words.
Xiao Sui... is dead?!
Sometimes, the separation of life and death comes suddenly, especially for cultivators. One day, you see someone, and the next day, you hear that they've died in some secret realm or in the mouth of a monster. It's commonplace in their world.
Upon hearing this news, Qiao Wan couldn't quite describe her feelings. She didn't have much of a connection with Xiao Sui, but they had recently formed a bond through their shared hardships. Upon hearing that Xiao Sui had died, she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
But as soon as they saw the situation, they realized that something suspicious might have happened to Xiao Sui. The Xiao family was suspicious that she was responsible for Xiao Sui's death.
"Senior Xiao," Qiao Wan asked in a serious tone, "Is there something suspicious about Taoist Friend Xiao's death?"
Xiao Jingzhou continued to look at her, his calm eyes fixed on her face. "Yes."
"Okay," Qiao Wan said without wasting any time. She neatly put away her sword. "I will go with you right away, senior."
Qiao Wan understood, and Xiao Jingzhou nodded to signal the guards around them to put away their weapons. "I appreciate your efforts. If it has nothing to do with you, I will apologize to you myself."
With a command, the long swords were sheathed one after another.
Unexpectedly, just as the old man turned to leave, a sudden change occurred!!
A large sword drew a deep and cold arc in the air.
This unexpected attack was not aimed at Qiao Wan and Fang Lingqing, but at Xiao Jingzhou's shoulder from behind!
Oh no!
Qiao Wan's heart skipped a beat, and almost at the same moment, she used her incredible footwork to pounce forward. But in the next second, she was stopped by two blades, unable to move at all.
Fang Lingqing was instantly dumbfounded, staring blankly at the Xiaojia warriors who had just been protecting Xiao Jingzhou in a life-and-death battle. Now, most of them had turned their weapons towards their own leader and comrades.
The enemy's movements were too fast, with swords and knives slashing wildly. The outcome of the battle was already determined.
Qiao Wan and Fang Lingqing were held back by the swords, and with just one step forward, their windpipes would be cut open.
The remaining Xiaojia guards couldn't believe that their comrades would attack them.
The guards of Xiaojia exclaimed in confusion and disbelief, "Leader?!"
When the attack came from their comrades who had fought side by side, before they could even finish speaking or be shocked, they became lifeless souls under the blades, falling in a heap.
The person who was quick with their eyes and hands rushed towards Xiao Jingzhou , but just a few steps away from Xiao Jingzhou , their head was cut off with a sword and rolled to Xiao Jingzhou's feet.
As for Xiao Jingzhou , he was hit by more than ten sword strikes all over his body, bleeding profusely. But in the eyes of the old man, a burst of dazzling cold light erupted!
"Xiao Huan , this little scoundrel, finally couldn't control himself?" Despite being betrayed and attacked, Xiao Jingzhou didn't show any panic, but instead revealed a cold smile as if he had expected it. "You want to go after my old man?"
None of the Xiao family guards present answered.
"Just with this move? Do you think you can kill me?" Suddenly, Xiao Jingzhou looked up and laughed, making a few crisp cracking sounds. His old body seemed to grow taller like bamboo joints, one after another.
Although his cultivation was low, how could he have lived to this age without any lifesaving tricks up his sleeve? How could he not be cautious in the face of this menacing adversary?
Suddenly, Xiao Jingzhou's ten finger joints swelled up like sharp steel knives piercing through the skin.
But halfway through stretching his fingers and body, they suddenly stopped moving.
Xiao Jingzhou's face changed drastically, as the calm and disdain in his eyes quickly disappeared.
Witnessing this scene, it was finally a guard from the Xiao family who spoke up, "Young master, the patriarch wants me to tell you that he says you're old and can't support the Xiao family anymore."
Xiao Jingzhou's face grimaced as he looked up, "When did he make a move?"
"Just a moment ago, young master. He poisoned Xiao Sui's body."
Without changing his expression, the guard from the Xiao family raised the knife in his hand and swiftly decapitated Xiao Jingzhou , looking down at the half-collapsed corpse that hadn't had time to react.
Qiao Wan and Fang Lingqing were completely shocked and unable to speak at this moment.
The guards of the Xiao family looked at the headless body on the ground and calmly explained, "The young master says that you, the family head, have grown old and soft-hearted. You have gone from being the ruthless leader who killed his own brother and wife to becoming a useless person whose mind is clouded by the pain of losing a child."
"If you, the family head, don't touch young master Xiao Sui, perhaps the young master will spare your life and allow you to continue ruling over the Xiao family."
Whether this can be considered the last chance that the son gives to his biased father, no one can say for sure.
"But now, it's very unfortunate."
As soon as Xiao Jingzhou closed Xiao Sui's eyes, the poison started to take effect.
Xiao Huan, unable to reconcile with his blood relations, used this connection to kill those who wronged him.
After completing all of this, the guards of the Xiao family suddenly turned their gaze towards Qiao Wan and Fang Lingqing.
Qiao Wan and Fang Lingqing both took a step back and looked at each other.
Fang Lingqing silently tore off a piece of cloth and roughly wrapped the wound.
Qiao Wan expressionlessly put back on the half-broken mask.
Xiao Sui's death was definitely caused by Xiao Huan. Since they arrived in Kunshan, Xiao Huan has been manipulating her and turning her against Xiao Sui, breaking their relationship with Kunshan.
There's no clear explanation for the sudden appearance of the monster just now.
Qiao Wan realized that she was too naive to think that relying on Xiao Jingzhou alone could temporarily restrain Xiao Huan and Xiao Sui.
From the very beginning, when they first met on Yuqing Peak, it wasn't a coincidence.
Xiao Huan targeted her from the start, using Mu Xiaoxiao to fuel the conflict between her and Xiao Sui. His plan was to blame her for Xiao Sui's death and lure Xiao Jingzhou into a meeting, creating an opportunity to kill him.
Based on the current situation, it would be a miracle if they could survive!
Just as they were about to fight their way out, suddenly, a blood-red hood descended upon them.
To everyone's surprise, the dozen or so Xiao family guards took one look at them and raised their swords, choosing to end their own lives before them.
At the same time, Qiao Wan suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of her head. She stumbled and before losing consciousness, she heard a familiar voice, gentle but with a hint of coldness.
"The rebellious Qiao Wan, first killed my younger brother and then fled in fear, and now killed my father. Kunshan will take care of her."
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