Chapter 108: The Ancestor’s Belated Rebellious Phase (35)

“Father, how could she possibly...”

The city lord raised his hand, signaling Lou Lingyu to be silent. No matter how reckless Lou Lingyu was, she dared not defy her own father.

The city lord studied Ling Qiong carefully for a moment, perhaps realizing that she was not quite what he had imagined.

“Are you Yue Luo Zhu?”

Ling Qiong curved her lips into a slight smile but said nothing.

The city lord took her silence as confirmation.

When the Golden Dragon was born, someone had seen her, and everyone thought she was the one who had obtained the Golden Dragon.

Later, Yan Weishan stepped forward to say it wasn’t her, and after that, no one saw her again.

Who would have guessed she ended up with Lou Xingluo?

How did these two become involved?

And what about that dragon...

“Father, she’s a demoness! Last time, she tricked us so badly.” Lou Lingyu held back for a moment but couldn’t help herself. “If we catch her, we’ll make a great merit.”

The city lord was silent.

He ignored Lou Lingyu and said nothing about the previous deception. “Why has the Yue clan leader come to our Fankong City?”

Ling Qiong asked, “Am I not welcome here?”

The city lord was speechless.

Ask your own conscience—where would you be welcome?

Don’t you know your own status?

After a moment’s thought, the city lord said gravely, “Since you’ve returned, first come to the residence. If the Yue clan leader does not mind, you are also invited inside for a talk.”

The first sentence was directed at Lou Xingluo.

The latter was addressed to Ling Qiong.

“Father?”

Lou Lingyu didn’t understand why Ling Qiong was being asked to follow them to the residence.

She’s a demoness!

They should be capturing her now and gathering everyone in the city to execute her.

“Shut up.” The city lord hissed sharply.

Lou Lingyu stared in surprise, not understanding why she had been scolded.

The city lord asked, “What is your opinion, Yue clan leader?”

Ling Qiong nodded slightly at Lou Xingluo, smiling with curved eyes. “If he has no objection, then I have none.”

The city lord narrowed his eyes briefly and looked at his eldest son, whom he hadn’t seen for some time.

Lou Xingluo slowly replied, “Very well.”

...

The city lord had intended to arrange separate lodgings for Ling Qiong, but Lou Xingluo refused.

Yes, it was Lou Xingluo who refused.

The city lord said nothing further and promptly arranged for them to enter the residence.

“You’ll be safer staying with me.” Lou Xingluo pushed open the courtyard where he lived and explained to Ling Qiong.

Ling Qiong had no objections and asked happily, “Are we going to share a room?”

“...” Lou Xingluo pointed to one of the doors. “You stay in that room.”

Ling Qiong’s expression immediately fell. “Oh.”

Lou Xingluo then assigned rooms to Jiang He and the others.

“What’s wrong with your father?” Ling Qiong followed behind Lou Xingluo, “I feel like he has ill intentions. Is he planning something behind the scenes?”

He didn’t report to the authorities... no, he didn’t summon anyone to capture me, a demoness.

He even invited me into the residence.

That’s hardly the behavior of a righteous person.

“He doesn’t know our relationship,” Lou Xingluo said. “He probably just doesn’t want to offend you for now.”

The city lord was not as easy to deal with as Lou Lingyu.

“Then what is your relationship with me?” Ling Qiong peeked from behind, eyes curved in a playful smile.

Lou Xingluo was speechless.

He didn’t answer and instead warned her not to wander off, then returned to his room.

Ling Qiong frowned.

She kicked some weeds in the courtyard and strolled back into her room.

In a short time, Jiang He had arranged the entire room beautifully—both dignified and comfortable.

Later, the city lord sent servants with some food.

Jiang He didn’t let Ling Qiong eat the original food and prepared a fresh meal for her.

Ling Qiong was in a bad mood and found everything disagreeable, so she barely ate a few bites.

...

Night fell silently, and mist spread thickly.

Lou Xingluo was summoned by someone sent by the city lord.

The city lord and several respected elders of the residence were present.

The group sat upright, exuding the solemn atmosphere of a formal tribunal.

Lou Xingluo stood in the center, his back straight and showing no trace of cowardice.

“Lou Xingluo, do you know your crime?” the city lord asked sternly.

Lou Xingluo raised his eyes calmly. “What crime?”

The city lord looked at him with eyes full of reproach. “Stealing treasures, killing your second aunt, colluding with a demoness to kidnap Lingyu—what crime do you say you have?”

“The matter of my second aunt has nothing to do with me,” Lou Xingluo replied coldly.

The city lord retorted, “You’re still making excuses! Your second aunt treated you well, yet you dealt her such a cruel blow! Are you worthy of your ancestors?!”

Lou Xingluo lowered his gaze, no longer looking at anyone.

What he said no longer mattered.

What mattered was how the city lord saw it.

If the city lord said he killed his second aunt, then he did.

The city lord asked, “Have nothing to say?”

Lou Xingluo remained silent.

No one responded; without replies, the city lord’s performance could not continue.

After collecting himself, the city lord said, “Regarding your second aunt, I can let it go. After all, you are my son, and I believe you did not do it intentionally.”

Lou Xingluo’s lips twitched into a faint smile, inwardly sneering. After all the buildup, the real purpose was finally clear.

At the start, their pursuit of him wasn’t about his second aunt—it was about what he held in his hands.

The city lord’s voice rose slowly, “If you hand over the Golden Dragon, this matter will be considered closed.”

Lou Xingluo had already expected it was about the Golden Dragon and felt nothing.

Lou Xingluo said, “The divine beast chooses its master. What use would it be to you?”

“That’s none of your concern.” Since they dared to demand it, they naturally had their ways to handle it.

If Lou Xingluo cooperated, there would be no need for a major conflict.

“Who do you intend to give it to?” Lou Xingluo looked up, a mocking curve on his lips. “Lou Lingyu?”

“He is your younger brother; even if it’s given to him, it’s only right,” the city lord declared with righteous certainty.

Lou Xingluo had heard such words countless times since childhood and was numb inside.

[He is your brother; you must yield to him.]

[He is your brother; why don’t you protect him well?]

[He is your brother...]

He took a slow breath, his gaze suddenly sharpening, “Am I not your son?”

The city lord frowned. “Lingyu has been weak since childhood. That’s why I favor him more. I’ve raised you for so many years—have you suffered?”

“I’m willing to overlook the matter of my second aunt. Now I only ask you to hand over the divine beast. What more could you be dissatisfied with?”

The city lord’s tone suggested this was a great favor.

Lou Xingluo was supposed to be grateful and hand over the Golden Dragon without complaint.

“You want the Golden Dragon? You should ask me first.”

A clear, crisp voice came from outside just then, and the door was pushed open. A group of people filed in, standing in two rows.

A girl walked in leisurely, her steps casual as if strolling through her own backyard.

The moment Ling Qiong’s voice sounded, Lou Xingluo hid his hand inside his sleeve, concealing the faint glimmer of silver-white light.

——— End of segment ———

Lou Xingluo: Now that my wife is here, I won’t use violence anymore.

Mo She: Heh heh.

Ling Qiong: What are you laughing at?

Mo She: ...Nothing. Vote, vote!