As Xingxiu's anguished cry rang out, the black mist surging around Hun Changqing froze, and the energy within it that had been steadily eating away at his vitality also came to a halt.
The Morning Star Ancient Emperor's remnant soul abruptly turned toward Xingxiu. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her fists were clenched so tightly that her nails had torn through her palms, sending blood welling out. With his keen, ruthless eye, he immediately recognized her state and spoke with the exasperation of someone disappointed that iron would not become steel.
"Xiaotong, after everything this man has done to you, even ripping out his soul and refining it would be no more than he deserves. And you still want to speak up for him?"
Xingxiu shuddered at the Morning Star Ancient Emperor's words. A trace of bewilderment flashed through her eyes before resolve took its place. She nodded firmly at him, gritted her teeth, and said,
"Ancestor, please don't kill him. I'll deal with what's between us myself."
When her ancestor first appeared, Xingxiu had indeed been overjoyed. An irrepressible smile had filled her eyes and curved her lips. She had felt that she could finally release all the anguish caused by the humiliation she had endured over these past several dozen days. She had been like a woman who had suffered every grievance in her husband's household, only for someone from her own family to finally arrive. At that moment, she had felt utterly relieved.
In that instant, Xingxiu had already imagined Hun Changqing standing meekly before her, apologizing and begging her forgiveness.
Yet she had never expected that, rather than behaving as she had imagined, Hun Changqing would issue a threat, using her life to bargain with the Morning Star Ancient Emperor for his own survival. At that