Chapter 900: Chapter 900: Justified and Unafraid
"Qingqing, step back. The mastermind behind all of this is Dongfang Lian," Ye Shikai said coldly. The person he hated the most was Dongfang Lian, hiding under the guise of being a teacher, yet committing acts even worse than beasts. She even ordered her subordinates to kidnap Su Ziqing.
And to think she’s a teacher, kidnapping her own student.
"What, how can that be." Su Ziqing was clearly unwilling to believe Ye Shikai’s words, finding it hard to accept that the kind and understanding beautiful teacher at school was indeed the behind-the-scenes culprit trying to harm them.
"Mrs. Dongfang, this isn’t true, is it?" Su Ziqing still attempted to verify, hoping that Ye Shikai was joking.
"Hmph, why don’t you ask your brother-in-law what he has done," Dongfang Lian said coldly, a trace of reluctance flashing in her eyes. "Qingqing, it’s all the sins of your brother-in-law; you can’t blame me."
"Dongfang Lian, you said I killed your father, but I truly don’t know about this. I think no matter what, you should explain to me first, shouldn’t you?" Ye Shikai forcibly calmed himself down, hoping Dongfang Lian would also calm down, knowing that a person blinded by hatred is very terrifying. Mutual destruction and rivers of blood were absolutely not his desire; moreover, Ye Shikai truly didn’t know what Dongfang Lian was talking about.
"Hmph, I told you, you’ll find out in hell."
"Wait a minute, Mrs. Dongfang." At this moment, Su Ziqing bravely stood up, surprising everyone by blocking Ye Shikai’s path.
"What are you doing?"
"Mrs. Dongfang, what are you saying? My brother-in-law killed your father; that’s absolutely impossible."
"Hmph, Qingqing, I’m here for revenge. Leave now, and I won’t take my anger out on you." Dongfang Lian still showed some compassion; she wouldn’t harm an innocent person like Su Ziqing. The kidnapping was merely to lure Ye Shikai out; otherwise... Su Ziqing might have already met a disastrous end.
"Mrs. Dongfang, can we find a place to talk first?" Su Ziqing’s tone was almost pleading, and Dongfang Lian was undergoing an intense psychological struggle internally.
"I want to kill him now." Dongfang Lian gritted her teeth, immediately making a move, as Ye Shikai quickly pushed Su Ziqing into Wuyan’s embrace, using a sword to deflect Dongfang Lian’s attack.
"Wuyan, take Qingqing and leave first," Ye Shikai shouted loudly.
"Let go of me; I’m not leaving." Su Ziqing struggled to break free from Wuyan, with surprisingly strong force, but Ye Shikai was acting for her safety. Wuyan understood his intentions and forcibly took Su Ziqing away.
"Now that they aren’t here, can you tell me?" After dozens of rounds, neither had the upper hand; naturally, part of the reason was that Ye Shikai hadn’t used his full force. He wanted to understand the whole story.
"Same words, just die," Dongfang Lian showed no mercy, wielding a dagger aimed at Ye Shikai’s vital spots. If he hadn’t avoided it quickly, he would have been dead.
"Are you done?" Ye Shikai shouted furiously, quickly reaching out to clasp Dongfang Lian’s wrist, forcefully disarming her dagger, and then... slapping her across the face.
Slap.
A loud slap echoed through the woods, and Ye Shikai didn’t hold back at all, swinging with full strength.
It was quite awkward as both their eyes met. Dongfang Lian’s eyes were vacant, lost in thought about something, leaving Ye Shikai in a difficult position. Should he comfort her quickly, or... slap her again?
"Still making trouble, can’t we clear things up first?" Ye Shikai grasped at straws, shouting loudly. That slap was indeed unintentional, but now he had to roll with it.
"Fine, then let’s be clear."
Twenty minutes later.
Ye Shikai glanced at the black-clad men around him, realizing Dongfang Lian still didn’t trust him. However, he wasn’t bothered; all he wanted was to understand the whole story.
"You’re saying that during a Netherworld Palace operation two years ago, I killed your father?" Ye Shikai looked shocked after hearing Dongfang Lian, not recalling any indiscriminate murder.
"What’s your father’s name?"
"Dongfang Jing."
Ye Shikai’s mind tirelessly searched for the name Dongfang Jing. During his time in foreign underground forces, he encountered many people and made many enemies, but in foreign lands, meeting Huaxia people was rare. If there was indeed a "Dongfang Jing," he should have some recollection.
"I don’t know him."
"Then die; attack," Dongfang Lian was rather annoyed, feeling Ye Shikai was mocking her.
"Wait, though I don’t recall, I can ask my close aide."
"Haha, you think I don’t know; you’re just stalling for reinforcements. I’m not a child you can easily deceive," she retorted.
"I’m not deceiving you," Ye Shikai declared sincerely. He truly was unaware, as aside from major matters, most of Netherworld Palace’s decisions were made by Ghost. He was merely a "hands-off shopkeeper," and the claim about murdering a man named "Dongfang Jing," he was completely in the dark.
"I’m avenging my father now."
"Wait, don’t get excited," Ye Shikai pleaded once more, looking troubled. "I truly don’t know, and if you won’t let me bring someone to explain, what exactly do you want to do?"
"I want to kill you."
"Can we discuss something else?"
.....................
Speaking of it, Wuyan and Su Ziqing already left the forest, likely alerting the Netherworld Palace for rescue without incident. Even if Dongfang Lian wanted to kill him, it wouldn’t be possible.
Avenging a father’s death, Ye Shikai could understand, but this might be a misunderstanding or potentially a conspiracy.
"Dongfang Lian, you accuse me of killing your father. Let me ask, did you see it yourself?" Ye Shikai suddenly realized something, questioning her harshly.
"No, I heard it from my subordinates," Dongfang Lian admitted irritably, yet truthfully.
"Hearsay is unreliable, meaning you lack factual evidence. Why don’t you bring your subordinates here to confront me?" Ye Shikai declared loudly, seizing the opportunity. The situation left Dongfang Lian somewhat at a loss.
"Hmph, but my subordinates wouldn’t lie to me. Whether it was you or not, it was the work of the Netherworld Palace. You can’t absolve yourself." Dongfang Lian lacked evidence and thus couldn’t assert confidently, but she seemed determined to blame Ye Shikai, intent on killing him.