The entire scene fell silent, plunging into a prolonged hush. No one had anticipated events unfolding this way. The high and mighty, the arrogant Moon Saint Emissary, Shi Hengxiao, had died so absurdly!
What was worse, he was shot dead by his most loyal subordinate. Who could one even complain to?
It could only be said that good and evil eventually get their just deserts; the righteous path of the world is indeed fraught with vicissitudes!
With a clang, Qiao Da collapsed onto the ground, his eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at the shot Shi Hengxiao. He was utterly stunned.
"Moon... Moon Saint Emissary?" Qiao Da swallowed, then suddenly shouted, "Save him! Hurry and call a doctor to save him!"
How could anyone possibly save him now?
A bullet had passed through his forehead. Could he possibly survive that?
Even an immortal couldn't save him!
Lu Ming turned to face the despairing Qiao Da and walked past him expressionlessly. Qiao Da panicked, grabbing Lu Ming's leg.
"You can't go! You can't go! You caused all of this!"
Lu Ming didn't even listen, kicking Qiao Da flying away with a single sweep.
Then, Lu Ming walked to Jiang Mengxin's side, took her hand, and, under the stunned gaze of everyone present, strode out of the church.
Everyone was at a loss.
Who was to blame for this?
It was Shi Hengxiao who provoked Lu Ming first, leading to Lu Ming's retaliation. In the end, the loyal subordinate Qiao Da, in his eagerness to protect his master, drew his gun and mistakenly killed Shi Hengxiao.
Throughout the entire ordeal, Lu Ming was not at fault in the slightest.
Shi Hengxiao was the one who started trouble, Qiao Da was the one who killed, and Lu Ming bore absolutely no responsibility in the entire process.
After Lu Ming left, Jiang Xueyi tugged at Xu Qin's sleeve and whispered, "Shouldn't we leave too? Shi Hengxiao is dead. The White Lotus Sect might just hold us accountable."
Right!
Xu Qin realized it belatedly and quickly left the church with Jiang Xueyi.
Back home.
Without even waiting to sit down, Xu Qin went straight to Lu Ming, grabbed the chain of her handbag, and violently swung the bag at Lu Ming's head!
"You bastard! You son of a bitch! Little scoundrel, why aren't you the one who's dead?"
"You've ruined our entire Jiang family, and now you're happy, aren't you?"
"Beast! You're a beast!"
Xu Qin was frantic, smashing the bag onto Lu Ming's body. The physical impact was negligible, but the humiliation was immense. Especially the string of curses, enough to make a dog shake its head.
Jiang Mengxin couldn't stand it anymore and immediately stepped forward to shield Lu Ming.
She said, "Mom, you're being unreasonable. What did Lu Ming do wrong for you to insult him like this?"
Still asking what he did wrong?
Xu Qin almost choked with anger. She roared, "The Moon Saint Emissary was kindly inviting you to join the White Lotus Sect and even acted as your guide. And what happened? The initiation ceremony failed entirely because of this bastard Lu Ming!"
Jiang Mengxin let out a cold snort. She never wanted to join the White Lotus Sect in the first place.
She said coldly, "Everyone saw what happened. That beast Shi Hengxiao tried to disrespect me. Lu Ming is my fiancé. Is it wrong for him to stand up and protect me?"
Heh!
Xu Qin almost passed out from anger. She pointed at Jiang Mengxin and cursed, "Mengxin, you've been brainwashed! You weren't like this before. How have you become like this after going to Fog City? What has this grave keeper fed you? Or has he cast a spell on you?"
Jiang Mengxin said, "Mom, don't be irrational. Let's stick to the facts. When I was in danger, Lu Ming stepped forward to protect me. How can you blame him for that? Besides, Shi Hengxiao wasn't killed by Lu Ming; he was shot by his subordinate. Even if the White Lotus Sect seeks retribution, they won't come after us, right?"
That's what she said, but would the White Lotus Sect really let the Jiang family off so easily?
Certainly not.
Even more crucially...
Jiang Xueyi sighed, "I don't care about anything else. I don't care if Shi Hengxiao lives or dies. I only care about one thing – what about the sacred medicine?"
Yes, Shi Hengxiao was dead, so what about the sacred medicine?
After all, the Life and Death Talisman was Shi Hengxiao's unique treasure. Only Shi Hengxiao possessed the sacred medicine. Now that he was dead, what would happen to Xu Qin and the others who had been afflicted by the Life and Death Talisman?
Everyone fell silent.
After a long while.
Lu Ming said calmly, "Give me a day. I will find the antidote."
"Pah! You dog! Even at this point, you're talking nonsense!" Xu Qin said irritably. "You just want to run away, don't you? Don't think I don't know your ulterior motives. Let me tell you, if I die, I'll come back as a ghost to settle the score with you. You won't escape!"
There was no point in talking to this kind of person any further.
Lu Ming sighed and started to walk out.
"Wait!" Jiang Xueyi called out to him.
Lu Ming stopped and turned back to look at Jiang Xueyi, asking, "Is there anything else?"
Jiang Xueyi said, "I hope you're genuinely going to find the antidote. Also, I hope you can take responsibility like a man. If the White Lotus Sect really holds our Jiang family accountable, I hope you'll step forward and take all the blame then, so as not to drag us down."
This was practically burning bridges.
Considering that Lu Ming had acted to save Jiang Mengxin, and now that trouble had arisen, they wanted Lu Ming to bear all the responsibility alone. Jiang Xueyi was being utterly shameless.
Jiang Mengxin was clearly displeased, "Dad, how can you..."
Before she could finish, Jiang Xueyi roared, "You shut your mouth! Mengxin, don't think you're all mighty just because you're the family head and can do whatever you want without listening to your mother and me! Let me tell you, no matter when it is, I'm still your father, and you have to listen to everything I say! Do you understand?!"
Domineering and unreasonable.
This was Jiang Xueyi.
Jiang Mengxin's eyes welled up with tears from her grievances. "Hmph!"
With a turn, Jiang Mengxin went upstairs, deciding she wouldn't deal with it anymore.
This family...
Lu Ming shook his head and walked out, going to find the antidote for the Life and Death Talisman.
Inside.
Jiang Xueyi and Xu Qin exchanged glances, a look of genuine worry flickering in their eyes.
Jiang Xueyi said, "This bastard Lu Ming must have cast a spell on my daughter. Otherwise, Mengxin wouldn't be so obedient to him."
Xu Qin nodded in complete agreement.
She said, "If my Life and Death Talisman can't be undone, then so be it. But before I die, I must break the spell on my daughter! I cannot let this little scoundrel Lu Ming control my daughter, nor can I let the Jiang family fall into the hands of this outsider!"
The couple's words were in perfect sync. They were convinced that Jiang Mengxin had been ensnared by Lu Ming's spell, otherwise, why would Jiang Mengxin have changed so drastically?
They never once considered that Jiang Mengxin had been influenced by Lu Ming's words and actions, and had shed her old bad habits.
Their failure to perceive reality was their greatest flaw.