"Palace Master..."
Ling Feng stormed off in anger, just as Gu Yuan approached to report on the clan's situation. All he received, however, was a cold look from Ling Feng.
Seeing this, Gu Yuan stopped in his tracks and dared not say another word. Once Ling Feng had left, he realized something was wrong. Remembering that his daughter had just entered Ling Feng's room, he pondered briefly before entering Ling Feng's courtyard with a grave expression.
As it happened, Gu Xun'er was also coming out of Ling Feng's room, now fully dressed.
Seeing Gu Yuan arrive, Gu Xun'er called out in surprise, "Father..."
"Xun'er, are you all right?"
Gu Yuan walked over and stood before Gu Xun'er, asking with concern.
Gu Xun'er shook her head, puzzled by his question. "I'm fine. Why do you ask, Father?"
Only then did Gu Yuan tell her about his encounter with Ling Feng. Finally, he asked hesitantly, "Xun'er, did you... make him angry?"
"Father, I..."
Seeing Gu Xun'er lower her head, Gu Yuan understood. He could not help letting out a long sigh. "It's all because your father is useless."
Seeing her once high-spirited father looking so dejected, Gu Xun'er could hardly bear it. "Father, you can't blame yourself. If anyone is to blame, it's me. If not for me, the clan would never have ended up like this."
As she spoke, Gu Xun'er lowered her head in guilt.
She knew perfectly well that she was the one who had provoked Ling Feng, and she was the one he was taking revenge on.
Clearly, she had dragged the clan down with her.
"Xun'er, ah..."
Gu Yuan knew what his daughter was thinking. Though he knew she bore an undeniable responsibility for the clan's plight, he still could not bring himself to blame her. He