Xiang Mantang looked down at Qin Shi'an, who was slumped on the ground, with killing intent in his eyes so dense it nearly materialized.
These people of the Qin Family, indeed, like father, like son; just as Qin Qiaochu was, so was Qin Shi'an!
Although killing Qin Shi'an would bring quite some trouble, but as they had repeatedly provoked him, Xiang Mantang minded not to kill this old fellow!
"Plop!"
Qin Shi'an felt an intense pain all over his body, and the unwillingness and fear in his heart made it feel as though worms were gnawing at his intestines.
However, upon hearing Xiang Mantang's words, he did not hesitate to struggle to rise and then knelt before Xiang Mantang.
"Master Qin did not realize a Terrestrial Immortal was present and gave offense, please forgive this transgression!"
Those in the Divine Realm were considered among the ranks of Terrestrial Immortals, hence they were often referred to as Earth Immortals.
Although Qin Shi'an was Half-Step Divine Realm, in front of a true Earth Immortal, he was nothing at all.
Just like Yang Guowei, who gave up resistance immediately upon learning of Xiang Mantang's strength.
His only chance for survival was to kneel before Xiang Mantang, hoping to dissipate Xiang Mantang's intent to kill!
At this moment, Qin Shi'an was filled with extreme regret.
If he had known that Xiang Mantang was among the ranks of Terrestrial Immortals, he would have never come to trouble Xiang Mantang over Qin Qiaochu's matter, seeking an explanation!
Although Qin Qiaochu was the Qin family's hope for the future, he himself was the Qin family's Guardian God. If he were to die at Xiang Mantang's hand because of this, then the vast Qin Family would likely fall apart.
To be directly devoured by his enemies!
"Tch!"
Xiang Mantang saw Qin Shi'an kneeling and begging for mercy, but his expression did not change, still cold and devoid of any emotion.
As Qin Shi'an was about to kowtow, Xiang Mantang flicked his finger.
A strand of undetectable Vigorous Qi shot out, piercing through Qin Shi'an's forehead.
"Ugh..."
Qin Shi'an's body trembled, and then uncontrollably collapsed backward, spasming ceaselessly.
His eyes, with pupils dilating in despair, were full of regret!
"Take his corpse away."
Xiang Mantang spoke to the people of the Qin Family in an unemotional tone.
The people of the Qin Family did not dare to say anything to Xiang Mantang, wearing expressions of hopeless despair as they quickly lifted Qin Shi'an's body and ran out.
Su Zijin stood by, watching the scene unfold, her complexion turning slightly pale.
However, as the daughter of the Dragon King, she had seen many great storms and was not going to scream in fear just because of a dead person.
Su Zijin saw the Qin family leaving like bereft dogs, turned to Xiang Mantang with hesitation, and asked, "Did you kill Qin Qiaochu?"
"Hmm," Xiang Mantang nodded. "And Di Yin as well."
He then explained, "Those two were not worthy of life. And Shen Cangsheng—I will sooner or later find the time to crush him to death myself!"
In speaking, a terrifyingly vindictive light flared in Xiang Mantang's eyes.
Su Zijin could not help but step back a few paces.
Seeing this, Xiang Mantang came back to his senses, quickly suppressing the resentment in his heart.
However, Su Zijin still picked up on something, her expression changed slightly, and she pressed on, "Shen Cangsheng, could it be that Jinyu's matter has something to do with him?"
Xiang Mantang brought Mu Jinyu back from the Kunlun Mountain and kept quiet about what had happened inside the valley, thus Su Zijin and Mei Yinxue and the others had always been unclear about what transpired that day.
It's not that they were not curious or had no desire to understand, but seeing the despair and sorrow in Xiang Mantang's eyes whenever they brought it up made it hard for them to ask further.
They knew about the close brotherly bond between Mu Jinyu and Xiang Mantang; if it were possible, Xiang Mantang would have definitely preferred Mu Jinyu to return with his corpse rather than him returning with Mu Jinyu's.
Therefore, seeing Xiang Mantang in such pain, they couldn't bear to continue interrogating her.
Instead, they chose to silently grieve.
Now, when Xiang Mantang just brought up Shen Cangsheng, her expression and eyes became very terrifying. Su Zijin was scared, and she also remembered that she hadn't seen Shen Cangsheng for some time.
She couldn't help but guess something and couldn't resist asking further.
When Xiang Mantang heard Su Zijin's question, her breathing hitched again, and she thought of the day when she watched, eyes wide open, as Chen Qianqian swung a knife at Mu Jinyu. She closed her eyes in pain, breathing rapidly.
Seeing this, Su Zijin suppressed the anxiety in her heart, clenched her hands, and dared not ask any more questions.
"Breath... breathe..."
After taking a few heavy breaths, Xiang Mantang then opened her eyes. The pain, fatigue, and despair in her eyes were still there, but they were no longer as frightening as before.
"Hmm, godmother, you've all been very curious about what exactly happened that day, right? I understand your curiosity and unwillingness to let it go, but I just couldn't bring myself to speak about it before. I'm very grateful that you and my sisters-in-law haven't pressed me too hard..."
Xiang Mantang began speaking in a hoarse voice.
With the status of Su Zijin and Gu Xiyan, they had the right to press Xiang Mantang for answers about what had happened to Mu Jinyu.
But they didn't!
They could see his breakdown and despair and didn't want to drive him crazy, so they chose to share the pain of not understanding themselves.
Therefore, Xiang Mantang was truly grateful for their consideration.
But this matter couldn't be concealed from them forever.
As the hope of rescuing Mu Jinyu had been growing recently and the feeling of guilt and despair in his heart wasn't as overwhelming as in the beginning, Xiang Mantang decided to explain the causes and consequences to Su Zijin.
With Xiang Mantang's explanation.
The shock and anger in Su Zijin's eyes grew denser.
"What!"
"So that's what happened!!"
Su Zijin was so angry her face turned pale, and she clenched her fists, with her chest heaving rapidly.
"Shen Cangsheng!"
After her anger, Su Zijin didn't fall apart, because she had already guessed a lot about the ins and outs of the matter.
But she hadn't expected that it also involved Xiang Mantang's sister and Shen Cangsheng.
So, she began to blame herself.
Because in the end, Mu Jinyu's death could also be attributed to herself.
If it weren't for her past marriage with Shen Cangsheng, and recently making use of him to reengage and force Mu Jinyu to come to the Capital City and beat him up for the sake of an earlier reunion with her son,
Shen Cangsheng probably wouldn't have taken such actions, taking revenge on Xiang Mantang and then using Xiang Mantang's sister to frame and kill Xiang Mantang.
As a result, it was Mu Jinyu who went to save Xiang Mantang and died in his place...
"It's all my fault! It was all because of me!"
"I'm such a vile woman!"
"And I even caused you to... kill with your own hands..."
Su Zijin was filled with self-reproach.
Seeing Su Zijin's self-blaming expression after listening to his words, Xiang Mantang was stunned for a moment before he remembered the engagement between Su Zijin and Shen Cangsheng that he had forgotten.
So he hurriedly consoled her, "Godmother, it has nothing to do with you. Frankly, I was the one who suggested the plan to you to reengage with Shen Cangsheng and use him. So, I deserve this!"
"As for that Chen Qianqian, I also don't know if she is my sister or not, you don't have to blame yourself!"
Xiang Mantang said, forcing a smile.