Young Lady Ye's eyes widened in shock, her body collapsing to the ground. "Impossible..." she murmured, her voice trembling as she refused to accept her mother's words.
"Wife," Master Ye said, his brow furrowed in confusion. He, the head of the Ye household, had not heard this news. How could he not? While his wife often handled the household affairs, the matter of the marriage between the Lei and Xia clans—such a significant union—was not something he should have been ignorant of.
"Husband," Madame Ye began, her voice laced with sorrow. "I was once childhood friends with Madame Lei. This news came to me personally. I had intended to tell you, but..." Her words trailed off as her gaze lingered on her daughter, who now lay crumpled on the ground.
Master Ye's eyes followed his wife's gaze, locking onto his daughter with a mixture of disbelief and growing anger. When he first discovered what his daughter had done, rage had consumed him. Everyone in Xia City knew how much he cherished his wife. The story of his relentless pursuit of her—how he had spent an entire year chasing her, until she finally relented—was well known. It had been a public spectacle, and when she had agreed to marry him, the entire city had celebrated. The wedding had been the grandest affair the region had seen, attended by noble families from all corners.
But now, looking at his daughter—his own flesh and blood—the one who had led to the family's ruin, Master Ye had felt relief when his wife had exposed the scoundrel's facade, allowing his daughter to wake up from her delusions but his relief was short. His daughter was willing to harm her family members for the sake of a man. The realization struck him with the force of a cold bucket of water being poured over him, chilling him to his core.
Is being manipulated a good enough reason for him to forgive her? The question lingered, unanswered. His love for her, his memories of her as a child, were being overshadowed by the devastation her actions had brought upon their family. His heart ached, but his mind could not dismiss the reality of what she had done. Could he truly find it in himself to forgive her
The more Master Ye pondered, the deeper his sighs grew, each one heavier than the last. His wife was gone, and so was he. At least their son, the last remaining member of his bloodline, is still alive.
His gaze shifted to Si Shen, who stood quietly observing the entire exchange, his expression unreadable. It was as if he were watching a play unfold, detached and unconcerned, his demeanor cold. Master Ye couldn't help but feel a stirring of curiosity, wondering what thoughts were running through the young man's mind.
The air around Si Shen was thick with mystery, and something about his presence only made the tension in the room more palpable.
Master Ye, undeterred, bowed slightly in respect. "Forgive me for overstepping, but… are you the Grim Reaper?"
Si Shen's eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "And what if I am?"
Master Ye's voice remained steady, betraying no hint of fear. "Am I correct in understanding that my wife and I are dead?"
Si Shen's gaze lingered on him for a fraction of a second, his expression briefly turning serious before he gave a solemn nod.
Master Ye took a deep breath before continuing, the weight of the question heavy on his heart. "Is my daughter...?"
Si Shen flicked his gaze towards Young Lady Ye, who still lay motionless on the ground, her form pale and fragile. After a beat, he shook his head. "Her soul has been temporarily extracted and is currently suspended in this space. Previously, she had condensed resentment energy without the necessary artifact. I'm afraid her physical body has already been corroded beyond repair."
The implication in Si Shen's words was undeniable. Young Lady Ye's reckless manipulation of resentment energy without the necessary hairpin had led to her downfall. Si Shen had absorbed the energy when he opened the umbrella, but the corruption—the inevitable consequence of tampering with such power—was beyond anyone's control.
Master Ye's pitiful gaze went back to his daughter who sat on the ground, uncaring of her own fate. There is no longer any hope between Second Young Master Xia and her now that she is dead. She had not only failed but had also found out how her affection was used, and manipulated by the Second Young Master. He had never had any intention from the start to marry her. It had only been her wishful thinking. The numbness in her heart deepened, suffocating any lingering hope. Whether she was alive or dead, it mattered not to her anymore. Nothing mattered. Not anymore.
Si Shen narrowed his eyes at his question, his lips pursed. His being in the human realm and interfering with their matters is already him threading on thin ice with the many rules of the heavenly realm. If he were to answer Master Ye's question truthfully, he would be breaking the rules.
Si Shen shrugged nonchalantly, the tension beneath his calm exterior palpable. "It depends," he said, his words deliberately vague, leaving a lingering sense of uncertainty in the air.
Master Ye nodded once, acknowledging the answer with little more than a curt motion before turning to face his daughter. His gaze hardened as he stared down at his daughter, a depth of bitterness and anger settling in his heart.
Master Ye nodded in understanding before facing his daughter. He turned slowly, his gaze softening for a brief moment as he faced his daughter. "Ye Wan-er," he began, his voice low and solemn, the weight of his words heavy with a father's grief. "I still remember the day you were born. Your birth was a difficult one, and your mother... she insisted on carrying through with it, despite the risks." He paused, as though lost in the memory, the tenderness in his tone still evident, though distant. "I admit, I was reluctant. But when I finally held you in my arms, I understood. Your mother was right. You were a gift, my little precious treasure."
There was a softness in his eyes as he slowly knelt before her, as though reaching back to that time when she was just a child in his arms, innocent and pure. His hand gently brushed her hair, a gesture of affection that seemed almost out of place in the coldness of the room.
"We may have been strict with you and you may not agree with our methods but in the end, you are still my daughter," Master Ye said, his voice heavy. "And as your parents, we are accountable for your actions. I understand you were manipulated, deceived by that... scoundrel." His gaze darkened slightly, but the bitterness was still restrained. "But I cannot forgive you for murdering your family."
"In this life, as us parents did not request anything from you other than having a good life and not throw the Ye Clan's dignity down the drain, neither do we owe you anything. These are my last words to you, wherever you go from now on, I hope you will no longer be so muddle-headed. We have at least taught you to be better than this."
Si Shen's mind drifted back to that moment in the Ye Mansion when Young Lady Ye had tried to seduce Xue RenJie. It would indeed be a good way to secure her future if Xue RenJie had taken the bait. Such acts—sending one's sister or daughter into the bed of a powerful man in hopes of rising in status—were not uncommon. The Ye family had truly thought they were doing their daughter a favor but Young Lady Ye obviously had different ideas.
Xue RenJie had described Young Lady Ye's reluctance to him when she arrived at his doorstep, her face stiff and her words seeming more like a script. Si Shen had chuckled at the poor girl's predicament, feeling a hint of pity. But Xue RenJie had found no humor in it at all, having experienced many such attempts after being recognized by the Xue Clan.
Si Shen's thoughts were broken by Young Lady Ye's laughter, though it wasn't one of joy. It was a broken, hollow sound that echoed in the quiet room, and her eyes—wide with despair—shed new tears as she looked at her parents. She shook her head, the bitterness in her words obvious. "How meaningless," she muttered, her voice small but heavy with the weight of everything she had lost.
Master Ye looked at his daughter with a mixture of sorrow and finality in his eyes. Her despair was the result of her own actions, and it was a bitter pill to swallow. He stood, his posture stiff as he turned away from her gaze. Taking his wife's hand, he looked directly at Si Shen, his voice cold but resolute. "I have nothing else to say to her."
Madame Ye's expression was hard, the softness that had once defined her now replaced by something much colder. Though she had been soft-hearted at the start, hearing her husband's words, she now saw the truth in them. They owed their daughter nothing. And even if they had, she had killed them—they were beyond saving, beyond forgiveness. In this life, there was nothing left between them and their daughter. They were even.
Si Shen waved his hand with a casual flourish, and a portal materialized in front of the couple—a shimmering, swirling doorway that led to the first floor of the spiritual realm. With a light bow, he gestured toward it, his smile enigmatic. "Please, go ahead."
Master Ye and Madame Ye exchanged a quiet glance, a look of resolve and determination passing between them. Without another word, they stepped forward in unison, entering the portal as the world they knew seemed to fade behind them, swallowed by the ethereal gateway.