Chapter Sixteen: The Third Elder, Fiercely Protective of His Own
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His earlier look of anger vanished, replaced by a kindly smile. In a gentle voice, he said to Ouyang Xiaoyue, “Good girl, Xiaoyue. Come back to the courtyard with your Third Grandfather.”
He paid no attention whatsoever to the name the First Elder had just called out—Zhonghe—as though he had not heard it at all.
“Mmph! Mmph!”
Ouyang Xiaofeng, whose arms were being held fast by two burly guards, finally came to his senses. He struggled desperately, twisting his body in an attempt to break free, while muffled sounds escaped his mouth.
The Third Elder had been gazing at Ouyang Xiaoyue with affection, but upon hearing the commotion, he turned toward it.
The moment he saw Ouyang Xiaofeng bound tightly from head to toe like a dumpling, the smile on his face instantly froze. Astonishment and fury took its place.
He spun around and glared at the two guards, bellowing, “Feng’er? How dare you! You actually had the audacity to tie up the second young master of the Ouyang family! Untie him at once!”
The Third Elder was renowned for his swift and decisive temperament. Upon hearing his command, however, the two guards looked troubled, beads of sweat rolling down their foreheads.
They knew very well that the family head had already issued strict orders. Yet faced with the Third Elder’s imposing presence, they were filled with unease and trepidation.
After hesitating for some time, the two finally gritted their teeth and reluctantly began undoing the ropes around Ouyang Xiaofeng.
Once the restraints had been removed, Ouyang Xiaofeng rotated his stiff wrists and then shot the two guards a vicious glare.
Without another word, the Third Elder took Ouyang Xiaoyue by the hand and headed for the door. Seeing this, Ouyang Xiaofeng hurried after his sister and the Third Elder.
The three of them walked straight out of the main hall without looking back, completely ignoring everyone else inside.
Just as they crossed the threshold, a deafening roar of fury suddenly erupted behind them.
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At the same time, a faint, almost imperceptible scent of blood drifted into their nostrils on the breeze.
They did not need to turn around. From that pungent smell alone, the three of them understood that the maidservant had probably been deemed useless and executed without mercy.
Following the winding corridors, they arrived at Ouyang Xiaoyue’s Court of Rongyue. The smile faded from the Third Elder’s face. He rolled up his sleeve and raised his hand as though to strike Ouyang Xiaofeng across the face.
“You little rascal! Is this how you protect your sister?”
“Third Grandfather!”
Like a startled rabbit, Ouyang Xiaofeng nimbly dodged to the side and hurriedly cried, “I know I was wrong!”
He looked exactly like a child who had made a mistake and was afraid of being punished.
“All right, all right!”
Seeing this, the Third Elder slowly lowered his raised hand. Though a trace of anger remained on his face, his eyes were filled with affection.
How could he truly bring himself to hit the boy? The two children had suffered greatly since they were young, enduring hardship after hardship. He could scarcely bear to see them hurt, much less strike them harshly.
“If something like this happens again, you are not to bear it alone. Do you hear me? Come straight to your Third Grandfather and tell me whatever injustice you have suffered. No one is allowed to bully members of our Ouyang family at will!
“If you do not even dare to fight back, what kind of man are you?”
The Third Elder lectured him sternly, his face deliberately stern.
“Feng’er understands!”
Standing before the Third Elder, Ouyang Xiaofeng was as docile as a lamb. He lowered his eyes and nodded obediently.
In truth, he knew perfectly well that throughout the entire Ouyang family, the Third Elder was the only one who had always protected the two siblings.
It was just that the Third Elder often secluded himself to cultivate, and Ouyang Xiaofeng had felt too embarrassed to disturb the old man over such trivial matters.
The Third Elder glared at him irritably, seemingly displeased by his overly cautious manner.
Only then did he turn his head and direct his gaze toward Ouyang Xiaoyue, who stood quietly nearby.
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When his eyes inadvertently fell upon the corner of her slightly raised lips, he suddenly saw a shocking smear of blood staining them.
In an instant, he froze where he stood. Then he slapped his forehead hard and began muttering, “Oh dear, look at my memory! How could I have forgotten something so important?”
As he spoke, he hastily took a small, exquisite jade bottle from his robes and carefully poured out a pill that gave off a faint, pleasant fragrance.
He hurried to Ouyang Xiaoyue’s side and, without giving her a chance to refuse, pressed the pill into her slightly pale hand. In a gentle voice, he urged, “Xiaoyue, take this pill quickly. Once you do, you won’t feel so miserable anymore.”
He then stared at her intently until he saw her obediently place the pill in her mouth and swallow it. Only then did his anxious heart settle somewhat.
The Third Elder let out a long breath and said thoughtfully, “In another month, it will be time for our family’s annual Spirit Assessment Ceremony. When that time comes, you two siblings…”
Before he could finish, a dark, indescribable shadow suddenly flashed through Ouyang Xiaofeng’s clear, bright eyes. At the same time, his handsome face turned ominously gloomy, as though covered by a heavy veil of storm clouds.
Seeing this, the Third Elder’s heart tightened. Yet he knew it was not appropriate to press the matter, and all he heard was Ouyang Xiaofeng saying, “Third Grandfather, don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”
Hearing this, the Third Elder could only pat him lightly on the shoulder. Then he turned and slowly walked away.
Before leaving, he deliberately gave Ouyang Xiaoyue a bottle of Marrow-Cleansing Elixir, leaving Ouyang Xiaofeng standing there alone, gazing silently into the distance, no one knowing what he was thinking...