"Yichen, you..." Liu Xingchi slowly stepped forward, his cloudy eyes filled with an indescribable complexity, like a dark river beneath overcast skies, unfathomable.
He stared intently at Liu Yichen, his lips trembling slightly as if he wanted to say more, but in the end, no words came out.
The air was thick with tension, like a taut string stretched to its limit, ready to snap at any moment. The oppressive atmosphere pressed down on everyone's shoulders, making it hard to breathe.
Liu Yichen could clearly hear his own heartbeat in the suffocating silence, each thud like a dull drumbeat pounding against his chest. His palms were slightly sweaty, the sticky sensation making him uncomfortable. Visually, he took in Liu Xingchi's slightly hunched figure and the varied expressions of those around him—some gloating, others expressionless—all enveloped in the tense atmosphere.
"Family Head, this rebellious son has caused such a scene, offending the Mo family. How will our Liu family maintain its standing in Sunset City?" Liu Xingchi finally spoke, his voice strained, as if suppressing a volcano of anger. "In my opinion, we should expel him from the family as soon as possible to appease the Mo family!" As he spoke, Liu Yichen caught a faint whiff of alcohol on his breath, the smell mingling with the oppressive atmosphere, making him feel a wave of disgust.
"Enough!" Liu Zhenyue's roar was like a sudden clap of thunder, reverberating in everyone's ears, leaving a buzzing sensation as if countless bees were swarming in their heads. The sound was so intense it caused a momentary dizziness.
His hair and beard seemed to bristle with anger, and a powerful aura erupted from him, like a fierce gale sweeping through the room, leaving everyone struggling to breathe.
The pressure was palpable, as if a heavy stone were pressing on their chests, making each breath a laborious effort.
Liu Yichen felt the scene before him blur slightly under the force of the aura. Beyond the buzzing in his ears, he could hear the sound of his blood rushing faster, like a turbulent river coursing through his body.
Initially, Liu Yichen had felt some unease. After all, the Mo family was a formidable force, and his recent actions could indeed bring trouble to the family. But seeing his grandfather so resolutely defend him, a warm current surged in his heart, like a ray of sunshine breaking through a cold winter's day. At the same time, his fighting spirit was ignited.
He took a step forward, the ground beneath his feet providing a reassuring solidity. He could feel every point of contact between his soles and the floor. Addressing the crowd, he declared, "Grandfather is right. What of the Mo family? I, Liu Yichen, take full responsibility for my actions. If the Mo family dares to cause trouble, I will make sure they regret it!" A sharp aura emanated from Liu Yichen, intertwining with Liu Zhenyue's, causing Liu Aoqiong and the others to shudder.
They had assumed Liu Yichen was nothing more than a spoiled young master, but now they saw a different side of him. Regret flickered in their hearts for their earlier provocations.
In that moment, Liu Yichen noticed the faint pallor on Liu Aoqiong's face.
"Elder Brother, Xingchi has a point. This boy has changed drastically, acting recklessly. Sooner or later, he will bring disaster to the family!" Liu Aoqiong's voice was icy, like a snake slithering through grass, sending chills down everyone's spine.
He stood to the side, his eyes flickering as if calculating something, like ghostly flames in the darkness.
When Liu Yichen looked at him, he could sense a cold, sinister aura emanating from him, as if the temperature around them had dropped. Liu Yichen's skin prickled with goosebumps, the discomfort heightening his alertness.
"Indeed, Elder Brother, the Mo family is not to be trifled with. What if they..." Liu Haomiao chimed in, his voice tinged with worry, though a glint of schadenfreude flashed in his eyes.
His voice trembled slightly, like leaves rustling in the wind, ready to fall at any moment.
Liu Yichen heard the falseness in his tone, like a rotten fruit—outwardly normal but decayed within. He frowned, as if catching a whiff of something foul (though there was none), a visceral reaction to Liu Haomiao's hypocrisy.
Liu Zhenyue's gaze was like burning flames, sweeping over the crowd. He snorted coldly, "My decision is final. This matter is closed! Anyone who dares to touch Yichen will face the consequences, regardless of familial ties!" His aura intensified, like a mountain pressing down, forcing Liu Aoqiong and Liu Haomiao to take a few steps back.
Their footsteps scraped against the ground, producing faint, scurrying sounds, like rats being driven away.
Liu Yichen watched their retreat with disdain, hearing their panicked footsteps, which sounded particularly jarring in the silence, like shrill screams.
Liu Aoqiong's eyes darted, and he forced a smile. "Since Elder Brother is so insistent, we won't say more. However, at the family conference in two months, it will be a matter of strength. Young Master, you'd better perform well and not disgrace our Liu family." His tone carried a veiled threat, like a hidden thorn, his cold gaze cutting into Liu Yichen like a blade.
Liu Yichen felt a cold breeze brush his face. He met Liu Aoqiong's eyes, seeing the malice within, like a bottomless abyss. The visual impact made him clench his fists.
Liu Yichen's lips curled into a faint, disdainful smile. "Then we'll see." His voice was calm and firm, like deep, still waters.
As he spoke, he felt his lips slightly chapped, the dryness contrasting with the resolve in his heart. He could hear his voice echoing in the space, a sense of emptiness as if his words were a declaration to all.
"Hmph, an arrogant brat!" Liu Xingchi snorted coldly, flicking his sleeve as he left.
The movement of his sleeve stirred a faint breeze that brushed against everyone's faces, like a cold hand passing by.
Liu Yichen caught a whiff of the scent carried by the breeze—a stale, musty odor, like an old, abandoned house.
As Liu Xingchi departed, the tension in the air seemed to ease slightly. Liu Yichen felt the air flow more freely. He took a deep breath, the freshness of the air filling his nostrils, though it still carried the lingering tension.
"Family Head, Xun'er... Xun'er is missing..." A servant rushed in, his face pale as a sheet, his voice trembling like a flickering candle in the wind.
When Liu Yichen heard the news, it felt like a blow to his head. His ears buzzed before he could fully process the servant's words.
He saw the servant's figure swaying before his eyes, the movement making him feel dizzy. A wave of nausea rose in his stomach, a physical reaction to the psychological shock.
Liu Xingchi, his face dark, strode down the corridor, the sound of his shoes hitting the ground echoing like urgent drumbeats.
Liu Yichen could hear the sound reverberating through the corridor, growing fainter but the urgency of the rhythm etched into his mind.
He watched Liu Xingchi's retreating figure, the shadowy silhouette in the corridor appearing sinister. His eyes were filled with confusion and worry, the visual impact deepening his unease.
Liu Aoqiong and Liu Haomiao followed closely, the atmosphere so heavy it felt like it could drip with moisture. The air seemed to congeal, making every movement sluggish.
Liu Yichen watched them leave, sensing a conspiratorial air about them, like a mist in the darkness, elusive and unsettling.
He stood still, the ground beneath his feet feeling colder. He could feel the chill creeping up from his soles, his body trembling slightly—a natural reaction to the oppressive atmosphere.
Moonlight filtered through the carved window lattice, casting mottled shadows on the ground, like a mysterious puzzle adding to the eeriness.
The shadows fell on him, bringing a faint chill.
Liu Yichen looked up at the moonlight, feeling as though it were cold, unfeeling eyes watching everything.
He reached out, wanting to touch the shadows. When his fingers brushed against them, he felt a slight coolness, like touching icy water that vanished instantly. The sensation left him momentarily dazed.
"Elder Brother has truly lost his mind, offending the Mo family for the sake of this waste!" Liu Xingchi said through gritted teeth, his voice filled with venom, as if squeezed from between his teeth. "The Mo family is wealthy and powerful. If they pressure us, the consequences will be dire!" Liu Yichen felt the words like a knife to his heart, his chest tightening with pain, his frown deepening.
He watched Liu Xingchi's retreating figure, the moonlight making it appear even more twisted. The visual distortion fueled his anger.
"Hmph, I think Elder Brother is old and useless," Liu Aoqiong sneered in agreement. "It's time for a change in leadership." He paused.
"The family conference in two months will be our chance to turn things around!" Liu Yichen inwardly scoffed, hearing Liu Aoqiong's voice like the call of a night owl, filled with greed and malice.
He observed Liu Aoqiong's expression, like a mask of greed and conspiracy. The visual impression strengthened his resolve to thwart their schemes.
"Exactly!" Liu Haomiao rubbed his hands together, the sound faint but grating, his eyes gleaming with greed, like a wolf eyeing its prey. "The position of Family Head, and the treasures in the family vault—they should all be ours!" Liu Yichen found the gesture repulsive, like watching a rat stealing food.
The sound of his hands rubbing together grated on Liu Yichen's ears, like sandpaper scraping, making him deeply uncomfortable.
"This time, we must plan carefully. We can't let Elder Brother regain his footing!" The three of them conspired further before dispersing, the corridor returning to silence, the moonlight still quietly illuminating the ground, as if silently witnessing everything.
The moonlight cast a cool touch on his skin.
Liu Yichen stood still. As the surroundings quieted, he could hear his own breathing, the sound unusually clear in the silent corridor. He felt the night breeze gently brushing past, carrying a slight chill, his hair lightly brushing against his face. The sensation helped ease the tension he had been feeling.
Meanwhile, Liu Yichen followed Liu Zhenyue to the rear courtyard.
As they moved from the dimly lit corridor to the relatively brighter courtyard, Liu Yichen felt the change in lighting. His eyes took a moment to adjust, like stepping from darkness into light. He blinked, his vision gradually adapting.
He noticed the shift in ambient sounds—the echoes of the corridor fading, replaced by the occasional chirping of insects in the courtyard, like a natural serenade, easing his mood slightly.
He also caught the scent of flowers and plants in the courtyard, much fresher than the stifling air in the corridor. He took a deep breath, the fragrance invigorating his spirits.
In the courtyard stood an old plum tree, its gnarled branches like the withered arms of a weathered old man.
A subtle fragrance wafted through the air, like invisible threads weaving through the tension.
Liu Yichen approached the plum tree, observing the intricate patterns on its trunk, like the marks of time. He gently touched the bark, feeling its roughness, as if it were telling the tree's story.
Liu Zhenyue's brows were furrowed, as if weighed down by some concern, the creases like small hills.
Liu Yichen noticed his grandfather's troubled expression, the worry like a dark cloud hanging over him. Liu Yichen's heart grew heavier.
Suddenly, a servant named Fu'an rushed in, his face as pale as freshly painted walls, his voice trembling like the creak of an old door. "Family Head, Young Master, something terrible has happened! Xun'er... Xun'er has..." Fu'an collapsed to his knees with a loud thud, trembling uncontrollably.
Liu Yichen's heart clenched at the sound. His eyes locked onto Fu'an's terrified expression, like he had seen a ghost. The visual impact made his heart race again.
"What happened to Xun'er?!" Liu Yichen's voice trembled, a sense of foreboding rising in his chest, like dark clouds blotting out the sun.
His throat felt dry, as if sand were grating against it as he spoke.
"Xun'er... Xun'er has been kidnapped!" Fu'an's voice was barely a whisper, but it struck like thunder in the silent courtyard, reverberating in everyone's ears, leaving them stunned.
When Liu Yichen heard the news, his ears felt blocked, the surrounding sounds becoming muffled. His eyes burned with anger and worry, his body frozen in place. He could feel his blood boiling, the heat spreading through his body.
Liu Zhenyue's face darkened, and he stood up abruptly, the teacup in his hand shattering on the ground with a sharp crack, fragments scattering everywhere.
The sound was piercing, like lightning splitting the night sky.
Liu Yichen was jolted back to reality by the noise. He saw the shards flying, the scene like a shattered painting. His eyes were filled with shock and anger, the sharp sound still echoing in his ears, tightening his nerves.
"Who dares to touch someone from the Liu family?!" Liu Zhenyue roared, a powerful aura erupting from him, causing the leaves around them to rustle as if in fear.
Liu Yichen felt the force of the aura, his body swaying slightly. He heard the rustling leaves, as if they were crying out in alarm. His eyes burned with fury, his fists clenched, veins bulging like small green snakes. "Fu'an," his voice was low and hoarse, like the creak of an old bellows, "tell me, what happened?!"