Closing his eyes, Feng Hui calmed his emotions. Regardless of his thoughts, he was still a stranger in the eyes of the little shy beauty. In this Zhi Ruo's mind, their tender, beloved childhood never existed.
With a self-mocking smile, Feng Hui thought, "I've been blinded by my love for family. I've never stopped to wholeheartedly appreciate everything Xiao Ruo has done for me; nevertheless, I don't regret it. Without my willing end to Bohai, I would have never been able to reunite with my family."
Living in the Long Kingdom, Feng Hui was truly too uncaring.
In the end, family was the most important in Feng Hui's heart. Looking at the three 'Yang' family members in the luxurious villa, he shook his head.
"My name is Feng Hui." Smiling, Feng Hui informed the family of his name. Under the shocked looks of the four, he revealed, "I'm a friend of Zhi Ruo's true father."
This was the sole reasonable explanation Feng Hui could provide. Perhaps, Zhi Ruo would be able to understand all the mistreatment she had received within this shameless family then.
It was conceivable that Zhi Ruo was unaware of the non-blood relations between herself and this family. Naturally, from the little beauty's depressive soul, Feng Hui could discern that she had been mistreated. From now on, he would end everything wrong in her life. This was the least he could do to repay her.
Hearing that this celestial black-robed man was a 'friend' of the deity-like father of Zhi Ruo, Yang Jian became scared, "Yes, of course… we've been treating Xiao Ruo incredibly well. We would hate to part with her."
"Mn." Feng Hui wouldn't be too cruel to this shameless family. In the end, the family had still raised Zhi Ruo for twenty-four-long years.
In the future, Feng Hui would ensure that his sweetheart's depressive soul wouldn't see any more hardship and lies. Thus, he did not take any major action like killing off her 'family' which could cause everlasting traumas for her.
However, Feng Hui would still hand a suitable punishment down for all the sufferings his childhood sweetheart had experienced. Looking at her familiar beautiful soul, he was moved.
This time around, Feng Hui would descend a small punishment. In comparison to the severity of the family's crime in his mind, this was a meager gesture.
"Alter." Without warning, Feng Hui's eyes revealed a cold glint. In the blink of an eye, the family of three began visibly aging.
Time moved in a straight line.
"Ah!" Yang Jian saw his callused hands becoming incredibly wrinkly. Soon, his entire head was covered in white hair. To the side, the little white-lotus daughter's delicate face was becoming creased with some wrinkles.
"Daddy!" Yang Qingling screamed in terror. Noticing her beautiful body becoming older, she became terribly afraid.
"…" Soon after, Mother Yang directly collapsed as a result of fear.
Seeing this, Feng Hui's emotions remained cool. In his eyes, he was being benevolent. To dare treat his childhood sweetheart with such continued disrespect, this was a minor punishment in comparison to death.
"What the." Shu Shuang, the bald general, was shocked at the sight. Peering to his side, he saw the black-robed man watching everything with a pair of serene eyes.
What happened to the black-robed man's gentle aura? Shu Shuang was completely confused, and he thought, "Demon."
"Master!" With a scared face, Steward Tang hurriedly ran toward his master. Attempting to calm the sturdy middle-aged man, he was worried. Seemingly, his mighty master was even older than him now? Looking upward, he furiously stared at the mysterious black-robed man.
"Father…?" When Zhi Ruo saw her family aging by ten years in front of her, she was dazed. Who was this mysterious black-robed man? What did he want with her family? Also, what did his words mean?
Through the use of the laws of the world, Feng Hui had aged the fleshy bodies of the three 'Yang' family members by ten years.
Finally, Zhi Ruo woke up from her daze, and she sprinted toward her father. With a scared voice, she asked, "Father… please be okay."
Taking a deep breath, Feng Hui observed the Zhi Ruo in a white t-shirt running toward this shameless family. In the end, she still cared about her family. Regardless of all the maltreatment, she had lived under this household for twenty-four years.
"Zhi Ruo, it's okay." Feng Hui peacefully stepped toward the shivering little beauty. Zhi Ruo's perfect figure was further emphasized by her flawless pale skin. Wanting to rest his hand on her delicate shoulder like she had always done for him in the past, he lifted his palm.
"Slap!"
Awkwardly looking at his slapped-away hand, Feng Hui then proceeded to glance at the vexed beauty.
"Zhi Ruo…" In his entire life in the Long Kingdom, Zhi Ruo had never ever hit him. For Feng Hui, this was the first time seeing the little beauty stare at him in anger.
"Get away, monster!" Zhi Ruo dreadfully shouted at the black-robed man. While cowering with her kneeling father, she thought, "Who is he? One of those monsters from the outside?"
Nevertheless, everything took time. Retrieving his hand, Feng Hui calmly stated, "Zhi Ruo, I'm your friend. You can trust me."
How could this Zhi Ruo ever understand everything the two of them had experienced—their unforgettable life together? Toward this fact, Feng Hui was understanding. This black-haired woman was not entirely his Xiao Ruo, after all.
"You're not! No, I don't even know you…" Reaching her final sentence, Zhi Ruo actually stumbled on her words. For some reason, something within her soul screamed at her to withdraw this sentence. With some regret, she looked toward the black-robed man.
Even though Feng Hui knew that his Zhi Ruo would never say this, hearing the unfamiliarity within her words still pained his heart. Sighing, he looked toward the kneeling sturdy middle-aged father.
"Tell me, old man. Am I not being benevolent?" With a calm voice, Feng Hui stared directly at the core of the military commander's being.
Facing this all-seeing stare, Yang Jian was terrified. Not daring to lie, he stuttered, "Yes… very benevolent. We've wronged your friend's daughter. This much punishment is nothing. We're sorry from the bottom of our hearts!"
"Daddy, why are you kneeling before this evil man?! He hurt us!" Picking herself up from the carpet floor, Yang Qingling screamed. In her entire life, her almighty father had always shielded her from everything.
"Shut up!" Yang Jian roared at his spoilt daughter. In fear, he redirected his attention toward the black-robed man. With respect in his voice, he pleaded, "Master, please don't listen to her crazy ramblings…"
Feng Hui coldly looked at this extremely-pampered white-lotus girl. With a single glance, he could discern that this girl was given everything in life. From birth, she was definitely loved by everyone.
With anger, Feng Hui returned to stare at the fallen commander. If this man had only treated his other daughter with similar respect, he would have assisted this father with everything as repayment.
Nevertheless, that was all lost now. Facing this shameless family, Feng Hui solely felt unpleasantness. Perhaps, in a different time, it could have been different.
Quickly noticing Zhi Ruo's visible unease, Feng Hui even crouched on one knee right in front of her. With a tender voice, he muttered, "One day, you'll understand. Believe me."
Hearing the single word 'believe', Zhi Ruo's mind subconsciously wanted to trust this unknown black-robed man. With a soft voice, she whispered, "I won't… you hurt my family."
"You will." Standing up, Feng Hui offered his hand once more. In his entire life, no one had ever declined him twice.
No, it was more accurate to say that Feng Hui had never offered his help twice upon being declined once. Within his family, he was trusted unconditionally.
Looking at this outreached hand, Zhi Ruo subconsciously wanted to tightly hold onto this warm gesture. With an uneasy voice, she softly murmured, "What are you doing to me? Why do I feel this way toward you…?"
The entire time upon seeing this mysterious black-robed man, Zhi Ruo had wanted to jump into his embrace. The reason was unbeknownst to her; nevertheless, she could not due to the scary circumstances.
Was this man one of those lemures who everyone would fear within the villa?
Was her mind being controlled?
Zhi Ruo was fearful, but she still wanted to accept this hand. Lifting her soft pale hand, she ended up deciding to trust this black-robed man.
In the end, Zhi Ruo was willing to trust the loud crying of her soul. Truthfully, any life outside would still be better than being constantly harassed within this family. As a suppressed girl, she was willing to take the chance!
No matter what, Zhi Ruo was unwilling to have her future decided through a whim by this family! Toward that vicious gang leader, she was frightened and averse. Seeing his disturbing gaze, she always wanted to run away.
But could she really trust this mysterious black-robed man? Zhi Ruo wasn't certain.
Feeling the soft little hand lying in his contrasting large palm, Feng Hui smiled. "You won't regret this decision. I promise."
The smiling handsome black-robed man emitted a celestial aura. Still shivering, Zhi Ruo thought, "Really, who is he…?"