By any normal person's reckoning, someone at the fourth level of the Bright Realm couldn't possibly win. He couldn't even beat Su Zhengtao with one finger. Yet at the time, Sikong Jing hadn't shown the slightest fear as he shielded Su Yuexi.
In that instant, Su Zhenglong had already accepted Sikong Jing as his son-in-law, whether or not he was a criminal.
But he still wanted to hear Sikong Jing explain for himself why he'd been so fearless.
Sikong Jing answered without hesitation, telling the truth. "Father-in-law, even if I'm only at the fourth level of the Bright Realm, it's not certain who would die."
In a flash, the smile froze on Su Zhenglong's face, and his brows furrowed. Sikong Jing had gone too far with that claim.
His good impression of this son-in-law plummeted!
What he'd wanted to hear was Sikong Jing declaring that he wasn't afraid to die for Yuexi, not making such a childish boast.
Su Yuexi didn't believe him either. "You were far too impulsive. You should've listened to me and hidden!"
She was resentful. If her father hadn't appeared just now, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
"I'm not used to hiding behind a woman," Sikong Jing replied after a moment's thought.
Su Yuexi was stunned. She didn't like what he'd said, and answered softly, "But I'm your wife. Protecting you is my responsibility too. Your situation isn't the same as mine."
As she'd said, she was a daughter of the Su Clan.
By contrast, Sikong Jing was a criminal son-in-law whom the entire Su Clan wanted dead as soon as possible.
Sikong Jing was deeply moved. He wanted to explain a few things, but the words caught in his throat. In the end, all he managed was, "I don't want my wife to suffer, not even a little."
His words were utterly calm, but Su Yuexi covered her mouth, her heart trembling.
The smile returned to Su Zhenglong's pale face. This was what he'd wanted to hear.
His eyes even grew a little moist. Ever since his daughter had become ugly ten years ago, no one had treated her this well.
The next moment, Sikong Jing continued, "So just wait a little longer. I'll make those who humiliated you pay a heavy price."
The faces of Su Zhengtao and Su Yun flashed through his mind.
Once he'd raised his cultivation a little further, he would make them pay a hundredfold for what they'd done to Su Yuexi today!
Su Zhenglong's smile vanished again, and the corners of his mouth twitched...
This son-in-law really was a good man. It was just that he was stubborn, impulsive, and heedless of the consequences.
Forget it, forget it. As long as there was a man willing to give his daughter sincere affection, that was enough. He didn't know how much longer he had to live anyway. He would just find a way to protect them as they grew stronger.
Su Yuexi felt helpless too, but more than anything, she felt a sweetness she'd never known before.
After that, Sikong Jing wandered through the Su Mansion with the father and daughter until they finally reached their home.
Before them stood a somewhat dilapidated courtyard. The surrounding area was in poor condition too, hardly a place fit for the master of the household.
After all, Su Zhenglong was the eldest son of the Su Clan's head.
Seeing Sikong Jing's surprise, Su Yuexi hurriedly explained, "This is the Su Clan's old residence from before they made their fortune. The people living around here are servants of the Su Clan too. It's a little dirty, so don't mind it."
Sikong Jing certainly didn't mind. Where he lived wasn't important to him right now; he was simply surprised.
Su Yuexi's family was having a very hard time in the Su Mansion!
"My lord..."
Suddenly, a woman rushed out through the courtyard gate. She cried out as she hurried to Su Zhenglong. "Why did you sneak out without telling me? Do you want to die?"
Sikong Jing looked at the middle-aged woman. If he wasn't mistaken, this was his mother-in-law.
She was dressed plainly, and her face bore many wrinkles. Yet he could still tell from her features that she must have been a great beauty in her youth. Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes; clearly, she'd panicked when she realized Su Zhenglong was missing.
"Mother..."
Before Su Zhenglong could speak, Su Yuexi greeted her first.
Before the word had even left her lips, her mother-in-law, Mei Xiaofang, stiffened. Only then did she notice Su Yuexi. Her expression hardened. "You ugly disgrace, what are you doing back here? Weren't you at the Pig Farm?"
Sikong Jing's expression darkened instantly. It was one thing for others to humiliate Su Yuexi, but even her own mother treated her this way?
Before Su Yuexi could speak, Mei Xiaofang turned to Su Zhenglong and cried angrily, "I knew it! You asked your father to bring you back, didn't you? It's bad enough that you bring shame on yourself, but don't you know what condition your father's in?"
"Are you trying to get your father killed just so you can leave the Pig Farm?" By then, Mei Xiaofang was trembling with rage. She pointed at Su Yuexi's nose. "How did I end up giving birth to such a jinx?"
Su Yuexi had been berated from head to toe, and was about to explain...
But Su Zhenglong spoke first. "Xiaofang, that's not what happened..."
"Be quiet! Didn't you promise to do everything I said? Why did you go out anyway?" Mei Xiaofang cut him off sharply, then shouted, "Someone, come quickly and help the master to his room to rest!"
As she spoke, she snatched Su Zhenglong from Su Yuexi and, with the servants who had come out, helped him inside.
Su Yuexi lowered her head and looked at Sikong Jing, who was standing there in a daze. "Mother's always like this. She's worried about Father's health. She'll definitely scold me in a moment, so please don't talk back to her, all right?"
Sikong Jing remained silent. When he saw the pleading look in Su Yuexi's eyes, he finally replied, "I'll try."
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