Shangguan Xiong frowned. Xue Ling’s words clearly intended to make the Ouyang family deal with Lin Xiao, while forcing their Shangguan family to stand by and do nothing.
No matter what, Lin Xiao had won this competition for their Shangguan family, securing the Purple Ginseng Medicine Mountain and giving Shangguan Tong the opportunity to enter Linghuang Valley. It was a tremendous favour.
If the Ouyang family were allowed to kill Lin Xiao right in front of their Shangguan family, under their watch, then their Shangguan family would earn a reputation for ingratitude.
Moreover, under the Ouyang family’s embellishments in the future, their Shangguan family’s reputation would undoubtedly suffer even greater damage.
In their hearts, they would also feel uneasy about it.
Yet this was precisely Xue Ling’s intention.
Shangguan Xiong could not help but sigh inwardly. This Xue Ling was indeed ruthless. Unable to control Lin Xiao as a slave, she now sought to have him killed.
At the same time, he secretly cursed Lin Xiao for being foolish once again. If Lin Xiao had not spoken out about the control slave matter, none of this would have happened.
“Elder Xue Ling, after all, Lin Xiao is someone our Shangguan family brought in. This…”
Shangguan Xiong still wanted to speak, but before he could finish, Xue Ling interrupted, “Patriarch Shangguan, I am doing this for the good of your Shangguan family. If Shangguan Tong were not already a disciple of our Linghuang Valley, I would not bother at all.”
“However, since Shangguan Tong is now a disciple of our Linghuang Valley, I cannot bear to see your Shangguan family entangled with a disaster like him. Your Shangguan family should still sever ties with him.” Xue Ling waved her hand, adopting an air of final decision.
“Hahaha!” At this moment, Lin Xiao could not help but burst into laughter. His voice rang out clearly, “What thick skin!”
“You attempted control slave on me, yet you righteously rebuke others and pin the blame on them. Are all the people of your Linghuang Valley so shameless?”
By the end, Lin Xiao’s voice rose even higher. His resounding scolding stunned everyone present.
Lin Xiao actually dared to openly curse an elder of Linghuang Valley as shameless? To mockingly expose the matter like this? “Not only pinning the blame on others, but also seeking to silence through murder. And even labelling it as eliminating a disaster. You, Xue Ling, truly have a great sense of face.”
Lin Xiao spat in contempt, “Unfortunately, you are something utterly shameless!”
“Hiss!”
A dense killing intent spread out. The entire scene immediately turned cold. Everyone felt that thick killing intent.
Shangguan Xiong and Shangguan Rui were both stunned. They could never have imagined that Lin Xiao would take such an action.
To curse Xue Ling as something utterly shameless. Lin Xiao actually had the gall to say it.
Having insulted Xue Ling so thoroughly, the matter now had no room for reconciliation.
Shangguan Tong’s body stiffened in place. She immediately felt at a complete loss.
“Lin Xiao, you actually dare to insult Elder Xue Ling. You are courting death!” After only a brief pause, Ouyang Kuo roared loudly. A surge of spiritual power welled up, and he was about to make a move on Lin Xiao.
However, at that very moment, Xue Ling’s stern command rang out, “Stop!”
Ouyang Kuo’s heart jolted. He immediately halted. His gaze turned towards Xue Ling.
He had originally planned to strike Lin Xiao first, leaving him with one last breath to throw at Xue Ling’s feet. This would emphasise that Lin Xiao was not yet worthy of Xue Ling making a move herself, while also avenging Ouyang Chen.
Now, it seemed that Xue Ling was probably furious to the extreme and intended to handle it personally.
Lin Xiao, who had been preparing to retreat explosively, also paused slightly. At this point, he only heard Xue Ling’s voice, gloomy beyond measure, saying, “Good, good. You are very good!!”
“How many years has it been? No one has dared to insult me. A mere junior actually dares to humiliate me to this extent.”
“Today, not only will I make you die, but I will make you die in despair!”
With that, Xue Ling’s gloomy gaze turned towards Shangguan Xiong beside her. She said, “Patriarch Shangguan, you come and make the move. Make him kneel before me, torture him until he is crippled, then have Shangguan Tong personally kill him.”
Shangguan Tong’s body shuddered violently. Her entire person stiffened in place.
She had escaped from Ouyang Chen’s clutches and become a disciple of Linghuang Valley all because of Lin Xiao. Lin Xiao had essentially granted her a rebirth.
And now, Xue Ling actually wanted her to personally make the move and kill Lin Xiao.
Shangguan Xiong was also startled. It seemed that Lin Xiao had thoroughly enraged Xue Ling. Simply killing Lin Xiao outright could no longer quench her anger. Xue Ling wanted to make Lin Xiao despair.
This despair would stem from their Shangguan family, who had protected Lin Xiao.
As well as from Shangguan Tong, who had some entanglement with Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao had done them a great favour. If they repaid it with enmity, Lin Xiao might indeed feel anger and despair.
As the patriarch, Shangguan Xiong naturally knew what to do. Without pausing for too long, he looked towards Lin Xiao and said, “Lin Xiao, I do not wish to do this either. Unfortunately, you have been too reckless!”
Seeing the situation before him, a look of smugness and mockery appeared on Ouyang Kuo’s face. Earlier, had not your Shangguan family wanted to protect Lin Xiao?
Now, would you not have to personally strike him down?
Lin Xiao was also shocked. He had not expected Xue Ling to play such a hand.
“You want to make a move on me? Your Shangguan family wants to make a move on me?”
His gaze fixed directly on Shangguan Xiong. Lin Xiao demanded, “The bet your Shangguan family made, I won it. Shangguan Tong does not have to marry into the Ouyang family, that was my doing. For Shangguan Tong to enter Linghuang Valley, I killed Ouyang Chen. Is this how your Shangguan family repays me? This is your Shangguan family’s attitude towards me?”
“Do not blame our Shangguan family. If you must blame someone, blame yourself for being too foolish!” Shangguan Xiong sighed.
Although he was unwilling to do this either, compared to the family’s interests, he would certainly do it.
Lin Xiao was merely an outsider. Moreover, he was like a bridge after crossing the river, one that could be dismantled without much loss to their Shangguan family.
“What a ‘blame yourself for being too foolish’!” Lin Xiao could not help but let out a cold laugh. He then turned his gaze towards Shangguan Tong and said, “And you? What will you do?”
Facing Shangguan Tong, Lin Xiao’s tone became much gentler.
After all, Shangguan Tong had been willing to bring him along in the forest. Apart from wanting to use him, she also had some goodwill.
And after Fu Ren had ambushed and injured Shangguan Yu, fearing that he would be killed, she had disregarded the family’s arrangements and stepped forward first to take the stage. This concern for him was also the main reason why he had helped Shangguan Tong kill Ouyang Chen.
If Shangguan Tong expressed her attitude at this moment, showing friendliness towards him and pleading for mercy on his behalf.
Then, even if Shangguan Xiong wanted to make a move on him, even if the Shangguan family wanted to make a move on him, he would still regard Shangguan Tong as a friend.
If Shangguan Tong held the same attitude as Shangguan Xiong, then from this day forward, he and Shangguan Tong would have no further ties.
If the people of the Shangguan family wanted to make a move on him, he would not hold back either.
“Shangguan Tong, if you wish to become a disciple of our Linghuang Valley, you must have sufficient resolve. Otherwise, you cannot be a disciple of our Linghuang Valley.” Xue Ling spoke at this moment.
The meaning was very clear. If Shangguan Tong stood on her side, Shangguan Tong would still be a disciple of Linghuang Valley.
If she stood on Lin Xiao’s side, she would revoke Shangguan Tong’s qualification as a disciple of Linghuang Valley.
Shangguan Tong’s body shuddered again. She stood frozen in place for a good while. Only then did she step forward.
