Sha Rulai let Xiang Ming collapse. The two fingers he had thrust out naturally withdrew from Xiang Ming's chest without moving, hanging suspended as mana rippled over them, turning the blood on his fingers into wisps of crimson mist that drifted away.
Sha Huanli, who had witnessed this sudden turn, was truly stunned. Her gaze slowly shifted to her father's cold face, her own filled with disbelief. Was Xiang Ming not Father's most trusted confidant? How could Father suddenly kill Xiang Ming?
Niu Youdao narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze flickering as he watched everything before him.
Black Cloud and the other two looked at one another. They had not expected that after going to such lengths to capture someone alive and hand him over to the party being threatened, that very party would kill him themselves. What was this supposed to mean? Had they known, there would have been no need to go through all that trouble.
Once the blood on his fingers had dispersed, Sha Rulai lowered his hand. Looking down coldly at Xiang Ming, who lay on the ground still twitching, he said, "I do not care whether you have been sincere or false all these years, or whether it was all to conceal something. But I still have to thank you. Thank you for taking care of my daughter for so many years. You truly did put your heart into caring for her. Thank you."
"Mm... mm..." Xiang Ming strained his neck and made two muffled sounds. Blood welled from his mouth, and he could no longer speak. Yet he had heard Sha Rulai clearly. A smile appeared on his face as his eyes gradually froze, and at last his head tipped to one side, all movement gone for good.
"Xiang Ming! Chief Steward Xiang! Uncle