As Xiao Fan searched for Leng Ruoxue, he happened to meet her mother, Xia Jing, in the pavilion of the courtyard.
"Sir, what are you looking for? Would you like me to send servants to help you search?" Xia Jing asked politely.
"Thank you, Madam, but I'm just playing hide-and-seek with Xue'er. No need to trouble anyone." Xiao Fan smiled faintly.
Although he didn't know much about Xia Jing, he could see that she was a gentle and kind woman, only unfortunate enough to marry a scoundrel like Cold Feng.
Hearing this, Xia Jing smiled helplessly. "Xue'er is getting more unruly by the day, but it's only because you spoil her."
After a moment, she continued, "Why don't you sit and rest for a while? Xue'er will come out once she gets bored of hiding."
She then instructed her maid, Xiao Cui, "Bring the chilled sour plum soup from the kitchen for the gentleman."
Seeing this, Xiao Fan sat down without any outward reaction. Xia Jing's actions left him with no room to refuse, and he sensed something unusual about her behavior today.
He decided to see what Xia Jing was planning.
Soon, Xiao Cui brought the chilled sour plum soup.
"Sir, it's a hot day. Please have some chilled sour plum soup to refresh yourself," Xia Jing said, gesturing for Xiao Cui to serve him.
"Thank you." Xiao Fan drank the soup calmly.
Not long after drinking it, he felt a tingling sensation spread through his body. He quickly identified the effects of a paralyzing agent known as Soft Muscle Powder.
However, due to the years of exposure to various toxins in the Qingyun Sect, his body had developed a resistance, rendering such drugs ineffective.
Confident in his immunity, Xiao Fan decided to see what Xia Jing, or perhaps Cold Feng, intended to do.
Xiao Fan pretended to collapse onto the stone table in the pavilion, feigning paralysis.
"Take the gentleman to his room to rest," Xia Jing ordered the servants, showing a polite concern.
Since Xiao Fan preferred solitude, there were usually no other people in his courtyard.
After being carried to his room, Xia Jing appeared by his bedside.
Seeing him lying there immobile, Xia Jing spoke softly, "I'm sorry for this, sir. I'll apologize properly once this is over."
Xiao Fan was surprised. He had assumed that Cold Feng was behind this, impatient to extract cultivation techniques. But Xia Jing's actions confused him.
She didn't seem to be working with Cold Feng.
Deciding to continue the ruse, Xiao Fan remained motionless, curious to see what would unfold.
As night fell, Xia Jing prepared a table with wine and food, waiting for Cold Feng.
Cold Feng, informed of the situation, hurried back to the residence, eager to reach Xiao Fan's courtyard.
Seeing Xiao Fan lying paralyzed, Cold Feng's face lit up with excitement, almost to the point of madness.
After his initial excitement, Cold Feng turned to Xia Jing, his expression smug. "Madam, you've given me a wonderful surprise!"
In truth, Cold Feng hadn't expected Xia Jing to act so quickly and efficiently.
Planning to reward her, Cold Feng decided to indulge himself in front of Xiao Fan, whom he saw as already dead. After extracting the cultivation techniques, he intended to kill Xiao Fan without hesitation.
Feeling a perverse thrill at the thought of being watched, Cold Feng grabbed Xia Jing, unable to control his lust.
Outside the Haotian Mirror.
Through Xiao Fan's perspective, everyone could see Cold Feng's disgraceful behavior. They were left speechless, unable to believe the actions of the man before them.
The Empress of the North Sea, Leng Ruoxue, was trembling with rage.
Her father's disgusting behavior left her shaking in fury.
Initially, she had planned to stop watching, knowing the next scene would involve Xiao Fan killing her parents. But the situation was unfolding differently than she had expected.
Her mother's relationship with her father was not as harmonious as she had believed.
As she wondered what her mother intended, she witnessed the despicable scene before her.
Her father, once seen as a courteous and kind man, had shattered her beliefs. Now, seeing his true nature, her faith was utterly destroyed.
She couldn't even acknowledge this man as her father anymore.
Revenge for such a person was not worth it.
She now pitied her mother, caught in such a wretched situation, ultimately killed by Xiao Fan and exposed to the world.
Fortunately, the worst did not come to pass.
Inside the Haotian Mirror.
Xia Jing, though a lady of noble birth, understood propriety and could never agree to Cold Feng's vile demands. However, she played along to further her own plans.
"Dear husband, Xue'er and I depend on you. You mustn't abandon us after becoming immortal," she said, offering him a cup of wine.
"Of course, we'll be a happy couple in the heavens," Cold Feng laughed, downing the wine eagerly.
But as the drug took effect, Cold Feng realized something was wrong.
"The wine...!" Cold Feng's eyes blazed as he glared at Xia Jing.
"Yes, I added your Soft Muscle Powder to it," Xia Jing confessed, her voice steady.
With a swift movement, she aimed her hairpin at Cold Feng's neck. "Cold Feng, I won't let you harm anyone else!"
Though the drug hadn't fully taken effect, Cold Feng managed to move, albeit sluggishly. He twisted away, but Xia Jing's hairpin still sliced his carotid artery.
Blood spurted violently.
"Bitch!" Cold Feng, one hand on his neck, raised the other to strike Xia Jing.
"Stop!" Xiao Fan sprang up, trying to intervene, but he was a moment too late.