A Kind Father
Zhou Siyi was extremely disappointed to hear that Song Wen was unwilling to go to the black market.
"Since it's inconvenient for Junior Brother Wu to go to the black market, I won't bother you any longer. I'll consider your suggestion."
After saying that, Zhou Siyi flew away on her sword.
Song Wen turned around and returned to his cave abode to continue his cultivation.
Song Wen didn't think much about what had just happened.
Unbeknownst to him, Zhou Siyi, who was traveling on her sword, was gradually developing an extremely complex expression.
He was filled with worry, mixed with tension and fear.
A moment later.
She arrived at a cave abode located atop Spirit Beast Peak.
She took out a token, activated it with her spiritual power, and easily passed through the restrictions at the entrance of the cave abode and entered the cave abode.
The cave abode was extremely spacious, covering nearly ten acres in size.
The cave abode dwelling was decorated in an extremely luxurious manner.
The ground was paved with a square meter of first-grade spiritual material, green jade.
The walls are painted with dragons and phoenixes, and carved with various rare and exotic animals.
The cave ceiling is inlaid with eighty-one luminous pearls.
Each pearl is the size of a human head and is made of second-tier spiritual material, Nightglow Stone.
Other items in the cave abode, such as beds, couches, low tables, and chairs, were also made of various spirit ores or spirit wood.
In the center of the cave abode, Zhou Xuelin was meditating with his eyes closed.
Zhou Siyi entered the cave abode, but Zhou Xuelin did not react at all, not even lifting his eyelids.
When Zhou Siyi walked to her father's side, her face showed no joy of a daughter seeing her father; instead, her fear grew stronger.
"Father, I failed in my duty; I couldn't persuade Wu Sheng to leave the sect."
Zhou Xuelin suddenly opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them, his voice as cold as frost.
"Useless piece of trash, I've raised you for over twenty years for nothing, and you can't even handle such a small thing."
Zhou Siyi said cautiously.
"For some reason, Wu Sheng was extremely reluctant to leave the sect. The woman tried everything to persuade him, but he refused to step out of the sect."
"Snort!"
Zhou Xuelin snorted coldly.
"Incompetence is incompetence, yet you dare to argue sophistry."
Before he finished speaking, he raised his right hand and unleashed a palm strike in mid-air.
A burst of energy appeared out of thin air.
"Smack!"
The force of the blow struck Zhou Siyi's face hard.
Zhou Siyi was sent flying by the blow.
My left cheek immediately swelled up, leaving a bright red handprint.
Zhou Siyi fell to the ground, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.
Feeling the burning pain on her face, a surge of grievance welled up in her heart, and tears instantly filled her eyes.
Tears streamed down her cheeks and onto the ground.
Seeing his daughter cry, Zhou Xuelin became even angrier.
He stood up, his face contorted with rage, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Didn't you say just a couple of days ago that you had gained Wu Sheng's trust? He wouldn't even go to the Ghost Market with you. You call that gaining his trust?!"
"Cry! What else can you do besides cry, you useless thing?"
"Just like your whore mother, utterly useless and more likely to ruin everything. Can't even handle the smallest things."
"What use are you?"
"Back then, after your mother betrayed me, she should have fed you to the Demon Beast."
Zhou Xuelin roared in fury.
As he expressed his indignation, he raised his hand and slapped her again.
This time, the slap landed on Zhou Siyi's right cheek.
Instantly, the once youthful and beautiful girl's cheeks became swollen and red, and her face was completely disfigured.
Zhou Siyi fell to the ground, curled up in a ball, her body trembling uncontrollably.
She not only lacked the courage to resist, but she didn't even have the courage to cry out.
They only dared to shed silent tears and endure in silence.
She had endured countless beatings like this since she was a child.
However, Zhou Xuelin showed no intention of stopping there.
His face was full of violent rage, as if he had endless resentment in his heart that needed to be vented.
Recently, Zhou Xuelin has felt that everything is going wrong.
First, Pill Peak successfully fused with Profound Qi, but Spirit Beast Peak made no progress.
Then, the once-in-a-century operation to lure and capture the Blood Kui Beast failed again.
He had already arranged everything; once the trap was successfully set, the Blood Kui Beast would belong to him.
What was initially thought to be a sure thing turned out to be a complete waste of time and effort, leaving everyone disappointed.
Zhou Xuelin walked to Zhou Siyi's side, raised his foot, and kicked Zhou Siyi on the ground.
Just then, the voice of Teng Qingshan, the peak master of Spirit Beast Peak, rang out from outside the door.
"Vice Peak Master Zhou, I have urgent business to discuss with you."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuelin abruptly stopped kicking Zhou Siyi in the chest.
He stared at Zhou Siyi, who was curled up on the ground, his expression indifferent.
"Get up now! Heal your face, stop putting on that pitiful act, who are you trying to fool!"
After saying that, Zhou Xuelin turned around, a warm smile on his face, and strode towards the entrance of the cave abode.
Zhou Siyi, who thought she was about to be beaten again, sat up, looked up at her father, and walked towards the cave abode entrance.
Then, he lowered his head, took out a pill, and swallowed it.
He channeled his spiritual energy to refine the elixir.
In the blink of an eye, her swollen face returned to normal.
The pained expression on his face disappeared, making it impossible to tell that anything was amiss.
The whole process was smooth and effortless, as if it had been done countless times before.
"Peak Master Teng, it's an honor to have you visit my cave abode today. Please come in."
Zhou Xuelin opened the cave abode's protective barrier and warmly invited Teng Jingshan to enter.
Teng Jingshan did as instructed and entered the cave abode.
When he saw Zhou Siyi in the cave abode, he said...
"Oh! My niece Siyi is here too. Didn't you go to the Pill Peak Human-Snake Cavern today?"
Zhou Siyi said, "I haven't seen my father for many days and I miss him dearly, so I came back to see him."
Teng Jingshan glanced at Zhou Siyi, who looked obedient; then turned to look at Zhou Xuelin, a hint of envy on his face.
"Peak Master Zhou, you have such a well-behaved and sensible daughter; it's truly the envy of everyone."
Zhou Xuelin waved his hand, his expression humble.
"Peak Master Teng, you flatter me. This child has been spoiled by me and his manners are lacking. Please forgive Peak Master."
Then, he adopted a stern fatherly demeanor and spoke to Zhou Siyi.
"Hurry up and make tea for Peak Master Teng. It's not easy for Peak Master Teng to come to my cave abode, so I can't be negligent."
Led by Zhou Xuelin, Teng Jingshan took his seat.
Looking at Zhou Siyi, who was busy making tea, Teng Jingshan said with some emotion.
"Back then, you divorced your dao companion, leaving behind an infant daughter whom you raised alone. More than twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye, and your niece has grown into a beautiful young woman."
"Her mother and I didn't get along. She left right after she was born," Zhou Xuelin said with a sigh.
Then, he changed the subject and asked.
"Peak Master Teng, what brings you to me today?"
Just then, Zhou Siyi finished brewing the Spirit Tea and brought it over.
She put down the tea set and stepped aside.
Teng Jingshan picked up the Spirit Tea and took a sip.
"Good tea."
He put down his teacup and continued.
"I have come here today to discuss an important matter."
Zhou Xuelin understood immediately, raised his hand, and a spiritual energy barrier enveloped the two of them.
Zhou Siyi, who was outside the barrier, could no longer hear any of their conversation.