The crowd froze in shock.
Rumors had long circulated that Chu Haotian was deeply enamored with Qin Ziyu, so much so that he even intended to make her his Dao Companion. Yet here he stood, poised to end her life to avoid offending Chu Wuchen.
Was he truly going to kill her?
With a flash, the mystical blade in Chu Haotian's hand descended mercilessly, gleaming with deadly intent. His eyes were cold, devoid of any emotion.
Thud!
Blood spurted into the air, painting a crimson arc. Qin Ziyu's head separated from her body, and blood gushed, a vivid red against the back of the mythical beast upon which they stood. Her head fell to the ground, her eyes wide with terror, frozen in the last moment of disbelief.
Chu Haotian reached out, grabbing her head as if it were nothing more than a lifeless object.
A wave of spiritual senses swept over the scene, probing to confirm the truth: Qin Ziyu… was dead.
From the shadows, hidden observers watched closely. Among them were several elders from the Chu clan, including a golden-haired elder whose imposing presence radiated respect and authority. This elder, none other than Chu Haotian's grandfather, showed a faint trace of satisfaction beneath his stern expression.
Despite the disappointment Chu Haotian had previously brought him, he had once held high hopes for his grandson, investing both time and effort in nurturing his talents. And now, it appeared Chu Haotian had finally come around, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for his ambitions. The elder's silent nod conveyed both approval and expectation.
"Qin Ziyu… deserved to die!" he thought.
Somewhere in the crowd, a faint murmur echoed: Chu Haotian… how terrifying!
This sentiment resonated silently among the onlookers. To so ruthlessly end Qin Ziyu's life and remain utterly composed amidst the bloodshed spoke volumes about Chu Haotian's cunning and resolve. He could have killed her beforehand, away from prying eyes, but instead, he chose this very public spectacle, leaving no doubts about his intentions.
Beside Chu Wuchen, Chu Ling'er's delicate brows knit in thought. With a quick whisper, she communicated her unease.
"Lord Heavenly Sovereign, I don't feel right about this. Chu Haotian is known for his vengeful and ruthless nature—this doesn't fit his usual approach."
Chu Wuchen responded with a soft, amused smile.
"If you can sense there's something amiss, then there surely is," he replied.
Chu Ling'er's cheeks flushed slightly in embarrassment, but she quickly shifted back to a serious demeanor, realizing that Chu Wuchen must have noticed something himself. His faint smile curved into a smirk of disdain as he watched the scene unfold, his voice low and mocking.
"To think he'd try to deceive me with such tricks. Does he believe I'd be blind to the truth?"
The level of deception at play was impressive. Chu Haotian had managed to fool almost everyone—even the elder clan members hidden in the shadows remained oblivious to the illusion. Such a feat was no small matter. He had invested a great deal in this performance.
The elder smiled in mock satisfaction, leaning forward as if to leave.
"Now that the matter is resolved, I shall take my leave," Chu Haotian said, turning on the back of his beast with a slightly dark expression that everyone could detect. The crowd sensed his frustration but didn't find it unreasonable; in fact, it only seemed natural given the circumstances. Although Qin Ziyu had brought this fate upon herself, her actions had ultimately stained Chu Haotian's reputation.
But as he moved to depart, a voice called out.
"Wait."
The crowd turned to see Chu Wuchen, his eyes glinting with a mischievous smile.
"You just promised to present her head to me, did you not?" he said with a cool air of mockery. "Have you forgotten already?"
A flicker of anger crossed Chu Haotian's face.
"Chu Wuchen, do you really seek to humiliate me?"
Among the onlookers, a murmur of sympathy rose, but Chu Wuchen laughed lightly.
"It's not I who seek to humiliate you," he said with an edge of contempt. "Rather, I feel as though you insult my intelligence."
The crowd exchanged puzzled glances. What could he mean?
But in Chu Haotian's eyes, a hint of panic flickered—a crack in his mask of composure. Chu Wuchen's gaze pierced him, brimming with cold amusement.
"Did you really think," Chu Wuchen continued, "that your little trick could fool these eyes?"
The crowd gasped, eyes shifting back to Chu Haotian, and suspicion began to brew among them. His face tensed as his fists clenched. "I don't know what you're talking about," he spat through gritted teeth, but his eyes betrayed his rising panic.
Just as he prepared to turn away, a powerful presence descended from above. A golden aura pulsed in the air, and Chu Haotian stumbled as the force of it swept over him. The crowd's attention whipped toward the figure—his golden-haired grandfather, his face thunderous with fury. In one swift motion, the elder reached into Chu Haotian's bag and pulled forth a severed head.
It was Qin Ziyu's.
A potent wave of golden energy surged from his hand, flooding into the head. With a piercing scream, a tiny spirit form appeared, a miniature version of Qin Ziyu herself.
"She… she's still alive?!"
Murmurs of astonishment erupted among the crowd. Moments earlier, they had felt her life force vanish completely. Yet here she was, very much alive, trembling in terror as she looked toward Chu Haotian's grandfather, whose face was pale with a mix of anger and disappointment. His gaze bore into Chu Haotian with an intensity that caused everyone to fall silent.
The elder's voice was low and hard. "You have disappointed me beyond measure," he growled, his voice thick with fury.
Chu Haotian stammered, his eyes darting as he struggled to explain, "Grandfather, I—"
Smack!
The elder's hand came down hard on Chu Haotian's face, leaving a red imprint across his cheek that bled slightly.
Everyone around them stared in stunned silence, the weight of the elder's anger pressing down on them. Chu Haotian's grandfather was known throughout the Chu clan, a warrior who had defended their family countless times in battles. His power and reputation were immense, and seeing him so enraged was a rare and terrifying sight.
Meanwhile, Qin Ziyu screamed, her spirit form caught in the elder's grasp as he squeezed tighter, draining the last of her life force. "Grandfather, please don't—" Chu Haotian begged, his voice cracking, but his grandfather's face remained cold as iron.
"Return!" the elder roared, his voice echoing across the gathering, and with one final, merciless twist, he crushed the spirit of Qin Ziyu.
The surrounding crowd watched in a mix of awe and fear as the elder turned, his wrath still palpable in the air. Many knew of his fearsome reputation, having led the Chu clan to victory in countless wars. Now, seeing his fury so unleashed in public sent a chill through even the bravest among them.
Chu Haotian clenched his fists, his face darkening with humiliation as he slunk away, every eye upon him.