After entering the city, Liu Ruoxi looked toward the spot by the gates where notices were posted. Fortunately, there were no notices regarding a city-seizing battle. This meant her grandfather was fine. Otherwise, Chasing Moon City would also be subjected to a city-seizing battle. Liu Ruoxi knew that her grandfather had gone there on that day as well.
Half an hour later, inside a restaurant.
Liu Yan and Liu Ruoxi sat side by side. Liu Yan was the first to speak.
"We all know what happened in Dapeng City. Thankfully, you’re all right. But why didn’t you return directly to the Liu family? Why did you send someone with a message asking me to meet you here?"
For the past few days, Liu Yan had been guarding Liu Ruoxi’s Life and Death Jade, terrified that her sister’s jade would shatter. Thank goodness, her sister had returned safely.
Instead of answering, Liu Ruoxi asked, "Yan, has Grandfather returned?"
"No."
"He’s still not back?"
"Yeah."
Although Liu Yan appeared calm, she was actually extremely worried on the inside. The city-seizing battle in Dapeng City had left everyone in the Liu family feeling insecure. Lately, they had all been worrying that Liu Yongzhi might have met with some accident, just like Gongsun Wenjin. As long as Liu Yongzhi didn’t return, they couldn’t find peace of mind.
Liu Ruoxi sighed. "I was hoping you could sound out Grandfather’s stance for me."
"Sound him out? About what?"
Liu Ruoxi explained, "Now that Dapeng City has been renamed Hero City and the Gongsun family has been wiped out, my marriage arrangement with Ye Xuan can be considered void, right?"
Hearing Liu Ruoxi bring up Ye Xuan, Liu Yan immediately asked, "By the way, is Ye Xuan dead?"
"I don’t know. I left the Gongsun family’s estate early on. Otherwise, I might have died in there too."
"You don’t know? Well, do you want him to be dead, or alive?"
Faced with Liu Yan’s sudden question, Liu Ruoxi found herself momentarily at a loss for words. At this moment, her heart was actually somewhat in turmoil. When she first escaped from the Gongsun family’s estate, she had hoped that the Gongsun family would be wiped out and that Ye Xuan would die in the chaos. But why was it that when she saw the Black Bear Banner hanging on the walls of the West City Gate and learned that Dapeng City had been renamed Hero City, she actually felt a twinge of anger?
Why did she feel this way? Was it because she had sworn to kill Ye Xuan with her own hands? Ye Xuan had to die by her hand, but now it was highly likely that he had been killed by someone else. What right did anyone else have to kill the person she wanted to kill?
After a long pause, Liu Ruoxi finally spoke. "Yan, I don’t know how to answer that, but this is the second reason I asked you to come out here."
"The second reason?"
"Yes. I want you to send someone to Ye Family Town to find out if Ye Xuan is still alive and if his Life and Death Jade has shattered."
Liu Yan frowned. "Why don’t you go yourself?"
Liu Ruoxi bit her lip. "I can’t go myself. If Ye Xuan really isn’t dead and he spots me, he definitely won’t let me leave, and I absolutely won’t be able to escape. Grandfather’s Spirit-Suppressing Rope is still in his hands."
"So you escaped on your own, rather than Ye Xuan letting you go. That makes sense. Ye Xuan definitely likes you; he couldn’t bear to let you leave."
"He likes me? Heh." Liu Ruoxi let out a cold sneer.
As if Ye Xuan liked her! It was more accurate to say he enjoyed teasing and torturing her. Ye Xuan was a beast. No, he was worse than a beast.
"Ruoxi, I forgot to ask you—how did you feel during the time you spent with Ye Xuan? And... did he..."
"Did he what, Yan?"
Liu Yan’s face reddened. "Did he... you know... take advantage of you?"
"Yan, what are you saying? Of course not! How could he ever be worthy of my body? I’d rather die than let him touch me."
"Why are you reacting so strongly? He is your fiancé, after all."
"Yan, you know I’ve never been happy with this arrangement."
"You... you really haven’t changed. But were you alright during the days you spent with Ye Xuan? I feel like you’ve lost weight."
Liu Yan’s casual remark instantly made Liu Ruoxi’s eyes well up with tears.
"Yan..."
Calling out to her sister, she suddenly threw her arms around Liu Yan. Her shoulders trembled slightly as she began to sob.
What people needed most was comfort. Even the strongest person’s emotional defenses could crumble just from someone asking if they had been struggling.
"What’s wrong? Why are you so upset?"
"Yan... that Ye Xuan is a bastard. He... he..."
"What did he do?"
Liu Yan frowned, wondering if Ye Xuan had treated Liu Ruoxi badly. Before Ye Xuan had left, she had specifically taken him on a tour around Chasing Moon City and even gifted him an Earth-grade weapon. Her goal had been to ensure Ye Xuan treated Liu Ruoxi better. Had this guy accepted her gift but failed to hold up his end of the bargain?
"Yan, he made me wash his clothes, cook his meals, and do his chores! He’s a sadist!"
"Huh? Wash clothes? Do chores?" Liu Yan was dumbfounded. Then, she replied, "That does sound a bit unbelievable. You’ve been pampered your whole life and never had to lift a finger to do a single chore. But if you think about it, he comes from a small rural town. Washing clothes, cooking, and doing chores is just a normal part of life for them."
"Yan, the most despicable part is that he actually..."
Liu Ruoxi had wanted to say that Ye Xuan had stripped her naked and looked at her body. He had even used the Milk-Squeezing Dragon Claw Hand on her. But how could she possibly have the nerve to say such things out loud?
Gritting her teeth, Liu Ruoxi pulled back from the hug and added, "Anyway, as long as he isn’t dead, I will definitely kill him."
"Ruoxi, do you really harbor that much hatred for Ye Xuan?"
"Yes, I hate him that much!"
"Then do you actually want him dead or not?"
This time, Liu Ruoxi didn’t even have to think. She said resolutely, "I’m sure now. Deep down, I want him to stay alive and well." Seeming to realize her words sounded ambiguous, she quickly added, "If he stays alive, I can kill him with my own hands."
"Is that so?"
Liu Yan gave Liu Ruoxi a strange look. She knew Liu Ruoxi’s personality inside and out. Ever since she was a child, she had been incredibly arrogant. She looked down on many people, but she had never hated someone this intensely.
But why? Ye Xuan didn’t seem to have done anything wrong. Why did she bear such intense hatred?
"Yan, I swore an oath. As long as I live, I will definitely kill him!"
"You..."
Liu Yan knew that Liu Ruoxi was absolutely not joking around. She could clearly feel the killing intent in her sister’s eyes.
"Yan, just do me this favor and find someone to check on the Ye family. Besides, even though Grandfather isn’t here, please sound out the Elders for me and see where they stand. Now that the Gongsun family no longer exists, and I am still pure, I want a clear answer on whether this marriage arrangement can finally end."
"Are you refusing to go home just to wait for this answer?"
"Yes. If they still think I should marry Ye Xuan even with the Gongsun family gone, then what point is there in me going back?"