"I am the person you're talking about; the child in Xiao Wu's belly is mine."
These words crashed into everyone's hearts like a tidal wave.
As soon as he spoke, the Shrek members froze, a shockwave spreading through their minds, leaving them utterly stunned.
"What the…?" Ma Hongjun blurted out, swearing in disbelief. He couldn't help but feel admiration for Chen Xuan's audacity in "crowning" their Third Brother with a hat! He had only daydreamed about such things, but Chen Xuan had actually done what he'd only dared to think—so explosive!
Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing's heart trembled violently. She felt a sudden weakness, staggering and nearly falling.
Her fingers trembled as her voice turned frail and weak, "Chen Xuan, is… is what you're saying true?"
To everyone's surprise, the first person to speak wasn't Tang San but Zhu Zhuqing.
Dai Mubai's expression instantly turned icy, burning with fury. It was that damned guy again.
"No… it's impossible, Xuan, you must be lying, right?" Jiang Zhu's face turned pale, her emotions intense and uncontrolled as she ran over, clutching one of Xiao Wu's arms and trying to pull her away.
But as a support-type spirit master, how could she move a soul king?
"Jiang Zhu, Zhuqing, I have no reason to lie to you. The child in Xiao Wu's belly truly is mine," Chen Xuan sighed, revealing this harsh truth.
He had always known that Jiang Zhu harbored feelings for his original self, and he knew this would inevitably hurt her.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhu's body trembled, her eyes becoming hollow and dazed. She almost collapsed, saved only by Dai Mubai's quick support.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing remained calm upon hearing this, but her red eyes and teary gaze showed she was barely holding it together, her heart filled with a complicated mix of bitterness.
Everyone fell silent—not that they believed this revelation completely, but Xiao Wu's response, nestled in Chen Xuan's arms, was its own form of acquiescence.
They had not imagined how deeply Xiao Wu had been hurt before, how she had tried to block out the sounds of the world by covering her ears, a sign of her immense pain and her attempt to escape.
Perhaps, at some point, she had been pushed to despair, frightened of everyone, feeling as if she were suffocating under the weight.
And in Xiao Wu's most vulnerable moment, Chen Xuan appeared, offering her a warm embrace, shielding her from accusations, and giving her a sense of safety.
Even knowing it was Chen Xuan, someone she resisted, at this moment, she didn't want to think about anything. She only wanted to lean quietly against his solid chest.
"Xiao Wu, tell me yourself, is the child in your belly his?" Tang San's voice was hoarse, his face dark as storm clouds.
"Oh? You come here demanding answers, and now you're questioning her even more?" Chen Xuan kept Xiao Wu protectively behind him.
However, Tang San ignored him, his bloodshot eyes filled with killing intent as he coldly stared at Xiao Wu, waiting for her to answer.
Xiao Wu avoided his gaze, lowering her head, unable to meet his eyes.
Chen Xuan held her hand, giving her the warmth and sense of security she needed now, yet she kept her eyes closed, unable to look at him.
Her silent acceptance hit Tang San harder than any words could, driving him to near madness.
Seeing Xiao Wu and Chen Xuan hand in hand, their fingers intertwined without resistance, was another heavy blow, hammering at his heart.
Tang San's eyes turned blood-red, his face twisted in rage, with the last remnants of his reason consumed by fury.
"Die!"
He suddenly burst forward, raising his Zhuge Divine Crossbow and firing towards them, his movements sharp and merciless.
The Shrek members widened their eyes, utterly shocked. None of them had expected him to strike out; after all, Xiao Wu was still standing beside Chen Xuan.
If Chen Xuan died, it wouldn't matter much, as he'd only been with Shrek for a few months, but Xiao Wu was different. She was one of the original Shrek members, someone they'd known for over two years. It wasn't the same.
In truth, the moment he pulled the trigger, Tang San regretted it. The arrows covered a wide area, and there was no way Xiao Wu wouldn't get hurt.
Seeing this, Xiao Wu's eyes grew hollow with despair, her chest aching as if a dagger had pierced her heart. The one who hurt her was none other than her beloved Third Brother, leaving her heartbroken that the day had come for them to raise weapons against each other so soon.
A tear slid down her beautiful cheek, filled with bitterness and pain, leaving her deeply sorrowful.
"You really went through with it!"
Chen Xuan's gaze turned icy as he raised his hand, releasing a burst of soul power. Lightning sparked in his palm, and with a loud crack, the eighteen arrows shattered in mid-air, falling to the ground in pieces.
"You say you want to protect your little sister, yet how many times have you actually done so? Now you're even attacking her. Hypocrite!" Chen Xuan looked at him coldly.
Attacking his own sister—was this really the pure and noble Third Young Master of the Tang Clan?
"You! How dare you slander me!" Tang San glared at Chen Xuan, enraged and bloodthirsty, clearly hit in his weakest spot.
"Deep down, you know exactly what kind of person you are. Do you think you can deceive others and yourself?"
Ignoring him, Chen Xuan gently looked back at Xiao Wu, softly saying, "Don't be afraid; as long as I'm here, no one can hurt you."
Then he turned to face Tang San, his gaze fierce as he drew a white longsword from his storage soul tool, electric sparks surrounding it with a powerful surge of soul energy.
Xiao Wu's heart skipped a beat as she stared at his warm, protective figure. It felt as if his presence alone could bring endless security, soothing her troubled mind.
Her nose tingled, her eyes welling up with tears. Her heart had been shattered by the person she once loved the most, and yet the person she had once disliked, Chen Xuan, was now protecting her, defending her, and making her feel like his one and only.
Her heart was in turmoil, her thoughts like crashing waves, leaving her at a loss for what to do.
Seeing her like this, Tang San's anger flared. He knew Chen Xuan was intentionally sowing discord, but he was helpless to stop it.
"Tang San, don't think too highly of yourself. Do you really believe I'm afraid of you?" Chen Xuan's expression was cold as he held the sword, lightning dancing around it, prepared to stand up for the mother of his child.
The Shrek members looked on as the two men prepared to clash, but none stepped forward to intervene or speak, for they understood that this was far from an ordinary squabble.
Past grievances, rekindled by Xiao Wu's presence, had reignited the rivalry between Chen Xuan and Tang San. Their confrontation had now become inevitable.
Chen Xuan pointed his sword at Tang San and said, "I'll give you a chance—kneel down and apologize to Xiao Wu, and I might spare you."
"Spare me? By you?" Tang San sneered, as if achieving soul king status gave Chen Xuan the right to act arrogantly in Shrek's presence.
As filial as Tang San was, there were only two people he'd kneel to in this world—his teacher and his parents. No one else deserved such reverence.
Even if he did kneel, he doubted anyone could bear the weight of it.
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